Easy, Moderate, Difficult, Strenuous

Fall Break Backpacking Trip

Oct 2023

Paris Mountain State Park

North Lake

Site #2

For a hike-in site to have a p-i-c-n-i-c table.

What??!!

Ahhhhhhh- slice of luxury.

Needlepoint with a view....

Journaling and a nap in the sunshine to follow...

And what every backpacker crosses their fingers for...

waking up to sunshine, as to not have a heavy wet tent to carry.

So the trails we hiked on were identified as easy, moderate, difficult and strenuous.

On the way TO the campsite...no issues...definitely not "strenuous".

Whew! 

 On the way BACK. 

Another story.

Strenuous.

Hard candy treats.

Singing...while huffing and puffing.

Playing twenty questions.

One foot after the other.

LDC, "Mom, let me get your picture. Why don't you sit on the tree?".

Me, "If I sit down, your mother will not be able to get up.".

 “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills

 

moments

August

A new season of swim is here...and a new team.

(Lane 2-behind the starting block.)

It's been going swimmingly.

September 

Labor Day Weekend

My camping birthday get-away to North Carolina.

wood whittling

Smokemont Campground

Great Smoky Mountain National Park 

Laugh s’more, worry less

September

LDC's 13th Birthday

Charleston, SC

Seafood

Sunset(s)

Shopping

and Sweet(s).

LDC,

No one on earth can make my heart smile the way you do. Simply hearing your voice brings me peace. Thank you for being the absolute best daughter I could ever have. Happy 13th. Love, Mama

seashells are love letters in the sand

Good News: We escaped for one last summer trip (rather spontaneous but when I only have five summers left with LDC...Let's pack, hit the beach and not waste a second.).

Bad News: I'm already back in the classroom teaching with our new year-round school schedule. What, what??

A hysterical and fun highlight-- taking a catamaran to snorkel on a nearby island.

Why hysterical?  Some what of a booze cruise for some vacationers...at 10AM.  

Good ole' Panama City Beach.

Evening after evening after evening of gorgeous sunsets.

Plenty of fishing

and releasing.

"You only get 18 delicious summers with your kids.

This is one of your 18.

If that's not perspective, I don't know what is."

J.S.

LDC,

The 2023 summer went too fast for me but as always you made it carefree, filled with popsicles, constant laughter and we sure did live in the sunshine. 

THE hand stand expert in the pool,

Momma

whirlwind

February

Caesars Head State Park

Raven Cliff Falls 

Me: Open your eyes.

LDC: I can't see the sun is blinding me!

Whew. This was a h-i-k-e.

March

Charlotte NC

Visit with the Kerr Krewe

Always a great time

glasses!

April

Spring Break 2023

Waves NC

May

Long Course Swim Season

Georgia Tech 

Atlanta GA

Mother's Day

As you can see....a palm tree theme.

June

Auburn Swim Camp

School is out for the Summer!

Italy

June 2023

Mockernut Boutique

Welcome to Mockernut Boutique

Remember Fan Mail?

Pen-Pal?

Anything with a handwritten letter, envelope and stamp?

Into the mail the letter went, accompanied by real photos.

(pulling out all the stops on this one)

Fast forward a few weeks...

I heard shrieking when LDC checked the mail, after being out of town at a swim meet all weekend.

"She wrote back!  She wrote pack! AND she sent something!"

LDC immediately called HD...and her mom promptly drove her over for the BIG reveal.

Taking turns making cuts and unfolding tissue paper....

the suspense.

To write is human, to receive a letter: Divine! 

~Susan Lendroth

 

prepared vinegared rice

"What do you want to eat tonight?"- me

"Sushi."- LDC

"Sounds yummy. Want to make it at home, instead of pickup?"- me

"Sure."- LDC