Local Bed & Breakfast

My wife and I stayed at a wonderful Bed & Breakfast over the weekend. It was located between Pendelton & Central SC. It was a very cozy atmosphere, it had recently been redone and was incredible inside. The kitchen was absolutely amazing and one of the owners was a "Gourmet Chief". They had a great wood heater that kept the inside of the Bed & Breakfast nice and toasty. They even had a goat petting area not far from away. They also kept talking about Chicken this and Chicken that altough we kept looking around but never saw one. One of the neatest things is that they had someone who would come and take pictures so you could remember your time there. You can check this web-site for pictures of the kitchen and of the wonderfully lit Christmas Tree they had decorated. I don't think they have an online reservation system yet but you can read various commentary by one of the owners here. They really had everything we could need or think of. It was a little cold outside or they said they would have given us a ride around the property in a recently decorated trailer that won a prize at the Pendleton Christmas Parade. When we were ready to check-out they invited us back and even gave us Christmas goodies to snack on on our way home. They were really great host considering the circumstances. If you ever are interested in staying there just let me know and I'll be more than happy to contact them for you.

Ice Storm Top 10

Below are the top 10 things that I wish had during the last 4 days while our house had no power ...

1. A source of heat: a small propane heater, a kerosene heater, a functional fire place - I gave away an old kerosene heater a couple of years ago before we moved to SC - I could tolerate no refigeration, no hot water for a shower, no electric-lights, and no electric stove - but to sit in a house where the temperature hovered around 48 degrees for 4 days... I don't think so.
2. A chainsaw - to clear my neighbors driveways and cut the few tree limbs/bushes that I missed a few months ago ... allowing them the slightly graze my house/roof as they were bent over with the weight of the ice .... this will be corrected shortly (the trees being cut back more ... not purchasing a chainsaw)
3. A emergency passcode to our alarm system - that thing will drive you nuts when the power goes off
4. More doughnuts and a gallon of hot coffee to bribe the tree cutting crew and Duke Power - to get my power on faster
5. Gloves for a little boy - his hands got pretty cold the first night
6. Clean Baby Bottles & Clean Dishes - that will teach me to be lazy - we still got them clean just had to be a little creative
7. More Coffee Filters for my percolator - only had enough for a day or two - I'll put that on my grocery list now
8. A bigger Car - so when we load up to stay with someone else - we can get everything in one trip
9. A generator - so I could run the essentials - no that does not include the TV or Computer, or Christmas lights or a hairdryer
10. A four day rental near Cades Cove or somewhere similar so we could leave town, relax and enjoy our anniversary

Cultural Icons

Today while little Benjamin and I were doing a little Christmas shopping and last-minute anniversary (5 years!) shopping... I realized I hadn't eaten all that much for breakfast and it was closing in on lunch time. I made a stop for a cup of Sweet Tea at Zaxbys (I think over have the cup was sugar) and that didn't really do it... so about 20 minutes later I stopped at an old faithful restaurant - that I hadn't been too in a while. I don't know why but I think it's been over 5 years since I had eaten at a Krystal. I ordered 3 Krystal burgers and it was less than $2 ... that was some good eating but the onions always seem to stick with me the rest of the afternoon.

All that to say that eating at places like Krystal, Waffle House (maybe Stewarts if your're from around here), maybe even getting a Ice Cream cone from McDonalds, or a dipped cone from Dairy Queen ... always seem to bring back all kinds of memories from growing up, from my high school years, and from college. It's just a totally different experience than going to Cracker Barrell or Brewsters.

Peaceful Nap-Time

Often when my little boy falls asleep in my arms and across my lap ... I can't help but look at him for several minutes. He's out cold... sleeping peaceful. His little belly is rising and falling as he breathes. His little eyes occasionally move back an forth under his eyelids as he slips into a dream. His little foot or hand may wiggle as he gets in just the right position. His little mouth may make a little sucking motion as he thinks about the last bottle he just polished off (I think this is one of his forms of Heaven). He may even fall asleep with his hand open close to his face. Then I can look at his little fingers - how much they have changed over the last 5 1/2 months. Sometimes I wonder what the Lord has in store for this little man and for me (and my wife) as we raise him and as he grows up. So I hold him as he drifts off to sleep and hold him for a few extra minutes and reflect on this little man.

Submission

Check out the Winter 2005 issue of The Cry.

Reflections

Why is it that it seems like only a couple of days ago since I last posted ... when in reality it's been over two weeks?

Home Repair - never ceases to amaze me how complicated things can become - but to which there is often a simple answer. Maybe not the best or most optimal solution but a simple answer. Thanks to my friend who helped me over the weekend with a new installation of a tub fixture. Strongly recommend checking with a local Ace hardware store before venturing to National Chains for parts. Might just save yourself a little time.

Christmas sales - anyone else tired of received lots of emails from online retailers you've done business with in the past - maybe only one or two transactions - seems like each Monday morning I delete a several new daily or weekly advertisments. Online sales consultants say that the best time for online retailers to market to potential customers is on Monday morning because so many people now use their work internet access to search, browse, and purchase vs their home access over the weekend. The biggest sales day of the year for online sales was supposedly the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Decorating Christmas Trees - doesn't really take much money to have a really beautiful tree and have a great time decorating it

Hurricane Katrina - This is an intersting article about article about post-Katrina art collections.

Theme Verse for Holidays - "They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord." Luke 1:6