Highlands NC

My daughter, Susan, and my daughter-in-law, Laura and I decided to take an overnight mini vacation to Highlands NC. Rich and I used to go quite often many years ago. It's a get-a-way for many Floridians and Atlantans because it's always 15 degrees cooler than Atlanta in the summer.

The ride up (and back from Highlands to Dillard) was interesting because I forgot to change my navigation avoidances (back roads, etc.) on my GPS. Garmin is losing my business after many years because I have noticed many local directions are dead wrong. I guess since new cars are coming with their own GPS systems, they have gotten lazy. At any rate, I've bought my last one. While the girls will swear I was making wrong turns (okay, one), the ride home was proof that a change in the navigation preferences fixed everything. I rarely drive anyone anywhere so I do go back roads, which can be interesting, I'll admit. Laura is from the New York City/Jersey area so the dirt roads were a surprise, but she took them like a trooper. Susan, not so much. We were deep in the woods part of the time back from Highlands to Dillard where we stayed at the Dillard House. We had a very large room with a place to sit out. It was in a newly renovated section of the hotel. They had not renovated the toilet, however, and didn't leave enough towels in our room. Laura, the negotiator, thought we should have free breakfasts for the inconvenience, and they accommodated us.

Outside the back door of our room

Pretty girls, huh?

Using my walker helped me a lot and allowed the girls to wander through the shops that line the streets of Highlands. Plus, the town has a lot of benches to make it comfortable for people to rest (lots of husbands waiting for wives shopping in the boutiques). I enjoyed sitting when I needed to and watching everyone having a good time. I happened to sit on one bench and this was directly in front of me. Not bad, but I thought it might be a little more interesting as a photo.

It's just a pleasant place to be with all the little shops and restaurants.

We stopped to relax for a while at a wine store and some good conversation. Then after some more shopping we went to dinner at Paoletti, a lovely Italian Restaurant. We highly recommend it. I remembered the pretty churches in town.

This one used to have a pretty red door. I wondered why they changed it.

Highlands is very dog friendly (water bowl at every shop and dogs in the shops), which made Susan very happy since she's planning to take her dog everywhere when she gets him or her. The Dillard House also welcomes dogs overnight and there's plenty of hiking opportunities. There are horses and chickens, etc. and hiking trails. It's actually a farm and petting zoo, too. Rich and I have been in Highlands in all seasons, but I particularly remember spring when the woods were full of Rhododendrons. We had taken Lizzie there which is why I wanted to see if it was still a place to get away with one's pup.

The weather was cool and we had a short rainstorm that cooled us even further. Very pleasant weather. It's a good people watching town. There are shops for dogs, pretty jewelry and clothes.

Anyone know what these are?

I remembered that Rich and I had been to all of the many waterfalls in the area and some cliffs. We didn't have time to hunt for the cliffs, but we did make it to Dry Falls. You can walk under them. The water was deafening at times.

I took a lot of videos of the falls. Just love the sound of rushing water. I'm a bit tired and probably should have waited until tomorrow to write this, but I'm glad that I can take short trips, once in a while, to have something to post about. Lifted my spirits. 😊

The Day After

I'll start with the good news. Susan is enjoying a vacation in Canada. Glass of wine in beautiful afternoon weather.

I went over to Michael and Laura's for a lovely Father's Day BBQ in as much as he is going to be gone next weekend. I saw my too lovely granddaughters, Keely and Peyton (sorry no pix, girls). Always good to see them. They're all grown up!!

I hate taking pictures with my phone. They don't post as well as the ones taken with my camera.

Bogey is enjoying his vacation with them, he'll be back next week.

John and Lisa went to a baseball game in the new stadium, yesterday.

I am babysitting for the sweetest boy, Toby. His Mom went to Chicago for a few days. She had a sitter lined up, but got her days mixed up so she called me. I've been hiding his pills in pumpkin and he doesn't even know he's getting his meds. In fact, a little while ago I went upstairs for something and was startled when I turned around and saw that he followed me. I was afraid he wouldn't be able to get down, but he did very well. I think the meds are helping him! He's not limping any more. Living with an old person seems to help him, too--quiet. I have been sleeping downstairs because I didn't want him to be alone. Now, he's looking like he wants to get up on the couch! Good thing he's headed home tomorrow or he'd be spoiled for sure. He's very cuddly and a very, very sweet boy.

Okay. The trailer is gone. I feel old and empty. I had decided (if you read the last post, to sell), but thought maybe I could do it one more year; especially if I could get another ablation on my back that lasts. Then, my complete heating and air conditioning system crapped out on me. Knowing that I was facing some really big financial decisions I decided that since I didn't want to touch my retirement money--I'd have to sell the trailer. Fate had stepped in. Susan says I need to find things to do during the day, but my mind is blank. I have no interests and no desire to do much of anything. I've become a night owl (my best time) and sleep during the day.

A lovely man who was interested in the trailer had called the day before this took place. He couldn't have been nicer and asked me whether I would call him if I changed my mind. Well, I did. And he happened to be sitting in the same model but he decided he wanted to buy mine (I priced it right, I think, and there were a lot of extra things that went with it and the extras like the awning over the slide out and the hitch. Those who have camped with me know I bring everything "just in case". He and his lovely wife came up, yesterday morning. I'm not mentioning their names because I didn't ask permission. I was delighted to hear that they were completely new to owning any kind of RV. So it was perfect that all they needed were pillows. We spent most of the day going over everything in the RV and his hitch ball wasn't the right height so he had to figure that out. I think he was probably having second thoughts because it was very frustrating trying to figure out how to make it the right. He persevered and got the job done. So, I told him once he had it the proper height that he'd find hitching with the Equalizer hitch would be a breeze, and it was. They seemed to love everything about the RV. Even the little scrape on the side and the little hole in the back didn't seem to bother them. I was crippled by the time I got back inside. My back just can't handle the standing. They texted that they got home (apparently without incident), and were very excited about the traveling they were hoping to do in the future. They are going to send me pictures when they camp.

So, I go back and forth thinking--what good is a trailer if I can't walk the trails and do the things that everyone does when camping. That and the fact that the buyers were not only nice but happy takes the sting away a bit. I just have to find a solution to my back pain and something that interests me. Right now, I can't think of a thing. That may change.

I didn't know if I'd blog again. I'm going to try to read a few - I certainly haven't kept up so I'm anxious to see how everyone is doing.