Thanksgiving

I make my mom's stuffing every year for Thanksgiving. I've tweaked it a bit over the years - it no longer gets stuffed into the turky, I use chicken broth instead of water, sautee the onions in lots of butter before adding them to the bread...but one thing that hasn't changed is the seasoning.

Bell's poultry seasoning. You know - that little yellow cardboard box with a picture of a turkey on the front? Well guess what?  I CAN NOT FIND IT AROUND HERE!

I went to about 10 stores looking. I even went so far as to write to the company to ask if there was some place - any place - around here that sold it.  I was told that a certain store, an hour and a half away, MAY sell it.  What?  Oh, and "For future reference you can purchase 4-1oz boxes direct from us for $15.00.  We accept Visa and M/C.".  Thanks, but I just want ONE box! Now!

I called my mom to share my horror. "Can you BELIEVE it?? Send me some!" I said.  (This was Monday -  a little late).  "What? How? Do you want me to put some in a ziploc and throw it in an envelope?"  Sure, ma.  I can just picture Homeland Security knocking on your door, holding a baggie of poultry seasoning, and dragging you in for questioning.

So, I had to settle for McCormick's. Close - but not quite the same. 

I missed my Bell's but missed my family more.  Especially Brandon. It was strange, and sad, to have a Thanksgiving dinner without him.  It's one of our family traditions to go around the table and have each person in turn state one thing that he/she is thankful for.  Here are just a few of mine for this year:

My son - who never ceases to amaze me (good or bad) and who I love more than anything.  The best friends anyone could have.  My in-laws, for being so helpful and supportive since I've been here (and for coming to dinner so I'd have someone to lay those leftovers on!). And my mom - who continues to be the coolest woman ever. 

She's going to send me some Bell's poultry seasoning in time for Christmas dinner.

Chau Ram

Last weekend we drove out to Chau Ram County Park to add another waterfall to our tally.  The morning was chilly - around 45 degrees. I was excited because my order from L.L.Bean had recently arrived, and this was the first opportunity I'd had to wear my new hikers. You know how we girls are - new shoes add a little something/something to any activity...

The park isn't far from downtown Westminster. Even though the name Chau Ram sounds exotic, like a Japanese restaurant or an ancient Greek warrior, it actually comes from a combination of Chauga (River) and Ramsey (Creek). They converge at the park. I know...not extremely creative.

After paying the $2.00 park fee, we drove to an almost-deserted parking lot. The park is very nice...well maintained and in a pretty, picturesque setting. There is a playground, a large picnic pavilion with fireplace, a campground, picnic tables in scenic little spots here and there, and several hiking trails.

Chau Ram Falls is adjacent to the lower parking lot.  It wasn't very impressive size-wise (approximately 30-40 feet), but it takes the top spot on the list so far for amount of water actually "falling". 

After crossing the suspension bridge (the longest one in Oconee County according to the sign), we found a hiking trail map mounted under plexiglass on a pole. The plexi hasn't done much to protect the map or its legibility, so we figured we would follow one of the few trails we could just about see on the faded, water-spotted paper - the blue trail, a 1.2-mile loop.

The trail started along the water, with several pools and small rushing cascades over rocks.  It slowly veered away from the creek and into the woods where we soon came to a set of wooden stairs that climbed about 20 feet or so up the hill. Then it was a steady incline through the woods from there.

The sun was slowly warming up the day. And then it hit me. You know how there is always a day or two in each season when you can confidently say "it smells like summer today" or "I smell winter in the air"?  Well, this was one of those quintessential days.  Seriously. The sun breaking through the tree tops, the smell of warm fallen leaves, rich soil, crisp air... I stopped several times to just inhale the scent of autumn.

After finishing our loop at Chau Ram County Park, we found a map of nearby waterfalls at the information board.  We decided it was still early enough to try to squeeze in one more.  So we drove out onto highway 76 once again, took a wrong turn, turned around and tried again, then decided to not follow the map and let the GPS lead the way. We finally found the right road, but couldn't drive my low-slung Avenger out onto the dirt road so we had to go the rest of the way on foot (after making mental notes to take the truck from now on when chasing waterfalls). 

After about a mile of walking along this deserted, rutted firelane out in the forest, in the middle of nowhere (while hearing things crashing through the leaves in the not-too-far distance), Jim looks at me and says, "Maybe this isn't such a good idea - seeing as how it's hunting season?"

So, even though I was feeling pretty recognizable as non-prey in my new, golden cider L.L.Bean fleece pullover,  Riley Moore Falls would have to wait for another day.

Learn more about Chau Ram County Park.

     

Westminster, SC

Westminster, South Carolina is where I now live (on Scruffy Lane to be exact. I sincerely hope the street was named after some sweet little girl's floppy-eared, much-loved mutt - and that the name is not at all indicative of the type of people in the neighborhood). 






The town began as a stop for the Southern Railway in 1876. The historical train depot was almost completely destroyed by fire five years ago, but has been restored and now houses the town's Chamber of Commerce.

       

On a beautiful fall day this week, we decided to take a walk on Main Street and check out a part of our new area. The history and architecture of the storefronts and buildings remind me of Rumford's downtown. A comforting feeling of nostalgia came over me as I walked past the barber's shop with its antique pole out front, and an old-fashioned pharmacy and gift shop.

Scarecrows and hay bales left over from Halloween adorned the street lights on each corner, and a huge mural that has obviously been around for some time covered the side of one building. You can make out just enough of the art to visualize how nice it must have been when newly painted. There's a general store museum that I plan to check out next time I'm there.

 

Moon's Drug Store held some quaint surprises. There was an RC Cola & Moon Pie display that reminded me of my uncle David, who drank RC all the time when I was a kid. Weird how random memories like that stay with you! I briefly flipped through a book called "How to be a Southern Girlfriend" and, being an over-40 independent woman, I must say I found only the biscuit recipe to be of any use. There were Apple Festival plaques, gorgeous wind chimes, and LOTS of Clemson and South Carolina items. But I have to say, the most interesting things I found at Moon's were the Little Peckers.

Yup. You heard me right. Little Peckers. And how can you beat a tagline like "Where are you going to hide YOUR pecker?" Brilliant! AND they "dress up any mansion, home or trailer" Genius! I have to tell you - if I can figure out how to ship them - it's gonna be Little Peckers for everyone!!

And I don't want to know where you plan to hide yours.