Snow Storm Cometh

We are expecting to get 5 - 8 inches of snow in the next 24 hours, so if you don't hear from us on-line for a day or two, we're snowed in and can't get to the internet! But I'm sure we're going to be just fine. We have coffee, tea, milk and bread ... not to mention cat food, wood and matches. Maybe we'll get a day off in the mix, who knows!!!
For a quick update,
My sister-in-law called last Friday with "my dad is going in for an emergency triple by-pass at 1pm" ... so we've been ever so busy sending good thoughts and prayers down to Atlanta for that event. Happily reporting that he came through the operation SUCCESSFULLY and is in his own room now (out of ICU) and healing rapidly. A big AMEN. Please keep Debbie in your hearts as she is recovering from the loss of her husband in Dec., extensive knee surgery in early Feb., and her father's new surgery last week and a wicked sinus infection that has not allowed her any sleep for about 2 weeks! She's pretty tired and could surely use some calm and peace about now!
My dear friend, Psu is dealing with some "scary" tests her mom is having to go through this week. Psu, we're keeping you and Lois in our thoughts and prayers and know that it will all turn out just fine. xxooxxoo Also, Psu just started a new job at the commissioner's office in Orange County (Orlando)!!!! Good luck with your new job and I hope you like it as much as Paul and I like ours!!!! New things are great fun ... especially during these times! Let us know if we can do anything for you guys, ok? (you and your mom, not the commissioner! ;-))
It was Ms. Kelly's birthday on Sunday ---- HAPPY BIRTHDAY MS. KELLY!!!! I hope this is a GREAT year for you and you have lots of wishes come true throughout the year!
My mosaic mentor, Chrissise, has announced she is with child - her 4th, in fact. And it is a boy! She is very excited and blessed. She has her one and only little Princess, Eva. This will be her 3rd boy, and they are very happily moving toward 4 children of their own, and an 18 year old son from Mike's previous life. God bless them! She claims this will complete their collection ... we'll see!!!! HA!
I'm learning more and more about the real estate and investment industries and it is fascinating. I'm really excited about the opportunity to learn new things! Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!!!!! And we are having great fun meeting new people in and around the area. Also, Paul is loving his new job!! He is really working and seems to be as happy as a "pig in dirt". We are still working out the 2nd shift thing ... it's going to take some time!!! Paul is a night owl to start with. So ... given permission to be up all night is his dream come true!!! He's usually sleeping by 4:30 AM ... but this morning he went to help Charles do some ornamental work and he was up by 8AM ... tell you anything about his consistency level? HAHAHA!
I finally finished another one of my mosaics ... but forgot the pics at home. Will have to post them later in the week. It's a fun piece ... stay tuned!
Hope everyone out there is well and happy --- not to mention dry and warm!!!!
Goodness to all,
Paul and Cheri

Some visuals!

The first picture here is "our Grandfather Mountain" ... this scene is what my boss sees out of his office window, only a lot closer since we're actually in the Grandfather Mountain property! Beautiful, isn't it????? The "profile" on the left hand side is said to look like an old grandfather indian. This view shows his nose much sharper than most angels we see. He is also farther away in this shot than from our office. But it is very "comforting" to see him welcoming me to each morning. This is what our area of North Carolina is known for .... ins't it beautiful????

The second shot: This is what our neighborhood looked like on February 14th this year! Happy Valentine's Day, indeed! Isn't it beautiful? It is so crisp, quiet and peaceful (oh yeah, and freezing!). But all in all, it's simply magnificent! Imagine waiting for the bus in this???

Hope all of you are well and happy. Just wanted to share ...

Cheers! Paul and Cheri

Happy Birthday Cade!

Our middle grandson, Cade, just turned 6 years old!!! I know he thought the day would never come, and we, on the other hand, can't believe it's here already. Anyway, I know he had a wonderful birthday ... party and presents and cake and friends...who could ask for anything more!

Paul and I have gone through yet another week of trying to adjust to our new chapter in this adventure. Paul comes in the door any where from 12:45 to 1:15 am. I, of course, greet him with a yawn and a pretty groggy "hi honey, welcome home" .... and roll over to finish my sleep, or occasionally get up and make a cup of tea while listening to the antics of a welding shop. I wake up and leave the house about 8am, with Paul's turn to yawn and groggily wish me a good day. When I get home between 6 and 8 pm, depending on whether I had to teach or not, it's very quiet ... the cats don't make much noise ... and since Paul has gone to work around 2 ... no one is there to spontaneously break in to song or cheer along with the soccer games or the x-box. I spend my evenings doing mosaic work, planning budgets, chatting with my sister in law or cooking, as the only room in the house warm enough to live in is the kitchen at this point! Sometime in the evening when I think it's late enough, I go to bed (where I have the electric blanket on HIGH and enough covers to keep the frost out) and read until I fell asleep. Then the cycle repeats. Last night (Friday, at long last!) I was still reading when the great welder came home! He opened the door to say hello and was simply covered in welding dust, and just totally resembled my idea of what a coal worker must look like at the end of a shift! I busted into laughter!! Paul's dad would've been proud to see Paul with that much dirt on his face! They have a running banter back and forth about who can get the most dirt on their face. Until recently, Mel held the first place position. Sorry to say Mel, Paul is hands down the new dirtiest face in the place! Well, back to the stories ... he tells me all about "the guys" and the jokes they play on each other, etc. But the story of the night he actually told on himself! It seems he was trying to buy a kitkat candy bar from the vending machine. He put his money in and pressed the button, but the candy would not release! So he shook the machine, to no avail. Well, in a typical exuberant Paul type technique, he stepped back and ran at the machine and shouldered it...American football style! The machine hit the wall behind it, tipped forward and knocked Paul back across the room, where he promptly fell on his rear end! (in front of a room full of welder dudes!) In the end, he was able to claim his kitkat ... however, the guys from the room next door came over complaining that someone had knocked the clock off of the wall!!!!! I know you all understand when I say, Paul is always entertaining. I'm sure the guys at the workshop are having a much more entertaining and interesting evening than they ever had before Paul joined the "team"!!!! he graduates Tuesday to the real welder status. I'm so proud of him.

I've learned a few things here ... now that winter has lasted forever,

1. If the water is actually falling in the water fall, it just isn't that cold. If it's frozen in mid air, it's a freeze your butt off kind of day ... and I need to wear long underwear and 2 pair of socks!

2. very dry wood burns immediately and very warm. Just cut wood (green wood) burns slowly and is good for overnight. Mixing their functions up is not good. If you have a wood stove, you don't need a shredder.

3. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. Paul and I really appreciate our time together more and more. And we look forward to seeing each other GREATLY.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the Dancer's Pointe dancers. I hear the competition was a shoo-in .... and Angela, way to go, girl! I'm so proud of all of you!!!!

Hope everyone had a happy Valentine's Day ... and everyone has the opportunity to both give and receive love ... lots and lots of love!

Must go, my att wi-fi time is running out!

Happy Trails to all,

Paul and Cheri