Daughter Lise and friend Magda shopped on Black Friday, although not early in the day. They took advantage of good sales, modeling the coats they bought.
On the way to the airport, we stopped at Culver’s. When Magda saw her cup announcing that it was her happy place, she posed for a photo to mark the moment. I’d say her face shows total euphoria.
Since we left Magda, I’ve had a full night’s sleep, eaten breakfast, gone to online church, done two loads of wash, and changed the tablecloths from Thanksgiving to Christmas. She is on the other side of the ocean now, waiting in Amsterdam to fly to Copenhagen. I’m truly grateful that Lise and her friends are willing to go to so much trouble to come here to visit me.
Daughter Lise, friend Magda, and I celebrated Thanksgiving fairly quietly. Bursts of laughter were not quiet. They helped get the food on the table and cleared up after we ate. For the foodies, we had turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, mashed sweet potatoes, grape salad, lime Jello salad, and cranberry mince pie.
After dinner, the girls played a card game they often take on trips. Magda was having a streak of bad luck, so I suggested they deal the next round and switch hands before playing. Of course, there was only a 50/50 chance that it would help Magda. We all laughed when she won, playing the hand that should have been Lise’s.
Our outing for the day after Thanksgiving was going to Sunburst Falls. After Magda went close to the falls, we drove on the Blue Ridge Parkway until sunset. At an overlook, the girls got out to watch the sun go down. They were frozen when they returned to the car. I don’t know how cold it was then, but Magda and I had walked in the morning when it was 22 F (-5.55C).
Daughter Lise was working on a big project for work, so Magda and I chatted away out of earshot. When I was doing other things, Magda quietly worked the jigsaw puzzle in the same room with Lise. She was amazingly fast.
Magda motioned for me to follow her, and she pointed to the last piece she had saved for me to put in. That was the ONLY piece I put in, which made it the easiest one of my life. We will work it again, but meanwhile we are enjoying looking at the faces now in their proper places.
I intended to take photos of the group in the airport, showing Charlotte and Sander with Lise and Magda. The check-in was so quick that we simply had a round of goodbyes before the couple got in line for the security check. We three ladies went on to have frozen custard, which we named “Culver’s Consolation Custard.” Lise had us pose to show our deep sorrow that dear friends had flown to New York. She sent them this photo before they boarded.
Lise then caught Magda and me sharing a warm hug, making our sadness appear to be fleeting. For the record, we did truly miss the others and would loved for them to stay longer.
When we got home, Lise had to start working immediately. Magda and I chatted on the front porch for a long time. When we were getting chilly, we moved inside. Because she was quiet in the room with Lise, I didn’t realize Magda started the jigsaw puzzle. She’s a very quick worker, because she already had most of the edge pieces in place. I took this photo to send to Linda, the fairy godmother of jigsaw puzzles. For years Linda has chosen photos from my blog and had them made into a puzzle. Knowing how much Lise enjoys Magda, Linda included two shots of her with Lise. We were all thrilled with this. I predict that the puzzle will be done in jig time.
We wanted a quick meal in the evening, so we got out the fixings for rice paper wraps that Charlotte had prepared days earlier. In the photo, Lise is dipping the wrap in water, using the new holder she brought me from Denmark. I was amazed at how quickly the girls whipped that meal together. It’s because they are both organized and used to working together.
We spent much of the day eating! After a light breakfast, we drove to Asheville and went to the Grove Park Inn for Sunday brunch. Almost every breakfast food you could imagine was there, as well as lunch fare. Lise always starts with rare roast beef, and I get Eggs Benedict. This time I added Oysters Rockefeller after Shrimp and Grits. I knew about the oyster dish only from thumbing through cookbooks. It was heavenly. Magda discovered the crab bisque, which Lise and I shared later. Next time I’ll know to look at the soup first. Sander laughed at himself, saying he had planned to take a tiny bite of everything. He changed his mind after walking through the elaborate buffet. I think all of us skipped the salad bar. Charlotte commented on the bacon, which was thick and crisp.
Since Lise was born in the month of November, she qualified for a birthday gift. She was given some fancy coffee concoction, probably pumpkin spice, which she gave to Sander. She also received a glass mug to take home. It was etched with the National Gingerbread Contest name.
I wouldn’t have noticed Sander’s plate if Lise hadn’t comment on his having bacon on the cheesecake. Magda went for the cheesecake, too, it being a favorite. I had one or two non-chocolate things for dessert, but if I ever go again, I’ll restrict myself to dark brown things.
We went to two different floors to see the display of gingerbread creations which had been judged there at the inn. I tried to get a photo of our people looking at them, but only Magda’s face shows. Some of the entries looked like they had been made by children, but the winning one was elaborate. Lise had good photos of it, which I hope to get when she has time to share them.
We came back home as the sun was setting behind a nearby mountain. It wasn’t very late, but we didn’t have time to go on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see it set properly.
Going to Woodside is a most marvelous experience. Yes, there is magic there, but it’s so much more than that. It’s being welcomed by gracious hosts, surrounding you with unbounded love. We gathered there for the annual family Thanksgiving dinner.
I took a photo of the people at the table with me. Daughter Lise is there, along with friends from Denmark and niece Susan and Bill. Susan’s smile was sparkling, with conversation to match. Bill and Sander, both sports enthusiasts, enjoyed talking together. The rest of us also liked hearing various sports stories.
After dinner, Hunter sang and played the guitar for us. That is always a treat. Rick entertained us with all new magic tricks! Here Rick is starting a trick that involved Lise.
After that he took our guests on the standard tour of the house. I had taken videos of the singing and magic tricks, but I didn’t go on the house tour this time. Charlotte, Sander, and Magda said it was marvelous. I’m always pleased when Rick and Myra show the house that is so steeped in history.
The major focus of the day was seeing herds of elk, but I don’t have any photos of that yet. One morning Sander went out to greet the horses, and they came over to him. They seemed to have a lovely conversation.
The day after Magda arrived, Joyce joined us for the morning walk. Lise has been working on a big project, so she stayed behind to continue. Surely this is the last of the groupings at the stop sign for this period!
I’ve had intrusive ads popping up on my phone for weeks. One day I kept count and found 19 interruptions during my 23-minute exercise routine. Sander offered to look at the phone, and he got rid of them!! He found that they were generated by an app, so he deleted it, along with the problem. He recommended I clean certain things, which I did. Oh! How wonderful it is to look at things peacefully again! Thank you so very much, Sander.
Neighbor Joyce and I were texting about the weather and waited an hour for the light rain to stop. Because we all waited, Joyce was able to meet Charlotte and Sander.
Lise took Sander and Charlotte to Mast General Store in Waynesville, one of our favorite places to show guests. The wooden floor creaks, just like an old general store
As a gift to me, Charlotte prepared our dinner. She was the one who began assembling a meat and veggies for rice paper wraps during COVID in Denmark. Oh, my! What a treat!! Sander demonstrated how to build a wrap by dipping it in water, spreading a peanut sauce on it, adding crispy chicken bites made from scratch, and adding veggies. Charlotte had prepared yellow pepper strips, mung beans, avocado slices, mango pieces, cabbage, and shredded carrots. It was all beautifully presented. Their plates were neat, and mine was messy, but we all enjoyed every bite.
After dinner, the three of them went to a college basketball game in a nearby town. Sander loves sports, and Lise and Charlotte went with him for the experience. Lise put a video on my Aura frame as she sat in the bleachers. Daughter Kate and I enjoyed that part of their fun immediately.
Lise’s good friends Charlotte and Sander arrived on time, having traveled from Copenhaven to Amsterdam, Atlanta, and Asheville. Thank heaven their flights were normal, without the high drama of Lise’s trip here a week ago! Their flights were not canceled, and their luggage was not lost. We celebrated with a meal at Culver’s.
First thing the next morning, we walked to the stop sign. Thanks to Lise, we have a selfie.
Lise drove us to Sunburst Falls, reminding us that the shower curtain in the main bathroom is an image of that falls. Sander went out on the rocks to get close to the roaring water.
We ladies stayed on the bridge to get a photo of them with the falls.
Charlotte and Sander went down the stairs to Looking Glass Falls after posing at the top with Lise.
They ended the day by shopping at my favorite supermarket, Ingles, while I stayed home to write.
Daughter Lise and grandson Nathaniel wanted Sarah to see elk in Cataloochee valley. Sarah was willing to drive her car there, since we needed a vehicle that could manage rough gravel roads. Lise took a photo from the car, as we went up and over a mountain into the next valley.
A locked gate kept us from going further down the road, though we were near the barn and house that were always open. Hurricane Helene damaged the road and the barn. When a park ranger stopped to open the gate, he told Lise that we were welcome to walk there, but we couldn’t take the car. Nate went back for something and easily stepped over the gate.
Lise and I walked to the stream that was gurgling merrily and watched sticks and leaves floating down. Sarah and Nathaniel walked on to see the damaged barn and go through the house.
The young people returned, having seen the buildings they wanted to see, although no elk were in sight. We didn’t know the exciting part was yet to come. Nate stepped over the gate, and I think Sarah stooped and went under it. My turn! I approached it with confidence, stooped down, and then I couldn’t move my feet further. I realized my knees were not going to bend past the 90-degree point. I tried until I fell over. They were aghast that I had fallen, although I was only inches from the ground.
“Take a photo!, I commanded. I wasn’t going to get up until the incident had been recorded. Lise complied, and we were all free to laugh.
Since I get on the floor every morning while exercising, I knew I could get up. Until I couldn’t. It wasn’t that easy! Loose gravel was there, not a soft carpet. I crawled a little to get near a concrete barrier and pulled up. I saw the relief on their faces when I was on my feet. I told Lise I needed to practice, and she said, “Right. I’ll bring some gravel and put it on your carpet!”
Sarah and Nate played Pooh Sticks a few times, then we all got a stick to throw off the bridge. Winner was the one whose stick went under the bridge first. For the record, Lise won. It was great to have light-hearted fun after the drama at the gate.
A blog about life challenges in mostly fictional writing based on some fact. I am trying this Blog thing out because I need a creative outlet and am amazed at everything my iPad can do to help me along the way. So why not, right ?
My name is Suki, my human is a writer, and this is about my world. The world according to Suki The Cat. My humans smell funny, look weird, and I can't understand a thing they say, but they feed me, so hey, what are you gonna do?
Mehrling Muse 