Happenings this week

Books:

• Remarkably Bright Creatures - I read this in 2024, and I’m rereading it.
• The River is Waiting - This is an audiobook that I listened to. I got halfway through, and it was so depressing that I gave up on it. I returned it to the library early.

Knitting:

• Scrappy Socks for Don - It is so satisfying to use up my sock yarn scraps in this fun way.
• Antique Filigree sweater - a colorwork sweater. I always forget how much I love colorwork! The exciting thing is that this whole sweater involves colorwork!

Food and drink:

• Things I’ve cooked this week: Spinach and Mushroom quiche, stuffed peppers, and rice, pork burgers, and pickled beets.
• I made green smoothies for us a couple of times this week.

Watching:

I’m watching some TV shows that I’m sure others have already watched, and I’m a little behind the times.

• Tracker
• Marshals
• FBI

Special Events:

• Don had a cortisone shot in his back.
• I’m recovering from my second cataract surgery.

Fruits and vegetables:

• We picked lots of blueberries and some figs today. 
• I also found little tomatoes growing on my tomato plants.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Helen, GA

Don and I went to Helen, GA, on our honeymoon 44 years ago. We didn’t have any reservations and were lucky to get the last cabin at Unicoi State Park. After having dinner in town, we walked around the shops. We saw a sign in the welcome center that said if you were unable to find a room for the night, call this number, and they would find a room for you, even if it was in someone’s home. I thought that was so welcoming! Boy, times have changed! Now there are a lot of places to stay and a lot of shops and restaurants!

We met at 7:30 at the senior center and left on a chartered bus at 8 am. Everyone was wearing the pretty pink shirts that we were given. Sue and Heather were so organized! We got a treat bag with a Chick-fil-A treat, along with an itinerary for the day and other goodies. The drive took about 2 ½ hours due to rush hour traffic, and it was raining pretty heavily the whole time we were traveling.

When we arrived in Helen, the rain had stopped. We were told to meet back at the bus by 2:15, and we would leave at 2:30.

Don and I walked around town and saw that a pretzel was $12.95. We looked at different restaurant menus, but none had the prices on them. Plus, neither one of us was very hungry, so we settled on eating at Wendy’s. After that, we shopped some more. We went to the GA arts and crafts building, which also held the History of Helen museum. We were able to watch two videos that told about the history of Helen. The town wasn’t crowded at all, and one shop owner told us that this was the slow season, which made it a perfect time for us to come visit! I liked that it wasn’t wall-to-wall people. We were able to go into the souvenir shops and look around without bumping into people. The sun even came out, and it was a beautiful day!

Everyone showed up on time to board the bus at 2:15. The drive back took only 2 hours, and it was a lovely ride home.

I’m thankful to the City of Fountain Inn for funding our trip and to Sue and Heather for organizing the trip. I know it was a lot of work!

Original Photos by Pat Hensley

Bunny Hop

We signed up at the senior center to attend the Bunny Hop yesterday. Heather led us on a 4-mile hike at Conestee Nature Preserve. The weather was perfect, and so was the company. There were 6 of us who showed up. At the entrance sign, I asked a couple if they would take a photo of all of us. We walked to the old mill and saw where they were improving the dam, and then walked the Swamp Rabbit trail back to the entrance. We saw lots of flora and fauna. The last exciting thing I saw was a watersnake that had just swallowed a fish.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Aunt Het Festival 2025

It started out with the quilt show on Friday morning, held at the senior center. Seniors got in free if they showed their badge for the center. I met my friends Linda and Debbie there at 9, and it was fun talking about the quilts with them. We got to vote on our favorite, and the one with the most votes got the “Seniors' Choice” Award.

On Saturday, Debbie came over about 9, and we all walked to the festival downtown (2 blocks from our house). It was fun seeing the craft and food vendors. Plus, we talked with people we knew and hadn’t seen in a while. It is a great community festival and is in its 42nd year! We really enjoy the decorated pumpkin silent auction. Each pumpkin is decorated by school classes that are raising money for their PTA. Many of them were very creative! On the way home, we walked to the Mill to see the food court, and Debbie bought a coffee from Knowledge Brew. Then she bought lunch at Bucky’s BBQ to take home. It was still too early for us to eat, so we passed on the BBQ.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Hot days, Tiny Knitting, and Weeding

It’s been a very hot week. The temperatures have been higher than normal, and the humidity has been awful.

We finished week 3 of my graduate class. Everyone seems to be doing well. It’s really gone by fast, and hard to believe that next week is the last week.

We also had our knitting guild picnic this week, and I brought my watergate salad. There was also a yarn sale where members sell their own yarn, so I picked up 3 skeins of Miss Babs yarn from my friend Cathi for $5.

We also met the Old Hikers group for lunch at Sweet Catherine's. Jean brought a couple of old photos to share, and I showed everyone how I took a picture of them and could enlarge it on my phone to see the people's faces better. We had a huge crowd. I think it was the largest we've ever had. I saw some people I haven't seen in years. It was good to see Doris B. and Scott W. again! 

There was a cancellation at the physical therapist’s office, so Don got to go for physical therapy. I think he is finally starting to feel better. He felt well enough to mow the lawn on Friday.

On Saturday and Sunday morning, before it got hot, I was able to get out in the yard and do some weeding. Once my class ends, I will be able to get out every morning after walking at the center and hopefully get ahead of the weeds.

I’ve been making some tiny knit toys. I made a tiny cherry pie and a tiny chicken. This helped me try to decide what I wanted to make next for my big project. I’ve decided to make the Bonfire Tee with the yarn I just bought. 

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Back Pain, Farmer’s Markets, and Wedding Gowns

We completed Week 2 of my graduate class, which I’m teaching. All of my students are doing well. It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through already.

Don’s back was still giving him a lot of pain, but he had physical therapy again on Wednesday. The therapist really worked hard on his back, which was quite painful. But as they say, no pain, no gain, because the next day he felt better than he had in months. Each day, he seems to be getting a little stronger, but when he gets tired, his back starts to ache. But the ache is not like the excruciating pain he had been having. Now that the hot tub is up and running, he has gotten in it a couple of times, which I think helps him. I’m just glad he is starting to feel better.

Today, we went to IHOP for breakfast and then went to two Farmer’s Markets. At the one in Simpsonville, my friends set up a booth to sell dishcloths and baked goods to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Many of us knit or crocheted dishcloths for them to sell. When it was over, they raised about $600, so I’m happy for them.

We also visited the Fountain Inn Museum, which has a special exhibit called “Cherished.” It features vintage wedding gowns, and my wedding gown was included in the exhibit. It was very nicely done. The exhibit runs through September.

 

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Georgia Aquarium

Click here for more pictures.

On Monday, we went on a field trip to the Georgia Aquarium with other seniors. This trip was sponsored by the City of Fountain Inn and organized by Sue Grubbs and Heather Johnson. This trip was so well organized and thoughtfully planned! The city paid for our chartered bus (for 56 people), t-shirts, entrance tickets, and our meal at the Varsity. We are truly grateful to everyone involved in making this trip an amazing experience!

We met at 7:15, and the bus left promptly at 7:30. On the trip, we played a trivia game, and prizes were given out. I had time to knit and visit with others on the long drive to Atlanta. The bus driver was a hoot, and she made the trip fun too! The bus dropped us off practically at the front door and we each got our ticket as we got off the bus. We were instructed to meet at this exact place no later than 1:30. 

After a group picture, we were all on our own. Don and I wandered through all the sections and enjoyed seeing some of the strangest creatures. I enjoyed the Beluga whales, but Don’s favorite was the seadragons. We were scheduled for the Dolphin Presentation at 11:3,0 so at 11, they announced that we could make our way to our seats. We got fantastic seats in the middle of the “theater” and 2 rows beyond the Soak Zone! I loved watching the dolphins perform and would definitely go see them again. After the show, we walked around some more in the aquarium and revisited our favorite sea creatures. Then we walked outside to admire downtown Atlanta. We walked to the World of Coca-Cola, which was right across from the aquarium, to stretch our legs before the long bus ride home. 

By then, the bus arrived and we boarded the bus exactly on schedule. Our next stop was The Varsity in Norcross, where we had a late lunch. As we got off the bus, we were each given a voucher card which showed our menu options on the back. We ordered our food, which was quickly served and enjoyed our lunch. We sat with Shawn (from our exercise class) and got to know her a little better.

By 3:30, we were back on our bus and heading home. We even got home early! I’m so glad we were on a bus because after seeing the traffic on the interstate, I would not have enjoyed the trip at all if I had had to drive to the Aquarium.

It was a wonderful trip and I'm so glad we live in a town like Fountain Inn! 

Original photos by Pat Hensley