Weekend Road Trip

The oldest and dearest, here they are.  We all got together to celebrate Ashley's last week in Birmingham before being whisked away by her new husband to Durham where he is currently finishing up law school.  We met up at the Melting Pot for a fabulous dinner and, as always, interesting conversation.  It is always fun to catch up with these girls.  No matter how long we are apart, we always pick up right where we left off.   If you haven't tried the Melting Pot before, I highly recommend it! Be prepared to be there at least 2 hours. 

After leaving the girls in Birmingham, Berkley (who accompanied me on my road trip) and I headed up to Huntsville to visit Cara and check out her new apartment.  Berkley loves aunt Sissy.

Cara, in case you didn't know, is an interior designer and oh so talented.  She actually made the headboard pictured below.  She tells me that she isn't quite finished with it since it isn't "tufted" (?) the way she wants it.  Maybe I will get my hands on a final project picture when she gets around to it.  She is currently rewiring and refurbishing and old chandelier to hang up in the bedroom so maybe I will get a picture of that too.  Her whole apartment is full of fabulous finds and bargains that are all put together for a chic look.  I am jealous of her ability to find great bargains and know just how to use them.

I left Cara on Sunday around noon and headed to Florence. I was making the rounds, people. Berkley was happy to be reunited with Henry and Scooter and it was great to spend time with Mom and Dad.  I love this picture of mom even though it is a little big over exposed. I am still trying to figure out the new camera. I want to master using it's special functions, otherwise there is no point in having it. 

After spending some time at home, Mom, Dad, and I loaded up the boys (dogs) and headed off to visit Mamaw.  I think she might have been a little overwhelmed by the dogs, but they love her.

Berkley rode like this in Dad's lap the whole way to Mamaw's.  He loves his Peepaw. 

While were were at Mamaw's we went on a scavenger hunt looking for lost goodies.  Mom found some old poodle figurines that Mamaw said I could have.  They are too cute! Ben has been begging me to put them on the table next to his side of the bed.  More importantly, my dad found some old stuff that belonged to my grandfather.  Pictured above, it was his bronze star medal and a letter to my grandmother from Papaw's commanding officer. Apparently, Papaw was injured while over seas and then decided to return home.  We don't know many details because Papaw never talked about it. 

I can't neglect go mention all of the fun finds that mom hooked me up with before I headed back to Pike Road.  Mom has opened a booth at an antique mall in Florence and she has been loading up on all kinds of great furniture and accessories, most that was picked up at the world's longest yard sale.  The only problem is that she wants to give everything away to me and Cara.  I can't tell you how many times I turned down her offer to give me an antique bed.  Somehow I managed to make it out of there with a needle point bench for the piano, a retro cake plate, some bird prints, a plant stand, a flower pot, a neat basket to hang on the wall, some old prints of my grandmothers, and another print that was done by a local artist.  I feel like I'm leaving something out.... anyway, you get the point.   I was sad to leave Mom and Dad, but I will be seeing them again in a couple of weeks to celebrate Dad and Cara's birthdays!

My road trip ended on Monday night when I met Ben at Haley, Chad, and Mary Ella's house in Pelham.  Berkley made a new friend in Lucy even though he was a little bit intimidated at first.  Haley made us a delicious Paula Deen style pot roast and veggies and we fried some home grown okra for dinner. The evening was complete when Chad brought home a chocolate pie! At the end of the night I got to feed Mary Ella her bottle. She is such a sweet baby girl and I can't get over how fast she is growing! I love that Haley lives between Pike Road and Florence because I always have an excuse to drop by and visit and see Mary Ella's latest achievements.