Don’t Be Jerky! June 27, 2019
Posted by nrhatch in Food & Drink, Travel & Leisure, Vegetarian Recipes.comments closed
We spent very little time in the town of Helen, other than quaffing beers to quench our thirst at creekside taverns while tubers floated past.
We did check out this unique storage facility with tubes stacked floor to ceiling beside life jackets and leashes.
Back on the Main Street, we saw some Jerky signs.
Imagine having to choose between Deer, Elk, Buffalo, and Boar. Hmmm . . .
Or Goat, Gator, Python, and Alpaca.
Decisions. Decisions.
I know! ~> Make mine pretzels & beer!
Aah . . . that’s better!
Hiking The Appalachian Trail June 25, 2019
Posted by nrhatch in Exercise & Fitness, Health & Wellness, Nature.comments closed
While in the GA mountains, we hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail.
Impressed?
Well, don’t be.
We never lost sight of the parking lot!!!
Aah . . . that’s better!
P.S. I’ve added pics to the previous post.
Pretzels & Picnics . . . & Pics! June 19, 2019
Posted by nrhatch in Exercise & Fitness, Nature, Travel & Leisure.comments closed
We just returned from a fabulous trip to the GA mountains to celebrate our 35th Anniversary.
We made a quick pitstop in Atlanta on the way up to enjoy Happy Hour at Marlow’s Tavern with our oldest nephew who’s in school at GA Tech. He flew out the following day for two weeks in China.
Once settled into our hotel in Helen (a Bavarian village that is the 3rd most visited town in GA ~ behind Atlanta and Savannah), we spent time hiking to waterfalls ~ Anna Ruby Falls (easy), Duke Creek Falls (challenging).
We drank German beer and noshed on Bavarian pretzels (and other German treats) beside the Chattahoochee River while watching countless tubers float by.
We picked three venues with riverside seating ~ The Troll Tavern, the Hofbrauhaus, and Cafe International.
Imagine if you took a chug every time a tuber floated by on the hootch ~> Down the Hootch! No, wait! Down the Hatch!
We enjoyed mountain vistas from atop Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia at 4784 feet. From the lookout station, we could see four states ~ Georgia, NC, SC, and Tennessee.
The ranger said that on a clear day you can see forever!
We drove mountainous country roads, switching into low gear when necessary.
S~L~O~W~D~O~W~N
We had picnics by Smith Creek at Anna Ruby Falls, and at a covered bridge in Sautee Nacoochee, after stopping for sandwiches and Farmer’s Cheese at the Old Sautee Store.
We visited Willow Pottery, Nora’s Grist Mill, Betty’s Country Store, Jumping Goat Coffee, and an enormous antique barn with 3 floors packed to the rafters with “treasures.” Talk about Stuff!!!
After the hike to Duke Creek Falls, we walked a Nature Trail in Nacoochee Village. Our tired calves and leg muscles only balked for a moment, but they barked later ~> Nope! No Way! I am NOT climbing those stairs!
A highlight: Tuesday morning, on the way to Duke Creek Falls . . . we saw a bear crossing the road just ahead of our car.
Of course, we rolled down the window to ask him why.
His bear-to-the-bones reply: “To Get To The Other Side!”
Aah . . . it’s good to be HOME!
Life Improves With Laughter June 15, 2019
Posted by nrhatch in Exercise & Fitness, Happiness, Health & Wellness.comments closed
Stressed out?
Find something to laugh about.
Yup. It can even be something silly.
Seriously.
Laughter is the yin to stress’s yang . . . counterbalancing many of the nasty negative effects of stress.
Plus, laughing feels good.
“We do not laugh because we are happy . . . we are happy because we laugh.”
Aah . . . that’s better!
To read more: Does Laughing Have Real Health Benefits?
TIME To Lose Weight June 11, 2019
Posted by nrhatch in Exercise & Fitness, Food & Drink, Health & Wellness.comments closed
Are you ready to shed a few pounds before donning a swimsuit and heading to the pool?
Need an update on which foods to eat and which to avoid?
Looking for a Diet Decoder?
Wants some tips on keeping the weight off?
Well, TIME has got you covered!
Check out the TIME Guide to Weight Loss.
*12 articles on the Science of Weight Loss
*7 articles on Diets (Gluten Free vs. Vegan vs. Mindfulness vs. Ketogenic)
*15 articles with tips on Foods To Eat
*11 articles on making weight loss last
Bonus Tip: Step away from the donut and do not put another bite in you mouth until you have digested all 45 articles!
Aah . . . that’s better!
Courtesy Of The Wheel June 6, 2019
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, Joke.comments closed
On his first night in Prison, Joe slept fitfully. Not only was he nervous and agitated, but he was unused to the sounds coming from the adjoining cells.
Just as he was about to drift off, a fellow inmate called out “16.” In response, the entire cell block erupted into laughter.
Joe puzzled about it for a few minutes until sleep threatened to overtake him once again.
Just then, an inmate cried out, “10.” As before, Joe heard a chorus of cackles bouncing off the bars.
This number calling continued for a time until, at last, Joe fell asleep.
In the morning, he asked his cell mate, Chuck, about the laughter-inducing numbers.
Chuck chuckled, “Well, we’ve been here for a dog’s age. And, in that time, we shared just about every joke there is. Rather than repeating them, we assign them numbers. When someone calls out a number, we recognize the joke they’re sharing and laugh anew.”
Intrigued, Joe asked if he could give it a go.
“Sure. Here’s the book of jokes. Pick a number.”
Joe flipped through the book.
Deciding he liked the sound of Joke 21, he looked forward to “lights out” that night.
Once all the inmates were quieted down, Joe called out “21.” No response. Not even a ripple of amusement.
He tried again, a bit louder: “21.” Nothing.
Perplexed, Joe leaned over his bunk, “Hey, Chuck. What’s up? It didn’t work. No one laughed.”
Chuck nodded, “Well, you know what they say . . . some people know how to tell a joke. Others don’t.”
Aah . . . that’s funny!
Source: Pat Sajak (Wheel of Fortune, 6/5/19)
Feed The Birds June 4, 2019
Posted by nrhatch in Animals, Happiness, Home & Garden.comments closed
Unlike most bird feeders that can be filled with seeds, hummingbird feeders are specially made for a hummingbird’s diet. They contain a mock nectar solution that can easily be made at home.
Here’s the recipe:
- Fill a 1-cup measuring cup to 200 milliliters with water.
- Heat the cup in the microwave for 90 seconds.
- Add sugar to the heated water until the contents of the measuring cup hit 250 milliliters.
- Stir the cup’s contents until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Let the solution fully cool.
- Pour the sugary drink into the hummingbird feeder.
It’s really that simple.
Other recipes may call for honey or red food dye, but Bell, a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s Microbial Ecology Lab and an avid bird watcher, strongly recommends against these additions, as they could cause health issues for the tiny birds.
Aah . . . that’s simple syrup!
To read more: Feeders Help Hungry Hummingbirds (Shorelines)
Spirit Lights The Way 