Lake Cumberland

Jack was the perfect captain!  He made sure we all did exactly what we wanted on this very restful weekend.

We arrived on Friday to stay with Jack & Cheryl at their lake home on Cumberland Lake.  It was raining, so we didn't go early but we were able to take a short boat ride.

Jack grilled chicken kabobs, onions, mushroom & peppers...yummo!

They have a nice view of the lake from their deck.

This isn't a very good picture of our meal, but the fellowship was the best anyway.  Along with the kabobs, we had a lettuce layer salad, green beans with new potatoes, rice, and three kinds of desserts!

Anyone that know the Bullocks, know they are card sharks.  That goes for any game they play.  Super competitive, in a good way!  We drew names for partners, and team "Pam & Clyde" were the grand champions!

David Henson is actually one of the nicest, most helpful, thoughtful (awww) men you would ever meet.  He, Jack & David G. (both I could say the same) are chatting after breakfast on Sat.

Tricia & Pam enjoying breakfast, that Cheryl cooked.  It was the most perfect eggs, cooked to order!  

Cooper was such a nice dog with good manners.  She likes plastic water bottles and she and Tricia are playing tug of war.

Jack had Little Big Town's song, "On the Pontoon" playing over the boat as we took off.  Saturday weather was uncertain, and it turned out so nice.  Some clouds, some sun, and just warm enough not to be hot!

No matter how rare it is to get with friends, when we do, it's like we have never been apart.  Nice time catching up with Pam!

Summer Garden

When we moved to Lantern Way, there was a concrete patio type table on the outside of our actual patio.  It was under a tree and the tree roots had wrapped around the bench, so we never tried to move it.  This area was an eyesore, with stepping "rocks" and dirt.  So, although it is NOT as nice as it could be, we have made improvements there, with mulch!  I like it way better.  We moved the table (thanks Jerry & Harley) for the help, to the fire pit and bought new benches for it....this time curved ones and three of them.  Not sure how often this table will be used, but it's away from the house with new "seats".
I used ivy, impatients, etc., that was in our yard to fill the pots that I added there.  I wanted to make it a "fairy" garden, but don't have the ambition for that now.  I did add some "fairies".  

The pic above was taken after the concrete table was moved to the yard.  Hard to plant anything here with the tree roots, I thank God for the old farm tree.  Shade!!!

 The only thing I bought new was the yellow clay pots.  They were unpainted and I thought I wanted to add the grandkids hand/foot prints.  This was not easy.  They were at ball tourneys all weekend and when I had Luke last Thursday, he didn't actually cooperate!  So, his footprint is on one pot, but not very well!  I wound up just sponge painting them.  I tried large "dots", but again, I am not very crafty and they looked bad.  Random sponge design.

 I used plants out of the yard to fill all the containers here.

 Had to throw in one of Luke from this morning.  Happy boy.

Summertime General Butler

Most things improve with age, so they say.  I normally only post things that are good, that I want others to enjoy (or keep in business!)  For over 40 years I have come to General Butler State Park.  Because of the lack of funding, we have seen a decline in activities.  When the kids were very little, still in a playpen for Becky, we stayed in the cabins, down the hill.  That way they could play on the swing sets and there was a lot of green space for Jason to play and safe roadways for him to ride his bike.  Then as they grew older, we moved UP the hill to the state lodge.  There they got involved in many organized activities.  We knew the director by name and loved her (then a him).  The kids "made it all", had many a scavenger hunt among the guests, and was face painted to boot.  Just lots to do.  We went to play games with them in the recreation center.  The reason we came so often is that Clyde works during the day.  All day.  A long one with me and two kiddos.  We would go down to the park and watch for his big "red" truck to pull into the park.  Then mommy was SO happy.  He was just as happy to see his family.  We had meals together, hunted for "stray" golf balls, and counted how many deer we would see at evening time on the golf course.  Now, the baby pool is drained, the staff is cut back, so the activities are cut back as well.  Although there may still be some, just not as it use to be.  Last year we did bring up the boys and took them to make a bird feeder.  It was a pretty sad craft for the money and no one but the two of them were there.  I still am "pro" state parks!!!  The room is nice, the lodge restaurant is reasonable enough (I had a nice burger & fries for $6.49) and the pool is excellent....but cold.  Come!  Enjoy!!  If you are military or in education, make sure you mention that.  It is a reduced rate.

You know me and food!  That's what it's all about.  Our Best is a restaurant in Smithfield, Ky. ph (502) 845-7682 just in case you care to take a drive.  It's home cooking.  In this pic is a large pork chop, brown bean soup & corn bread, $6.99.  You can get white northern beans as well, or a mixture of both.  The chocolate pie for dessert is huge and so, so good.  We share.  Also, there is coconut cream pie, and several huge bowls of cobbler. Peach looks really good.  This is owned by our friend, Glenn Norvell's, cousin.  Go if you are in the mood for this kind of food and in the neighborhood, or want a drive!  

Not a lot to do here at night.  So, we need to walk and go out to walk the golf course!  We see who can spy the most deer.

This little guy comes out each night to scavenger the trash cans.

Now, it's full circle.  Our son, Jason, works with KU (he is a contractor but works with the crews) and is currently working at the power plant here, in Ghent.  Not doing the same job as his dad does or did for years, but working in the same area.  Proud of the man he is and the hard worker he is.  

Holiday Out

This  is the last full day of our spring break, extended.  We spent it in Jensen Beach, about 18 miles from Fort Pierce, Fl.  The place is Holiday Out and you can rent a place or own a lot.  Most people, it seems, own, and have a RV, mobile home, or built a home here.  Our friends from Nicholasville that are here, own and have a RV, and rent their lot out to anyone wanting to put their own camper there.  We are in a modular home this week.

The pool, activity center (Clubhouse) and their private beach access, is across the road (A1A).  It is very easy to get to from here.  There is actually a tunnel you can walk through or drive your car.  Since we take several bags and a cooler, we load it up and drive.  Today, Thursday, they are serving lunch for a small price and we all plan to eat there.  The view is amazing from their patio.  The patio is large, the pool is large, and there are plenty of chairs.  You have to take your own beach chair for the beach:)

This is a much quieter week than last.  We have played games with our friends, Clyde and I have gone to the pool a few times, and he and I have walked the beach some....not much.  The walking isn't as easy as it is at New Smyrna. We love the walks.  We have enjoyed eating at new places, but haven't found any as good as Aunt Catfish.  LOL.  

The town of Stuart, very near Jensen, has lots of fun shops and we walked those one afternoon.  We ate last night at Fort Pierce, a place called Archie's.  It's a biker bar, with Karaoke last night. I had a good burger and sweet potato fries.  There was a very nice public park nearby with swings to sit and look out at the ocean.  I really would like to go back there and walk around that area.  Really pretty.

This pic is on the patio at the Clubhouse for Holiday Out.

 Eating burgers with our friends at their place.  

 Pics with Jason, Becky and family are at their place, Embassy Suites, at Deerfield Beach.  They went on a Carnival Cruise for spring break.  They were flying out of Fort Lauderdale on Monday, so we went to spend the day with them on Sunday.

 This is Timber.  He loves the water, pool or ocean.  His mom, Valerie, takes him to the beach most days and he "retrieves" the ball she throws...over and over.

 You can't see the view from this picture, but it was amazing.  It was down the beach from Holiday Out, Shuckers is the name.

 Below, from the ocean looking back at Shuckers.

 This was a very cool ride under the row of Banyan trees.

 This beach is a short ride down from Holiday Out.  Bathtub Beach.

 I wanted to add one of little buddy, Lucas.  He was all ready for the big UK vs. Uconn game.  We watched the final two games here at Jensen with our friends.  

 I didn't get a picture from Conchy Joe's Seafood.  It was the nicest place we have eaten this week.  We had a big seafood platter.  Very good food.  We also ate at a place beside us, I believe it was called Seaside.  I had fish tacos which were good.

 The place above was last night, Archie's.  We had this good smoked fish dip and hamburgers, the boys had fish.

I didn't want to add faces from these three, but they taught us a new game (to us, new).  It is called Sequence.  It was fun to play and I hope to play again!  The people here are all very nice.  We have enjoyed our week.  The sun is out, Clyde is walking, and I am dressed in my suit and ready to roll over to the pool.  Thought I'd get this blog typed so I would not forget many details.  We will be on the road tomorrow and I cannot wait to see Lucas and the kids baseball games.  I, also, look forward to backyard living for a few months.  Love to all my friends and family!

End of Week Thursday

 We have eaten too well this week.  I didn't eat this much on the cruise.  Thank goodness, we have walked each day.  

 We ordered an appetizer to share at the table, but she forgot to put it in.  We ate our salads, no appetizer....she came and said our meal was "up"....when we mentioned the appetizer, she felt bad.  

After our delicious meal, we took a drive to Bethune Park to see the manatees and dolphins.  We saw a dolphin near us, but the dark came upon us too quickly.  We don't get here each year, but if you are at New Smyrna, it is worth the little drive out to it.  Pretty!

Each year I journal where we eat each evening, what we did that we want to remember, so this year I just blogged it.  I will know where to find my notes....on here! Kenny Chesney's song "When the sun goes down"....came to our mind tonight.  We didn't know all the words, but sang what we knew.