Tag: nana

adventure

12 Murals

2chicksandapen

It was a random Saturday. I had taken my mom out on a whirlwind adventure to Nashville, TN. Rain was in the forecast, but there was still so much on our potential to do list. What could we cram into our short afternoon?

Off to the races we went. 12 South was the area to be highlighted. A section of murals. We would attempt to snap candid photos in each art setting. Our own little mural tour. My mom had no idea what this tour would include. The clock was against us. We had an hour before the rain would catch us. Off we went.

The first stop by our parking spot was a little pop up store made from a container. It had a beautiful floral wings display. Look how cute she looks.

Just a hop, skip and a jump to the side and we found this outdoor display on the back of a lemonade stand. This was interesting as it was more of a canvas vs. a wall painting. Vibrant colors picked up by the sun before the cloud cover approached.

We had a lot of water breaks along the way since it was a scorching hot day outside. We found it appropriate to snap this action shot of the water break with the hydration sign on a local bike shop. Such a fun time and as you can see this tour we did is wheelchair-friendly. Highlighting fun activities for seniors is so inspiring and why I opt to share the beauty.

Five Daughters donuts is definitely an area sweet shop to visit. If you do, there are a few cute murals to choose from at their store. This is just one to remember to sweet taste of donuts. We ate the donuts the day before as a coincidence. Lots of tastiness in that box along with a whole lot of calories. 

A monster encounter at the tail end of the bike shop made for a good photo opportunity. I must note this adorable great grandmother was on her first mural tour at the age of 84 and she had a blast. 

This stop we had the pleasure of sharing the sidewalk with some international tourists. There accents were adorable. And this sign says it all. Looking pretty!

This one shows our visit to nature. Strategically placed outside an outdoor recreation store. There were many more murals. Some we took pictures of, some we bypassed. 12 in an hour before the rain drops hit us. We got spooned. We saw Nashville looks good on you. We strolled to Reese Witherspoon’s place to catch the Draper James brand, which was one of my favorite backgrounds for the day.

This was an opt outside adventure starring my fabulous mom. She is a jewel that I chose to showcase in this mural display post. Until next time.

family

Sunday Funday

2chicksandapen

The light at the end of the tunnel. The journey to the tunnel and everything in between is what I call the fun spot. The cool adventure that I had with some special people in Andrews, North Carolina on a Sunday funday outing.

A rail ride. A little self-propelled. A little power assisted. Just a cute little concept that fuses new technology and old equipment creating a fun adventure for those willing to give it a go. A fairly simple concept or build out, but one you don’t see everywhere. On this day I traveled with my mom who is 83 years young. It’s harder for her to see the outdoors these days. Especially off the beaten path due to mobility issues as she ages. This ride was perfect for her but also for me.

The scents of the blooming flowers. The fresh cut grass. The various scenic views. The mist in air at times. The wind in your face. The sun beating on you between the trees: the experience of nature. Fast. Slow. Giggles galore. Many photos taken. Many memories made. Cow sightings. So much exploration packed into a two hour tour of 5 miles or so each way to the tunnel. We had the perfect weather. The best attitude for adventure. Great tour guides and railroad crossing guards.

A little break for a snack and exploring in the tunnel or by the stream. Such a fun experience to share. No detail was missed. If you are ever in Andrews, North Carolina I would definitely recommend this experience as a fun afternoon with family. Four to a cart. All physical abilities can make it work. That might be something I just find important to share. An enjoyable day away that meets the need of all abilities.

We planned ahead and packed a lunch for after our ride. It was a perfect ending to our outing. Munchies at a nearby picnic area. Set nicely by a stream with beautiful blooming flowers to add to the ambience. Two thumbs up for this girl. This is a family-owned business and they clearly take pride in their operation. Give them a look if you are in the area. Heck make it a day trip. 

This post is dedicated to the gorgeous lady in the black hat pictured above. For she turns 84 today. Glad she checked another adventure off the bucket list this year.

celebrations, challenges, dare to be different

Sidetracked

2chicksandapen

I got sidetracked today. I was going one place and got stuck in traffic for 2 hours going 7.9 miles. I had enough of not moving. It was kind of shitty but I was riding topless, in my Jeep, making me able to work on my tan while jamming to music and people watching from a slightly perched view.

While waiting patiently, I voiced my frustrations to my co-pilot who clearly didn’t check the map adjustments before we got locked on a highway in gridlock with no exit in sight. I could have continued, but instead of hovering in the annoyed phase my mind drifted to an alternate plan. I got sidetracked. My mind wandered. A new plan was in motion.

A quick picnic in the park. A short hike. A spontaneous visit with grandma. The plan was on a whim but it turned out to be magical. Lots of giggles. A little sweat in the heat. Smiles for hours. Funny photos. Tons of memories.

This is a story of how to turn a lemon of a day into to a sparkling lemonade kind of day. On a whim. On a shoe string budget. All I needed was a little time. A new perspective. A fresh look on the same day. Sometimes U-turns are the best turns to make. 

Sidetracked on a Saturday was one for the record books. It might have been the longest 7.9 miles of my life, in terms of how long it took me to go the distance. It might also be one of my favorite spontaneous excursions mainly because grandma was my co-pilot. The hike was one I have done before but this time I did pushing a wheelchair. I got my exercise for sure but it was a pleasure ride for my sweet passenger.

She smelled the pine trees. She enjoyed the fresh smell of honeysuckle. She saw some deers in the distance. She listened to the stream flow below the embankment. Her change of scenery and enjoyment of nature is one I will remember. Reflecting on how I got sidetracked makes me giggle. I guess I was really meant to go to point b instead point a. It just took a major traffic jam for me to realize this. 2 hours later mind you.

Never underestimate the fun going off course can be. Try the long route some days. If you don’t have a Jeep or a convertible, rent one for a day or a few hours. Riding topless gives you new perspective. The fresh breeze. The smells in the air. The freedom while you move from point a to point b.

I also got ducked in my Jeep today. A little boy ducked me and he was so happy he got to meet me when he ducked me. Another benefit of Jeep life outside of how often I can say I rode topless today.

adventure

Sin City

2chicksandapen

I took a trip to sin city with my mom recently. It was a trip for the memory books for sure. Seeing the city and how it’s changed through her eyes was amazing. I can’t include all the highlights as there were too many but I can jot down a few of my favorites. The photo below looks like a postcard. However it’s just a shot from the parking lot we parked in on our first night. 

Let’s start with what’s that smell? From the constant aroma of marijuana in the streets to what seemed like raw sewage seeping through the ground at times on the strip. Then there was the clouds of smoke that casted smells of cigars or cigarettes of all kinds when moving throughout the casinos. I even think she noted the smell of burnt toast each morning going to our condo elevator. However there was a pleasing scent of gingerbread and pine needles in the Bellagio hotel while immersed in their holiday display. Clever use of the HVAC system I’d assume. Too bad the nice smells can’t overpower the gross ones. Oh, the smells that created giggles galore.

We took a trip to old Vegas or Fremont Street which had changed so much since her last visit. This area was revitalized. She was mesmerized with the laser show above her head set to today’s hit music. See photo below. In a corner she also enjoyed a DJ playing upbeat music while dancing and entertaining the crowd with her fancy hula hoop moves. 

Of course there were other sights she wasn’t as fond of, like the barely-dressed young girls dressed with feather plumes bearing their butt cheeks. Some had whips but all were looking for men she said. To hear her recount this was hilarious. She also saw the rougher side of life gone bad. The homelessness of the city. From those asking for money when you left a restaurant to those sleeping in the streets with signs looking for beer money. Very sad to see. I would drift off thinking about what got each person into the state of homelessness.

There is another side to sin city many may not ever visit. Maybe it’s a short car ride to see Seven Magic Mountains. Maybe it’s a unique visit to the Container Park. For this blog I will talk about the day we took a trip to Valley of Fire State Park. The history and experience was impressive. The rock formations were amazing. The colors of the rocks tied in so well with the sky. Pictures are great memories but somehow don’t do the experience justice. We also got a glimpse of some cool wildlife as an added bonus. 

Taking the scenic route always adds value to any trip. The photo ops. The time together. The soaking in of all nature has to offer. These are the priceless moments.
We can’t end this post without a good damn story. Thus we close with the damn experience. The Hoover Dam that is. A short drive from Vegas. You will start in Nevada but end up in Arizona after a short walk. A great little way to say you visited both states. The walking bridge was a hit for us this trip as it was constructed after my mom visited many years ago. She had a new viewpoint. A new experience. It was fun to hear her reminisce on what it looked like before for travelers. For one there wasn’t a security checkpoint similar to the airport or military installation. That was the first wow moment upon arrival. Nonetheless the beauty of the area didn’t disappoint.

Signing off from sin city.

family

Fresh Air, Fresh Hair

2chicksandapen

Don’t underestimate the value of fresh air or fresh hair. Today I had a little of both. This weekend I had a plan for me and my mom. Normally my weekend involves toting kids to activities or getting to point a, b and c at set times. This weekend was different. No have tos. Only want tos.

First event was sunrise yoga. I got a fresh start on crisp morning with some wonderful gal pals. This step was important. I stepped outside first thing in the morning. I had clarity of the mind. I was all-around peaceful. Ready for the rest of the weekend.

Stop two was a pick up. A kidnapping of sorts. I got to grab the beautiful, one-of-a-kind mother of mine. I was taking her from her home to get some fresh air and a haircut. 12 weeks she had been cooped up thanks to Corona. The opportunity was there and I took it and her. Off we went. The haircut didn’t take long but how she enjoyed the shampoo and the cut. She felt like a million bucks. Even if you can’t go places often feeling good about yourself is important. She needed and wanted the hair cut for that sole purpose: to feel good. I felt amazing for making it a reality.

We didn’t stop there. We packed up for a mountain escape to the amazing cabin in the woods. A short drive but one that yields gorgeous views.  From icicles on the rock formations to mist on the mountains, it’s part of the experience. She doesn’t like to eat in the car but I packed her some sweet treats for the ride and it made for a perfect picnic. No crowds in a restaurant to worry about. Just yumminess to go. 

The weather was perfect. The cool mountain air was just what was needed. Fresh air. No smog. No mask filtering the air. Just fresh, crisp mountain air. Secluded. Peaceful. Surrounded by amazing views. What more could we ask for on our escape?

We baked a chicken. We made a salad fresh from the garden and it was ever so tasty. Fresh bread warmed in the oven topped off our meal on girls weekend. Off we went into the darkness to view holiday lights. First stop was the small town decorations. Then into the hidden homes that each played 20-minute light shows set to music. It was a new, fresh holiday treat for us. Windows were down, fresh air flowing, holiday music was blaring and lights were flashing. A great way to make new memories in a new place away from the crazy of life the dark shadows 2020 had cast on many.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. I never know how much time I have with my mom. For now, I enjoyed the peacefulness of fresh air and many smiles and giggles with the woman I have adored for years.

Many I know don’t have the luxury I have of still having their mom. I share mine when I can so others can have a sliver of her wisdom, her personality, and her sweetness. Getting to your 80s is a milestone. Still moving about and experiencing new things and places is a gift. Living through a pandemic and bending and flexing to rules and lockdowns is draining. Fresh air and fresh perspective can put the fog of tomorrow in the rear view, even if it’s just temporary.