Just call me Granna!
 
Congratulations to John and Casie! My first grandchild is due March 23, 2011. I can’t wait to hold that little sweetie in my arms. I have known for several weeks now. Casie came by my office and brought the first ultrasound pictures at 8 weeks. She will be having another ultrasound this Thursday, 13 weeks, and hopes to find out the sex! I can’t decide which I am hoping for. Sometimes, I think I want it to be a boy because John was so loving and sweet. Other times, I think about John and how much he would love a little girl to wrap him around her finger! Either will be great! I pray mother and baby will be healthy.
 
It won’t be long until I will have to climb up in the attic and start digging out baby clothes. I am looking forward to fixing up one of my spare bedrooms into a semi-nursery. I may even go to a yard sale. I have tried really hard not to buy anything until we find out the sex; however, I did break over the first weekend and bought a couple of onesies. One says "If you think I'm cute, you should see my Daddy." The other says "What happens at Grandma's, stays at Grandma's!" I guess they both look like they should be for little boys. I couldn't resist. Last week on my mother/daughter vacation with Hannah, I broke over again and bought a few sale items at Belk. Everything was under $3.00. 80% off rack. And yes, it was all little girl things. So sweet!

Shrimp & Grits "Um Um Good"

I searched and searched for the perfect recipe. This is it! Not too difficult. No hard-to-find ingredients. Instant family favorite!

Shrimp & Grits

4 cups of water
1 cup grits (I use the 5 minute grits)
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese - shredded
1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
6 slices bacon - crumbled
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 T. chopped parsley or 1 T. dried
1 cup chopped scallions (use green part also)
1 large clove garlic, minced
Salt & Pepper

Fry bacon. Cool and crumble. Set aside. Leave grease in pan to fry shrimp.

Prepare parsley, scallions, garlic and lemon juice. Set aside.

Bring water to a boil. Add salt & pepper. Add grits and cook according to directions. Remove from heat and stir in butter and cheese. Cover to keep warm.

Rinse shrimp and pat dry for easy browning. Add shrimp to hot bacon grease. Cook until just pink. Add lemon juice, bacon, parsley, scallions and garlic. Saute no more than 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Pour grits into serving dish. Spoon shrimp over top. Ready to serve. Enjoy!

Downtown Asheville, NC

My first trip to downtown Asheville! I am in love! Get along home, Cindy, Cindy - I am ready to move! I never thought I could find a town I would love as much as Boone, but then Asheville is like a king-sized Boone. Every street is like King Street. The Arts, crafts, entertainment, food...etc. WOW!

My daughter, Hannah, and I spent three days in downtown over the Labor Day weekend. It was out first mother-daughter trip and we had a BLAST! We drove up Saturday morning and found ourselves in the middle of all the action before 11:00am. The shops were so cool and the people so diverse. We had an early lunch at the Havana Restaurant. The Cuban food was really good and the place was beautiful.

Saturday night found us at the Asheville Community Theatre enjoying the comedy "Scotch Tomedy IV: Get Your Mind Out of the Butter.” Too funny. It had been a while since I attended a play - especially a comedy. It was a great way to start the evening. Later that evening, we enjoyed live music and good food at Hannah Flanagan's Irish Pub. Mom had to call it quits earlier than daughter. Must be showing my age.

We were up early Sunday morning. We visited the Basilica of St. Lawrence, which contains the largest free-standing dome in North America. Amazing. Washington, DC is the only other place I have seen anything to compare to this cathedral. After leaving Hannah at the Asheville Mall, I headed to Biltmore Village and the All Souls Cathedral. I was fortunate enough to be privy to a rehearsal by the organist and flutist. Ava Maria seemed to be my own personal concert as I sat in the peacefulness and beauty of the cathedral. Sunday evening found us walking Pack Square Park, enjoying the lights and fountains.

Monday morning we headed out for a road trip to the Grove Park Inn and the Riverside Cemetery. The Grove Park Inn was as magnificent as the Biltmore House in its own way. Such a beautiful place with the most spectacular view of downtown. The Riverside Cemetery was massive. It held more history than one person could ever know. From Civil War and pauper graves to German soldiers to Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry. Well worth the trip to see these two landmarks.

We headed back downtown to the Mellow Mushroom and one of the best pizzas I have EVER had. We finished off our day with one last walk down Pack Square Park. Neither of us wanted to go home. I am just waiting for the next trip (and it is going to be sooner than you think - I already have reservations!)

Asheville was like a trip into another world, and only 1 1/2 hours from home. Maybe I won't have to move to enjoy more of this area, just fill up the tank and take off!