Catapulted Into Christmas at Home!

What a glorious day it was today to continue my journey home!  Ahead of me, the clouds were breaking up; behind me the sky was dark and gloomy.  I was going the right way, for sure!

Barely out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was the most beautiful line of mountains. It was a bit foggy and hard to see the mountain tops, but they were definitely there.

First view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 11/24/14.

The roads were dry this morning, a real blessing!  I don't have a love affair with my car; I'm happy to put it into 'cruise control' and point it!  It was only 33 miles to the "Welcome to NORTH Carolina" sign.

I wish I could have taken a video for you of the mountains as I passed through today!  There was such a patchwork of beautiful fall tree colors on the near mountains.  Beyond them were rows of mountains, each one darker in gray-blue than the row immediately in front.  It was extremely windy; sometimes the clouds kissed the mountain tops, obscuring them briefly.  Then the clouds would lift off and fly away.

The swirling clouds were as spectacular as the mountains today.

Just before the interstate exit to Hendersonville, North Carolina, is a sign marking the Eastern Continental Divide, the geographical location, north to south, where rain falling to the east eventually flows to the Atlantic Ocean, and the rain falling to the west eventually flows to the Mississippi River.  Elevation: 2,130 feet.

More interesting places: "Burnt Shirt Vineyards," at St. Paul Mountain, exit 49.  They give tours.  I always like to pass exit 49: "Bat Cave."  I bet the kids would love this if they were along on this trip!  Close by is "Old Grouch's Real Military Service" store.

You Know You're in the Mountains When:
*you see the sign, "Accident Investigation Site Ahead."  This is a very small piece of flat land to which the crashed vehicles can be brought and the emergency personnel can sort things out.

There is a gem of a North Carolina rest area tucked away in the mountains on another small piece of flat land: Haywood County Rest Area.  There are a few picnic tables, space for a few cars to park, with a cliff behind it.  But that's OK - there are not all that many cars on these winding roads!

The Haywood County (North Carolina) Rest Area on Interstate-40 West.

Mountains around the rest area.

Cliff-ridge directly behind the rest area.

After driving 108 miles today: "Tennessee Welcomes You," another state line.  Not far from the border is the large Tennessee Welcome Center.  It's really nice, a log cabin filled with high quality hand-crafted Tennessee products and the usual tourist maps and advice.  It's a really nice place to stop.

If you want to go Wild Water Rafting, stop at Exit 447, Hartford Road.  There are plenty of companies willing to assist you.

This billboard answered the question I had about the legality of "moonshine."  "Cocke County Moonshine Distillers" at Exit 435: "We make it legal now."  At Exit 432: "Forbidden Caverns."  This was probably just a little cave, I would guess.  It might be interesting.  Exit 407: sign for "Lumberjack Feud: dinner and show."  Then, another moonshine company: "Moonshine Master: World's largest selection," next exit.  And even another sign: "Git yer Moonshine here: Christie's Liquor Store, next exit.

The best sign, at Exit 393: The first sign to Lexington!  "North: I-75!"  After I see this, I always get an infusion of new energy!  I always drive all the way back to Lexington, all the way HOME!  My GPS informed me I had 167 miles to drive on Interstate-75.

Sign across all lanes of the highway: "Drinking and Driving Don't Mix."

A new place in the mountains at Exit 134: "Sky Dining."  At first I thought it said "Sky Diving."  In the mountains!!!  Then I saw a picture of a room extended from a restaurant, suspended over nothing.  I wish I had time to check this out!  Oh - there's the green dragon - a sure sign that the Kentucky border is not too far away!  A sign: Jellico (Tennessee), 25 miles.  Almost to the Kentucky border after that!

At Exit 141 was the big white cross on the right.  I knew the big tacky fireworks store would soon appear on the left and I was so tempted to go in and see what was the big deal!  Surrounding the store, gas station and Subway restaurant, was not only the Titan Misile, but two ferris wheels, a giraffe, a clown, and: an elephant!  A tourist trap, for sure!

The car has been climbing and climbing.  I was on the top of the mountain ridge for many miles.  The scenery had such a wide vista at this point.  Fall has definitely passed the northern Tennessee mountains; everything is brown with a few spots of green here and there but it is still pleasant to pass.

I like to see the exposed red rock in the mountain cuts in this region on the ridge. In the summer, the trees on the sides of the road block the magnificent view.  I wish they'd cut them down!  But now, with most of the leaves dropped, I could see through the tree skeletons.

Exit 156: Rarity Mountain Road.  Every time I pass it, I want to leave the interstate and try to get on the road - it looks like it passes over the interstate - but I'm not sure I could get back on the highway.  Today I saw that I can get back on I-75.  I will do this the very next time I pass by.  I imagine the view is spectacular from Rarity Mountain Road!

In the distance, on the right, is the very steep (steeper than it looks!) Rarity Mountain Road.  This is on top the mountain ridge.

Exit 160: Jellico, Tennessee!  Welcome to Kentucky comes soon!

As I was overdue for a 'rest' stop, I went in the Kentucky Welcome Center.  I had never before ventured into the front 'room,' the place where they had a nice display of Kentucky products, maps and tourist brochures, and a friendly person to help you.

We in Kentucky are obsessed with Blue and White, the colors of the highly successful University of Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Team, our state 'religion.'

Not very far down the highway is the sign "Wildcats Flea Market" off Exit 41.  We are definitely in Wildcat Country!  Shortly thereafter is a sign, "Wildcat Harley-Davidson dealer," London, Kentucky.

At Exit 15 I passed "Cumberland Falls State Resort Park," a wonderful place to visit: falls, trails, a lodge. It's been there a long time.  It boasts of a "Moonbow" over the falls, several times a year.  There is only one other "moonbow" in the world, over falls in Africa.  Cumberland Falls is a great destination!

The traffic on this section of Interstate-75 is scant compared to the traffic on the other interstates on my travels this week.  Our Kentucky mountains are gentler, with no nail-biting curves, no 'cages' to prevent rock falls on the road.  The rolling hills and farms are pleasant.  This trip I've seen plenty of trucks carrying loads of bundled green Christmas trees.

Exit 76: Berea, "Log House Craft Gallery."  Exit 77: the "Dinner Bell Restaurant."  There also, right in view of the highway, is the Kentucky Artisans Center.  It's a place in which you want to allow time to browse all the top-quality arts and crafts.  There also is a very good restaurant.

If you like cows, drive Interstate-75 from south of Cincinnati, Ohio, to the southern Kentucky border:  there are hundreds of cows along the way, and many black barns on the farms.  Traffic increases near Richmond, on Exits 90, 91, and 92.  Soon I'm home: Exit 113, with only a few miles to home!  I've driven 346 miles today.  It's sunny and 52 degrees.  Home has never looked better to me!!

I notice that my daughter #2, Carole, my house sitter this time, has graciously taken the turkey out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator to defrost.  Happy Thanksgiving to one and all of you!

As it gets dark tonight, I'm pleased to look out my kitchen window and see that my neighbor has strung lights along his roof line and will put up his friendly reindeer and sleigh to celebrate the Christmas holidays.  I love this sight!!

Imagine, outlined in lights, on the top of the roof will be a sleigh and reindeer.  My neighbor is smart to install this again when the weather is relatively warm.  Think Christmas thoughts now!!!

I DON'T "DO" SNOW!!!  I hate to either drive or fly in airplanes in the winter!  My next travel blog entry will be in the spring, if things go as planned.  My brother, Don, is planning a surprise trip, a place for us to meet, somewhere between Lexington and his and his wife, Kathleen's home in Southern Florida, in the spring.  We may go to Germany next summer in search of more ancestors.  And then there will be Adi's Baptism, also in Florida. . . wonderful plans to look forward to. . . maybe Peggy will go to Hilton Head again . . .meanwhile, you're invited to read my other blog, www.stoptwistedlove.blogspot.com.  I'll announce when I re-start this travel blog.  It is SO fun!

North to Alaska (just kidding!)

This morning I started out in Jacksonville, Florida with warm, drizzling weather.  I hated to leave the beautiful green everywhere, especially the palm trees we never see in Kentucky, and the marshes, but I'll return south some day.    

Driving north to Interstate-95 was traffic-less and easy.  This trip I noticed all the signs indicating that a particular route was a "Hurricane Evacuation Route."  How practical and scary!

I spotted the name of the tall bridge leading into Jacksonville, "The Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge.  It is quite impressive in any weather!  The view from the top of the bridge (where cars travel, not the very top of the structure!) is impressive.  You can see the entire harbor with numerous massive cranes that load cargo containers on outbound ships.  There are yards with hundreds of containers of different colors.

Around the corner on I-295 connector, and the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge appears!

View traveling on top of the bridge, on a foggy day, 11/23/14.

There are still many colorful red, orange, and yellow trees along the sides of the Interstate 95.  Exit 373: Amelia Island, on the northern most east coast of Florida.  I'd like to go there sometime.  I carry a tote bag brought back from there by one of my daughters.  It was 73 degrees warm about then.  How long would this lovely warm weather last today!

Ah, again the sign, "Welcome to Georgia, We're glad Georgia's on your mind."

A beautiful clump of palm trees in the Georgia Welcome Center, south side.

Exit 7: Harriet's Bluff Road.  I wish I could've taken a photo of the sign for that for my friend, Harriet! I drove over an especially long bridge over the Crooked River, actually mostly marsh.  I glanced at my GPS and noticed it really is quite angular, "crooked."  The fog on I-95 was very thick this morning.  There was a big bridge over the Turtle River.  Mostly, the water couldn't even be seen, due to the fog.

Exit 36 to Brunswick, Georgia: I noticed the outside temperature has dropped to 68 degrees.  There is a Super Seafood Buffet at the Pelican Point Restaurant.  Sounds interesting but it was too early for lunch!  I passed "Youngs Swamp Creek."  This wass different.  There are swamps and there are creeks.  This is a swamp creek.

Ahead in traffic appeared what looked like a motorcycle with a sidecar - in the heavy rain and fog.  As I inched closer, I noticed that it was two motorcycles; one was a two-wheeler and the other a three-wheeler.  Both had two passengers, wearing rain gear and helmets.  It looked dangerous with all the cars in the swirling rain.

Can you spot the two motorcycles?  Most unusual on the interstate!

"Texting while driving is illegal in Georgia": sign over all lanes of I-95.  The rain increased to the point where I had to take off the car's cruise control but still never had to put the windshield wipers on "high" today. As I left I-95 and turned onto I-26 to go more west, I noticed the temperature had again dropped: to 64 degrees. I passed under Five Chop Road.  I love all the unusual road names!

Close to Columbia, South Carolina, the temperature again dropped to 59 degrees.  It is noticeably hillier and the road is winding more.  I had to put on my hooded sweatshirt but the rain let up somewhat.  By 4 p.m., I reach my goal, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and am more than ready to rest in a motel for the night!  I've driven 388 miles today!  Tomorrow will be fewer miles (approximately 348) but the roads through the mountains are more challenging.  Good night!

Busy, busy! Happy, happy!

First thing today, I visited my brother, Don, and his wife, Kathleen, at their nearby hotel for a couple of hours.  We chatted more about family - we're both working on www.ancestry.com - and made plans for a spring trip together, over a great cup of coffee.

When I returned, Patty's household was in full swing!  Of course, I had to hold and play with the delightful little Adi! I enjoy interacting with 6-year-old Johnny, and nine-year-old Mallory, of course.  With Raj's parents here on an extended visit from India, that makes five adults in the house;  praise God they're all polite!

His Royal Babyness, Adi, awake and alert (and cute!).

Johnny, clowning on the couch this morning.

Mallory and I decided we needed more popsickle sticks to finish a project.  It was a perfect 70-72 degree day, weatherwise, so we walked to the shopping center with Michael's and Target stores.

Mallory standing by their subdivision's lake, in back of a baby Palmetto Palm, on our walk, 11-23-14.

After spending quite some time choosing various projects (who can resist sales!) at Michael's (craft store), we went to Target (department store) and ate lunch, then found some construction paper to buy.  We had a leisurely walk home past an undeveloped pine tree/palm tree forest.

At home, Mallory and I work on various painting, gluing and cutting projects.  This is a winter snow-bird sun catcher.  Some of the projects involved sprinkling glitter on glue.  She did this on a Christmas stocking for their cat, Harold.

Sometimes, Monica, the other grandmother, watched as we 'played.'  Projects painted and needing to dry were put on the shelves at upper left in this photo.

The household really was bustling all day.  Mallory and I went to church at Holy Family Church, at 5:30 p.m. Mass.  The church was full and sang with gusto.  At home there was the usual cooking, doing laundry, etc.  Sadly, I had to pack a little in preparation for starting the long (736 miles!) drive home tomorrow.

More father-son bonding, Raj with son, Adi.

What could be better than visiting with family, lots of family!  Lord God in heaven, I thank you for my family, each and every one, present, with You in heaven, and those who are to come!

Friendly Visitors from the South

The Little Fella is EIGHT days old now!

The New Baby Brother, Adi, begins his day.

If you're in Florida, where, oh where, could visitors be more south?  The answer is: from the southern part of the long state of Florida!  My baby brother, Don, and sister-in-law, Kathleen, came from hours away to visit us here in Jacksonville.

My Baby Brother, Don, and me at dinner, 11-21-14.

Pretty Mallory, dressed for dinner this evening.

Kathleen and Adi have a fine first meeting.

Back at Patty & Raj's after dinner: (left) Ray with little Adi, Don, Patty, and Kathleen.

The wide-awake and mellow Adi, enjoys being held by Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Don.

Another busy, lovely day! The new baby Adi certainly has been properly welcomed to the world!

Time for Creativity!

As soon as the children, Mallory and Johnny, were on the school bus, Patty's home settled to a day of feeding baby, changing baby, a few household chores, and shopping.  It is a delightful life!

A baby, Adi, and daddy, Raj, bonding moment.

A baby, Adi, and mommy, Patty, sleeping moment.

Raj and his parents went hunting for a new couch at several stores.  I wanted a few more craft items for when Mallory got home and went to Michael's and Target.

Fountains in the neighborhood lake, on the way to shopping today.  Note the egret behind the fountain on the left here.

A particularly large clump of wild young Palmetto Palm trees down the street.  Note Spanish Moss draping from the trees.

After Mallory completed her homework this evening, there was plenty of time for she and I to make Christmas ornaments, just for fun.

First, we made six pipe-cleaner candy cane reindeer Christmas ornaments.

This is our one felt Mug of Hot Chocolate & Marshmallows Christmas ornament.

We also made some glittery silver snowflake ornaments and popsickle stick stars. We will work on them soon and take more photos.  Mallory and I could stitch or craft endlessly!

End-of-day Adi and Grandma bonding. Isn't he a big boy!!  One week old today!

Oh, the joys of Grandmotherhood!  I highly recommend it!

At Last, A Quiet Day!

Ah, the peace and quiet (well, mostly!) of a day totally at home!  After Mallory and Johnny went to school for the day, Patty and I chatted and cared for new baby, Adi.  Raj and his parents went furniture shopping for a long time.  I knitted on my projects.  A wonderful day!

The sweetheart, himself, Adi.  Sometimes we do put him down in his carrier!

Mallory had lots of math homework tonight but drew a picture of her favorite dinosaurs.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?  Family visits don't have to be exciting - we just want to get together!

A Special Ceremony

Business as usual in the household, first task: get Mallory and Johnny ready for the school bus!:  To start, they get dressed, have breakfast, fix lunches, and this morning: put on winter coats!

Mallory is almost ready. New baby brother, Adi, is watching.

Adi's big brother, Johnny is dressed but not fully awake yet.

Adi's family is from the far-away country of India.  His Mother, Monika, and father, Dakshineshwar, are visiting for several months.  Today we all celebrated their "Chatti" ceremony, an ancient Hindu tradition welcoming a new baby on the sixth day after birth.  Before today, Adi could not have a tub bath nor could he wear new clothes. We all helped get Adi ready for his first bath.  Adi was not happy with this new event!

The warm water and importance of the ceremony did not impress Adi!

Patty and Raj admire their son, Adi, in his new clothes.  Now warm and dry, Adi is happier.

Adi doesn't mind the Grandmas fussing over him.  Left, Monika, right, Jan.

Raj and Patty with Adi, Monika, and Dakshineshwar.  Monika is offering fruit to the new mother, Patty.

From their Temple to their gods, Ganesh, Shiva, Parvati, Lakshmi, Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman, and Sai Baba in their bedroom, Monika and Dakshineshwar blessed Adi, the new baby, and Patty, the new mother.

Patty is also allowed to wear new clothes on Chatti day.  The magnificent new sari was chosen by Monika and her daughter-in-law, Suprita, from Dubai.

The official family portrait of the properly welcomed baby and new mother, with proud father.

Visiting Adi was friend, Amey.

We went to Mallory and Johnny's school, Mangrove Oak Elementary, to retrieve them at the end of their day.

We enjoyed a quiet evening at home.  Mallory and I drew a picture of what we were going to have on Thanksgiving Day for dinner.

Our next creation showed Christmas Day.  Note: Santa is going UP the chimney!  And now it's bedtime for the children!

Patty and I were pleased to watch a very exciting basketball game of my favorite team: the University of Kentucky Wildcats with another U.K. team, Kansas, opposing them.  Today was busy.  We all will rest well!  Goodnight!

FYI: there are Palmetto Palm trees everywhere in Jacksonville, growing wild, in abundance.  They are the fan-shaped trees.