Lovely, Busy Days

We had an impromptu dinner on Thanksgiving Day, organized by daughter Lise. There had been so much going on at home that I forgot we usually had others for the real holiday. She called family members on Wednesday. All could come! My brother Bob and Beth were here, and his daughter Kathie came with son Max. Julie was sick during the night, so she and Michael could not come, after all. What a marvelous time we had! David missed seeing everyone because he had to work at the supermarket until 4:00 pm. There was plenty of turkey left for him.

Logan (13) came over to introduce his new boxer, Izzie, to us. She’s a lovely dog, and he is taking responsibility for her care.

After taking Izzie home, Logan returned to play a new game with Lise. They didn’t have a chance to finish setting it up before he had to go home, but they hope to play soon.

We were horrified to find that it would take a month to get a repairman for our ailing washing machine. It seems a computer program was not working. We looked at new machines at a local shop and at Lowe’s. I would prefer to deal with local businesses, but this one could not compete. It would have taken weeks to order a new machine and have it delivered. I bought one at Lowe’s, and it was delivered and installed in three days. They also took the old one away. Before the new machine came, Lise cleaned the area.

Lise not only brought me 50 tulip bulbs from Holland, she planted them all herself! The ones she gave me last year, planted by her and my brother Bob, all came up and gave us a lovely show. Shawn appreciated seeing them from her front porch. We hope for another good season next year with the new taller ones behind the old set.

Lise and I have settled into a routine. She begins work at 4:00 am, and joins me for stretching and using resistance bands at 8. After we walk to the stop sign, she works more while I shower and get breakfast ready. She talks to friends in the afternoon as I recharge with a short nap. We’ve shopped for things she is taking back to Denmark and set up a new humidifier for the benefit of the piano. We talk constantly. It is so much fun to have a grown child to play with!

Thanksgiving Gobble Fest

My brother Bob and Beth began having a big family gathering the weekend before or after Thanksgiving when their children got married. It was a wonderful solution that kept young families from having to go to two big dinners on one day in order to see the relatives. This year Rick and Myra offered to have the dinner at Woodside, his ancestral home.

Niece Julie took two photos of most of the older set as we ate. Age-wise, Lise belonged with younger people, but health-wise she belonged to us. She is having a hip replaced next month.

Rick did a show that delighted all of us, especially his great niece. Probably because my camera caught most of it, this was my favorite trick.

After most of the guests left, we went out to the event barn. I had never seen it – a real barn with the upper level remodeled for parties, weddings, and dancing. This video shows the enthusiasm of grandson Nathaniel and his Sarah.

The most appropriate video shows Rick pulling scarves out of an oatmeal box with Lucy’s help. It started with an empty oatmeal box without top or bottom. Lucy helped Rick cover both ends with paper, sealed with bands.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Final Walk with Kim

Blogger Kim and husband Dave were at the nearest RV park for two weeks. She and I walked to the creek (2.5 miles round trip) many days. We had said our goodbyes, but the day after daughter Lise arrived, we squeezed in one more walk. This time we walked up the mountain to a spot above the pasture where we could see the highest peak nearest my house.

We walked to the stop sign and took a photo to prove it.

We finished with a lovely chat on the front porch. It was too cold to stay there long, but we were quite warm from walking. After that came the last goodbye. The next day Lise and I went to a large family Thanksgiving dinner in the middle of the state, and Kim and Dave headed for South Carolina the day after that. It was such a luxury being together for that extended time. I’m hoping they will return to Texas via North Carolina after they spend the winter in Florida.

On the Parkway with Kim and Dave

One of the things I like most is driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The views change constantly. After living here nine years, I have a favorite section, and that’s the one we were on with blogger Kim and Dave. We stopped at several overlooks. Since I have a lifetime supply of mountain views stored on a computer, I wanted a picture of the people I was enjoying.

Kim took one photo of grandson David in a dangerous place, and I took the other. He is very sure-footed and is comfortable standing close to huge drop-offs. It makes me nervous to just watch him.

Everyone agreed to stop at my favorite waterfall. We were rushing about, so I didn’t herd the folks together for a picture. Don’t want to become the Photo Nazi!

We had dinner at another of our favorite places, Jukebox Junction. You get two views from different photographers.

It has been marvelous to spend time with these special friends. If any of you get a chance to meet one of your blogging friends in person, DO IT! The rewards are truly great.

Cataloochee

Grandson David drove visiting blogger Kim and me into the Cataloochee Valley, a tiny part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is our national park with the most visitors every year. On the way, we stopped at an overlook with a sweeping view of the area.

Driving on, we went toward the end of the valley and found people staring and photographing the herd of elk. David and Kim joined in.

These are the animals they were looking at, grazing in the field.

We crossed the road to go through a house built in 1903, one left there after all the residents were moved when the park took over the land. I didn’t take a picture of the house this time, but I did take one of the cold house as Kim stood at the entrance. To keep things cool, the residents lowered food into the stream through an opening in the floor.

While we were looking at the cold house, the elk were moving through the valley. Behind the single elk, you can see the graveled area where David’s car was parked. We had crossed the stream on that footbridge and now were cut off. Park rules are to keep well away from the animals. Although they look as peaceful as grazing cows, they are wild animals and unpredictable. For the most part, the elk pay no attention to vehicles on this road. The truck was traveling from the end of the valley back to the entrance.

On the right side of this video, you can briefly see the white house on the hill where we had been. At this point, we had waited quite a while before crossing the bridge and standing on the road.

On the way out of the valley, we stopped to look at a bear-proof garbage bin. David put his hand in the pocket on top and pushed a bar forward to release the catch. He explained that bears cannot turn their paws over to reach into that protected area.

We were thrilled to have watched the elk for a long time, up close.

Kim and the Guinea Fowl

Visiting blogger Kim and I have walked to the creek four days in a row. Today Kim noticed movement and heard clucking noises near the flag pole at the fire station. She identified the guinea fowl. I had never seen any that close. I don’t know which of us had a camera aimed at the birds first. Kim got the best still photo while I was taking video clips. Kim hasn’t posted her photo yet, but her blog is here.

The birds wanted to get away from us and melted through the bushes into the parking lot.

We followed them as they scurried away, just on this side of the creek.

Blogger Blast

Blogger Kim and Dave drove from Texas to my mountains to visit, and I am having a blast. It is fantastic to have time to spend with them, as they and their dogs stay at an RV park just down the road. Kim’s blog is here.

Two days in a row Kim and I walked to the creek. I haven’t done that since last May, just before sciatica hit me. Oh! To have a favorite blogger to talk with while walking was marvelous! I remembered to take a photo.

Kim took me to the RV park and gave me the grand tour of their motor home. I enjoyed seeing how they can store so much in small spaces. The dogs, Whiskey and Brandy, were welcoming, and Dave agreed that I could take their photo.

Kim had seen a picture of friend Brit’s and grandson David’s colorful leaf arrangements on the kitchen counter. I told her she could pick up leaves on the way home and create another work of art. They missed the peak of the leaf season, but there are still beautiful things to celebrate.

David Meets Cowboy

One of the cashiers called grandson David over to meet Cowboy and his pet squirrel. The celebrity shops at the supermarket where David works, so many of the staff had already met him. This is the same character that daughter Lise and I met in the waiting room of a doctor’s office. He always encourages people to have their picture taken with the pet squirrel on their shoulder. I thought David did well with his selfies.

Logan’s Halloween

I knew neighbor Logan was going trick or treating in town, so I put aside the candy I bought for him. He came over to visit for a short while the day after Halloween. I was totally surprised to find that they had remote learning that day. The students got their assignments via computer or telephone and had all day to do the work. Logan finished before he came over. His take on it was the teachers didn’t want to deal with kids that had had too much candy the night before. I should explain that whenever I quote Logan, I have to fill in the blanks. He speaks quickly and softly, so my hearing aids don’t always deliver every word.

I enjoyed hearing about his going around to homes to get candy. One story really amused me. The home owner was in an upstairs window. He had a pipe going from his window to the mailbox. As children came by, he told them to say trick or treat, and then he’d put a bunch of candy in the pipe for them. Isn’t that a novel thing to do?

When Logan went home, I asked if he wanted to take all the candy home or only some of it. He opted to take four pieces. Marvelous restraint!! He knows I’ll keep it all for him and give him a piece whenever he comes over. Don’t worry about grandson David. He and I have our own cache.

Not knowing Logan would take so little candy, I gave him a plastic bag to put it in. He agreed to let me take a quick photo of him. Somehow this lacked the drama of treats delivered by a pipe.

I hurried taking the photo and missed one important part – Logan’s feet. He was barefooted! It was after dark, and I’m pretty sure the temperature was below freezing. He said his feet are tough, and I believe that!

Huge Leaf

After publishing a photo of autumn leaves, I have one more to show off. This time I added a quarter to give you an idea of the size. I’m following the advice of a great photographer whose blog I follow on WordPress, linked here.

I left the leaf on the counter, and friend Brit noticed it as soon as she walked in the kitchen. I gave the background, and she picked it up and put it on like a hat. If only I’d had my camera in my hand and not in my pocket! She had a busy day ahead and rushed off.

I held grandson David hostage while he quickly ate his dinner before going to work. I asked him to wear the leaf hat so that I could get a photo of it. He was sweet to humor me. I can see now that it would have looked much more appropriate on Brit’s head, because it looks like the mobcap of a Colonial woman.