Hanging My Head In Shame....

Yes friends, I am hanging my head in shame.  I have become such a bad blogger.  Just haven't felt that I had anything interesting to share of late. Thus my absence from blogland.  I have been checking in but have to admit haven't been doing much commenting either.  For all this I am so sorry.  Kicking myself in the rear and going to try and do a little better. 

So this post will be a little catch up  of sorts.  A little of this and a little of that.  So grab you a drink and maybe a snack and lets just visit for awhile.   If you have been visiting for awhile then you know we love short trips to the Great Smokey Mts. in TN.  It is about a 4 1/2 hour drive from home so not too far to travel for a few days.  Well last week the Mister and myself got away for a few days for a little R&R. in the mountains. 

When you travel do you pack a bag  of goodies to work on when you are riding?  Once we plan a trip, my work bag is the first thing I pack.  Yep, gotta sit it in the floor right next to my feet. Mr. P just don't understand how important this bag is to me.  I would be lost without it.  I carry a bag with me almost everywhere I go if the trip is going to be an hour or longer.  Yes, I can still enjoy the scenery, and we do lots of talking, but I work away the miles as we ride.

 

However on this trip we rode in this all the way. 

 

 

I have to admit, I did very little work on my crafts.

 I felt Mr. P. needed my help driving in the heavy rain on the interstate.  {smile}.  Don't you just hate riding behind those big transfer trucks and them spraying you with even more rain than the regular road sprays?  So instead of  one set of eyes on the roads, this trip there was two.  Now, don't ask Mr. P. if I was helping him drive!!! At one time he ask if I brought my work bag.   Was that a hint you think?  {hehe}

Despite the rain, we made it to our destination safely, and had a great time.  Thought I would share a few pictures of the scenery with you.  It had rained so much water was running from the mountains everywhere. 

 

 

The river that runs beside the road as you cross the mountain was white capped and the water was moving so swiftly.  Definitely not a day for rafting.

 

 

And because of so much rain, the mountains was definitely "smoking" thus how they got their name

 

 

We drove across the mountain from Tn. and went to Cherokee , North Carolina.  Mr. P. took me to the Casino.

 

  

I tried my luck on the slot machines, but didn't get rich.  Had fun and kind of broke even.  A fun time and then we headed back to cross the mountain to get back into Tn.   In one of the meadows before starting the climb into the mountain, we saw  Wild Mountain elk grazing in the field.

 

 

We really enjoyed spending some down time together while on our trip.  The day before we left, the rain stopped and this is what we saw.

 

 

A beautiful rainbow in the sky.  I never tire of seeing a rainbow.  We drove home with sunshine in our faces, and I got to work on my crafts all the way home.  {smile}. 

 

However once home, I had so little to unpack.  I hate to say it, but this trip I did not find many goodies at all.  We love the antique shops around the area, and there are a few primitive stores around.  I just didn't find anything new.  Are you ladies finding that there are not any new trends out there? My biggest purchase was this rusty and worn chicken feeder.  Don't know how I will use it in my decorating yet.

 

 

Hope all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day.  We had a good day.  We were in church with Holly and her family. I have been wanting some Knock Out Roses for awhile. This year,, well

somebody listened.  Mr. P. spent Sunday afternoon planting them for me, and I sat on the porch and watched.  Believe me , had I gotten close to them , they would have died!!  Hope they will do good.  Any of you that have them, have any tips I can pass along to the mister? Sunday evening all the family met for supper at Kathy's. 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday was a very special day for Darbee Rae.  She graduated from PreK.  She was so excited.  Mr. P. took time off from work and met Stacy, Holly, Kathy, and me for the graduation ceremony.  Darbee was so excited to get on that stage and show off in front of parents, and grandparents.  Sharing a few pictures with you.

 

 

 

Singing a song with the guitar she and her Mama made and decorated.

 

 

Receiving her diploma from Ms. Shanna and her assistant Ms. Amanda

  

Afterward Darbee Rae chose where she wanted to have lunch.  She chose Red Robin.  Guess that was a good suggestion.  The waitress' made her feel so special.  They brought her a balloon and ice cream and made up a cute song and sang,"Happy Graduation" to her.  Such a fun day for us all.  But this Nana was worn out by dusk. 

 

 

 

However today was  another day.  A good night's rest and I was up and ready to go.  Mr. P had brotherhood and supper at church tonight, so I was off for a day of shopping with my girls and supper out for myself.  Wishing all of you a wonderful Friday, and a great weekend. 

 

Until next time.