Packed enough for a Month!

The SUV is loaded to the gills for a early morning departure. looking forward to arriving at Paws and Paddles Cottage! Planning on hitting A.J.s on the Back River for a late lunch on the water. I think not having a set schedule is what I am looking forward to most. I do plan on being up for a sunrise walk to the ocean every morning but that is such fun. We also plan on Dinner at Paula Deans Tuesday and spending time in Savannah. Thinking both a carriage ride and a Trolley tour for starters. We also enjoy walking tours of the squares. Gelato. Shops on the riverfront. Warm pralines and then retreating back to Paws for quiet time and ocean breezes. Hoping for lots of bike time. Being on my bike makes me feel like I am six again! Just love it. Up early so winding down...

Heading Back to Tybee/Savannah for Ten Days...needing some Tybee Tyme!

Starting packing for Tybee/Savannah today. Leaving this Friday morning early at oh dark thirty. Looking forward to ten days of Tybee Tyme. We were last at Paws & Paddles in August with our daughter and her family. It seems like it was so long ago now. Since we were there we have moved from our Mountain House to The Woolworth in downtown Roanoke. The biggest change however was losing our dear sweet Standard Poodle Hershey to Lymphoma two weeks ago yesterday. He had embraced urban living with enthusiasm. He was happy to be wherever we were. He managed to garner so many smiles and pets from people we passed on the street. Hershey made friends with everyone and introduced us to people we would never have met without him. We both feel lost without him. We miss him terribly and our first trip back to Tybee will be bittersweet without him. He was always so happy to get there. I can clearly see him jumping out of the car and running towards the front door and doing his sliding stop right in front of the turquoise door. His favorite spot was the day bed on the sun porch. It is going to seem empty without him. He loved his walks on the greenway in the park near the cottage. He didn't really care for the ocean or the beach but he was happy to sit with us on the boardwalk. We had even introduced him to Savannah. He will always be with us in our hearts and minds.

Mountain home in Virginia near Smith Mountain Lake for Sale

 

Only 8.5 miles to Downtown Roanoke, Va. Thirty minutes to Smith Mountain Lake. Large rooms with open floor plan. Media room with complete second kitchen for entertaining. 50 inch plasma tv and surround sound passes with the home. Great for Super Bowl and Nascar parties. Oversize Double Garage two steps from house under an attached Pergola. Stunning winter views for miles. Southern exposure. Hardwoods, and Mountain Laurel with mulch create a natural low maintenance landscape in an Appalachian Cove forest environment. Community  Picnic area with shelter and fireplace for cooking. Two regulation tennis courts. Hiking trails. Acre lot very private but so accessible to Downtown Roanoke which is only 8.5 miles away. Near Smith Mountain Lake one of the largest and most beautiful lakes on the East coast. Contact Wendy Gilbert with the Remax Tim Toohig Team for a private Tour at 540-330-3123. 

R.I.P. Sweet Hershey

Hershey had a fabulous time this weekend. He enjoyed Ribeye steak with us on the Terrace on Friday night. We went walking Downtown on Saturday and then a late afternoon cruise on Smith Mountain Lake with us and Anne. He seemed to really love riding down the lake with the breeze blowing back those beautiful long brown ears. He watched Mike and Anne swim while I sat with him on the boat. At sunset we slowly headed back and reached shore after dark. Hershey was curled up and sound asleep for the ride back. He sat with Anne in the back seat of the car and kept his paw in her lap for the ride back. Sunday morning we went for a walk in the unusually cool morning air. We came back and read the paper while he napped at our feet. Sunday afternoon we went back to the Mountain house and he spent a small amount of time outside while we did chores. He stayed right with me while I was working boxing up items. I must have walked around him a 100 times but I was just glad he was there under foot. Our Homeowners group had their annual picnic at the Windy Gap Mountain Village picnic shelter. I knew this would likely be the last time that everyone who knew Hershey in the neighborhood would see him. I woke up after 3 this morning and felt a lot of anxiety. After tossing and turning I decided to check on Hershey. He had decided to sleep in the great room under the fan instead of our bedroom. When I went in he was laying down but had his head up. He didn't move or turn to look at me. I knew something was very wrong. I laid down next to him and could hear his heavy breathing. After an hour or so I woke Mike up and told him it looked like the end was near. We both stayed on the floor with him. He was very hot. I wiped him down with cold water but he was still hot. I opened the door to the Terrace to let in some cool air. He staggered up walked two steps to the door and eventually walked outside and laid down on the cool paving stones. Mike and I stayed by his side and put towels and blankets around him and under his legs to protect them from the hard surface. His breathing got much heavier and a few times he struggled as if to get up. With both of us petting him under the now blue sky he quietly passed away at 7:50 a.m. 

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Living at The Woolworth

exWe are semi-moved in and now have spent two nights here. The Woolworth is a mouth full so we are referring to it as the W! Life at the W so far is good. Friday was beautiful. Saturday and the first part of Sunday cloudy and rainy. We are still bringing things from the Mountain house. Trying to find the right space for everything. One thing that has worked well is we created a landing zone near the front door. I repurposed a small cherry bookcase made by my grandfather by putting slate on the top with a ceramic dish for keys and glasses. They are always in the same place and are right by the door when you leave. Important since we have an electronic key fob that buzzes us in the building and you don't want to be locked out. I also purchased a number of cloth bins and put them on each shelve. Plenty of room for a mail drop,Hershey's leash, caps, etc. All handy put neatly stowed away. We have met a number of our neighbors. Everyone is so friendly and nice. We have at least three neighbors with dogs. Hershey has met Bella and King James. Bella is a mix  and James is a small Yorkie. James is big in spirit. He fought off a bear last spring! He survived but the bear did  lots of damage. Thanks to good vet care and lots of TLC you would never know. James and Hershey are buddies. Bella and Hershey are yet to meet but Hershey loves everyone. Hershey is handling the change well. He is cool with the elevator and goes right in and sits down on command to wait for the door to open. We have found plenty of green spaces to walk him. He knows what is expected and has done well. He is sleeping a lot and is quieter than usual. We are keeping a eye on him to see if the   Lymphoma is worsening. We are waiting on about 50% of our furniture to arrive. But we have enough to be comfortable. Enjoyed coffee on the terrace and taking Hershey on a short walk to buy the Roanoke Times from a machine right in front of their building! I love watching people smile ad Hershey walks by! He frequently scores a pet so he is happy being a urban pooch!