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August

Wow, I have been such a horrible blogger! I didn’t post last month at all. So for my “Happiness 365” series here are my “Days 213-243” in Instagram photos… (Unfortunately they posted backwards!)

"The Miley"

“The Miley”

Parker-Binns Vineyard

Parker-Binns Vineyard

Overmountain Vineyards

Overmountain Vineyards

Green Creek Winery

Green Creek Winery

A poem and drawings from kids at the library

a poem and drawings from kids at the library

I got a scholarship to the NCLA conference!

I got a scholarship to the NCLA conference!

My new display at the library

my new display at the library

My babies

my babies

Picnic and concert with the fam

picnic and concert with the fam

Rafting on the Nantahala River

rafting on the Nantahala River

The Local Taco

The Local Taco

Margaritas

margaritas

It's my cat in a bowl

it’s my cat in a bowl

Lego librarian!

Lego librarian!

Breaking Bad premiere

Breaking Bad premiere

Gambling

gambling

Dinner at Ruth's Chris

dinner at Ruth’s Chris

Ready for my birthday night out

ready for my birthday night out

Ménage à trois

Ménage à Trois

Road trip

road trip

This book was great!

this book was great!

Babysitting Hayden

babysitting Hayden

Birthday card from Bobby

birthday card from Bobby

A favorite new TV show... Orange is the New Black!

a favorite new TV show… Orange is the New Black!

Malachi got a new home :(

Malachi got a new home 😦

foggy commute

foggy commute

hiking with Riley and Diesel

hiking with Riley and Diesel

flowers from my mom's garden

flowers from my mom’s garden

tubing with Brittany

tubing with Brittany

lunch at Olde Hickory Station

lunch at Olde Hickory Station

mountain sunset

mountain sunset

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Ten Things to Smile About / June’s Favorite Things

1. Swimming! At Pot Shoals and Crystal Springs.

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2. The Blue Ridge BBQ Festival.

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3. Khaled Hosseini’s book signing!

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4. My mom’s birthday… Dinner and Evita!

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5. Shooter Jennings at The Orange Peel.

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6. The Virginia Creeper Trail!

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7. A patriotic pedicure 🙂

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8. Mad Men, True Blood, and Game of Thrones… And the Dexter season premiere is tomorrow!

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9. Silver Linings Playbook… One of the best books I’ve read this year.

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10. Mud… One of the best movies of the year.

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Saturday 9

1. Crazy Sam’s dad often traveled for business, and always remembered to bring her the little complimentary soaps or body lotions he got from the hotel. When you travel, do you bring back souvenirs? Send postcards?
I do send postcards and I usually get one small souvenir for myself. Sometimes I get souvenirs for friends and family as well.

souvenirs from my most recent trip (Chicago)

souvenirs from my most recent trip (Chicago)

2. When you fly, do you prefer window or aisle? Or doesn’t it matter?
Aisle! It matters!!

3. According to Askmen.com, Jim Anderson (Robert Young) of Father Knows Best is the best TV dad ever. Who is your favorite TV (or movie) dad?
Just thinking about the TV shows I watch regularly, I would choose Ned Stark from Game of Thrones.

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4. Sam’s father was the family disciplinarian. What about you? Do you consider yourself a rule maker, a rule follower, or a rule breaker?
Rule follower for the most part, the other two sometimes.

5. Sam’s father was the one who gave her driving lessons. Think back to your first few times behind the wheel. Were you a naturally good driver?
Yes, but driving a stick shift didn’t come naturally. It was easy enough to learn though.

6. This week’s featured artist, Kenny Loggins, was born in Washington state. Have you ever lived in, or traveled to, any of our northern border states? (For those of you not as well versed in geography as Crazy Sam, that’s AK, WA, MT, ND, MN, WI, MI, PA, NY, VT, and ME.)
I have been to Pennsylvania and New York.

7. As part of the duo Loggins and Messina, Loggins performed the song “House at Pooh Corner.” Do you have a favorite character from the Winnie the Pooh books/movies?
Eeyore of course!

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8. The mercury is going to start rising. How hot is too hot for you? 85? 95? Or are you one of those “the hotter the better” people?
I like it to be 90 if I’m going swimming. If not, 70-80 is good for me.

9. To celebrate Father’s Day, Sam is giving away her father’s favorite candy: Life Savers. Would you prefer a roll of Wild Cherry, Butter Rum, Wint O Green, or Pep O Mint?
How about some fruity Gummi Savers instead?

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Ten Things to Smile About: May’s Favorite Things

1. Chicago! I spent an amazing long weekend there with friends.

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2. Mother’s Day lunch with my mom.

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3. Season finales of my favorite TV shows.

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HAYDEN PANETTIERE, CONNIE BRITTON

4. Swimming!

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5. Hitting the 20 pound weight loss mark!

6. Getting another tattoo!

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7. The Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival!

Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival

Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival

8. Going on a special LaZoom tour for Asheville’s Beer Week!

LaZoom Beer Week Comedy Tour

LaZoom Beer Week Comedy Tour

9. The Great Gatsby and The Hangover: Part III.

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10. Reading five great books: The Kitchen House, Wonder, Eleanor & Park, If I Stay, and Dead Ever After.

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Dead Ever After.