Alpharetta

Living the life

My suite..

Icy drive

Steak dinner awaits
Country side behind the farm

Atlanta Georgia is only 3.5 hours from my front door. The east coast is cool that way. Take a drive in any direction for a few hours and you will most likely end up in another state. Its not so easy on the west coast to do that. I set off two Fridays ago with Amerika the worlds coolest riding simulator, to give a clinic in a town called Alpharetta. Little known to me, this place was similar to Del Mar, CA and Warrenton Va. if they where spliced together and plunked down with in spitting distance of Atlanta. My long weekend however turned into an impromptu week long stay as winter dumped some very "narsty" weather on us Monday afternoon( my departure date). I spent the rest of the week teaching a few intrepid students who braved icy roads and maybe worst of all, the driveway at Prospect Hill Farm who was kindly hosting me. Not to be deterred by a little "weatha", we donned our warmest winter wear and hiked next door for steaks on the grill one evening. When we finally where able to make it out it was for my farewell dinner at a wonderful Chinese bistro, Yay duck salad!!!! It was my first real view of the amenities in the area and I must admit I was suffering some pretty mean amenities envy. First and most importantly a Dover Saddlery, yep, right there on the main street. Costco(remember the one closest to me is in South Carolina), not just any old Costco either, this one had a fresh gelato stand inside, a liqueur barn and DECAF dunkin donuts coffee, inexplicably NOT available at mine(I bought three bags!)There where many, many cute looking eateries and Starbucks, Whole Foods, Trader Joes.....oh the list goes infinitely on and on......anyhoo, paradise has its downfalls too, TRAFFIC the kind only Atlanta can have, and really icy roads. The main ones even. I heard an ugly rumor that there are only 10 snow plows in the whole state. Driving on the roads 5 days after the storm, I can believe it. We made it home, Amerika and I. The roads in rural NC having been salted and plowed(nanny nanny boo boo). I'll be back to Alpharetta of course, just not until the warmer months when week long stays are a choice and not a necessity.

How Knitting Fights Winter Butt

Whats Winter Butt you ask? Winter Butt is an insidious condition that strikes most women right around January every year. Its brought about by egg nog, snuggling by a fire place with a hot toddy, and Christmas goodie making/sampling. It causes sagging and dimpling of the rump region and for some reason is always a surprise to those afflicted ( moi being the most surprised every year) This year I even noticed it in my fine, furry equines as well. Apparently carrying my derrier is good for all our derrieres! As always when struck by this scourge I set my sights on ridding myself of it. Not living on the swamp road, near an indoor pool or fun yoga studio has made it a bit of a challenge. My hot house tomato tendency has kept me off my horses for a few weeks not to mention all the holiday fun and company. I had to get creative. I considered and discounted the local gym mostly because, well, I hate gyms with their funk,germs and noise. But in my momentary gym musings I did remind myself that we do indeed have our own treadmill.....big, loud, dramatic, sigh. Treadmills seem like such a ridiculous idea to me in my "just be outdoors" haughtiness. But this year I have stooped to use it. (ONLY until spring mind you) Number one, its cold out, number two, well , its cold out and number three, its that or the gym...ewwwwww not. So, I am now "treading" or should I say "tread milling". What eveeeeeeeeer. I only had to over come the severe boredom factor that this entails. TV is out, who does that anyway? Reading, gave me a eye strain with a slight headache( just like I get in a car) and listening to my ipod only got me through three sessions on the old machine. How many times can I listen to Gaga after all. I already knew all the words but now I know all the keys as well. Ay yi yi! I decided to try the one thing I was looking forward to doing in the winter months but that unfortunately, I believe, contributes to Winter Butt as well. Knitting! Its true, Ive ripped out the same scarf Ive been working on....twice...but not only does it keep my hands busy, it keeps my eyes off that irritatingly,red flashing, lap counter. Four miles fairly flys by when you aren't saying to yourself " I know Ive been on here more than 3/4 of a mile...." Plus, think how many scarves will get knitted by next Christmas, it boogles the mind. So long Winter Butt, see ya next year.