Tractors, Vistas, Views and Men in Trees! oh my!

Senor Paul, tree season 2009.
men in trees ... quite literally all day long!

Preferred tractor when it's snowing ... heater AND radio!

For sunny days

Another cold and wet weather cab

Paul's favorite one ...

Look at those puffy clouds!!! GORGEOUS!

Roan Mountain from Buck Mountain --- in Tennessee

Walking to get up to the trailer either to stack or to unload

remember those empty staging areas? Not so much any more!

More men in trees - smiling at that!

Trees, trees, trees!

Expert stacking - otherwise they all fall down! Not good when that happens!

In the mirror, there are still men in trees!

BIG TRACTOR!

Yep --- more men in trees (actually on trees!)

Beauty compliments of Mother Nature - Blue Ridges, green trees, brown dirt!

Getting started for the day. Bet there are plenty of deer amongst the trees.

Staging is filling up - they look like soldiers to me

another filling up ... coming to a town near you soon!

Yep, this is just what it looks like. Two years before Paul started driving, this fella gave his life in an accident as he was working the tree season. Albeit a bit sobering to realize how dangerous tractor driving is, it is comforting to me to know the guys have an angel out there on the mountain watching over them and keeping them out of harm's way. Thank you, "Nello", for watching over our men in trees. R.I.P.

Til next time,

Paul & Cheri

Tree season

And so it begins ... bows for the wreaths ... tied by yours truly in the evenings when/if I get to sit still.

This is the staging area for the trees after they are plucked from the field, baled and tagged, loaded onto the trailers driven by the tractor drivers (Paul is one of those guys) and delivered back to this area. It's empty as of yesterday's start ... but it'll be filled to the brim and then some soon enough. Then the trees are loaded into semis and taken to Lowe's and Home Depot (to name a couple of retailers) and off they go to you folks off of the mountain. So the next time you see a live tree, buy one! It keeps us employed and fed!!!!! But in the event you don't buy one, just send good thoughts our way. Lots of Paul's energy goes in to trees!

Just to give you an idea of the terrain ... it isn't like Florida! ;-)

So the driver is in the front on his tractor ... then the Mexican men throw the trees from the ground to the ones who are standing on the trailers to catch them. They are pretty amazing to watch work ... it's wondrous how they don't knock each other off the trailers some times because the trees are soaking wet with water and snow later in the month, and they weigh a ton. It's a HARD job.

These guys are baling the trees with wire mesh that keeps them nice and protected until they get to their final destination. Look at the pitch of the land! Listening to Paul describe driving on the hills is enough to give me chills sometimes! Yikes!

Loading the trailer (up close!) ... Fransisco is the guy on the left (not in yellow) with the tree. Paul says he is one of the strongest men he's ever met. As you can see by his stance, that tree is not light. These guys truly earn their living!

It was foggy yesterday ... so they cut and bale the trees and put them in rows for the drivers to pick up and take to the staging areas.

Yesterday's work was on top of Buck Mountain which is over just past our house in Tennessee. We'll keep you posted on the filling up of this area ... you'll be amazed.

When Paul got home last night he smelled SO GOOD! Just like a Christmas tree! I love this time of year. Even though we're only entering our 3rd season, it feels like tradition!

The time change has me all confused. It's only 20 til 5 and it's getting darkish. And it's cold because the sun is hiding behind the mountain already.

Paul installed some french doors at the mouth of the hallway last night! They look great ... and will look even better when they're stained and etc. He also installed gas logs in the bedroom and den. Our list is moving right along! Pictures to follow ... Paul had the camera so I didn't get to take photos yet. Hopefully there will be another set of french doors up in the doorway that leads to the dining room soon! Then the heat will be easier to direct. (well, we hope!)

Don't forget to vote tomorrow for all of you who vote!!!! And good luck to all the people who have a reason to be on a ballot.

Happy tree season to all!

P&C

Happy Birthday Cyndie!

Cyndie in the middle, me on the left, our friend Janette on the right ... probably 1963?

Cyndie : )

I have a little sister. She was born when I was barely 7 years old. We lived in Cocoa Beach, FL at the time ... my brother was 16 years old at the time and told everyone he was adopted! Cyndie was born early -- only weighing a little over 4 pounds. At 7 years old, I thought she looked funny and screamed loudly. What did I know, I was only 7!!!

This picture of her was the only recent one I could find ... and I LOVE the grin she has on her face. When this picture was taken, she was in NYC with her daughter (who I so gently edited from the picture since it's supposed to be about Cyndie) ...

Cyndie and her husband live in Clarksville, TN.

Cyndie, I hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you with magical wishes coming true. I hope y'all get to build your house and make those dreams a reality.

I hope you're healthy and happy.

I love you.

Happy Birthday.

your big sister, Cheri

Smile on our Faces

Linville Gorge - GORGEOUS

Arencha jealous? Almost all the trees look like this or completely golden. It is a color spectacular around here right now. Actually, we're almost over that part because the wind has added its dimension to the picture and it'll be raining this week as most of the leaves will hit the ground. But it has just been beautiful and a real treat after our very WET summer.

Such a gorgeous palette of color!
These pictures are courtesy of Ray's Weather site. They always have such gorgeous donations, it seems a shame not to share them!
Paul & I have just been busy as little bees ... the weekend flew by! Paul refereed some soccer, one game of which I actually got to see yesterday. It was so entirely wonderful to sit outside in the sunshine and watch the world go by. There was a soccer game to watch too if one was so inclined. I was just busy watching the cute ref waving his flag around. (tee hee)
We have begun putting out bids for the building so we're hoping to see that up and standing tall shortly. That is our number one project. Number two project is getting an electrician to FINALLY do the wiring work that will separate the kitchen from the rest of the house ... the upstairs from the downstairs (you'll be able to use a hair dryer now, girls) and the bathroom from everything else. I'm so excited about this!!! It means we can always plug in a heater if we want to. MY DREAM COME TRUE!!!!! Third project is getting the plumber to come over and properly install the claw foot tub parts, as well as switch out the lead pipes(!) for modern ones. We are so hoping this will take place before the lead poisoning has occurred. Will keep you posted! We will also get new and improved flexible piping for the freeze and thaw action that is so prominent around here for 6 months out of the year. Fourth, deciding on boiler heat or forced air heat. DECISIONS, DECISIONS!!!! I can't wait to begin posting pictures of all of this stuff because it will mean the updates have been made!!!!! YEEHAW and YEAHOO!!!!
Christmas tree season begins this weekend, so Paul will have a good 5 - 6 weeks of work coming now. YEAH!!!!! And he's scheduled to drive the tractor, so amen to that! His knees are in horrible shape. Reminds me of Festus from Gunsmoke the way he limps and groans. Guess we'll have to address that sooner than later now.
We'd like to have the building up and running by January 1 so we can start the new year with a new slate and some work - God willing!!!!! Hopefully there will be a little room in the back of it to partition it off and have a "studio" for the pottery kiln, a place for cutting mosaic materials and warping yarn ... you get the picture. If that fails, we'll abandon the welding shop plan and open a dance studio! SOMETHING will have to work! Starving and being destitute is NOT an option! :-)
There are oogogs of birthdays coming around this week. First and foremost, my sister Cyndie has a birthday on Thursday, the 29th. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY CYNDIE. Hope your dearest wish comes true.
Sue, who I work with at the real estate office, has a birthday on Thursday as well. Stefanie who owned the studio where I taught in Newland for a couple of years, has a birthday on Wednesday. I'm sure you two ladies will have a wonderful day filled with all kinds of treats!
I'm teaching a lot of dance at Crossnore now that the season is back in session. I teach Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday morning/afternoons. I'm sore and tired! I'm hoping for that part to wear itself out so I can move through it and get over myself! I get to have a root canal Wednesday morning and would appreciate any spare good thoughts you might be able to forward my way. We have to go all the way to Johnson City to find an Endodontist. AND I have to be there by 9 AM! That could be a major miracle in itself! HA!
My sweet boss is very sick. He is hanging in there but could use any extra prayers and good thoughts you have sitting around. His name is Hugh. If you can, please think positive and happy thoughts for him as he gets through this "phase" of his healing program. He is such an amazing man and has given so much to so many. He is always serving on Boards of Directors in the community, giving his time and resources and doing more than his share to keep the community and the Club on the right path. Now it's his turn to receive. Blessings for you, Hugh. Gobs and gobs of them. And buckets filled with love.
My great friend Donna Taylor was scheduled to ride in the 'Live Strong' bicycle ride yesterday with her daughter and daughter's friend, Shelly and Erin in San Antonio, TX. They were riding in memory of Donna's first husband and Shelly's dad, Rod Taylor ... who was another amazing man, from Orlando. I can't wait to hear all the details!!!!! Hope it went well Donna!
Haven't heard much about the grandboys and their Halloween plans. HELLO????? Anyone going trick or treating? I need to know the themes of costumes so I can contribute ..... if anyone has seen these children or knows of their plans, please let me know! Thanks!
OK ... off to work now. Have miles to go before I'm done!!!!
Happy Trails!
Paul & Cheri

Our world

One morning we woke up and it was fall ... beautiful leaf color all around and the joys of scarecrows and pumpkins showing up in all those rich earth colors ... simply glorious.

Then we woke up to this .... rime ice on the tops of the mountains, and leaf color at the base. This picture was taken from the profile trail (Grandfather Mountain) on Sunday just past and posted on the weatherman's site. Isn't it spectacular?

This picture was taken the same day from someone on Beech Mountain. Crisp, clean, beautiful white scenery. This also came from Ray's weather site. AMAZING!!!

This is my niece, Hollie with Ty Pennington (sp?) from Extreme Makeover. My sister Cyndie is on the construction team that is doing one of the makeover homes for a policeman wounded in action, as she works for the construction company that is doing the project (Singleton Construction). Hollie sang Happy Birthday to Ty over the P.A. system yesterday as they opened the project to be started for the family. HOW EXCITING!!!! This kind of giving is a great thing for people to do! Makes my heart warm to know my little sister is involved. Way to go, Cyndie ... along with those hundreds of other people you've coerced into helping! Blessings to all of you!!!!!

Paul & I are staying busy, of course. He's been reffing almost every afternoon .... usually Fridays are off. I've added some evening classes to my schedule at Crossnore, so I'm getting some more exercise and having lots more fun giggling with the kids. Last night I had a bunch of under 12 year olds. What a ball of energy ... surely they could power a city the size of Manhattan! It was super fun ... and then I taught the teen girls who are all so enthusiastic about learning. Such a treat!

Paul will start working in the trees the end of this month! It was only 24 degrees when we got up this morning, so we're busy trying to organize warm clothes and such. When I say brrrrr, I mean cold! He'll be driving tractors, I hope, so we can save his knees as much as possible. The cold hurts the bones up here...old bones that is!

Do hope all of you are well.

Happy Trails!

Paul & Cheri

10 years

The Adventure continues . . . gratefully!!!!

Life is good.

P&C

OKTOBERFEST, Sugar Mountain, NC

Ruthie came and took a photo of us on a very rainy, cold morning. Brave of her to get out in the mess. Braver yet were we ... staying out in it for the day!!!!!

Our biz ... Clay for all the clay work that Shannon does, zaics for the mosaic work I try to do. We just stuck them together and came up with that! Clever women that we are ..... haha!

This was our very colorful booth. A friend of ours, Gaye Meade makes purses so we displayed some of her things as well. It was fun on Sunday because the sun came out! YEAH!!!

We had a visitor in a bat hat all the way from Atlanta ... and although that looks like Crocodile Dundee, it's really Paul with Christian. A busy day ... Christian tried to play on the slides and bouncy toys, but it was so cold even he had to go home, get a hot bath and sit by the fire! Nothing like October in the mountains for unpredictable life. It's going to snow this weekend, just in time for the Wooly Worm Festival. SOSOSOSO glad we aren't going to be vendors in that one!

Brandy (l) and Shannon messing around. Brandy is the message therapist who had the booth next to us. We all had a wonderful weekend ... perfect neighbors! Brandy sells some amazing bath soaps and herbs for bath therapies that she hand makes. Very talented lady. Will post her website as soon as I find her card!

This is one of Shannon's hand sculpted mushrooms for plants. Her stuff always has such a fabulous personality of their very own. $20 if you're interested.

Some hand sculpted clay faces by Shannon Fannon. '09 She has some absolutely amazing talent. Again, $20 if you're interested.

Our booth! Day one

These two are absolute trouble together .... Frick and Frack!

This is a mirror I did for Jen and family ... still has to have the cross put in the top center and it'll be finished at long last.

Beautiful Jen & precious Christian. We were calling Christian "Joseph and the coat of many colors" ... but we certainly didn't have to look too hard for him!

Smilin' Shannon - Booth day two

Bat boy and his mom :-)

Gotta entertain ourselves somehow!
We had a great weekend!

Meanwhile,

Happy Birthday to Janet & Craig (Paul's twin sister & brother)

Happy FIRST wedding anniversary to Charles & Sabrina (and hopes for MANY more)

Happy Birthday to Meghan!! 22 years old ...

Hope all y'all had a wonderful celebratory day and your hopes, dreams and wishes come true.

And we'll try to do better at getting these wishes out BEFORE things happen instead of after. Life comes at you fast, as they say!

Enjoy!

Paul & Cheri