Ready for Fall!!!

This morning we were supposed to be heading up to Mount Airy for Mayberry Days, but the weather decided to give us a change of plans. Lawn work and cleaning for the day.

A cabbage plant that we got to add some color out front in the pine straw. It is supposed to turn purple at some point.

We got out the fall decorations today and bought some pumpkins. We even get to have the windows open, since we are having a nice and cool day of weather. It is only going to last one day, so I want to enjoy it.

My Grandpa Graham would be so proud of me. He always made the guys go out and mow and rake and pick up leafs. I borrowed my neighbors riding lawn mower, with the understanding that if I used it I would also do her lawn. It was so much fun. A lot easier then a push mower and pulling an electric cord.

A couple of weeks ago I was wanting to get some feed and weed down on the grass. Of course it started raining and I had to think quick to be able to finish the job. Of course, it stopped raining just as I was finishing.

Here was where the pool was previously sitting. You can see that we dug down in an attempt to level the ground. But we did not go down enough. It still was leaning and almost fell over at the end of this summer season. We will try again next year.

A Long Time Coming

So the last part of the summer has been a very busy one for me this year. I decided to take two vacations right at the end of the summer. Maybe not smart with kids leaving and new kids coming, but oh well, I had fun.

First trip was to Nampa, Idaho to visit Marc and Talisha Taylor. Talisha and I were friends from high school and I was making up a visit from a few years ago. It was nice to not have a lot planned, but just to relax and take things as they came. We did get to go to a few fun places.

For lunch, right before my flight out, we went and ate of West Side Drive In which was on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. The food was delicious and the milk shake was the thickest that I have ever had.

One day we went out to Silver City, Idaho to a ghost town to see the remains. It was really interesting to see, no running water and having to use outhouses. Some people have gone and moved back into some of the homes and left the outside in the original structure. It was in a beautiful valley, and even though it was like 35 miles from their house, it took us over a hour to get there.

We also got to go to the Orchard House, which will be on Triple D this fall. They are famous for the steak fingers, which were not that bad.

Talisha and I had a baking day to remind us about all the good times that we had growing up. This is a tradition that our families started the first year we moved to Florida and continued for many years. Unfortunately, Talisha and I both moved away, so the families continued with the tradition, just leaving us out.

At the end of August, we headed home to Canada for a few days. Our family from California came into town for a memorial for Aunt Kathryn, so we got to see them for the first time in years. We figured that I last saw one cousin 20 years ago. Andrew's kids spent time with Jayden who is our cousin Heather's child. It reminded me of spending some many years with Heather, how the circle continues.

Mom got to see some of her cousins while we were home. I do believe that Nancy and Kathi were both mom's bridesmaids in 1971.

I also decided to teach the kids how to play Grandma 80's Wii. We had a fun time playing. I headed back to North Carolina to return to work, while everyone else got to stay and have some fun. Another key enjoyment was having Fehrman fresh corn, there is nothing that compares.

Day Two

So on day two we had a few things planned. It started out with a bad storm during the night and then eventually cleared so that we could go out. We first headed to Roanoke Island and then up to Corolla.

The wild horses were amazing to see. You drive up the beach for a couple of miles and then turn into a "neighborhood". I put that in parenthesis because it is a bunch of beautiful and some not so beautiful houses with only sad roads. Not packed sand roads, but loose sand roads. It was a different world out there.

One of the first lighthouses that we say.

The gardens were beautiful to walk around.

Fort Raleigh.

Outer Banks Day 1

So since I have such issues with my allergies this time of year and when churches fill up with lilies, it is just easier to not go to church. Mom and I both had time off over the weekend, so we thought going out to the Outer Banks of North Carolina would be good.

For dinner, we went to a restaurant called the Black Pelican. It used to be a lifesaving station where the Wright Brothers announces the success of their first time in flight. The food was very good, but a little pricey.

Seeing where the first flight took place was great and seeing the tribute made for the Wright Brother was great.

This is all the sand that was in my shoe after climbing the dunes. With every step, the sand would move back and forth in my shoes. It never spread out, just stayed as a ball moving up and down in the shoe. It was very uncomfortable.

Climbing up the sand dunes.

We left Aberdeen at 9:00 in the morning and got to the Outer banks at 1:00 in the afternoon.

Snow Storm and a Crazy Girl

So since living in North Carolina, I really did not think that we would every get a lot of snow. Granted, what I think is a lot and what the natives feel is a lot is totally different. But yesterday they started forecasting a heavy accumulation of snow, we got 4 inches. The schools have shut down and many businesses are closed today. So I now get another day off from work.

You can barely see the house. Granted I also took the picture before the sun was supposed to come up, so I am sure I could get better photos now. This is the good packing snow, so don't be surprised it later there is not some pictures of snow angels or snow men from me.

When the kids stayed with us over the last weekend, Andrew forgot to pack a night shirt for Lauren. So she was wearing her normal shirts to bed, but they needed cleaned, so I put one of mom's shirts on. This proves that she is ready to follow in her aunt's shoes and attend Florida State University.

Lauren was just loving the camera. I never laughed so hard while taking photos, she just kept right on posing.

Canada for Christmas

One thing was for sure, Mikki did not like the snow. What you cannot see is the I am dragging her into the snow for the picture. She would actually walk with trying to get all four legs off the ground at one time. Obviously, it never worked. Her feet did get really sore the first few days, but she stuck it out. We never saw her go the bathroom so quickly outside just so she would not have to walk too far.

This is from Wednesday morning. I got home from the hockey game at midnight and there was no snow falling or on the ground. So all the snow started after midnight to 8:00 in the morning when we got going. It was the only snow fall for the entire time we were home.

My car got so filthy while I was home. People definitely stared at my car once we got to North Carolina because of how dirty it was.

This is the end of the game, which Buffalo lost. I just wanted to go to a game in Buffalo to see them win, and they lost, how disappointing. Plus then we had to deal with the traffic. We got to the car two blocks from the stadium at 9:45 and only made it onto the expressway by 10:45, which is only three turns from where we parked. Then it took until midnight to get across the bridge.

Getting to hear O Canada again is always interesting. Unfortunately, my camera did not record the beginning of the saw.

November

Here are the little cheerleaders during a break in the game. The kids have so much fun on Saturday's.

During the pregame activities, they announce all the teams and cheerleaders. My neighbor kid, Cooper, plays on the last team that is announced.

Here is Cooper going down for a shot. They are not that picky with rules during the little kids games, but they are trying to teach them.