Author: Easin' Along

Admittedly, this is a busy time of the year. There are things to do, places to go, and people to see. I’ve always felt that Christmas is stressful, but thankfully, Helen takes care of most of the going and doing and seems to enjoy it more than most.

For more years than I can remember, Helen and I have pushed the pause button on everything around us to spend time with some old neighbors and dear friends at an event we creatively named the Meat Loaf Dinner. I make the meatloaf, and they bring the fun. The event began as a one-time happening and quickly became a tradition.

We have always hosted the dinner in our home, but this year we were invited to bring our bags, baggage, and ground beef to Anne’s lovely cabin adjacent to Blackberry Farm. We were all in; Helen and I didn’t have to think long and hard about the invitation. Our friends jumped in as well, and the party was on.

Most of the group arrived the day before us since Helen was in the final throes of a nasty cough.  Thankfully, she felt much better on the second day, and we showed up early in the morning. Early for us is around 10:00 am, as our friends cleaned up the breakfast dishes (ain’t retirement grand?).

We weren’t in the cabin long before someone suggested a tour of Blackberry Farm to view the Christmas decorations and let our wine remain in the jug until Happy Hour. It was a drizzly day, so I stayed in the cabin by the fire with two others while everyone else jumped into one car for the half-mile trip to the resort.  

Blackberry Farm is a resort known worldwide for its plush accommodations, fine dining, and well-organized outdoor activities. Guests are treated to a first-class experience, and our airport is always busy with travelers arriving for a taste of East Tennessee. Our group arrived at the resort in a classy manner befitting the surroundings.

Although I was not with the group, I received a full report.  Everyone visited the Blackberry Farm kennel to see the famous hunting dogs bred and trained there.  The Logotto Romagnolo is wildly sought after as a hunting dog.  This breed has a keen sense of smell and is also used for hunting for truffles in areas where they grow. These dogs are sold to buyers worldwide, and the waiting list for a newborn pup extends by six years. Another popular stop at Blackberry is the cocktail bar.  Tom and Townsend stopped in for a sample of the afternoon specialty.

Once back at the cabin, everyone settled in to catch up on the latest in the lives of everyone’s family and friends. The guys shared some tall tales (picture above), and the ladies shared hearty laughter. Anne surprised everyone by giving each lady a vase she had carefully crafted in her pottery class.  They were a hit.

Shortly thereafter, it was time to pull the meatloaf together and get on with the event. My meatloaf takes about two hours in the oven, which gave us plenty of time to get on with Happy Hour and the White Elephant exchange. Happy Hour needs no explaining, but the White Elephant exchange might.  Everyone is told to bring one wrapped item from their attic. Numbers are drawn to see who picks first.  I was near the end of the line and selected a play-money shooter suitable for children.  Tom chose a lovely clay vase (forgive the noisy picture.) Helen received back something she placed in last year’s exchange.  We laughed until we couldn’t breathe.

Finally, it was time for dinner. The meatloaf turned out well, and the sides prepared by others were divine. We lingered long around the table. The event was a pause we needed.

The evening was capped off with a tribute to Posey on her birthday. Posey began the celebration herself, but others rescued her before she twisted an ankle and joined in. All had a good time. 

Helen and I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas season. We’re so blessed and grateful, and we’re still Easin’ Along.

Friends are the best gifts…

The Thanksgiving holiday took precedence over a post detailing our second week at Edisto Beach. Thanksgiving with our family was delightful, and there were few details to write about anyway…just fishing, beach walking, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and glorious sunsets. November is a fabulous time for all of the above. I’ll let the pictures take it from here.

Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season. We’ll be back soon.

Helen and I left Knoxville last week for our annual two-week vacation at Edisto Beach, SC. Helen insisted we spend two nights in Cherokee, NC, on the trip down.  She wanted to scratch her casino itch, and being a good husband, I reluctantly agreed. At the end of two days, I probably had a better time, but that’s a detail best kept to myself.

Before arriving at Edisto Beach, we planned to spend two nights at our son’s home in Charleston, SC. More accurately, we spend the night in Dora parked in Collin’s driveway. Collin made it possible to connect our utilities to power and water outlets, giving us the perfect mother-in-law suite. Our granddaughters reward us with an ample supply of hugs.

While en route from Cherokee, Collin sent a text message informing us that we had VIP tickets to an event scheduled for Sunday afternoon…details to follow. We were intrigued.  Collin and Austin are blessed with great friends, and we always have a delightful time around them. Helen and I were hopeful that another friend’s gathering was in the offing. 

We arrived in Charleston late in the afternoon and set up quickly. Helen had prepared a meal of chili that we had brought with us. The girls came home from soccer practice hungry, and the chili was a hit. The long drive to Charleston had taken a toll on my body—I crashed early.

Saturday was a day for football. Granddaughter Bennett had a soccer game in Myrtle Beach, and Austin volunteered to drive her and a few teammates two hours north for the match. Meanwhile, Collin set up a television on his pool deck so we could watch the much-anticipated game between Tennessee and Georgia.  Several of their neighbors joined us. Tennessee fought a good fight for the first quarter, and then it was all Bulldogs. Oh well, they were an eight-point favorite.

The big event on Sunday helped us to shake off the significant loss. Around 12:30, we piled into Austin’s van, picked up friends John and Amy, and headed to Bowen Island for the 2^nd Annual Toadfish Conservation Coalition Shellabration. Casey and Amanda Davidson sponsor the event through their business, Toadfish Outfitters (link here), which sells oyster knives and coastal living products. A portion of every item sold is used to build and maintain oyster habitats throughout the country. The Shellabration is a fund-raiser for the effort, and we had a “shelluva” good time there.

The event staff and volunteers directed us to a pavilion on the pier for food and drinks.  We started with a fresh scallop salad, and once devoured, we quickly moved to a table where a gentleman was serving fresh smoked oysters. We lingered here a while. At the far end of the pavilion, a crowd gathered in front of a table serving a most interesting oyster concoction in a small Mason jar. Inside each jar were fresh oysters and mushrooms marinated in chili oil to be eaten on a cracker. The word terrific doesn’t do justice to this delicacy.

Guests lined up for oyster shooters in front of a bar on this end of the pavilion. A sandwich board listed three selections.  Patrons could select one or all three. We chose the latter. In the picture below, Helen and Austin show off one of their choices.

Back at the other end once again, we tried out a “Caviar Bomb.” A server placed a spoonful of black caviar on the back of a guest’s wrist for the guest to “bomb” it back.  The caviar was delightful.  Ashley (pictured here) agreed.

After viewing the Toadfish items in the Silent Auction, we returned to the open air for more oyster items and drinks. Finally, we decided we needed to leave before we grew oyster shells ourselves. The Shellabration is a lovely event, and I hope we have an opportunity to do it again. Once back at Dora, Helen and I hugged the girls, loaded up, and drove to Edisto Beach.

During our first week at the beach, we had two noteworthy events. An eclipse of the moon took place on Tuesday morning, and Helen woke me up around 5:00 am to take a picture.  Shown below is the “Blood Moon” of 2022.

The next event that came our way was Hurricane Nicole which struck the Florida Coast but sent wind, heavy rain, and high seas to Edisto Beach.  The full moon contributed to some strong surf.  Our campsite is along the marsh, and we had marsh water filling the low spots in our site. We still feel some of the storm’s effects, but it’s nothing but a slight interruption compared to the experience of Florida residents.

Week one at the beach is in the books, and we’re still Easin’ Along.