Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

I've been a little down this week, and I'm guessing that it has more to do with the fact that I haven't run in a week and a half than with anything else. (Though it could be the lack of comments on my last post, I dunno...)

In an attempt to break the funk yesterday, I ran by a flower wholesaler after work and purchased half a dozen sunflowers. They did cheer me up a bit, but I decided that they just didn't fill up the base I put them in so this afternoon, I dropped in for more flowers and some filler, too. One dozen sunflowers, tree fern and some berries that I didn't catch the name of made for a fabulous arrangement, and it looks great in my tree vase.

I'm still not sure what caused the funk, but finding a way to be creative and work with my hands has certainly lifted the gloom. I'm pretty sure J won't mind the cost in exchange for a happier wife!

Title: My Favorite Things, from The Sound of Music

Just a fine and fancy ramble to the zoo

After a long July (hereafter known as the month of Adventuring Alone), J and I were happy to kick off August with an adventure together on Saturday.

While in Louisville attending a seminar on Project Citizen a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Louisville Zoo and saw their Sky Trail High Adventure Course. We were too busy that day to try it out, but I was intrigued. Later that week, I received a coupon for the Louisville Mega Cavern, a new tour operation of a former limestone mine beneath Louisville. Because they are conveniently located just a couple of minutes from each other, I convinced J that we should visit both before moving on to the Low Country Boil and Birthday Parties that we were scheduled to vist last night. J, who has personal experience with my fear of not being in control (sometimes mistaken for a fear of heights), jumped at the challenge to see me in action on the Sky Trail.


I don't have any pictures of me on the course, but here are a couple of J (he was taking my picture with his cell phone and we haven't uploaded those yet). I did have one brief moment of fear before stepping onto the first challenge component, but that diminished as I learned to trust the harness, ropes and steel structure! We had a great time and spent about 45 minutes navigating the course. I would highly recommend the Sky Trail to anyone looking for a fun adventure. You do have to pay twice (once to get into the zoo and again to get on the Sky Trail), so plan to stay for a couple of hours to enjoy the zoo, as well!

After a quick jog through the zoo (because we'd paid for it and I didn't want to let it go to waste!), J and I zipped over to the Mega Cavern. Tours there last about an hour and 15 minutes and leave every 30 minutes, so the wait is never too long. The Mega Cavern that started as a limestone mine is now the largest office building in the state of Kentucky (at 4 million square feet) and houses all of Kentucky's back-up salt for the winter; document storage facilities; RV, boat and antique car storage; MGM storage of original movie reels (including The Wizard of Oz") and many other businesses that benefit from the steady underground temperature of 58 degrees. Along the tour, we also saw a mock-up of the fallout shelter that was housed there during the Cold War (50,000 Louisvillians were invited to stay in this largest fallout shelter in Kentucky in the event of nuclear war) and an earthworm farm. Because the tour is conducted on trailers towed behind a jeep (they call it a tram, but I've been on enough hayrides to recognize the technology when I see it), all ages can enjoy the tour, and we saw several families on the tour.









In all, we had a great day and enjoyed our adventure to kick off the month. I'm afraid that I'm looking at a busy autumn work-wise, so I'm not sure how exciting the blog is going to be for our readers, but please check in periodically. I'll try to keep you all up to speed on our activities here at the Melton Point!

Title: At the Zoo, by Simon and Garfunkel

Time keeps on slippin', slippin'

July is shaping up to be a long month for J and me, and it seems to be a bit of a habit to be so (you might remember that I spent half of last July out of town). We spent the first weekend of this month prepping our deck for a little remodel. The deck was powerwashed, old and rotten boards replaced, and finally sanded. We picked out and purchased new paint (and were reminded by the not-at-all helpful paint guy at Lowe's that you should never paint a wood deck. Where was he when the previous owners bought the paint in the first place?).

And then we left town for a week. My mom and I had a great time in Washington at the 118th DAR Continental Congress (national conference) and J had a good weekend of golf in Tunica with his buddies D and E. Unfortunately, the deck-painting fairies did not visit while we were gone, and we came home to the same fully prepped, but not yet painted, deck.

This week was spent catching up at work, so nothing was done to the deck. Not a big deal, except that I'm leaving again tomorrow for another week, and we are hosting a judge from Russia for a week the week after that. I spent last night and today prepping the house to play host, and J spent the day putting the roof on a Habitat house here in town. No work on the deck, though. Maybe the first weekend in August?

In good news, I'm finally able to post pictures of my living room. I last posted a picture in April when we received my grandmother's living room furniture. It took a couple of weeks to determine that no one we knew wanted our old furniture and another couple to schedule a pick-up with the Habitat Re-Store. I still need to find slip covers for the chairs and couch, and eventually will paint the room, but I'm pleased with this for a while.

Title: Fly Like an Eagle, by Steve Miller

Happy Birthday, dear J

I just wanted to post a quick public Happy Birthday to J, the best husband a girl could ask for!! Special thanks, as well, to his buddies D and E for giving up their weekend to spend some quality time with J--poker, golf, and a long afternoon of work on our deck, followed by some great steak and sushi made for a great weekend! Thanks guys!

Title: Happy Birthday song

I dig my toes into the sand

When J and I married, we honeymooned in Canada. When people expressed surprise at our location choice, we generally responded, “we're just not beach people”. This week, for the first time in years, we find ourselves at the beach (Gulf Shores), and we're definitely feeling the beach vibe!

First, understand that J doesn't like to miss work. In fact, other than a day here or there and the two weeks we took for our honeymoon, I've never known him to take vacation. Knowing this, you won't be surprised to hear that we didn't take a whole week. Though J's folks rented a house on the beach for the whole week, we agreed we could only take three days off and planned to drive the eleven or so hours down on Wednesday. In the interest of a few more hours with the family, I suggested we drive part way after work on Tuesday (“to Nashville” I think I suggested) to get a head start on Wednesday. J suggested that if we were going to drive that far, we should aim for Birmingham and at least get half the drive out of the way.

We arrived in Gulf Shores at 5:00 a.m. Central time Wednesday morning, an even eleven hours after leaving home. So much for stopping...

The beauty of arriving so early on Wednesday is that we have an extra day to spend with J's family, all of whom made the trek from Western Kentucky. With a couple of long naps yesterday, we're about caught up on our sleep (waking up at 5:30 this morning to run didn't help, though it does keep us on track to finish our 5K in August—see previous post), and we're having a great time.

Stay tuned for more pictures, and as the song says: [We] wish you were here!

Title: Wish You Were Here, by Incubus

Running just as fast as we can

J and I started another attempt to become exercisers this week. Yes, another. We're both genetically pre-disposed to survive drought and harsh winters, which apparently also means we lack the drive and ability to run for the heck of it (Much less because we "crave" it or because it just feels weird when we don't. We know you people, and we think there's something wrong with you.)

Anyhow, because we know that we're likely within a few pounds of medication for the rest of our lives, and because I've lost some weight recently due to my diet, but plateued due to lack of exercise), we're trying again. And because we hear that signing up for a race and telling everyone about it will hold us accountable, here we are, announcing it to the world.

Join us, if you'd like. We're using the "Couch to 5K" plan (learn more here: http://www.c25k.com/) which offers a nine week plan. Conveniently, Lexington's Midsummer Night's Run is August 15, nine weeks from today. So put on your walking/jogging shoes and make plans to join us on August 15! (Or at least make plans to ask us regularly how our traing is going!!)

Title: "I think we're alone now", by Tiffany

Payin' yardsale prices for each golden memory

J's mom came to visit this weekend, and we were at a bit of a loss as to what to show her about our adopted hometown. In general conversation Friday evening, she mentioned something she'd picked up at a yardsale. Now, I've never been a big yard saler (not a word, I'm sure), but many of the bloggers I read regularly show off their fabulous yard sale finds. In fact, the Nester posted her recommendations for yard saling (another non-word, I know) just last week. So when D mentioned yard sales, I remembered the Nester's post and the signs I saw in Paris, KY, on Friday advertising the Highway 68 400 mile yard sale this weekend, and our Saturday plans quickly fell into place!


Lucky for us, Saturday was a beautiful day, and J was happy to drive us down to Wilmore with the top down. I found a pretty hobnail lamp at the first sale (talked them down to $2) that will look great in our guest room with a new lamp kit and shade. Then, we hit the jackpot at the home of an artist with an old barn packed full of old chairs and pottery. J's mom bought a few McCoy pottery pieces, while I picked up these copper mugs. Then, I dragged J out of his napping place in the sun to check out this chair and dresser. The chair, which needs some minor refinishing and a set of casters was a steal at $15. The dresser needs more work, but at $25 was too good to pass up, too. It's just the right size to replace our bathroom vanity. (And doesn't it look great with the small apothecary jars I picked up for $4 each at Michael's today?)

After buying the dresser and realizing it wouldn't fit in the car, J dropped us off at the next yard sale and returned home to get D's truck. I didn't get much at the last sale, but paid only $2 each for this mirror and silver Paul Revere bowl, so I can't complain there, either.

In all, a great day, and I've got a couple more projects to keep me busy this summer, too!

Title: Yard Sale, by Sammy Kershaw