The Great American Road Trip – Part III (the end)

On May 24, 2014May 24, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized2 Comments

Random photographs from our road trip……..

The Great American Road Trip Part II – Washington DC

On May 23, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized2 Comments

Less than zero percent interest in American politics? Well it doesn’t matter when visiting Washington DC. A trip to the nation’s glorious capital will be a truly unforgettable experience.

Washington is an impressively beautiful and vibrant city bursting at the seams with magnificent museums, amazing monuments, art collections, stately avenues, beautiful parklands and gardens, cherry blossom, lovely homes, great restaurants and history. And best of all….almost everything you will ever need to see and do is free.

During the time we spent in Washington (the very end of April to the beginning of May) the spring weather was somewhat unpredictable – a little like the weather of Melbourne, Australia. It varied between very cold with heavy rain and thunderstorms to very, very warm and muggy (and I actually got sunburnt). We spent almost seven days in Washington and barely scratched the surface of this wonderful city. And Washington is also one of the best cities to do on foot so do take a pair or two of your best walking shoes.

The Mall (not to be confused with shopping) is the boulevard which stretches approximately 1 mile in DC and is the virtual heart of the city. This is the area where you will find many of Washington’s museums. You can (and I did) spend an entire day in just one museum and you still may not get to see everything in it! The National Museum of American History is a must for any traveller to Washington. It is a five story showcase of America’s fascinating history. And a tip – get to the museums (or any site such as a memorial or monument) early. Most museums open at 10am and close around 5:30pm.

The National Museum of American History and Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz

The extremely harrowing, thought provoking yet very moving Holocaust Memorial Museum

We ate some pretty great food in Washington and there are plenty of places to choose from. My two favourites of the trip are listed below:

* Old Ebbitt Grill – Do I love this place? Absolutely! Its a bit of a step-back in Washington time and is just around the corner from the White House. Old world, dark and moody with lots of polished wood. Modern cuisine and great drinks list too. If you can, grab a stool at the bar. At the bar is where you meet the most interesting people plus you can eat and drink while having a birds eye view which is especially great if like me you love to people watch. The staff are wonderful too which is always a bonus.

* The Capital Grille – This is FAB!!! Great food and wine and conversation with the local suit wearing powerbrokers of Washington. The Grille is located on Pennsylvania Ave just near the Capitol Building and once again a seat at their lovely bar is essential. Do try their dry aged steaks along with the Washington State wines from the Grille’s award winning list. This was well worth the money and more.

When out and about keep your energy levels up………. with an ‘ice cream taco’

The public transport system in DC is great. Especially their rail system. I am a bit of a train buff so I did ride the rail on a couple of occasions. It is all very user friendly too.

The underground rail system in DC – its a little grainy as the shot was taken on my phone

On one particular day I actually walked so much and so far that I decided to grab a cab home to the hotel. The ride was relatively quick, cheap and very entertaining. The following photos were taken in that cab.

The first photo is the inside roof of the cab (yes, they are shoe prints) and tucked beside the driver was a dog-eared and page marked copy of ‘The Joy of Sex’. Needless to say our conversation was an interesting one!

During the weekend, the ‘wannabe’s’ of Washington head to a little place called Georgetown but don’t be put off by that fact. This was a lovely little community to visit for a day trip as was the suburb of Foggy Bottom. Both are in very easy reach of the city by bus or rail or if like me, on foot (therein requiring a cab ride home).

Okay, a big finale for the Washington trip. To commemorate our trip to Washington (this trip also encompassed attending the RAAF Washington Ball) we had the opportunity to fly ‘our flag’ at the Washington Capitol Building. We flew the American flag (as we were unable to fly an Australian one) as part of the Capitol Flag Program. On a set day (you nominate the date), your flag will fly at the Capitol Building. Once flown, it is then taken down at the end of the day and given to you as a keepsake along with a certificate. All you need do is contact your local member of Congress.

‘Our flag’ – flying at The Washington Capitol Building

The White House – 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is probably the best known address in the US. Every president except George Washington has lived here.

In the front yard of a home in Washington DC

The Washington Monument – an obelisk visible from almost everywhere in Washington

A great farmers markets I happened upon one day in the heart of Washington

Moi and FB xx

The Great American Road Trip – Part I

On May 21, 2014May 22, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have to say, one of the best things about road tripping are the unique and unexpected experiences you just happen upon. Like watching a beautiful wild black bear in the hardwood forests of the Shenandoah, seeing an Amish buggy on the road alongside a massive 18 wheeler, walking in the footsteps of civil war soldiers, spying wood-chucks during a long drive, finding covered bridges or just simply sitting next to a complete stranger and engaging in enlightened conversation.

This was a big trip so I won’t go into great detail listing every single State, city or town we passed through or visited. What I will do is post, over the coming few days/weeks, a snap shot of the trip and some of the highlights.

We travelled from Georgia toward the Atlantic coast then traversed coastal en route to Washington. After DC we headed further north to Pennsylvania then back-tracked inland following the Appalachian and Civil War Battlefield trails back home to Georgia.

Beautiful black bear in the wild

Stevens reaction to my dinner order one evening! The below photograph is what I ordered and very happily ate.

Underneath the crab were clams and shrimp. BTW, Steve’s meal is to left of the photo.

One of the many diners we stopped at and no, her name wasn’t Alice or Flo.

‘Dairy Queen’

The traffic light system in most American towns…which can be a tad confusing.

One of the many covered bridges

The simplistic and gentle Amish

Another road side stop was ‘Mr Sticky’s Sticky Buns’. Before baking and after and for the record – they were very, very sticky!

The Great American Road Trip

On May 12, 2014May 16, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

It has been some time since my last post. My computer crashed a day or so after posting my last blog titled ‘Anzac Day 2014’ which was in April. The computer crash was a tragedy for me as my computer tends to become my own little world of words and pictures and general life. Sadly, this crash also happened just prior to embarking on a very long and very interesting road trip (I also plan our trips and do much research on my computer). *Important Note to Self: back up regularly!!!

Anyway, if you have been following my blog you will know that for me, road tripping is the ultimate way to see a country like the USA. Preferably, it is the only way to see it and given gas is so cheap there is really no excuse for not getting out and about to enjoy this great land.

Our trans navigation for this 17 day long road trip, where we took in eight states, was just over 2,178 miles which is 3,506 kilometres. Needless to say, I really don’t want to see the inside of our car again for a very long time……well, at least not until our next trip.

We travelled along parts of ‘The Loneliest Road’, ‘The Skyline Drive’ and through some of the most beautiful countryside in America. We drove side by side Amish women in buggies, along small trails where I really did believe a mountain man would suddenly appear from the thick hardwood forest – and not the good mountain man either but the one-toothed-banjo-strumming-type-mountain-man! and through historic Civil War Battlefields. We saw black bear in the wild, met some of the most fascinating and friendly people, saw Dorothy’s ruby slippers and marvelled at the incredible history of this country.

We ate at diners (New Jersey has over 600 diners alone), went to our first baseball game, saw places of infamy and searched out odd and quirky icons. I found ghost signs, drank some very bad coffee and quaffed some very good Washington State wines and it was in DC alone that I very nearly walked the tread off my shoes. We took back roads and detours, munched on fried oyster sandwiches and creamy pies, tried root beer floaters and loosened our belts a notch or three.

We made our way through tiny towns and big cities, through mountain ranges and past stunning coast line and finally found our way home again. Some say it is all in the journey. Some say its all about the destination. For me, it is and always will be all about both xx

ANZAC DAY 2014 – Lest we forget

On April 25, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized1 Comment

Each year on the 25th of April, Australians and New Zealanders commemorate ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day to recognise the sacrifices that Australian and New Zealand soldiers , sailors, airmen and airwomen have made.

Anzac day is about courage and selflessness. It is strength and endurance of the human spirit. It is of humility and heroism, but more importantly it is of remembrance.

Anzac is legend and it is not that we as a nation celebrate nor glorify war, but rather we honour and remember events which so dramatically shaped our history. It is our way of saying thankyou to the many thousands of service men and women who have fought for our freedom and rights as Australians. It is beyond extraordinary their deeds, and as a nation we will always, always remember and honour them.

Our history as Australians is identifiable by their sacrifices and we can never imagine the appalling and unspeakable conditions they endured. It is on days such as these that I miss our golden wattle, our unique and beautiful gum trees and our stunningly beautiful country. I especially miss our Anzac day dawn services, parades and commemorative services held throughout Australia.

Today, Friday 25th of April 2014, we celebrated Anzac Day with a dawn service at the Museum of Aviation Robins AFB Warner Robins Georgia USA. In doing so we say to all, we have not forgotten your sacrifice and we will never forget.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them……..

Author, Author….

On April 19, 2014April 20, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

One of my most pleasurable things to do is to curl up with a good book. I love books. That tactile act of holding the book in my hands to the simple pleasure of just turning the page. When we moved to America I was unable to bring my book ‘collection’ with me. Those books are currently in storage and I do miss seeing them sitting on their shelves in our little old cottage back in South Australia. Since moving to Georgia I have managed to pick up a couple of books therein starting a new collection here. Most of my best book finds have been from ‘Friends of Library Book Sales’, the odd second hand shop and the occasional yard (garage) sale thrown in just for good measure.

Latest reading material – two of which are on my ‘must-do-reading-list’

And as much as I love a wondrous book, I also love a library. As soon as we decided on the area we were going to move to in Georgia I googled then joined my local library. Joining my local library has allowed me to indulge my rather ambitious goal of beginning my ‘must-do-reading-list’. This is a list of books I have complied that I want to read – generally American classics – while residing in America. So far I have worked my way through: ‘The Grapes of Wrath’, ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’, ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’, ‘The Colour Purple’, ‘Fahrenheit 451’ and ‘Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café’. And I only have thirty four classics to go, so it is fortunate that I will be here in the US for another two years and seven months. Together with my ‘must-do’ list, I usually manage to read four to six books a week. When the night is dark and most of the worlds inhabitants are in quiet slumber I read. Its the perfect solution for my habitual sleeplessness (or it could well be the cause of it).

My local library – the Houston County Library

Recently I also acquired a couple of cook books. I always gauge the goodness of a cook book by this – I read a recipe then want to rush to the kitchen and cook it! One book is particularly beautiful. It is a book dedicated completely to southern recipes (which was the reason I purchased it).

A recipe for ‘grilled frog legs’ however I particularly love the dress the cook is wearing.

I picked the following little gem of a book up at a ‘Friends of the Library Old Book Sale’. It was printed in 1965 and is chock full of some of the best recipes I have ever seen and read. There are chapters on almost everything. The near bordering lost art of preserving and pickling, how to light a coal stove, breads, cakes, candies…the list just goes on and on and on. I really do love this little book and I have cooked several recipes from it although I am yet to tackle the ‘sweet and sour calf’s brains’, ‘broiled sweetbreads’, ‘mock turtle soup’ or ‘how to pasteurize’ my own milk.

This dear little book has had a big life and the previous owner used a torn in half cheque (check) as a book mark. Just priceless!

I will always find that quiet moment to read a book no matter what chaos surrounds me. Its one of life’s real pleasures for me and I hope you find the same contentment in something that you do x

P.S. Easter greeting everyone xx

Atlanta Georgia USA

On April 11, 2014April 12, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

I love being in a city. I’m a city girl at heart and always have been. I will very happily visit, walk, explore and live in a city. One of the things I find I like most about cities, especially those that are big and busy, is that you can still manage to maintain a respectable level of solitude while there. And cities are not about shopping for me either. I love the energy and pace of cities, I love the architecture and the streets, the way the city becomes a melting pot from prosperity to poverty, the way it feels as though it has a life and heartbeat of its own and Atlanta is no different. It is a big, brash, bold and energetic place.

Atlanta, originally established in 1837, is the capital of Georgia and is one of the most populated cities in the United States. During the civil war Atlanta was deliberately set alight and it almost burned entirely to the ground, the act of which destroyed most of the cities original historic buildings. Fear not, there are still plenty to see though which are wonderfully mixed with modern architecture. Atlanta also has three major districts – downtown, midtown and Buckhead. Downtown Atlanta is the main central business district, midtown is the second largest business district situated between the financial and commerce sectors and Buckhead is in the uptown district. It is said of Buckhead that ‘old money lives there and new money parties there’.

Atlanta is normally about one and a half hours drive from our home. Almost a 200 mile round trip. Atlanta’s traffic both in and out of the city very often come to a very slow crawl or to a complete standstill. If you have an appointment or a plane to catch it is always a good idea to leave a little extra early…….just in case. I don’t think I have ever ventured to Atlanta and not been caught up in some sort of traffic jam and this trip was no different. It actually took us just over three and a half hours to drive the Atlanta route with a jam snaking back for just over 10 miles. At times like this there is little you can do but sit back, relax and enjoy some music while watching the other drivers and how they handle the ‘go-slow’ predicament which can often swing between being very hilarious to very interesting to down right frightening! Patience in traffic in the United States is a virtue.

This trip to Atlanta was primarily to see an NBA (basketball) game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at the Phillips Arena. The game was good – it was our first basketball game in the States, the half time entertainment was good however I somehow enjoyed the ice hockey in Nashville much more. Having said that, I cannot wait for the baseball season to begin with my chosen team being the Atlanta Braves.

Atlanta is beautiful at present. It is spring and the town is in full bloom with tulips and daffodils, dogwoods and azaleas, cherry blossom and the ever southern magnolias. Everywhere you look there is beauty and colour.

There is plenty to see and do in Atlanta. Not only do you have the city sky line to marvel at but Skyview Atlanta (a giant Ferris wheel), impressive sporting arenas, arts, Centennial Olympic park, sports games, great food, entertainment, theatres – there is always a show on be it independent or a major production, festivals, hotels – from opulent to affordable, shopping, gardens, history, wildlife (there is always wildlife in cities – you just have to know where to look), people – be they quirky or not, general city life and southern hospitality – bless your heart I’m understanding and so enjoying southern traditions.

If you are staying in Atlanta for an extended period you can and should purchase an ‘Atlanta City Pass’ which will give you admission into 5 of Atlanta’s best attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, the Atlanta History centre and Margaret Mitchells house, the world of Coca-Cola, CNN studios, the High Museum of Art or the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. The city pass for adults is around $74 (you will save approximately $64).

On this trip to Atlanta we took a ride on the Skyview……which was amazing!! You get an air conditioned booth with comfy seating to yourself and a birds eye view of a stunning city.

Against the backdrop of the city you can see how tall the ‘wheel’ is

Dining out in Atlanta is a gem. From hot dog street vendors, local established eateries such as Mary Mac’s (it has been around for just over 70 years) to where we dined this time – Ted’s Montana Grill which specialises in Bison. Bison burgers, Bison steaks, Bison meatloaf, Bison ribs. The food and service here is great which is always a bonus. It is located downtown so if you are a meat eater (and you happen to be in Atlanta) I recommend you drop in here and grab a seat at the bar.

Breakfast from street hot dog vendors. First dog of the day…beef with sauerkraut, cheese and spicy mustard

Mid morning snack – second dog of the day – beef, onion, coleslaw, spicy chipolata sauce and banana peppers washed down with the local’s favourite drink….coca cola

Bison rib eye at Ted’s Montana Grill

Atlanta day or night is great. The best way to see it is on foot (of course) but don’t approach this modern city gently. This is the sort of place where you really have to jump on in with both feet then hit the ground running xx

A Nashville Tennessee Road Trip………

On April 4, 2014June 13, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized2 Comments

‘Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo’. First stop on our trip to Nashville was Chattanooga. This lovely town is located along the banks of the Tennessee River and is surrounded by several high mountain ranges. The region of Chattanooga was the last home of the once great Cherokee Nation. When white settlers descended on Chattanooga the Cherokee were forced out along what is now known as the ‘trail of tears’ to Oklahoma. Many thousands died on route due to exposure, disease and starvation during this forced relocation. The history of some nations can be very heartbreaking.

Chattanooga is also: the famous choo choo, historic sites, civil war battlefields (5 major battles took place here which saw some of the worst fighting), the River Gallery Sculpture Garden, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, Raccoon Mountain, Ruby Falls and the St Elmo Neighbourhood where more than 600 properties are listed on the national history register. We also had our first MoonPie in Chattanooga. The MoonPie was unleashed on the nation in 1917 when local miners wanted something quick, solid and filling to eat given they often worked very long hours without a break. It was developed and made in Chattanooga and since the 1940’s Moonpies have been sent to all US troops. There is so much on offer in Chattanooga so it was a great jumping off point before hitting Nashville.

‘When you hear the whistle blowin’ eight to the bar, then you know Tennessee is not very far….’

The ‘mini’ Moonpie hit the spot….really don’t think I could have eaten a full sized one!

Next stop. Nashville Tennessee – often referred to as the ‘home of country music’ and where the men like their checked shirts tucked in and the ladies definitely prefer their hair BIG!!! It is also where you get to wear your jeans pretty much everywhere (I think blue jeans are the mandatory dress code). It is also home of boot scootin’ – ” That’s the home of boot scootin’ (see). Oh, you gots to do boot scootin’ honey when your up there. I just love boot scootin’ ” a lovely Southern acquaintance of mine told me when I said we were heading to Nashville. Now I will pretty much happily give anything a go, but boot scootin’! We shall have to see!

Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. Tennessee is the home to the Grand Ole Opry, Elvis and Graceland, Dolly Parton, Dollyworld, boot scootin’, Memphis, moonshine, the Great Smoky Mountains, Sir J D (Jack Daniels), hush puppies (not to be confused with the shoes – they are fried cornmeal donuts), honkey tonk bars, BBQ sauce and road house grills. Tennessee is also the home of SPAM! This spam is not the computer generated spam but the odd canned – and I will use the term loosely – meat spam. And there’s a SPAM Museum!

The drive through the gentle and beautiful countryside of Tennessee is really enjoyable. The sky is big and wide and blue and the landscape is very different with plantations surrounded by bluegrass, soaring Smoky mountains, valleys of patchwork farmland, a winding river system and lush green pastoral lands where the cows look fat and happy. The state of Tennessee is wide and sprawling. So wide in fact, it is actually on two different time zones. Given it is spring, the beautiful dogwoods are in bloom at present as are stunning magnolia trees, the robins and mockingbirds are about and all was pretty perfect in Tennessee.

Once you hit Nashville you find a vibrant, relaxed and friendly town. Nashville is amazing day and night and I really did love it. Almost everything I wanted to see was situated in the city from The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum (which takes up an entire city block), the Johnny Cash Museum, the legendary Ryman Auditorium (it looks like a church but don’t be fooled this is the former home of the Grand Ole Opry), the honky tonks along Broadway, the Bicentennial Mall (not to be confused with shopping – this structure impressively showcases 200 years of Tennessee), Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop to the Capitol building (where Parliament was sitting on the day we visited). The elegant Nashville Library is also a must see for any book lover and you don’t even have to check out a book to go there. Dotted around the city are also beautiful sculptures, memorials to the fallen, fountains, old buildings mixed with stunning modern architecture and ‘boot’ stores where if you buy one pair of cowboy or cowgirl boots you will receive another pair free.

Also notable are the farmers markets where you will find anything from Amish baked goods to purple bell peppers, from cured meats to salted fish. Markets like these are a haven for the foodie plus they are a great place to people watch while chowing down on some very fine local food. We dined on some fab Jamaican food at Jamaica Away where they serve up jerk chicken, goat curry, oxtail, ackee and saltfish stew, bammy salads and patties (very much like a spicy meat pie in flaky pastry ) Johnny cakes to an amazing Jamaican Black Cake dessert and fried plantains.

Amazing Jamaican food at the farmers markets in Nashville

Almost everywhere you go you will see menu’s with ‘meat-and-three’s’. Its a Tennessee thing. You pay a flat price for meat which could a pork chop, fried chicken or steak then add your choice of three sides such as collar greens, sweet potato, carrots or corn. You get a lot for your money in most places and just when you think you are fit to burst the wait staff will offer up pie – pecan, sweet potato, chocolate peanut butter or key lime.

Some great places I will happily recommend if you are ever in Nashville:

* Honky Tonk Row on Broadway – quite a few hole-in-the-wall juke joints and honky tonks where you order a beer and a basket of wings and sit back and enjoy some of the best blues and country music and artists this country has to offer. Just a word of warning…don’t show up before 9pm. An early arrival is considered very bad form.

* Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack – this is a local specialty of Nashville so don’t be put off by the façade of the building, the pot holed driveway and parking area or the area in which Prince’s is located. Prince’s will serve you up a portion of chicken marinated in buttermilk, breaded then sauced using a liberal rub of cayenne pepper then pan fried in cast iron. The chicken is placed on a fresh bunny bun with pickle chips. Word of warning. This chicken is HOT. Your lips will burn and tingle, your eyes will water and your nose will run….and that’s just the mild. The hot will make you cry!! It is well worth the trip to the seedier side of town for this but do take a fan and fire retardant drinks.

* Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge – I’m a huge Patsy Cline fan and this apparently was her favourite hang out. Its located on Broadway, its a bit of a dive but its worth a look as its an old honky tonk which appears as though it could have been there forever…..which in fact it has.

* Robert’s Western World – I loved this place because you can enjoy a fried bologna sandwich which comes with a packet of chips and a PBR (all for $5) while sitting back listening to some of the best rockabilly, hillybilly and country music around. Its a hoot and you can buy the coolest boots from there too. Great fun and definitely a must see and do place on honky tonk row. We ventured in a couple of times.

* Mas Tacos Por Favor – definitely yes please!! I could not recommend this wonderful little place more. It started out in the early 1970’s as a street vendor and it is now a restaurant (but don’t expect anything fancy) serving up some of the best food you will ever try. Tamales, plantains with black bean, fish tacos, sopa tarasca soup, pozole verde, Mexican soda’s and iced coffee with horchata. They don’t serve alcohol and they don’t take credit cards but they do serve up some of the best food we have ever eaten. This one gets a big 5 star rating. It is out of town though – approximately a 7-10 minute drive from the heart of Nashville.

Not fancy but some of the best food you will ever eat!

* The Bluebird Café – its a bit of a hike from Music Row then continue on 17th Avenue south to Wedgewood, turn right then walk several more blocks until left on 21st Ave South but its well worth it. All singer/songwriters wanting to make it big in the country scene flock to the Bluebird café. There are no cover versions here, its original songs all the way. A truly great experience.

* Legends Live Music Corner – once again you will hear great live music here and as with most live venues in Nashville, there is no cover charge. Legends has been voted number one country bar in Nashville and for good reason. It was another place we ventured in on more than one occasion.

There are also some very impressive craft beer breweries in Nashville. The Market Street Brewery and Public house, Yazoo Brewery, the Broadway Brewhouse and the Filling Station to name a few.

We had a great time in Nashville and we even got to take in an ice hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Washington Capitols. Was it gritty, was there blood, were there fisty cuffs, was it a great night, was the game brilliant and fast and are the fans insanely passionate……well hell yeah!! And they even had a penalty shoot out which doesn’t really happen that often so luck was certainly on our side.

A few more random photos from Nashville………..

The start of the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park which includes a 200 foot wide granite map of Tennessee, a 1,400 foot long wall which is inscribed with the history of Tennessee, tree lined pathways, a bell carillon and time capsules. The photo next to it is the Nashville library.

Beautiful leather cowboy & cowgirl boots

Oh, and did I boot scoot’. Well I was on that wood sprung dance floor quicker than you can say “biscuits n gravy” ’cause that’s just what you do when you are in Nashville xx

Nothing says ‘Cocktails’ like a man in a tuxedo…..

On March 26, 2014May 31, 2014 By oceangirl63In Uncategorized7 Comments

It’s been a very hectic week but a really good kind of hectic. We hosted a ‘Cocktails & Canapés Housewarming Party’ this past weekend. It was a wonderful night and we thank our good new friends who bought warmth and happiness into our home in Georgia USA. Because of their friendship our night was far more memorable than we could have imagined.

We had perfect weather. A warm spring day followed by an even lovelier spring night. We served our cocktails – Mojitos, Mai Tai’s and Cosmopolitan’s in Mason jars along with non alcoholic ‘Shirley Temple’s’ to fifty plus guests. Canapés along with some classic southern food such as pulled pork and slaw, dirty Cajun rice, corn bread, baby mac and cheese, sticky fingers pork etc etc etc. was served up along side desserts of salted caramel turtle, orange fluff, pies and cheesecakes to name a few.

Although I was a little too busy to use my camera we did end up with over 200 photos (courtesy of a 2 hour photo booth) so here is just a tiny selection…….

How ‘rock n roll’ is this wonderful man and his beautiful wife

Just a couple of normal ones now…..

The gorgeous Bridgette and some of her many admirers

Sometimes a house just needs the kindness of good friends to finally make it a home.

Cherry blossom, a squirell and a photo…….

On March 18, 2014April 11, 2014 By oceangirl63In UncategorizedLeave a comment

It has been one of those weeks. The sort of long week that gives you a jumble of emotions. From the tragedy of the Daniel Morcombe case to the lost Malaysian passenger jet. From earth quakes on the West Coast to tornado warnings down here in the South. Things happen in our lives that seem a little crazy and as much as we want, we cannot for the life of us control it or fix it.

Maybe at times we take too much for granted and don’t see and appreciate the small things. Those little moments of joy that make our hearts glad and always seem to pull us through.