Kathiey's World

 I am always looking for fun things to do in the area.  I thought I would take it a bit further and see what events are occurring in North Carolina in a specific month.  Let's take a look at just a few things happening in March 2024 in NC that you may enjoy. I live in the Raleigh/Durham area, so I looked for exciting events to attend in March that are easily within driving distance.  I would love to attend them all! The Links to Each Event... (Be sure to verify event times and locations before attending.   You may need a ticket depending on the event) Things to do in March 2024  in the Triangle Area Plant Lovers Tour March 5th at JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC NC Symphony Rhapsody in Blue March 8-9 in Raleigh, NC Dinos Alive Feb 25-April 7th in Raleigh, NC Dogwood Comedy Festival March 27-31st in Raleigh, NC Cinch The World's Toughest Rodeo on March 30 in Raleigh, NC (I am going to this one:-) A Few Things to do In NC that are not so local to the Triangle Area. 2024 B

Today, I am sharing a travel blast from the past.  Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Chimney Rock and the Village of Chimney Rock. What fun! In the article I mention that Burntshirt was coming well it is already there and it is very nice... Burntshirt " Just outside the entrance of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is Chimney Rock Village. A quaint, quirky community full of friendly folks, the Village offers an eclectic array of shops and eateries, as well as campgrounds, motels and the historic Esmeralda Inn. Be sure to take time to meander down the Rocky Broad RiverWalk, a beautiful path that winds around the Rocky Broad River." Quote from Chimney Rock Park. Downtown Chimney Rock Village... A quote from  Chimney Rock Village "Our quaint and quirky village welcomes you with its delightful assortment of hostelries, eateries, attractions, shops and services; the friendliness of the Villagers; the permanence of the mountains; and a sta

It has been a while since I first posted this, long before Covid, when everything shut down.  Luckily, COVID did not shut them down.  I can't wait to return.  Here is an old post from some time ago...enjoy! I have been to the Cotton House in Cary twice.  Once on a food truck night with Erica and Josh and another time with a friend. Their primary focus is beer, but luckily for me, they have wine, too; happy day. The venue is a historic home built in 1900. There is plenty of seating, both inside and out. I tried to find some information on this piece of sculpture, but I could not.  It is beautiful and extremely detailed.  I did see an old photo of the house with a tall stump of a tree in the yard.  So, I will assume that someone made a lovely carving out of the stump. Food Trucks and Mayton Inn The first time I visited the Cotton House was on an evening they had a food truck.   The truck for the evening was The Humble Pig .  I ordered a BBQ plate, and it was deliciou

 I love to try new to me restaurants.  A couple of weeks ago, I visited one that I really enjoyed, Tijuana Flats in Cary, NC.  This is a Mexican Restaurant chain that is known for its hot sauce bar and colorful murals.   Rocky had told me that he had been before and he really liked it so one evening we decided to go to the one near my home. Here is a quote from their website... Like most college kids, our founder, Brian Wheeler, liked going to bars and restaurants. So much so that in 1995, he got the crazy idea to open his own despite never having worked in one. The problem was, like most college kids, Brian was broke. Fortunately for Tex-Mex fans, Brian’s dad loaned him the money to open the first Tijuana Flats in Winter Park, Florida. I love that they support our troops! The Hot  Bar Another quote from their site... While most college grads would be stoked just to own their own restaurant, Brian had a burning desire to go beyond burritos. So he created the “Smack My Ass & Call M

There is a contest going on right now.  Burger King is holding a contest for people to come up with The Next Great Whopper Idea.  Basically, this contest is challenging folks to come up with an idea for the best topping for the burger imaginable. The Winner walks away with One Million Dollars. The contest runs from Feb 5-March 17th.  Here is the link if you want to participate... Million Dollar Whopper Contest Burger King has had contests in the past, and people have come up with some pretty fun burgers. A few Whopper creations have included The Ghost Pepper Whopper, The Angry Whopper , and the Candied Bacon Whopper.  The Ghost Pepper Whopper includes spicy queso, crispy jalapeños, bacon, and ghost pepper cheese on top, served between two toasted orange buns. The Angry Whopper was made up of savory flame-grilled beef piled high with thick-cut bacon, American cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, angry onion petals, jalapeños, creamy mayonnaise, and spicy angry sauce. The Candied Bacon Wh

Tell Your Story Through Journaling! I have lived long enough to have had thousands of dreams. I have had my share of nightmares and also my share of fun and memorable dreams. I can remember themes in my dreams that recur, such as being in a play with hundreds of people in attendance and I forgot my lines and can't find my script. I sometimes dream that I need to shower, and I search desperately for shampoo and soap, and someone always takes it before I can get to it.  My mom had a recurring dream that she would speak of often. This dream was based on a house she would pass on her travels. I remember my mom showing me this house. It was a white home on a hill. Mom said, in the dream, she would enter the front door of this house. As she entered the house, she was welcomed with joy and hugs from many people. About midway through her dream, she realizes that everyone in the house had died some time ago. Mom said this dream gave her comfort that she would be greeted on the other side of

A Quote by the Dalai Lama...  "Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace." Dalai Lama Another way to phrase this is to not let someone else steal our peace of mind. We have all been in situations where words have been spoken or actions have been taken against us.  We have all walked away from an event or a confrontation that has rattled us to the point that it is difficult to move on without it bothering us in some way.  Sometimes, this may be so disturbing that we dwell on the occurrence, unable to move past what has cast a shadow on our peace of mind. Ways to regain our peace of mind...our inner peace... *Try to get perspective on the trigger that caused your emotion.  *Try to identify the emotion you are feeling.  Is it hurt, anger, resentment, or something else? *Acknowledge your emotions and attempt to understand why you feel like you do. *Try to stop your mind from obsessing over the situation and focus your mind on something positive. *Avoid the situat

  Chewing Gum for Stress Relief I remember chewing gum as a kid.  I also remember that kids chewing gum, making teachers and parents mad. I would pop my gum, and my brothers would get mad at me.  I would chew gum in class, and my teachers would get mad at me.  I would find gum under my desk at school or on my shoe after a walk outside, and that would make me angry.  That being said, aside from all the anger, chewing gum can also be beneficial for you.  It can be a stress reliever.  Who would have thought? In one Japanese study, test subjects who were asked to chew mint-flavored gum twice a day for 14 days reported lower levels of anxiety and mental fatigue compared with a control group that got just a mint. In other studies, it was found chewing gum could boost memory and reduce stress reduce anxiety, and increases alertness.  One study found that chewing gum for 10 minutes reduces stress.   I know there is a downside to chewing gum, such as tooth decay.  I have decided I will buy som

Memories "Something remembered from the past, a recollection." I remember reading a book titled, "Before I Go to Sleep" by S. J. Watson.  As I am reading, I am always looking for quotes that touch an emotional chord in me.  The storyline of the book is centered around a woman who has lost her memory. She regains bits and pieces of her memory throughout her day, and then she falls asleep at night and loses it all again.   The quote I underlined and that touched me the most was this  "A ripple across the surface of the lake of memory."   There have been significant changes in my life over the years, and it has not been easy.  I do my best to give it to God.  I don't allow myself to think much about my past because I tend to gravitate to the pain.  After reading this quote, I decided to let myself remember. I allowed myself to remember the good. I remember Dave.  As my Dad was dying, he said, "Dave, take care of your sister," and he did.  We b

Entertainment Wrap-Up for January 2024 Here are the movies, TV shows, a podcast or two, and maybe a song.  The things that I have been watching/reading/or listening to lately. ********** On Hulu Sons of Anarchy I have been watching Sons of Anarchy on Hulu. I am on season 3, episode 5, and there are 7 seasons, so I have a way to go.  Here is more info from Wikipedia... "Sons of Anarchy is an American action crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter for FX. Originally aired from October 3, 2008, to December 9, 2014, Sons of Anarchy follows the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in California's Central Valley. Charlie Hunnam stars as Jackson "Jax" Teller, who is initially the vice president and subsequently the president of the club. After discovering a manifesto written by his late father, John, who previously led the club, he begins to question himself, his relationships, and the club. Themes throughout the