Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

This picture is probably about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Carrie is dressed up as the Pink Panther and I'm a Hoblin Goblin (don't know what that is exactly). I remember being so afraid of that costume, even when it was just hanging in the closet. This picture was taken while we were at my grandparents' house. We always went there first to trick-or-treat on Halloween.

57th Fighter Group Restaurant

Saturday night, Justin and I ate supper at the 57th Fighter Group Restaurant (I will refer to it as 57th). Their website is still under construction, so there really is very little information on it. The restaurant was open previously, but I believe closed for some reason. It has recently (within the last couple of weeks) reopened.

Justin went to 57th Thursday night with some friends and ate in the bar area. He said a lot of the items on the bar menu were around $9 (hamburgers and the like), but their service was not great - maybe due to them recently opening and working out the kinks. He ate a philly cheesesteak-type sandwich called the 57th Sandwich. He said it was very good.

We discussed eating outside in the bar area, but at the last minute, I decided I wanted to eat inside. It was a little cold that night and I didn't take appropriate clothes to Atlanta. We sat near the window and watched intently for planes.

We decided to order two different entrees and share them. I ordered the grilled salmon (marinated in a citrus glaze) with new potatoes and asparagus. Justin ordered the crab stuffed grouper with lobster cream sauce. It came with rice and asparagus. The salmon was delicious . The grouper was also very tasty, but Justin said it was a little rich for him. I should have eaten more of it since I really like rich food, but that salmon was so yummy. I had a glass of Chateau St. Michelle Rielsling and Justin had a cabernet franc from Georgia (not sure of the brand). I enjoyed my wine, but Justin didn't love his. Justin likes VERY dry cabernet sauvignon and the cabernet franc wasn't what he prefers.

We enjoyed the 57th and will probably dine here again. The food was good and the staff was extremely attentive. My entree was $16 and Justin's was about $22 so this restaurant isn't incredibly cheap.

I should mention that the restaurant is located very near the Dekalb-Peachtree Airport. "A" is the location of the restaurant. You can actually see aircraft landing and taking off. Justin said there were several large jets that landed or took off on Thursday night, but we only saw one small plane land and one small plane take off on Saturday night. I was disappointed.


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Mint Chinese and Thai Cuisine

Before I left Atlanta Sunday evening, Justin and I decided to pick up food from Mint. We called in our order and picked it up about ten minutes later. They will deliver, but I'm too cheap to pay for delivery.

I had the Golden Crispy Shrimp (light fried shrimp topped with house special sauce with mayonnaise). It was delicious, but sweet. I wasn't expecting the sweet taste. The mayo wasn't as strong as I anticipated. It came with steamed white rice (I added some soy sauce to the rice) which helped counteract some of the sugar. I am likely to order this again, but I'd like to try some of the other items on the menu first.

Justin ordered the Mongolian Chicken and his also came with steamed white rice. He said his was delicious. "It's better than Hop Shing!" (Hop Shing is a Chinese restaurant that we've ordered take-out from a few times. It's fine, but not the best Chinese food we've ever eaten. They also don't accept credit cards, which is very inconvenient since I NEVER carry cash.) Mint is also closer to our house than Hop Shing.

We did go inside to pick up our food and the inside seemed clean, so I would have no problem eating inside the restaurant or ordering from them again.

Happy 14th Birthday!

Today is my niece's fourteenth birthday! I cannot believe she is fourteen already. I remember the day she was born. I was actually fourteen at the time. I don't remember her exact weight, but she was just over four pounds. She was so tiny! I was afraid to hold her because she was so little. It's crazy to think she'll have her learner's permit in a year!

Happy Birthday!

I'm so embarrassed, but I don't have any current photos of her. This one was taken by my father-in-law at my wedding. She was my flower girl. Isn't she so pretty?

Toy Soldier in the Nutcracker. She got contact lenses this year so she no longer wears glasses. She wears make-up and long dangly earrings.

On a cruise with her mother.

With Aunt Kacky (me!) and our cat, Puss-Puss. My niece has always had long, skinny legs. I'm so jealous! This picture is probably nine or 10 year old.

Happy Birthday, Pete!

I am such a bad Mommy! I didn't do a post for Pete's fifth birthday on October 3. I'm so ashamed to admit this, but I actually forgot her birthday and didn't remember until I was driving to Atlanta on October 9. I know she doesn't realize her birthday is on October 3, but I do and I cannot believe I forgot it! Poor thing.

Justin and I started a tradition for her first birthday. We always let both dogs ride in the car, out of their carrier, to the Dairy Queen on their birthday for a cup of vanilla ice cream. They love this! Hanging out of the windows, one on each side of the car, ears flapping in the wind, going to the DQ for ice cream - does life get any better than that?! We weren't able to do this in 2008 because I was living in Nashville at the time and the DQ was closed. I wasn't able to do it this year because the DQ is still closed and I forgot.

I did buy some bite-size cupcakes at Whole Foods that weekend and Mama and I celebrated with Pete and Annabelle when I arrived home that Sunday night.


This is Miss Pete on her first night at our house. She was six weeks old at the time and so little. She looked like a little rat.

This was taken after Christmas in 2004. She was about three months old. I took her to be groomed in Tifton. She loved posing!

This was taken in 2006 shortly after being groomed. They do not stay clean very long. She already has some dirt on her face.

El Torero

Saturday night, Justin and I ate supper at El Torero in Atlanta. This restaurant is near the Moe's on Briarcliff that we frequent and we've commented several times that we needed to try it. It's a typical Mexican restaurant, so it was very tasty. The chips were exceptionally good and the salsa was also very good (a little spicy).

I ordered the special quesadilla fajitas with shrimp and a side of rice. Yummy! My food was very delicious! Justin ordered one of the "dinners" and I think it had burritos, a taco, and rice and beans. He enjoyed his meal, too. Our food arrived very quickly even though they were fairly busy. Their prices are very similar to other Mexican restaurants in Atlanta.

I will likely visit this restaurant again.

Atlanta Hawk(s)

A few years ago, I heard someone say that some small pets such as cats and chihuahuas weren't safe outside because of the threat of hawks. I thought this was silly, but I did a little research and realized this was a real threat. Due to my constant worrying, I wouldn't let Pete and Annabelle outside without supervision because I just knew that hawks were circling and waiting to eat one of them. I know this is somewhat irrational, but that's how my mind works.

After a few months passed and I hadn't seen any hawks, I relaxed a little.

This weekend in Atlanta, I walked by a window and peered out into the courtyard. I spotted a huge bird perched on a fence post. I called for Justin to look. We were both amazed at the size of the bird. It was huge! We both immediately agreed that it was a hawk. Justin grabbed the camera and tried to get a picture from the window in the laundry room. I think the hawk spotted him because it flew to a higher branch in a tree in the backyard, still studying the ground very carefully.

Justin sneaked outside and walked very close to the tree with the hawk and snapped several pictures. I was a little scared for Justin, so I waited just inside the door with a Maglite flashlight in my hand, ready to knock that bird silly if it attacked my Justin!

Justin returned safely but I was left worrying that the hawk was going to eat one of the adorable little chipmunks that call our courtyard home. The hawk eventually became interested in one of our dear squirrels and I had to stop watching. I really hope that squirrel hid.

Pete is smaller than Annabelle by several pounds. Annabelle weighs about twelve pounds and Pete weighs around eight or nine, so I doubt a hawk could lift either of them, especially Annabelle, but one might try to hurt one of my babies. That thought is just horrible! I now have a rule that Annabelle and Pete aren't allowed outside in Atlanta (when they finally move up there) without adult supervision.

Mama said we need to get a gun and shoot the hawk(s), but I don't think the neighbors and police would appreciate us shooting guns haphazardly in town. She then suggested we get a bow and arrow. That would probably be even more dangerous to Justin, myself, and any other people or pets who might be in the vicinity.

I think I'll just hang onto the flashlight for now. I wonder if hawks eat snakes?

These pictures do not show the true size of this bird! I estimate it was one and a half to two feet tall and had a wingspan of about four feet.