We had such an amazing holiday with my mom in the US. The weather was mild and there was not much rain and we spent most of the time just hanging out together, but I also got to see a lot of family and friends. We arrived on Friday the 15th of December which was a public holiday in SA so I had it as a paid day off. The new direct flight from Cape Town to Atlanta is heavenly, it is only 16 hours and Norm had booked premium plus seats which have extra room and a better menu. (However the food is dismal so I pity the people in the regular section as I assume it is even worse.)
From the airport we took a shuttle which drops us a few minutes drive from my Mom’s. Her friend Kathryn drove to collect us.
One of our first outings was to Dayton TN to get a haircut on Monday. The gorgeous Raven cut it and we had a lovely visit and chat with her as no one else was in the salon. I love Raven like a sister and Mom adores her.
As it was so close to Christmas we mostly avoided the shops and ordered everything online. It is so convenient in the US! We let Mom choose where we ate most of the time. We went to Rafael’s pizza parlor in Ringgold. They have a BOGOF (buy one get one free) special and we each ordered one to eat there and we had one to take home. They were delicious pizzas and a great price.
We were seated in the bar area for ease of access for Mom but it looked like we were in a store room.
But we laughed a lot as always.
Mom and I went to the mall a few times but only went to the shops on the outskirts so it was not busy. Norm stayed home to work. I wanted to buy some bras at Soma but had no luck. I tried on a dress there which had a built in bra. I got stuck in it and Mom and I were in fits of giggles trying to get me out of it, but then I started to have a panic attack and got all hot and sweaty.
Afterwards Mom and I went for Mexican food at Abuelo’s.
We shared the con queso and salsa dips with chips and then we both had an enchilada and taco combo.
We shared a piece of their gorgeous Tres Leches cake.
That week I met up with some of my high school friends for dinner at Giardino in Chattanooga. One friend was sick so it was just David, Crystal, Jackie, Norm and I.
I ordered a Caesar salad to start and Norm had the soup of the day which was minestrone soup. The soup was cold but we had waited a long time to get our starters as they arrived long after everyone else at the table so we did not bother sending it back as everyone else had already finished their first course.
Several of us ordered the Filet steak which was on special. I had mine with their home made alfredo pasta and Norm had his with roasted broccoli. The pasta was not a big portion.
My friend Jackie had the salmon with the pasta and loved it.
It was the most expensive meal we had while away but was definitely not the best. The steak had a lot of inedible bits and was not the most tender steak we have had. I was not impressed with the meal overall or the service. But we had a lot of laughs and it was lovely to see my favourite friends from my school days.
I also had a visit from my friend Peggy but I forgot to snap a pic. We chatted and laughed so much and it was lovely to see her. We have been friends since I was a child.
Mom wanted to go to Red Lobster as they had a shrimp three ways special on so we drove down to Dalton to go to that branch one afternoon.
I had a delicious strawberry daiquiri.
Mom and I each had the Shrimp combo. I had coconut shrimp, spicy dragon shrimp and the shrimp alfredo. Mom had shrimp scampi, shrimp alfredo and the Walt’s Shrimp. It was all so yummy.
Norm had the Fish and Chips which was the daily special.
We had a lovely dinner and headed home before it got dark.
Mom treated us to a pedicure even though I had one before I left. I had somehow managed to scrape off the polish.
On Christmas day we normally go to my Uncle Joe’s but this year we decided to have it at my Mom’s. We put up a table in the centre of the room. Joe still did most of the food and Joy and Norm helped him.
My Uncle Harley was there, he is looking very frail as he is recovering from pneumonia. Harley did not recognise me but he recognised Norman which I thought was funny.
My cousin Brent and his wife Kelly came with their daughters Gabby and Maddie. My Mom’s friend Joy also joined us.
After lunch my cousin Mona came by with her daughter Stephanie who was visiting from Texas with her boyfriend Matt and his Mom Belia.
This is the cousin shot of Brent, me and Mona.
We both spent a lot of our childhoods with our Grandmother and we are very close.
I received some very lovely things for Christmas. Mom bought me a camel coloured hat.
Norm bought the same hat in black and a wrap to go with it.
Mom also bought me two handbags and some pajamas and other bits and pieces.
Joy gave me a sweater vest which matched my trousers perfectly!
I was very spoiled.
We went for cheeseburgers at a quirky little hole in the wall spot called Marsha’s Backstreet Cafe which had the best cheeseburgers ever! Mona met us there.
We drove up to Cleveland to see Joy’s new house. It is so cute! I am happy that she has settled in and has met some new friend’s in the suburb. It has been a year since her husband Tim passed away suddenly.
Joy treated us to lunch at Longhorn which is Norm’s fave restaurant.
I had a very tender fillet steak, Joy had the salmon, Mom had the chopped steak and Norm had the chicken parmesan.
It was all delicious as always. This restaurant always has consistently fabulous food.
On New Year’s Eve day we had a visit from my cousins Mona, Susan, her husband Bobby, their daughter Tori and her kids Olivia and Briggs.
I love seeing my cousins. This is me, Susan and Mona (who are sisters).
After they left my friend Judy popped in. She drove all the way from Alabama!
Mom’s neighbours Issy, Bill and Sherry popped in for a visit and ended up staying for cards and dinner. They left about 10pm as Mom was very tired from all of the visitors who had been arriving since that morning. We just watched the Dick Clark NYE performance and went to bed about 1am.
On the 2nd Joe came to take us to lunch at the Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar which is my favourite venue.
I love the fact that it is on the river.
Mom and I both had the fried shrimp which were huge and so fresh.
Joe had the trout almondine and it was so huge a portion and was really moist.
It was a lovely day out.
On our last night we went to my friends Karen and Mike’s for a BBQ.
Karen was sick when we all met the first time so we went to her house.
I was so surprised to see a large deer eating in the back garden!
I loved seeing everyone and we had such a great night laughing and catching up. I have been friends which Karen since we were 5 years old. This is Mike, Karen, me, Crystal and David from left to right.
Mom came with us and she had a blast too. Mike grilled fillet steaks and Karen made a Caesar salad and baked potatoes and Texas toast. It was all delicious. Their house is absolutely gorgeous!
We did not stay late as we were leaving the following day. My Mom’s neighbour Kathryn drove us to the shuttle and we took it to Atlanta where we had a bite to eat before we boarded the plane. We wanted service rather than a food court and we chose the Pecan Bistro.
Ironically I did not have my usual pre-departure Mexican food as I have been having stomach issues but we both chose the chicken panini and it was so hot my mouth almost bled. But it was delicious and the fries were proper hand cut fries.
While we were waiting to board the airline announced they had over booked the flight and asked people to give up their seats. They offered a stay in a local hotel and a payment of $2k per person if anyone was willing to fly on the 6th instead. We had a house sitter who was ready to go to her own home and I start work on the 8th so it was not feasible for us but had we chosen to do so it would have been 72,642.48 South African Rand in our pockets! It would have been so worth it if we could have done so.
We finally got to Cape Town and our bags took forever to get onto the carousel and I was starting to panic but they finally arrived. We caught an Uber home and the dogs were over the moon when we got there. It was so hot so I had a cold shower.
We ordered some food to be delivered and as soon as we finished eating I sat down in front of the telly with the pups and immediately passed out. Norm woke me and I shuffled off to bed and slept right through until 7am when Finn chose to jump on my head.
Today I had coffee in bed and have been relaxing. It is so hot and I am so lethargic. Norm did a shop so we at least have a bit of food in the house. I am craving salad and vegetables after weeks of over-eating and fried foods. Finn has gone out for a play date with Mark and Hunter. I am back at work on Monday and Lily and Josh are driving down on Tuesday for a late Christmas gift giving. I am so looking forward to seeing them as well as our Millie. Caitlin and Wes will come over as well. Trevor is already back at work and cannot come down but I will send his gifts back with Lily and Josh.
I am very blessed with being able to travel to see friends and family and to have my own little family here next week.
I hope you all had a lovely holiday. Until next time, Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxoxxo
Kitten in the City 