MARINATED A KENNETH IDEA

ALL CREDIT FOR THIS GOES TO KENNETH.....

Last week on Kenneth Brown's Facebook page he printed a list of some of his favorite tips ....The following was one. At first, it didn't register. Later in the evening, after it had "Marinated" in my head it hit me!

This is the "Tip" from his site:

"When you can’t find the right coffee table, switch your search to dining tables and cut the legs"

To Set The Epiphany up, let me state the present uses and locations of various items in the Bucket List House.

My dearly loved zinc nested tables are not "together". The small one has been a side table next to the sofa, the middle size one is a "desk" in the Guest Room, and the large one, is in the garage!

The red bench is now in the Guest Room serving as a coffee table, extra seating, and a great place for suitcases!!! It sits in front of the sofa that was in the Great Room in our other house. It's at HOME!

I no longer need a" bench" coffee table in our Great Room. There is more than enough seating. I need a "table" that guests will use to place glasses, etc. I sadly had to admit that the bench was becoming a large, red, useless, mass.... in the middle of the room! Friends, and family, hesitated to sit, place glasses or plates, or "rest" their footsies!

For the last month, for lack of anything better, I have been using a side table as a coffee table. It was OK, but not what I really wanted in that space......under the Grand Chandelier!!!

Now we can return to the EPIPHANY!!!!

I took my faithful measuring tape, and went into the garage......YES, YES, the large table was the perfect size.....47" x 24"! I also measured the legs and YES, YES, they were the same width as the legs on the other two tables......just longer!!!!
ARE YOU ALL GETTING THE PICTURE ?

Next Step:

Summon MC......

Went through the entire Epiphany and he thought it was doable!!!!

IN FACT ......AFTER THE "NEW" TABLE WAS PLACED IN THE ROOM, MC SAID, AND I QUOTE:

"ONE OF YOUR BETTER EPIPHANIES !!!"

Thank you Kenneth. It might not be a dining table conversion, but the inspiration came from your "tip".

PS.....THIS WAS A NO COST EPIPHANY!!!!!!!

SMALL ZINC TABLE

LARGE ZINC TABLE ...SMALL TABLE IN FRONT WITH LEGS OFF

LARGE ZINC TABLE WITH SMALL TABLE'S LEGS

(PERFECT "NEW" COFFEE TABLE)

Coming soon small changes to our "outside" living area.

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!!!