One Year Gone without a post.....2023 Part 1

So it has been way too long.  The last update was October 2022.  But to be honest, that makes sense!  It has been a crazy year!  So let's get updating in a few parts.

November 2022 - that feels like ages ago, but Gatsby and I headed off for a month in Asheville, NC.  We rented a little house with a big fenced in backyard and had a lot of fun exploring the very dog friendly city.  We actually got there on Halloween, so Gatsby got to wear his tiger costume that my mom bought him.  He had basically outgrown it that day, but we squeezed it on him. 

Halloween in Asheville

Just a typical rainy day in Asheville

We spent lots of time visiting local breweries, restaurants, wineries and hiked A LOT while I worked remotely for a long term client on a project that wasn't going to be delivered for a year.  We even managed to have a few visitors.  My cousin Abby came with her dog to stay, and my parents were in town for Thanksgiving.  We hit Christmas at Biltmore and had lunch at the Grove Park Inn.  I need to get back there for sure.  I love that town and could definitely see myself back there a bit more long term in the future.

Dog Friendly Winery

The two dogs meet

My parents with their Grand-dog

Biltmore Christmas

Grove Park Inn Lunch

Then it was back to Pawleys Island for a bit before the drive back to Ohio for Christmas.  I got to stop in and say hi to Greg in Charleston for a day which was a nice surprise.  He got to meet Gatsby too.

The drive back to Ohio was an interesting one.  My parents had been in Nashville visiting Brock's family.  And I wanted to meet them at an old house I was going to look at renovating in the mountains in Virginia.  We did make it to the town, saw the house and the day before we were going to continuing driving back to Ohio, I had some major car dramas.  After many calls, we did manage to get my car towed to the nearest dealer in time to load up all of my things (and Gatsby's) into Dad's car so we could drive back to Ohio.  We only just made it out before a big snow storm, and I think it was Christmas Eve.  So we nearly had to stay in the middle of Virginia for Christmas with pretty much nothing!  Unfortunately the house renovation project turned out to be too much to take on.  But we were glad we made it back to Ohio in time for Christmas.  It was a very white winter in Ohio and brutally cold.  Gatsby loved playing in the snow so much.  

At our house in VA

A little wreath project my dad and I made

Mom and Gatsby in matching shirts

My siblings and I teamed up with a friend of my parents to throw them a surprise 50th Anniversary Party in Ohio at the end of January.  So we started getting the details together.  Unfortunately, Dad's mom died earlier in the month, but I was glad to be in town for that as well.  Brock and Rachel made it to the funeral, but Jonny couldn't come.  Jonny and Brock did make it to the party, but this time Rachel couldn't make it.  The party didn't exactly become the surprise we were hoping for, but my parents were very surprised when Brock and Jonny walked in the door the night before the party!  We had a special catered dinner at home that night with Rachel on the phone.  The next night we all went to the party.  It was a blast.  

Not long after the party, Gatsby and I drove back to Pawleys Island.  It was time to get back to the beach and our temporary home.  We had a few visitors planned so we needed to get back.  Before the start of the visitors, I met my friend Sara in Knoxville, TN for a long weekend.  Neither of us had been there, and it was a nice midway point between Pawleys Island and Memphis where Sara is.  It was a great weekend of mostly good food and drinks.

Knoxville

The first visitor to Pawleys Island was my college roommate, Bettina.  We spent a bit of time in Myrtle Beach, went to high tea in Charleston and tried to ignore that it wasn't as warm as we hoped.  We even did a bit of vintage shopping relating to the Hallmark podcast....long story.

Gatsby had his first birthday and Mom and Dad were in town for it.  Hard to believe he is actually near 2 now!  He was a very cute birthday boy though.  

The next set of visitors was the Brookes Family.  Kristy, Fran, David and I spent time in Myrtle Beach (even went to Medieval Times), spent time singing our favorite songs, and hung out at the local beach.  Gatsby even managed to find a great big conch shell for David.  Lucky for all of us, the weather was pretty cooperative, so we had a great time.

Not long after that, I had my friend Dawn and her niece, Laura, visit from Spain/London.  We planned a bit of a road trip to Savannah and Charleston, plus spent a bit of time locally.  In Savannah we did a booze/ghost tour pedal bike thing, had lunch at the Grey Market, had high tea at the Gryphon Tea Room, went on a great Midnight in the Garden tour and made sure we had as much yummy food as possible.  Such a great town Savannah.

On the booze/ghost cruise

Just before heading out in the pouring rain for dinner at the Pink House

At Grey Market

Then we spent a couple days in Charleston.  Laura wanted to see Boone Hall where they filmed some scenes from The Notebook.  So we went there, spent some time downtown Charleston and stopped at a plantation for High Tea on the way back home.  

At Boone Hall

At Hopsewee Plantation

Then it was back to Pawleys for a few more adventures before the headed back overseas.  I managed to have a bit of time off work too so it was a lot of fun.  I really enjoy Savannah in particular, so if you are ever heading that way, let me know.  I have many recommendations!

Dinner in Pawleys

Brunch in Pawleys

With Gatsby at the Beach at Pawleys Beach

That gets us up to about early May 2023.  And there is still so much to share.  But let's close this one out for now.  There are still more visitors to Pawleys to come, moving back to Philly, plus a whole extra round of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas to go -- plus the delivery of my gig.  

Just for the curious, currently (Feb 2024!) Gatsby and I are hanging in Pawleys but just to escape the winter in Philly.  We are planning on heading back there probably in mid-March.  Looking forward to getting back to Phillies games and warmer weather.  

Let me know if you will be in the area.  We love visitors!

Sarah and Gatsby xo