Back from a brief break

First off - registration is open for Palmetto Tat Days 2012. I'm teaching! Come and have a great time. If you've never attended a tatting conference, let me say - you're in for a treat if you come.

I'm back from a short overnight jaunt with DH, sans the Stooges. We headed up the hill from Hotlanta, in the sweltering heat, to Chattanooga, TN.

Unfortunately, it was sweltering at our destination too. Thank heavens the car's AC is now fixed!

DH and I managed to have a good time despite the heat. Nice room, with a comfy bed. We were told the room had a mountain view.

Oh well! Who looks out windows in hotel rooms anyhow? The AC worked, that was important!

We did see lots of things. We went through a long tunnel at Tunnel Hill. Kinda cool. And narrow - one lane.

For those not used to driving in the South, See Rock City signs used to be everywhere.

I decided we should drive up Lookout Mountain. So up the hill we went. We did not See Rock City, but we did go past Ruby Falls. I was really amused when DH thought Ruby Falls was a place to mine rubies, instead of being a tourist trap. Lots of folks were being sucked in at Ruby Falls, but not us. We journeyed on, up up the hill and stopped at...

The Incline Railroad.

Where we just watched the train go up the steep, steep hill, choosing not to ride it. Great view though!

We weren't done yet. We went a little further up the hill, to Point Park, on the top of Lookout Mountain. For those that don't know, Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain were big parts of the American Civil war. The battle of Lookout Mountain was known as the "Battle above the Clouds".

Lots of things to see at the park, which is run by the National Park Service. There were cannons. I think these are the kind referred to as Napolean cannons.

And memorials. This is the New York Peace Memorial, which has a Union and a Confederate soldier shaking hands on top.

And lots of great views, like this of the Tennessee River. As you can tell, the extreme heat made the day hazy.

We got reminders of how many soldiers were killed or injured in this battle. This is just the Confederate casualties.

For Civil War buffs such as DH, this is a great spot to visit. The visitor's center houses a huge painting called "Battle Above the Clouds" painting by James Walker. It's 13' x 40' - very large. It was commissioned by the winner, General Hooker (center on the white horse).

After we left the park (and consumed a lot of water - hot hot hot!) we went down, down the hill. I remember a friend burning her brakes out on this hill years ago, and I wonder how. It's steep - but not as bad as going to Mom's place! I just gear down.

The other adventure we had in Chattanooga was a river ride on the boat River Gorge Explorer. It makes guided tours down the Tennessee River, and you learn about the river, wildlife, and Civil War history. Since it's a catamaran with jet engines, the boat is FAST.

And comfy - air conditioned! DH and I were glad to beat the heat.

We got to see wildlife. This is an osprey nest, with adults and fledglings on the nest. We saw a lot of herons, egrets, turtles.

The guide was a biologist who specialized in shellfish. He showed us some neat mussels. The interior of this large native mussel is pink - isn't it gorgeous? I recommend the boat ride - it was fun.

And yes, I did a bit of tatting. I bought an old timey cloth doll at a fair recently, and have given her some tatted edging on her blouse. I'm adding some hair to her (using embroidery floss), and then I'll give her to my little niece Kara.

What are you doing this summer?
 

Back and forth from Mom's house

I didn't stay at the nice conference grounds for Tat Days - I stayed at Mom's house. And I brought her a little surcy.



This is a lovely watercolor ACEO I bought for Mom on Etsy.com from Victoria Usova. I love, love, love her work. I got a different ACEO for myself - amazingly, DH really likes it. (He's usually oblivious to such things.) ACEOs are a great way to have some nice art for a really reasonable price.

Mom's house has fun things in it. She has a great cat that I love, Honey. Honey is just as sweet as her name.

Mom is very politically active. We're all big Democrats, as you can tell by this on the side of her 'frig. And she lurves kitties.

Since Mom lives in NC apple country, I have to buy fresh apples while I'm there in the fall, some to share with friends, too. I bought a peck of Macintosh apples and a half bushel of Honey Crisp this time. MMMMM.

Saturday, I had to get up early to get to make the drive to Tat Days. Really early, since my first class started at 8:30, and Mom's place is a two hour drive away.

This is what the inside of Mom's house looks like at 5:30 in the morning. I wish I were joking - you can not see your hand in front of your face. This is what happens when you live out in the woods and there are no street lights. When I went out, it was very dark and misty. A lot of times, you driving through a cloud bank on the top of the mountain.

There was a lot of mist on the drive to Winnsboro, SC, where Tat Days is held. Winnsboro is way out there in God's country, way, way away from anything. Thirty miles down this winding road.

It was pretty on the drive, especially through the mist. Lots of hay had recently been baled.

Lots of farm lands. Gorgeous. I saw many critters, like cattle, goats, and horses. A doe ran across the road and flipped its white tail at me.

Some places had decorative gates. I saw one place (I wish I had a picture) with a table out under a big oak in front of the house, with containers sitting out on it. The hand lettered sign out front read "RED WORMS". Sometimes I wish I lived in the country, not in the 'burbs.

Country living has some real charms. But I'm a city girl. I drive a fuel-efficient hybrid instead of a pick-up, and I drive 30 miles one way to work.

My little car gets 42 miles to the gallon - and I have a lead foot!

I made it to Tat Days right on time......

A quickie on Tat Days

I had a good time.

I worked on one project.


And another.

Queen Jane was there.

So was Georgia.

And lots of things were available to buy. So much thread.

I didn't spend the night there, so I missed the banquet and some other things.

Instead, I stayed with Mom. Because she's my Mom. And I need to spend time with her.

As a bonus, she has this view. Do you blame me for going?

More to come....