Where Does the Time Go?

Doesn't that title sound so cliche'?  But, honest to goodness, it is so true.  I often wonder how I got to this place, but I guess I did it like everyone else...one day at a time.

The garden was a big success this year, as was our initial foray into beekeeping.  I finally ended the summer with 50 quarts of green beans, 56 half-pint jars of raspberry jam (and not finished yet as I ran out of jars), 24 squash casseroles, 27 pints of pickles,  50 onions (many of which rotted since I didn't use them fast enough), 50 quarts of tomatoes, 40 quarts of corn (I didn't grow the corn), a slew of peppers, and some peas.  Now that sounds great, but all that stuff takes work.  We also managed to harvest 6 1/2 gallons of honey from our single hive.  One of our hives didn't make it, and we had to combine them, but the honey came before the combination of the hives.  Right now we just hope our bees are surviving the winter, mild though it has been so far.

I love the summer and fall up here as it provides opportunities for our friends to visit.  For some reason, nobody wants to come in the winter.  Imagine!

Joe and Karen came a couple of times.  Once we made Brunswick stew, and they came for Thanksgiving.  Karen was my best friend when we were high schoolers growing up in Greensboro, NC.  We did not go to the same high school (although Joe was a classmate), but attended the same church.  They married while I was still in college (I was one of her bridesmaids) and went to Raleigh while Joe finished at State.  He became a pilot in the Air Force and they took off for parts unknown.  Once Karen's parents left Greensboro, I lost touch with her and it was another 45 years until we reconnected.  It was like we had never lost touch and she remains a bright spot in my life.  This picture was taken at Thanksgiving.  I apologize for the gaping hole in my teeth, but I am awaiting an implant and I often forget to put my flipper in because I hate to wear it so much!

Karen and Lynn

There are some people to whom I will always be connected, no matter how much time elapses between connection.  Alice is one of those for me.  When I was a young teacher in an elementary school, I became disenamored with the principal of my school and knew that it was time to move on. So, when an opening came up in a nearby high school I applied for and got the position.  Keep in mind that I had been teaching special needs children in an elementary school, and though the students in the high school were also special needs, they were high schoolers and the curriculum was much different as were the needs of the kids.  Alice helped me acclimate to these new circumstances and in the process we became fast friends.  She left public education a few years later, and our paths diverged, but when we reconnected with Facebook we picked up where we left off.  This picture was taken at Dry Falls, a dramatic waterfall not far from my house.

Alice

And then there is Wilma.  She became my bosom buddy when we, as second year teachers, wound up at the same school.  In fact, I took her place as a special needs teacher when she moved to 6th grade.  This school was in Wayne County, NC and we moved to Mecklenburg at the same time when her husband, who worked for Fish and Wild Life, was transferred.  They only spent a couple of years in Mecklenburg before moving back to the eastern part of the state, and we went 9 years without seeing or talking to each other.  When we did it was as if we had talked the day before.  She comes up here as often as she can, and brings people with whom I am not acquainted, but who nevertheless leave as friends.  This picture is of Wilma and our friend, Nannie.

Wilma and Nannie

My Georgia cousins, Anne and Beth, came this summer.  We do not see each other frequently so it is always a very special occasion for me.  I did have a picture of them picking up acorns to take back to Beth's daughter for her pet squirrel, but I can't find it on my phone.

I still manage to travel to Charlotte pretty frequently, and I try to use those visits to see people that I care about.  On one such visit I had supper with Marvin and Lisa, colleagues at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte.  We, along with several other administrators, opened the school and all of us became fast friends.  Though we have moved on, those days will always be special.

Lisa, Marvin, and Lynn

And then there is the Big Chill that we have once a year with our college friends.  Most of the usual crew was here and we, as always, had a wonderful time.  This picture is of the ladies.  For some reason, I didn't get one of the gentlemen (?).

Claudia, Jane, Marti, and Lynn

Over the course of the summer and fall, I have had the opportunity to see some of the special people in my life.  My mother is 91 years old, and continues to add spice to our lives.  My grandchildren are totally wonderful.  Gracen and Avery were bridesmaids in their aunt's wedding in October, and were, of course, beautiful.  Katelyn, Lauren, and JJ keep themselves busy with school and sports, but on occasion I am able to corral them for a picture!

Sweet Mama

Gracen and Avery

Katelyn, JJ, and Lauren

My sister's (Judy) youngest son was married this summer.  David and Shayna's wedding was so sweet and we had a good time.  I missed some of the festivities as I was responsible for mother and, she being short on stamina, cut things short to get her home.  I did get  pictures of the happy couple at their shower; of my beautiful sister; and of the nervous bridegroom.

David and Shayna

Sister Judy

Nervous Bridegroom

I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but I have a car that is an issue magnet.  It seems like it is always something with this thing.  I have it in the shop for minor glitches what seems like all the time.  Earlier in the summer I backed over a rock ( not the car's fault, but still), and about a month ago I hit a deer on my way back from Charlotte one morning.  The car turned out to be drivable, and I just took it to the body shop on Monday as they were very busy.  I hope to be able to pick it up tomorrow. I think it looks like it's missing a jaw what with the eyes still there and part of the mouth.  I think when I pass people on the road they silently vow to stay away from this woman!

Deer Damage

I am going to make another post in a few days that will chronicle an event that I have kept secret for many years.  It is time to make it known and my life has unfolded to make it possible and positive.

In the meantime, I leave you with a couple of beautiful scenes. The moon shot was taken about dusk one evening in late summer, and the other is of fall foliage taken from our porch.

Hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and will also have a wonderful holiday season.

Love to all of you!