Sally's GF3 thread

[fuzzi]

Charlotte. FIL and his wife live there. We usually go in early November. The garden is done, but it's not so close to the holidays that everyone has plans. One of my neighbors will chicken sit for me.

Unfortunately... we are arriving in NC on Sunday. There is a Panthers game. At home, in Charlotte. We will be leaving PGH super early, that's for sure. It's about an 8 hour drive, I think. If we leave at 5-6 am, we might not have to deal with the worst of the game traffic.

If you ever get back to NC and are closer to Raleigh, let me know. I'm about a 4 hour drive east of Charlotte.

 

[fuzzi]

Sorry for the friend. Cancer is a nasty disease. Lost both my parents to it.
You and your DH are good friends to take the time to go visit. I hope your trip and visit goes especially well.

Charlotte is on the opposite side of the state from me. I am east of I95.

Most definitely try to stay away from the game traffic. I'm sure that would be a headache. I've driven through Charlotte before. Was interesting for this small town girl!

I don't usually get lost while driving, even in Chicago I found my way back to the hotel. But every time I have driven in Charlotte I have to use GPS. And the hotels are way overpriced. Not my favorite place.

 

[NanaK]

I don't usually get lost while driving, even in Chicago I found my way back to the hotel. But every time I have driven in Charlotte I have to use GPS. And the hotels are way overpriced. Not my favorite place.

I agree!

 

[Sally PB]

The little bit we drive around in Charlotte is enough for me. They have had construction on the main highways around the city ever since we've been going down there, it seems. At least the last 5 years.

We are only getting a motel room in Pittsburgh for one night, and hubby found something for 2 adults and a dog that was reasonably priced. We'd stay with the friend, but she has an older dog "with some issues," and Freya is an exuberant 3 year old. The friend doesn't need to worry about dogs getting along or not. Or guests leaving at 5am.

DH's brother and aunt also live in Pittsburgh. I'm not sure whether we will see them or not. We're very willing to stop over, but there has been... reticence...? on their part for us to get together. I haven't heard if we're stopping by. Maybe by now the excuses are habit.

 

[NanaK]

It seems all the major cities in the state are constantly constructing new roads. It has been non-stop for seems like forever. The concrete is moving in on us country folk.

I like trees! lol

 

[Sally PB]

I stapled up the filter material over the openings in the coop. The stuff is white, but still cuts out a bit of light. It's a grey, gloomy day, and the coop became a bit gloomier. Sorry chickens. They spend nearly all their time out in the run, so not a big deal.

Yesterday, I gave them two totes of well aged wood chips. Today, they got a tote full of leaves. You wouldn't know that these were piles about 16" tall. Everything is spread out flat.

I still need to get the windblock panels in place. The filter material and raking took up a lot of the afternoon.

Since we're leaving on Saturday and will be gone for a week, my grocery shopping was very light today. I'll give anything that won't keep a week to my neighbor who is chicken sitting for me.

When you know you're going to be gone, you don't buy a lot of perishable food to sit around. Then when you come home, you don't have much in the fridge. The day after we get home, I'll be doing a bunch of laundry, but I'll need to go to the store. Frozen pizza till I get home, dear. Deal with it.

Actually, we'll be very well fed by FIL's 2nd wife. Does that make her my "step MIL?" I never know what to call her, other than Barbara. Anyway, she is a very good cook, so DH and I will be spoiled. It'll be harder for him to get back to reality than for me. I see what ingredients she uses when she cooks, and know that: a) that's why it tastes so rich and good, and, b) this trip isn't doing my cholesterol any favors.

Plus, we'll be sitting in the car for 8 hours on two days, and about 15 hours for the return trip. And not getting much exercise the rest of the time. I'm going to tell myself that when we get home, it'll be cold and rainy or snowy, so freakin' go for a walk every day while you're in NC and enjoy it.

Last year when we came home from this trip, there was about 6" of snow on the ground. I'm hoping that's not the case this year!

 

[pertnear09]

I stapled up the filter material over the openings in the coop. The stuff is white, but still cuts out a bit of light. It's a grey, gloomy day, and the coop became a bit gloomier. Sorry chickens. They spend nearly all their time out in the run, so not a big deal.

Yesterday, I gave them two totes of well aged wood chips. Today, they got a tote full of leaves. You wouldn't know that these were piles about 16" tall. Everything is spread out flat.

I still need to get the windblock panels in place. The filter material and raking took up a lot of the afternoon.

Since we're leaving on Saturday and will be gone for a week, my grocery shopping was very light today. I'll give anything that won't keep a week to my neighbor who is chicken sitting for me.

When you know you're going to be gone, you don't buy a lot of perishable food to sit around. Then when you come home, you don't have much in the fridge. The day after we get home, I'll be doing a bunch of laundry, but I'll need to go to the store. Frozen pizza till I get home, dear. Deal with it.

Actually, we'll be very well fed by FIL's 2nd wife. Does that make her my "step MIL?" I never know what to call her, other than Barbara. Anyway, she is a very good cook, so DH and I will be spoiled. It'll be harder for him to get back to reality than for me. I see what ingredients she uses when she cooks, and know that: a) that's why it tastes so rich and good, and, b) this trip isn't doing my cholesterol any favors.

Plus, we'll be sitting in the car for 8 hours on two days, and about 15 hours for the return trip. And not getting much exercise the rest of the time. I'm going to tell myself that when we get home, it'll be cold and rainy or snowy, so freakin' go for a walk every day while you're in NC and enjoy it.

Last year when we came home from this trip, there was about 6" of snow on the ground. I'm hoping that's not the case this year!

Seems I remember you mentioning your trip last year and making the drive back straight through. Could be someone else's trip I'm thinking of.

 

[Sally PB]

Seems I remember you mentioning your trip last year and making the drive back straight through. Could be someone else's trip I'm thinking of.

Could have been our trip. We did it one day both directions.

 

[Sally PB]

For some reason, I always feel like the trip home is shorter than the trip out. I noticed this when I was a kid, and it's been that way ever since.

Maybe it's because I'm so eager to get home. It's my favorite place to be.

 

[Iluveggers]

I haven’t cold-proofed the coop & run yet, except for adding double pine shavings inside. Still have to get extra leaves & wood chips in the run, but it rained all weekend when I was off. Pulled my tomato and zucchini plants out in the rain, and then I had enough. Clear tarps for sides of run are at the ready, and my defreeze waterer pulled out of garage but still needs a good cleaning.

Have fun on your trip! Shepards pie is a great thing to make after a vacation, as potatoes, celery, carrots (and whatever other veggies you use) keep well, just pull a package of meat from the freezer to brown with it!