ADDITIONAL MEMORIES FROM TRAVELS WITH MC

IT'S A GORGEOUS PART OF OUR COUNTRY.......

Found a number of shots that I wanted to share. We felt like we also discovered the "new world"! The New England Coastline is breathtaking. We loved the quaint villages and all the people we met.

WATER FRONT IN CAMDEN

SHOPS IN CAMDEN

A SIGN NOT SEEN IN TOO MANY PLACES

MONUMENT OF SOLDIER IN CIVIL WAR

THE EAST COAST'S PAINTED LADIES

BAYSIDE
A VILLAGE 15 MILES NORTH OF CAMDEN

"MOST UNIQUE" WINERY WE HAVE EVER BEEN TO!
NOT ONLY DO THEY MAKE FRUIT WINES, BUT THEY RAISE SHEEP AND DISTILL FLAVORED GINS

SHORE LINE OF PLYMOUTH

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK

NOW ONE HALF THE SIZE OF THE ORIGINAL.....US PARK SERVICE NOW PRESERVES IT FROM ANY FUTURE DAMAGE OR "LOSS"

CANAL BETWEEN CAPE COD AND MAINLAND

KENNEDY COMPOUND FROM BEACH

THE MARKET AND WINE/LIQUOR SHOP IN PINE HILLS

I add this to show what hopefully Sun City Peachtree will have within the next few years. Nancy and Gene live in a large community with mixed residences/neighborhoods. Over 12 builders are building, including DelWebb. Nancy and Gene live in DelWebb's, Great Island, a section which will have 600 homes for 55+ when completed in about 18 months. The other sections are not age restricted. On the property are numerous businesses, including restaurants, shops, doctors and dentists, financial and legal services and a US Post Office. There is a private golf club with two, 18 hole courses, and a large club house. The DelWebb section has a small "Amenity" center with a lovely main room, indoor pool, exercise room and other amenities.

THIS LITTLE WEEK WILL REMAIN IN OUR THOUGHTS FOR YEARS.......

TRAVELS WITH MC......

FINAL ACT......PART 3

We are home .....safe and sound.....


What a grand adventure we had.....from day 1 ---- to last evening ....we had the time of our lives!

It was sad leaving the Camden Harbour Inn....you know MC had another unbelievable breakfast! He couldn't wait to get to the dining room!!! We WILL RETURN ...... Never have we spent time at a resort, hotel, you name it.....like this one NEVER !!!!

We had heard about a particular breed of cows and found them as we were leaving....

WORLD FAMOUS OREO COWS!!!!

FLOWERS ALONG THE ROAD FROM THE INN

A few hours later... we were sharing a wonderful lunch with my Kenneth Brown Fan "Sister", Carol, and her husband, Ron in Rye, New Hampshire. This was a VERY SPECIAL AFTERNOON. Carol and I have been exchanging emails for years. What a gift to really "know" Carol and Ron....we will be friends the rest of our lives.

RON AND CAROL

THE GRAND MEETING

FRIENDS FOREVER

Back on the road and down to Plymouth to spend a few days with my grade/high school friend, Nancy and her husband, Gene. We had reunited when we both lived in Virginia. We moved to Charlotte, NC. and shortly afterwards, they moved to Plymouth. They have family in the area and are really enjoying the Grandparent life!!!

Nancy and Gene took us to town so I could check out my ancestry.... The Fuller family was one of the Mayflower crowd!!! My family, supposedly branches down from Samuel Fuller. He was my great, great, great whatever---- uncle!!!!......We are all working on the actual "link". I have it down to George C. Fuller born in 1815 in N.Y. He died in 1900 while living with his daughter Mary Margaret and her husband, Enoch Pink Lawrence......the parents of my grandfather, Robert Joseph Lawrence.

MC AND YOURS TRULY

NANCY AND GENE

MY HOMESTEAD

Nancy and Gene had to find temporary housing when they moved to Plymouth while their home was being built. Through a friend in Virginia they were able to rent a home ON THE KENNEDY COMPOUND, on Cape Cod!!! UNBELIEVABLE. The four of us ventured over to the property to take a few pictures....now this was fun! I was picturing the "boys" playing touch football on the yard and remembered the photos of Jackie and Jack strolling down the same beach we were standing on....AWESOME..

YES, THAT'S ME ON THE BEACH!!!!

THE KENNEDY COMPOUND

Saturday come much too quickly and off we were to Raleigh. Patti and Mark were waiting ....we all went to a fun brewery restaurant for dinner...

Now that MC and I are home--- I must reveal my latest Design Project. Erica has been working on the drapery panels for the Great Room and the pillows for the sofa. I had them hung before we went to bed last night!!!! They are Perfect!

NEW DRAPERY PANELS AND PILLOWS

PERFECT PLATE
and a wonderful treasure from Plymouth

Our next project will be in the works very shortly....stay tuned for our back yard "addition".....About 7 feet!.... Necessary so we can use our grill!!!

One last note.....It came to my attention that some of you might have missed my second post of our adventure. Part 1 was posted after it......can't control this monster...it has a life of it's own. Please take a look at Part 2 if you missed it.

TRAVELS WITH MC......

PART 1

"Oh what fun it is to" ......MC IS A JOY.....

Our drive to High Point went as smooth as glass!!! The weekend with Patti and her family was ideal. We had the opportunity to see all the improvements that Erica and MC,Jr. have added to their new home. Erica has promised me she will send me a personal "post" that I can add to this blog! MC, Jr. has done a fantastic job on rebuilding their deck and Erica has transformed the dining room!

Yesterday we headed out early for Raleigh to catch our plane to Boston. It only took three complete drives around the entire airport for us to find the right Park and Ride!!! Good thing we gave ourselves an extra hour!! This should have been an omen to me of what was to come......

We finally found the correct "Lot" and caught the bus to the Terminal. No problems.... The flight was smooth and almost enjoyable. No flight is enjoyable to me!!! I say this because I am petrified to fly!!! We landed safe and sound..... remarkable feat!!! I try not to think that I am sitting in a "tube" in the air above EARTH!!!!!

We had no problems retrieving our luggage and getting on the correct bus to the car rental area. MC filled out all the paper work and out the door we went to get our car!!!! The CAR......Have any of you seen a KIA Soul???? We had no idea what it was when they asked if it was acceptable.... Back to Rental building.......we settled for a plain gray Chevy!!!




??????? WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE LIQUOR LAWS IN MA. AND ME ??????

WE MADE IT

OUR "SENIOR"
SEDAN

Now....we are set.....we are READY FOR OUR ADVENTURE.......
LET THE FUN BEGIN......

CAMDEN HARBOUR INN....MC GOT US THERE

Part 2..TRAVELS WITH MC

I have been "TRAVELING" with MC for 52+ years. MC might have been a Navigator on huge Air Force planes, but something happens to him on the ground!!!

We had a plan!! We had a little over three hours drive to Camden. It was decided to stop around Portland, Maine for a little dinner. Simple, easy........with one little side trip for a Maine Geocache.

No.......... This is TRAVELS WITH MC!!!!


The Geocache was done in no time flat at Maine's Welcome Center.

MC actually found the exit for Portland..... before long we are in there. This amazed me! Now, to decide on a place to eat. We have been known to take hours to choose a restaurant! Neither one of us wants to make THE COMMITMENT.....( which restaurant to try....if it's a bad meal neither wants the blame!) We finally found an area that looked promising. Lots of shops, activity and a good variety of eateries!!!! Maybe, just maybe, this was going to be OK...

UNTIL.......

We go to park! There is street parking with meters. Simply enough......when you have change!!! Neither one was us has a dime, penny, quarter.....nothing. So MC decides to drive around and look for a parking lot. Now, I know we are in trouble!! One way streets all going the opposite direction we want! I find myself in TRAVELS WITH MC mode ....... WE END UP AT THE EMERGENCY DOOR OF THE HOSPITAL......

Now, time is running out, I am hungry. I don't eat on planes (too nervous to digest...MC eats all my stuff along with his) and I am a little, what should I say.....BITCHY!!!! I can't believe our situation. MC calls our hotel, tells them we are going to be late and please, please, don't give our room to someone else!!! The Inn is so gracious and understanding. They tell us to take our time, drive safely and our room will be waiting for us. MC still wants to stop and eat!!!! Not me....I just want to get to the INN........ MC tries to drive around Portland once more and finally I won the discussion...... after MC had us back at the Emergency Room Entrance. I think he wanted to admit me at this point...................

The remainder of the drive to Camden was fine!! A few wrong turns, once in Camden, but after 20 minutes driving in circles, we find this MARVELOUS, GORGEOUS, FABULOUS INN. ALL IS WELL.

ALL IS WORTH EVERY LITTLE INCONVENIENCE.....THIS IS PERFECT

http://www.camdenharbourinn.com/






Immediately upon entering the "Gracious Inn", we are greeted by Marjorie. She comments on what good time we made. She checks us in with ease and shows us our room. A nice young man is carrying our two huge bags up the stairs placed them on luggage racks .














WE MAKE A MAJOR DECISION.......WE WILL EAT AT THE INN......

We went downstairs and entered Natalie's......an absolutely perfectly designed bar/lounge/dining room. We had received a complimentary Prosecco so we sit at the bar to enjoy this treat. Alex, the Wine Steward is tending bar. We immediately strike up a friendship. He suggests we try the Tapas menu which is served right at the bar. It's almost 8:00pm and we think this is a great idea!
I can't describe the meal we enjoyed. We both felt like we were Judges on Top Chef!!! ....enjoying tastes of many of the specialties of the "house". Alex suggested a few wine pairings with some of the dishes and ended with a fabulous Port. But.......there is coffee and desserts always being served in the library......so we stroll in there and enjoy chocolate cake and coffee...... The end of a PERFECT evening.

DOORS IMPORTED FROM PARIS

OH...THAT CHOCOLATE CAKE IS GOOD

Early this morning we headed down to Natalie's for their famous breakfast......MC thoroughly enjoyed every mouthful!!! Oh, the pastries were heavenly!!!!



One thing I wanted to do in Camden was find the HGTV Dream House from 2001!!! I remembered it was here. With a lot of research I had the address with us ....ready for my little Geo-caching!!! Sure enough WE FOUND IT......




One of our other finds for the day was a winery we had heard about. We found it at day's end! Great place and very different!!!

SWEETGRASS WINERY AND DISTILLERY

VIEW OF THE HARBOR FROM INN



THE BAY FROM THE WATER'S EDGE IN THE VILLAGE

This evening we returned to Natalie's .......WE HAD TO......The food and the service are excellent and no other place would have done!!! Our server, Emily was a joy. She made our last dinner so special.

I know MC is looking forward to his breakfast in the morning.....We will say "Good Bye" to this wonderful spot in the world. We want to thank Oscar,one of the co-owners, who made our stay over the top and to all the wonderful staff he employs.

We are meeting a fellow Kenneth Brown "Fan", Carol Wheeler and her husband, Ron. For over four years we have emailed and shared pictures. Finally, we will meet for lunch near their town in New Hampshire. This should be an absolute "hoot" ...the poor "boys"...they are going to have to listen to all our Kenneth Brown stories!!!!!

Later......we head to Plymouth, MA to stay a few days with Nancy and Gene. Nancy and I go back to Grade/High School!!!! We met again after almost 40 years in Norfolk...then we moved to Charlotte and they moved to Plymouth!!! We now both live in DelWebb Communities. So, so Serendipity!!!!

Part 3 of our trip will follow when we return to Georgia. Can't wait to see what's ahead!!!

IT'S TRUE.....WE DO LIVE IN THE SOUTH....

PROOF......

What to my wondering eyes should appear but.....

BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS MAGNOLIA FLOWERS ON OUR TREES

What a sight!!! I happened to look out the window a few minutes ago, and there they were! Love, Love them!







A small bit of SERENDIPITY ....All good things happen to us on the 25th of months!

IT WASN'T FINISHED....

YOU SAW ACT 1.......
NOW YOU ARE GOING TO SEE ACT 2......

The other night, MC went to bed early and I was enjoying a movie on TV!!!!!
IT HAPPENED......AN EPIPHANY!!!!

Why didn't I think of this before?

Before MC could get out of bed the next morning, I was jumping up and down saying " Honey, you've got to listen to this idea!" Do I need to tell you the expression on his face??????

He listened as he was calmly walking into the Great Room, and said:

"I LIKE IT"......"WE'LL DO IT"!!!!

Before lunch, we were at Lowes getting the extra box of tiles. In three hours the job was done!

WOW

The simple addition of mirrors around the fireplace makes all the difference in the world!!!

NEVER AGAIN TO CHANGE...

CAN'T TURN BACK...............

I was asked by MC....."Now, is this your FINAL decision?"........

I didn't take a minute to say: "YES"....

After 4 different "looks", I finally figured out what is the PERFECT....#5 and Final, solution for the space over the fireplace! This has been a challenge since we moved in.

After every change to the room, that space required a different treatment. Everyone has voiced their favorites......not everyone agreed by the way. But each time I made a change, I certainly received feedback!!!!! No other aspect of the house has created as many viewpoints!!! AMAZING!!!

#1.....LADY OF LOVE AND HOPE

#2 COCKTAIL FIZZ

#3......THE CLOCK

#4...MIRROR WITH BLACK AND GOLD FRAME

If we went with this change..........SERIOUSLY..IT WOULD NEVER CHANGE, NEVER.... FOR THE LIFE OF THE HOUSE!!!! (That's MC speaking!!!)

I really had to be SURE.......

Have you figured out what I decided to put there???

YES...... YES......MIRROR TILES!!!!!.

FINALLY FOUND THE PLACE FOR THEM IN OUR BUCKET LIST HOUSE. No house of ours is complete without mirror tiles! It just took a few months to find the right place.

The design ......It went through many phases.

First the size....The measurement of the entire space .......... 66" x 48"

So our choices were:

3' x 5' ........3' x 4'......4' x 5.......or 4' x 6"


Did we want to frame it with one, or two frames?
..... What width......What color?

Did we want "Rosettes"?
and if so......what color?

For over a week we went back and forth discussing all the different choices.

Finally, we decided to position a row of tiles across the mantle and see what it looked like.
DECISION ONE SETTLED......IT WOULD BE THE ENTIRE SPACE.....66" X 48"

The width of 66", meant MC would have to cut the edges of the side tiles. The height of the space is exactly 48" ! Perfect, no cutting on the top and bottom!
The plan was in motion.

The tiles come 6 to a box ..... 4 boxes...... Exactly what we needed. We planned on a thin frame, in gold, to outline the tiles...and we would have rosettes in all the corners, in gold!

MC has been working with mirror tiles since the Norfolk condo. He's an expert!!!
He figured we might need another box. From past projects, he has found that there is always a broken corner somewhere in the box. He decided to use those for the side tiles that he was taking 3" off on each side....Hopefully he would not need to buy the extra box.

MC got off to a great start. He went through the first box, found one that had a broken corner, and proceeded to take the 3" off.....ONLY HE TOOK THE 3 " OFF BOTH SIDES OF THE SAME TILE !!!!!!

OOPS....................That economical plan went out the window! Back to store for the extra box!

He was able to put all the remaining tiles up without any more hitches. In fact they looked GREAT!!!! All the edges were even and perfect!!!!



IT LOOKED FABULOUS

Together .......at the same time........we said "That's it......NO FRAMING....NO ROSETTES
JUST LEAVE IT AS IT IS......


NOW.......
I see the mirror looks absolutely amazing .....BUT.......I think I can improve what it reflects by 100%......
We are in trouble......I'm having an EPIPHANY!!!!!!!

I have the great idea of adding Crystal beads to the chandelier!!!!!!!! Like I did in the Dining Room. Actually there is another chandelier from Ballard Design that is very similar to the one we bought, with a lot of crystals. I would have ordered it instead of the one we have.....except....it was $200 more !!!!!

I dragged out my "bag" of left-over crystals, but there weren't nearly enough to do the job!

......... It didn't matter that we had a date for an Event at the Golf Club in a few hours.....this had to get started!!!!

I am at a TOTAL loss in hobby stores. As much as I love to "design", I can not do crafty projects!!!!

We went from every "hobby" to "hobby" department of Hobby Lobby!!!! After walking through most of the store we finally found crystal beads that would work.... In the jewelry section. If I were crafty, I would have figured that out!!! We also found "wire" to string the beads. Oh this was going so smoothly.....in no time flat it would be done!

MC and I went to work....being CRAFTY!!! He cut the wire and I strung the beads!! MC then tied them into place..... The first string went up great, no problems!!! Again ....I figure this is going to be a breeze.

We start on the second string....... there will be a total of 12 strings of 33 beads.

Second string ready to hang.......


OOPS....First string BREAKS......WE NOW HAVE 33 CRYSTAL BEADS ALL OVER THE SPECKLED TWIST CARPET!!!!!!! On our hands and knees we find 29 beads......

Back to second string....which in reality becomes first string. It's UP.

I shouldn't tell you this, but.......we repeated this three times, before we had two strings up!!!

Now .....it's time to go to the Club.....We shower .....dress and leave!!!

We had a great time. We enjoyed a delicious buffet and then an evening of dancing to great music. We had a fun, fun time!!! Down to the YMCA!!!!!!

Back home by 10....we are Seniors......

The beads are all ready to work on...still many missing in the carpet.

ALL I WILL SAY IS THAT BY 1:30 IT WAS FINISHED AND DROP DEAD........

GORGEOUS

there are only 7 missing beads to find.................................. and the cost... under $10!!!!!

SERENBE

A FUN FILLED AFTERNOON...

Early this afternoon, MC and I decided to find Serenbe, Georgia. Melanie Turner, the Designer I met at the Atlanta Symphony Showhouse, suggested we take a trip to this Community!!!!

The drive, which took about an hour, was beautiful, going through small towns on country roads. Then ...what seemed like the middle of Nowhere..............sat SERENBE !

This community is like no other I have ever been to! It is on 900 acres with a master plan that calls for 80% green space."They base their approach on a belief that quality of life is more than simply a place to live. It is designed to be fully a part of its natural surroundings". The residences are certified EarthCraft houses within walking distance to shops and restaurants.

The housing styles range from townhomes to Grand Victorian homes. The property consists of a fabulous Inn, stables, fine restaurants, a day spa, art studios, unique shops, a working organic farm, an equestrian center, and a biological wastewater treatment system rather than sewers...the first in Georgia.! Unfortunately, most of the shops and restaurants are only open from Thursday through Sunday!!! We did find the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop where I had the best scone ever!! MC and I will surely venture back to "Me..JANE", a quaint shop, selling wine, gifts and chocolates. Bloom, a shop filled with treasures for the home.....is also on my return visit. Oh, I can't forget there is also... the Serenbe Playhouse with an outdoor theater and a Farmer's Market with all the sustainable organic foods from their grounds!!!

We drove all over the property not wanting to miss a thing!! We pulled up to the parking lot for " The INN at Serenbe" and proceeded to walk around the grounds. As we started to ascend the stairs to the building, a man, friendly with a smile.....stopped us in our tracks. He informed us that there was a "Group" staying at the INN and we could not mingle with them. We asked how we could make plans for a group we were putting together and he graciously showed us the way off the Inn grounds, and directed us to an outbuilding with a sign reading..."Guest Information". A lovely, young lady, greeted us and handed us some pricing for the Inn. She quickly showed us away from the grounds, reaffirming that they had a "Group" and we had to respect their privacy!!!

MC and I thoroughly appreciated this fact, but I must say we started to imagine all sorts of intriguing scenarios about what this Inn, in the middle of nowhere, really could be..........That friendly man looked a lot like "Jack Bauer"!!!!

With visions of secret hideaways and who might be in the "Group" we continued our tour of the Community. Driving through the little neighborhoods of different home styles we came upon a Grand Victorian Home. Smack in the front yard was a sign that read......
OPEN............

Need I say more!! You know that I was up the long stairs and trying the front door in a second! It was OPEN!!!!!!!! I immediately waved to MC, who was cautiously sitting in the car, to join me. We walked through a newly constructed, gracious, Victorian home! Oh, the Kitchen was fabulous! There were three floors and an unfinished raised basement. Which would make a perfect "Terrace Level" a "term" I will try to remember when I describe finished lower levels! The third floor.............. a Grand Ballroom with a Stage. All levels were reached by a circular staircase with a grand chandelier at each level....all hanging on one continuous chain!!! .....(Wish we had three levels...that was very dramatic!!!!)

I immediately was reminded of my Grandmother's home. Grandma related many stories that she remembered to a "T", of the home she grew up in, which was in the "tony" section of Flatbush, Brooklyn in the early 1900's. Grandma loved to tell me about how she would sit, hidden from view, and watch the carriages approach the circular drive to their home. Ladies and Gentlemen, dressed in formal attire would enter the grand foyer and proceed to the third floor for the "Party"!

Can you just imagine .........




These pictures are from brochures we found at the bakery. They show the property much better than my camera shots.....especially since we couldn't get into some of these places.......................

You can get all the info at the website:

http://www.serenbecommunity.com/home.html

http://www.serenbeinn.com/

ENJOY

A CROWN FOR THE THRONE

YOU DIDN'T THINK I WOULD LEAVE THIS SPACE OUT............

THIS CHANDELIER HAS NEVER LOOKED BETTER!!!

THE REAL MC.......

AND YOU ALL THOUGHT YOU KNEW MC......

For all my loyal readers, please forgive me for deviating from the main subject of this Blog. But, I am positive you will enjoy knowing the REAL " MC" ..................

Yesterday, our Community had a huge Event ......." THE SUN CITY PEACHTREE DERBY ", which was a fundraiser for Relay For Life!!! Each neighborhood decorated a plain wooden horse, approximately three feet tall, and made "Jockey Silks" appropriate to the horse!!!!............................ We live on Satilla Court........

With that in mind, our clever, very clever, MC came up with a THEME.......OUR HORSE WAS ....."SATILLA THE HUN"....... We had tremendous help from our neighbor, Bruce Mason. Without his assistance, and the help of other neighbors, MC could not have achieved this momentous feat!!!!!

Now, without further ado .......let me introduce to you THE REAL MC.......




ps...........it was over 80 degrees!!!!!!!