It's Been a Year!!

 Last year at this time we were coming off a wonderful holiday with our children and grandchildren.  Little did we know...

January and February moved along in typical fashion.  Jim and I continued with our personal trainer in an effort to stave off old age as much as possible.  We kept various medical and dental appointments, celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary, and began to prepare for the upcoming bee season.  In March, just like in the rest of the country, we were directed to remain in place, which we mostly did.  Here in the mountains, where nothing is close, we are unable to get delivery of groceries or other staples, so our confinement was less constrained as in other places.  Still, we consolidated trips, were cognizant of timing, and practiced common safety in regard to shielding our faces and maintaining social distance.  Hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes were staples in the car.  I even put together a "Covid bag" with masks, sanitizers, and wipes which I carried everywhere with us.  Early on, when it was hard to find masks, Jim made some out of shop towels from the directions on a U-Tube video he found.  I'm sure they were not as effective as those found today everywhere, but we didn't get sick, so I guess they were okay.

March also began the ramp-up to bee season.  Bees did not stop due to Covid.  We managed to bring 12 of our 15 hives out of the winter alive and mostly well.  We lost a 4th hive sometime early in the spring, but the others built up rapidly and did all those things bees do. This year, for the first time, we sold bees as well as honey.  That did several things: it somewhat mitigated the expense of keeping bees, it reduced the number of bee hives we would have had to manage and maintain, and it gave us experience in managing hives for optimal success.  This season, we began the winter with 15 hives.  We were able to get into them early last week on a warm day and it looks like we have about 12 that are still viable.  Bee keeping is a fabulous hobby, but it is labor intensive and during the season there is no time for anything else.  That means no summer vacations, or spring vacations, or fall vacations (at least until after mid-late October). Jim has had some health issues this year, and for a time I had to do the beekeeping.  That was hard and there were many things I could not do alone.  For us, being "beeks" is not a solitary endeavor.  We are 74, with all its ramifications, so I don't know how long we can keep this up, but for now we are planning for the new season.  Jim's health issues have not been of a critical nature, but have required health provider visits and some down time for him.  Currently, he is doing well and we are optimistic that this will continue.

Life as a Beekeeper

Right before the lock down, I went to Seneca, SC to see my long time friend, Kathy Cochran.  We worked together at Winding Springs School in Charlotte.  She is from Glenville, a community in close proximity to my current residence.  I had not seen her in a long time and it was fabulous to spend some time with her.  We had plans to get together this past summer, but...  Perhaps that will come to fruition soon when we can both get inoculated. She dared me to post her picture, so I will honor her wishes.  She is one of my best friends ever!

Speaking of inoculation, I can't wait to roll up my sleeve! While I would not characterize myself as a social butterfly, I am not a recluse either.  I have seen almost nothing of my children and grandchildren this year and I miss them. We have Zoomed and FaceTimed and we have seen our Charlotte grandchildren for a very few minutes from a distance in their garage.  Well, there was one time this summer when we actually got to hug them! We have not seen the Texas Riggsbees since last Christmas.  

That notwithstanding, we've kept in touch.  They are all well.  Katie is a junior a UNC, Reni and JJ are in high school at Charlotte Catholic, and Gracen and Avery, 14 and 12 respectively, are remote learning in Austin and/or Pagosa Springs.  Adam and his family spent a large part of the initial quarantine time in Pagosa Springs, CO.  At that time it was less risky than Austin ( as was Jackson County, NC), but Covid has caught up in rural areas and the level of safety required is just as necessary as in the bigger areas. Katie has had Covid as has Jon.  The others have been exposed at school and go back and forth with quarantine.  So far, Adam's family has escaped infection.

Avery (12) and Gracen (14)

Katie (20), JJ (16), and Reni (17)

The spring and summer up here were beautiful, as usual.  There was a fair amount of rain and my tomatoes got blight, but I got enough to eat and give away.  I had wanted to put some up as my stores are almost depleted, but that wasn't in the cards this year.  I did manage to put up 30 quarts of beans, and I made 24 pints of pickles.  I did not grow the cukes for the pickles, but they are cheap at the farmer's market.

Spring on the Ridge

In June, my friend Wilma came for a visit.  we taught school together when we were both second year teachers.  We gravitated to each other as we were the same age and shared students in common.  That instant friendship has resulted in our being BFFs ever since.  I love her like a sister.  We did some sightseeing while she was here.  She came again in the fall, and as always, is welcome anytime!

Wilma Fulkerson

In July, Jim had an appointment at the VA facility in Kernersville and we took the opportunity to get together with my siblings.  I had not seen any of them since Thanksgiving 2019, so this visit was fabulous!  It was really the first time we had gotten together with anyone, but we took the chance and did it.  Nobody got sick, so we were emboldened and became less fearful of being around people.  It helped that medical science knew more about how the virus spread and we were more cognizant about ways to protect ourselves and an acceptable level of risk.

The siblings:  Mary Diaz, Judy Tayloe, Lynn, Charlie Nichols
July 2020

July was also the ocassion of my 74th birthday.  I was so tired of bees that I told Jim that on that day I wanted to take a day trip.  We chose a driving tour that took us into eastern Tennessee and into counties north of Jackson.  It was a great day!  Basically it was a sight seeing tour and was socially distant.  We have decided to make this an annual event.

The Birthday Tour Route

Lynn at 74

My brother, Charlie and his family came for a weekend visit in September.  His daughter-in-law, Jessie (a precious girl) and his son Jacob came.  Jessie wanted to learn a little about beekeeping.  I don't think she really wants to keep bees, but she is intellectually inquisitive and just wanted to know more.  We had a great time with the four of them, taking them into a couple of hives and showing them what we looked for and what we could tell from an examination.  I sent them off with some of the 30 gallons of honey that we had harvested and invited them back to do some bee work!  I'm not holding my breath. 😊

Frame of Bees with Brood

Charlie, Renee, Jacob, Jessie Nichols

Thanksgiving was spent with just the two of us.  Jim cooked a small turkey and I made the dressing and gravy along with some other dishes.  It was quiet and peaceful and we shared our day with the boys and their families with FaceTime (or Zoom, I can't remember which).

Christmas was again just the two of us.  This time Jim cooked a standing rib roast that was SO good.  I added some other, less notable dishes, and we enjoyed our day.  We were lucky to be given a White Christmas, about 3 inches of beautiful snow that didn't last too long!  This is the second White Christmas we have had since moving here in 2009.  I don't remember ever having a White Christmas while growing up in Greensboro.

White Christmas, December 25, 2020

I saw this unusual nativity painting on Facebook this season.  Paintings do not generally create any emotional reaction for me, but this one did. It shows the Holy Family before all the pageantry that would take place began.  It was just the three of them; Mary, exhausted from childbirth; Joseph, overwhelmed with the tasks before him; and the baby that changed everything. This family was just like all of ours, with all the same humanity and it occurred to me that even today when we are overwhelmed and exhausted the baby still changes everything.  Most people who know me well would never think of me as being particularly religious (and I'm not really). There are reasons people would think that.  I am "salty" in many ways, I don't go to church (and don't really feel like I have missed anything there), and I have pretty unconventional beliefs about being a Christian. I am, however, still a person of faith and believe that Jesus's message to us is to "love one another, serve one another, and do not be afraid." Those things look different to each person, but are the essence of His existence on earth and are our model. Spend some time with this picture.  It is beyond poignant.

Before the Pageantry

New Year's brought a visit from our friends, Joe and Karen, who live in Greensboro. Karen and I went to church together and we were BFFs and Joe was in my GHS graduating class.  Jim is the odd man out!  Despite the fact that we went to bed long before the traditional time for ringing in the New Year, we had a great visit. We took a driving tour down scenic Highway 64 in Jackson and Macon counties and down through Sylva and Dillsboro to Cherokee. Then we ate dinner at this Mexican restaurant in Sylva that was just delicious. Jim and I have been there before and we knew to order and share because the servings are so big!  Joe and Karen had to take their leftovers home!

Karen and Joe Leonard

Our dog Jasper continues to make us laugh.  We adopted this old hound dog from the Humane Society in July 2017.  He had been there quite awhile and the staff had given up on his being adopted.  I have no idea why he did not appeal to people, though it could have been that his name was "Rap Star".  Really?  Also, he has some pitbull in him and maybe that put people off.  Anyway, he is the sweetest dog ever, not agressive in any way. He is affectionate, funny, and stubborn.  We did have to outfit him with an invisible fence collar (along with the invisible fence) so he wouldn't chase a scent and get lost.  He could never find his way back home which was really worrisome to us as we would have to depend on somebody to see him and call us.  Now he has about 2-3 acres on which he can roam without us fearing for him. Such a sweet puppy! 💕

Jim and Jasper

We are expecting to have a much better 2021 and we wish the same for you!  GET YOUR SHOTS!

P.S.  I am not updating my reading list a this time.  Maybe later.  I read 52 books this year, most of which were not notable except for Where the Crawdads Sing

What a Time to be Alive

What a Time to be Alive!!!

Two years ago I swore that I would be more diligent about posting to my blog.  I think that's important because there are people that may like to know what one person's life was like.  I have always regretted that I didn't think about (or consider important) what my grandparent's generation experienced and what they felt about their lives and their experiences.  Perhaps, my own grandchildren will want to know how my life unfolded for a time, and I can leave them a record for when I am gone.  Truly, young people think things have always been as they are now.

So, to catch you up:  I last posted in April of 2018.  My oldest granddaughter was just graduating from high school and had just been admitted to UNC for the 2018-2019 school year.  Katie (19) remains enrolled at UNC and is an excellent student.  She has been admitted to the business school (a difficult feat) and we remain proud of her.  Her siblings are in high school.  Reni (17) will graduate this year and JJ (15) is in the 10th grade.  They are Jon's children and live in Charlotte, NC.  Adam's children, Gracen (14) and Avery (12) are in 9th and 7th grades respectively.  They live in Austin , TX, though they spend considerable time in Pagosa Springs, CO where Adam and Shanna have a second home.  They have spent considerable time there during the current Covid-19 epidemic. You will see pics of all these precious people as this blog progresses.

Jim and I still live in the hills of western North Carolina.  We have lived here full time for 11 years.  We have not regretted our move a single time!  We stay busy keeping up 53 acres, keeping bees (yes,  we still do that), and growing and preserving some of our food.  

When I worked in public education, I had the best job ever where I was a teacher evaluator for the North Carolina Career Development Program.  I worked in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, of course, and there were maybe 50 of us at the program's largest and we came and went, so not all of us knew each other.   As you can imagine, we were not the most popular people that crossed the paths of the system's teachers, so we learned to depend on and support each other.  Career Development ended in the late 90's, I think, and we all went our separate ways.  One of our number, Sam Sipes, decided that a reunion was in order and she planned and held it at her home on beautiful Lake Norman.  Not as many people came as any of us wished, but those of us who were there had a wonderful time!  How nice to see people with whom we shared a common experience.  We ate, and laughed, and cried, and shared life's experiences since being Observers.  How much fun!  This picture is of the group that attended.

As I mentioned previously, oldest granddaughter Katie, graduated from high school in the spring of 2018.  Of course, that is a time of great celebration in any family, no less ours.  It was such a celebration with our family and our daughter-in-law's family.

The Riggsbees: Patti, Reni, Jim, Lynn, Katie, JJ, Jon

The Star!!!

And not to leave out the other group in the family, this photo was taken on the occassion of the wedding of Shanna's (my other daughter-in-law) brother in Colorado in the summer of 2018.

The other Riggsbees:  Avery, Shanna, Adam, Gracen

After a last restful summer, Katie headed off to college at UNC-CH.  It was a family affair and they commemorated it with this picture taken at The Old Well in Chapel Hill.

Jon, Reni, Katie, JJ, Patti

I love to have guests and try to keep up with friends old and new by inviting them to spend some time at my home.  This particular group was interesting.  It's members included a high school classmate (Kaye) who is the mother-in-law of the child of a CMS colleague (Susan), and a college classmate  (Paula).  We spent a wonderful weekend together playing bridge and being "girls".  Jim waited on us while we played and has now become the designated "butt boy" of the group.

Front:  Susan, Paula  Rear:  Kaye, Lynn

Since our mother died, my siblings and I have made every effort to remain connected by visiting in each other's homes from time to time.  In the summer of 2018, my sisters and I joined our brother and his wife at Lake Tillery for a weekend of family connection and fun on the lake.  This picture is of my brother, Charlie, while we were on his boat on a Saturday afternoon.  When Mama was in the assisted living facility, all of us participated in her care.  Judy and Charlie, who both lived nearby did the most and Mary and I visited regularly to do our share.  As our mother liked wine and had some difficulty using it in measured quantities, Charlie was the one who usually delivered her daily allotment.  He was extraordinarily devoted to both our parents as they aged.  We love him very much!

Our brother, Charlie Nichols

For many years, we have hosted our college friends at our home in October of each year.  2018 was no exception.  It is always fun to catch up.  We laugh because we used to talk of substantive things, but now we talk about our illnesses!!  This picture of of the group in the fall of 2018..

Classmates:
Front: Marti Shope, Ruby Lynch, Lynn
Rear:  Jim, Bob Blaylock, David Shope, Penny Baldridge

Each December, Jim and I try to go to Texas to see our granddaughters perform in "The Nutcracker"..  They belong to a performing group that does this performance every year.  As their ballet skills improve they get parts which are more difficult.  It is always a wonder to watch their supple little bodies.  These pics make my legs hurt!!

Gracen

Avery

On the same trip that we made to see "The Nutcracker", we visited the George H. W, Bush Presidential Museum.  It was a marvelous experience that occurred almost immediately after his death.  Wandering around the museum and the grounds lent somber respect to the office.  Even in these tumultuous times, the awesome responsibility that falls to the holder of that office is unmatched by anything else in the world.  We have plans to visit as many of the Presidential Libraries as we can (if Covid-19 ever lets up!)

The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library

I love the Christmas season!  I always decorate my house, whether or not anyone is coming.  Sometimes, we spend the holiday alone, sometimes we celebrate with friends or family.  In 2018 and in 2019, we spend the holiday with family.  In 2018 we went to Charlotte and spent time with Jon and his family, including Patti's family.  It was so much fun.  On Christmas Eve, we all went our to dinner and had a funny little gift exchange.  I laughed and laughed!  Patti's family is, shall I say, exuberant and there is always love and laughter when one is around them.

Jim and The Mad Hatter

The Riggsbees, the O'Connors, and the Girouxs

MiMi and the Grands, Reni, JJ,and Katie

Christmas 2019 was spent at our house with all the family in attendance.  Adam and his family came from Texas, and Jon and his family came from Charlotte.  It was such fun!!  Even though I swore that I was not going to decorate so much, I did anyway, even resorting to buying some new decorations that I certainly did not need, but that added so much to the festivity of the occassion. As the grandchildren get older and get their own lives, it is harder and harder to get together with everybody.  That makes the times we do have all the more special.

The girls:  Shanna, Lynn, Patti

The boys:  Adam, Jim, Jon

 Gracen, Katie, JJ, Avery, Reni
Jim and Lynn
Jasper

Right after Christmas 2018, I went to Colorado to visit Adam and his family at their home in Pagosa Springs.  Colorado is cold and snowy in late December and January.  Adam and his family are outdoor enthusiasts so we hiked and snowshoed and skied.  They do cross country skiing, an activity in which I did not participate.  I did snowshoe, soak in the warm springs from which Pagosa Springs gets its name, and even made an ugly snowman.  It was great fun, only marred by a head-on accident in which Adam's truck was totaled.  No one was injured, though I did lose a hearing aid!  It was such fun!!!  I want to go there in the summer, but I'm going to have to quit keeping bees to do that!!

MiMi, the Snowbunny!

Shanna and Lynn

Adam and Mom

MiMi and the girls, Gracen and Avery

The Ugly Snowman

In the springs:  Gracen, Adam, Avery, Shanna

Three years ago we adopted Jasper, a Plott hound mix who was about 3 1/2 years old and who had spent a great portion of his life incarcerated in one shelter or another.  He was, and is, an extraordinarily sweet dog.  He barks and growls sometimes, but it's usually when he's asleep.  Once in a great while he will bark at a delivery person or at a repair person.  The UPS guy has gotten so he brings dog biscuits.  He's Jasper's best friend!  He's big, weighing in a 80 pounds and certainly looks more ferocious than he is.  Certainly not an alpha dog, I doubt if we could depend on him for protection!!  This picture epitomizes his personality.

No caption needed

Occasionally, we take weekend trips with our friends.  In May 2019 we journeyed to Beaufort, SC to see the Blue Angels with our friends Jarleth and Jim.  It was a wonderful weekend, and one that we were certainly unable to duplicate this spring!  Beaufort is a beautiful seaside town in coastal South Carolina and has a rich history.  We love Jarleth and Jim.  Unfortunately, Jim's health has taken a turn and travel is much harder for him.  We are looking forward to a short visit with them next weekend when they come up for a few days.  It is easy to socially distance here, so everybody feels safe.

Jarleth, Jim and Jim

Our only grandson's middle school graudation and church confirmation were causes for celebration in the spring of 2019.  Once again, these events are an affirmation of love and family and we all had fun, though the ocassions themselves were solemn and meaningful.

MiMi, JJ, PapaJim

Reni, Jon, JJ, Jim, Lynn, Katie

Friends continue to be important to us and in the fall of 2019 we went to Hilton Head with our friends Jaime and Mike.  It was a peaceful few days in a lovely spot and the company ws perfect!! Mike has also had some health issues, but is on the road to recovery (we hope) and we look forward to seeing them sometime before too long .

The sun rises over Hilton Head

Mike and Jaime

And, guess what?  it's time for The Big Chill again.  In 2019, a couple who almost always comes, but who missed 2018, is once again in attendance.  For the first time, we made it a weekend event with our friends arriving on Friday and staying until Sunday.  Everybody brought contributions to the larder and took turns cooking.  That's a good thing because I could never have done it all myself!!!

Left to right:  Penny and John Baldridge, Claudia and Bob Blaylock, Marti and David Shope,
Ruby Lynch
Jane and Ken Teasley, Lynn and Jim

And it's Thanksgiving on again. This year my siblings and I decided to have Thanksgiving Dinner at my youngest sister's house.  She lives in the house that Mama and Daddy made a home for us and this holiday was to honor and remember them.  Of course, the food was good, what TG food isn't?  But Mary, my youngest sister, is exuberant and creative and she had games and dress-up clothes for everybody to play with.  All of us were a little silly!!  Such fun!

MiMi and PapaJim with Reni, JJ, and Katie

The siblings:  Charlie, Mary, Judy, Lynn

And then, Covid hit.  Jim and I did like most older people (notice I did not say "elderly") and mostly stayed in, choosing our destinations and times carefully.  Up here in the mountains, we do not have delivery service from anywhere, so grocery shopping was a must.  We took to getting up very early and leaving home around 6:00 a.m. to travel an hour to Waynesville to visit our favorite groceries (Publix and Ingles).  We'd get to Publix when the store opened, each of us with a list.  We separated, purchased the items on our list and met at the cash registers.  We were usually out in about 20 minutes.  Then we went across the street to Ingles and did the same thing.  We were always done by 8:00, so we went to the drive-thru at McDonald's for breakfast and headed home.  We arrived home no later than 9:00.  Now that things have loosened up we still get up early to shop, but also go at other times, taking care to wear masks and socially distance.  We have stayed well.  We finally saw Jon and his family sometime in early July when we went to Charlotte for a doctor appointment for Jim.  We all sat in the garage, 6 feet apart, and gave virtual hugs and kisses.  Charlotte is a hot spot, so we didn't stay there except long enough to go to the doctor.  The young Riggsbees were going to come up here for a few days, but Katie had a Covid scare when her roommate and her boyfriend tested positive for Covid.  Katie tested negative, but came home and I think all of them are being careful.  I doubt if we will see them, but I am going to take Patti some pickles at the end of the week when I go to have a tooth extraction.  At some point we're going to have to move everything up here.  I have a primary care doctor and a GYN up here and Jim has just today found an orthopedist for his knee.  A periodontist, a regular dentist, and an eye doctor are next on the list.

On that same trip, we went from Charlotte to Greensboro and celebrated my high school best friend's birthday with a very small gathering and, the next day, had lunch with all my siblings and some other family members.

The siblings:  Mary, Judy, Lynn, Charlie

But even Covid does not stop birthdays!  On July 21st I turned 74 years old.  I did not want to keep bees, pick and can beans, make pickles, or work in the garden.  So Jim took me on a day trip. we have this book of backroads tours of western North Carolina and we took one of them.  It had scenic views, wild and turbulent waters, and quaint towns.  It was a wonderful day.  We're going to take another trip as soon as we can get the honey harvested in a couple of weeks.

The Route

The Husband

The Birthday Girl

While talking to a friend the other day, she asked me why I worked so hard.  After all, don't I deserve a little rest?  I made some smart answer , but today while I was picking beans, I thought about that.  I work because I can.  I am active and healthy and see no reason to spend my day sitting.  I work because I don't sit well.  I work because I like being productive.  And I work so that I don't obsess with all the things that are wrong in this country right now, and about which I can do nothing.  I am neither oblivious to them; nor am I without opinion.   I've thought about the diversity of opinions about our government, about the state of our society, and about the variety of experiences within that society.  I believe that each person with an opinion is convinced that he has the moral high ground.  It is important to most of us to believe that we are good people, so our opinions have to appear moral and just if only to ourselves.  I have not had the same life experiences as you have, so my perspective is different than yours.  We should be able to explore our differences and come to some workable option.  The problem with violence, either physical or verbal, (and that violence is not limited to just one side) is that it cuts off dialogue.  The destruction of property (regardless of who it belongs to) adds another dimension to the problem and people that are aggrieved will demonize the perpetrators (who think they have the moral high ground).  See the conundrum?  When I was younger, I was somewhat of a rounder.  I would argue with anybody with whom I did not agree, thinking that if I was indignant enough they would see that I was right.  They didn't and I solved very few problems.  Age has mellowed me and I have learned to keep my mouth shut.  If I do that, the other person can spend their anger and then we can reach a resolution.  That is not happening in many places in this country.  We are all Americans and losing our country is a real possibility with the forces of Marxism and Socialism and anarchy moving against it.  No outside force is strong enough to take us down, but we can be destroyed from within.  A house divided cannot stand.  We have to shut up, trust each other, and work together for the common good.

Hopefully it won't be another two years before I blog again.  In the meantime, stay well and be happy!