Breaks and Grandchildren

OK. I took a nap and April disappeared. I've thought many times that I would add to the blog, but somehow never quite got around to it. Part of the reason is that I have been cogitating on the ObamaCare bill that passed the Congress in March. I'm not happy with that, but I wanted to make sure that I was reasonable before I commented on it. I'm not going to do that now, but that will be my next post...fair warning for those of you who don't like my rantings! :):)

However, some really wonderful things have happened to me since then...Mary, her children, and her friend, Abby, came up for a few days during their spring break; we got a REFUND on taxes (first time in living memory); and I spent a wonderful weekend with my grandchildren (and son and daughter-in-law, of course) this past weekend.

First things first. Mary, the kids, and Abby came for a few days. We didn't do much of anything. We had lunch with another of my friends, Cathy Baker, one day (it was raining hard), but I forgot to take a pic of the group that day. Ana brought a friend, Christina, who is a very nice girl. I liked her. Mary took the kids and Abby gem mining one day, but mostly we just hung out, played Chickenfoot (if you don't know what that is, you should), and drank wine. I always love having Mary up here. She just brightens days! Even after how hard her life has been, she always sees the glass as half full.

Mary and Abby

Ana and Christina (left), Zach (right)

I am so bad at this stuff. I can hardly believe that I even DO a computer, much less pretend that I know what I'm doing!

The next great thing was the 5 days I spent in Charlotte this week. Almost all of the time was spent with my grandchildren, and though I meant to contact some of my friends there, I just didn't do it. I saw Jon's ballgame on Thursday (though I went on Wednesday, thinking that was the day..I got lots of kidding about that); went to a wonderful Grandparent's Day at Saint Gabriel's on Friday,; went to THREE ballgames for all three grandchildren on Saturday, and to Reni's birthday party on Sunday. I have made the transition from Charlotte to the mountains and consider this home now, but this weekend was one of the best I have spent there! All thanks to Jon and Patti for opening their home and hearts for us...and to our good friend, Jarleth, who gives me a place to stay with grace, style, and love.

Reni's Birthday

The Cousins
Reni, Mikey (Giroux), Jonathan, Katie, Charlie (Giroux), Robbie (Giroux)

A wonderful time was had by all!

Mamas and Sisters

I had a wonderful two days with Mama this week. I don't get to see her as often as I'd like, so this was a real treat. She will be 86 years old next moth. She still lives alone, and is in reasonably good health. My brother, Charlie, and my sister, Judy get the credit for looking after her so well. While I was there, we went to see Judy's new house. It is a really cute log home with a wrap around porch. Judy cooked lunch (delicious), we sat on the porch in the warm spring sunshine, and took a walk to examine an old family cemetery that is down the road a ways. All of us like cemeteries, and this one was very interesting. The youngest grave we saw dated from 1965, and the whole plot is in great disrepair. We saw some graves marked with inscribed stones, but many graves were marked only with stones stuck in the ground. Many young babies were buried there, and most of the current "residents" were not really old.

Only 14 months separate my birth and Judy's, so we were very close as children. We got away from that closeness as were were young women rearing young families, but as we have aged and as concerns about Mama have enabled us to reconnect in a most wonderful way. Isn't family great?

I'm going to try to put a picutre on this site, but I'm having some difficulty with the blogger site, so who knows. Well, I got it on, but it's not where I want it. Beggars can't be chooers, I don't guess.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It happens everywhere, but in the mountains when the winters can be, and often are, harsh, a day that is a harbinger of spring is received with joy that is just short of giddiness...or not!  Today was such a day...sunny, warmish (50's), light winds.  Although I should have worked on my taxes, I resolved to wait until the next rainy day (tomorrow).  JR and I joyfully spent the entire day outside, cleaning up small (very small ) amounts of winter detritus and burning them in the firepit.  When I had used up every bend-over that I could, I sat by the fire with my book and enjoyed the fresh air (when the smoke wasn"t following my beauty) and reveled in the opportunity to be out of the house.  

The winter is not over, and there will be other inhospitable days, but today was a promise of things to come.  I just can't wait!!!

Austin City Limits and Mud, Lovely Mud!

The view of Austin from Adam's and Shanna's deck.

At last report I was contemplating descending a mile long driveway in 10 inches of snow. I finally decided to just get in the car and go.  I left on Wednesday afternoon while the snow was soft and went to Asheville to spend the night before heading to Austin on Thursday morning.  The next morning was bitterly cold in Asheville with the wind chill approaching the single digits.  I had not intended taking my heavy jacket, but since I had to park in the long term parking row that was furthest from the terminal, I was forced to do so.  That, of course, meant that I had to figure out a place for it in my carry-on bag.  It didn't fit well, but at least I had a coat...just what was needed in Austin's high 60's and low 70"s.

The trip was fine, if a bit long (I had a 4 hour layover in Atlanta, which stretched to 4 1/2 when the plane was late).  Jim joined us all on Thursday evening and a great time was had by all.  Adam and Shanna have a nice house that is plenty large for the girls and their playthings.  We spent an afternoon in downtown Austin, a very nice and livable urban area.  It rained for a couple of days, and we amused ourselves with the children.  Oh, how wonderful!!!  Gracie never shuts up, Avey is learning to talk, and I have watched enough "Dora the Explorer" to last a lifetime.  I think this is the longest sustained time I have spent with the girls and I loved every second of it.

Avery (left) and Gracie (right) in a playful mood.

Right before Adam and I left to go to the airport, I called Curt (our builder) to find out the condition of the driveway.  No snow, but muddy.  I can do mud!  When I got to the drive, I was very pleased to note that there was NO SNOW on the drive.  Oh, mud, lovely mud!  Getting up was no problem.  Right now, it is foggy and a bit rainy with more of that forecast, but NO SNOW for the forseeable future.  God is smiling on me!

Soon as I finish this, I'm heading to Charlotte for a couple of days.  Got some clean-up to do before I put that house back on the market and am going to the doctor tomorrow with Jim's elderly cousin.  Flat Stanley, from Arlington, TX, is visiting us for a few days.  I hope he doesn't get snowed in.  Love to all.

The Best Laid Plans...

My intention had been to create a blog titled "On to Austin!!!"  That was until the weather became very uncooperative.  I am (still) planning to got to Austin on Thursday to visit Adam, Shanna, and the most wonderful grandchildren, Gracie and Avery.  Ummm...we have about 8 inches of snow on the ground as I write, and it isn't supposed to stop anytime soon.  I could, once again, be stuck.  I have resolved not to cry.

Anyway, the last thing to keep me prisoner was the damn dog, but his doggie care facility is now complete, and we feel pretty confident that we can leave him for a couple of days without having to worry about him.  The cat, being pretty self-sufficient, will, as always, be fine with food, water, and a litter box.  You know, the older I get, the more I'm like my mama...she doesn't want to take care of anything anymore!

OK.  Back to the subject hand.  Those of you that know me well, know that when we moved to the mountains, we gave up the comforts of a fenced in back yard, and a doggie door.  We have been working with a wrought iron guy (who doubles as a VERY GOOD country singer: Name: Freddie Way) to create a "doggie daycare facility" (prison) that would protect him, keep him comfortable, and allow us some time off.  Until this project was complete, one of us had to be here all the time.  OK.  It is complete!  Therefore, I felt very comfortable leaving him with food and water (and an intermittent caretaker) for a few days while I went to Austin, TX to see Adam (on his birthday), and, most importantly, the grandchildren.  This could work...except for the fact that I now have about 8 inches of snow on the ground with the probability that it won't quit until midnight.  I am now playing things by ear...or snowfall inches.  The snow has been very heavy, and I wish that I could say that it is diminishing...wishful thinking!  I tried to take a pic of the falling snow, but I don't think I know the resolutions on the camera that will do that.  Use your imagination.

So...I may or may not get to Austin, but I will leave you with pics of the doggie prison, and of the latest snow.  I don't think there will be anyone more happy than I to get the winter over with.

Love to all.

FINALLY...A KITCHEN!! Plus, other items of possible interest.

OK!!!  I finally have a kitchen...water, range, oven, micro, and dishwasher!!!  It's like I really live in the 21st century!  All that is left in the kitchen is the new refrigerator...soon forthcoming.  Do you have any idea how good it is to have water, fire, and refrigeration?  Of course not...none of you have had to do without!  :):)

Now, just so you don't think that everything is fine, I need to let you know that after four days being stuck on the mountain following two 6 inch snowfalls in 3 days, I finally got down.  The only real problem was that I couldn't get up.  I managed to set my (4-wheel drive) car/truck sidways in the road.  I had groceries in the car and I had to make 3 trips of about half mile up and a half mile down in boots that weren't good to get the stuff out of the car and into the refrig.  At least I got some exercise.  That would have been good except the refrig died. UMM.. do you think that I should have rethought this move?  Well, too late, we're here and really do love it.  Luckily we have a backup. This winter has been challenging.  Challenges are not over.  As I write, we are expecting about 3-4 new inches of snow.  I was going to Charlotte tomorrow.  I've had a dental appointment that I have had to cancel twice already because of snow.  This could be the third.  Another issue is that if Freddie can't get up to complete the doggie compound, I could be here while planning to be in Austin.  I'm trying not to cry about that one.  Maybe God will smile on me.  I missed a visit at Christmas and am hoping to make Adam's birthday.  But, as I told one of my sisters today, this is a small problem when compared to the problems of others.

THE SIDEWAYS CAR

Hopefully, I will report to you from Charlotte and Austin.  Love to all.

Escape From Rapunzel's Tower

I have been snowed in so many times this winter that I have lost count of the number.  But..it's been often enough that my sister-in-law, Renee, has begun to refer to this place as Rapunzel's Tower.  It feels like that sometimes, too.  Maybe I can grow my hair long enough to make a zip line to get down the hill!  I did manage a brief escape last Thursday, though my intention was to leave on Wednesday.  I missed two appointments in Charlotte, but was able to make the third, and then go to Greensboro to see Mama.  The only problem was...I took the snow with me, 4/5 inches in Charlotte, and about an inch and a half in Greensboro.  Everybody but me was delighted.

I headed back to the mountain on Saturday...to only about 6 inches of new snow.  JR met me in Asheville and we rug shopped and ate lunch out, then trekked back up here not knowing if we were going to be able to get up the mountain or not.  Cullowhee Mountain Road was thick with ice and snow, but Pine Creek and Yellow Mountain were pretty much okay.  We got to our dirt road and managed that okay and came up our steep drive without too much trouble.  But it snowed again on Sunday and JR left before he got snowed in.  I'm still here!  I don't know what our accumulation was this time, but it's pretty deep and there has been little melt off since the temperatures are so cold.  I'd like all of you to come, but maybe winter isn't the time to do that! I might be able to get down tomorrow when it warms up some, or I COULD work on my taxes.

I finally have water in my kitchen, the granite is installed, and some of the appliances have been installed.  The granite installers had to be pulled up the mountain with the John Deere, and the appliance installers had to leave because of the snow in this area and South Carolina (where they live).  They may come on Friday if it doesn't snow again.  Big Green is waiting!!!  I can't wait to get all of it in so I can display a snapshot, but at least, I don't have to haul dishes to the doggie bath anymore!