From The Beach To The Mountains

 I left the beach yesterday morning.

Most people don’t seem to make it out before 11. So from 6 am until 10 I can be pretty alone. 

There were some birds, 

Goodbye beach for this trip. 

Golden Boy (not his name) is filling out. 

Then for the evening Joe and I went to the bluegrass night at Chautauqua. 

The head line band wasn’t exactly bluegrass. I made the comment that if someone came wanting to hear bluegrass they might be disappointed. 

Joe’s reply was “they have the same instruments but they make a different racket.” But they were still good. 

But I had left 90 degree weather to come back to 60’s. 

Good thing I dressed for it and had a blanket in the car. 

Surprise Vacation

Emily and Keiran were headed to the beach this weekend. Joe said he could take care of the colt so I took off. 

Yay!

The weather has been beautiful. 

And the ocean is pretty calm. 

Lots of treasures searching. I spy with my little eye…

Oh, not with the shells, just laying out there in the sand. 

I couldn’t believe it!  

We ate lunch out at the outdoor fish taco place.  It was very good. 

Stay tuned for more updates. 

 

Dollywood, Fall 2025

 What a wonderful mini vacation!!!  Joe and I headed out to Dollywood to hang out with my family for a couple of days.  Virginia arranged for an Air B&B.  All my siblings came along with Virginia, Mike, Sadie, Allie, Emily and Keiran.  The house was perfect.  It even had an indoor swimming pool.  We drove down Saturday and went to the park for a bit. 

The weather was nice, upper 70's to low 80's.  But the park was very crowded.  

A cold front passed through that night and Sunday was cooler with showers on and off.  The rain really wasn't too bad.  The best part was that it was enough to keep the crowds away.  No lines for anything. 

About the only thing we did the first day was to go to the music show we were wanting to see.  Then we went to the house for a great supper prepared by Emily and Keiran.  Then there was swimming, hot tubbing, movie theater watching, and card playing.  

I think it was the last weekend for the fall harvest decor.  

Then Sunday, because there were no lines, we rode rides all day.  

Allie was so tired.  She was able to get in a short nap while Sadie rode a rollercoaster that Allie wasn't tall enough to ride.  Saturday I only walked 3 miles, Sunday we upped it to 6.8 miles.  

They really liked the Dolly clothes museum, especially getting to dress Dolly. 

It was a great weekend and a real treat to be with so many family members.  I just wish Matt and Gigi could have come.  When we were talking about our favorite things, Sadie said, "getting to love you so much."  I hope we are making very special life long memories for them.

Nebraska Trip

It has been a few years since Joe has visited the feedlot where we send our cattle.  He wanted to go this fall because we had a load just about finished and a load just starting.  

He invited Mike to go along and another friend that has cattle out there too.  This trip was a couple of weeds ago but I am just now getting some pictures that Mike too.   The feedlot owner  offered up his “cabin” for them to stay at. Joe said the cabin was a barndominium and didn’t really fit the humble interpretation of cabin.  The feedlot owner also took them to dinner one night and cooked steaks the next night.  

It was a quick trip, out on Monday, back on Wednesday.  Joe said the cattle all looked great. 

Tuesday, they toured the nearby MARC, Meat Animal Research Center.  Joe had been there before but still enjoyed the personal tour. 

This is our pen just about ready. 

And these are the ones that have only been there a month. 

Back home Joe went to work in his own feedlot. 

We have an open heifer that Joe is feeding for a beef.  She will be ready in November.  I think Mike enjoyed the trip too.  He said he would be fine moving out there.  

 

On The Beach Part 2

We ended up not attending any official July 4th  fireworks. 

But as it turned out we did not have to. There were plenty of amateur displays up and down the beach that were pretty spectacular. 

Sunday, after two fun nights of playing Wings, Keiran and Emily had to leave us. (Wings is a board game based on birds and their habitats, very challenging and fun)

On the subject of odd things to bring with you to the beach I am adding guitar. 

Then yesterday, I was standing in the surf trying to decide if I wanted to get all the way in and jump some waves or not.  I am finding that I have to be a little more careful with my athletic decisions since my broken back than I use to. Anyway, while contemplating the situation I saw this knife right at my feet. Now I had to decide if I could snatch it out of the water without cutting myself before a wave could impale it into my leg. I was successful and carried it back to my chair. 

My second try and getting in the water was met with more danger.  When I looked down in the surf this time there I found this tackle set stuck in the sand. Another trip back to the chair.  My third attempt to get in was successful.  I didn’t find any more hazards. 

 It is also always good to see the sea turtles nesting.  We even made a trip to the sea turtle hospital. I have always wanted to go but it never seemed to work out. But this year Linda got us tickets and we went. More on that next time.