Elk River Falls!

FINALLY found someone who would go rock climbing and hiking with me and NOT get frustrated because I am too slow! He's a perfect hiking buddy, in my opinion! We stopped at the top of the water fall and threw in dozens of rocks ... all varying techniques. Some of the rocks sort of floated down the water fall, some of them were thrown farther than the eye could see, and some sort of just got lobbed over the edge. It was definitely one of the highlights of the last several days in one little boy's opinion! We've had a wonderfully beautiful bout of weather for Christian's visit, so it has given us the opportunity to do lots of outdoor playing. We have a great back yard for kicking a soccer ball and throwing baseballs and such. And there is always the great tickling matches that reduce Christian to the most glorious fits of laughter I've ever heard! When I asked him what his favorite part of school is, he told me it was going home! We're so enjoying his precious, innocent energy. Paul Paul and I have big giggles with the hide and seek games we play with him. He loves to announce where he's hiding when the counter person says "ready or not, here I come" ... I just want to say thank you to his parents for so unselfishly letting him be a part of our lives. He really is a joy! And it is so nice to have a hiking partner that doesn't fuss at me for having short legs! Until later ... Nana and Paul Paul!

Our First House Guest!

Our first ever house guest arrived on Friday! He's raring and ready to be involved in whatever project we have to get involved in! During his mom and dad's move to their new house, Christian is staying here with Nana and Paul Paul to help us with getting settled in!! Today will be filled with more adventures here, and hopefully a little christmas decorating. Saturday we went to the Valle Crucis park and threw rocks into the river for hours! We also got to climb roped rock walls and swing and slide and all that comes along with the park! It was a beautiful FALL day here in winterland ~ so we REALLY took advantage of it (as you can see by Christian's sun glasses!). Yesterday was AGAIN a most beautiful day ... so we visited the local Elk Park Town Center park and played outside in the glorious blue sky and sunshine! I don't know why the weather has turned around, but we're certainly going to enjoy it while it's here. It's supposed to e nice and clear and warmish until Friday! Yippee!!!! I'm afraid the skiers who were here in droves for the Thanksgiving holiday went home sorely dissappointed in the weather and the skiing, but most of them turned to antique shopping, so maybe it worked out ok in the end! Paul Paul and Christian found some antiques out in the yard while they were metal detecting. The most exciting thing was an old metal toy race car ... seems to have come from long ago. I'm sure Paul has the details, but I forgot to ask about them! Paul got to play soccer yesterday for the first time in years. He came home with a big grin, a few burns and bruises and some sore muscles, but so very happy! That's always a good thing! And we have advil for the pain! So for now, I must go. Something about spilled cereal! Happy week after Thanksgiving to all! Paul & Cheri

It's here!!!

Winter is here! And it has arrived with greatness! It's simply beautiful! I love walking outside and listening ... the crisp clean quiet ... it is breathtaking. Well, of course it is, it's freezing! Walking in the winter wonderland, as the song goes! The first snow picture is our neighbor to the right as you're looking at our house (Bruce) ... the second is our house and the third is what I did on Saturday to invite this!!! Friday I took the pictures of the wood pile and the cropped trees. I just wanted to mention after so much grief, that the tree trimming saga is now history! They are all three trimmed beautifully and hopefully will be much healthier for it! So, now we're preparing to live in the snow. Paul keeps saying, "look where we live"! If nothing else, it's definitely different from the Orlando weather! We've been trying to accumulate warm work clothes for Paul (insulated work overalls and such!) and trying to insulate the house to make life warmer for us. We had a fantastic "root around" upstairs yesterday ... discovered all kinds of things in the attic, which is under the eves of this house. It was fun to figure out where the hidden walkways actually go. I would love to have been a kid growing up in this house! All the adventure~I'm sure there have been many before us! There are parts of the attic which have been insulated and boarded up ... and unfortunately parts which are truly open and letting cold air in! We actually found a HUGE (non living) wasp nest ... quite interesting to see how they're made ... but so far we've found no bags of money. However, we certainly haven't given up on that! We went to the local high school production of "the Diary of Anne Frank" yesterday and it was fun to support the local drama dept. The kids did a great job ... but I'm afraid I'm still just over the top about the Ailey performance!

I know y'all are wondering about the Queen B at the top of the page. Well, it's Paul's mum's birthday ... and so, Happy Birthday, Mum! Her name is Beryl, "B" for short ... so it's in her honor. It was one of the most fun mosaics I've done to date ... the whimsical stuff is a lot of fun and it's a nice compliment to all the painting I'm getting to do! Speaking of which, should go for now and get some of that done. I was rearranging the office and ran over Paul's x-box power cord and broke it. Now I'm trying to figure a way out of being hung at sunset! We certainly hope all of you are safe, warm and loved this Thanksgiving. I know we all have plenty to say grace over and I think Paul & I are especially blessed. We certainly wish for everyone else the same blessings and good fortune. Take good care and Happy Thanksgiving, Paul & Cheri

Before and After

Thought I'd show some befores and afters ... the horizon as we see it, before and after the frost hit yesterday (it is officially cold now and really quite beautiful!); before the x-box and after (the office is now gold w/ white trim ... but couldn't find that photo); the living room has gone from pink to whatever the hue is, but it's called some kind of dust (which is desert related, I'm thinking?); and the library went from half peeled off wallpaper and grunge to "paprika". On the photo of the paprika library you can see how pink the living room once was. So now you have an idea of what our color palette is doing ... as much of an idea as we have, anyway! The blue dining room will be going to an olive/steel green ~ the hallway and dining room are next, as well as the bedroom (which will be wallpaper, too many problems to hide with paint!). It's been great fun watching the transformation occur ... but the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step ... we're about 5 steps into it now!

Paul and I went to see Alvin Ailey II last night in Boone at Appalachian State University. It was by far the best dance show I've seen in ages ... we were both so very impressed and inspired when we left. There was a male dancer in the company, Jermaine Terry, who had been raised and trained by Judy James in Orlando ... he was excellent and it was so nice to see him "on the big stage" after watching him locally. Always give dance teachers the chills when a kid "makes it" ... bravo! I hope Judy is proud, he's excellent! The last one-third of the program was Alvin Ailey's authentic personal archived choreography to black gospel music and it was spectacular! It was the Revelations, Pilgrim of Sorrow, Take Me to the Water, and Move, Members, Move and it was MAGNIFICENT. The opening pose had me in tears ... it was so good. It was such a lovely program, and I'd like to openly thank Paul's boss, Dirk, for the gift of the tickets. What a wonderful welcome to NC indeed! IF any of you kids are reading this, ASU is a great school and has a wonderful dance program if you're interested at all. Paul and I'd be glad to host your visit if you want to come! Pass the word. :-)

I'm hoping today will take us back to Johnson City for a few supplies as it's supposed to begin snowing Monday ... for the season, I'm hearing. Apparently they started making snow on Sugar Mountain last night. The stars were so bright last night you could see constellations that you never knew existed before! It was brilliant! But it was really too cold to stand outside and name them all ... we had to do that in intervals! The last temperature reading before coming out of Banner Elk was 28 degrees. Brrrrrrr!! Apparently the beginning of ski season is Thanksgiving weekend ... so I guess things will be all "a-buzz" by next weekend! Maybe in a few weeks I'll get up enough nerve to try to ski ~ hmmmmm!

There are lots of birthdays and celebrations in our circle this month ... Paul's mum is Monday (20th), our friends: Sabrina is Wed.(22nd), Pennisu was the 5th and Valerie was the 8th and Dwayne was the 11th! Happy Birthday to ALL y'all!!!! :-)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday! Paul & Cheri

Might as well dance!

As my friend Valerie reminded me today,

"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."
— Japanese proverb

Saturday was a glorious t-shirt, yard working kind of day! We got out in the yard and began stacking, toting and chucking wood! We took a load to an elderly neighbor ... stacked a bunch on our fenceless land (yeah, the fence is gone!) and just left some for later! As you can plainly see, Paul was having his usual serious moments :-) making the task at hand a real pleasure instead of a chore. He's working on the "might as well dance" theme! We sure did enjoy the beautiful day ... but evening turned into a stormy night and Sunday morning brought snow! You don't have to wait long up here for the weather to turn! And the locals say it gets "hung up" here in the mountains. I think they've got the phrase just perfect! We actually made the long journey to Johnson City on Sunday afternoon and found a Barnes and Noble and had a GLORIOUS afternoon of lattes, teas, and books! It was delightful and quite the treat for us to get out away from the work and just enjoy life in the book store! So today brought work ... for us all. The tree trimmers came back after much ado about nothing over the weekend (they really just don't want to finish this job for some reason) and I'm hoping by tomorrow's end of business the trees will be finished and our business will conclude! Then it'll be more wood toting, chucking, stacking and delivering! But tis' nice to share ... I primered most of the what was left in that arena today ... the 30 foot hallway walls and cieling, the library wall that had to be "redone" after stripping the yuk off ... and the woodwork in the office. The library and the office are almost completely painted (halleluiah!) and the next step is the bedroom (which I think we've decided to wallpaper due to wall issues). The living room and dining room will be easy as they are straight paint jobs. Then we'll sand the floors downstairs and all will be well!!! Paul did a couple of installations at work and all went well for him, so today's been a good day! However, the best news of the month so far is that Christian is coming to visit the day after Thanksgiving for a week! I can't wait to get him up here. I sure hope he gets to see some snow and have some fun with it ... PaulPaul can't wait to share this big ole' yard with someone! It'll be a grandparent feast, I'm sure! So, until next time, be well and be happy. Paul & Cheri

One week today!

It's been one week today since we've seen hide or hair of our tree boys ... my friend Mike at the hardware store says I am a VERY impatient lady! Can you imagine that!? When I came home from my local grocery store visit yesterday, there was a VERY LARGE dump truck in my driveway. I'm hoping that means the tree boys will be here today ... and not that someone has stolen a truck and parked in in our yard! As of Sunday night, we no longer have any missing drywall in the kitchen ceiling! Yippee! Paul was quite impressive walking this large pieceof drywall up a ladder to our ceiling, (using his head as a mid balance point!) which is taller than 10 feet we've discovered. Guess we can have a pretty tall Christmas tree this year! Also, on Sunday, Paul installed our new beautiful pedestal sink ... so we are making progress around here! I rode up to Newland yesterday (about 8 miles from us, the town with 2 stop lights) and talked to a young lady who's opened a cheer and dance studio. She doesn't teach dance ... so I might just have a work opportunity very close to home. That would be lovely. I don't want to work until January, and she doesn't need me until then ... so perhaps it's a fit. We'll see! I'm practicing my patience! HA! I'm going to try to find Johnson City, TN today ... that's my big outing for the day! Johnson City has a Target and Old Navy ... Best Buy and things I haven't seen since I left the city. I think I'm hearing the buzzing of chain saws in my front yard! Apparently mountain time is different from the rest of the world ... a new dimension! Halleluiah! There are 6 men outside cutting, chopping, loading a dump truck, etc., etc.! Welcome to the country ... Happy weekend all! Paul & Cheri

Elk Park, NC ... things that make you go hmmmmmmmm

Now I ask you, if you had a perfectly beautiful brick chimney in your kitchen, would you dry wall over it and apply various different linoleums to it, finally settling on a brick pattern that looks like the brick underneath it????????? Well, they did that here! So ... yesterday I decided to begin the arduous task of removing the drywall and layers of linoleum and display the real thing! Things that make you go, "hmmmmm". The sink installation process has begun ... and oh, what a series of comedic moments we have had! As with any home project, it came with it's challenges, but when you add the age factor in of this home ... you just get some fun variables that you'd NEVER expect. We're learning! I chose the picture with the sink so you could see all the different wall coverings that have been installed through the years here ... the tile underneath the sink cabinet is actually linoleum! The backsplash above the dishwasher has the tile linoleum, then the brick linoleum, then some fruity contact paper over the whole thing. That, of course, will be coming off ... just trying to get the sink fitted first. So when the granite is cut to snuggle up to the sink, the fruity paper is removed and replaced with something a little more "us" ... (not that fruity doesn't describe us, I know!) and the fireplace is exposed, clean, and happy, this kitchen is going to be beautiful. This, of course, is our phase 1 remodel for the kitchen. Eventually we want to turn the whole thing around to face the mountain ... later! So, the plumbing parts are old and stripped and we went to our favorite hardware store right here in town center, Brinkley's. I'm sure we've paid their heat bill for the winter by now. Mike, who is also our neighbor, was so delighted to see us ~ especially because Paul was with me and it's a boy's club around here. So, they got to talking about things, and Mike realized we might need another piece of plumbing pipe later after store closing. He told us we could always just come on down to the house and get him ... and Paul said, "you mean, in case of emergency you will help people after hours?" and Mike said, "no, it don't have to be no emergency ... they're always just coming down there and getting me for stuff" ... so, you know we live in a small town! He only insists on whoever is in need be the one to drive him up to the store ... which is less than a mile from his house (he lives right behind us) !! The next conversation with Mike was about the guys next door shooting off their big guns ... and he was almost jumping up and down when he thought Paul was interested in buying a rifle. I thought he was gonna faint for a minute when he thought we didn't have a gun at all in our house. Poor man ... so far Mike's in a quandry as Paul (being a bonafide man) does not hunt, does not watch football, does not chew (tobacco) and does not have a cabinet full of guns. As Paul says, "we're not in Kansas any more"! Now, I have a few new friends too, of course. Jane Smith owns the antique store where I'm buying my new found old sink and stove ... and who knows what else. She's restoring an old theater here in town center, which I hope to get involved up to my elbows in. And she's all for that! Donna owns the Blessings coffee shop, which is attached to the antique section owned by Sherry, who I bought a gorgeous oriental cashmere 8 x 10 rug from for $30. I am not sure if it's going to match anything we have, but it was such a deal I had to buy it! Is that girlee, or what!?!? A local young lady has opened a cheer and dance company place in Newland, which is about 7 miles up the hill (where we have to go to do any real business - driver's license, etc.) and Paul ran into her at the DMV. She doesn't teach dance, only cheer, so I might be able to get a job at her place. There are opportunites every where I look ... the community center is in real need of after school stuff for the kids, elementary and middle school ... but what I really see around here is a desperate need to clothe and keep warm. There are so many folks here who live in little campers and trailers that are not heated, and some that aren't even plumbed. It reminds me of how lucky and fortunate we are and it keeps me remembering to say grace and be humble. We have tried to make sure no matter what else we do, we try to offer a smile to EVERYONE we see. I think some people haven't been smiled at for a very long time. And I know some of these folks in the remote areas around here don't get to eat on a consistent basis. The news is always reminding everyone to give coats that have been outgrown or no longer needed ... and I think that'll be my project for the first part of this coming week ... if I can find the box I put them all in!!! The picture of the half trimmed maple tree will give you an idea of the difference in 75 feet and say, 50 feet. Tree trimmers are apparently also a boy's club thing ... and my tree trimmers are not very good at scheduling. So, I'm going to set Paul in charge of their next "payment" and see if they might just finish the job. More things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. If they wink at you and call you honey, don't hire/trust them! Especially during hunting season! :-X We went to Elizabethton for dinner last night. It was fabulous to get away. We also go to go to Lowes for more plumbing parts (we decided to let Mike rest!) and we even went inside the Walmart for some paint for one of my mosaics. The drive home was incredible with the full moon over the mountains and the stars twinkling ... it is beautiful here. Today is once again a gorgeous day filled with blue sky and the sun is out, although it's still only 50ish. I'm learning to wear 3 shirts, it helps! Our chore for today is to get the plumbing working so we have a sink ... the bathroom sink also collapsed from the wall and busted last night ... so our plumbing is first on the list! Then I hope we get to take our Sunday drive and forget about everything but what the universe has provided for us to enjoy. Happy Sunday to all and have a wonderful week! Paul & Cheri

Halloween Boys

Here are our boys from Halloween! Christian, the train conductor, Cade, aka Captain Hook II, and Austin, aka Captain Hook Sr. I woke this morning to a memory of driving home from work one fine Georgia afternoon to see a lot of firetrucks parked on my street, in front of my house .... and the slow realization that my son, Jon, had tried to burn down the neighborhood. Well, he did have some help from the neighborhood hooligans, but he was the one left standing to "take the heat" quite literally! So, I thought I'd post these boys this morning in honor of boys everywhere and all the energy they seem to muster up for life and it's adventures. Today is the day Paul has deemed sink installation day! So we're off for breakfast to insure there is fuel in the tank for the day's big events! I will be hanging wall paper backing and trying to face painting yet another day ... as well as continuing to pull those darn carpet staples out of the floor and carpet strips from around the perimeter of each room. The day here today is simply and absolutely G O R G E O U S ... big blue skies and not a drop of moisture in sight! AND, it's over 40 degrees this morning - a heat wave! Happy Saturday to all! Paul & Cheri

Adjusting to the neighborhood

A brief story about our last two days ... because there could be no pictures that would ever describe what we've learned in the past 48 hours. Yesterday Paul chose to go to the DMV and become a member of the North Carolina driving club. So, in order to get your driver's license, you need certain information. In order to get your license plates, you need yet other information. The DMV office is up the road about 7 miles in the town of Newland, which has 2 stop lights in it! He called home and needed the titles to the truck and Saab. No problem! I know EXACTLY where those are (AMAZING!) Second phone call, and honey, "my social security card is laminated so they need my passport and my marriage certificate". "Ok, I'll be right there". So ... up the "three lane" I go with the said papers in tow. Where's my social security card? I don't know ... thought you had it as you told me it was laminated !!! You're getting the picture, right? Ok, another trip home (we both went as Paul needed to eat!) and we found the laminated social security card, his very first British passport (what a cute kid!) and his original visa which was supposed to have some number on it that was mysteriously missing. Back he went to present all the newly acquired documents. Apparently after a call to"the main office", he was given the benefit of the doubt that he is, in fact, Paul Glover. D A N G !!!!! I could've just told them that! While taking the test, they gave him a verbal clue of a round sign by saying to him "whew, whew" .... :-X. Anyway, I got another call an hour later or so, "honey, I need the titles". I GAVE you the titles ... no, you gave me the registration. Oh SHOOT! Back to the house he came ... and took the examiner some lunch this time! poor guy - he probably really needed a good stiff drink! FOUR HOURS later, Paul was a licensed driver of the North Carolina and had license plates for the truck AND the Saab ... and now I know what documents to take with me when I go!
TODAY we woke to mid 30s and no furnace, although we didn't notice the furnace wasn't working until Paul had gone to work. He left late because we were supposed to be blessed with the tree cutting crew, but they showed up around 10 or so to say they weren't going to be able to get 75 feet up with the wind and ice. No kidding! Anyway, I went out to the oil tank with my big stick (mop handle, if you must know) and upon trying to find oil in the 550 gallon tank, realized there wasn't any. D A N G !!! So we called Mr. Forbes, who is my hero, and he came and filled up 268 gallons worth. Thank heavens! Meanwhile, I'd gone to Lowes and gotten some space heaters so I don't have to freeze any more. Unfortunately, if you plug more than one in, the circuits blow. Today I learned how to measure the oil in the oil tank, reset the furnace after it's been parched, and I found the circuit breakers and reset them too. To make myself feel better, I painted ... and when Paul got home he joined me! We're adjusting ... thank goodness we have each other! We're expecting freezing temps in another couple of hours, so I'm grateful the oil tank was filled. When I came back from Lowes, each of the mountain tops I past had on frozen top hats. The frost on the mountains looks beautiful. I expect we're getting into winter for real now. There is a wonderful coffee shop on the corner and I'm so thankful for Donna, the owner and her gift for making lattes with a smile! The tree guys are supposed to come back tomorrow ... and the termite man will be here at 9 AM. I'll keep you posted! I sent out a surround of pictures from the outside of the house to everyone we thought would be interested in them. Thanks to all of you for your sweet, supportive and wonderful comments about our pride and joy. If I missed your address, let me know and I'll send them out. It's just too hard to post that many pics on this temperamental blog! And for those of you who promise to visit, please keep your word! We should thaw out sometime in late April, early May. Just bring a paint brush or some sand paper or the like. By then, we'll be in need of supplies again, I'm sure! Stay well and be happy! Paul & Cheri