Friday

Stinky and I arrived at the airport at 4 am. After a terrible cab ride where the idiot driver missed the turn and took us the long way. And as we arrived, Ayrian called wanting to take us. Well crap.
The airport is curiously peaceful that early in the morning. None of that obnoxiousness has been turned on yet.
We're in D, we're always in D, and Cinnabon has the same enchanting draw as usual. And I walk past as usual.
We shared an egg burrito at a diner instead. Emma just sat happily in her carrier.the plane was oddly spacious, and we were so tired, we both slept through the take-off. Emma was perfect, just as before.
Getting off the plane it seemed warm. Assumed it was the tunnel.
Turning the corner, there was Papa waiting for us, and Janet too.
They seemed so happy to see us.
And they didn't know what to make of Emma.
It was decided we go to Applebee's for lunch, as far as anyone knew, Emma was a purse.
The waitress immediately offered sweet tea. Blech. That stuff was gross in Atlanta, I doubt it's different here.
On the drive to the homestead, Stinky and I fell asleep again.
Missed over an hour of road. Damn. O_o
We woke up at the road to the house. What a road. Windy and tree lined and uppy and downy.
And then the cabin itself.
We were exhausted, but Papa was so excited to show us everything.
We put our stuff in the guest house- their super cute trailer.
Then we went for a ride on the mule. That is some sort of 4 wheel drive golf cart. And he drives it like a demon. I was sat on the outside, with stinky in the middle, and I kept thinking how there was no way our mom would let us do that. What a funny thought.
But we sped along all sorts of terrain at rather a quick pace, and I felt compelled to ask if that thing could tip. It really felt like it would. We also discussed the quality of our medical insurance...
We saw the grotto. An honest to god real grotto. It was beautiful.
And the waterfall. So sweet. So relaxing.
And the field where things are actually planted that you can actually eat.
And right behind that, a homemade race track for remote control cars.
I have really fond memories of being his RC pit crew when I was 10.
And as he takes us around, he tells us about all the plants and trees that we see. Just like he always has. And it's great to hear. And to realize that when he does that, it's his way of communicating. He just falls into fascinating scientist mode.
We saw a beautiful big black snake on the road during our tour. Had to shoo him along. He was so pretty. I could have watched him for ages.
Eventually we reach the screened patio that he built himself. It's really lovely out there. Just trees as far as you can see. And he grilled us veggie burgers. :)
We tried so hard to stay up and watch movies with him, but we just couldn't. It was about 7 pm to us, and we were ready for bed. I hadn't even slept the night before in getting ready, so I was really wiped out. Yet Stinky ended up being even more tired than I was.
On the way out to the guest house, we were asked if we needed a firearm; we politely declined.
I did ask what that noise was though.
It was frogs. Like a million frogs. You know that frog sound on the white noise machines/apps? Well I had never heard that sound in person. It is loud. And froggy.
I turned on my rain sound to drown it out. And read from my kindle on my phone.
Cause that's about all my phone is good for out here. There really and truly is no signal. But there's wifi in the house.
Which turned out to be good, because I couldn't get ahold of Ayrian to go over feeding the dogs. Thank goodness for email. I got ahold of my mom who got ahold of him. But then he still couldn't reach me.
Sounds like the alarm was set off and he got instructions from my mom on how to get in and out. He did know. He did not remember. (Lest you think I ran off with my Fraggles unattended.)
But all in all, a good day. A good beginning to a vacation. :)