Backtrack

Can you say "Abundant Apples at the SkyTop Orchard" three times? Off we went yesterday in our caravan of two cars over to North Carolina and the orchards were in full swing! MacIntosh, Red Delicious, Yellow, Golden Delicious, Galas, Jonathan something or others, and then some. There were families everywhere, baskets overflowing, and we were right in the thick of it. The views were tremendous and the apples were DELICIOUS! We ate our way through the orchards and then "sat a spell" just enjoying the views. What could be better? Friends in the field with fruit. The owners have been there since 1967 and have quite a following... I can't imagine the view with full foliage. I guess I'll just have to make another trip up here....SOON! Besides, the home-made caramel dip is to die for! They also have homemade donuts which I understand are delicious! I passed on the offer to eat "just one". I'm on the road to body recovery, so I can't even chance going there!

After a beautiful day in the mountains, back we went to Simpsonville and dinner at Bruce and Shannons - Bison Burgers! We caught up on life, children, work, and what great things God is doing in all of our lives. It's always the best thing when you're in the orchard of the Lord. He has so much fruit for us to fill our lives with. After dinner - Stephanie and I went back to wind down the day with her crew and then God made my flight change to a different time - yes! Danielle and I were thrilled not to have to get up at 2am! Now I'm back in Florida with my boys. Missing the mountains and my friends, but glad to know I have a place to retreat to. Even better? Rick is on his way back from CHINA! and will be home in about five hours! Now THAT's the mountaintop that I like best ... home again with family.

I'm Upstate for Crying Out Loud!

And I don't mean Albany or The Adirondacks... I'm in Simpsonville, SC right near Greenville. Do you even know where SC is? Well, Stephanie, Bruce & Shannon do. That's right I'm visiting & of course now I want to live here too! We have had a fabulous time and I've only been here one day. But, one day has encompassed a group walk for an hour, through the rolling hills of Neely Farm (my future estate home) (and very affordable) (and not very Boca) (and you'll be jealous), cups of capuccino over looking Stephanie's private "Walden's" pond - complete with wild geese, Mallard ducks, box turtles, and oak trees galore, (are you exhausted yet?); and then we hopped into the convertible, top down of course and headed to downtown Greenville. Free parking at the public parking lot (I'm ditching Manhattan). Then much more walking, but well worth the street shop sites and sounds of a hometown city. Sophisticated but still "hello, how are you" friendly.

Furniture shopping for Stephanie, lunch at The Rising Roll (yum!) and then down to Reedy River Falls Park, no words just check out the pictures...FABULOUS! Saw the venue for Lizzy's wedding, found the spot for Dan's skateboarding, Marble Slab for Andrew and Brittany, the patch of grass for Jake, Christian & Jamie, and the perfect park bench for Rick & I. Coffee at the Under Ground Coffee shop ended the afternoon, completed by visual sightings of four copper mice (It's a long story). We also had the pleasure of the company of Taylor and her friend Stephanie (double-take) who LOVED shopping, looking for mice (I SAID, it's a long story! - don't ask me again), and having those fancy frozen coffee drinks at the Under Ground Coffee Shop too. They sat outside, the old fogies sat inside on comfy couches. Sounds like life continues its cycle. Some things never change. We try to be so cool, but our children always "outcool" us. Free indeed.

Church and tabuli and some babaganoosh ended the day. Today we start a new day of adventure...Off to the apple orchard!