About my trip, with photos!

[olde_fashioned]

As promised, here is a fairly brief (okaaaay...rather long!) synopsis of the little trip/vacation we took out to my Grandma's. (My Grandma being my maternal grandmother, and we being myself, my brother, and my mom. My dad had to stay home and work.) We drove down on Sunday, and came back late Thursday night. Despite the reasons for the trip in the first place (medical ones; she couldn't have it done alone) it was nothing serious, so we ended up having a good time.

Warning: lots of photos! (but none of me, hahaha)

Before we left, we had to stop by the library to drop off movies and a couple books that were due while we were gone. I checked the Friend's bookstore, and made a couple of great finds! There were two Jane Austens; Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and a Charlotte Bronte that I've never read. All were paperbacks, meaning they were only 50 cents a piece. ;-D I love a good bargain!

But it gets better. Books were being donated and put out for sale as I was browsing, and my eye happened to fall on a pile of interesting-looking books that hadn't been priced yet. One of them was a blue, leather-look cover with a pair of crossed flags embossed in silver across the front. It was a compilation of photographs of the Civil War, and in the end I had to push the rather slow and dense lady volunteer to price it for me. She kept saying how it was a "special book" and I wanted to know how much it was.

"Oh!" she replied, "but this is a special book!"

I'd like to know why the fact that it was "special" kept her from pricing it. I pointed to the price chart and suggested that since it was a hardback, according to their list it should be $1. Plus it was missing it's dust jacket.

"This book is special," she said AGAIN, "and it goes over there!" She pointed to the shelf where all the more recent and expensive books go. Figures.

By now I was getting a little annoyed. Again I asked how much would it cost?!!

After a few moments of solemn deliberation and reflection, she decided on charging me five dollars instead of one. *eye roll* I was hoping that my brother (who was at work and therefore unavailable) didn't have it in his vast collection of 400+ books, so I bought it anyway. Once he got home I gave it to him, and it turns out that he didn't have it! Yay!!! :-D

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As for the actual trip, well, once the initial procedure was out of the way, we mostly a) ran various errands and shopped with my Grandma, b) cooked and cleaned up the kitchen, and c) lolled about the house spending time with her. While we were out we grabbed some Mexican food at some or other of the various Mexican restraunts they have there, which are really good, way better than we have here. We had Starbucks a couple times too, and I got adventurous and tried the green tea Frappuccino and the Java Chip.

When we weren't doing that my brother and I took walks around the senior community in which she lives -- he hunting for bugs insects and me taking photographs. As usual I didn't wear proper shoes and got the beginnings of blisters. Again. *sigh*

Here are a few of the photos I took:


I took this one in the car as were were driving out. It's a long drive, and I amused myself by taking blurry snapshots of the gorgeous scenery (once we'd passed out of the city limits) and listening to music. CD's are a must during a car trip!!


This one is of a "prettyish sort of little wilderness area" across from her house that we've never explored until now. I'd always thought it was just a small green belt, but it actually is long, winding path, bordered by tall trees. It's really gorgeous, and almost has that secret garden quality to it. The photo doesn't do it justice at all. (I do know that the tree on the left is called a Sweet Gum -- we used to have a bunch where we used to live. They're gorgeous, especially in Autumn, but the spiney ball seed pods are MURDER to bare feet!) Notice the bush on the right with the white flowers. That's jasmine, and it smelled absolutely heavenly!

Wilderness area #2. A longer walk is required in order to get there, and you have to watch out for the oleander, doggie presents, and ravine, but it's pretty too. If you go late enough you get to see bunnies! Yay!


Lots and lots of bunnies! Okay, maybe just one bunny this time, but they kept running away or moving and making my camera go blurry, so I only got a decent shot of one. They're really cute. Reminds me of Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, Peter, and Benjamin. :-D (yes thank you, I do know I'm a big dork!)


One of a bunch of flower shots I took. Exciting, I know, but things look a lot more interesting while you're taking the photo then after you get home. ;-)


A rose.


This one's a red geranium on my Grandma's patio.


I literally have no clue what the heck this one is, but I thought it was pretty. I'm certainly no botanist!


Some sort of yellow wildflower.


A bush! (the plant, not the president)


A tree! And a very pretty purple tree, if I may say so. I think it's some kind of ornamental-something, but I don't know.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spencer and I both slept on Aerobeds, which are surprisingly comfortable, if you don't mind a bit of a squelching squeaky sound when you move. ;-) We also watched a bit of cable TV, which we don't have at home, and I absolutely LOVED the show on Saxons that we watched. :-D I think it was made by the History channel, and it was part of a Barbarians series. I plan to Netflix the rest of them. ;-)

I also got the chance to watch the tail end of MI-5, or Spooks, whichever you prefer. I've never seen it, since BBC America doesn't air on PBS here. It wasn't a very good episode subject-matter wise, so I really cannot say if I think I'd like it or not.

We also watched a bit of the new Robin Hood series. I must say, (and forgive me Tiffany!) but I thought it was perfectly dreadful. Horrible. Awful. My biggest beef is with the costumes -- I knew about the hoodie, but would you believe that Robin Hood and his Merry Men were running around in BOXER SHORTS AND TEE SHIRTS???????? Ribbing and everything. AHHHH!!!!! That seriously drives me nuts. I think we saw the second episode, and they were getting robbed, so that's why they were in their underwear. There was this one crocheted-looking "thing" that was very hippie-ish, and he wore a bandana over his head. Another guy, (who I'm convinced is John Thorpe in the new ITV Northanger Abbey) had a scarf looped around his neck. You know the way people fold them in half and then pull the tails through? Like that.

Plus Maid Marian has that whole pompadour-type thing going on with her hair that's all the rage right now, and she had some very stupid red jersy knit dress on with a short vest. While carrying a fruit basket. (I thought she was supposed to be a lady in waiting or something?) Give me a break! We're talking the Middle Ages, not the 21st century!! I mean, it's not like there isn't any documentation on this stuff. Sheesh! The only costume that didn't make me wanna puke was Richard Armitage's. And while I love black leather, I don't know if it's completely period. ;-) Somehow T-shirts put it all into perspective...

There! Wasn't all that just thrilling? Congratulations if you've gotten this far, and thank you for your patronage and patience! [/mr. collins] I decided to spare you all the list of where we went, what we ate, and what we bought. ;-P I had a wonderful time, so thank you to all who wished me one, and just to let you know, I did miss my computer!!

Comments

[penguinsrpals.livejournal.com]

Love your pictures of the bunny and flowers! I guess the outfits ruined the show for you Lauren! I know how much you love period costume! I agree with you about some of the outfits on Robin Hood, especiallt Much's kitted sweater! Lol! At least you didn't see Marian's yellow sweater! I would enjoy the show just a little bit more if the costumes were period but I love it anyways! Hopefully next seasons outfits will be better I hope! Lol! There are few outfits of Marian's that I love: her red dress and her wedding dress being the only two! :D ♥ Tiffany

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Tiffany! I was afraid you'd be mad at me for disliking it so much. ;-) But you're right, I'm a stickler for stuff like that.

Yellow sweater? Oh dear, you'd better not show me. Saffron dyes were extremely expensive, so is Marian a fruit-toting servant girl or is she a high-born lady?

[littleflower518.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you had a nice time! Your pictures are lovely...AND...you were able to visit with your Grandma!!! YAY FOR GRANDMAS!!!
Missed you!
Lindy

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Lindy! And you're right, grandmas are grand! ;-)

[anodiel.livejournal.com]

Very lovely pictures. You're right, it does look very secret garden-ish. I think I would have liked it there.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll bet you would have, too. It's so pretty!

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I had the same issues with the Robin Hood costumes (my roommate got annoyed when I kept saying, "That's not forest green. That's NOT forest green!!) but I managed to get over it. It is definitely a modern adaptation and I think that's the point. I liked Guy (OK, RA's acting was good) and Robin but Marian annoyed me.

Glad you had a nice visit. The pictures are lovely.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

LOL!! Well, admittedly I'll overlook some minor flaws if I like something well enough, but I only saw about 10, maybe 15 minutes. Costuming is a big reason why I watch period movies, though.

I thought Robin was a dork!

Thank you!

[kari.livejournal.com]

Lovely pictures! I'm glad you had a good visit.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Kari!

[belovedrose85.livejournal.com]

Pretty pics! Btw, your bright pink mystery flowers are begonias. :)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Are they indeed? Well, thank you for enlightening me! ;-)

[seventh-stage.livejournal.com]

ah, I am a fan of this Robin Hood you speak.

Yes, I'm not a great big fan of going out of the box with the costimes either. I wasn't impressed at all with it the first time I saw it, (how he kissed that girl and her makeup and what she wore- what!? this is Robin Hood I said, not some vagabond who kisses girls he doesn't know! where's marion?? no no no!) however I adored the sense humor in this season as it carried on. (Much and Will are my favorite somehow, you'll met Will later, right?) The music is adventurous also, and I discovered it put me in a good mood whenever a new episode came on BBC. I can understand your frustrations on historical frankness, but suppose I'm just glad they weren't all in green tights and dancing, umm?
I hope you'll give it as many chances as it needs to prove it's genius. I found the Robin Hood journey endearing and fun, so please, I hope you may try to forgive these British people for their take on the middle ages- geesh! Fruit? What about a swords and arrows?

What a lovely, ahem, special trip. Oh I wish I could there right now, but seeing as I am leaving to Ontario in a few hours, I'll sit tight and enjoy your story. In haste! In haste!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Whoops! I guess I ran the risk of offending half my readerbase with my remarks, huh? ;-P

I don't have cable, so unfortunately I can't give it another chance -- until we stay at my grandma's again. ;-) But hey, if nothing else, it'd be a good laugh, right? (sorry!)

Thanks for the comment, and I hope you enjoy your own trip!

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

"[/mr. collins]" is the best EVER. I'm going to steal it.

Glad you had a pleasant trip!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

LOL! Thanks! I was feeling silly at the time, and couldn't resist. ;-D

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wanted to point you to couragesbeast. It's a work in progress by me, and I think you might enjoy it. In order to read the chapters you have to friend it. I have them in the memories and entries as friend-only view.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thank you! *trots off to friend* I've got to go just now, so sadly I can't peruse it now, but I certainly will later! :-D

[katy-maud.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love those pictures of the winding path and the pale-peach rose!

I also enjoyed reading your entry . . . goes along with the pictures beautifully! Yes, it was thrilling! : )

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Katy! I had fun taking them. ;-P