I feel as if I’m stuck in a weird movie…..

Life for everyone has gotten a bit wonky and twisted all of the sudden due to the Carona Virus sweeping our world.  Quarantine,  toilet paper hoarding,  grocery store shelves empty – I feel as if I’m on a set of a Jordan Peele movie gone very wrong.  Que the zombies.  Although I am happy to report the shoe ads on my FB feed have been FABULOUS ::::beaming::::::::  Always look for a silver lining – or shoes in my case.

The urge to flee seeking sandy salty and beach has been overwhelming.  We have plotted to make a small escape but safely so. If anyone fusses about it I’ll get Jenny to spray them with Lysol.  So.   We high-tailed it out of Atlanta after stopping at The Uncles for a can of Lysol (Jenny insisted) and the new book by Pam Scholes called Under the Mulberry Tree.  With toilet paper and vodka we are SET!  Jenny sprays anything I even look at outside of the car.  I stopped for gas and in the flash of an eye her wee self appeared spraying the entire pump.  She’s quick. I then got back into the car and almost suffocated because she had sprayed the car.   Lysol is my new perfume.   ::::sigh::::::  We dropped off supplies at her parents home leaving them on the steps as we waved and blew kisses but keeping a respectable distance.  Jenny would have sprayed them with Lysol if she could have gotten close enough I think.  I had to hold her back.  She’s like a cowboy out of the old Westerns with a can of Lysol on each hip ready to draw and spray.  ::::music from the movie High Noon in the background::::::::: Short people do the most particularly adorable things.  Don’t you wish Jenny was one of your besties ?  Yeah well… back off.  :::pulling my can of Lysol out:::::::  Teasing. I’ll share!

We arrived in SC wistfully wishing one of our favorite shops would magically be open for a quick run in.   It’s called Grayco Hardware & Home in Beaufort –  it’s a hardware store but they also carry high end furnishings, clothing and housewares.  I could live in this shop. They have a great array of Scout bags too.   The stores were in usual shopping mode much to our surprise!  We plotted to keep our distance from everyone with a can of Lysol in Jen’s purse.   We didn’t actually buy anything however just being in a retail settings was worth it.   I don’t think SC got the quarantine message.  Ahem.   We stopped by Walmart same thing.  Full shopping mode business as usual.  We loaded up (already with the most important things we brought with us Vodka and TP) breakfast and food items,, creamer for coffee etc.   We headed on towards Fripp stopping at the Seafood Market to grab a few lbs of shrimp (or Shrimps as the locals say).   Nearing the gates I turned to Jen to say “wouldn’t it be a perfect day if Mangoes was open!”  Mangoes is a boutique here on the island – and yes! They were open! Squeeeeeeeee!  We both found wonderful items on the 50% off rack!  I found a lovely dress, two tops and a wonderful sweater.  Jen found wee things for wee folk.

That was yesterday.

This morning I’m nested in my usual spot and Jen is in hers.  We have our routine.  I get up early write as I sip my morning coffee.  She’s nested upstairs then she meanders down to nest beside me like a small bird in her blanket.  Her blanket this trip is white with pink flamingoes.  Wee folk kind of things.

We are headed to sit on the beach, read sip an all day cocktail.   People are playing golf (I think you can play golf as long as you spray the golf ball down with Lysol who knows).  We will keep a respectable amount of distance between us and the people here.   Maybe we are immune (I’m completely kidding but wistfully wishing it was so).

Quarentined with my wee Jenny – it will give me strength to go back to city life and try to support with optimism and whimsy.   And shoe selection.

xo

Kimy

**make sure you follow my blog so that you don’t miss a wacky moment!  Stay safe out there!  Lysol and Vodka! 

P.S.  On a very serious note — prayers go out to families affected by this bizarre virus.  WTF China!

 

Kimysworld 2019

Looking back on my year of 2019 – a whirlwind of activity.

My year in review click HERE 

The video is about 20 mins long — I did my best to keep it at a minimum just so much to share!

From book clubs, to travel, to moving – it was quite a year! The biggest trip was to Galapagos Islands with the Uncles.   Travel is my life force.  I enjoy being at home but love packing a bag and heading out.  Then coming home is the best too!  My pups are my wee loves.  Pip, Cricket & Bumble.  Work hard play hard.

I’m a workaholic and I’m completely at peace with this.  I love what I do!  My estate sale companies are doing very well.  Birmingham Estate Sales in Alabama and Atlas South Estate Sales in Atlanta.   I have homes in both cities and go between the two (only a few hours apart).  My home in Birmingham is in Woodlawn – a historic area making a comeback!  I named Thistle Patch Cottage a 1918 cottage.   I sold my beloved La Petite Maison in Historic College Park and bought an enchanting home I’ve named Speckled Egg Cottage where the scottie girls roam freely to bark at squirrels and birds.  It’s an 1919 cottage.  Can you tell I love older homes?  It’s a labor of love to own an older home.  I would have it no other way.

I’m so completely blessed to have a vast circle of friends who I consider family.   My kids are happy and thriving.  Life is very good indeed.

I’m excited for 2020 – a year of self-adjusting.  We have a wedding to prepare for – my daughter is getting married to an incredible guy who I completely adore.   Highlands NC will be the setting – how romantic!

2020 setting work goals, personal goals and travel goals.  It’s all about having the goal in place and working towards it.  Fine-tuning who I am, what’s important.   I’m so very happy to be who I am, quirks and all – I’m an entrepreneur, I’m a writer, I’m a very loyal friend, I’m a lover of animals – I’m an 8 year old inside of a 54 year old – I see joy and silliness when others may not – that’s who I am.  I’m a helper. I’m a giver.  Now the song from Steve Miller band is stuck in my head (I’m a joker).  he he he

From my home to yours – sending love hugs and a kick ass 2020.  Boom

xoxo and more xoxo

Boom.

Kimy

 

 

Thankful Grateful Hopeful Peaceful

Thanksgiving Day I completely revert back to the 8 year old sitting on the sofa in the den covered in quilts in the house I grew up in.   My sweet mother already had quilts in place, a scrambled egg sandwich with toasted bread and extra butter and a very big frosty glass of milk waiting for me to watch the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Oh the parades the people watching and the floats had me captivated.  One of the many reasons I love NYC to this day is the parade and growing up on Sesame Street which I associate with NY.  I was always up early regardless of what day it was but this day especially I was smiling silently still in my footy pajamas ready to sit glued to the television waiting for the parade to begin.   I was serenely happy in my quilted nest not moving until lunch or bathroom breaks.  A smile will immediately appear on my face when remembering these Thanksgiving days in my younger years.  A scrambled egg sandwich also has the same effect being it was presented to me by my mother on special occasions and to only me.  My sister was either never awake or absent on my early morning special occasions.  Scrambled egg sandwiches were also given when I was ill – the time I had pneumonia around the age of 12 I existed off these scrambled buttery delights for weeks.

This Thanksgiving I’m oh so grateful for things big and for things small.  I’m sitting here in my rather new home to me although an older home (1920) I’ve recently purchased after selling my beloved chalet that’s just a mile away from this one.   It was time to turn the page.  Coffee by my side in a Starbucks mug printed with North Carolina (that was the trip to get my vintage 1970s Frolic Camper – I love Starbucks mugs).   The girls Pip, Cricket and baby Bumble are scattered among my bed watching for squirrels running by on the trees outside my bedroom window.  I can hear the wind blowing outside as the wind chimes tinkle tinkle oh how I love that sound.  The leaves are rustling.  My windows are the wavy glass you see in older homes if the original windows are still in place.  The heat is on and humming because its 41 degrees in Atlanta on this 2019 Thanksgiving Day!

I am so very THANKFUL today.  A short list of my thankfulness – family, friends, dogs, work, art, life, curiosity, learning, books, travel, estate sales and so much more!

GRATEFUL for this life I was given.

Hopeful for our country- hopeful that communities come together Hopeful that people see it’s OK to be different be respectful of others HOPEFUL people use kindness and learn from one another.

Peaceful.   This is something fairly new to me in recent years.  I’m at peace.  I’m at peace with WHO I am even though I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s OK!  Being at peace is something I strive for now.  I’m content.  I’m happy.

I’m house hopping today – Giving a quick hug and talk to those that I can then headed on a Thanksgiving Day adventure with some girlfriends ending up at the Uncles who are like my parents.   Thankful for friends who are like family.

Wishing you ALL a very happy holiday.  You are important to me and to so many don’t ever think you are not important to this life and this world.

Find your magic on this day.  Keep the memories close to your heart of Thanksgivings past.  Cherish the ones you make today.  If you don’t make it special, who will?

 

 

When I become a Ghost

Interestingly enough, I’ve always felt that I would never die.  Peter Pan Complex – never grown up and never grow old.  Terrified of it.  Like most people I suppose.  Maybe it’s my age, or what I do professionally that has softened the blow for me, that yes….. I will absolutely die at some point because that’s just part of life. It’s not a horrible thing – whatever happens next will be quite wonderful I bet.  I think many will be completely surprised at what happens – we all have our own religious ideas of what that might be.  I’ve always wanted to come back as the ghosts in Topper. Remember that old black and white show?  And then of course there’s the fabulous movie my favorite of many favorites called The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.  ::::dreamy sigh:::::: I have ALWAYS wanted my very own ghost Sea Captain.  Sorry guys!! Just give the me salty ghost of a sea captain and I’m a happy camper! LOL  I would consider taking a live one… only if they live up to the one in the movie.  So.

Anyway….  my post this morning has nothing to do with any of the above other than…. my book in my office that I’ve begun called ‘When I Become A Ghost’.  I’ve been up for about an hour or so. Coffee is made, my bed is covered in Scotties (both flannel sheet Scotties and the real kind of scottie dogs). Still in my red and white striped flannel pjs, fluffy socks on.  Jumped back into bed to write this before I started my day.  This was the first thing I wanted to do.  My faithful cup of coffee is by my side in the lovely lemon mug my dear friend Panda gave to me.   I can look out the window and see the most lovely trees that are changing from yellow to a brilliant orange.  I’m smiling.  Happy.  Wiggling my toes every now and then.  Back on to the subject about the ghost book.

My ghost book is for my family.  Instead of “Do this when I Die’ title it’s more humorous I think being called When I become a Ghost.  I told my daughter about this, a few friends, my attorney.  My daughter was completely mortified and showed this by several eye rolls which made me think she was going to levitate or something.  It serves as instructions.  This is very important.  Do you know how many clients I have when I meet them to do an estate sale who are in frantic mode because they don’t know anything they can’t find anything they are in chaos because the deceased did not leave instructions.   Well.  I’ll get a gold star for this when I’m floating around.

My book of instructions entails the following:

•  introduction with something quippy to ease the loss for my family and friends. Heck, they might be happy – teasing of course. I hope.  Not too sad just a little (although hopefully I’ll still be around just more transparenty)
• passwords to all my accounts and a list of those accounts
• bank accounts and information on those
• life insurance info (boy will you be happier at this point! Live in Paris if you wish!)
• a few special letters to give to people (I decided NOT to write the ugly ones….. although….. )
• who gets what specifically houses, property whatever that is at the time
• a WILL (most important people!!!)
• instructions for me specifically (cremation baby! Burn baby Burn!) Prepay this if you can
• What to do with those ashes (boy will you be surprised! One part of it is secret…..)
• Celebration of life and a signature cocktail (big party coming!)
• My obituary ….. yes I wrote it myself! There’s even pictures!
• Throw away anything in my night stand – very important. You wouldn’t BELIEVE some of the very personal things we find in night stands getting ready for an estate sale! Some things we have no idea what in the world you do with them! :::::blushing::::::
• Instructions for my businesses
• blah blah blah

anyway…  you get the picture.

Here’s a link to many more things to think about.  Click HERE  

Sure.  People don’t like to think about dying.  It’s scary because we’ve never done it before.  Can you imagine what a relief it would be if we died a few times every few years and get the feel of it.  Exactly. Old hat.   I’ve had too much coffee. lol My mind goes all over the place.

I think for me personally, by leaving specific instructions in my ghost book, I’ve taken a big chunk of the anxiety out of the way.   Peace of mind so to speak.

Now…… I’ve given you something to think about today.  Go forth and do it!!

xo

Not a ghost – yet!

Faithfully yours….. Kimy

 

 

Waiting on snow……. in the South

There’s nothing quite as maddening as waiting on snow….. in the South.  I have too many things on my to do list….  for this to happen today.

I have book club tonight up in Ellijay where my cabin is.  I was to head N around noon — it’s only about an hour and some change from the city.  The perfect getaway.  N. Ga has become a Little Napa of sorts — with winerys and vineyards welcoming guests to come sit sip and stay a while.   Tonight was to be the first meeting of the Ellijay Literary Society.  We were set to meet at Ellijay Coffee House which is my nest when I’m up at the cabin.  I sit, sip a latte write read work dream rewrite my to do lists…etc etc etc (said in a very King and I sort of way).  This is my 3rd book club.   I’m sort of a cat lady but with book clubs.    I think 3 is my limit.  Just like dogs.  3 dogs.  3 book clubs.  That’s the limit she said.    Friends will say ‘how do you have time to do all that you do?’.  I look at them…. blinking… thinking ‘what all do I do?’  I suppose to some I am fairly active (ok..maybe a lot).  But there’s so many things to do go and see.  Also…being single (again) I CAN do anything basically…that I want to do.  And THAT…. my friends……  makes me a very happy girl.  ::::wiggling my toes merrily:::::  Anywho…… we’ve rescheduled book club for Thursday evening (note to self to change that!).

Back to the impending snow……

If you’ll recall the big one in 2014 —    

And the really big one which I do not recall at all.  I was 12ish. Blizzard of 1977.  

I do remember walking up to Stroups the little store at the corner of the entrance to our street where I grew up in Morrow, Ga.  My sister and I walked up to the store…there were no cars because of all the snow.  It didn’t seem overwhelming or anything…  but then again…. I was 12.  So.   I just remembered being in awe that we were allowed to walk up to the store by ourselves.  Of course we also went through the woods to get there which my parents would have completely put my older sister on major restriction for doing that.  I mean… HELLO…. creepy woods!!!

A quick recap of the snow in 2014 – I was intown meeting Di for a quick lunch…. snow flurries began to sprinkle down while I made my way to Buckhead…   ‘Its not going to stick’ I remember clearly thinking.   It’s just snow.  Good grief.   By the time we ate..chatting away as mother nature plotted and planned…  I left thinking I could scoot over to Goodwill on Roswell Rd one of my favorites.   I turned to look up as I got into my car… for the first time realizing the parking lot was now white.   I still had doubts…  but instead of heading to Goodwill, I got onto 400 headed S back to Historic College Park (only about a 25 / 30 minute drive no traffic).   As traffic almost completely stopped on 75 downtown I prayed feverishly to the Gods that be please please just let me make it home.   I just want to GO HOME….   THANKFULLY I did make it home about an hour later.   But many thousands were stranded on the roads left to the kindness of strangers.  Thankfully there were many kind strangers around that day.  And what to my wondering eye should appear? A text from my neighbor to come have Snowapacolypse cocktails which I did.  I braved the frigid dangerous snow to walk next door carrying a bottle of wine as we sat and giggled and cheered to the weather.   Cocktail hour in the South has come upon us indeed.

So far no snow.   Schools have closed.   I have errands to run.  I’m still going to run them.  Another snow experience……I remember my trip to Maine – Kennebunkport to be exact.  Years ago with Di.   It snowed the day we were to leave.  We awoke to a complete white out.   It was so deep the cars were almost buried.   We were set to fly home later that day.   All I could think is we’ve GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS FROZEN HELL AND TO THE AIRPORT.  Everyone at the hotel we were staying in didn’t seem to be too worried.  It was the last day of the season because they closed due to this kind of weather. They reopened in the Spring.  I remembered the movie The Shining…. and all that snow.  That’s the curse of an over active imagination in situations such as this.   So many images begin to swirl through your head.   Snow plows came…   we skidded all the way to the airport.   My hands were clenched in a claw around the handles by the door.   It was maddening.  Fun trip though in hindsight.  Snow and all.  :::smiling sheepishly::::

Well….. today is Tuesday…. so on the ‘to do list’ for the house is cleaning the living room and sunroom.  Maybe I will…maybe I won’t….  it’s all up in the air because of the snow of course.   It’s now 10:13 – no snow still.

I’m off to run errands…..  toodles.   Snowballs and all.

I’ve taken pics of my nest here in Atlanta to share…….  I would take pics of the snow….but I digress.  You’ll see where I sit in the mornings to sip my coffee and go through emails etc….  covered in quilts in the sunroom overlooking a bamboo forest in the back.  There’s a massacre of defluffed stuffed toys from Bumble the newest of the Scotties.  Cricket is shy and chose to sit poised at the end window watching for snow.   Amazing to think I live 5 minutes from the airport… I rarely hear planes… unless they are diverted.  The historic district here is quite lovely.   One of the oldest in Atlanta.  Home of prestigious women’s Cox College back in the 1800s (it burned).  Now we have Woodard Academy previously Georgia Military Academy.  Lovely old homes and some cool new ones.   And then there’s my wee chalet.  You can see Cricket the Scottie gazing out the window …. waiting for…. you guessed it.  Snow.

**Make sure you follow Kimy’s world to see if in fact…. snow ever showed?**

 

 

 

 

Happy 2019!!!

Can you imagine?!  2019 already.  Wow.

If you’re anything like me (which hope there’s not too many of ‘me’ running around – world would be in chaos but happy) I love sitting down the week before the upcoming new year plotting and planning.   Doing the usual new years resolutions, a vision board / book for good measure – looking over everything again and cementing this in my brain.  Goals are set –

For me – I’m very visual – the vision board plan really works.   I have a minor version I use on post it notes which is just a bulleted version of goals/ outlines of my life without the photos that I use in my yearly planner.  Yes — I have to have a planner!  I’m very tactile and enjoy writing something down and marking it off.   I buy the year at a glance with the weekly version also in there – that way I use the weekly pages as to do notes and go back and make sure I’ve done everything I needed to do.  Works really well for me considering I own and run two companies, have many balls up in the air.   I sat down with a dear friend, Jake Rothschild (if you know ice cream then you know Jake – Jakes Ice Cream – Irwin Street Market in Atl on the beltline )  at his delightful home around the corner from me (his house is called Sweet Selma Farms – it’s an urban farm – he has chickens and turkeys) his home was previously a tackle shop I think as the story goes.   So it’s a very unusual home.  Much like mine.   We sat with his two story tree twinkling as a roaring fire glowed in the corner.  The tinkle tinkle of the fish tank as candles were lit and wine was poured.   We cut photos from magazines and worked on our vison books.   It was quiet, mindful and purposeful.

The most important part of any year is what is the MOST important thing – which if done everything else will fall into place around that.   For me – it’s health / active lifestyle.    I’ve been very still lately it seems.   I think the divorce took so much out of me emotionally.   Being still –  in bed watching movies covered in Scotties.   Time to get up shake it off and GO DO SEE.

So #1 is health / active lifestyle.   Work, travel, projects anything else will completely fall into the best place if #1 is taken care of.

Work is very important –  then there’s travel which is a given.  Writing projects –  my house projects – getting the rentals ready to go.

Life is good and it’s what you make of it.   Work hard play hard.

I’m heading up to the cabin this afternoon.   This will be the first time I take the new pup Bumble.    I need to buy a harness for her.   It should be very interesting indeed.   Pip and Cricket are great in the car.  Pip sleeps in her bed in the back looking out the window.  Cricket always has to be in my lap wedged between the drivers side door and my leg.   That’s always her spot.   I’ve never taken Bumble on a trip except when she was little and couldn’t really leave her at home yet.  I’m pretty sure Bumble will want to sit with Pip.

I see a hot tub in my future, a roaring fire – libations and post it notes with more focused points of my 2019.   It’s all coming together folks.

Ok…. Off to do my errands then pack up to leave.

More in 2019!!!!

**Make sure you follow my blog to see where life has taken this southern gal…… ** 

 

 

 

Graduation Today

The Doodle (aka my daughter Laura) graduated today with a 2nd degree in Nursing from Samford University.  I’m so proud I could POP.  POP I tell you.  When she graduated from University Of Alabama a few years back with her first degree, you kind of sit back and think… ok what next?  She began talking about nursing, and then began this two and a half year journey that finished today.  Remember when she first drove off after high school?

I have to tell you — I didn’t realize I was going to feel so…. sad!  Don’t get me wrong.. I’m ecstatic she graduated and even spoke at pinning ceremony.  A high honor for sure.   Once again…. so proud I could POP! See?!!! I just popped.  Literally.

I just dropped Jennie off — my girlfriend who accompanied me for the graduating festivities including the pinning on Friday and graduation today.  It hit me like a brick wall.  Her apartment in Birmingham will not be hers any longer.  She’s accepted a job in Atlanta at Children’s Healthcare which is a BIG DEAL.  She’ll be in NICU residency.   I can’t even imagine.  (popping again)

She’s moving out of her apartment in a week.   Her nest in Birmingham.  Where she’s studied hard, and ate sushi and lived for years now.   She’s packing up to move back up to Atlanta.  Her beau is there who I adore,  Lee.  I’m in Atlanta too where of course I’ll see her.  I have homes in both Birmingham and Atlanta for business.

I can’t explain this sadness.  It came out of left field.   It makes me sad to know her apartment will not be hers any longer.   She’s extremely ocd about being organized.  Everything in it’s place.   Her closet is just so – from shoes to dresses.  Her backpack always full of books.  Her class schedule and her planner.   Her couch where she would sit for hours and regroup from a hard exam or study or just sleep.

I’m excited for her – gosh I love her so very much.  I’m so proud of the smart, beautiful articulate driven woman she’s become.   She’s not a little girl, or even a college student any longer.   I’m biting my tongue begging her to start a master program or…. anything.  She’ll be working now.  No more Spring Breaks.  No more can you bring me Chick fil A between classes.  Can you get me Real and Rosemary I’m exhausted from studying.   I’ve named her Nurse Doodle which I think she secretly likes.  #nursedoodle I teased I would get her lab coat inscribed.   She cringed but smiled.

I’m surprised by my reaction – it got worse the closer I got home.  Thinking about her empty apartment.  That’s what made all of this so real.  I’m literally sitting here crying.   Oh good grief.  I think this is normal.  Right?!  It’s a huge passage.  She’s turned the corner.   She’s all grown up ‘really’ this time.   Now on to her making her life her own.

Ok.   I feel better now.   I just needed to cry it out.

I really am so very very proud of her.   Every test was a nail-biter.  Every new semester harder than the one before.  Then actually thinking about employment which she gained immediately before even graduating!!  yes — I’m EXTERMELY proud of this girl.  :::::beaming:::::::

She wanted to celebrate last night at Chez Fon Fon we had a blast!!! Long wait which is normal especially for a Friday evening.   She glowed.  She had just been pinned.  Such an accomplishment.   We toasted Nurse Doodle!  Today was actual graduation.  Celebrating all around!!! Cheers and woots!!!

Adulting is hard sometimes.  Actually many times.   Smiling again.

Humor me.  Here’s all of these brilliant youngsters walking in to be pinned

This is the BEST PART — Laura Kennedy Davis speaking at pinning ceremony

This is graduation from Samford today.  Skip up to 1:18 where she is announced.   What a day!!!

*Make sure you follow my blog to see what’s going on in #kimysworld 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charleston SC – Annual GF trip Dec 2018

A GOOD friend knows all your stories…. a BEST FRIEND helped you write them.

So many of you know my yearly Dec bestie trip with Di. We are two peas. Very different in many ways however very much alike in others. We travel well together. You know what I mean. You have friends who are completely dear to you… BUT ….. can you travel with them? Not everyone is travel worthy.
For instance…. Diane and I can go for periods of being quiet. No need for words. We just enjoy being in each others company. We can be in our own little worlds (for me it’s #kimysworld ) and she can do the Di thing. We have similar sleep patterns. We go to bed early we get up early. We go for periods of amazing conversations…. spilling our souls and we know the other one completely understands. We enjoy good food and amazing coffee. We love books…. she’s a quilter I am not but admire the heck out of her craft. We find quilt shops when we travel. I love quilts so it evens out. We both love cocktails and a good martini. She’s very corporate I’m an overtly creative business owner. We bonded years ago in a Single Parent class at Peachtree Presbyterian in Atl. If you’re an adult and in Atlanta you’ve probably been to the single parent class at PP. I’ve met some of my dearest friends there. Gee whiz I’ll probably head back there again at some point. Being single and all and a parent to boot.
Speaking of friend who you don’t travel well with…….. I’ll NEVER forget ‘that trip that shall not be mentioned’ where we took another friend with us to DC. :::::cringing:::::: this particular friend who actually sadly none of the original group of this friend level are friends with her any longer. For various reasons (mainly she’s selfish, narcissistic, a taker not a giver… oh but I do digress ::::coughing her name begins with the letter after J….:::::: ) Anywho…… on this DC trip during December.. think cold, Christmas cheer, etc…. this particular friend slept until noon, stayed up until wee hours of the morning… talked loudly on the phone when we were in bed, and watching TV loudly….. it was pure hell I tell you. HELL. There ended up being a bitter argument the first full day of the trip between Di and one whose name begins with the letter after J.   Incident caused by the one named with the letter after J.  Completely. I was there.  One storming off to sob and one being really piffed who stood very still turning red and redder.   I just stood there blinking thinking OH MY GOD WE HAVE 4 MORE DAYS LEFT :::blink blink blink:::: I took a deep breath knowing I had to be the peace maker. Good lord don’t ruin my upcoming cocktail hour were my real thoughts. Cocktail hour must be saved!!!! Everyone made peace, I smiled a LOT during the trip.  Di and I vowed to NEVER ask her on another trip…. LIKE EVER. Which we never ever did. Well… she did invite herself (yes…. she actually did) on a family trip with my dad… she ended up flirting with my father so much that my dad took me aside and said “I think she really likes me”. Mortified…I took the one whose name begins with the letter after J aside and said “stop sitting in my dads lap”. EXACTLY. ::::::rolling my eyes and turning red:::::::
Di and I started our Dec trips years ago…. we’ve been all over the US… back to special places like DC and Key West several times. Seattle was a wonderful trip – we’ve never really had a bad trip – ever I don’t think. Well.  Except with you know who see above.  We decided to return to Charleston this year. I’ll show you our pictures at the end.
We found the first night a lovely place to nest called Darling Oyster House – and darling was it!! The cocktails were divine and food tasty. We were at Hanks our last night which is a given….HELLO! We enjoyed the Charleston Jazz Christmas Concert. Have you ever been to Spoleto Festival in Charleston ? A must! We shopped, we drank we slept and talked enjoying the charm of Charleston. We had lunch at Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island which is my favorite place not because it’s really great food it’s because it’s in celebration of Edgar Allen Poe! AND it’s on Sullivan’s Island which I love. We popped in on an estate sale of all things on Sullivan’s Island. I bought a piece of original art and a few planters. I love estate sales!!! I took a sabbatical of sorts a few years back to Charleston. I nested on the beach at the lighthouse on Sullivans Island almost every night – writing, dreaming, sipping Firefly sweet tea vodka watching the sunset. Reading, people watching… it’s a magical place indeed. People ask about our wee traveling companions ‘the mice’….. we bought these precious felted creatures on our Toronto trip. They travel with us because it’s silly and fun. Don’t you think?
Next year (we start planning the next year literally while we are on the current trip) we may go to Boston. Or Telluride. Or……… ?
What are some of your favorite trips you’ve had with friends?
To friends and trips……. life is short take the trip!!!
#kimyanddi

 

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I just realized

Oddly enough — I cannot stand to read directions.  It’s as if I think I have some kind of divine connection with whatever the product is and I just don’t need to read the directions.  Point made just this very moment when I touched the button to turn on the tree and realized there are also colored lights on the tree.  Who knew? Obviously not me….. because I didn’t read the instructions.  Well cool!

So how did your Thanksgiving turn out? Good I hope.   I felt very blessed for all the activities and invitations.   That’s the interesting part about the post D word (divorce) are the dynamics change – the friends shift – it is what it is.   It’s the nature of the beast.  Interesting enough when I divorced ‘the one who shall not be named’ – I was the one to retain all the medical community friends – even though he was the doctor – he was such a….. well. You get the drift.    Very thankful for friends and those relationships that continue on.   Of course things change its just a fact of life.  Change isn’t necessarily always bad – I suppose I’m a sort of chameleon of sorts – I’m able to be flexible enough to shift from to being single again.  Although I sort of feel as if I was single all along.   I’m rambling – forgive me.   I feel as if a faucet has been turned on and I must write write write — which goes into rambling at times.  ::::wrinkling my nose and smiling::::::

My Thanksgiving recap – my son and I joined neighbors and friends at the Pritchards home.  This is the day before Thanksgiving.  George works for me hosting estate sales and his wife Linda is a flight attendant at the age of 71!! Is that just incredible or what! She’s completely my hero.   It’s always a delight to have any event at their home.  They completely have everything down to a ‘T’.  From dishes to decorations to food.  Lunch was incredible!   THEN….  that evening Andrew and I ubered to the Sun Dial downtown Atlanta.   It’s the lovely iconic round building you’ll see in our skyline.  Sadly, about 2 years ago a small boy was killed in the rotation of the floor (pinched to death I think which is horrific) thus the floor does not rotate at the moment.   Which is a bummer for sure.  It’s the only accident they’ve ever had since opening in 1967.   Hopefully they’ll be up and turning again soon.  Anyway… if you live in Atlanta you’ve seen the building and hopefully you’ve had cocktails and dined in the restaurant.  It’s quite lovely.  You can’t beat the view that’s for sure.

Thanksgiving day, I saw my son off as he headed to his dads (the one who shall not be named) for the holiday.  I drove down to Newnan to see my twin nieces and the baby Charlotte who is really, truly, I’m not being biased here I don’t think  — just the cutest darn two year old you’ll ever see.  She’s just incredibly darling.  I’m sure you’ll agree.   I got my Charlotte fix then headed North of the city to my besties house – completely thankful for friends who actually like to cook.   Di can cook let me tell you.   We had Watergate Salad (a very political green concoction) candied yams, corn casserole, turkey that was picture perfect and cranberry sauce.   It was very tasty indeed.   I watched them put up their tree – as she uncovered ornaments many of them I was traveling with her when she purchased them… I realized —  agonizingly so…. that I forgot my ornaments at the now X husbands house.  :::::::deep sigh::::::::  Snap.   I really don’t want to even see him much less ask for the ornaments back.  But they are some really special ones in there….from travels and kids and snap.   I’m going to have to ask for them back.   Maybe I can get him to leave them on his front porch.   UGH.  :::::: deep sigh again::::::   I emailed him.  Hopefully they’ll be returned.   I’ll keep you posted.

My Thanksgiving ended with cocktails at my other besties house and neighbor.   We have this table with all these collected items that get changed and moved as the days roll on.  It’s our alter to life I’ve named it.   Somewhat witchy I suppose which adds even more appeal.   I finally was able to spill the beans that our other bestie Jennie secretly married Stephen who she’s been with for about what….4 years now?  I’ve been DYING TO TELL ANYONE!!!!!  I was sworn to secrecy…..  and I kept the damn secret much to my chagrin.  Fudge.   I did keep the secret… she finally told her kids and all the other important people family wise thus I was able to finally tell Anda.   Extremely happy for her.   ::::dreamy sigh::::::

Anda and I tootled down to Senoia this afternoon.  It’s about 45 minutes from the city —  it’s where they film the hit show ‘The Walking Dead’ which is a favorite among many.   Sweet quaint town – we had dinner at MacGuires Irish Pub.  Very good.

I am happy to report that Bumble is playing well with Pip and Cricket.  She’s still the pesky younger sister but they’ve made great progress.

Ok.  I’m all written out for the evening.  Off to soak and read ‘How to live a charmed life’ very good book.  Then slip between my thick soft flannel sheets with slumbering Scotties.   Sweet dreams! xxoo

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Pre-Thanksgiving Nov 2018

Hello out there (did I hear an echo?)

I’m sitting here — with Scotties draped over my quilted sofa as my laptop is perched on a pillow in my lap.   Bumble the newest of the Scotties is so sweet when she sleeps.  When she’s awake – not so much – especially when she bites.  Those teeth are sharp!! My son said the other day “Mom – you look like a crack addict”.  My hands and arms are punctured from baby scottie Bumble Teeth. OUCH!   I can assure you I’ve never done crack or any other kind of drug….  I’m a wuss when it comes to things of that nature.  OK there was the pot smoking incident —  but truly – my arms and hands look as if I got in a fight with a cactus and the cactus won!  Bumble has very sharp teeth – she’s teething..she’s a puppy.  I”ll be happier when she’s beyond this stage and a full grown scottie dog.

Jennie  and I saw A Star is Born today.  With Lady Gaga and the guy with the blue eyes.  Sam Shepherd was also in the movie.  Oh I’ve always had the biggest crush on him.  Remember the movie The Lifeguard? Good lord YES!!!!  The last version of the movie with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson was the BEST though.  That’s what I need… a Rockstar cowboy.  Nah…. that sounds exhausting actually.  Fun to think about for a minute or two.  I really don’t need anyone in my life that way for a bit I think. More than a bit.  I need a rest.  Focused on work, my kids, writing and travel.   Oh… and doggies.  Love my sweet scottie girls.  Pip, Cricket and baby Bumble.

I have my tree up pre-thanksgiving (my mother is rolling over in her grave I assure you).  I NEVER put my tree up until the day after Thanksgiving.  It’s just a strange season for me this year.  With the divorce….. it’s not that I’m in a depressive state although that would be just fine considering….  You must have the lows to experience the highs.  Feel it for what it is.   I have another friend who has recently married … I’m so happy for her!!! She deserves the best the world has to offer and she has gotten it in the form of her now husband.   So very happy for them.   Back to the tree up before Thanksgiving has even started.   I believe in enjoying the holiday that’s current — but this year… I just needed to put up my tree.  So it’s up.  It’s flocked with lights.  LOVE it.  Heck… I may leave it up all year for that matter.   It adds a certain…..  Aspen feel to the living room I think.  Hm.

I’ve many wonderful options for the Thanksgiving holiday and hope you do as well.  Options are good. I am completely blessed.   I could stay in my pjs all day and watch Netflix…..  but I won’t.   I could though.  And that’s the best part about the entire affair.  Is that I can do whatever I want to do.  What a giddy feeling that is.  Pretty silly I know….to feel giddy about that sort of thing.   It could be the Limencello kicking in.  I love Limencello.  Who doesn’t, right?  I’ll never forget the evening the neighborhood girls met at Pat’s house (before they moved out West).  Pat brought out the Limencello.  We giggled until we cried.   Limencello has that affect on people I think.  It’s such a sunny happy lemony color.  Even the name sounds happy.   Oh! Remember the evening in Key West with Di – we met a KW local who had homemade limencello.  This delightful lady left the restaurant went home and brought us back a wicked limencello and we sipped and sipped – then we commenced to giggle and chat as Key West came alive at night.     Yes.  Definitely the limencello kicking in here.   Interestingly enough – a friend gave me this lovely bottle I’ve recently opened.   I’m by myself — just enjoying the heck of this sunny giggly producing liquid.   Merry making if you will.

I think about what makes me happy — people places and things.  I enjoy my small collections of items throughout my home.  My bird nests, my ships clock.  My cabbage bowls.   They bring me joy to see them.  More silliness I think.   And guess what — that’s a wonderful thing indeed.

I’m hopeful you have wonderful holidays planned.   If it’s just you in your pjs or a grand affair.  Make it your own.  Enjoy it because it’s your decision to do so.  I’m very thankful this year.   It’s been interesting thus far this season.   I’ll let you know how it turns out.

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