Tag: valle crucis

birthday

40th Birthday Mountain Extravaganza Days 4 & 5

Shanny

Sunday- recovery day.  We woke up and had breakfast then got dressed to go to town. I had a bit of a headache from all the moscato I drank the night before playing Cranium! CSP & I went to Harris Teeter & the Starbucks inside the Teeter to use their free wifi to set up my new iPad Mini!  LOVE it!  SO cute!   CSP picked up a few lunch essentials while I played with my iPad in the Starbucks.  We stopped by Lowes for a quick minute then it was back home.  After lunch Papa, Gigi, Momo, Sara, and Joey left for Charlotte.   The house was suddenly very quiet.  CSP & I took a nap with the pugs.  While we were napping Marc heard voices on the porch.  Thinking it was us he went outside to join us but it was 2 strangers!  They were chilling out in our rocking chairs just feet from where CSP & I were snoozing (we had the door open, but there was a screen door).  The dudes said they thought our house was part of some tour.  Uh, no.  It’s private property.  So Marc shooed them away.  After our naps there was more porch sitting, knitting, reading, hammock lounging, and BB gun shooting.  IMG_4108 IMG_4109 IMG_4105That’s my Peach Nehi CSP picked up for me at the Mast General Store.  He loves getting an RC cola in the bottle.   In the middle are Jacob, Marc & CSP setting up their BB gun targets.  At the bottom are two little pug loafs hanging out on the porch (Kiki & Molly).  For dinner Marc made us each our own custom calzone (a fun way to finish up all the leftovers from our trip!)

Monday we woke up, packed up, and hit the road for Charlotte.  Being Mountain Pugs can wear you out! IMG_4112

birthday

40th Birthday Mountain Extravaganza Day 3

Shanny

Saturday was Birthday Day!!!

We woke up fairly early and had a light breakfast then got ready to go to town.  9 people and 1 shower means that takes a loooong time!   We went to Hob Nob Farm Cafe for lunch.   Hob Nob is SO good.  I had a crab cake and brie panini with plantains on the side.  Yum.   We had a yummy sangria too.  I wish I’d taken pictures at lunch!

After lunch we stopped by the kayak store so Papa could look at kayaks.  Then we headed over to Appalachian Mountain Brewery.  They weren’t open yet but they kindly let us in early. While we were waiting CSP & Marc went to Walmart to buy more BBs- 2200 of them!   Once the brewery opened we played giant Jenga and all the beer drinkers (not me) had one of their artisan beers. IMG_4097 It was such a gorgeous day and they have this big covered patio.  It was really nice.

We went home and hung out on the porch some more.  People watching, knitting, reading, and BB gunning.   For dinner Marc made pizzas for everyone.  For dessert since I’m not a fan of cake, Marc’s mom made me this gorgeous fruit pizza!  It was amazing!  They sang happy birthday and I blew out my candles then burst into tears.  I was just so overwhelmed by all that everyone was doing for me, to make me feel special on my day.  My heart just couldn’t hold it all in!  Even typing this now makes me tear up.  Maybe turning 40 makes you sappy!  Then it was time for presents.  I got totally spoiled by my family.  Turning 40 is apparently a big deal.   Next it was game time!  We played a rousing game of Cranium and laughed and laughed!  I love that game so much and it’s even more fun when it’s with your family!

We tired ourselves out and went to bed.  What a great day!

fun

40th Birthday Mountain Extravaganza Day 2

Shanny

Friday morning Brotha Marc made us all breakfast.  Then we got dressed and ready to head into town.  That’s when I noticed Sara had snuck out and decorated my car!  Click to enlarge pics.IMG_4103 IMG_4100 IMG_4099 IMG_4101 IMG_4102 IMG_4104 She even drew CSP on his window with his goatee and baseball cap!  So fun!

We went into town to Walmart, Staples, the pet store, Harris Teeter, then picked up lunch at the Come Back Shack.  Best name for a burger joint ever!   We went home and had our lunch then it was nap time!  After our naps we hung out on the porch reading & knitting and watching Brotha Marc sell funnel cakes to tourists. IMG_4093The boys had a good time shooting beer cans with their BB guns.  I tried a couple shots but all I could hit was the tree!

IMG_4094For dinner Marc cheffed up yummy stir fry.  Then we played Phase 10 until even the pugs were conking out.  We were trying to wait up for Papa & Gigi & Momo to arrive but we were all too tired to stay up any longer.   We were in bed by 10:45.  Having mountain fun wears you out!

 

 

fun

40th Birthday Mountain Extravaganza Day 1

Shanny

Thursday:

We woke up early on August 1st and got to the DMV fast as we could so I could get my license renewed.   We were in and out in less than 20 minutes.  It would have been faster if I’d known that the sign is Divided Highway and not Island! Go Around the Island!  Luckily I had a really nice instructor!  Yay!

We went back home to pack up last minute stuff and do one last load of laundry.  Then we hit the road for Valle Crucis.  We had to take 421 up since they were doing construction on 321.  421 is the boring road.  Sigh.  But soon enough we were in the mountains!  We pulled up to the house and Sara and the boys were already there.  Sara decorated the house for my birthday!  She went all out!  It looked SO good!  Check it: (click on pics to enlarge)DSC_0008 DSC_0009 DSC_0010 DSC_0011 DSC_0012 DSC_0013 DSC_0014 Sara hung banners in every room and out on the porch.  She made me the coozy and tiara AND the cool Celebrate dragonfly hanging!  Plus there were balloons in every room all over the floor.  I was blown away!

CSP & Brotha Marc did a little fishing after we unloaded the car while I visited with Sara, the boys, and the pugs.  Then it was time to freshen up for dinner.  We met up with Kristie and Chris at Red Onion Cafe.   We started out with Key Lime Pie Martinis.  SO good.  We had a fabulous dinner with great conversation and wonderful company.  Next thing we knew it was time to go home.  We made a quick pit stop for breakfast goods at Ingles then went home and were in bed by 10!

fun, travel

Blue mountain skies

Shanny

We’re blessed with great weather on this trip. Another gorgeous day in Valle Crucis! Blue skies during the day with nice breezes, chilly air at night.This trip is pretty laid back.  Lots of book reading and chilling out. Molly's a laid back mountain pug For some reason when we’re at the mountain house, Molly glues herself to CSP and forces him to hold her pretty much 24/7.  Cracks me up.

events, family, travel

Valle girl

Shanny

I’m home from spending most of last week in Valle Crucis.  If you aren’t familiar with Valle Crucis, NC it is pronounced Valley Croosiss and means Valley of the Cross.  I love it so much up there.  It’s my favorite place to be.  Time slows.  I knit in the rocking chair on the front porch and watch the tourists go in and out of the Mast Store.  Mast store all decked out for Independence Day As the sun sets we sometimes catch a glimpse of deer run across the yard.  It’s not nearly as hot there as it is in Charlotte, and sometimes at night people throw on jackets and sweaters- even in July.

We played lots of games (Scattergories was a favorite this trip) and ate all our meals together at the old table in the kitchen.  We went out for a couple of lunches, browsed through the Mast store, visited our favorite pet store in town, and rented a few movies.   I still have tons of pics to edit, but for now I’ll leave you with these pics here.  I’ll be back with details and more pics soon!