Day 2

Today we went to an art gallery, which had some excellent oil paintings, and one really creepy room with a dark video that made my eyes cross, and a lot of other normal artsy displays. I wasn't allowed to take any pictures though. Sorry!

Then we went out to eat at this yummy place called the Filling Station. I had a Fried Green Tomato sandwich. 

 

After that we went for a four mile walk through this awesome trail, deep in the forest. Or at least it felt that way, really it was a park in the middle of town. Beautiful! I didn't stop to take any pictures, but all of this city is luscious!

Then we went home, showered, changed and went out to eat. It's been over five hours since we ate, so don't judge us. This place was awesome!

 

My salad was a spinach, wild mushroom, goat cheese, and candied walnuts with roasted red pepper dressing. It was divine.

 

The pizza was so amazing I forgot to take a picture until it was almost all gone. It was fried eggplant, mozzerella, mushroom, and roasted garlic cloves. Talk about delicious!

 

So funny story. There was a cafe put in next to this restaurant we were at, and their customers kept parking in this parking lot, taking up all the space. The owners of Sticks and Stones got mad, told them to move and it kept happening. Not only does it continue, but this other cafe puts up a sign, on Sticks side, for their business. So Sticks build a wall to separate their parking lots. Then...

 

...they put up a sign, right in front of the cafe's sign, that says this parking lot is not for their customers. Talk about passive aggressive! But very funny too.

Day 1

Today is the day! I have left my hometown and I'm headed north. On the way I stopped by the Billy Graham Library. It was neat, I've never been there before.

 

This is the Dairy Barn his parents had.

 

This is the home he grew up in. Its very cute inside.

 

There was a radio show exhibit from his early days. That's how it all began.

 

A random bike, not sure why.

 

This was part of an "influential people" wall. He's ministered to tons of high up officials and presidents. This was Billy Graham and the Chief Jewish Rabbi Moses Roseri in 1965.

 It says "save our people" and was part of a Romania exhibit. Billy visited there during the communist war-torn days.

 

One of many items of honor he received from various people. This was from Queen Elizabeth.

 

Very cool neon light cross. You should go see that.

 

Part of the Prayer Garden where Ruth Graham is buried.

All in all, it was neat. After that I made it to my friend Beth's house, and can I say that her city is just gorgeous. Old brick and stone house with huge stately trees. Tons of parks, trails and gardens. Many wonderful places to eat. We walked through 2 gardens and then went out to a wonderful frozen yogurt place. Yum!

 

Find the frog. I dare you. He was HUGE! Big as my face. Ok, so my face is not big, but that would be big for a frog. Just sayin'.

 

Lots of beautiful ducks everywhere.

 

Waterfalls

 

and more waterfalls!

 

Check out this seriously sweet bridge that my friend Beth is modeling for you!

 

Lushness everywhere. I love it.

 

Pineapple yogurt, and white peach yogurt with fresh strawberries and blueberries. After a walk through wonderful gardens, does it get any better?

4 days to go...

Today I had two new front tires put on my car, and the shakiness is totally gone! My car drives like a dream, and is road-ready. Now all I have to do is prepare myself, and print out maps. Sounds simple, but the preparing myself part is gonna take all 4 days.

I dehydrated bananas today, and packed them all up in baggies for quick grabs during the drive. I also made some trail mix, and bagged up veggies. I really don't like eating fast food when I have to sit in the car for hours.

Tomorrow I'm going to finalize dates, times, and places. I can't wait.

6 days and counting

Today we worked on my car, getting it ready for my trip. The rotors were warped, making the car shimmy and shake when I pushed on the brakes, so we changed them. I went to go get the parts, and it took the man 6 tries to spell my name right for the warranty. 


Then my brother and father helped me. We formed a little assembly line. My brother jacked up the car, I took the tires off, he took the brakes and old rotor off, I degreased the new rotor, my brother reassembled it, I put the tire back on, all while my father puffed his pipe and gave instructions. Repeat on other side.
It was very easy, and not very time consuming. We even did it with the car jack, instead of my dad's big souped-up one.

My lovely car and our tools

My brother, either assembling, or reassembling. Not sure which.

The shiny new, and degreased rotor.

Removing the old rusty, warped rotor.

Ye old rotors.

I think I'm putting the tire back on. Notice my dad in the back on his pipe.

My car now brakes smoothly, quickly, and quietly. Hoorah! Next stop, new tires and a much-needed alignment.

This was the day...

I went for a walk with my friend at this gorgeous lake. It's so close to our home and I've never been there before. It was great! Deep, lush forest. Quiet lake with no geese, thank God. Good hiking trails. We went uphill, downhill, deep in the forest. Very soothing. I feel whole again.

Today is the day...

I have a new IPhone! Very exciting. I am going to use it to update you on my gallavantings all around the countryside. It's so beautiful and easy to use! I love it. It will help me a ton since I don't have a computer anymore.


Note to self: when transferring from old phone to new phone, do not forget to turn off the alarms on old phone BEFORE you turn it off and sleep soundly with your new phone by your bed. The random alarms the next morning coming from two places will confuse your groggy self.

This is the day...

I have decided to go on a month long road trip to New England, and visit all my family and friends up there. Mainly, because I never have. I shall have an adventure and blog about it. And maybe give you some photos and  video too.


Right now, I'm getting my self and my car ready.
I'm going to hit North Carolina (Beth), Virginia (grandparents), West Virginia (pretty country), Maryland (for 5 minutes), Pennsylvania (lots of family), New Jersey (yes I'm skipping Delaware), Connecticut (more family), Massachusetts (which you apparently spell with one s and two tt's at the end not two ss's and one t, and because I have to get to Vermont), Vermont (yay!), no Rhode Island, shoot over to New Hampshire and Maine simply because I've never seen it and I will only be 4 hours from the coast, back over to New York (family, friends, and more family), and on back down to good ol' South Carolina.

Sounds good to me. I shall start in July!