New Hair...Tropical Retreat Part Two...Brenda and Loretta...and Sisters Day Tattoos!

John got the photo...and "Tah Dah!!!"  

My new haircut.

22 inches less hair...still longish...and so much easier to manage and fun to work with!

This has been a crazy busy wonderful week!

Celebrated Brenda's 65th Birthday at Almost Home.

(...complete with one of those trick won't-blow-out candles provided by our waiter...)

John and I escaped for the rest of our Tropical Getaway with the rest of the 3-wick coconut candle...coconut oil and bubbles...Macadamia nuts....a hot tub...a hot breakfast the next morning...this maybe the best room we've found to date...certainly the best time!

We spent the early afternoon with Loretta.

And all had Chinese and did some shopping.

Don't even ask about the Tropical Themed Shirt...lol.

Stopped at our FAVORITE chocolate shoppe!

 

And enjoyed brunch together the next afternoon at the Oasis Diner (...formerly the old 40 Diner...) who makes the most amazing malteds.

Then fussed with Sofi when we got home.

Who is now in heat...and a little obnoxious...but LOVES everybody!!!

 

                                         John Roughhousing with Sofi


 "I'm gonna EAT you now!!!"  ~Sofi

Chris and Tina got wedding wishes from Da Mouse...

Which was too cool!

And Ayra and Thanos are fine...

And just too cute for words!

Ended the week with Sisters Day...complete with BLTS and Cape Cod Waffle Chips and Dip...A full pan of brownies with M&M's Dark on top (we decimated the entire pan!!!)...a bottle of wine...and James, Chris and Troy (James' tattoo guy) for To-Your-Door Sister Tattoos!

 

We decided against the birds at the last moment and went with cat paw prints instead...since we are all three basically crazy cat ladies inside.

 Close-up

Tina also brought me a half-dozen dark brown fresh eggs compliments of her girls...and the rooster who they have named "Roo"

The "girls" are now producing 1 egg each...every day!

In a month...that is a LOT of eggs.

We busily planned our next Sisters Day which is going to also be a Slumber Party!

Since we didn't get to spend our childhood together...we are enjoying all the SISTER things we missed together, now...

It is NEVER too late for a Happy Childhood...even if you are all over 50.

Perfectly gorgeous Sunday here...and I'm out to play in the plants...do some much needed weeding after 2 weeks of rain...bask on NPB a bit...do some reading...maybe painting...and enjoy an ice cream cone...because life is good!


More Anon...

Virtual AT: Entering Tennessee

"Beans, here!"

Starting today's virtual hike with...yes...more rain.

Really????

A quick breakfast of rice and dried fruit (and hot coffee, of course) and we are ready to enter the Smoky Mountains.

Hey...I have been here REAL TIME. Who knew?  I've probably even hiked a bit of the trail before.

We will see.

Our destination today...Mollies Ridge Shelter.

A shorter hike today...all in all, about 12 miles.

Hikers backpacking thru must get a permit.

If you are caught spending even one night without a permit you will be fined $125.00

Starting off refreshed from our two back to back Zero
Days...and going to take it at a much slower pace through the Smoky Mountains...because there is so much to see!

The clouds break...the rain stops, and reminds me of how beautiful this place really is...

First stop before we leave the dam is the Fontana Visitor's Center.

https://youtu.be/MO7FSqSJ9oM


The dam is 480 feet tall and was built during WWII to provide adequate electricity to the area.

Fontana Lake (created by the dam) is used for kayaking, boating, canoeing and fishing.

The center is open May through October.

Onward we go...

Crossing the Little Tennessee River

and headed 5 miles to Shuckstack Fire Tower; where we will take a look around.

Shuckstack Fire Tower

The Tower (no longer in use as a fire tower) is located at the summit of Shuckstack Mountain. 

The top is 50+ stairs from the ground.

Happy climbing.

Zack's AT hike from Fontana to Shuckstack Tower

https://youtu.be/FhZ4Xl5alOc'

and the view from the top

 About a mile and a half down and we come to Birch Spring Gap.

Where we see our first black bear on this adventure.

Unlike Grizzlies from the Western States, black bears are rather shy and rarely get aggressive except over food...or if it is a mother with cubs.

(she will charge you)

And despite their cute cuddly bumbling nature never ever ever feed the bears.

Act like big begging pets.

NOT PETS.

The Shelter at Birch Spring Gap

(Warning for those who came from Fontana Dam and take the AT this route...the next crossroad (civilization) is 40 miles...so make sure to carry in all supplies...especially food...you will need...or you are going to get really hungry....)

4 miles up the trail we reach Doe's Knob

A nice place to drop and relax. Take in the spectacular view.

Our next stop Ekaneetlee.

Not a lot here...but after today's climb it is nice to see some flat ground again!

Don't get used to it...


It won't last.

As you walk out of the brief wooded area to see...yes...another mountain you must climb.

Mollies Ridge.

Legend has it that the Ridge was named after a Cherokee Indian maiden who froze to death here while looking for a lost hunter.

Not to worry...we will be staying at the Summit tonight.

Today's hike with PT who we have caught up with again on the trail.

Fontana to Mollies Ridge Shelter

https://youtu.be/oF_qYwV4tJ8

and at Mollies Ridge we also find "Strutter" "Osprey" "Spirit Walker" , 
"Froggy Pete"and "Drifter". 

Although Mollies Ridge has no Privy...it does have a grand old stone fireplace.

There will be warmth and camaraderie tonight!

Clarence on Throne Rock (just outside of Fontana Dam).

 

And we have completed 177 miles of the AT.
Only 2014.3 miles to go!

Until next time.

Love,
Beans

Vlog of Handstand's  (Liz) thru-hike on the AT

https://youtu.be/FnxYQ921rjU

Noah...or Why Is There An Ark On The Lawn???

After one day of sunshine...yes...it is BACK to raining!

And you have to love the lawn crew that showed up and did their thing immediately...even trimming the trees. THAT is dedication and timing.

Frankly, I am amazed that the Dixie Choppers didn't get stuck out back like some horrible La Brea Tar Pits parody.

We have had a LOT of water.

NPB is a mudhole right now.

On the bright side:

1. I live on a hill...no flooding.

2. I can't even remember the last time I had to water the patio garden...who is loving this heat, humidity and rain.

I am hoping I can get my beans replanted and some flowers out by the end of the month...and weed the borders without sinking into the mud.

John, not so fortunate, had some basement flooding earlier. 
Now resolved.

Gizzy was not amused.

"Why is there water where I keep all my STUFF???"
                                                                                      ~Giz

"Wake me when it STOPS!!!" 
                                           ~Sofi

And Sofi's latest game. The MONSTER behind the monitor.

She has started hiding behind my laptop at night while I'm watching a film...and then this paw snakes out from the back.  Not the whole cat...just a reaching...grasping paw.

laughing

I've received a bunch of the pictures from Chris and Tina's Wedding. Still sorting through them.

And another of my favorites...The Throwing of The Garter.

"And here is the wind-up...and there's the pitch!"

Don (Chris' biological dad) and I...and Chris and Tina.

We made a great kid...with just a few parts lying around the house.

He has started the Summer Semester now...and popped by the other night happy and excited about his new classes!

Also with some news.

He and Tina may be buying our old house!!!

The one he grew up in.

They qualify for a First Homeowner's Loan and the guy who owns it now is making repairs and is very motivated to sell.

They are thrilled!

Three Bedrooms...so there is plenty of room for them, a computer room, and (when the time comes) a nursery!

So happy for them.

Lennon has made a full recovery from a bug that had him pretty ill at the beginning of the week. Back to work, and working on a new Lego Project.

Pictures soon!

James has a Zombie Puppy.

Last weekend Ayra (the female pup) bolted her food and ended up choking...literally to death.

No heartbeat, no respiration, nothing...dead.

Quickly grabbing her he and Nicole managed to get the food out, perform CPR...and get her restarted again!

They took her to the vet immediately and kept her there in an oxygen box all weekend...but she appears to have made a full recovery.

"You SAVED me, Dad!!!"  ~Arya (aka..ZD...Zombie Dog)

She does seem to know he saved her, and has been pretty velcro'd to him since she has returned home.

Thanos is getting huge!

Just can't get over how big this puppy is already!

Going to be a BEAST of a Pocket Bully.

The Book This Week:

An homage to one of my favorite authors, Helen Gurley Brown...and fiction based on fact of her transformation of Cosmopolitan magazine in 1965.

A time capsule of the essence of HGB in the time of Betty Friedan...and a time of men who believed woman should be seen and not heard...and certainly not openly sexual!

Excellent, inspirational read!

The Movie of the Week:

Although, I really wanted to see Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones appear in a cameo in this...and sadly, they did not...Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson really pulled this off...as well as exposing another generation to MIB.

Well done, nice plot, characters you really could get involved with...nice Hollywood ending.

Couldn't ask for much more.

 Only WEEKS now until Rose and Idgy's Summer Adventure.

                                               2018 Spring Adventure

We have opted for Olive Garden and Tiramisu for our combined birthday celebration.

"Flaming Tiramisu!"
 (which, admittedly sounds like an Italian Rock Band)

Also a trek to Hobby Lobby together, and more.

Can't wait.

And only DAYS until Our (John and I) June Getaway...and a visit with Loretta...and Part Deux of Our Coconut Retreat (...with Hot Tub and Pina Coladas...) 

Life is good!


Thanks to James and his tattoo guy...Lisa, Tina and I have our matching sisters tattoos scheduled for next weekend! 
And Sisters Day!

Have a good one...

More Anon.

                                                        It's Summer