Caturday Art Hampton Inn, Marion, NC

Since May, we have stayed in four Hampton Inns...in North Carolina

Morehead City, Dobson, New Bern and most recently Marion.

Marion receives a 10+++++++++++.

All Hampton Inn reservations include breakfast; all adequate but

OMCs/OMDs Marion was they best, sorry no pictures of the breakfast buffet

because there were always folks there by the time we arrived.

I do have some from the coffee bar.

Evidently Marion is also known for seasonal decorations

both sides of the front door

next collages  around the lobby

first floor foyer

I snapped a few around the breakfast area

Coffee Bar which I visited frequently

Nature and Feline Friday

Nature Friday is hosted by my Niece Rosy and her brudders, Arty and Jakey

Our vacation started on Tuesday September 3, 2019 when we arrived

at our friend's home in Boonville, NC for a two day visit.

Sally and I met when we were 12 years old...and thankfully our husbands, met at Sally and Gary's wedding in 1971, are also friends.

Both Sally and Gary are retired school teachers.  Gary now has a second profession in his Scuppernog grape vineyard and he is an extraordinary gardener.

This year Gary's milkweed is home to so many monarch caterpillars I could not count them....

I don't recall every having seen them/or knew what I was seeing in all my life.

 I would love to have been there to see all the Monarch caterpillars turn into butterflies.

If you have never seen a chrysalis up close, let me tell you it is amazing.

Beautiful shade of green and around the bottom of the acorn it is surrounded by what looks

like GOLD dots.  

Monarch Caterpillar Chrysalis



Passion Flower pod and bloom.  Gary bought passion flower seeds
Now the vine runs along at least 1/2 the length of his split rail fence

Again I have never in my life seen these
It is a most delicate flower and yet sturdy. It has several layers and dimensions.
pods bottom left...

Close up of this jewel!!!!! 

Ohhhh an exciting (local) addition to today's Nature Friday from my friend Janice.  
Tree frog spotted at her Mother-in-law's house..

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Feline Friday with Charlie

My friends were owned by Yogi the Pembroke Corgi for about 11 years.

Yogi's Granddaddy was an award winning Corgi, named Sammy Sousa.
(somebuddy liked baseball)

After Yogi passed, they said no more pets at our age....
but lo and behold Charlie wandered onto their property at about 
9 months old.  He was friendly but DEFINITELY an out of doors panther.
After a few weeks of feeding him, they finally corralled him, got him to the vet,
got his shots and had him neutered.  Charlie is polydactayl (extra toes) so he is quite handy
in the vineyard.  He keeps the vole and mole population down.

Thoroughly Thankful Poetic Thursday

Today we join Two  SPOILED CATS 

Angel Sammy and Teddy for their poetic pictorial poem.

Here is our photo challenge

3 Wheels

Silver and red

held together with a thread (cable)

Two wheels on the front

One on the back

Is it coming or going, is it a car or a trike?

Who Cares?

It is quite striking.

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Speaking of most unusual looking vehicles

We spotted this one parked at Mt. Mitchell while we were on vacation.

It is called a Slingshot.  Of course it is RED which caught my eye

Two wheels in the front, one on the back.

 As we were WINDING our way down the spiral curves of

Mt. Mitchell we saw it again.

Let me just say it WAS 87 x's as HOT on the road as it was in the parking lot.

In fact, we saw numerous, of what I would call tricycle/motorcycles on the

Blue Ridge Parkway. Some had one wheel in front and two in back.

Gigi Google told me this:

Let's be clear: Though it resembles a sports car, the Slingshot is classified as a three-wheeled motorcycle. It's actually a reverse trike, with two wheels in the front and a single drive wheel in the rear. ... Polaris insists you and your passenger wear motorcycle helmets and use the seatbelts

HOSTED BY BRIAN 

Kat and Pup sent me the following email and pictures.

Kat and his Mom would be very Thankful for any advice you might

have on RV-ing with a kit-KAT

Dearest Aunty HiC,
In other news, Pup and I are spending time, just chillin’ in the RV.  I like it as long as it’s stationary. I wasn’t in a carrier on my first ride, and that was a BIG  mistake. Mom and Dad are experts at RV-ing with doggos, (6 cross-country trips w/ 3 Labs), but traveling with a cat presents a steep learning curve, ha!

If any blogger Furiends have RV experience, we would appreciate any suggestions/advice/warnings. 😹

❤️ Kat Your Feline Nephew

Dearest Nephews,
I surely wish I could offer some helpful hints here.
I purrsonally have only been in an RV 2 times but never with a furry friend.
I found them to be quite comfy, roomy and such great views from all angles.
I'm thinking for 100% sure that visiting it when it is sitting still is a wonderful IDEA.
I might also suggest some type of secured apparatus at one of the windows would
meet with your approval.  I bet your most talented Dad will come up with something.
Eagerly awaiting the time (which I now is soon to be) email from the road telling me
all the fine things you two have seen.
Lovingly your Aunty HiC

Wordless Wednesday: Kat and Pup who are never wordless

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Dearest Aunty HiC

Welcome Home! I’ve missed you! 😻

Just wanted you to know the kitty towel arrived, and although I love it, 

I used the towel when Pup and I took our first, short ride in the RV a couple days ago. 🙀

But that’s a story for another day, ha!

Mom was not happy towel was delivered in such a huge box! She mentioned shipping when she commented about item.

Other than that, I give kitty towel 4 paws 🐾 🐾 up! 

❤️ Kat Your Feline Nephew 

What did you order, Mom?
What in world?

Dearest K9 Nephew Pup:
BOL PUP instead of a Kat in a hat you have a Kat in a bag.  Love your expression.
Lovingly your Aunty HiC

THIS BIG Kat  is freaking me out Mom!!

Dearest nephew Kat
Bless your little heart on the RV fiasco!  Sounds like you like your paws on steady ground....FOR NOW!  I bet dollars to donuts your precious Mom will slowly but surely help you learn to love your house on wheels.  TRUST HER SHE HAS NOT LEAD YOU ASTRAY.  The rest of this story has yet to be written‼️‼️YIKES THAT IS A BIG BOX...Maybe since it was a kitty towel the big box was sent for your entertainment.

Your Aunty who missed you two terribly too.  This was the longest vacation we have taken since 2016.
Lovingly Aunty HiC who sends extra super duper hugs

Happy Tuesday

I am slowly preparing post with my Mountain photos
Today I'm sharing photos of 2 my quilts and a few pictures of
a big thing in the NC Mountains.  Quilts painted on Barns.
There evidently is a Barn art trail...wish I had known about it. LOL
Click HERE to take a virtual tour

FIRST BIG one is o Nature Friday....

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3 for the Barn Art Quilt trail that we just happened upon:

I was able to photograph several barn quilt patterns.
 Evidently it is the 'rage' to have these painted on your barn.
I am not very savvy on the names of quilting patterns.  BUT I do so admire them.

My latest quilts:

Today I'm showing you (because I know you want to see it)

the latest creation from My Mind's Eye.

Most recently I've been using fabric from my 'stash' (a little quilting humor).

The 5" blocks have been here for a few months. The package of pastel blocks were purchase at 1/2 price. The horizontal muted gray rows were the last of that fabric (you seen several times).

The gray and white fabric around the border were a BOGO pack

I did have to purchase a  yard of fabric for the back, tiny floral print.
Some left over for my stash!

The thing about this little ditty aka mini quilt/sampler/I don't know what to call it

is that it was my first attempt a making the binding out of fabric from the quilt rather 

than using packaged quilt binding.  I thought it would be 'easier' but alas it was about

the same amount of time except this is less time to hem since it is smaller.

This is for us.  My inspiration was the spread in the guest room pictured on the right side of the collage.  It will reside somewhere in the guest room.  Either on the back of this chair 

that was my Mom's or perhaps on the dresser.  Yet to be determined.

Very delicate and I love it with the bedspread.

Shortly before vacation I found a video on YouTube

"how to make a quilt (w/o batting) in a few hours!!

Of course JoAnn's had all the Christmas fabrics out too.

I have perfected the art of quilts with squares needed something new:

Depending on how the size of quilt you want you need

fleece for the backing and fabric for the front.  (Video link at the end if you are interested)

Cutting and assembly was completed in about an hour and a half.

I decided to do a simple straight stitch around all the roofs and doors and windows in red.

The trees were top outlined in a gold thread

Sparks and Awww Monday with Kat and Pup

This is a rather long BUT inspirational plaque

 I saw hanging in the lobby at Hampton Inn, Marion, NC. There was no

author listed.

Just saw a comment from 

Chris Blackwood  thank you for the information on the quote.

It is actually a quote from Francis Scott Fitzgerald. Very good advice for life.

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My Feline and K9 Nephews sent me and adorable email with photos

Dearest Aunty HiC

As you well know, it’s finally Mom’s favorite time of year. College football is BACK!

This is our first football season here in The Hill, but we’ve been informed we’re Alabama Crimson Tide fans. 

💕🐘💕

Are there any other football fans out there? Who’s your favorite team?

Roll Tide!

❤️  Kat and Pup You Feline and Canine Nephews

Now to answer your question!!
I am 100,000% an NC State University Fan and have been since I was a wee girl. 

  I expect sometime during the college pawball season

The Tide and The Wolfpack will meet on the gridiron.

We'll have to agree that the best team win!!
It is all in fun RIGHT?

Maybe that is why I love red so much.

As you can see from the photo I even have a RED ROOM in my house

Lovingly your Aunty HiC

SUNDAY PLATES and Stuff

First of all, thank you all for your emails and comments of concern about us and our daughter and SIL (who live in Morehead City on the NC Coast) during Hurricane Dorian.
We planned this past week's Mountain vacation back in June.  Which is about the time
they planned their vacation to Colorado. Thankfully their home did not suffer any damage like last year's visit from Florence.  My Grandkitties, Mia and Frisco's every need was being cared their next door neighbors.

*************************************

Hello my friends we are home!!!

I missed you all and I hope everyone is well.

We returned from the beautiful North Carolina Mountains on September 7th.
I had my head in the clouds this week...I have 384 photos to sort through!!!
YEP we finally made it to the observation of Mt. Mitchell the highest
peak East of Mississippi, on September 6th.   Words cannot describe the beauty.
I will be featuring photos for a very long time.  Not sure how I will
group them.  Maybe chronologically but we shall see
The weather was beautiful each day

The Hills were truly alive and refreshing.

Great Smoky Mountains
VOCs are chemicals that have a high vapor pressure, which means that they can easily form vapors at room temperature. The millions of trees, bushes, and other plants in the Great Smoky Mountains all give off vapor, which comes together to create the fog that gives the mountains their signature smoky look

1. PROCOACH
2. LK4JET, Look for Jet
3.LUCKIGRL, Lucky Girl
4.PA4LIFE, Pa for Life
GROWLER1, Growler 1
BLOGNGAL, Blogging Gal
5.PACK (as in NC State University)
6.BEACHBUM, Beach bum
7.SEAL8BRT, Celebrate
8.VEGNTOO, Vegetarian Too
9.TANKONE, Tank one
10.SUEKIE, Suki?
11.SPORTFAN, (sports stickers all over the car)
12.COLandME, names
13.AVASMAMI, Ava's Mami/granny
14.PATSRDSX, *
15.MY4RINGS, clever on an Audi
16.PB4UGO, Pee Before you go
this was on the news.  A plate in New Hampshire.
The family had it for over 10 years..all of a sudden
the state said it referred to a bodily function and they had to change
Judge ruled in family's favor
17. REDPLAY, Red Play?
18. MLHISP *
19. LIV4Now, Live for now
20. NHIE, BOB *
21. 4SCORPIO,*
22. LUVMYLIF, Love my life
23. ARCTRP, Arc Trip?
24. GandR'SHAN,*
25. GPYCANGAL, on a Jeep so Maybe GPY represents Jeep but the rest a mystery

***************************
Never fear I collected many more 'plates' while on vacation.

In case you can't read what is written on the photo:
"I don't recall the last time I saw a pay phone...we saw two while on vacation??!!
First thing that came to mind was....how many folks actually had a coin on them in this world
where PLASTIC and APPs rule?