two winter days at the Ritz Lake Oconee

We arrived home from Florida on Monday, and on Tuesday afternoon I was on my way to the Ritz Carlton Lake Oconee with Drew for a business trip. I was tagging along for a little R&R. The weather was mild and a little rainy, but still couldn't take away from the beauty of this place.

the cozy fireplace on a winter's night

We had dinner the first night in the dining room and were the only ones there. Our own very private dining room! The food was scrumptious. I had Sole with fingerling potatoes and peaches, and it was perfect!

The next morning started out rainy, so after my room service breakfast of blueberry pancakes, yummmmy! I decided to take the car out and see the area. I hadn't been out to the lake in a long tome. The few shops that are still in business were having some great sales, I got a cute top for 50% off and 2 pairs of designer shoes for 75% off! 

Drew and I hit a local restaurant for dinner that night, The Silver Moon. When we're out at the lake we tend to stay home and cook since it's a long drive to any restaurant. The place we frequent the most is Gaby's at the Ritz because we can go by boat. When we got back from the SM, we walked the grounds and roasted a few marshmallows by the fire outside. They have everything right there to make s'mores. 

The next morning was a beautiful day so after breakfast, I walked around and took some pics.

Chiminea dinner for two, 3 course meal only $125 pp!

The view from our room

It was a great two day break for a bit of rest and reading, and eating their delicious food. I'm so glad I tagged along!

what's been going on...

After the first 2 days of radiation, I flew to Orlando for the weekend to visit K&R and little Nathan. I've been able to see him every month so far and wanted to go if even for just a short visit. I got to see the house they'll be moving to, eat out at some great restaurants, and play with Nathan for 2 days. 

A quick visit because I had to be back on Monday for treatment. 

Fall tennis has started up again and I played for the first time since my surgery in June. It all came back to me and I felt great but it was only 1 hour of practice, we'll see how my stamina is in a match!

I've also played golf with the Gal Pals 3 times and once with Drew. It was so much fun to be back out there again. I'm a bit rusty and not as strong as I had been. It takes a few more stokes to get down the fairway, but I'll get back to where I was shooting eventually. 

Kelly and I are finally working on her master bedroom re-do (her birthday gift from March!). We painted the top of the wall Glidden "Navy blue" and wallpapered the lower 2/3's with beadboard wallpaper from Lowe's. It's been quite awhile since I've wallpapered, but it came out great! Today we cut the chair-rail trim for between the 2 sections. We still have to paint the wallpaper "trim white" and nail up the chair-rail and then we're ready to accessorize the room!
We started the Labor Day weekend out at the Lake house, but came back early on Sunday afternoon because the rains from Tropical storm Lee were on the way. We packed a lot into the short time we were there. We went out on the boat and Carter swam in the lake with us and even went tubing on our old Big Bertha with Kelly. We blew bubbles all weekend and just played and had fun. Auntie Alex held out giving Carter pretzels until he said her name, guess what? he did!

Tomorrow it's back to my daily schedule of going to treatment every afternoon. 12 down 19 more to go. I've felt a few side effects... I have a low grade nausea that comes and goes, and I've had to watch what I eat so I don't have to take too many Immodium. I really have to do better with that. I learned that pizza is a big NO, and salads are not good either, or any vegetables for that matter, while on radiation! Tomorrow I start my bland only diet! 

I feel like I still have a good amount of energy, but they keep telling me that will dwindle. I'm just trying to get as much done as I can before that hits me. 

So tomorrow... we work on the bedroom again! I can't wait to show you the finished room.

93rd PGA Championship in my home town!

The Atlanta Athletic Club borders my neighborhood on our "Nature Trail" path and is ~ 1.8 miles away by car. We had our choice of days to go, but we were very lucky to get corporate tickets to go to the tournament on Thursday. We had "Presidents Club" passes that got us free parking across the street, entrance into the Clubhouse to mingle among the players, and admittance to the Pro Shop for free buffet lunch and open bar. Not to mention the best perks of all Air Conditioning and the Clubhouse rest rooms! 

We got there ~ 8:15 am and walked the course a bit, and then settled in for awhile on the Par 3 4th hole where there were grandstands in the shade. It was actually nice in the shade with a welcome breeze, despite the 90 degree temps. After a few threesomes played through, Keegan Bradley hit his drive only to land in the sand bunker next to the green. It was what you call a "fried egg" and a tough lie. I was a bit surprised though when he choose to hit the ball out backwards toward the fairway and away from the green. The lie and the water on the other side must have been quite intimidating! Who knew on that first day of play that he would end up to be the tournament Champion! 

We headed out to the Lakehouse later that afternoon and watched the rest of the 3 days of coverage on television. We had an enjoyable weekend with Alex and her pup Greyson, eating, boating, swimming and watching golf.

Watching the golf tournament renewed my desire to play! I am 8 weeks post surgery today and starting radiation on Wednesday. I signed up to play GalPal golf this Wednesday morning and Friday too! I haven't played since June 4th. My plan is to try the driving range tomorrow morning to see how I feel swinging a club. I figured if I could walk 5 miles at the tournament I was ready to give it a try! Gotta get as much in before any possible symptoms from the radiation kick in.

Oh... and here are the new shoes I bought back in the Spring that I haven't worn yet. 

I may just have to break those babies in!

Golf course... here I come!

home improvements at the lake

While I was away in Florida with the new baby and family, we had help with a few things around the lake house. 
We had the yard graded, sodded and an irrigation system installed. 

Voila... our new lawn!

We also had the house painted, "Summerhouse Beige" by Sherwin Williams with semi-gloss white trim.

And... the "dog park" got a new layer of mulch, which the pups are loving! Comfy enough for Sharkey to lay around and hang out, and keep an eye on the neighbor dog. 

It's lookin' good at the lake house!

the "other grandboy"

We're babysitting this weekend... not 14 month old Carter, not newborn Nathan, but Greyson... the "other grandboy", the  min-pin chihuahua pup. He loves coming to our house, running around  the space that is so much larger than his 1 bedroom condo, hiding his toys upstairs like he's doing right now. 

Greyson and Carter waiting for the bath when we were all in HHI. Only Carter got to enjoy the warm bath btw.

Tomorrow we're headed to the lake so he can enjoy vacationing at the other house too.  Maybe... we'll even take him out on the boat. I hear he's a great swimmer!

our summer house

I always wanted a "summer house". A simple house with a screen door that slams with a smack as you go in and out. The kind where life is casual, slow and relaxing.  Where you can hang out at the water in your bathing suit all day long, snack on watermelon all afternoon and throw supper on the grill at night. Where you sit outside while the sun sets, watching the water glisten pink as the sun goes down.

Growing up on Long Island, my girlhood "summer house" was out east, at the beach. But as an adult, living in Georgia, my summer house is at Lake Oconee. 

 sunset view from the porch

the great room

my flea finds... the hand painted fish benches and dresser

the kitchen 

 gutted the original and installed new cabinets, appliances and the red oak floor

loft and hall to laundry room and bath
all the beadboard and trim was stained dark, slooowly, 4 coats later, we've been painting it all white

powder room
we changed out the sink, added beadboard and wallpaper

back door to lake
we added the pergo floor, another DIY

master bedroom
love this paint color!

2nd bedroom
beds for 4

downstairs bath
also a gut and redo

 the deck

It's been a labor of love. 
I don't think there's an inch we haven't touched with paint or elbow grease over the past 12 summers. Whoever originally painted that deck railing white, I'd like to have a word with them... yes it looks quaint and crisp, but the upkeep you can keep!  


back to laboring... :-)