Ten Year Anniversary Trip: Lake Michigan

We made it to the lake by this time in the sky on July 8th. It had been five years since we had been back to visit.

We have very little beach this year. I guess when Lake Michigan doesn't freeze we have very little beach. Global warming y'all. Too warm to freeze, no beach, no beuno. It's always interesting to watch the water levels rise and fall over the years. 

Our neighbors did some beautiful landscaping and now live at the lake full time. 

Sunset Selfie. I love that E puts up with me. We really fell in love at Lake Michigan. We spent two whole weeks with Mom after only dating for four months, 12 years ago. It's such a special place for us.

He and Momma always get a good laugh, usually at my expense. I love this picture of E making Mom laugh. We are so lucky we all love each other so much.

I'm convinced David was with us too. These little orbs kept popping up in many of my pictures. Did you notice the blue one (David's favorite color) in the very first picture?

After the sunset we snuggled in for puzzles and books, and no internet. Pure bliss.

Happy Birthday Momma

Today is my favorite lady's birthday. Yes, KTPunks Mommy is 74! We had so much fun with you Momma at the lake. 

I hope your day is filled with butter pecan ice cream. Here are some fun pictures I've found in the move.

I kind of think this was the same trip for Robert and Nina's wedding. We are outside of my grandparents garage here. 

June 1968, this was Momma and my uncle Johnny on the left, and Momma and Daddy on the right. They were at Johnny's graduation from UVA. I love how absolutely cute and stylish Mom looks. Clearly caught by surprise on the left, but so cute.

When Francie passed away, I found a tiny little brag book with these photos in them. All square little 3 x 3 photos. This one of Mom and Grandmommy Nancy. I love everything about it. Grandmom's sparkle veil. Mom's red lipstick! I don't think I've ever seen my mother wear red lipstick. And her wide open smile. I recognize it from somewhere.

Oh yeah. That gaping wide smile is most definitely inherited from Mom.

Happy Birthday you wonderful creature you.

Christmas Recap 2011

We had the most wonderful Christmas in Michigan. My godmother Mary T. drove with us all 11 hours to and from my mother's house. We stayed at Baby Nephew's house three blocks from Mom. My gorgeous grandmother flew all by herself from Memphis to be with us and of course Dad joined us for the festivities. Andrew looks so grown up in this photo but he is just one year old.

Baby Nephew was baptized at home that weekend. Eric and I are thrilled to be his godparents!

Eric and I are thrilled to be his godparents!

The precious lamb went straight from my mother's diamond cross. He's brilliant, I'm telling you.

My fairy godmother.

This was the first year in all my days that we waited until after 1pm to open our prizes. Saint Andrew needed to take a nap so we enjoyed a leisurely morning with ham and Sister Schubert rolls.

The first photo above was taken with a tripod and timer. I loved this shot I caught of  Daddy, E and Mary Frances staging the shot. I realized later that something was fogging up my lens so Francie looks more angelic than usual. I'm sure my Dad said something hilarious which is par for the course.

Once Baby Nephew arrived, the prizes were opened, the roast beast devoured and I finally got some quiet time with him. We gave him that cute little sweater. My brother wouldn't be caught dead letting him wear a smocked outfit, which breaks my heart, so we prepped him up with a little polo! He is truly the most laid back little guy. We just talked and talked for twenty minutes about trains, cars and my necklace. Elise caught us in this precious moment and I will cherish this photo forever.

Blessings and thanks to my sweet family for their incredible generosity, love for us and to Mac and Elise for asking us to be godparents. We are truly honored. 

Charm City

Baltimore is called Charm City. I couldn't be happier to live in this town due to the fact that the people are SO nice, but also that I'm a geek for my charm bracelet. My grandmother gave me this bracelet for Christmas about 12 years ago. It was her sisters. She lost the one she was going to give me for Christmas one year. She was devastated when she went to look for my wrapped present in New York and couldn't find it. She's convinced she dropped it on the corner of 11th Street at 2nd Avenue at my aunt and uncles place. Has anyone seen it in NYC?

I have been adding charms after significant trips. Momma finally gave me one of her two old charm bracelets. I added her charms to mine. I'm still begging her for the one she hasn't worn since she was married to my father like a thousand years ago. But her generosity of the first one left me with some of my most favorite charms. Her little debut book is so sweet.

It opens and has the date of her debut on the back.

My great aunt Dunkie's charms included items from her travels. My godmother Harriet traveled around the world and she would bring charms back to Dunk. This boot represents the Swiss Alps.

I wore this cross every day in high school. I'm almost positive my grandmother Mary Frances gave it to me. The turtle is from my trip to Haiwaii in 2004 and the arms and legs move. This is Mom's tennis racket. I played tennis in high school and college so it fits for me too. Mom said she had a little pearl as the ball when she was in college on the charm. The Eiffel Tower was from Dunkie.

The phone has to be one of my favorites. The ruby dial moves. I remember when phones looked like this. Such an antique. The next one is another from my Hawaii trip and is a fabulous lei with hibiscus flowers that move. Next is a shoe from Siam, now Thailand. Eric lived in Thailand so I love this little slipper. Momma's 17 birthday medallion is so sweet and was a gift from her parents. The next is a shoe from Hong Kong from Harriet or Dunkie, not sure. The bunch of bananas was from Mom. She was a camp counselor in Hawaii. We both clearly love that state.

My all time favorite is my bicycle from our honeymoon. We went to The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island where cars are not allowed. Transportation is only by horse and buggy or bikes. We found the charm on the main drag and I was so excited to find it. The hoola girl is another from Oahu. Next is a wooden shoe from Holland.

Mom knows I love the beach and found the starfish at a garage sale for something like $5. It's 14 karat gold and reminds me of Destin! Next is Mom's ten second hour glass with rose quartz.

Finally is the changing of the guard from Dunk and my St. Cuthbert cross from my first holy pilgrimage. The beefeater moves on a spring in and out of his hut. There is still room and I'm in need of an Irish icon. I think a round tower would be perfect. I also need a fan for DC that represents where Eric and I met, at Mandarin Oriental. And it would be fun to have a gold Pride of Baltimore charm. It would be amazing to have a "Nelle's Castle" from Kalamazoo too. It's sad but jewelers don't make gold charms anymore. That's why it is so fun to hunt them in a new city while travelling. 

Do you have a charm bracelet with a story? If so please send me a photo or link to the comments. I've found this bracelet is the best conversation starter at dinner parties. Men and women are fascinated with it. I have to take it off during conference calls because it can be so distracting but I wear it all the time. My office mates can hear me coming from down the hall, jingling all the way. 

Momma, Francie and Harriet thank you so much for the incredible gifts and stories of your travels. Mom, next year is a big birthday. Maybe you would consider giving me your bracelet. I'm dying to have Daddy's PKA pin! Love you so.

Birthday Memories and Kitten Blues



I'm about to celebrate a birthday. Do you remember when you were little and you just couldn't wait to have a birthday? As I continue to get older, I still LOVE my birthday. I love hearing my Momma tell me the story of playing gin rummy with Daddy in the hospital for millions of hours.

Dad tells the story of my name and what the nurse in Kalamazoo said, "Nelle. That's a good name for a mule." Ha! I even learned my conception story (blush) a few years ago which is pretty funny. It had to do with my kitty cat Rishboo Rufus Farquar, II. I've never spelled our cat's name before. He had a good one, nick named Boo Rufus. Well, Boo went missing on Glenwood Hill. Weeks went by, no Boo. My poor parents were beside themselves with sadness and had given him up for dead. Low and behold he came home, a little skinny, two weeks later. Needless to say, there was joy at Toad Hall and nine months later I was was born. 

Sadly, Momma's current beloved kitty Louis is knocking at death's door. He's been sick with cancer for the last few months. This kitten showed up on Christmas day 1999, a black Manx, without a tail, as a Christmas miracle. I was long gone but Mom and Mac were smitten. They headed to DC for the millennium party on the Mall with me and Mary T. and took Louis to the cat rescue. If no one picked him up before they got back, he would have a home with them. He's been a precious love. I call him Louscious.

My favorite cat lover of all time, Summer is a Verb, lost her beloved Templeton a few months ago. I wrote her a condolence email and she wrote me back with the most beautiful image. Alice said someone told her that when we die, and follow the light at the end of the tunnel into to heaven, our pets come running towards us first! Isn't that the most beautiful image? 

Louis, we love you. Thank you for keeping Momma company all these years. You will be missed sweet feline brother. Momma, thanks for giving birth to me 39 years ago. Daddy, you too. Thanks for the stories and the hilarious oversharing of Boo Rufus' homecoming. I love you both more than you'll ever know.



Kalamazoo Christmas

In order to have a true Christmas in Kalamazoo you have to do two things. One is visit Candy Cane Lane in Bronson Park.

It's romantical.

We were having so much fun during our photo shoot that we nearly got a parking ticket. This nice meter dude let us off on Christmas Eve. I unfortunately became sick as a dog with a horrid cough and cold. I could barely breath. I needed to wear a mask to hold my Baby Nephew. So we sadly missed midnight services at St. Luke's and the second most important Kalamazoo tradition; visiting the Winchell Neighborhood to see nearly 3,000 luminaries. This neighborhood has been lighting the luminaries for over 25 years and everyone turns off their car lights and drives slowly through the winding roads. Christmas Card Lane is another fun tradition, but Winchell is not to be missed.

We did have one more visit on Christmas Eve; to see the original Andrew and sweet Caroline. Two of my three babes that I babysat for since their older sister Jess was one year old. I'm so sad we missed Jessie and Brett who were probably getting their Winchell home ready for the luminaries.

We got to meet Liney's beau Dave.

And see Sarah's beautiful Christmas decorations.

Liney and I were sick as dogs but made time for a quick visit sniffles and all.

Little did we know that Dave was about to propose to Caroline only a few hours later! He set up luminaries on the Kalamazoo Country Club golf course for a surprise walk home to his parents house. I guess he was antsy during our visit but we couldn't tell at all. He is such a great guy and will make a great husband for Caroline. We are so thrilled to have had this awesome visit with the cute couple. 

Christmas morning was wonderful at Mom's house.

Elise was home sick with the flu. Poor angel!

They are the cutest little family and Andrew is in such good hands.

Meeting Andrew was truly the best Christmas present ever! 

Seeing E. with this baby makes my heart skip a beat. We love being Aunt Nellie and Uncle Charlie.

Mac is the most adoring father I've ever seen.

Granny Punks is in love too!

We just couldn't get enough of him.

These are a few of my hand painted cards for 2010.

Francie thinks I should start a card line. She's a little biased and I love it!

So Christmas morning Mac and Andrew came without Elise. It broke our hearts that she was so sick. But again, Mac did the BEST job! This is my little brother remember. I can barely believe he can put two words together let alone take care of a child! But he is a rock star Daddy.

Uncle Charlie was awesome with him too.

Prizes were flying and we had such a nice morning.

Andrew was sacked out for the excitement.

Santa Punks handed out prizes.

The baby slept and slept. Pure bliss.

Three generations of Averitt men. Mac really dressed up for Christmas dinner, but he gets a pass since he is running on three hours of sleep nightly. Love how Pappy and Andrew have matching hats. Ho, ho, ho!

Momma made our traditional Roast Beast and Yorkshire Pudding. It was delicious as always.

Daddy carved the perfectly cooked meat in the kitchen.

Francie was in town visiting too and we felt so lucky to see her twice within forty days. Sadly something happened with the camera and we lost the photos of her and Andrew meeting for the first time.

The most simple luxury but my favorite part of our Christmas dinner is always drinking ice cold water in Mom's silver water goblets. 

We had a few visitors who wanted to crash our dinner party. We had seen a family of seven on Christmas Eve in the neighbor's yard.

There were downy woodpeckers at the feeder.

Purple finches.

Momma cardinals too.

We ordered a ton of cookies from Sweet Spot to be delivered to Mom's house. There were very few left on Christmas day. Good thing Mom made Princeton Rocks too.

Another great gift was Daddy and Francie teaching E. how to play bridge.

Francie and Granddaddy used to play all the time.

Keeping all the terminology and rules straight is complicated. Trump, Dummy, Tricks, Books, Pretty Cards, the etiquette of how to shuffle, cutting to the dealer and the competitive bluffing just brings back so many memories of my parents, godparents and grandparents playing any time we got together.

Daddy was a professor so the schooling comes naturally.

E. picked it up immediately and there were lots of laughs.

Mom was a big help too.

I had a few tricks and felt pretty great that I hadn't forgotten how to play.

Then we got another visit with Baby Nephew.

It was the best Christmas ever. We just wish Elise had felt better.

Thank you Momma for your wonderful hospitality. You can whip up a meal in minutes flat with the greatest of ease. Thanks to Dad and Francie for the wonderful bridge lessons. Can't wait for our next game.  Best wishes to Caroline and Dave and their engagement! Really looking forward to many long chats about stationery and wedding planning with you Liney