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.

Labor Day Weekend

Last week we had a number of days with rain, which was great for the grass, but not for the pool. I had the cover on it and water kept filling up on the top. I went to church with the plan to get the water off when I came home. During church, we had another heavy rain storm, with me making the comment, this is going to make my pool collapse. Guess what I saw when I got home, the pool had collapsed. Instead of filling it back up for only a couple more weeks, we decided to just take it down for the season.

Andrew, Lisa and the kids came up (on their way back from Florida) for Labor Day weekend. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Normal Days of our Lives

I can't remember if I posted pictures about one of my trees getting struck my lightening and falling or not, but this is the result. I was able to get some guys from church to come and cut the tree down and a few more. The crazy thing about it was that it stormed that night too and they still worked out in the storm. After the rain stopped mom, Amy (my neighbor) and myself worked on taking the scrub up to the street for pick up. This was the day before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, so we did some crazy things. Such as, doing a relay, carrying the torch and even a bridal bouquet. It really opened up the space in the back yard and I very happy. I do not understand why the guys thought they needed to help, I could have handled a chain saw right???


While the trees were coming down, Dad and David fixed the screen that was taken down by Lauren. No I can barbecue without being eaten alive by the bugs.

This is what I got today when I showed up at one of my kids houses. My schedule is changing as of next week because of the new center opening. I will be there five days a week, so I had to give up all my outreach kids. Bryce happens to be my favorite kid to see, especially since I see him two times a week.

This is a wonderful family to work with, they do everything that I ask, and I know that when I leave, mom continues to work on his goals. They even gave me these delicious cookies for my birthday.

Not Enough Hours in a Day

Okay, so the pictures did not load right, so the weekends are all mixed up. So allow me to explain what you are seeing.

This is the table where General Lee surrender to General Grant. This house was chosen because they were the wealthiest in the area.

This is the end of the stagecoach line and also where the final salute took place. The story is that the confederate arms, after surrendering, the began their long walk home. As they passed by the Union army, the soldiers stood and saluted the confederates as they passed. The Confederate soldiers then stopped and saluted the Union armies.

After a long day, Justin and I were exhausted.

The weekend prior, we went to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

Back to Appomattox, Josh that it would be good to shoot us down.

Here is the beginning to the stage coach road. I just love the fence line.

Here is the outside of the McLean House, where the surrender was.

So that has been my last few crazy weekends. Sorry that the pictures are all messed up. On other news, I heard from the furniture company, after I kept calling them, and they are replacing my bed. They told me that it was being shipped from California, so now I just have to wait for them to call me to deliver again.

A Night To Remember

So last night, we went up to Winston Salem to enjoy the Cathedral's Reunion Concert "A Night to Remember." It was really good, but sad because of George, Glen and Roger not being there. There was lots of joking around and they made the night enjoyable.

Legacy Five came out and sang Jesus Saves, which of course was good.

This is where lots of laughs happened. Watch Gerald Wolfe, who is singing bass, and Glenn Dustin who is sitting down. It was obviously staged, but they acted like no one knew this song.

They finished off the night with singing Champion of Love, which is always everyones favorite.

A Dream to A Nightmare

So my bedroom furniture finally arrived today. It looks absolutely beautiful and I love it.



Mom talked me into getting the dresser, which I did not think I needed, but now I really do. The big empty wall would look really good with a flat screen televisions, if anyone wants to contribute to the tv fund. Just joking. And then the nightmare began.
I was check over the bed (before the deliver left) and noticed this crack. I ran to go get the delivery truck, but they left. I immediately called the store where I bought it and they told me to call the corporate office. The manager there told me to take pictures and to send them by email for them to determine whether it was manufacturer error or delivery error.

With this picture, you can really see that the manufacturer made the error, because they had tried to cover it up with the wood marker. It is a little obvious.
Plus there was a chuck of wood out at the bottom of the foot board.
So, in the end, I sit here with a crazy broken bed and now have to wait for some news. Only my bad luck.