This year we made it. We made the trip to Helen GA to the Glen-Kenimer-Tucker House to have Thanksgiving with family. This inherited historic home is a history book in and of itself. The house is located in Nachoochee Valley referred to as “Nachoochee” for as long as I can remember. The mere name results in comedy when children attempt to pronounce it! Due to pregnancy work and other complexities we have been unable to make the trip the past two years we were glad to be there this year. To frost the trip we spent the first two nights of the week in Decatur with my sister and her husband ( Zach of four months).
Monday afternoon: We hit the “trail” (okay “road” but trail sounds more fun) only two hours past our planned departure. We packed everything imaginable… except for no socks for the boys and no bottoms for mom. I suppose I just planned on walking around in my panties all week especially when hiking the trails in the North Georgia mountains. So my brain was fried by the time I attempted my own packing. I managed to get a bag full of cute tops sweaters shoes earrings toiletries etc. – just no pants! This sort of packing is quite an – only achieved through total overload of all mental systems state! The problem was easily eradicated by my fashion-saavy sister. Thanks Beth!
Arriving late in the evening Kenimer was elated to finally be able to go to Aunt B’s house and the boys were overjoyed to find that B had “movies” (anything that has pictures that move) on-tap. The boys were mesmerized by cable TV enabling the adults to have some good talk time!
Tuesday My sis Bethany and I went shopping and explored the Decatur Square area. We each had Thanksgiving baking assignments so a trip to the DeKalb Farmers Market was necessary. Collections of food types from all over the world was stunning. Above all I loved seeing collections of global produce and grains. Quinoa buckwheat and amaranth were a few items found in low- priced abundance!
My hubbie took the boys to Grace Fellowship Church – where Zach works and Shannon wanted – to say “hello” and tour the church facilities. Following the boys short afternoon nap Bethany’s husband Zach arrived home and wrestle-mania began. Needless to say the boys like their Uncle Zack whom my youngest – Tucker – now calls “Bubba”.
Zach called while we were shopping with a great idea which produced a great evening: a babysitter for the boys allowing a night out for brothers and sisters!. First stop: Sushi in the square met up with our new friends Pat & Meg and then wandered over to the Brick Store (nope they didn’t sell bricks) for some extended hang-out time where my Nashville-based Bro Mckendree met us. It was an amazing time with much-loved family!
The unforeseen blessing was when the babysitter declined our pay and we later found that she was paid by Aunt B and Uncle Z. What a bolt from the blue blessing! We spent the wee hours sharing specialty cheeses discussing everything but the sun and enjoying council of siblings.
Visiting my sis’s house engrained this truth into my head: The little girl I grew up with is now a woman: she makes menus grocery shops and shares recipes with me. Sharing this season with her is delightful to say the least. Her apartment is so homey cozy and welcoming. It’s kind of crazy that these people you shared rooms and bathrooms with while growing up now have their own houses and meet up with you in big cities for reunions. Now those times are mere memories serving as bridges to the present. My how things do change.
Thus concludes: Thanksgiving at the big house Part 1 – Part 2 coming soon!
