Tag Archives: vacation

Travel

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Oh my goodness — the holidays really haven’t officially started yet but I bet you’re already feeling stressed. Let’s see if any of these things are on your list: Baking, cooking, cleaning, organizing, traveling, shopping, keeping everybody happy. Sound familiar? Yikes. Well, I’m going to help you out here. For just a minute, slip away to this wondrously quiet and peaceful little piece of Alabama. This past weekend some friends and I rented a house at Lake Smith — and did absolutely nothing. The only two rules were that we couldn’t move the cars once we got there (and really there’s no place to go) and that it was an official  MUFW (Makeup-Free Weekend). We pretty much hung out in our baggy PJ pants and T-shirts, talked and ate all weekend. But, look — we saved a chair for you! So in the next few days, when things get hectic and you start to wonder why those Pilgrims were so thankful anyway, hang in there and remember: Christmas is only a month away.

Labor Day Weekend

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Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend with family and friends ... and some ice cream! Grandson Capt. Adorable, 17 months, sure enjoys his.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend with family and friends ... and some ice cream! Grandson Capt. Adorable, 17 months, sure enjoys his.

Alabama

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One more reason why I love living in Alabama!

One more reason why I love living in Alabama!

Food

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Pensacola, FloridaFresh crabcakesI love crabcakes. When we go out and there are crabcakes on the menu, I’m getting them, no question. My idea of bliss? The Crab Cake Cook-off in Pensacola, Fla., where restaurants offer their best crabcakes for sampling. Imagine tasting 20 or so creatively yummy crabcakes one one evening. Paradise! (Also: Thank goodness for Protonix. ) Some of our favorites included a less-is-more version that crab cakeswas all fresh lump crab, a thin and crunchy cake with a wonderfully smoky Pensacola seafoodCajun type of sauce (I couldn’t convince the chef to share his secret recipe) from Appetite for Life catering and a tasty effort with roasted corn and mango salsa from 600 South restaurant. My husband and I also were impressed with the Crab Trap, which went over-the-top with a bonus fried softshell crab. The cookoff raises money for the non-profit ARC Gateway, which serves developmentally disabled children and adults, so it’s win-win-win for everybody. Read more at http://www.pnj.com/article/20090708/LIFE/907080311/1053/NEWS12/The-claws-come-out–

Summer Fun

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Now, this is the way to enjoy a summer afternoon! Our grandson, 15-month-old Capt. Adorable, cools off at the splash pad at the Hunstville (Alabama) Museum of Art.

Now, this is the way to enjoy a summer afternoon! Our grandson, 15-month-old Capt. Adorable, cools off at the splash pad at the Hunstville (Alabama) Museum of Art.

Travel

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Great Smoky MountainsHappy birthday! The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is 75 years old this month and if you’ve never been, make this the year. For one thing, it’s free. It’s one of the few major national parks that doesn’t charge an entrance fee. For another thing, it’s breathtaking. From ancient mountain ridges that seem to unfold into infinity to the tiniest and most perfect wildflower, nature is giving you her best here — and it would be rude to refuse. The best part is that you can choose how natural you want to go: You can drive through the park and venture out of your car for a few minutes on paved and civilized paths that will invigorate and amaze you. Or, you can strap on the hiking boots and hoist the backpack and immerse yourself in nobody-for-miles wilderness. Your choice. And there’s even a middle-ground: Day hikes where you can start and end in civilization but still feel as if it’s just you and the trees and the pounding sparkling waterfall. Plus, there’s park gateway Gatlinbug, Tennessee — a tiny mountain village turned classic American tourist town where you can ski, buy stuffed black bears and Watch Candy Made By Hand! But, see, I even love all the tacky touristy stuff. It’s part of the experience. I first went to the Smokeis as a mere babe almost 50 years ago (yikes!) and it’s been one of my favorite places ever since. Check it out at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/.

Alabama Beaches

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manateeWhen you think of Alabama, you probably don’t think of manatees, do you? Well, you should. A fourth-grade class in Mobile has proposed the gentle giant, which has been showing up lately in coastal rivers and waterways, be named Alabama’s state marine mammal. In fact, my state is going all beachy this year with its new license tag that replaces the previous “Stars Fell Alabama state license plateOver Alabama” design, which, ironically, I always thought looked like a T-shirt you’d buy at the beach. I love this new tag and can’t wait until it’s my turn to get one. I always have bought a “Helping Schools” tag before but I think this time I’ll go with the standard tag and simply give the school of my choice $25 directly. Some folks in non-beachy Alabama aren’t happy with this emphasis on sun and sand, but I’m all for it. Our 50 miles of Gulf coastline is some of the most beautiful anywhere, and if you get manatees thrown in as a bonus, who could resist? Not me. There are only 6 1/2 hours between me and that gorgeous white sand, but for the times I can’t get there — like, sadly, now and most times — at least I’ll be able to look at my license tag.