A Trip to the Mountains and Other Things!

Shortly after my last post, I joined Tippy at First Watch for brunch and by the end of the meal, I had agreed to join her in the mountains for a few days. She was leaving on Tuesday and offered to drive up in tandem, which appealed to me as I was trying out my new(ish) car and traveling with Rosie, the nervous traveler. Being able to call back and forth on our car console made the trip easy although it certainly added to our overall time. All I will say is that you don’t realize how bad our interstate roads are until you travel 300 miles with a nervous passenger!

We made it to Franklin, NC, stopped at the local grocery store, and headed up a little one-way, winding, vertical road to Tippy’s cabin. It really is the perfect get-away retreat. Even though the mornings were overcast and foggy, the afternoons cleared up and were delightful. Sandi, a friend from our last Africa trip, came up from Atlanta and spent 2 days with us. It was great to see her and we spent a lot of time out on the deck enjoying the nice weather, beautiful scenery, falling leaves, and fun conversation. We also had enough food to feed a small army! We had a walk by the river which included two picturesque bridges. And the day before Sandi arrived, Tippy and I had gone to Dry Falls, which was unique in that we could actually walk behind the falls. That, too, was a lovely day. This was really my first outing since all of this Covid business began. It was wonderful to get away and have such a peaceful change of scenery. My thanks to Tippy for inviting me and allowing me to get away and to Sandi for joining us and giving us an opportunity to catch up.

With my new car, my hope is to be able to do a few road trips and include Rosie; so, the trip to the mountains was a test run. On the way up, we took interstates and she had (only) two panting episodes even though I had given her medication to relax her. Each time we stopped and gave her time to regroup. We did have one funny episode on the way up. We had stopped in Spartanburg, Tippy’s hometown, for lunch at Wade’s, a well-known restaurant in the area. Rosie and I are sitting at a picnic table waiting for Tippy to join us when this lady drives up and says “Hey, Rosie, what are you doing?” I was flabbergasted! Little did I know it was Tippy’s cousin Mindy who just drove by in the off chance she would catch up before we resumed our journey.

Then there was discovering Rosie’s other fears! The whole change was difficult for her. She didn’t eat for the first day and was frightened to go out on the deck.  We made a little circle with our chairs and put her bed in the middle and she slowly joined us on. There was one moment when her alter-ego took over. One afternoon we walked over to Robyn and Mary’s to enjoy their deck. On the way, we ran into their new neighbors, who, along with their dog Brutus, joined us. The property was fenced in so Rosie and Bruno could roam free. Things went so well that she remained unleashed as we walked home. Sudden, she realized her freedom and did her crazy run, but this time, unleashed, she could do it her way. At top speed, she ran down the drive, around the fence, and took a left, running completely out of sight. My heart sank!! Then she appeared and ran to the right – out of sight again. Finally, she came back to us having totally enjoyed herself! I didn’t learn from that experience and leash her so as we approached Tippy’s, she ran straight up the “mountain” into the woods! Thankfully, the new neighbor ran up the hill and chased her down. She had exacted her revenge and I learned my lesson (though it was fun to see her enjoy herself as she ran free).🐶

Tippy stayed on a few days after Rosie and I left. On the way home, we took secondary roads and I put her in the back seat across from me so we could see each other. She rested much better; however, there were no rest stops or convenient places for either of us to stop for bathrooms, water, or walks. So, it’s all a work in progress and I’m still hoping she will become less threatened on longer journeys.

Since getting back (10/18), I ventured into Savannah again, this time going to Macy’s. It should have been easy but Waze took me around my elbow to get to my thumb! My guess it that it was due to construction, but it took me to parts I’ve not been before, including down to the port!! Anyway, I made it and did some shopping during a good sale. My purpose was to buy some clothing that fits and then to purge my closet To have a closet full of clothing that doesn’t fit is depressing so my aim is to have a smaller selection of items that fit. Let the process begin.

Saturday, (10/23) I got my Covid booster. I wasn’t even sure Moderna booster had been approved but when I got online, I found that it was. After checking around locally, I was able to sign up at my local CVS and get the shot the next day. It was quick and easy, leaving me with only a twinge and a bit of redness at the point of the shot. I’m happy to have it done.

Then on Sunday (10/25), Tippy joined me for the Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival. I probably would not have gone except a neighbor is an organizer and I knew how much effort he had put into it. It was a nice afternoon, and we did a leisurely stroll through checking out the vendors, having some ice cream, and listening to the music.

This coming week I have an unplanned dental appointment – NOT one of my favorite things! I’ve been having some sensitivity in one of my front teeth and I’m dreading what may ensue.

When we returned from the mountains, our weather here began to feel more fall-like. Except for one day of dismal rain, we have had bright, crisp days. I’ve added a light blanket to the bed and love waking up snuggled and warm in the morning. Love it!

My house under a full moon.
Sent by a neighbor.

Yesterday, I had an unexpectedly pleasant day. Chis and I had planned to go to a matinee performance of The Thanksgiving Play by the Lean Ensemble. As I was having my morning coffee, Tippy called to say that she and Kieran were going to a play that afternoon and she’d get a ticket for me if I would like to join them. I told her Chris and I were also attending and we’d see them there. Then, off we went for Rosie’s walk. I had just finished breakfast when the doorbell rang. It was Reyna’s Joann and Richard’s twins in full Halloween costumes. There was a unicorn and a bumblebee. When I asked Joann what she was (no discernable costume!), she said she was a Diva!! I almost laughed out loud. Only Joann would come up with something like that. No longer had we gotten through modeling the costumes than the doorbell rang again! This time it was my neighbor Mark and the adorable Felix. Mark apologized and said that Felix led him straight to my door and would go no place else!! Aside from the fact that Felix always gets treats from me, I’m sure he saw the girls come in and that was more than he could resist. In any case, I introduced them to the unicorn, bumblebee, and the Diva! So, I went from a leisurely morning to rushing to have lunch and get dressed in order to meet Chris on time. The play was not one of their best – about over-the-top politically correct intentions run amok. Even so, it did provide an opportunity to get together with Tippy and Kieran over a glass of wine. Once home, I walked Rosie and then joined a driveway party for one of our neighbors who will be moving to Pennsylvania mid-month. Tiki torches lined the driveway and everything was set up outside. I had just been invited that morning as I was walking Rosie, so I self-identified as the party crasher! There were about 5 couples and the occasional trick-or-treater. I only stayed for a glass of wine but I did appreciate being able to wish my neighbor well and it was a nice way to end the day.😀

Something from Conde Nast: