HOPE

Not just any golf tee ...
A very specific golf tee

and what I am constantly reinforcing in life

For those of you who are following along, you know Paul and I have had the week from hell. We have truly fought mountains of tears and emotions we never wanted to deal with. We have watched friends crumble and ask questions that never should have had to be asked. We have met new friends and found new treasures we did not have this time last week. But it came about through a very unusual, unexpected and untimely series of events.
We have hope. We have love. We have each other.
We have anger. We have sadness and we have confusion.
And so it goes.
This morning I was "fussing" at Steve all the way to the post office. REALLY fussing ... and trying to make sense of things. I jumped out of the car (because it's 11 degrees and too cold to meander) to get the mail for the office and something on the ground caught my eye. Yep, the golf tee. For those of you who knew Steve, you know the golf tee was him. It sure helped to know he was sending me a message. Whatever the message might be, it was good enough. And it made me feel better. And it was almost as good as the morning text messages I used to get every morning .... almost. And the healing has begun.
And so it goes.
HOPE.
Thank GOD.

*the HOPE piece above is a Chrissie Grace piece. Please visit the "in His Grace" link for more of her incredible mixed media art!!!

Blessings, Paul & Cheri

Steve

Steven Ashley Robinson

May 20, 1977 - February 18, 2009

We say goodbye today to my sweet friend Steve at his request.

Steve was the sweetest hearted young man I've ever known and wise beyond his years.

He was addicted to his "crackberry", which I benefited from greatly by copious text messages sharing his humor and zest for life. (and Hell's kitchen and Biggest Loser!)

He taught me generous amounts about life in real estate and life in the High Country.

He added richly to my education of young adults and how to keep up with things like facebook, impulsive travels, and golf courses. Steve was a hugely gifted and talented golfer.

His enthusiasm and giggles were contagious. He was my surrogate son. My heart is broken.

I will miss Steve gobs and bunches. I am certainly not the only one who is feeling the void. He was very well loved by flocks of people. Sweet Paul found Steve today in his eternal sleep. Our hearts weighs 3000 pounds.

Please say prayers for Steve, his family and his friends.

It has been a very difficult day.

Rest in Peace, Steve. God bless your sweet soul.

Much love,

Paul & Cheri

Sunset on Sugartop

Just wanted to share a most gorgeous view of the sunset last night on top of Sugar Mountain. It is one of the ski mountains here in Banner Elk ... very close to my office. Thought you could all use a bit of color in your lives on this Friday the 13th! This photo was posted on our weather website (Ray's Weather) so I can't take credit for it, but I can certainly appreciate it!
Happy Friday to all!
P & C

Valentine's Day and Love

Jennifer Hall
This is my gorgeous, intelligent, HEALTHY, and incredible daughter, Jennifer.
Jennifer is my first real true love. I suppose unless you are a mom, you don't quite understand the intensity of that statement. One would think a romantic love would always be "the first love" of someone's life. I just don't believe that to be true in my case. This angel in human being form, born during an earth quake in Los Angeles, came in to my oblivious 20 year old life and began teaching me all kinds of things. First, she taught me about unconditional love, mine for her and hers for me. She taught me how to be responsible (actually she is probably still working on teaching this one!), and she taught me how to have fun - REAL fun with giggling and everything! She has continued to be my teacher through her entire life. Watching her parent my grandson is another life lesson. Their love is so precious and their relationship is so sweet that it is everything I can do to contain myself when I'm around them! It seems like the teacher and student is supposed to be the other way around, and maybe to a certain extent it is, but this beautiful woman has been the most incredible teacher I've had in my life. And though these words are generally spoken about a romantic love, in our case they have held true for us for almost 33 years ... through sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, through thick and thin ... we have stuck together and always admired and respected one another for our part in each other's lives. I am so very PROUD to have Jennifer as my first true love Valentine.
Jennifer, I love you honey. Happy Valentine's Day. xoxo
I hope all of you out there have a special Valentine!
It would figure that I would love Valentine's Day the best of all holidays ... I really seem to pick up on the HAPPY occasions! SO you will see another post on this subject ... one dedicated to my sweetheart, of course!
Happy Tuesday to all!

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY CADE!!!

Happy Birthday, Cade!!

Jonathan Cade Adams is 7 years old today!

Cade is the one who will sit in the kitchen with me while I prepare the meals and talk to me about all kinds of random things, anything under the sun. HE will help chop, dice, wash, toss and anything else I ask him to do. He also loves REAL food and we have a wonderful time preparing the menu! He is hugely thoughtful and sensitive. He's a big thinker/ponderer and will talk to me about a subject in the summer that he will come back with another perspective about in the winter after having time to process it. He LOVES to have fun and can be the life of the party (see picture above!) He is a natural born athelete and is especially good with hand/eye coordination. He is persistent and determined with that "red headed" thing going on! He has "polka dots" and beautiful wide BLUE eyes. He is a wonderful combination of his parents. And we love him VERY MUCH.

Happy Birthday, Caderman! Enjoy your 7th year, and hopefully all your birthday wishes will come true for you!

xoxoox Much love,

Nana and Paul Paul

The sun came out and it WARMED our souls!

A two-toned grouted stepping stone!!! FINALLY warm enough to grout!

A very happy kitty who got to sit outside in the sunshine! He was the model for the stepping stone.

Blooming daffodils ... can you believe that! (might have to enlarge this to see the blooms, but they are there!)

The last of the snow piled up in the yard ... melting ... this week is supposed to be warm, however the following week is winter return so we are ENJOYING every minute we can of the sun's warmth! Today is overcast but 50 degrees!! Don't even have a fire yet today!

In other news ...

* Tomorrow is Cade's 7th birthday! Will post dedication to him tomorrow! Happy Birthday, Caderman! We love you.

* Christian did, in fact lose his tooth ... apparently in a bagel which he ate!

* Paul took my car to the shop where he sometimes works w/ Mike (our neighbor) and they determined it is safe enough to drive! Hallelujah! It needs work, but I'm not in immediate danger of running out of brakes .. always a good thing. I do, however, have broken boots. Hmmm

* Paul finished the chair railing in the bathroom !!! One step closer to having one room finished. A very major threshold in our endeavor here in the mountains!

* The Dancer's Pointe dancers all danced spectacularly at Regional Competition yesterday ... CONGRATULATIONS to you ALL, dancers! Also congrats to all you incredibly beautiful and talented teachers! Way to go! And to all you patient and dedicated incredible parents, congratulations as well.

* Our friend Donna Taylor had a cornea transplant (!) on Friday, and all went well. We wish for you a speedy and complete recovery, Donna!

* Jennifer is having a kidney struggle. Please keep healthy, healing thoughts for her right kidney. Thanks!

Hope everyone out there in the world is doing well, is healthy and is happy.

All the best to you all in the week to come,

Paul & Cheri

**SNOW - REALLY**

Standing on the front porch looking out toward Tennessee -- beautiful!!!

This is the clock in the bathroom, it was 11:58 this morning and it was 58.5 degrees in there! Makes you take care of business and get back into the kitchen! Cheese on toast, it's cold in there! Getting naked to shower is a very "mind over matter" type of experience! Brrrrrrr! It's 44 degrees in the dining room, but couldn't get that picture to come out. It's 63 degrees in the kitchen, and somewhere around that in the living room. It's way over 70 degrees under the electric blanket...my personal favorite place to warm up!

This is the side yard looking toward our neighbor's on the right. There is a stream down below their house and then a big hill going up to another home. (The one that has all the roosters and sheep - bet they're cold!) It's so beautiful and still when it it snows. Look at all the snowflakes in the way ... so fun! There is a magic that is unexplainable. Oh, and it's cold too! REALLY!!

Look at the garden! Totally unidentifiable at this point ... but it is the same place where we had all that gorgeous food growing last summer. I am truly looking forward to that now!!!!

We had a snow day, obviously! We have 6 inches or more of snow on the ground and it is still coming out of the sky in copious amounts. Supposed to slow down in the morning. I had a night filled with sick, so the day to re coop was much appreciated. All those office mates of mine with the flu, thinking they may have penetrated my protection wall after all. Paul & I have spent most of today doing crafts .... I was making valentine's cards and napping, he was doing something with strips of wood ... I think it has something to do with his Victorian house. His foresight is better than mine. He'll have to expand on it when he's ready! teehee!

We are looking forward to building a snowman and sledding when I can move around without falling over and throwing up. Oh, and when it's over 10 degrees.(!) I haven't built a snowman in years! It is definitely on one of my "things to do" list. Can't wait! Also, the snow is deep enough that sledding should be great fun and very FAST! Things to look forward to ... my favorite!!!

Do so hope all of you have things to look forward to! Makes life so good.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL AT DANCER'S POINTE THIS WEEKEND AT REGIONALS. WE KNOW YOU'LL BE BRILLIANT AS ALWAYS ... HUGS TO YOU ALL!!

Cheers!

Paul & Cheri

Happy Weekend!

So, Christian has a loose tooth! Seems impossible that he's already old enough to start shedding teeth! Time flies ... as they say. He's is very excited at the prospect of the tooth fairy bringing money ... how fun!

This morning Paul & I get to teach at the Crossnore School. I always wake up early (!) on the days when we get to do this ~ a true testimony to how much I actually enjoy and look forward to it! The kids are so much of a treat to us. We got to watch the boys basketball game last Wed. night. I had forgotten how high pitched high school girls can scream! Ouch! Anyway, it was GREAT fun to see the game and hang with the kids. We are just so lucky to have found this gift. One of the girls has been forever found and left last weekend with her new adopted family. It's always a great celebration when these kids find a family as they are already growing, not babies or toddlers. We so wish her a happy life ever after! There is also a set of 3 siblings who left for their forever families over Thanksgiving. Such real miracles!

Yesterday it snowed ALL DAY LONG. It snowed the most petite snowflakes I've ever seen all the while the sun was shining! It truly looked like it was snowing from the sun ... very cool and oh, so beautiful. Kind of magical ... the flakes looked like little bubbles floating in the air.

Looks like our friends in FL are going to get some frost this weekend ... a chilly weekend for the Super Bowl, huh?!? We are looking at a REAL snow Tuesday so Paul's been chopping wood and stock piling for the event. Always something going on around here!

If it would ever warm up enough I could grout this monster mosaic and have it finished up. It is coming right along and looking pretty good .... finally. Guess I'll begin some of the things I want to do now that I'm stalled on this. My pile of work to be grouted is huge. Mother Nature, I'm sure, will cooperate when she's good and ready!

Just wanted to wish every one of you a happy weekend. Do something fun, something productive and something restful! Then you've covered it all!

Cheers to all,

Paul & Cheri

Needin' that Ark right about now ...

Thought I'd just post things in twos since the need for Noah and his ark has become obvious around here. The torrential downpours will no doubt freeze overnight reeking all kinds of havoc on the roads in the morning. The snow is again on its way ... and I'm tired of sounding like the old lady who only talks about the weather. But honest to goodness it matters around here! For example, the wind was blowing 50 mph this morning. SO if you didn't know that was coming up then you would not know to nail down everything that's outside, and your favorite outside rocking chair from the porch could end up in East Tennessee some place ... and it's very inconvenient, not to mention embarrassing to go and round up all of your belongings just because you weren't paying attention to the weather. ALSO, because I missed a couple of lines in the forecast, I wore a wool coat meant for COLD instead of a repellent coat meant for precipitation ... so now I'll be warm yet soggy .... you see what I mean, I am sure! And wool is very heavy once it has been saturated.

I am sipping my afternoon tea from a wonderful bone china tea cup my mum and dad-in law sent me for Christmas. It has the most perfect British scene painted on it of the front of Harrods department store in London, complete with a pencil mustached fella with an umbrella and a top hat. (wonder if he'd let me borrow that umbrella --- sorry) hailing a taxi. Perfect tea cup for a rainy afternoon ... thanks B and Mel!

Anyway the tea is comfort food as most everyone knows. Things have been "out of sorts" lately. Not everything, but enough to make the axis of Cheri land a little on the tilt. Can't quite trace the cause or event ... just know it's there.

Paul & I taught the Crossnore children on Saturday and it was AMAZING to be with the kids again. We had a GREAT day and both of us had very shining blue eyes all day long. It certainly renews the spirit. And it felt good to exercise again for sure!! I was pretty sore for a couple of days afterward and it is obvious I've become lazy and complacent. So now we are trying to put an hour of treadmill in our schedule (daily would be nice, but not yet apparently). Anyway, we are so grateful for these kids in our lives. That is NOT a source of the "out of sorts".

My car is wounded. I pulled in to work a couple of weeks ago and smoke was pouring out from under the right wheel well. Smelled just like burning brakes. So .. I am guessing it is. Paul picked up the brake pads today, I think. It will be nice to have my own transportation again. (That is one "out of sorts" source, no doubt). I have truly enjoyed spending the time in the car with my sweet husband, just talking about whatever. It does give us an hour a day to be together and giggle and communicate. AND it's great to have a chauffeur, especially in the snow and ice. But I miss having the freedom to leave the office during the day if I want to. And sneak by a store to window shop after work if I want to. (Paul isn't a very good window shopper unless it's a book store or marbles.)

My friend Beth came home last week! Oh how I've missed having a friend in town! It is so very sweet to have her home ... and to be able to hug her and help her heal. She and Paul moved all of her plants back to her little bungalow (out of sorts ... plants gone, missing the beauty!) and he helped her get her plumbing all back together. Apparently there are bears up there on her mountain that like to bite through the lines instead of drinking from the spring! Also, a few snake skins in her bungalow. I swear we didn't see any snakes while house sitting. Quiet things!

Work is struggling. Clients are all at home/work counting their missing money and not wanting to buy million dollar second homes. My friend Steve (an agent here) is sick with the flu and he is my comedy relief and greatly missed. He is also my adopt-a-son (adult). My boss, Hugh, has had the flu and is pretty poorly still, although he shows up everyday for at least 12 hours every day. Shelby, the backbone for us all, had shoulder surgery and has been out since Jan. 8th. She's been back for a couple of days and boy does that help! (out of sorts for sure when she's not here for that long at a time)

I have been doing as much art work as I can with the cold. It just zaps my energy and the piece I insist on working on is HUGE. It will only fit in the kitchen on the table and if the kitchen isn't warm, I can't stand to work in there. (out of sorts for sure on this) I want to finish it so badly for a number of reasons. First is because it is for Jenn and her family and it's been a year in coming. Secondly, because I want to work on about 100 other pieces and this has to be finished first. I hope for warmth and for T.V. to show all junk so I can stay in the kitchen and do art!

My "step-sister" Shay is now going through chemo. (very out of sorts about this) She has had at least 2 treatments and is reacting the way everyone does in that circumstance. This woman could truly use a break in her life. As you know, she just lost her mom. She is struggling to keep the family business up and running and profitable. She has two beautiful children who she would love to provide for. And she would like a minute or two to be happy and live life. PLEASE take a moment to say a sweet prayer for Shay and her kids.

There are birthdays galore amongst us. Tomorrow is our friends Joe's birthday, (happy Birthday, Chief!) Friday is Ms. Joanie's birthday ... Joanie is the director of Sawnee Ballet Theater and School and a precious darling woman and friend. Joanie, happy, happy birthday. And Saturday is my cousin's (Georga in NY) birthday! SO for all you birthday boys and girls, hope you blow out all those candles with one breath, make wishes you really want to come true, and have the best year of your lives so far! Happy Birthday!

I came across a blog site that intrigued me greatly. It took me several days to investigate it and find all the treasures within. There is a huge story with a zillion facets to it and I must say I've been extremely preoccupied with it since the discovery. The woman is amazing, her sisters are also amazing. Her entire family is a gift to humanity. If I'd try to go into everything it would require a novel length post ... this is bad enough already, so I will let you find your own adventure. The site is www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/ There is a warning though, it's a survival story and requires a case of Kleenex and etc. However, it has provoked things in me that I forgot to nourish. It has rekindled passions I forgot to visit. And I am forever grateful to the blog site faerie who led me to her site. The sister has a site too, and she is an incredible writer (http://www.cjanerun.blogspot.com/). That will help in your search for information and history.

I guess all the reawakened aspects of my soul are what feels out of sorts. So, to quote my sweet Paul, "I'll sort that out while I have a cup of tea!" THAT is why I'm having tea.

Hope it doesn't rain ice in your neck of the woods! I love the comments I'm getting from my Orlando buddies about the ice pics on the blog! You guys are too funny!!

Oh, and I just want to make sure you know how much we TRULY appreciate the care packages, PSu and Scott!! We received these fabulous boxes filled with English treats, and Starbucks beans from our Pilgrim friends that make our hearts warm and our bodies HAPPY!!! Thank you so much for thinking of us. Living remote, without a Starbucks nearby, or even a department store is always a bit of a challenge for me ... Paul, not so much! We can't thank you enough for thinking of us, and actually SENDING US LOVE in a box! Now, that's friendship!!

If you have any good thoughts left over at the end of your day, please keep one for Paul, that there will be a job for him soon. We'd be much oblidged!

Hope everything is peaches and cream in your world! You ALL look great from our house!

Blessing to you all,

Paul and Cheri

Ice climbing

Remember the whole waterfall that is frozen and not falling thing? Well, this is what some people do with it. ME ... I just judge how cold it is outside ... THIS GUY ... he's trying out his fun-o-meter. HOW COOL! Food for thought .... If I wasn't such a wimp about the cold, I might consider it ... great therapy for body soreness! ALL THAT ICE! Hmmmmmm

SNOW DAYZ

Frozen solid! This is Cascade Water fall ... not falling. This is my definition of cold, when the water in the water fall no longer falls. Frozen in motion ... brrrr ... 8 degrees folks.

Ok, so this piece is the dormer, and that piece is the roof ... and what is this over here???

SNOW DAYZ mean art projects at our house! And ... sometimes, "honey do" projects. We now have some of the chair molding in the bathroom! SO COOL! I'm sure it will get finished ... someday!

Oh, I see ... this gets glued right here ... and the steps go in this place...

Paul received this for a Christmas gift about 6 years ago. We are now to the point in our lives where there is actually time to put it together! FUN!!!! sorry for the sideways picture ...

At this end of the table is a mosaic I've been working on for an entire year now. I've been interrupted a few times ... but back on it now. I'll post again soon ... it should be finished in the next week. Hang in there Jenn and Vic, I promise it is not going to be an unfinished symphony!

Grandfather Mountain, Monday, Jan. 19th, which was my son's 27th birthday! Happy Birthday, Jon!!!! It has snowed for 3 solid days and it is absolutely gorgeous. I love going outside and listening to the quiet. There is something so very magical. It is crisp and clean and peaceful and majestic feeling. Quite the real definition of awesome. We are expecting 1-4 more inches of this stuff in the next 12 hours or so ... FUN!!!! So, here's hoping all of you are warm and cozy.

Stay well and warm,

Paul & Cheri

New Year's Winter

Rime Ice on Grandfather Mountain this morning

How beautiful! And cold ...


This was at sunset BEFORE the water set in ... gorgeous, isn't it?



We spent most of the weekend officially getting Christmas out of the house and up into the attic where it waits all year long for us to release it again. So glad that project is over. I'm definitely NOT built for trying to get the ornaments on or off a 10 foot tree! Thank heavens Paul is a good sport and doesn't mind helping!



Trying to catch up on a few things, random and not:


December 29th was Paul's dad's 70th birthday! SO Happy Birthday MEL!!!!! Having had the boys with us, our posts on real life things are a bit behind the times ... but the wishes are all the same HAPPY and SINCERE!

Our friend Beth who has been in upstate NY and MA since April taking care of her mom has finally said goodbye to her as Mary passed away surrounded by love and family last week. The family had a party "Mary style" for her in her NY home where she lived for 40 + years. Rest in peace, Mary. And God Bless you Beth as you move into grief and all that comes with losing your mom. We will be here for anything you might need us to do. xoxo

Paul's niece and nephew, Sarah and Nick both celebrate their birthdays, Sara on the 9th and Nick on the 15th ... as does his brother Chris on the 15th of this month. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Christopher!!! As well as Happy Birthday to you Sarah and Nick!!! My niece Hollie also celebrates her birthday on the 15th!! Birthday season is here for our family ... a zillion Capricorns in the mix. Happy Birthday Hollie! And in case you don't know, Mercury is retrogrand so mind your peas and ques when you're communicating or signing contracts!


David Evertsen in Orlando celebrates his birthday TODAY so HAPPY BIRTHDAY David!

Mandy Taylor Salguero (hope I spelled that right) ran a marathon yesterday. NOW THAT is an accomplishment! Congratulations, Mandy! I am VERY impressed, and am bowing to you in admiration and respect. You rock!

Facebook turns out to be a pretty cool tool for casual communicating for those of you who haven't yet checked it out. It certainly eliminates the unnecessary stuff and cuts right to the chase of stating random facts and talking to friends and etc. Worth a look/see if you're so inclined.

I have been following a new blogsite (littlebitfunky.blogspot.com). Very inspiring, fun and worthwhile for a read and certainly provokes some insight into things. She even has a pretty nifty swap event coming up. I love her attitude toward giving. The right ideas.

As the new year always does begin with good intentions, Paul and I have made our list of what we'd like to do when/where/how/why. He has begun sanding the edges of the floors so we can actually finish them up. One room per month, that's our goal!!! There are so many things to be done, we just picked one. Hopefully that will help us with the not feeling overwhelmed thing!

I have been mosaicing and plotting my next few projects. It feels great to want to do it again. Guess I just needed a break for a while.

The children from the Crossnore School are on holiday in Washington, DC ... actually they are calling it "classroom without walls" so I don't think it's really a holiday but more of a field trip.
We are missing the Saturday dance classes, so it will be wonderful for these two old folks when they return. Exercise is mandatory for us at this point!

Weather is promising snow this week and temps to dip to zero and below! BRRRR

Well, best go dream up some more things to do and strive for. Do hope you are all well and happy.

Till next time,
Paul & Cheri

Making the World a Better Place

If your friend's (cousin, spouse, roommate, etc.) MP3 player dies, share yours with him (her). It will undoubtably make their day ... and maybe even give them new music to enjoy! We all dance to a different beat ... Look at these smiles. Tell me it doesn't feel good to be kind! Life is good!

The Best Birthday Ever!!!

First of all, the Goddess creates a PERFECT day for you to unwrap when you wake up!















Then you eat your wheaties so you can KICK BUTT!!




















Then you find a good sport (in this case, a cousin) and you have a great time beating each other!















Then you finish up with your brother ....















Go to the best park EVER (Valle Crucis) and have a picnic lunch ... mediterranean style. Crusty bread, cheeses of all kinds, peanut butter, jelly, pretzels and raspberry/mustard dip ... lettuces and carrots, and chocolate of course!















A Soccer game ... SCORE !!!!
We had floating goals ... as long as you were close enough to your team mate to shoot, he could make a goal with his feet and you shoot! It was very interesting ... and not so confusing once you figured out exactly WHO your team mates were!
Cade & I had a grand collision ... glad I didn't squish the little guy!















Throw a baseball up on the roof of the picnic cover and see who it falls to when it lands. This took tremendous concentration ... and skill!















This was the very best gift ever given ... my birthday with these 3 little fellas making me giggle, and giggle, and giggle. Thanks guys!






Then taco night .... followed by ice cream and cake with some friends stopping by. At the head of the table is Chad, our friend who has helped tremendously with yard clean up and etc. back in the spring & summer. Also, his dad is an electrician and will be helping us soon with our upgrade (like making our electric all work!)













OBVIOUS!





These adult kids are very special to us. The two women with the hair to die for are Jennie (l) and Meghan (r). Jennie and Chad are engaged and have set a date in June 2009. Meghan works with me at Grandfather ... she is a life saver for when I need time off and she works weekends. Couldn't imagine not having these "kids" in our lives.




The Kress sisters .... and, by the way, their parents are the ones that had the apple and pear trees that Paul absolutely scoured for all his apple and pear projects last fall. Now you know!

Paul even did the dishes since it was my birthday ... well, there is a first time for everything, huh?

Whoo hoo!!!

We had a bit of a dance off ... I do believe this was some robot action

This was the ballerina action, if I'm not mistaken.

More robot and a conga line .... have I mentioned that I giggled and giggled and giggled? Well, during this, I laughed hearty and loudly! And we all got splinters in our feet (except Austin!). What a fabulous, fabulous birthday. Thanks, you guys!
I can't wait to see them all again! :-)

Much love to you all,

Cheri