Take Your Dog To College Day

I can't even begin to say how many snap chats of puppies visiting the AXO dorm I received over the last year. So when we needed to make a campus visit to deliver necessary items to satisfy D and her new room/roommate's needs--we were talked into bringing Uli for her first college visit.

(M is home so she was on calm-the-dog duty) 

We arrived at SEMO to happy-puppy-loving squeals of sorority girls basking in the sun on the patio.  Uli was equally excited for her new found popularity.  Uli pranced up to the third floor, sniffed out the room, rolled on the beds....  D made arrangements for Uli to spend time with a "sister" while we dined out and made the quintessential Walmart run (where mutants linger).  Uli took a field trip to the town's dog park and then headed to somewhere on campus to witness the pomping of the homecoming float.  D received a picture of a napping dog. Uli was having her very own Ferris Buellers Day Off dog-style and crapped out. 

Then it was time to part ways: a girl and her doggie 

Living In The Past

We've been living a bit in the past around our here lately.  Grabbing the feelings of yesteryear--and loving it!

LIVING IN THE PAST EPISODE ONE

About a month ago Princess A, King Ralph and I went to see Chicago and REO Speedwagon in concert.  It was a beautiful Friday night for a concert at the Verizon Wireless Theater, making the weather perfect for our vocals.  And. So. We. Sang.  All of us!  Yes that's correct King Ralph was singing to almost every REO song.  What you must understand is that in our 28 plus years together (27 of those married) the most I have heard from my man's vocal cords is "Happy Birthday."  After he gave the run down on his past REO concerts - 1974, Keil Auditorium, 1976 Super Jam at Busch Stadium and  1980 something in Palm Beach Florida (where stories of his roommate, girls and kissing added spice to the night right up there near front stage).  Then there is 2014.  The year I know I have lived another great marriage moment--hearing my hubby sing!  I can die nearly fulfilled.

LIVING IN THE PAST EPISODE TWO

When a family grows and takes everyone in different directions family vacations are harder to come by.  We've been so lucky that 1. our girls love family trips and 2. in the past years we get at least two of them with us on most trips.  So on Labor Day weekend when all five of came together it swelled our hearts. We camped at Pomme de Terre State Park.  We had never been to the "hidden gem of the Ozarks" and a gem of a lake it is!  

Saturday and Sunday were picture perfect days.  We basked in the sun on the rocky beach of the Hermitage area of the park, 

sipping Margaritaville pina colada drink powder mixed with coconut vodka.  Best on the water, in the water on a raft drink ever.

We fried bacon, scrambled eggs, flipped hot cakes laced with fresh blueberries and brewed coffee the old fashion way, in a percolator. We grilled steaks and baked potatoes of the russet and sweet varieties. We made roaring fires 

and roasted marshmallows for s'mores.  No TV. Just stories to be shared and some tunes on the stereo...and the sister's crazy lyrical dancing in the camper to King Ralph's Pandora 80's Love Song station. 

We took a short hike on Sunday...those of us with proper packed footwear.

Monday at 4am a wicked storm rolled through, we found ourselves awake a wee bit freaked at the sway of the camper.  Uli shaking in her puppy dog fur more than her usual storm fear. What do I say?  We had waited three years to all be together on a trip.  The wait...it seems was well worth it.

Love abound!

Pomme de Terre State Park - Hermitage Area Report Card

Check-In:  We arrived at 9:30pm, having paid in full on-line we just drove to our electric site (all sites are electric only).  I checked us in in the morning.  There is ice and firewood available at the check-in station, but be aware a park host drives around twice a day selling the goods from a truck.

Site 224: Our site was a gravel pad, with a fire ring, picnic table and lantern hook.  We had a nice horseshoe view of lake and bluffs.  We backed to a grassy common ground area that made for nice yard game playing space. I recommend the sites in the 200 and 400 loop that back to the lake.

Comfort Station:  Ample number of flush toilets and running hot water sinks.  Showers on the back side of the comfort station.  Clean and spacious.  The comfort station is at the entrance to the campground so be prepared for a good walk, a bike ride or like so many drive your car.  Also be prepared to use your RV bathroom A LOT.

Activities:  The lake!  The beach has been filled with fresh rock.  You can rent a boat or kayak from the marina.  Take the short 1.5 mile hike with the trail head at the comfort station.  The paved roads through the campground to the beach are great for a bike ride.

Eight Miles down Hwy 64 is the Pittsburg area of the state park with a longer hiking trail and a another beach area. This part is truly a hidden gem and I give it an...

Overall grade: A+!

LIVING IN THE PAST EPISODE THREE

Last night I offered my free babysitting services to my old co-worker and friend.  I relived my past life in 5 hours of fun.  I served, by request, nasty-but-kid-loving Lunchable pizzas for dinner with juice bags.  We made blanket forts, flipped and bounced.  We went for a walk around the neighborhood--baby in stroller, boys's bare-feet dodging acorns littered on the sidewalks.  We played board games. We had tears for attention and a poop diaper.  I was left wondering how did I do this everyday for years. Running. Chasing. Wiping noses. Wiping tears. Answering questions. Listening to stories.  Always with a warm heart and smile on my face.  How?  But, I was left remembering how much I love and miss those days of yesteryear, when my little people needed me, needed us.  Really needed us.  I smile more. Smile bigger at the memory.

Living in the past is a reward worth repeating every chance I get.

Who else misses the yesteryears?

Weekends Are the Survival Tool

Once my summer hall pass gets revoked weekend fun is an essential, if not crucial requirement as a reminder that life is fun. So that is exactly what happened--we had fun! 

FRIDAY 

Shrimp boil w/ friends, the kids, the friends' kids (well the ones who hadn't fallen out of their parents "circle of trust") and a boyfriend drug home to be tortured tainted, and annointed by us all. 

a BIG pot is needed to boil up all this spicy goodness 

to chase the spice I served raspberry beer punch and cucumber martinis 

but here's the problem...I didn't intend to make the god of all martinis Friday night because I was out of fresh mint. That's when King Ralph announced the neighbors had mint growing in their yard.  Okay what's it going to hurt to "borrow" a little mint.  They are new to the neighborhood. M was a favorite high school student of said new neighbors, so why would they care. Yep, we nabbed a bunch of mint.  Guess it's never to late to start criminal behaviors.  Shake, shake, shake went the shaker...till we used up an entire bottle of agave nectar. Didn't run out cucumber vodka, just nector.  Note to self: maintain spare bottle of nector at all times! The kids, who aren't kids any longer, made a fire and roasted marshmallows. 

SATURDAY 

Nothing is better than spending the day in one of Missouri's wine country regions. Which is just  what we did to celebrate a cousin turning 21 years old. 

SUNDAY 

oh hell I turned a year older. 

Come On That Didn't Make My Day

Reasons I just got carded by a familiar checker:

A) I colored my hair darker yesterday and look unfamiliar

B) I used cover up on my bags right before going to grocery store

C) checker has always been curious of my age

D) I forget my wedding ring often this summer and checker wants to try to creep me on social media sites

E) I really don't look 21 when my grown children don't surround me 

The answer is...digging the license out is a royal pain in my arse! 

Heaven In A Martini Glass

If you could drink heaven, I believe, it would taste like a cucumber martini.  It's blend of crisp veggie, fresh mint and sweet nectar make the taste buds dance.    And while I'm slow sipping the yummiest martini ever...no make-up is required! 

Two shots cucumber vodka

One shot lime juice 

Half Shot agave nectar

One cucumber slice

Two fresh mint leaves

Muddle cucumber and mint in shaker. Add ice and remaining ingredients. Shake. Pour in martini glass. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

You can thank me after your first sip! 

The End Is Nearing

It is a georgous day!  The sky is blue, neary a cloud to be seen. The breezes blow at just the right moments--cooling.  I lounge in my chair on the back deck--letting the sun kiss my skin.  I hold an iced tea with a straw for sipping. I like my tea black, over lots and lots of ice.  Sweet tea churns my stomach. Miss Bell can keep her sweet tea!  And I read--books.

I'm in a reading frenzy right now. I get this way every year a week before my summer hall pass is revoked.  Fearing my time will be stolen or I'll be whipped after a tiring work day.  To me it's like filling up the car when the needle is below the "e" line.  I just wonder how long before my tank is emptied by the evils of tweens and teens wayward behaviors? I wonder. 

Summer hall pass. A week more. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh. 

Will the bronze of my skin soon begin to fade?  I am most certain it will. Sigh (some more). 

Will the desire to read till midnight be halted? Most definitely. Sigh (yet even more). 

Will a cocktail poolside in the afternoon, on weekday cease to exist? Afraid so! Sigh (remember to pace out sighs). 

In the meantime I will savor every last bloody moment of the next six days. Because on the seventh day that blessed alarm will blast at 5:30am...feeling more like a twenty-one gun salute at a funeral than a calling to paradise. 

Now if you please...I've got a tan to maintain and a tea to sip. 

Hoofin' It For Coffee

This summer has me sans car as D uses it to get to her full time summer job.  It's a double edge sword.  I'm forced into staying home to clean, do laundry...mostly lay on the deck sunning and reading (summer hall pass priorities).  That's actually hardly worth complaining about.  But when I do want to go somewhere I've gotta hoof it.  Thankfully I have a plethora of options to hoof it too. 

I ask myself--how bad do I want, need a coffee? If I answer myself, pretty bad, well then I hoof it up the street. To the place where everybody knows my name. 

 Except I must remember next time to slip into my new cheap flops. Ouch! My feet were screaming at me, asking why didn't I wear my 

Tevas?  The footwear option that can transcend me back to vacation.  Why didn't I wear my Tevas is what I was asking myself?  Proper footwear and a latte go hand in hand! 

And. Now. I'm hoofing it up the street for a latte, and a chat (okay gossip) with my favorite baristas. 

Taking It Back To The Mountains

Keep close to Nature's heart...

and break clear away,

once in awhile,

and climb a mountain

or spend a week in the woods. 

Wash your spirit clean.

 

-John Muir

We decided to end our trip back in the mountains of Tennessee, heading into Central Tennessee and the Cumberland Mountains. 

I must admit as we neared our final destination, neither King Ralph or I wanted to admit our hesitation at leaving Charleston.  You see the area we were driving through seemed a rather depressed area and we wondered what was to lie ahead for us. But we held onto the fact that USA Today named Fall Creek Falls State Park one of the best state parks in the USA. 

As we drove through the park our silent fears were put to rest.  The park is quite beautiful and vast.  We set up camp, grilled,

relaxed and drank cocktails by the campfire (we've gotten very good at that activity).

After a good night's sleep we set out on a hike to see Canes Fall

 and Fall Creek Falls.  

We relaxed at the bottom of the gorge, enjoying the cool breeze, watching kids swimming and swapped picture taking moments with another family

I must admit that the suspension bridge that is part of the hike gave me a bit of a creepy feeling and left me with the sensation that I was wobbling in my walk once I hit solid ground again. 

The views, however, filled my soul with peace and tranquility. 

As we headed down the gorge trail to the bottom of the falls, park personnel was rushing down the trail...at least ten of them, from lifeguards to rangers to maintenance workers. Turns out an older woman broke her ankle and needed to carried via a gurney up the trail.  A job I believe must have sucked equal to the broken ankle.

Now we didn't wear our swimsuits down to the bottom of the gorge but most people did, to enjoy a dip in the fresh mountain pool of water.  Instead we just rest our feet upon the rocks. 

And ate a snack 

When we finished our three mile hike, still full of energy we decided to try our hand at the parks new ZipStream challenge.  We've never done anything like this before, so knowing what to expect was, well, the unexpected.  As someone with a fear of heights without safety boundaries, I felt at complete ease in my harness up in the trees.  And. I. Had. A. Blast! We had a blast! 

Returning to our camp site at 4pm, starved (because all we had was an breakfast bar while we sat relaxing in the gorge) we immediately began scarfing down chips and dip...and cocktails--mostly because we earned them.   

Wishing we could stay another day exploring the mountain--instead we toasted to a great trip and stoked one last fire. 

Then morning came. We made peace with vacation time ending, and we set out on the road--home.

 

 

Fall Creek Falls Report Card 

Check-In  C- it's kind of crazy how far past all the camping loops you have to drive past to get to the check-in post, not to mention the young girl working was the mist unwelcoming person ever. She lacked customer service skills to the max!   Here is where you can get fire wood for $3.50 (generous bundle) and ice. There were also soda machines. 

Site D131 - great full hook up site, large, flat, paved, picnic table and the fire ring sat to the back of the site more in the woods giving it a nice relaxing feeling.

Comfort Station - ICK!  There are a few things in the park that I felt needed to be brought up to par to claim its "one of the best state parks in the USA" and the D loop restrooms are one of them.  The toilets aren't easy to flush and the three showers are molded up the walls like none other.  I was thankful I had my own shower in my camper! 

Activities - great hiking, there is a pool $, tennis courts, basket ball courts (the nets  are worn and need replacing (another bring up to par item)), golf, biking, fishing, boat rental.... 

Overall - SOLID B+, with a little attention to a few areas in the park it could garner a grade "A".  I would not hesitate returning to this park in the future

Charleston

I keep myself on my same week day routine of going to bed and waking regardless of whether school is in session or not.  The idea of a struggle to wake and get out the door lacks a sense of...delight.  I don't know what it is, post vacation melt down or the notion that my return to work date is fast approaching ( a slight depressing feeling), but I have been burning the midnight oil and sleeping in.  I came upon this fabulous blog yesterday that documents a young grad student and his friends travels in a refurbished school bus.  Instead of reading the book I had downloaded onto my NOOK, I read Hank Bought A Bus from start to finish.  I was excited  to see his bus rested at the same campground we did seven years ago when we took our month long trip out west.  Just like we did from our old pop-up camp; Hank's eyes peered from his bus at Devil's Tower.  I wonder if he partook in the viewing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind--shown from the back of the barn?  There is nothing like it--watching the movie, seeing Devil's Tower flash on the screen, and realizing nature's great natural monument stands before you.   

 

Now back to mine and King Ralph's trip south.

 

 

iPhone Notes

 

LOVE this city, Charleston, and all the islands! 

 

   

We arrived to beautiful summer weather. After we set up camp at James Island County Park, we set out to ride our bikes on the four plus miles of paved trails.

We stopped at the fishing pier where the crab fishing was in bloom in the marsh.

The next day we enjoyed Patriots Point 

and Fort Sumter.

 

Loved both, but felt jipped at the fort with the time restriction.  I'm a sign reader, soaking up every bit of history.  This led to not getting around to see the museum.  Damn!

We scraped the idea of cooking, consulted Urban Spoon, settling on a local pizza pub: Paisano's Pizza Grill. When they forgot to drop our wings they offered us a $5 coupon for a future visit, when we explained we were from STL and the likelihood of our return was slim...they gave us each a free drink.  Not necessary, but graciously accepted their generosity. Also, I will be recreating Mom's Spinach Salad in my own kitchen. Yum-yum!

We ended the day with another bike ride around the park.

Tuesday we enjoyed Kiawah Island Beachwalkers Park.  

It is so fun to see everyone riding bikes down the beach. The low tide offered plentiful space for bikers and sun grabbers alike. After six hours of sunning, reading 

(and crying while reading the final chapters of The Fault In Our Stars) and sipping beach cocktail...the tide moved us back farther and farther till we decided to call it a day. We ended our day with another bike ride and resting in our lounge chairs camp side.

Our final day in Charleston was spent touring the Boone Hall Plantation

and the downtown area--were we enjoyed a narrated carriage ride (with a screaming toddler and an e-cigarette puffing father, errrrhhhh!). 

We then walked the city streets exploring,

 toured The Exchange Building  

and feasted at the Charleston Crab House. 

 I'm certain I slipped into a food coma from the hush puppies, she crab soup, and low country crab cakes. 

Thursday morning we said good-bye to our favorite stop and the beautiful James Island campground

James Island County Park Campground Report Card
Campground - A+
Check-in station/Camp Store - A (friendly staff, plenty of snacks, cold drinks, books, etc.) 
Site - A (be careful when booking to be sure you aren't getting a site that shares site space, there are several double sites, great if you are camping with friends)
Comfort Station - A (clean, plenty of showers and flush toilets)
Wifi - free and accessible from our campsite with excellent connection.  We tried to stream Netflix and were unsuccessful.
Activities - A (bike trails, peddle boat/kayak rental on the lake, small water park w/ discount tickets at the camp store, a sprinkler park, themed activity weeks for the kids, fishing, climbing wall, zipline, etc.)
I WOULD return to this park in a heart beat!!!