The Invasion of the Green-Tongued Chickies!

Gracie and Avey...green-tongued chickies!

Ok, invasion is not a really good term...it was actually a much anticipated visit from our youngest grandchildren as they were on their way back to Texas.  We actually allowed their parents to visit also.  It was short, but was packed with lots of "Mimi and PapaJim" things.

One of the things they did was to ride in the tractor with PJ...I, unfortunately, was tied up with fixing some meal or another and didn't get pics.  Shanna did, though, so maybe she'll send me some.  The other thing was eating watermelon flavored popsicles...you know, those that leave an obnoxious color on your lips, tongue and teeth? 

Shanna, two-fisted s'more eater!

Adam, serious fire-cooker!

It was a short visit, but we all had fun around the fire making s'mores.  I think Shanna particularly enjoyed them!

Today JR and I put up peas...13 quarts of Lady Peas, and 12 quarts of limas.  So you won't think that we did this as speed demons, I should let you know that we bought them already shelled...a much easier and less stressful proposition.  After we did the arithmetic, we figured that we saved $75 off the usual price of 25 quarts of peas, and we will have fresh peas all winter!

This weekend we will be working in a community bazaar.  If I remember to take my camera, I'll send you some pics.  Love to all.

Katie and I do Cherokee and the Habitat House

Katie, our oldest granddaughter, came to visit us for a couple of days.  I had these grandiose ideas of taking her to Cherokee (which I did), and educating her in the uniqueness and oldness of the mountains.  Well, we went to Oconoluftee Indian Village where we got a tour guide who had NO idea of what he was speaking...full Cherokee though he was.  Consequently, we spent most of our time hanging out at the rear of the pack, laughing!  We did learn a couple of dances that we intend to teach the family at Thanksgiving.  Though the village was interesting in many details, it was hot and humid.  Following that we went to the Museum of the Cherokee, which was very interesting if the exhibits that were supposed to be narrated with a motion detector had worked.  We spent a lot of time trying to figure out what particular portions of the exhibits were about...another BUST!

Katie at Cherokee

After leaving the museum, while waiting for "Unto These Hills" to start, we decided that we were hungry.  Bad mistake.  We found one place that had food, so we got the world's worst hotdog.  I mean, really, no slaw, no onion, just chili and mustard.  After that we went back to the car to cool off. While there we talked about the review of the play...mixed.  We were tired, and finally decided to blow it off and come home! There we watched "The Green Hornet", a lame and stupid movie that was, nonetheless, funny.

Katie behind the waterfall!

The next day JR and I decided to take her "waterfalling"...an interesting pastime in the mountains that consists of driving all over hell and half of Georgia to see water falling over rocks.  We first went to Silver Run...a totally underwhelming fall which neither JR nor I had ever seen.  Then we went to Whitewater which is a spectacular fall that is one of the most revered in the eastern US.  Then we went to the new Gorges State Park where there are trail heads to three other spectacular falls on the Horsepasture River.  However, the roads leading to them were closed for some undisclosed reason.  We finally just gave up and took her to some property that we own in northern Jackson that had waterfalls and creeks.  There she played in the falls, and searched for garnet and quartz in the creek.  We all had a good time...best of the visit.
 

Queen Lauren

Patti, Jim and Jonathan

Jon and Patti brought Katie up. and of course, the other children were here.  We cooked out and then made S'mores over the fire.  Too cute!!!

Katie enjoying the fruits!

And then, I spent a day with Habitat for Humanity, doing a Women Build project.  It was fun, but I think I've aged out of hard labor!
There were seven or eight people in our crew and our jobs were to build walls and put in windows.  I actually started out on the roof crew, but found that I didn't have the strength to be a good worker there.  So, I changed to the window crew.  Most of the time, I read the levels, but I was instrumental in putting a window.  Wow!  It was fun, I met new people, and felt that I had made a contribution to society in some way.  Below are pics of the whole crew and of the "window crew".

The Window cCew

The Whole Crew

Next up.. a birthday party for Jarleth and Lynn in the mountains!  All of J.J.'s family will be here...such fun!

We love you guys!

MiMi Does Austin!

In late May I went to Austin to keep Adam's two girls for a week while their parents worked.  Their school was closed, and they aren't really old enough to stay by themselves...5 and 3!  I was so excited!  Of course, since I have an artificial knee, I set off the metal detectors in the airport, resulting in a "pat-down".  The female TSA agents were very polite and explained everything they were going to do.  It wasn't so bad, really, and I guess if I'm going to fly I should get used to it.  On my return trip, though, a male TSA agent was very rude to me when he yelled at me "Don't touch your things!"  I started to use my power as a white headed grandmother to ask him if his mother had taught him to be that rude, but, in the end, decided that it wasn't going to change anything, so I (uncharacteristically) kept my mouth shut.

It was all worth it as I had a wonderful time with the girls!  They were very good, and we spent time in their pool, went to the library, went to the toy store, and out to lunch; rode bikes and read books. I learned to drive Adam's hybrid Prius, and didn't get lost or have a wreck!

Avery the Fish

Avery turned 3 while I was there, and on Saturday the family had a party with adults and children.  It was fun, and I was able to help Adam in the kitchen.  He made the BEST hamburgers.  I'm still waiting for him to send me his recipe.

Gracie gets up really early (wonder where she got that?) and I was usually upstairs when she appeared in the living room..  On Saturday I stayed in bed a little longer and when I got upstairs about 7 a.m., she asked me why I was late.  She can't tell time, but she KNEW I was late!  I laughed out loud!

Gracie and "Chicken"

I arrived on a Sunday and left the next Sunday, very early, so I told the girls goodbye on Saturday night when they went to bed.  We all three cried, and I cried again the next morning when I kissed them goodbye, though they were still asleep.  Shanna said that Gracie teared up when she got up and realized I was gone.

It was a great trip.  They are coming to NC next week.  Shanna and the girls are going to stay for about 6 weeks.  I'm not yet sure when they will get up here, but we'll see them at some point.  Also, we are planning to go there at Thanksgiving.  It seems that Jon and Patti and their family are going to be there also.  I can't wait.

Jon and his family are going to be up this weekend to bring Katie.  She and I are going next week to Cherokee to see the Oconoluftee Indian Village, visit the Cherokee museum, and see the outdoor drama, "Unto These Hills".   She will be in the 6th grade next year, and is growing up.  She paints her nails, and wears lip gloss, and is absolutely beautiful.  She won an award at her school (I can't remember what it is called), but it is one that is voted on by peers.  It was quite an honor, and we were proud.
 
Somewhere in here are some pictures I took in Texas.  I'll update you on the Cherokee trip next week (or sometime).  We love you guys!

A beautiful family!

Truck Farming, Visiting, and Communing

I know it's been a long time since I added anything to this blog, but it's been because I've been busy...well, maybe a LITTLE lazy, but mostly busy.  So, here is an update on the scintillating activities of the Riggsbees!

Those of you who know us, know that we like to have our hands in the dirt, that we've always gardened, and that this is a major focus of our lives in spring and summer.  Stupidly, however, we really haven't gotten a grip on how to grow stuff up here in the hills.  Warmth comes so much later here than it does in the Piedmont of NC, so for the last two years, we have gotten a little ahead of ourselves.  I started squash and cuke from seed...I gave some cukes to my granddaughter and hers look really good...mine are anemic, as are the squash.  My tomatoes look okay, the potatoes are stupendous, the green beans are super, and the beddding flowers are good.  I don't know about the squash and cuke, and just damn forget the spinach!  Either we tried to plant when it was too cool, or when we composted our beds, we put in too much compost.  I do hold out some hope that the anemic plants will recover...they show a few signs, but I just may have to plant some more seed.  Well, I'm keeping a garden journal, so I now have dates to work with, as well as info on what is doing well and what isn't.  Still, I'm looking for bumper crops to can and freeze.  I'll let you know!

Truck Farming Begins!

Susan and Howard Gibbs

Susan and Howard Gibbs came for a visit in April.  I've known Susan for a few years as we have been in the same bridge club and also worked together at UNCC.  She is so wonderful and I am looking forward to her retirement on September 1...then she can come up here often!  Howard, her husband, has long been a favorite of mine (all the husbands help the wives when it's their turn to host bridge), and he is a total hoot!  He kept us in stitches.  We really didn't do much...had dinner with some friends of ours up here, ate, drank,.. laughed and played bridge.  It was a beautiful weekend, and I can't wait to repeat it!

Lauren Elizabeth Riggsbee

And. most special of all, our granddaughter Lauren Elizabeth had her First Holy Communion last weekend.  I went down on Thursday and had a root canal...yes, it was a lot of fun...went to Grandparent's Day at the school on Friday, and the communion festivities were on Saturday.  This is such a special day in a young Catholic's life, and we are always proud and honored to be witness to our grandchildren's communions.  Notice how beautiful she was in her Communion dress.  And, just as an aside, I have never thought of her as resembling my mother, but in this picture she looks like my mother did as a child and young woman.

Jon and Patti Riggsbee, Katie, Reni, and JJ

 I am going to Texas at the end of the month to keep granddaughters while their mother finishes the school year.  I can't wait.  Will chronicle that and send other brag photos!

Love to all.

J.J. Kitty and the Texas Tractor Girls

J. J. Kitty (1994-2011)

J. J. Kitty, cat extraordinaire, left us on Tuesday, March 22.  We had her for 17 years, and loved her very much, but her quality of life had declined significantly, and we could no longer ask her to suffer.  Her death was tranquil and easy, and we buried her in a pretty spot near our garden, so we can always be reminded of how much we loved her.

She came to us as 1/4 of a quartet of little black kittens.  Adam found them at the Cullowhee airport, took them to the Jackson County pound where we bailed them out for $35 a clip; and brought them home where they wrecked havoc until I banished them to the outside.  We gave away 3 of them, but Kitty had the best personality and we were successful in keeping her out of the clutches of interested persons until we decided that she was OUR cat.  She was always a good pet.  When we bought our place in the mountains we brought her with us back and forth.  The house was very rustic and mice were frequent visitors, but Kitty kept their population down easily.  When we would be gone, she would catch a mouse and "save" it for us.  She would deposit it on the floor on one or the other side of the bed, indicating that the "gift" was for the person who slept on that side.  Not only that, but she would not allow the other one of us to clean up the little critter.  She would do this by herding us away from it.  We got the message.  She will be missed.

Last week, the Texas Riggsbees came to town for a short visit.  They had been in the state for several days trying to see all friends and family.  Shanna's mother came also and we had a good time.  JR took the girls for a ride on the John Deere.  They declared that it was the most favorite thing they did while they were here.  After they left, JR and I hauled ourselves to Charlotte where we kept all five of them while the boys and their wives went to the first round of the NCAA tournament which was being held there.  It was fun, too.  Each of them has such  different personalities, and it's entertaining to watch how each of them reacts to his/her environment.  Below are some pics of the girls while they were here.  They'll be back this summer and I hope to have all the family up for a few days.

Avery Ana (almost 3)

Gracen Elyse (almost 5)

JR and I are going to do some spring planting today (cabbage, spinach, lettuce, onions, etc) and I will start some seeds for the summer garden.  Yesterday I planted some crocosmia and an Amethyst Falls wisteria.  I'll probably have to move it next year.  It is bigger than I thought and JR is going to have to build me an arbor for it.  I also need to get my dahlias and peonys in the ground.  I plan to do some canning and freezing this summer so the summer garden will be bigger than it was last year.  I'm ready!  Around here it is risky to plant summer crops before Mother's Day.  I didn't listen to the natives last year, and lost nearly all my stuff to freeze and frost!  This year, I'm going to be smarter!

Enjoy the spring time!  We love you.

A Nice Little Mini-Vacation and Beautiful Weather

Vicki Jaus trying to figure out how to repair a childhood dress

Tom and Millie Snyder with Nemo

Susan Gibbs

Susan Gibbs and Ann Baldwin

Diane Adams. Valerie Crockett, and Nancy Kramer

You know, the winter can be pretty bleak up here, cold, dreary, and snowy.  In addition to that, the dog has been sick and has to be medicated daily.  All this adds up to being confined much of the time.  But JR closed his office in Charlotte, and is now working out of our home, so I took myself on  a mini-vacation while he played dog-sitter.  On Sunday I went to Charlotte.  In Charlotte, I saw my friend Jarleth (actually I stayed with her Sunday), and visited with my sister. On Monday I did a little shopping, saw Jon, got my oil changed and my flat tire repaired.  Then I went to my bridge club meeting and saw all the BGs (Bridge Girls).  We never did get around to playing bridge, but it was a great time.  They're the best bunch of people in the world!  I even spent the night with Millie. On Tuesday, I went to Mama's in Greensboro and had a nice visit with her and my other sister and brother.  It was a great trip and I came home on Wednesday just in time for some more snow.  There was a small accumulation and it didn't keep me prisoner.  But the last few days have been beautiful, temps in the 50s to near 60, with bright sunshine.  It looks like it will last a bit longer.  Susan and Howard Gibbs are coming the weekend of the 25th and she wants it to snow!  Sorry, Susan, I don't think it will!

The pics above (not where I wanted them) were taken at Millie's house with the Bridge Girls.  I'm avoiding anymore snow pictures!

Sorry I've been away so long, but I've been nursing the dog.  There is a reason I wasn't a health care professional!

Love to all.

Lynn's Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Week

J. J. Kitty, Cat Extraordinaire

It all started with J. J. Kitty.  She is a very old cat, brought to us courtesy of Adam during his freshman summer at WCU.  Being the  proverbial rescuer, he and his then girl friend brought J. J. Kitty and her three siblings to our home. How interesting!  There were two males and two females, all black without a single defining characteristic among the four of them.  We had to learn them.  Eventually, we discovered the J.J. Kitty was the best and while we entertained those who wanted a cat, we deftly managed to keep J. J. Kitty out of their clutches.  The other three went to other families, but J. J. Kitty stayed with us. She was so cute.  While I was reading my paper in the mornings, she crawled in my lap and batted at the paper, making me laugh and coming to love her so much more than ever.  Fast forwarding, she has become an old a feeble cat.  I took her to the vet and decided to give her one more cortisone shot to make her quality of life a little better, but the truth is that without that shot she has no life, and with it, she has little. I think that the next time it could be time to give her some peace.  I'm not sure that I can do it.  But that wasn't all in regard to pets.

Chester, the Lucky Dog!

Chester, the dog, had not really been doing well the day before, but when I took Kitty to the vet I thought he looked better, so I didn't take him that day.  Next day, he was not so good, so I hauled him into the vet.  Doug did a bunch of stuff and figured that he had some kind of infection or, maybe, hemolytic anemia.  He would know when we brought him back for some more blood work the next day.  The next day his hemo counts were lower, so we decided to take Chet to Greenville to the specialists.  It was snowing when we left for Greenville, two hours away. After spending a number of hours waiting for the diagnosis, we found that he did, indeed, have hemolytic anemia, a rather nasty autoimmune disease.  He has been at the vet for a week, but we are going to get him tomorrow (Friday).  He is stable and we are cautiously optimistic that he will recover. So, who knows.  They are old and I don't know how long we can keep them in a life that is meaningful for them.

Jim"s car in 14 inches of snow

There's been a lot of snow and the truck has been stuck in the drive, and I have a flat tire on my 4Runner.  JR managed to dig his truck out today and did some good on the drive with the tractor.  He has gone to Charlotte. Jon tells me that I should just come to Charlotte for the winters.  I will do that when I don't have Jim, otherwise, I will be here with him.  The winters, heretofore, have not been that bad.  Perhaps this is a passing fancy!  We only have fourteen inches as I speak!  I'll leave you with a pic.

It has not been a good week, but life goes on and next week will be better!

We love you guys!