The Best Kind of Friend; Sister Date; and The Greening of the Mountains

Karen and Joe

When I was in high school my best friend was Karen.  We did not go to the same school, but attended the same church and were totally inseparable.  She married Joe (a boy in my class and school) when we were about 20.  I was in her wedding and wore the prettiest green dress...the best bridesmaid's dress I ever wore!  Joe was in school at NC State and after their marriage they moved to Raleigh.  I saw her several times after that, the last time being when she was pregnant with her first child.  I'm not sure about the time line, but Joe joined the Air Force, and they moved to somewhere far from home.  Her parents left Greensboro for the beach, and with them my connection to Karen.  I did not see or hear from her for about 44 years.  I have never seen her children, nor she mine.  On Christmas Eve, with only JR and I at home, I began to think about her (as I have done many times in the past 44 years) and decided to Google her.  I found her in Greensboro!  After I found where she lived, I used Whitepages.com to find her phone number.  I just couldn't wait!  Even if it  was Christmas Eve I was not going to be deterred.  I called her and we both talked as if we had only talked the day before.  Since that was a family time, I called her the next week and we chatted and giggled just like we used to.  We made arrangements to meet for lunch when I was in Greensboro, but I had to cancel when my sister was hospitalized in Charlotte.  Last week we finally met!  Oh, how wonderful!  We picked up right where we left off, talking non-stop, laughing, giggling, sharing our families, remembering our deceased parents, and all the myriad topics that are the stuff of never-ending friendship.  Karen is the best kind of friend...the kind that never leaves your heart.  Welcome back to my life, Karen!  I won't ever let you leave again!

Worst BBQ Place in NC

Zach of the Red Hair

My sister has twins who are almost 18 years old.  They are juniors in high school and are, of course, beginning to think about their plans following graduation.  With that in mind, Ana, decided to go to open house at UNC-Asheville.  ( I don't think it hurts that her boyfriend is a student there.)  Since we don't live too far from there, we journeyed east to spend a little time with Mary and the "kids".  We ate an early supper at the worst barbeque place in the state, but the company was good and we had fun.  After we left the restaurant, the kids went somewhere and Jim, Mary, and I just drove around Asheville in the pouring rain trying to see the sights.  We did drive past the Grove Park Inn, but that was the extent of the sightseeing.  JR went to a bridle and tack store to get a horse shoe to hang over his garage door (for luck, I guess) and Mary got a new pair of red boots.  You know how it is when you get older...your feet get bigger, and she had outgrown her old ones.  Now she has a pair of shiny new red cowboy boots.  Ana says she is going to "marry" Asheville.  I think the family "hill" blood may run in her veins.  Above and below are some pictures taken last week.

 

The Love Birds:  Ana and Justin

I told you in my last post that it has been an extraordinarily warm winter with very little snow or brutally cold weather.  I have been thinking since October that we would have a big snowfall accompanied by really cold temperatures.  So far, that hasn't materialized.  In fact, I believe that spring is here.  We usually have our last snow around mid-March, though the cold weather sticks around for a lot longer.  But we haven't had any temperature (even at night) below freezing in weeks.  The canes on blackberries and raspberries are leafed out, the blueberries are budding, the wild cherry trees have stuck out their little green noses; in the lower elevations trees are in full early leaf, and the flowering trees and shrubs are dressed in their full regalia.  We usually don't get here until late April or early May.  I am itching to get my hands in the dirt, but I've been burned before, so I'll try to hold off until Mother's Day!  I will plant my cool weather crops this weekend...cabbage, spinach, broccoli, onions.  Ummm...can't wait for that first tomato!

Mountain Daffodils in Early Bloom

I am going to Biltmore House in Asheville with Shanna's mother on Friday.  We are going to see the new exhibit "The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad", and will probably be able to take in some of the spring flora, also.  Enjoy your weekend and if I don't post again before, have a Happy Easter!

The Texans Visit; Snow Update

My cousin, Chuck, and his wife, Jaxine, came to visit God's Country.  Chuck was born either in Charlotte or Jacksonville, FL (I think).  He is the son of my mother's younger brother, David and the oldest of three boys.  At some point the family moved to Baltimore where (I think) Mike was born. The family moved to Texas when Chuck was about 11, and Bill was born in Dallas.  Thus, Chuck is really a Texan after all, he wears cowboy boots), having resided there for most of his life.  He lives in Corpus Christi and works for an oil refinery there.  Bill lives in Arlington and works for the federal government.  Mike died at an early age.

We used to see them yearly while my grandparents were still living as the family vacation always included a visit east.  After my grandparents died, we saw less of them as we all got older and more involved in our own lives.  In addition, David died the same year that Grandma did, so the urgency to visit was less pronounced.  Mama and Daddy traveled west on several occasions, but I never went.

Charlie, Jaxine, Mama, Chuck

Chuck and Jaxine came to help us celebrate our first Thanksgiving in our new house in November of 2009.  We had such a good time, and have looked forward to a return visit since then.  They came for a long weekend, and my brother, Charlie, brought my mother up so we had a mini-reunion.  I laughed so hard at Charlie and Chuck telling stories of their exploits around the Texas countryside.  Charlie allowed as to how "I spent a month there one week" in the retelling of a trip to Bandera (where Chuck's family had a weekend place).

So far, they have been here in the winter.  Next visit has to be in warmer weather.  At least we had no snow!!

Biggest snow this year

And speaking of snow...this has been a very, very mild winter...warm and mostly snow-free.  We've had 6 or 7 "dustings", and one snow that was maybe an inch and a half.  After all the yelping I've done for the last two winters, you'd think I'd appreciate it (and I do), but I do confess to missing a good snow.  Well, my motto is to be grateful in all things, and as I write, it is beautiful day with bright sunshine, and a temperature headed towards 60 degrees.  I'm going to sit out in the sun later and try to help my recovery from some obnoxious illness.




Love to all!