Hideaway in the Highlands

TJ and I just got back from the most relaxing vacation. We went to Highlands, NC for the first time and stayed at Old Edwards Inn. The inn was just featured in the January issue of Southern Living. I would highly recommend this trip if anyone is going on a vacation any time soon. We also drove over to Ashville one day and toured the Biltmore mansion and grounds. The house was unbelievable for one that was built in the 1800's. It was the most extravagant thing we had ever seen. It was beautifully, no I should say magically decorated for Christmas. It was breathtaking! The last day we did a mini tour of the waterfalls...very cool! Here are some pictures from our trip. I hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas season.

We went to our first winery and wine tasting...not TJ's favorite thing. We aren't really wine drinkers I must say but it was a fun experience. This picture doesn't really do it justice...it kind of looks like a Ryan's Steakhouse. ha ha! Guess you had to be there...

In front of the Biltmore

This was called the Bass Pond on the Biltmore Estate. TJ made me HIKE like 2 miles to it and of course then we just turned around. I was sweating and of course didn't have on hiking shoes. I mean what was he thinking...it wasn't like he was going to go fishing or anything. Just had to see it I guess.

This waterfall was only about 2 miles from downtown Highlands and you could actually drive under it.

Cave near the waterfall...no telling what lives in here!!!

We took this on the way to the second waterfall. It was a much bigger waterfall and required some hiking...again I wore the wrong shoes.

This was the second waterfall. We actually walked all the way down to it and under it as well. This picture doesn't do it justice...it was so loud and much bigger than this pictures shows.

Not quite the effect we were going for but I bet you can imagine why he wanted to take this picture!

Christmas Cards are on there way!!

I finally got all of our cards addressed and they are going in the mail tomorrow! I love sending Christmas cards. I especially love going to the mailbox every day this time of year!! It's such a fun tradition and one that makes you sit down and actually send mail...a long lost pastime if you ask me! I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season. I will post the photos from our annual photo session after everyone has had a chance to get the card. Merry Christmas!

It got even better!!!

So....I didn't get to post our end to the hunt because we were busy looking for the deer that TJ shot! It was almost dark and to my right I hear footsteps and movement. I slowly look and what do you know, an 8 point! I excitedly nudge TJ and then we see another one come out. It was a cull (ugly duckling) 7 point. TJ wanted to kill that one. The 8 point wasn't big enough and he didn't want the cull to reproduce. So judgmental!!! Ha! Anyway, he got him! We looked for almost an hour and finally found him. Here is a picture! Hope everyone had a blessed thanksgiving,

A good end to a rough day...

For 29 years I have been at the same house for Thanksgiving but today was my last time. My grandmothers favorite day of the year was today! She went to Heaven this year in August and it's been a busy and very sad couple of months. I will say my aunt came through and learned how to make my grandmothers cornbread dressing pretty good. It wasn't the same but it was nice closure. I even got to sit at the grown ups table in the dinning room. That was a first and last all in the same day! After lunch we went home, changed clothes, and grabbed Ally. We headed down to the farm and are sitting in a beautiful field hunting right now. What a beautiful afternoon. I am very thankful for this.

Homecoming...

My mom and I spent last Saturday in Auburn for the homecoming game. It was fun taking my mom and I can't remember the last time we have been in Auburn together much less at a football game! We had a great time. David and Jackie were great hosts as always. My mom and I took a picture in front of my Freshman dorm. We have the same picture from 11 years ago...yes I said 11 years!!! That is so hard to believe. My mom was pretty emotional. It was a huge accomplishment for her to send me to school. I am as proud of her as I hope she is of me! Here are some pictures from the weekend...War Eagle!

Lets go for a hayride!!

TJ and I took my two cousins, Kaylin and Braylen, to the country a couple of weekends ago. It was a fun filled day! We went on a hayride and saw a Sasquatch! We also picked pecans, cotton, and peanuts. They carved pumpkins and rode The golf cart and four wheelers too! They even shot some cans with TJ's 22, I think that was their favorite. It was so fun to see these city kids out in the country. I love these youngins so much! Here are some pictures from our day.

Fall is in the air!

Being in Montgomery, AL sometimes we're lucky if we actually have a fall season. I am so loving this one! My Grandmother has property in Macon county that we call "The Country" and since her passing in August it has become my Dad's and his siblings. I have grown up in "the country" and love being down there. It's the most beautiful property with an old house that my Dad and his buddies use as a hunting club lodge. Of course years ago TJ was welcomed with open arms and these days he's down there more than I am, practically running the show! He takes care of everything and I'm so proud of him for taking responsibility of the place. My dad and his buddies are not getting any younger and the place requires a lot of work. TJ loves riding the tractor and "working". Him and a couple of the younger guys plant green fields, cut trees, burn things (apparently that creates growth), and work on the house among many other things. "The country" was host to many parties when we were in college and even now keeping those old guys out of trouble is a chore. ha! It's a beautiful fun place and one day TJ and I plan to build our dream home there. I have already started saving photos of rooms in magazines that I love and maybe one day it will be a reality! I put some pictures below of the fields. We lease the farming rights and the farmer has been in there latley rolling up the hay. He harvested peanuts and is getting ready to harvest the cotton. Hunting season will be here next weekend. TJ will be there bright and early next Saturday to watch the sun come up and hopefully get his first deer of the season. There is nothing like having a freezer full of meat! Of course after his hunt I'm dragging him to Auburn for one of the most exciting games of the year...Auburn vs. Florida!!! Another reason to love fall, football season! I also love decorating the house for fall. I have the most beautiful mum on my front poarch and a big ole' pumpkin! I decorated my mantle with lots of little pumpkins and goards (I stole the idea out of my newest Southern Living but it doesn't look quite that good). Here are some pictures! I hope you are all enjoying your fall!

I think this picture was like 3 years ago...look how young TJ looks!

This one was this year at the first "work day". They were fixing the tree stand.

This is the field across from the hosue. The one pecan tree in the middle of the field is so beautiful.

The farmer miscalculated on his rows and due to the farming equipment and

how it picks the peanuts he had to leave one row! 

This is my favorite tree.  It's a Red Oak and my dad swears we could register it as one of the largest in the state.  My first dog is buried under this tree and TJ and I have hunted out of it many times.

The farmer loaded up his hay!  He says he gets like $35 for each bail! 

That's a lot of money for some grass...

College Roomies

What a great weekend...went to Birmingham on Saturday to a lingerie shower for Whitney! Alison and I rode up and met everyone at Laura's for the shower and then headed out for dinner and drinks. I miss those girls so much and love any opportunity to get together...which lately means a wedding or baby is about to happen! I guess that comes with my age but I do hope that we make excuses to hang out when we no longer have these reasons. I imagine us taking beach trips when we're 40! Ha!!! Anyway...I'm so excited for Whitney and Judd and wish them all the happiness in the world. I wish I had a picture from our sophomore year at Auburn when the 4 of us lived together...we haven't changed THAT much!!

Annual Beach Trip with the Klima's

I'm testing out the blogger app I just discovered...
Here are some pictures from our recent trip.

It's been too long...

Wow it's been forever since I've posted!  I have really missed it.  It's sort of theraputic.  I don't have facebook so I don't get to express myself very often on the WWW.  At least this way there aren't a million people reading...at least I hope not.  Well there is no way to possibly catch up since last December and believe me I'm not interesting enough to make it worth your while.  ha!  Here goes...

Christmas came and went...
Auburn won a National Championship!!!  War Eagle...
We stayed at our first Ritz Carlton...
TJ had knee surgery...
I turned 29...
TJ and I met Randy Owen from the band Alabama!...
Spent a lot of time at the lake...
Got a new couch...
Took a few beach trips...
Lost someone we loved but never got to know...
Went Kayaking...
We both served on Jury Duty...
Went to the PGA Championship in Atlanta...
Lost my first Grandmother...
Installed a door in our den that goes into our new fenced in back yard...

And here we are.  I told you it wasn't much but as you can see there were some very difficult times.  Every new year I pray that the upcoming year will be a great one but after my accident in 2010 and now the death of my Grandmother in 2011 I sure hope God has a great 2012 in store for TJ and I.  I know, I know... one event can't ruin the whole year. 

Well I'm going to try to do better with posting.  I wonder if I can post from my iPhone???  If so I could almost guarantee a post daily!!  I should have added that in my update because the iPhone has totally changed my life!  Sad I know but I'm addicited.