Grandson Nathaniel, Lise, Toke, and I walked to the stop sign, knowing we were all going to be riding in cars for hours. My pace was so slow that Nathaniel walked backward most of the way. We were so busy talking that I forgot to take our photo. Because Nate was facing a different way, he saw things we didn’t. “There’s a bear!” he exclaimed.

He was looking at the mountain and saw something black moving about. We were peering toward it when neighbor Linda came down the mountain with her dog. At least two of us saw the animal and knew it was not far behind the house nearest the stream. She turned back as we continued going home. That was an exciting way to start the day.

Nathaniel and Sarah left before breakfast, needing to get back to their jobs in Charlotte. We ate quickly and headed for the family Gobblefest in Lincolnton. Thankfully, we made good time, because Lise had the appetizer of chips and dip with a vegetable tray.

A photo shows people at our table except Toke and me. Beth and Bob are there with Lise across the table. Bob’s daughter Kathie is toward the end, along with her Uncle Rick. The two young men across from each other are Kathie’s son Max and his friend Zack.

Another shot caught Kathie and sister Susan laughing. Susan’s husband Bill is behind her, while Lise is telling a tale to Bill and Toke.

I was relieved to find one picture of our host and hostess, Rick and Myra talking to Susan’s granddaughter Kate and Toke. I missed shots of niece Julie and Michael, as well as Kate’s Elias. Beth’s brother Hunter and Christie were eating at my table, but I managed to miss them, too.

After we had eaten far too much, Rick took a group on the house tour that always includes magic tricks. For the whole assembly, he did one elaborate trick with smart worms. Julie was his assistant for that and didn’t recoil at handling things that looked like live worms. Entertainment ended with Rick playing the saw and his brother Hunter playing a guitar and singing songs he had written himself. They are amazing. What a talented family! I have videos of some of the music, but they are much too long to include here.