We're back!

Our vacation this year was in Tennessee with the two families we get together with every year. There was hiking, biking, swimming, many great dinners, laughter and good memories. We left yesterday and drove to Memphis to visit Graceland. I was disappointed to find that they do not have a gift shop conveniently located next to Mr. Presley's actual grave site, but I'm sure that will be remedied in the near future, since it is vitally important that you are within twenty feet of a gift shop in Graceland at all times, lest you find yourself overcome by the immediate need for an Elvis keychain/magnet/t-shirt/CD/lifesize cardboard cutout.

As we sat in the parking lot of Graceland at 6 p.m., contemplating having to unpack for one night in a hotel, it was the 75% consensus (Emily likes hotels) that we just hit the road and get back home. Which we did, and Dallas traffic is so much lighter at 2 a.m. Make a note.

Above is beautiful Fall Creek Falls, one of the places where we hiked. So imagine our delight upon our return to discover that we had our very own falls, right there behind the refrigerator in the kitchen! What fun! We had a small wading pool between the stove and the island (The island! Get it?!) and enjoyed the soothing sound of water trickling along the tributaries in the garage on its way to the street. There was an air of excitement and wonder as we explored the new waterways in our domain, and then I followed the sound of rushing... no, more of a strained wheezing... around the side of the house where I found the air conditioning unit doing its best impression of a prop plane just after the second engine cuts out. My fuzzy brain kept trying to connect the dots: did the AC unit go out because the fridge line sprung a leak? Did the unit go out first and the increasing temperatures in the house melt the plastic in the line? Or are we just freakishly lucky enough to experience two emergencies at once, thus saving time and streamlining the recovery period?

It's nearly 24 hours later and my untiring husband has repaired the fridge, moved furniture, pulled up the wet carpet, cleared the garage, and obtained a new engine-- motor-- whatever-- for the air conditioner. I'm contemplating the empty dining room and thinking that if I painted it now, we'd only have to move the furniture once. The dogs and cat are just happy to be home. I'm heading upstairs to the cooler regions where the air is still conditioned, and can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!