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