A Day in NC

Niece Chrissie and Chris had one full day in North Carolina. We packed it full of leisure and relaxation. I was glad, since they ended up driving all the way to Utah without stopping at a motel! I think it took about 35 hours. Chrissie and I walked first thing in the morning, and I took the obligatory snapshot with the stop sign.

I like that Chris (christopherpollockart.com) always checks his creations when he is here. Many of his mobiles hang from the mantel, and once in a while one might have gotten knocked down. This time he picked up the bear ornament, one of the most versatile of the mobiles. It hangs from a stand, but it can also be lifted off to hang on the Christmas tree. He tweaked it a little, making it a bit more responsive.

They wandered into the study and looked for a puzzle piece or so. David had started the one for the year John died. I told them I was finding at least one piece a day. They were drawn in and spent relaxing hours finishing it. I drifted in and out and found at least two pieces while I was cooking dinner. I hadn’t stopped to think that this puzzle was a memorial for John, too, since his photos were featured. It’s great that they completed it, because Linda (https://lindaschaubblog.net/2025/10/26/a-walktober-stroll-that-was/) has already sent the new one for this year.

To finish off the evening, we had an impromptu dinner with neighbors across the street. Shawn, Chrissie, and I share Connections and Wordle scores every day. We make a few comments, enough to feel very connected. It was a chance for us to see each other face to face. I wanted Logan, King of Boggle, to played that word game with Chrissie, knowing they are both better at it than I am. My failure was not getting a photo of the fierce competition. The King reigned!

I was eager for Chris and Bob to be together, because both of them are Mr. Fix-It people. They think out of the box and make unique repairs that are impressive. They had a chance to share a few stories before the evening ended. Because Logan’s school day begins at an ungodly hour, the party had to end early.

End of Lise’s Visit

Daughter Lise and friend Toke did a number of repairs around the house. They replaced batteries in smoke alarms, enlarged holes in the burn barrel and moved it to a new location, brought in the Christmas totes filled with decorations, and helped me change solar lights from pumpkins to red stakes.

We all worked on the family jigsaw puzzle.

Lise took a photo of my new togs – penguin nightshirt, candy cane tights, and warm fuzzy socks.

I needed warm clothing and was glad daughters Lise and Kate convinced me to buy thermal underwear. I wore the top and bottom walking in snow the day before Lise left. I think it was 19 F (-7.222 C) when we walked. The day after Lise’s departure it was 11 F (-11.667 C) when I went out and 12 F when I returned. I saw a notice from the alert system that Haywood County opened a temporary warming station to assist those affected by a recent power outage. Brrr!

I failed to get a photo of Lise with neighbor Cindy when Cindy drove us to the airport. I think my brain was cold. Lise texted me when she was boarding the flight from Amsterdam to Copenhagen. I presume she got there safely and is now at home.

Toke’s Arrival Spans Three Days

Lise’s friend, Toke, landed on the 21^st, and we got home from the airport at 1:30 a.m. on the 22^nd. On the 24^th, his luggage was delivered, having been lost in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, New York or possibly Charlotte.

First photos weren’t taken until grandson Nathaniel and his fiancee Sarah arrived to stay one night. We were a bit late, but we did have the mirror ritual.

Nathaniel and Sarah delivered an old family bookcase they had rescued. They took care reassembling it, because it wasn’t one piece, but four boxes stacked on top of each other.

Nathaniel, Lise, Sarah approving bookcase assembly

I wanted a photo of their seeing the new family jigsaw puzzle for the first time. Kate and Lise also saw it, but we haven’t worked it yet.

As always, the group found something amusing.

To be continued.

More Time with Kate

Daughter Kate and I enjoyed working the family puzzle together. Her sister Lise magnanimously gave up the first working so that Kate could do it first this year. Surprisingly, I could see the pieces in sunlight well enough to fit in about an eighth of them.

Our last meal out was at Kanini’s where Kate had the BLAT – bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato sandwich. I had never had chicken and waffles, a fad dish from a decade or so ago. At this place it was the hot Nashville version, which I enjoyed.

Our last evening together, Kate kicked back and relaxed on the porch. We watched birds feeding on the ground and hummingbirds flitting about their hanging feeders. Seeing a couple of bluebirds was exciting for me, and Kate liked the detail of the towhee, which she had seen from a distance before. We were serenaded by a croaking frog. This year, for the first time, the frog was there almost every evening. I haven’t seen it yet, but it was moving about on the ground, judging by the sound.

Kate used an old windshield wiper to clean off her car windows before leaving at 7:00 a.m. Seeing the mist behind her, I knew the gorge would be foggy and a bit more dangerous than usual. The interstate highway shares a narrow space with a stream between mountains. She drove carefully and was soon in bright sunlight heading north. Watching her progress on my phone, I knew she was near her destination. She called at 8:00 p.m. to make sure I knew she was home safely.

Thanksgiving Wrap-up

My request for a photo almost made grandson David late for work, but he was willing to pose with the finished family puzzle. Some of the crew stayed up quite late finishing it. I liked niece Chrissie’s stance, leaning on grandson Nathaniel. I’m pretty sure Nate was on his knees.

Chrissie took this photo the day before of Lise, David, and me.

Friend Linda chose photos from our family reunion to have the puzzle made. This is one we will work again and again.

The suitcases were packed and ready to go when Nathaniel did the mirror ritual. John, Chrissie, Lise, and son John $pencer were there for the final photo.

Daughter Lise had been with us two weeks before flying back to Denmark. After she went through security, we had a few more minutes with Chrissie in the airport before she boarded her plane to Massachusetts, and then we drove Nathaniel to Charlotte. I don’t know how far John and I drove, but Lise was over the ocean and Chrissie almost home when we returned to our house. This had been a most satisfying visit.

Last Fling

The last four days of daughter Lise’s visit were full of activities. We picked up grandson Nathaniel from college and ate dinner on the way home.

It was after midnight when we did the mirror ritual.

Lise, John, Nathaniel, and David watch the mirror go up.

The next afternoon Lise went in the airport to meet niece Chrissie while John and I made a loop around the area. They took a selfie with Santa in the terminal.

The younger generations took a walk, which was a good antidote for lots of sitting the previous hours. This is Chrissie’s selfie at the creek.

Chrissie took a photo of Lise that I would call “Cavorting at the Creek”.

In the evening we began to work a jigsaw puzzle. This was a special family puzzle that dear friend Linda ordered for us. She used photos we took at our family reunion last summer and had a puzzle made from them. There is nothing like putting your own face together if you can find the pieces!

Of course, conversation never flagged.

To be continued.