Still Kicking (and Screaming and Bundling up!)

Aren't these paintings absolutely beautiful? They are painted by a woman here at Grandfather Golf and Country Club. Her work is EXQUISITE!! Her name is Ruthie Windsor Mann and you can view her website and buy her art at http://www.ruthiewindormann.com/. Do yourself a favor and visit her site, it's very impressive and she LOVES to paint English country manors. So refreshing!!! WELL ...

I drove to work in the snow this morning ... you know, the first day of Spring and all. Our daffodils were face down in the white fluffy dusting . . . must be tough to be a spring flower in the High Country! Tomorrow is supposed to be LUXURY with sun and almost 60 degrees. As Paul and I are both having a Holiday (OMG!) for Good Friday tomorrow, I'm hoping to drag his tired and weary welding ars out to hike! Hopefully, by noon it'll be warm enough, and he'll be awake enough, and I'll have the backpack ready. I figure if we go to the Tennessee side, we'll have plenty of warmth to enjoy a few hours of Mother Nature's sheer beauty. My fingers are crossed!
In the news here ... and with our friends and family:

First of all, Sara did indeed make it to the competition, albeit a comedy skit from what her mom, Janet wrote and shared. I'd forgotten how challenging loading a horse into a trailer can be. There was absolute determination in those women, they did eventually load, unload and load and unload yet again. Badger, who is new at all this, is apparently unharmed and no worse for the wear. He's 17 hand high - holy moly! It's a wonder he fits in a trailer!!! Sara did get to lunge him ride him around an arena, even though it wasn't for show. The "first timers" seem to have done ever so brilliantly and I'm so impressed and proud of everyone involved. I know this will not be the last of stories from Sara and Badger (and Janet as well) and I send them many kudos for their effort and education!

Our niece, Erin, had a birthday on the 18th! I'm so excited to be able to wish her a happy birthday ... and to even know when it is has just been a huge thing! She seems to be doing just fine on the pig farm, although I know she'd love to be over that (in a BIG way). Happy Birthday, Erin ... AND MANY MANY MORE!!!!

Since last I wrote we've been to Atlanta to help my sister-in-law pack up some of my brother's office and bedroom. It was a very intense weekend counting the travel and the nature of the trip. But all in all, we muddled through (some of us are just better muddlers than others anyway) and most of his office is packed up and ready for the next step(s). Debbie is healing, better than many I've seen, but she still has a crater sized hole in her very big heart. Please keep good thoughts streaming her way as she makes huge decisions in her new adventurous life! Her dad is healing INCREDIBLY fast!! I can hardly believe how amazing science is ... he had a triple by-pass of his heart not quite a month ago. He's driving and has been released to work as he feels fit. What a huge testimony for living right and getting medical checks when you're supposed to! So amazing...technology! Pennisu and Lois continue to face Lois's treatment and recovery with courage and grace. Lois had her first round of chemo this past Tues and seems to be doing very well. These tough cookies we know just continue to make unbelievable strides to continue good life. And we continue to send love and prayers their way to aid in their strength and determination. Bless you all as you "carry on".

The Dancer's Pointe kids danced in a VERY COOL competition last weekend. (JUMP, I think)

I was amazed when I found out that you could actually watch the live feed on the internet. So, much of my time last weekend was consumed by watching the kids dance!!! WAY TO GO YOU GUYS! And congratulations to those of you who got to meet the So You Think You Can Dance extraordinaires! I'm so excited for y'all! Here's Sam with Danny --- How Cool!!!! You guys are SO lucky! Don't forget to thank your parents! ;-)

Dance for me here is always uncertain. For example, is anyone going to show up for class, is anyone going to want to dance, is anyone going to wear leotards or a bun ... etc., etc. Very different! But it's fun when everything comes together!!!! Working on recital, the fun time of year. Everything is different here in the High Country!! I probably have already mentioned that.

Anyway, Paul is still having a big time at work. He comes home tired and happy every morning, so who could ask for anything more! He always has a tale to tell and it keeps me plenty entertained. Between his tales and the guys here at work, I'm set on daily stories!

Hope this finds everyone read for a beautiful Easter weekend and in the mood to celebrate the FIRST DAY OF SPRING and the equinox and the coming of fresh, new things. Hope you all have dreams to fill and happy hearts. Happy Easter to one and all! Paul & Cheri

Glorious to Gloomy and Back Again!

Last Sunday was ABSOLUTELY glorious! The sun came out! AND it stayed out all day!!!! And it got up to sixty degrees!!!!! We were in heaven, for sure! All of the pictures here were taken on Sunday. The mosaic was completed with the wire hangar on the back so I could take it to Stefanie at the studio ... FINALLY. The cats found a lovely patch of sunshine in which to nap. There was still ice and frozen ground in the shady parts of the yard. Paul and I worked on cutting, stacking, chopping, splitting and moving wood! Mike (remember, hardware store, neighbor Mike) brought us 2 pick up truck loads full, so now we have to begin again with the cutting, chopping, splitting and stacking ... then it gets moved to the screen porch and stacked there for our use in the kitchen stove. I don't know what we would have done without that stove this winter. I'll never have the opportunity to say thank you personally to my brother's face, but I sure hope he knows how much we appreciate his help in making that a reality. We would have been MUCH colder without that this year! And alas, the crocus (I know this is spelled wrong!?!) braved the frozen ground and came out to greet the sun! Aren't they just lovely????

Now you've heard about Sunday ... on Monday it began raining a bit ... mostly flurries. I drove to work in the snow! On Tuesday it turned to REAL rain, 5 inches worth in one day! Yep, you got it! Roads washed out, mud slides came, and driveways washed away. Lightning hit mountain sides and shook houses, and some of the students at dance class cried in fear - literally cried alligator tears! They'd never heard that kind of thunder storm in their young lives, nor had they ever been involved in a tornado watch!!! It was a very exciting time had by ALL!! Yesterday, I drove to work in the snow, the sun came out about 10 AM at work, but 2 miles up the raod (other side of the mountain) the sun never came out and the temperature difference was 9 degrees! It snowed there all day --- good for the slopes business) SO ... needless to say, I'd hate to try to predict the weather here! What a nightmare! Just living in it is adventure enough for me!

In other news (good grief, enough weather, Cheri) ...

Paul's niece, Sara, has her first competition Saturday together with her horse, Badger!! From the still shots we see on their family blog, Sara looks like a natural (she's a jumper) and Badger is one heck of a handsome (and very tall) fella, who obviously is in love with his new rider. Good luck to you both and congratulations on whatever you do!!!! SO exciting!

Paul's mum and dad celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary tomorrow! Wow! Happy Anniversary and Congratulations on very incredible accomplishment! I hope you both celebrate with something extra special.

My friend, Pennisu is facing some very difficult news about her mom's health. Please offer up good thoughts and prayers for Lois and Pennisu as they figure out their strategic approach to a very scary battle. Pennisu, you know where I am, just holler whenever you want.

My sister-in-law is doing GREAT (especially considering her last 4 months!). Her father had his emergency by-pass surgery and is on the mend - already at home and trying to work a bit here and there!! Her knee is healing and is finally looking better (she had an allergic reaction to the steri-strips and it "ate" the flesh!), and she is in physical therapy. Her grief is still rampant at times, but she's an inspiration to all of us in her approach and endurance at this time. Much love to you, Ms. Debbie.

We all miss my brother ... I really miss the e-mails, the unique sense of humor and lease of life, and the music talk. I am pretty much haunted by him when I listen to music (Beatles, in particular, and Elton John ... the 70's mostly) and hear his absolute passion for music in every tune I play. I guess it's a comfortable presence, albeit sad in the evenings when I'm in the kitchen working on mosaics, listening to music and he's there literally, in spirit, but not able to be reached in the physical. Always a challenge when a loved one leaves us here on earth. Sure am glad I got to have the interaction with him though, so I can have all the memories and smiles (yes, and tears too!)

My friend, Shannon, who works in polymer clay and I have a Etsy.com store now called Clayzaics. If you are at all interested in art work, it's a very cool website and there are artists on there representing everything from underwater basket weaving to knitted bunny rabbits. . . and then some! Anyway, Shannon very diligently set up the site, and she's let me join her because I cook her dinner once in a while! She is the lady who we did the wooly worm festival with last fall. It's a long time in the process, but we'll have the business open by spring (here that's May), and will be setting up the shop for classes and so forth on our "sleeping porch" at the house. We have high hopes! It'll take the place of my teaching dance in the summer time, and hopefully it will be lucrative for all!!! Paul can even get involved with his ornamental stuff if he wants to!

Speaking of Paul, he's doing well. I think he's getting adjusted to the new hours ... that is for now. I'm sure daylight savings time will reek havoc on both of us. Whoo hoo!! Anyway, Paul is still enjoying and loving the adventure of his new job. There is a new story every night when he gets home. I love that he's such a good story teller. He also seems to really enjoy his drive to and from work. I guess by the time he gets there, it's been a scenic delight, and by the time he gets home, he's calmed down from whatever pressure there might have been. He did say that it's HARD work ... really HARD work, and by that he meant physically. He does need to rest now! But he's found a great used book store, so he'll work all that out too, I'm sure! (Incidentally, I am currently reading a book called LAMB which is an excellent comedy written from the perspective of Jesus' childhood best friend (Biff) during their formative years. It is a great fun read for anyone interested in very clever writing and a very unique subject!)

My son started a new job with Jim n Nick's this week. I haven't heard from him since he started (of course, boy's just don't "check in" like girls do!) but he was very excited about a new endeavor. Good luck, Jon!!! I hear the two polka dotted boys are fine and growing like little weeds. Can't wait to have our week with the boys this summer! SO FUN!

Jenn and her family are all well too ... they work way too hard ... but who doesn't in their 30's. Everyone seems to be healthy, and that's the most important thing with that group! We are so very lucky and so very blessed. And so, I get to ramble on and on about our little lives, the good, the bad and the ugly - knowing that each of you have the same types of day to day things in your lives. We do wish you all good health, good lives and fun times! Our best to all!

Paul and Cheri