Home of Fish Lines, by Lila Fish
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENED AT THE FISH POND NOVEMBER, 2003
November 20, 2003
Not a good day yesterday. I had to go to the dentist as my crown came out, post and all. It appeared that the root of the tooth had cracked and so there was nothing to do but have the tooth extracted. It was a difficult extraction - the root broke - and so now I am in a great deal of discomfort to put it mildly. It's not too bad when the pain pills kick in, but unfortunately the effects never last as long as they should and when it's time to take another it takes a while for that one to kick in! So I am working on my page "under the influence of" drugs. Hope it looks ok. Check out the pictures of our trip to Biltmore on the link to Newcomers down below. (Above the picture of Miss Molly, our cat.)November 19, 2003
Monday morning 49 Wanderers of the Smith Mountain Lake Newcomers boarded a bus headed for The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Our good spirits in anticipation of seeing the Biltmore's famed Christmas decorations more than made up for the gloomy weather forecast. After a pleasant ride, with rest stops and lunch at the K&W Cafeteria in Statesville, we arrived hungry enough to enjoy a buffet dinner at Lake Junaluska Conference Center. By 6:15 we were fed and ready to board the bus for the 20 minute trip to the Biltmore. We were disappointed to see that the front facade of the building was not lit up, but the decorations inside more than made up for that lack. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures (or make sketches!) but I did purchase some post cards which I will attempt to scan onto the Newcomers page below. The decorations throughout were beautiful. There were only 2 live trees, however, but they were huge. We were told that they would be replaced every two weeks. All told, there were 38 Christmas trees, 1500 poinsettia plants (live) and 19,600 feet of roping (artificial). Most of the garlands and arrangements were enhanced by the addition of life-like silk flowers.
The place was so huge that I was fortunate that there were wheel chairs and Linc was there to push me around. There was an elevator to the second floor but I had to climb the flight of stairs to the 3rd floor. The beauty of the decorations was worth it. I declined to 'do' the basement, so Linc and I went outside and found the gift shops!
In the morning, after a buffet breakfast we went back to the Biltmore and while a lot of the folks toured the grounds, I declined-again in favor of the gift shops. Then it was back in the bus again and on to the Winery where we sampled the many wines for sale and (again) shopped in their sales room.
Back on the bus again and on to the beautiful Deer Park Restaurant for another bountiful buffet. And of course, we all ate more than we should before boarding the bus once more and heading to Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, NC to drive through the Festival of Lights. No matter how many times we have seen it, there are always new additions to "ooh and aah" over!
One more gift shop to make our way through and then on to our last meal of the trip. It was in Winston Salem, NC and called the California Fresh Buffet. All of the restaurant profits go to charity and all of the staff - wait persons, cooks and bottle washers are volunteer and everyone who works there has a big smile on their face. The food was more than plentiful and more than delicious, but as it was our third buffet in a day, some of us had a difficult time doing justice to it.
Back on the bus again, full and weary but content! Our driver, Dave navigated us home safely through a thick fog. Shirley put a movie on which some watched and others slept through, everyone glad to be arriving home safely at around 11:00. Our thanks to Shirley Fry for putting this whole trip together and creating another fond memory for the Wanderers.November 15, 2003
Another trip to Roanoke! Linc lost a screw to his glasses so we went to Lens Crafter's where they fixed it promptly. Then we had a nice lunch at the Olive Garden, except that half of my chicken is in the refrigerator. While chewing a piece of bread I felt something hard and round in my mouth. It turned out to be a tooth, post and all. I tried putting it back in but after a while it was very painful - must not have put it in properly. No dentist open until Monday. Called the emergency room at Lewis Gale and they don't do dental work.November 14, 2003
This has been a busy 10 days, running back and forth to Roanoke for this and that. Every time I think I am finished with my Christmas Shopping, something else pops up! But have stuffed Rob's and Carol's stockings, and think that is the last of it.
We took Evelyn in for the last of her Radiation Treatments, and I know that she is glad it is over! We celebrated with lunch at Cafe Succatash..
They have not been able to fix my Electric Scooter, so looks like I will have to drive it with a grinding gear for a while. Hopefully, they will find the missing part soon.
I have been busy knitting and crocheting the little sweaters that we send to orphanages overseas. Am almost finished with my third one. Trouble is, once I sit down to work on them I don't like to stop and nothing else gets done. Pam cleaned the house today, and I went downstairs and did a gold and silver Christmas Wreath for Carrie. Hope she likes it. Then I decorated the cork wreath that I will donate to the Wine Tasters Club.
Just got another order for name tags for Rob to make up. They keep coming in dribs and drabs, but sure do add up. I enjoy accumulating the money for him! Yesterday we got a new order to design and just now, the Waterfront Ladies called with more names. IfNovember ,4 2003
Yesterday was Bunko day with Newcomers. I tied with Dot for most Bunkos - 13. Then last night we went out to dinner with our next door neighbors, Shelly and Bill. We haven't been out with them in ages, and had a very pleasant night.
This morning we went to vote, then to Newcomer's Breakfast and this afternoon Dot, Margo and Connie came over and I showed them how to make a wreath out of wine corks. It's really quite simple - we use a straw wreath base- but very time consuming and takes a LOT of corks! We had fun and I made the bows for their wreaths and they were quite happy. I make a cork wreath every year and donate it to our Wine Tasting club.
We get to take Evelyn (Sartell) for her last Radiation treatment tomorrow. She has been a real trouper throughout all her chemo and radiation. We'll have to celebrate when it's over.November 1, 2003
Back to Blog Index
November already! Wednesday, The Scarlet Ladies went out on the lake in the Angelique, and enjoyed a beautiful day. Fran Burns did a great coordinating everything and her decorations were nice as well.
I have decided not to have crepes at the party! I talked to Chef Jason at Kroger's and he is going to do my cooking. All we have to do is bring my pans to him the day before and it will be ready for me to pop in the oven just before our guests arrive.
The new medication I was trying for my Neuropathy did not work out. I had a terrible reaction to it, and had to go two days without any medication to be sure that it was out of my system. Tonight I will begin the Tegretol again. Unfortunately, with no medication, my feet are very unhappy, especially at night, which is when most of us who suffer with this malady feel it the most. Yesterday we did a lot of shopping, and by the time we got home I was sure hurting! But today, they are better and Dot and I went to a Christmas Bazaar and shopped a bit. Tonight we are going out to dinner with Dot and Richard.
That reminds me, Linc and I went to Fisherman's Galley Thursday night. I ordered boiled shrimp as I always do, and when it came I smothered it with cocktail sauce, as always. I had eaten quite a few when I suddenly realized that it had not been deveined. Since we were sitting just behind the hostess, I asked her if they had forgotten to clean the shrimp. Well, guess what - they NEVER clean the shrimp. Needless to say, I could not finish my dinner, although I know that I have eaten it there many times with no ill effects. But now that I know the story, guess we won't be eating there any more. Poor Linc will have to get his fish somewhere else.