Thursday's adventure for Friday Fives

There is nothing like a good outing, after weeks of winter weather, to lift the spirits. I want to share with you what I did yesterday, along with daughter Shirley. 

I do love good food, and a new restaurant to investigate!  Brand-spanking new... on the water so great view and a yummy crab-cake sandwich, oh my. Daughter Shirley says she's posting a new post on our lunch blog soon about our adventure. I'll let you know when she has it up. 

I'd found this guy on Facebook, Jeb the Butcher and he does his own butchering, packaging, making his own bologna, sausage etc, all in a wholesome, clean way. That was our next stop. I bought sausage (fresh ground, I can't wait to taste it), a chunk of colby cheese and a container of Brunswick Stew for a friend who fell a couple days ago and was badly injured. With a dislocated shoulder, 3 broken ribs and cuts and bruises, she won't be cooking anytime soon. 

On the way home, I saw a barn that I had never seen before. Since I have participated in Tom's Barn Collective often I wanted a picture of this one for that. I will have more pictures when the Barn Collective comes up next. 

Who doesn't love a beautiful sunset. I am pretty much surrounded by trees so any I see is behind those. But, just look at that sky. Gorgeous. 

And, I ran across this quote, which I love, while I was reading a book by Joan Anderson. Just wanted to share it with you. 

Now, to link up with Willy Nilly Friday Five

Mystery Trip - Day 2 - part 1

After a rather extensive drive along the Grand Strand (Myrtle Beach's Beachfront) and going by the golf course where the idea for Sports Illustrated originated (remember, the clue to where we were going was 'home of Sports Illustrated'. I mentioned that in my previous post) we headed south out of the main beach area on hwy. 17. 

We are riding along, wondering where we will end up next when that big, ole bus just whipped off the road and into the parking lot of a little store. What the heck!! And, we said 'what the heck' even more loudly when we saw the sign. A big, ole sign stating that this is the Palmetto Moonshine Distillery. 
Lordy, mercy, me.

But, it turned out to be most enjoyable. Really, I kid you not. The store was divided into two sections -  gifts and moonshine. 

On the gift side, where the shelves were loaded with all sorts of sauces, jellies, pickles, candles, etc. all made with moonshine,.......

one of the staff told us all about why men made moonshine illegally. It was to keep from paying taxes!! And, it was to help feed their families during the rough years of the Depression. But, now, South Carolina (and who knows where else) it is legal to make the liquor and to ship it. The original still was on display. See it below along the wall!

The actual distillery is in Anderson, South Carolina, with a much larger still now. The stuff is quite on demand!! 

The gentleman staffer told us then to move over to the 'other side' and we'd have a tasting. 

                     My daughter looked at me 'Mom, are you going to do that?' 
                                                  
                                                           and I said 'heck, yes'. 

I've never had moonshine before so I guess I can add that to my 'I did it before I kicked the bucket' list. 

The staffer should have been a stand-up comedian. He was so funny, so entertaining. 

                                 Here comes one of the staff with a tray full of  'shots'..... 

The shots were really 'communion' size little bitty things. So, no problem of anyone drinking too much.... and the store didn't go broke giving us a whole bunch of moonshine for free!!

 and we all were to down them at the same time.....

We tasted three different flavored moonshine. My favorite was apple-pie. And, I bought a whole quart to bring home with me. I am going to surprise someone with it!! And, I bought a pint of sweet pickles made with moonshine. Boy, are they good. Wish I had bought more. 

So, that was the morning of the second day of our mystery trip. 

Our bus tour group behind the counter. daughter Shirley is in gray 4th from left. I am in white next to the post on the right side. The bus driver, the funny Palmetto staffer in middle and Donna, our tour guide.

Like I said before, we had no clue where we were going at any time of the entire trip. Some of it I really enjoyed, some of it wasn't really my cup of tea but it was a fun trip. 

                                                                                                 

Too Pretty To Stay Inside

Oh glorious sun...
           Oh warmth in the air....
                       Oh flowers blooming....
                                Birds returning....
                                       It's Spring.

Boy, do I feel heavenly this morning!! It's supposed to be nice, warm weather all week so I opened up the doors to the balcony and walked out and just let the sun beam down on me. 

Hey, it's warm enough to put my potted plant back outside, so I did.

I looked up at the cell tower and there sat my two favorite osprey. They returned about 5 days ago.

What fun it will be to see them refurbishing their nest, preparing for a family, then see the little ones. They are a source of constant entertainment for me.

Oh, I didn't tell you about my trip to the new Dollar Tree store, did I? Sorry, how could I forget. The Dollar Tree was three blocks away, teeny tiny, crowded so I seldom went there. And, then they built a new one right at the end of my block!! 

I stopped in... just to have a 'look see', I told myself. And, just look what I found....

Well, guess I had better scoot. House to clean up, have taxes to do this afternoon. Gonna be a busy day. 

Take care and when you visit my post, don't forget to scan down a bit. That's where my gadgets are... at the bottom of the page. 

I would love it if you said hi in my comment box. 

I'll say HI right back!

                                                                                                        

Five Around My Town

For My Town Shootout.. a trip over the one and one half blocks leading out of my apartment complex to the main street.

1. I moved to my apartment complex it will be 2 years in April. At that time there were a lot of open fields around us. But, guess what... time moves on, buildings go up and I feel like I am 'living in the city'.

2. First they built a Hampton Inn out near the 58-10 interchange. At night I can see the hotel lights from my balcony.

3. Then they cleared that huge field next to the apartments and lo and behold, up went a DMV.... well, at least if I need my license renewed, it will be a half block away. I can walk there!

(That's the apartment complex in the trees to the left)

4. Self-storage buildings are on two sides of the DMV. But, I have already downsized so I personally have no need for self-storage. Perhaps someone will.

5. And, come spring.... a Dollar Tree will open just down the street from me. Oh, I can see myself taking leisurely strolls down there just to see what's on the shelves. I can take my little shopping cart with me. Maybe I will fill it, maybe I won't. 

Yep, progress abounds in my neighborhood. As I drive out of my apartment complex I pass the DMV and storage on the left. On the right is the Dollar Tree and beside it is the hotel. Wow. I wonder what they will think of next. 

Also for Friday I would like to link up with Willy Nilly Five Friday, Friday Favorites and Five On Friday.

                                                                Have a great weekend!
                                                                                                                                  

Christmas Outing

Counting down the days to Christmas!!

My daughter invited me to go with her to Anderson's Garden Center and cafe this morning. Love that place! We looked and looked, didn't buy much, had a yummy lunch. But, it was such a special time, just us gals out tooling around.

                    Santa said I had been very nice. Wonder what he'll put under the tree for me.

There were beautifully decorated trees everywhere. It did much to lift my spirits.

And, lunch. Oh my. Cranberry-chicken salad on a croissant and pasta salad with flavored tea. 

Oh Yum!

I came home and baked cookies this afternoon. 

Cooked supper, watched tv.... I think it's about time for bed. What do you think?

                                                                                                                      

Autumn Is In The Air

Friday means it's time to link with Willy Nilly Friday and Five On Friday

1. Yesterday was the beginning of autumn. Can you believe it!! I had not begun to think about it, not at all. However, daughter Shirley called this morning and invited me for an outing and we made the most of it.

2. I love Grayson and Emma's on Hwy 58 near Courtland, Va. Used to come here for all sorts of veggies. That was when I lived a tad closer. But, there's nothing better than a drive in the country, especially if daughter is doing the driving. I just sat back and took it all in.

3. Just look at all the beautiful sights we encountered at G & E's. Lovely. And, it surely put me in the Fallish state of mind.

4. Outside you are greeted by scenes like this....

and this....

5. Once inside the door the sights and sounds delight your senses. I focused mainly on the fall items but there were lots of vegetables, canned good, fruit jacks and much more to choose from. 

Did you ever see a pink pumkin all dressed out in beige lace? 

                                                   or Green Pumpkins

Back outside we explored the surrounding area....

By now it was time to head home. I came away with arms loaded down and lots of decorating ideas floating around in my head. How's your Fall decorating going?
                                                                                                                       

#3 of my New York Trip

On day three we girls headed into the quaint little village of Rye, New York. 

We are hungry and we know just the place we want to go!! Le Pain Quotidien, a little French pasterie that serves such healthy food. Everything on the menu was enticing. How could we ever choose? We haven't had breakfast yet so I got the California omelet with a side salad and a glass of refreshing mint lemonade. 

I love their pastries. Bought two lemon filled croissants to munch on later! Can't think about my weight right now!! Not with goodies like that around.

We had the most fun watching people oogling and eyeing this car while we ate. Oh, is oogle a word? Anyway, we were doing our fair share of looking, as well. I'd love to take just one ride in that car! Wouldn't you? 

After breakfast, on to Rye Country Store. Gotta love that place. It's jammed packed with all sorts of good things to eat and fun things to shop for. 

A look at the pizza in the cooler.....

Arriving back at the house we were greeted by a dove sitting atop the weeping cherry tree. You know me and birds... I couldn't pass this photo op up? 

I love her hydrangeas... Aren't they pretty?

If you missed any of my trip to date click on the links to read about day one and day two. 
day-one-of-my-new-york-trip and day-2-of-my-visit

Shopping Trip

                    Remember me telling you in my last post that I had had a doozie of a week?

                                               Well, the shopping trip cured all that.

Let me tell you - if you get down in the dumps, just go shopping. You will feel so much better!!

Here are some of my purchases......

Can't wait for you to see them.....

Now, be honest when you leave your comments. Honesty is the best policy, or so they say.

But, I'm dying to hear whether you think I made good choices or not.

I began by choosing a pair of white capris and a pair of black pants. Most of the tops I got will go with either the capris or the pants. Mix and match... I like that. 

Please excuse the camera in the photos. I took these of myself (I guess you can tell) by shooting my image in my floor length mirror. Oh well, you learn to do all sorts of things when you live alone. 

I can throw a white sweater over this or put navy accessories with it and the top goes with my black pants, as well. 

Again I can wear the top with my black pants, add red jewelry. Good to go. 

Black pants again (as well as the white).... that is a black and white border print on the hems. Or I could wear it with a pair of yellow, orange or teal blue. Oh, I have the very necklace to put this with... glad I thought of it.

This navy top (don't you just love the flip-flops?) will go with navy, white or red. I just love this one. 

And, I got a pair of kaiki skorts.... 

Yep, I sure am feeling better.