The Moa Boas Go "Country"

"Log Cabin" by Kate, 12/7/08 (MSN Paint)

Hi Everyone! Did you miss me? Did you even realize I was incommunicado? Well, not totally -- some of us had cell phones. But if you logged on this weekend, hoping to read a fascinating new post on this blogsite, then maybe you were a just a little bit disappointed? (Probably at least a couple million of you were. To you, I apologize.)

The Moa Boas were enjoying a "sleep-over" at Julie's farm. We stayed in her barn. Yep, I said barn; we're a pretty "give-it-to-me-rough" group of gals, you know -- not!

Julie's barn is actually nicer than most bed-and-breakfasts! We enjoyed two wonderful meals during our stay (plus all the snacks we could fit in). Friday's dinner was melt-in-your-mouth pork tenderloin, with each of us providing a side dish to share. And birthday cake for Hilda, of course. So good. But my favorite meal was breakfast on Saturday -- waffles made in the shape of farm animals and a barn -- with pecans in the batter! (I chopped the pecans.) With sausage and fresh fruit and homemade pear preserves. Way better than cooking coffee over a campfire and sleeping in a hayloft!

Our big Saturday adventure was shopping in little old Reidsville. Only about 40 minutes away from home, but it felt just like we were in some quaint little mountain village. There was an entire section of downtown that consisted of little antique/crafts places. Going into these shops and talking to the owners was like visiting old friends -- one place even served us wassail! For me, that is shopping at its best -- where you go into a lot of different stores, buying some little treasure at each one; then forgetting what you bought until you get home and pour it all out on the floor. Maybe that's one of the rewards of getting older and forgetting things -- life holds more surprises!

When we asked about somewhere to have lunch, one of the proprietors sang the praises of a place the name of which I can't remember now. So I'll be surprised when I return. I'll recognize it immediately -- that's for sure. The building was painted bright orange. We asked a bicyclist who was just pulling up if he would mind taking our picture in front of it. He was happy to oblige, telling us he actually was a photographer, who was visiting from Minneapolis. Lunch there was an unexpected delight -- at least for me. I had been looking for the "Sanitary Cafe," which I remembered from having lived in Reidsville our first year in North Carolina. There, we could have had meatloaf with gravy -- with mashed potatoes and grits! (And, of course, hush puppies.) This place served panninis (spelling?), wraps, salads -- and chocolate cake with apricots inside (the French name for which even the owner couldn't even remember, so don't ask me)!

All in all, everything about the day was wonderful -- as it always is when the Moa Boas are together. But I think the best part -- the part that characterizes the day, the theme of which was turning out to be "Southern Hospitality at its Best" -- was what happened as we began our drive back to "The Farm"...

We were all looking out our windows, commenting on this or that house, porch, decorated tree, etc., when all of a sudden Carol said, "Oh -- look at that log cabin! We have to get a picture!" We turned around and drove back, surprising the two men who were standing beside a big stove which was smoking away behind the cabin (which was situated behind a nice, but ordinary, ranch house -- the main residence). The cabin turned out to be a reproduction, built by the homeowner and his father. The man welcomed us to take pictures, and invited us inside so we could see what he had done.

What he had done was created a dream for people who love "country." His little cabin had more ambiance than any of the antiques places we'd visited that day. And he was so friendly and welcoming. It felt wonderful to be there, to be with my friends...to have a Saturday like that. Especially during the season when it is so hard -- but so important -- to find time to enjoy the "simple pleasures."

Thanksgiving was last month, but I'll never stop being thankful for my friends -- I love you all!