Happy and Blessed

Sometimes you have one of those really great weekends and it is always such a blessing after a week you'd rather not repeat.

Friday evening after work I kicked off my shoes, showered, and hit the hay.  Saturday I got up at 4:30 to be ready for "Whistler's Day", the educational and fun event for kids interested in hunting, held in northern Kentucky.  It was wonderful!

This is in conjunction with the National Quail Association and our chapter is called Quail Forever.  We used to be part of the National Wild Turkey Federation but for various reasons the menfolk in our chapter decided to change to quail.  I don't hunt, so I don't mind.

My sister's husband is the treasurer of this gang and he takes all of his duties seriously.  He makes me crazy but he is a good man.  Mike had originally asked my Pirate Husband to photograph the event but....well, the Pirate Husband is not one of those kind of guys who just loves to spend loads of time with children.  Anyway, this put me second in line for the photography request and I loved it!

Moms and dads and kids and grandparents all participating in archery, shooting shotguns and rifles, skinning a raccoon, fishing, and learning to respect God and nature; it was wonderful with about 350 participants.  The best part was watching our three-year-old grandson shoot a .22 rifle for the first time.  He did it!!!  

I drove home from Kentucky, packed a red nightie and my toothbrush, and headed to the boat to spend the rest of the weekend with my Pirate Husband.  I dearly love and adore that man.  Let me just say that my life is not complete without him by my side.  



Now, sleeping in a tiny bunk with him is just not practical.  We have shared so many nights in a twin bed at times over the years, and that is acceptable and doable.  However, being in that bunk is coffin-like!  And with age creeping up on us, it is just not practical.  Flexibility without injury is required!

But through it all we keep devouring each other!   I love him and I know he loves me.  I just love to look at that man, listen to his plans, argue with him, and make his coffee.  He made me laugh so many times over the last 24 hours.  We didn't head out on Lake Erie but rather ended up at a really nice WalMart a few miles away and made sure he had a few tasty and healthy things in his fridge.  We walked the aisles singing out our arguement:

His:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxKy1_c6DeM  Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal

Mine:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukUL_I14GPw   Country Roads

Then I had to head home.  Missing him but smiling ear to ear and feeling so blessed.  Thank You, LORD, for my husband and family. Country roads, take me home....

As the Thunder Rumbles

I love thunderstorms.  There is a big one stirring up just west of us right here in "Cornfield County".  What is it about me that likes violent weather?  Maybe because it can't be harnessed, it can't be stopped, it can't be controlled, nor can it be manipulated.  (While none of that is true thanks to geoengineering, I still like to imagine it is true!)

While the wind is whipping the leaves inside out on the trees around our yard, I am contemplating.  What would it be like to take a year off from the secure life in a safe world with solid work with the "root system" of surrounding family keeping me grounded?  

Do I have a wild side that might enjoy the unknown adventure of letting go of the harness, becoming unstoppable, uncontrolled, and unscheduled?  I don't know.  That's why I am contemplating.

The Pirate Husband has completed his Great Loop journey a week and a half ago.  He has cut the grass twice, fixed the motor on the central air, chatted with a few neighbors, and is bored to distraction.  Thankfully he has a problem to tackle in finding the right antenna set up for his ham radio. 

We are discussing where he might journey next on his boat, Sixteen Tons.  Perhaps the Bahamas?  Maybe through the Panama Canal? Those dreams could just very well become grand life adventures.  One thing is for certain, he ain't gonna sit around the middle of "Cornfield County" perfecting his landscaping skills.  He needs to live.  

So, I am contemplating.  

 

Wow.

One personality trait of a good pirate is being able to handle life with sizzling romantic flare. Eeeeekkkkkk!!!!  What a superb weekend!!! This has been the most special weekend I have had in years. 

The Pirate Husband drove through fourteen hours of rain, sleet, and snow on Friday from Savannah, Georgia to come home for a hot weekend date.  It's 5am Monday and he's returning already.

Saturday we prepped and packed ourselves for our little get-away weekend, heading south to Cincinnati. This means the Pirate Husband put on a suit! Not only is he the most charming man I have ever met, he's also the most handsome.  Women young and old still swoon over him and they don't mind commenting, even to me! I have learned to curb the green-eyed monster and just gush along with them, as he pretends to blush.  That man!  For instance, the elderly lady who volunteers at the local library listened to his Great Loop adventures with relish; she actually asked me, "Does he need anyone to carry his suitcase?"  Hmph.  I'll be carrying his suitcase, thank you very much indeed!

We must have tossed around twenty-five different ideas for dinner before the youngest son and his wife suggested The Melting Pot.  

Fondue at The Melting Pot

It was quite tasty, quietly romantic, and we, of course ate more than we should....but skipped desert. 

We drove about twenty minutes into the heart of Cincinnati, climbed the hills into Eden Park to the Cincinnati Playhouse to see a really good production of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"  It was darling.  Kate Cook held her own as Miss Elizabeth Bennett and John Feltch was great as her father, Mr. Bennett.  The show was very good, even for pirates who aren't so interested in innocent, English romances.  The Pirate Husband behaved impeccably and we had such a memorable evening.(Eeeeekkkkk!)  How I do love him with all my heart.

Kate Cook as Miss Elizabeth Bennett

After the show ended we made our way into Northern Kentucky to the Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast in Burlington.  The proprietress, Mrs. Nancy Swartzell, was there to greet us at the door even though it was nearing midnight.  So sweet.  Not just with kindness but Nancy was also cheerful.  Our room was supplied with espresso and homemade cookies - just the thing for a couple who skipped the chocolate fondue at dinner!  We stayed in "Catherine's Room", which was cozy, impressively clean and tidy, smartly decorated, and adorned with every necessity we could imagine.  The home was originally built in 1830 and one might not think that in the tiny town of Burlington you'd find such upscale lodgings but the service, the home, the grounds, the food were excellent.  

Breakfast was amazing and Nancy blessed the five couples staying there with radiant smiles; her husband, Bob, working quietly and diligently by her side in the kitchen.  The Pirate Husband had the heavy-duty three cheese quiche and, as I couldn't decide between the creme brulee' French toast or the orange marmalade stuffed French toast, Nancy prepared one of each for me.  The small antique table was set just for us with fine linens and china, our own freshly brewed pot of French roast coffee, near the window overlooking the front lawn.  

Before checking out we spent almost an hour chatting with Bob and Nancy - great people, I hope to see again some time soon.  Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast

Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast 

The Dining Room

                         

"Catherine's Room"...and Our Room

Nancy Swarzell Whipping Up Breakfast

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe

This is a very old picture of us taken probably ten or eleven years ago in Los Angeles but that same smitten joy on my face for having that man's arm around me is how I feel this morning.  

In Love with My Pirate Husband

Ypérochos

Today was a fabulous day!  Spent the better part of the afternoon in Mason at the new Greek restaurant, Remezo...kalyteros!!

www.remezo.com

A friend of mine from Greece is the general manager of Remezo and this was the first visit.  What's not to love about Greek food?! I can't even begin to describe the lamb - tasty just won't do to describe it!  The atmosphere was elegant but so comfortable. That's the way Nik (Nikolaos Sarlis) does things, though.  He likes to pull a chair up to the table, sit down and visit with you like you are an old friend, or even family...and before you know it, that's just what you are, old friends.  So happy for him!

To top things off was the most delectable dessert, galaktoboureko!  That was a lot of fun trying to learn the correct pronunciation but I sure gave it several tries!  (Do not roll the "R"!)  This particular galaktoboureko came from the owner's grandmother's recipe; you know grandmas always keep their best recipes secret!  I sure hope Remezo's becomes the best kept Greek restaurant secret in the Cincinnati area!

                                 

Mechanic

I either need a mechanic or I have to become a mechanic.

Romantic, right?

Charlie Allnut: Well, Miss, ‘ere we are, everything ship shape, like they say. Ah, it's a great thing to have a lady aboard with clean habits. It sets the man a good example. A man alone, he gets to livin' like a hog. Ha, ha. Then, too, with me, it's always: 'Put things off. Never do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow.' But with you: 'Business before pleasure.' Every time. Do all your personal laundry. Make yourself spic-and-span, get all the mending out of the way, and then - and only then - sit down for a nice quiet hour with the Good Book. I tell you, it's a model - like an inspiration......http://www.reelz.com/trailer-clips/51049/the-african-queen-clip/?ap=1 

Tu Me Manques

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkA-64dDC7w

"Tell me right away if I’m disturbing you,” he said as he stepped inside my door, “and I’ll leave at once.”“You not only disturb me,” I said, “you shatter my entire existence. Welcome.”