Finally Spring Break arrived and we were able to head up to Two Holt for a few days of escape. You've probably already read our blog entry about the new refrigerator delivered on Wednesday, but now let's back up and share our Tuesday arrival to Two Holt with you via this YouTube video.   

  I surely was delighted to see the snow still falling softly.  Such a peaceful, quiet feeling.

   Yep...peaceful and quiet.  Then we got out of the car. We unloaded a few things and went inside Two Holt...BRRRR!  We plugged in a few heaters and then turned on the gas.  Phil turned on the gas stove to check it...no problem.  Phil turned on the gas fireplace to get a fire going...no problem.  Phil went down to the road, turned on the water, then came up and checked for leaky pipes...no problem.  Phil flushed the toilet to check the water...no problem.  Phil turned on the water at the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, tub...PROBLEM!  No water...none...nada... not even a drip.  After checking every possible cause, Phil solemnly declared, "That section of pipe has to be frozen.  We'll just have to wait and see how much damage is done when it thaws."  And so we waited for the temperature, which hadn't been out of the 20s for a few days, to rise above freezing as forecasted for Wednesday.  
   We watched a little television, settled in, and went to bed...still no water.  The next morning there was still no water, but we were too busy to worry about it (much).  The cable company hooked up our wireless internet...yay!  Our new refrigerator was delivered... double yay!

   Phil made Two Holt a bit more festive by putting up his Easter display.  

   The side porch entrance had an unattractive single light bulb overhead so Phil replaced it with a hanging lantern light fixture.  And doesn't the new iron artwork on the chimney chase look nice? 

   

   Late in the afternoon I went by and turned on the kitchen water faucet to check it for the umpteenth time.  And looky what we had....

   Phil went under the house to check for the dreaded leaks, but NONE were found!  Woot!  I had the best hot shower ever later that night!
   On Thursday Phil and I rode into town to eat lunch, shop, and go by the post office.  We went by Bridal Veil Falls to see the damage done by a recent rock slide.  When the gorge road was built in 1928, the road directly under the waterfall was the only path of travel for motorists.  Later  the town created a bypass, but the original road was left open and is a popular attraction.  Bridal Veil Falls was closed in 2003 when a 150 ton boulder fell underneath the waterfall.  Several years later, private funding paid to dynamite and remove the boulder.  Hopefully this rock fall won't cause as much trouble!

   Just down the road from Bridal Veil Falls is the majestic Dry Falls.  I couldn't resist a trip to see Dry Falls at this time of year.  It did not disappoint!

   Friday morning we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and a couple of cups of coffee as we watched the thankful birds discovering the birdseed we put outside.

   We admired the new sign Phil hung over the outside french doors.  Soooo true...

   We loaded up a few items to take to Mountain Findings, a local non-profit organization.  Phil bought a few pickets at the hardware store to finish his last project on this trip--railings for the side stoop.  We think matching the railings on the side stoop to the railings on the newly added deck will help the two parts complement each other.

   I celebrated my birthday on Saturday at Two Holt.  We took a walk around the Mirror Lake community and went out for dinner at the local Mexican restaurant...and let me tell you El Azteca has the best Mexican food I have ever enjoyed!  My son gave me this sweet little cherub statue which I will place on Two Holt's screened porch.  I love the reminder engraved on the side:  Be gentle with the hearts of those you love.  I also got this sweet wickless candle made in Habersham County.  It smells divine!

   Sunday morning we attended the Easter Sunrise Service with our Highlands First Baptist family.  The church deacons hosted a wonderful breakfast after the service.  We enjoyed eating with the new pastor, another couple, and Alfredo Gonzales, a Cuban Baptist minister, who was visiting the U.S. with a missionary couple from Highlands.  I learned that Alfredo has written a book about his life as a Christian in Cuba and he shared a few of his life experiences with Phil and me.  I will be ordering his book to read more.

   We took one last walk around the beginning garden at Two Holt.  The toad lillies, mums, stargazer lillies, hosta, corabells, and daylillies are all beginning to emerge.  I'm a bit anxious to see the astilbe, japanese painted fern, and blue bead lilies.  I took one last mile-long walk taking one of my favorite routes. Finally it was time to leave.  Leaving Two Holt always leaves me a bit sad.  

   I've been shopping for a new refrigerator/freezer for Two Holt and finally found the one I wanted at Lowe's.  I paid for it and happily scheduled the delivery.  Free delivery and free haul away of old appliances... those Lowe's salespeople are so friendly and accomodating.  Yes, the sales people love us, but the delivery guys--well, that's a different story.
   The delivery guy called to say they were on their way this morning.  When they arrived in that big Lowe's truck, Phil went down to meet them.  He showed them our lovely narrow steps leading from the parking lot to Two Holt.  The guy looked at Phil, shook his head, spat what I hope was tobacco juice and said, "Ain't no way."

   So we went to Plan B.  The neighbor's driveway passes right by the edge of our land--up a little hill and you're on our flat little open side yard.  Just a little hill...through the rhododendrons...over snow and ice...but, guys,...just a little hill!

   The guy pondered a bit--"Hmmm...we'll have to take it apart and take it in sections."  I nodded and the delivery began.

   Finally it was time to bring in the last piece. I knew we were in trouble when I heard Phil crank up the electric saw.  He took out five rhododendron limbs and gave me that "I dare you to say a word" look.  I looked down at the ground real quick to avoid eye contact.
   I listened to the guys a few minutes.  "Hey, Mark!  Hold it!  I'm slidin' down this &%^$ hill!"  When I heard the other guy's answer to Mark's question "What do you need, Man?"  I decided I'd be of more use praying while closed up in the bedroom.

   When I emerged from the bedroom, it was all over except for the oohing and ahhing.  Mark's response?  "I hope you like it, lady, cause it's stayin'."  Wait, Mark...did I mention you're hauling away the old refrigerator?