Bless Your Heart

aaaaahhhh. I don’t have anything I have to do today! Yay! J’s off too so we’re going to run some errands and rent a movie for later. I might get some crafting in. It’s nice to have a day without a huge list of to-do’s. I’m planning on enjoying it because things will get really busy again here shortly. I’m working this weekend, going to Wilmington next weekend, then 2 weeks later my Mom & I are going Christmas shopping at Ikea and stopping in Baltimore to see Rachel & Brian for the day.

We had such a good time this weekend. I wish we could have stayed in the mountains for a week!

Friday Rachel, Brian, & Violet arrived. Violet is so sweet! We toured them around the house and the city then had dinner at Lupie’s. At dinner we talked about the things Rachel & Brian had noticed so far during their trip. Rachel noticed the abundance of children’s homes we apparently have in NC. “What’s with all the children’s homes? Why don’t they just live with their parents? I kept waiting to see roving packs of thieving children on the road!” After dinner we loaded up the cars and hit the road to Valle Crucis. Everyone got settled into their rooms. Rachel, Brian & Violet were in the Chestnut Room and we were in the Bridal Suite .

Saturday we woke up bright and early to go to breakfast at Dan’l Boone Inn. We got our own little room with a huge lazy susan. Brian ended up sitting next to Hale so he got the rub during blessing. So funny!

You see, we all join hands and say blessing before dinner and whoever sits next to Hale gets the rub, as Hale has a tendency to rub your hand while holding it, no matter who you are. Once you’ve gotten the rub, you know you’re an official part of the family!

After breakfast we went to the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk. We bought worms from worm wranglers out front and raced them. Alas, despite rigorous training our worms failed to win, or even place for that matter! We had fun racing and browsing all the booths though.

After the festival we checked in on the dogs then toured the Mast General Store. We then toured the neighboring town of Boone then went back to the house for dinner and Trading Spaces.

Sunday

We went to breakfast at Mountain House where Rachel & Brian told us all about the abundance of meat themed restaurants we have here. When you live somewhere for a long time it’s really interesting to hear an out of towner’s observations. They loved Winn Dixie (the beef people) plus all the bar-b-que & steak restaurants everywhere. Even the meat cutters at Harris Teeter (grocery store) wear cowboy hats! Rachel’s take on how it’s different up north: “We eat meat, we just don’t celebrate it!”. After breakfast we went to Blowing Rock to check out the strip of cool stores and galleries.

Then it was time to pack up and go. We were so sad to see them leave! But we’ll be up to see them before too long!

(More pictures to come once they’re developed.)

We had a fabulous time! I’ve got to get some pictures developed and I’ll post them soon. Rachel & Brian are home safe, Violet is adorable, Nelson’s in love with her, we had good weather & even better company. Watch this space for all the details!

Rachel & Brian are coming to visit tomorrow! I’m so excited! And I have so much to do! We’re touring them around Charlotte in the afternoon, then we’re heading up to Valle Crucis for the weekend. We’re going to the Woolly Worm festival , the Mast General Store , Dan’l Boone Inn, and to a chicken dinner hosted by local 8th graders at the elementary school. We’re having game night after dinner, and we’re all staying at the Mast house. Plus, they’ll be bringing Violet, we’ll have Nelson, and my Mom & Hale will be there for the weekend too with their dog Sam. So the house will be full and bustling to say the least!

It is going to be so fun!

Says my dear husband. You see today at about 3pm I’ll be donning a toga. Or rather, my white bedsheet. It’s for a project at work. I’m on the diversity council and we’re presenting a cultural display of Greece as part of a company wide project. So the only white sheets we have were actually on the bed. I asked J to please wash the sheets when he woke up yesterday so I could wear the top one today. I came home last night and he washed the sheet. But just the one. And left the fitted sheet and the pillow cases on the bed. Didn’t occur to him to wash the whole set. But he had to find other stuff to wash with it so it would make a full load. Cracks me up.

Last night I went to Michaels to buy some things for a work project. While there I noticed that a ton of my fall/Halloween items I had purchased the week before were now on mega sale. I had to return one of those items (I ended up not needing it) so while doing that I asked the manager to credit me for the difference since my items had gone on sale and it was still before Halloween. I got $8 back. That can add up! She said they don’t post the policy, that you have to ask. So I thought I’d pass that on. I know a lot of you guys spend time at Michaels buying crafty things so check out their flyer in the Sunday paper and see if any of your recent purchases are now on sale and save yourself some money!

Today Handyman Buddy is at the house hanging our doors. Yay! He’s the best deal I could find on short notice in the yellow pages. Apparently I’m in the wrong business. I called at least 6 places yesterday and got the following quotes to hang 4 interior doors, no priming or painting, all hardware provided, hanging in existing door frames- basically an easy job. I was told it would cost: $65 an hour and that it would be a day long project from one place, $150 a door and we can maybe sqeeze you in next week from another, $350 (this was a “deal” from a friend of a friend), and my favorite “since you’ve got 4 doors I’ll give you a deal…$475 total”. It took everything I had not to audibly gasp while getting these quotes. At those prices we’d be paying twice as much for labor than for the doors! Luckily I found Buddy’s Handyman Service. I love Buddy. He’s our new best friend. He is charging us $50. Total. I wanted to stay home from work just so I could hug him. I talked to J a little while ago and he said everything’s going great. Moral of the story is if you need a handyman job done that you can’t swing yourself (hanging doors takes 2 people and tools we don’t have) look for the retired guy working from home instead of the big swanky business with a perky receptionist. And if you live near us, give me a call. I’m keeping Buddy’s number on speed dial!

Yesterday afternoon I went to Shayna’s 4th birthday party. She’s my friend Stacey’s daughter and Davis’ cousin. Man, I don’t know if I’ve been to this swanky a birthday party for an adult! The food was great including shrimp cocktail & veggie lasagne. There were little engraved cards at the food tables describing the dishes. Centerpieces, sangria, the works. It was fun, kids are so cute at that age!

Sunday my Mom came over to check out my progress on the doors. She apparently felt sorry for me because I get a call a little while later from her as she’s standing in the door section of Lowe’s buying us 4 new interior doors! Yay! Have I mentioned lately how great my Mom is?? Now they just need to be hung and painted and we’ll be all set!

Saturday after work J & I tackled the doors again. We stopped for a break to watch Trading Spaces. I just don’t understand why Kia is on this show. Another wallpaper border? Astroturf in the bedroom? A Dollar Tree bag? (Now, I love the dollar store for gift bags etc., but I’m not a professional designer putting dollar store items in a client’s room) I can’t figure out what she’s spending $1000 on each time. No new furniture, no linens, no imagination or style or evidence of a professional design. I watch the show in part to get ideas for my own home, but anyone can do what she does. At least her rooms are good for a laugh.

*Update** Click here for the homeowner’s story.