It's Christmas!

Sweet sugar at Black Rock Mountain State Park

We have just been living our best life this fall and now look, it's Christmas already!  

We went to the North Georgia mountains for Thanksgiving.  Had us a good old Waltons' mountain Thanksgiving, we did.  We rented a house in Tiger, Georgia and spent four amazing days in Clayton, Rabun Gap and Dillard.  We stopped on the way up at Tallulah Gorge and it was absolutely breathtaking.  Biggest hole we'd ever seen!  Of course, Larry had to go stand out on the edge and scare the mess out of me.  Of course he did.  

This is why they call 'em the Blue Ridge mountains.  Pic taken at Black Rock Mountain State Park, with its altitude of 3,640 feet.  Scared me half to death climbing that mountain!

The house we rented was in a holler, with mountain all around and it was just the cutest thing.  Fireplace, gorgeous kitchen, spa shower, wraparound deck with the most beautiful, peaceful little creek in the backyard.  We had our breakfast and coffee out there every morning, listening to that sweet little babbling brook.  We took Banjo and he was so happy running around in the yard and down by the creek with Daddy.

We had Thanksgiving dinner with about 3,000 other folks at The Dillard House and even though we stood in line and waited in the gift shop and out on the porch for two hours and then waited another half hour to get fed AND it was $60 for the both of us, it was so totally worth it.  They serve the food family style, where they bring bowls and platters of food to your table and you share with everyone sitting at your table.  Larry and I had our own table and we ate ham and turkey and pork loin with dressing, squash casserole, ambrosia, peas, green beans, rice and gravy, Silver Queen corn, rolls and pie until we were about to bust.  The restaurant is so pretty and so cozy and comfortable.  We were so happy that we went.  The ham was a big hit!  Best country ham we'd EVER had.  Alton Brown from The Food Network agrees!  

We did some Black Friday shopping at the antique stores and flea markets up there and there are hundreds!  We got to as many as we could and had so much fun finishing up our Christmas shopping.

And then Friday night, we went to a drive-in movie!  There's a drive-in there.  I was SOOOO excited to be able to go to the drive-in with Larry.  We were totally robbed of SO MUCH in our past and to be able to scratch this one off "the list" was amazing.  Such a wonderful surprise!  We saw "Ford v Ferrari" with Matt Damon and Christian Bale, surrounded by vintage cars, campers and Christmas lights.  It was the best.  And, OH THE POPCORN.  It was the most delicious popcorn I have ever had in my life.  I brought every kernel home in Ziploc bags and ate it for days.

Last weekend, we took the SAM Shortline Christmas train from Lake Blackshear to Plains and enjoyed the heck out of that.  The train was sloooow and it took about two hours to get there so we just sat and talked and looked out the window at trailer parks, abandoned tires, graffiti and the like.  Trains go through the worst of areas, I guess.  We made up a "12 Days of Christmas" song of the things we saw, only ours was more like "12 mobile homes, 11 broke-down cars, 10 old tires, 9 busted toilets, 8 fallen port-a-potties..."  Ha!  And ONE big old smilin' peaaaaanut!  President Carter isn't feeling well and had just gotten out of the hospital so he couldn't meet us at the train station but that's okay.  We just want him to get better.  Besides, we already met him!
  

We got to meet Santa, though, on the train and sit on his lap.  I was scared we'd break the poor man's leg!  I'd never seen Santa Claus with a ponytail but this one had one.  I mistakenly thought he was one of "us" but when he asked Larry what he wanted for Christmas and Larry said, "A new president", Santa actually bristled!  That was hilarious!  I'd never seen Santa Claus bristle before either and leave it to Larry to make him do it.  He just looked up at us and said he doesn't get into politics.  Probably a good thing, Santa.

We met up with my lifelong friend, Lisa, and her little girl, Bella, and then her nieces showed up, too!  What a wonderful little reunion!  It was a great day and we were happy-tired when we finally got back home.  

Larry spent two weekends getting the yard decorated and it's amazing!  We definitely have THE best yard in the neighborhood!!

And here's our tree.  The Super Fabulous Schneider Christmas Tree of 2019!

We're looking forward to having a quiet, peaceful Christmas at home this year.  2019 was a rough one for us and we are hoping that 2020 brings good health, happiness and even more love to our home.

And, oh yeah, a NEW PRESIDENT!

Time is just flying by!

I skipped September altogether!  I went back to work on the 3rd and spent the first month working in administration with absolutely NOTHING to do.  Made for very long days.  I moved back into my position as assistant to the Vehicle Control Officer and that's where I wanted and needed to be.  We went and "yard saled" at an F-15 building that's about to be turned over to C-130s and got everything I'd need for the new office.  A desk and chair from the flight chief's office and a filing cabinet from the planning office.  I am set now!  I love the job, I get along great with the VCO and since we've been working together for two years anyway, we hope to turn this into a permanent thing.

I'm still going to physical therapy on my foot twice a week.  They just extended my treatment for eight more weeks so that will be a total of four months' therapy.  I think it's helping.  My range of motion anyway.  They've taught me exercises to try and strengthen my muscles around my ankle to help me with stability, since I'm still wobbly as all get out.  They've suggested shoes (I got the Brooks Ghost 12s and I LOVE them!  Well, the right one, anyway.) and compression socks and we've done fluidotherapy with cellex (which is ground corn cobs that heats up really well) and they're going to cast me for custom orthotics.  I have extremely high arches and cannot find an orthotic that works well for me.  I do like my Vionic and Spenco shoes, though!  I'm supposed to start aquatic therapy (Larry and I LOVED the heated pool at the beach in August and I'm excited to see if I can do more with my foot in the water) later this month. 

Larry ran his very first 5K last Saturday and he did so good!!!  He finished in just over 40 minutes, with absolutely NO training, no practicing, he just got out there and started running.  That was just amazing to me.  It was to benefit the folks at the Georgia Arrhythmia Foundation, the same doctors who performed Larry's ablation in August.  We took Banjo and had a great time.  We even won a door prize!  A big box of Pyrex baking and food containers!  Oh, we thought that was HILARIOUS!!  But we'll sure use 'em!  We don't have much of the new Pyrex stuff, just leftover containers that I buy by the season.  I always have to get those Halloween and Christmas ones.

We went to the fair Wednesday night for a date night supper of corn dogs, hamburgers, black-eyed peas & cornbread and apple dumplings.  Ahhhh, fair food.  Larry had worked down there setting up his job's vending booth in the McGill Marketplace and he'd seen some really cute leopard tops and cardigans he thought I would like.  So we got one.  A lightweight cardigan that fits just right.  ALLTHELEOPARDTHINGS!!  I just love leopard stuff these days and my closet will confirm that fact.  A couple of weeks ago, I got me a pair of fleece leopard britches and I'm just waiting on that first cold snap.

We've made plans to go up to the mountains next month and we are so excited about that!  We rented a house in the woods with a creek and we're gonna enjoy the flea markets and antique stores and the lots of peace and quiet.  Banjo's going, too.  

I cannot wait.

A little island time

Finally!!  We spent three absolutely glorious days at Jekyll Island last weekend and it was just what the doctor(s) ordered for us!!  We rented a villa at Driftwood Beach and it was perfect.  Two stories (those stairs were a struggle!), two bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen and I think our upstairs balcony had the best view in the whole place!  

Sunrise, sunburn, sunset, repeat.  We saw that on a t-shirt in a shop there and this was true for us.  We both got a little burned, despite constantly spraying each other down with sunscreen.  The days were overcast with long periods of bright beautiful sun and it was so absolutely worth it.  Larry's immediately turned brown and mine has now.  Gone are my days of burning, peeling and turning white again.  Since menopause, my skin tans and my hair is curly.  I'm a totally different girl!

We love Driftwood Beach and since we were staying right there, we went there first.  

We think that's probably 5th most romantic beach in the country, but who's arguing?  It is romantic.

It's a beautiful place and the site of some Walking Dead scenes come fall!  They filmed there my birthday week.  Don't miss it!

I love this picture I took of Larry.  He was so tired. 

My poor foot's first dip in the ocean since she went to hell and came back.  BEST. FEELING. EVER.  !!!!!!!

Driftwood Beach is miles and miles of trees that were once part of a forest and now have become driftwood from years of the sea washing over them.  We see lots of photographers there and we've even been there when a wedding was taking place.  Yep.  Quite the romantic spot and the best place for us to go first. 

We can't go anywhere without a cat finding us!  This little girl was right outside our townhouse Saturday night.  (And Sunday morning.  And Sunday night.  And Monday morning.)  She has her ear notched, which means she's a Jekyll Feral and has been caught, spayed and returned to live her life out on the beach and eat tuna and chicken and ham and whatever else visitors give her.  Not a bad life at all.  Shoot, I'd love it!

We got up early Sunday morning, had our coffee on the balcony and watched the sun come up.  The breeze off the ocean was downright chilly at times and we were loving that!  Got home and it's 100 degrees again.  Ugh.  

We spent Sunday morning at Jekyll Beach and could not have asked for better weather!  We just sat and relaxed and fed the seagulls and took dips in the ocean and just enjoyed being together.  I've never attended a more beautiful Sunday service.  It was such a long time coming and we enjoyed every second.  Look at that sky.  

Georgia has the most beautiful coastline.  I'm not sure why everybody wants to go to Florida all the time.  Not a big deal at all.  More room for us!

We went out Sunday afternoon and shopped a little and had supper at Jekyll Island Seafood Company.  And I got to wear my new Lilly dress!  I was so scared I'd get shrimp and grits on it.  I bought it earlier this summer JUST to have when we went to the beach.  It did not disappoint.

We played 18 holes of miniature golf and Larry only beat me by two strokes, which was a straight miracle.  I suck at golf, miniature or otherwise.  It was so fun, though.

We spent some all-to-ourselves time in the pool Monday morning, had breakfast at the Jekyll Island Golf Club and went back to the beach for a while.  We always have to go and say "see ya later" to the ocean.  Ever since I was a tiny girl, I've had to do that.  Not goodbye, see ya later.  'Cause I will.

Larry feeding the seagulls again.  Popcorn this time.  We "met" one seagull, Hoppy, we called him, who only had one foot.  He was there Sunday and Monday.

Larry wrote this in the sand.

It sure was.

All the Pyrex!

If you know me, you know I've been collecting vintage Pyrex for a while now.  Over five years.  It all started when my Maw passed away and I took her Amish Butterprint home with me.  When Larry and I discovered estate sales in 2014, it just took off from there and now we've got 238 pieces!  Whaaaaaa???  

I usually take them all down and clean them and the shelves a couple times a year, and rearrange them for the seasons.  I haven't been able to do that since before my first surgery.  I've just been dusting around them.  I don't let our housekeeper near the Pyrex.  They are off limits.  If one breaks, it's ME that broke it.

I started physical therapy this week.  I'm going two days a week for about an hour at a time, doing strengthening exercises, mostly, because I'm not going to be growing back any ligaments or tendons.  We're working on building my muscles up to help support where the ligaments and tendon can't anymore.  I was feeling up to it yesterday so down came all the Pyrex and I cleaned them, dusted the shelves and put them all back, rearranging them and putting fall patterns and colors front and center.  Larry helped me and I think we did a great job!  We also moved the dining room table next to the wall so now we have all this space in the kitchen!  Our kitchen and dining room are one big room open to the living room and I love that layout.

Here's how it looked once I got them all down off the shelves.  I blocked myself in and I had to make a maze to get through.  Banjo wouldn't even come in there!

Here's me, hard at work!

  Here's after!

Soooo much room now!  I told Larry we got lots of room for dancing in there now!

I moved the chicken lamp from the counter to the table and we like it there.  I just love a lamp in the kitchen.  It makes things so cozy.

I go back to work after Labor Day.  I feel like I'm nesting getting ready for a baby!  There's so much I want and need to do before I go back to work.  I'll be cleaning and organizing something every day!

He's my heartbeat

Larry had his ablation Monday.  We got there at 6:00 AM and they took him back at 8:00 sharp. They had told us the procedure would last anywhere from two to four hours.  I went to the family waiting room with our overnight bag, my pillow and my new Nordstrom blanket and I laid down on a small couch in there, watched a little of the morning national news and snoozed a bit.  I had zero anxiety over this procedure.  I was completely at peace.  Oh, I prayed, don't get me wrong, but I just had peace about it.  I knew he'd be okay.  The patient rep lets you know what's going on every hour so at 8:17, she came and told me they had started, at 9:15, he was doing great and at 9:45, he was done!  I grabbed our stuff and went to the recovery room where they were bringing him back to.  He was coming off the anesthesia while I talked to the doctor and found out that everything went great, the area that was causing all the trouble was located and frozen and hopefully, there would be no more AFib.  Larry's had an irregular heartbeat as long as he can remember, since he was a little boy, but as he's gotten older, it's gotten worse and a recent monitoring session we did through the VA showed that he was in AFib 70% of the time.  No wonder he felt so bad!  He wasn't getting very much of that really good oxygen-filled blood flow.  We got to a room around 12:00 and we just spent the night.  My sweet friend, Debbie, came twice to check on the boys and let Banjo out to potty.  (I am so very grateful for my friends.  They have been amazing, through all that's gone on the past year, always there to help out and bring food and coffee or whatever.)  I took a few pictures while we were camping out in the "Heart Tower".  We got NO sleep.  You know you can't sleep in a hospital!  It wasn't bad at all, though.  I slept on a pullout sofa next to Larry's bed with my blanket and pillow.  He was in a lot of pain at first, chest pain from the procedure and having to lay flat for four hours. The AFib showed back up Tuesday morning and his heart rate zoomed to scary levels!  It brought all the nurses in our room.  They told us that was to be expected, though, at first, and it should calm down but they still monitored him very closely over the next several hours.  They put Larry on another med to help with that and sent us home around 2:00.  All in all, I think we both received excellent care at the Luce Heart Institute.  Couldn't ask for better!  They should add my mama's name to a wing in that heart center.  She had two open heart surgeries and countless heart caths and angioplasties there.  Long before the "Heart Tower" came to be.  

I posted this pic on Instagram and commented that I don't have any tattoos but if I was to get one someday, it'll be Larry's heartbeat over my left breast.  His heartbeat over mine.  There's no other tattoo I'd want.

This picture made me laugh so hard.  This boy was ready to GO!

Thank you, Lord, for modern medical technology, that allows doctors to know how to fix things and help us when our bodies fail.  

August

And the foot saga continues.  

I had an MRI last Friday because I'm still in pain and my foot is swelling.  I went for my last (I hope!) appointment at the Wound Care Center yesterday and my wound has finally closed up and healed, just a couple of tiny scabbies but I think it's going to be okay now.  It's scarred so badly that the doctor said yesterday when she looked at it, "Look at your poor little foot".  

I was supposed to get the PICC line out yesterday, too, but the doc decided to wait until I see my foot doctor (tomorrow) as the MRI showed fluid still in the joint AND a torn ligament.  The same ligament that was repaired in November.  The repair didn't work.  He put in two corkscrew anchors and sutured the tear but the ligament just didn't attach.  I guess we knew that was a possibility but after everything I've been through, ending up with the same torn ligament was not what I expected.  I'll see the doctor tomorrow and we'll talk about my options.  I think it's time for another set of eyes to look at me and my MRI.  We'll see.

Larry's having a cardiac ablation next week, Monday, I hope.  We were set to go last week but there was a hiccup with the insurance and the VA and the doctor's office so we had to reschedule.  I cannot tell y'all how irritated that made me.  I cannot STAND incompetence.  Don't schedule a procedure until you have all your little ducks lined up.  Just me??

School started back here today.  That's just crazy early to me.  We always went back at the end of August.  Oh well, no back to school at our house!  Except the kids who wait at the bus stop Larry made for them.  Our house is a neighborhood bus stop and Larry made a little bench for the kids to wait on.  And the bus actually stops there!  Soooo cute.

It's still summer here!  I hope we get to the beach this month or at least by the time I start lighting pumpkin candles.  I need some vitamin SEA!!

***UPDATE***  I have TWO completely torn ligaments and a torn tendon.  The same ones that were repaired in November.  The repairs did not take.  Or hold.  Or what-the-hell-ever.  I'm DONE.  Doc says he did everything that could be done and I'm going to start physical therapy and pray that helps.  Six weeks of it did not help seven years ago when I first broke my foot but I'm willing to try again.  Maybe there's different care now.  Different things they can do.  I'm going back to work next month and we reserved a villa at the beach for later this month.  Life is gonna go on around here.

Call me a porch cat but just don't call me late for supper

Here are two of our porch cats, having their supper.

I love Daisy's face!  Sweet girl.  And her mama, Clemmie, who just hangs out here with us all day every day.  We haven't been able to catch her yet.  She's too smart! She's letting me get awfully close lately so maybe I can grab her soon.  I don't know what I'll do with her when I do, though!  I gotta come up with a plan.

My summer haul

So THIS is what I've been up to these past few months (aside from building a family tree for Larry and me on ancestry.com, where I've taken us back on both sides of the family to the 1500's!  That has been so much fun.  I've found out some really cool things about our families!  But that's a whole 'nother blog post.)

Yes, I've been bored but I didn't buy one thing that I can't and won't use and haven't worn or used.  I love everything I've gotten!

Let's start with Amazon, shall we??

Cute little lemon yellow sundress

One of my two bathing suits (I don't look like THAT in it, obviously, but Larry let out a whistle when I tried it on and that's ALL that counts)

THE most comfy pajamas ever!  I bought another pair in the pink and yellow tie dye but they're too big.  I sized down one and this set was perfect!

Drybar Prep Rally detangler.  I really like this stuff!  I don't use conditioner in the summer but I still need something light to spray on and detangle.  This does the trick!

Lilly Pulitzer market bag

Cat eye heart sunglasses.  Squeeeee!

I found these all on my own.  I needed a sticky bra for all these cute summer clothes and these work great!  And it looks like a bunny rabbit!

This stuff has changed my makeup game!

On to Target...

These shorts are AMAZING!!!  I got them in both the medium and dark wash.  They are sooooo comfortable!!  And stretchy.  And they're on sale this week!

I have a couple of these spaghetti strap tops.  Larry got me this one for my birthday.  Cute as a button!

And I got this one the other day when I was in there.

This dress is THE summer dress!!  It just came out last week and it sold out in stores in two days and today, it's not online so I'm guessing it completely sold out.  It's a baby doll style, leopard print (obsessed!) and it is so super soft and comfortable.  I wore mine to church last Sunday.  Soooo comfy.

Larry got me this sweet little dress for my birthday, too.  LOVE my t-shirt dresses!

I ordered this one online.  And the camo one.  In love!!  They're identical in style, just two different colors.

At Walmart, I got this adorable blue bathing suit and skort to wear as a cover.

I got this gray t-shirt dress, too.

I picked up three of these vintage cotton v-neck tees from J. Crew in the spring.  I got them 3 for $30 (on sale!  They're $30 EACH usually, um, hell no) and I love the fit and how they look and all but the gray one has holes at the bottom so now it gets slept in.  I got white, gray and pink.  I hope the other two hold up better.  The gray was my favorite!

Before I heard about Nordstrom's BIG Anniversary Sale, I got these super cute sunglasses.  I LOVE them.  I wear 'em every Wednesday when I go to the doctor.  That's the extent of my gettin' out.  Ha!

So that's my haul.  Most of it, anyway.  I've gotten shampoo and makeup, jewelry, bras and panties and stuff like that, too.  Just livin' my best life, shopping and collecting boxes and bags off the porch.

I gotta get back to work.

What I bought at the BIG Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

Y'all.  I need to go back to work.  Like, this afternoon.  I have spent all spring and summer following a bunch of influencers on Instagram and they have talked me into all sorts of trouble purchases.

My go-to for summer lounging clothes has been Target and Walmart.  They've had THE cutest t-shirt dresses this year!  I know 'cause I have FIVE now.  Plus sunglasses, hair care, skin care, pjs, shorts, summer tops and bathing suits, omg, I have bought TWO new bathing suits.

Because we ARE going to the beach.  Eventually.  They cute, too.  I'll have to do another blog about my summer haul!  That's what they call it.  A haul.  I'm a Hall, too, so I'm just over here living my TRUTH.  

But the BIG Nordstrom Anniversary Sale???  You ain't an influencer if you don't cover Nordstrom's summer sale!!  First time I've EVER heard of it.  It actually starts today for everybody, you don't even have to be a cardholder.  Well, I didn't wait for today.  I got me a card!  Two weeks ago.  Shhhh.  And for my trouble me becoming a new customer, they gave me $40 to spend.  And spend it I did.

This is what I got!

Halogen V-Neck Tunic Tee 

It's a super-soft modal knit that is a little longer in the back to cover you if you were amply blessed in that area.  And I was.  It's sold out now, though.

Ab-solution Ripped High-Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans 

These jeans are LIFE!!  They are sooooo comfortable and nice and stretchy, just how I like jeans.  And I don't look like a busted can of biscuits in them.  Yay!  They are regularly $88 (I'D NEVER PAY THAT), on sale for $58 and they are in stock.  I used my $40 Nordstrom bonus for these and got 'em for $18.  That's what I'm talking 'bout! 

Benassi JDI Slide Sandal by Nike

I'm trying to get back into the whole wearing-shoes thing.  These are great!  I got the white and metallic bronze ones.

BP Cozy Joggers

These here things are my FAVORITE!!!  They're sold out in the leopard (another obsession I've got lately!) but they still have them in dark and light gray.  Oh my goodness, I can't even say enough about these pants.  They're so soft and so cozy and I cannot even wait for that first crisp fall Saturday that Larry and I get up, grab coffee and hit an estate sale!  I'll be wearing these babies ON THAT DAY.  I love 'em!!

And last but not least, the Kennebunk Bliss Plush Throw, like we needed another throw blanket but hey, I'll give one away to make room for this one!  It had great reviews and they had a pink one.  Meant to be!  It's always cold in the theater and this 50x60 throw will be perfect for that.  Or napping.  Or watching tv in my recliner.  Or wrapping Tabbie Hoffman up in just to piss him off.  We NEEDED it.

So that's what I got at my very first Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  I have a feeling it'll be a summer occurence from now on.  It was fun and the prices were incredible.  And the best part??  I got to do it in my t-shirt dress, in the A/C, didn't have to fight the crowds or drive around for thirty minutes looking for a parking spot.  The perfect sale!