14th

Pink and Orange 

This year LDC wanted to plan her 14th birthday party alllllll on her own.

Sigh.

Yes, excited for her independence.

Tug on my heartstring though, all the mama' planning is now officially out the window.

(Her pulling together last minute touches)

Tote bags with puffy letters welcomed guests as they arrived

a picnic dinner

and plenty of minute-to-win-it games along with loads of pool fun.

Happy 14th  LDC

Before you even do anything, you already slay.

tripling

First week in the books.

What made the Fri-yay even better was knowing friends were on their way from Charlotte, ready to wind down and play by the pool.

Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Delicious drinks and indulgent sweets were gifted.

AND tripling wearing during the weekend was in full effect.

crumblcookie

athletic brewing

(we even indulged on Crumbl cookies during breakfast.....shhhhhh)

 

Yep, threeling outfits continued.

"Distance means so little, when someone means so much.”

Tom McNeal

Summer Week Five and Six

 

Dear Under The Oaks and Jekyll Island,

    You were the perfect way to wrap up my entirely too short summer. 

Thank you for the calm of a backporch and the early morning hint if mosquitoes would be on the prowl, based on the sway (or lack of sway) of your beautifully draped Spanish Moss.

Thank you for your "honey hole" that allowed frequent spottings of 

Roseate Spoonbills and Mr. Crunch, the raccoon.

Thank you for your island visitors, aka Parental Unit, that made the daily deer count more competitive and all around made Happy Hour more happy (Kingston Trio!).

Thank you for opening your shores to the excitement of LDC's first salt water open cast reel.

(my most favorite pic from the trip)

(second most favorite pic from the trip)

"The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad."

 - A.K. Best

Thank you for allowing us to feed Puddles the Terrapin and learning that alligators loose stripes after five years of age...and they are the only reptile that provides protection to their young.

Thank you for the time and stillness to be able to enjoy the slow reveal of an unfurling frond.

Sincerely,

Pass the Sunscreen Lisa

Dear LDC,

You're the piña to my colada.

Thanks for an amazing Summer 2024

"Sittin' in the mornin' sun / I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes." 

— Otis Redding (and your mama)

Summer Week 4 birdie, par and bogey

If you could crawl into this picture you would experience 101 degrees.

"How would you rate Golf Camp?"- me

"It was a 5 out of 10 experience"- LDC

"Why that rating?"- me

"I liked hanging out with my friends, learning about golf, and getting yummy lunches but I didn't like it happened during summer because it was too hot."-LDC

Roger that.

Summer Week 3, permission slip to be lazy

Let's see.

This past week included

learning how to grill

 following dinner the time to say, 

"LDC why don't you make a caramel sauce for our vanilla ice cream?"

my co-worker from Jekyll, Greg, stopping through to catch up and

(dragon fly on his hat)

sweat it up in Hitchcock Woods 

(The Red Cliffs)

a Strawberry Moon at the rodeo 

and a sweet back porch birthday party for Brownie.

(best guinea pig mom ever)

Week Two, The Great Outdoors

Camp #2

LDC was able to secure a slot for G&G camp.

She was over the moon to be able to attend this top notch specialty overnight camp.

The head counselor is pictured on the far right.  Campers call him Grandpa.

Campers were able to learn new skills and interact with nature as they engaged in physical and social activities––and create memories that will last a lifetime.

In addition the head cook, Granise, had cookies, granola bars, candy, ice cream and according to the camper LDC- "really really good food" plentiful.

(THREE s'mores were allowed around the campfire. Scandalous.)

Campers created boats for the annual Lonesome Hollow Creek Race. Although no prizes were given out, from what I heard, bragging rights reign.

2024 Winner

N.I.C. 

Campers also enjoyed hilarious movie making and a plethora of selfies.

Now while G&G Camp was in session, I had registered for Momcation Camp...so off I went to....

The Great Smoky Mountain National Parks

For years I have had my eye on the Mt. LeConte (via Alum Cave) Trail.

(Exposed rock ledges, hand cables, and  "strenuous" aren't kid friendly thus the trail being on the back burner for so long.)

So before dawn I secured a parking spot at the popular trail head, pulled out the camping stove, made myself coffee and enjoyed breakfast as the sun started to rise. Once the sun greeted the mountains, up and up (and up and up) I went.

the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States

Rocking chairs are on the back porch!

A spot to change into new socks and only a wee bit farther to climb...

Mission accomplished

View from the Cliff Tops

What did I do when I arrived back to my camp site?

Crawled straight into the tent and took a 45 minute nap. Then soaked my knees in the icy cold Chasteen Creek while sipping a white wine spritzer.  Keep in mind, Momcation.

Next day.

My knees were still working just fine so headed to Newfoundland Gap to jump on the AT and delighted in following the white trail blazers.

(Didn't get to Maine though.)

Hmmmmmm

What would your thru hiking name be??

"Man has created some lovely dwellings- some soul-stirring literature.  He has done much to alleviate physical pain.  But he has not...created a substitute for a sunset, a grove of pines, the music of the winds, the dank smell of the deep forest, or the sky beauty of a wildflower." Harvey Broome, Naturalist

Wrapped up Momcation not walking but floating in a deep soaking tub.

y-e-s