Friendly Weekend

I socialized twice this weekend, though with the same people both days.  

Amanda has been working and back in school and our time together the last few months has been quick texts at 2 a.m., occasional things our kids are at but not one of the other of us, and the infrequent afternoon chat via phone or messenger when she is supposed to be studying.  Once, she wrote an entire paper while chatting with me.  I think I may have managed to refill my water bottle during that same time frame.  

Katy has been up to her neck in soccer and swimming is about to get started again for both families, and though soccer ended just this past week, tryouts for the next season are tonight!  With our older kids getting older, our hang out time has become precious!  Alex and Emma are working this summer and so is Elan, Chandler and Ben are looking for jobs and Ben has music 3 times a week, Jake is at work 10 hours a day most days and Rho has already moved out.  

They, along with Gina and kids, all made it to what was supposed to have been Ben's last concert on Tuesday night (he's since been asked to do a solo performance next month and then the director asked him to stay on with the jazz band through the end of the year).  I think he did great!  Afterward, Gina had to head home (it did run a full hour over...) and our three families went to eat.  

I won't get into THAT fiasco, other than to say that Logan's Roadhouse tried to charge me $10 for a GRILLED CHEESE sandwich and a handful of soggy, cold fries.  They said they had no idea how to ring it up.  IT'S ON THE MENU.  I didn't make up a newfangled food, I just wasn't very hungry and it was after 9, a burger sounded about the same as eating cement and I didn't want to risk whatever might pass as a salad the last 45 minutes the place was open.  Anyway, some 30 minutes later, after they changed my ticket from 'club sandwich' to 'fried pickles', we left.  I won't be back.  It involved 3 of the wait staff AND the manager and was just short of rocket science to not charge $10 for 2 pieces of bread and a slice of cheese.  It wasn't even buttered.  Birdie ate the SAME THING and it was $5.  And that included his drink.

We enjoyed hanging out so much (despite the billing incompetence) that weekend plans were quickly changed around and Katy and family opted to camp on the lake and we met up Saturday for a couple miles of hiking topped off with a couple of hours of hanging in hammocks, chatting and snoozing topped off with dinner at a Mexican place that was super yummy.   A multitude of woes can be remedied with hot cheese dip. 

Sunday, we met up at Amanda's and swam for a long time, then Sammy's mom and dad took us all out on the pontoon near sunset, a thing I always enjoy.  Back at the house, we ate dip-based snacks and grilled and had a very eclectic variety of things.  Hot dogs and sausages, pilaf, baked beans, mac and beef... Everything was great, seasoned with copious amounts of earlier sun and lake water and shoveled in between loud board games, dancing children, dads sipping whiskey and talking music, moms plotting the next gathering, dogs splayed all over the deck.  Mosquitoes attacking everyone but me...

she jumped, I just missed it!

Ben jumped!  First time!

The boat limit was 14 and we had 17!  So Elan rode beside us and swapped passengers around to keep us legal.

Chattanooga and Bankhead

Headed back to Prentice Cooper with Amanda and kids so we could check out the campsite situation.  D, there in the background, nearly stopped my heart on the ledge.  This was 3 days ago and digestion still has not returned to normal.  At one point, she bent her legs up, and I thought she has just slid right over.  It's about...60 feet to the next ledge down.  Another time, she rolled over TOWARD the edge to stand up.  I could not even talk, just flapped at Amanda and she did the parenting bit.  I think it's a combo of it's been nearly a decade since I had an 8 year old and none of mine were that willowy.  Even though she's doing the exact right thing (laying on her belly to look over) she's so light and it was so windy...ack.  Anyway, I will eventually calm down internally, I hope.  

I like these places, the rocks to cross the tiny creeks.  They abound in my world and I'd not have it any other way. 

This wide spot in the path is the campsite!

Mullens Cove Overlook

Who wore it better?  hahaha!  I could not resist when I saw them.

First of these this season

We drove over to Davis Pond, which was full of ATV riders camping so I did not take a pic, but it's a lovely spot for a group camp.

Afterward, it was still a couple hours before dark, so I asked if Amanda had to get home and she said no, so we went over to the Raccoon Mountain TVA area.

We opted to find out what that building up there was!

That's Prentice Cooper!  It took us nearly an hour to drive literally across the river.  

From the top!

It's a VC!  It was closed, but the bathrooms were open, we were glad!

Raccoon Mountain has this reservoir, which is not so unusual.  But it's purpose is kinda cool-they pump the water up to fill it while energy usage is low in the area.  Then they can drain it through a tunnel to create hydroelectric power when the city needs a boost!  

The bridges in Chattanooga

On Friday, we went back to Ship Rock.  This time we met at the picnic area, which was closer to Amanda than our usual spot.

2700 miles in the previous 2 months.  ack.

Trout lily and bloodroot below were EVERYWHERE

Saxifrage and trillium 

4 leaved trillium!  

A giant beetle that was zipping all around

Auburn Falls

Spring beauty and the little ones playing on a sandy creekbed for a while.

A few more bluebells in bloom, but I was really expecting LOADS more.  It was not much different from last week!

Yelling tree

Ship Rock from a slightly different angle

Violets

This is the site we opted to set up hammocks and hang out at all afternoon. 

Ahh, perfect! 

I decided to name the spot Singing Rock. 

 The littles had a great time exploring.  

A little down time to rest.

But only for a minute!  hahaha

Eye of the Needle from a different angle, that round white spot in the rock right by the tree trunk.

Ferns doing their fiddlehead tricks

False garlic

Toothwort

Hairy vine!  NO TOUCH.  It's either poison ivy or sumac, either one will rash.

Fire pink and more trillium

I think I may work on learning the different types of trillium this year.

And, phlox.  We painted the house this same color, we all love it!  Purple with green trim.  Though I painted the door blue.  It clashes a bit...guess I'll fix that at some point.