Merry Christmas

John, Aunt Marian and I enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with daughter, Sara Ellen here. The days went too fast to capture in photos. Here is Sara & I during her early December visit.

Wild Turkeys

On our way home from town today we spotted a huge flock of wild turkeys.

The more we looked the more we saw.

They didn't seem to mind us taking pictures.

Here the big Tom gave us the eyeball.

Que Pasa!

We enjoyed our Friday dinner out at the local Mexican restaurant-Que Pasa. Sara and I loved the margaritas while Aunt Marian and John had Dos Equis in the biggest glasses I've ever seen outside of the Hof Brau Haus in Munich. They make guacamole right at the table, yum!

Ole!

Grove Park Inn

We braved the crowds and headed for the Grove Park Inn to see the annual Gingerbread House display.

Here we are in the driveway, all cleaned up and ready to go...

Arriving at the Grove Park Inn, Aunt Marian asks if she
should push the cart of firewood into the lobby.  :)

Sitting to rest in one of the vintage GPI chairs. We had
walked the hallway with all the old memorbilia from
the early days of the Inn. Saw a bill from 1917 when the
rooms were $17 a night and a photo of Edison, Ford and
Firestone when they stayed there.

These are some creations from the youth division.

These are some of our favorites in the adult contest.

Our server took our photo as we enjoyed the buffett.
Had a window seat and watched the clouds move
over Mt. Pisgah, down the French Broad River into Asheville.

Another rest stop and some people watching.

A passerby offers to take our photo as we wonder over the dozen decorated Christmas trees.

We had a fun afternoon touring the Grove Park Inn!

Thanksgiving 2011

After a leisure morning watching the parade the preparations begin...

John tends to the turkey on the grill.

We take a stroll around the house in the warm sun with
the dogs, Maddie and Wheezie to sharpen our appetites.

Styling in our new winter hats.

Waiting for the turkey to cook enjoying a St. Pauli Girl.

Dinner time getting closer.

Ready for carving.

Ready to dig in and feast on turkey, dressing, cranberry
salad, green bean casserole, mashed 'taters n gravy.
Of course that is a pumpkin pie in the background!

Sunny Sunday

Last week end was very nice and sunny. Here we are enjoying the afternoon sitting on the south side of the house.

Saturday errands

Out and around Asheville today. To the mall for a present for Ava Rose Woodard, (Paul and Amy's little newborn.)  So many cute outfits to choose from, we picked 3 pink and white Carter's layettes. The mall was full of folks, seemed like Christmas shopping was primary. Then to the Bali bra store to buy...well, you can guess. We stopped for lunch at Mikado's Japanese Restaurant for sesame chicken, yum. Aunt Marian had a Japanese beer, as you can see.  ( She looked happier after the food and beer. )

Toasting to you, wish you were here.

Sunday Funday

Beautiful, sunny clear day! Ran the roads for a 3 hour tour. Up the mountain for a view back towards the farm.

Newfound Valley looking west towards the farm.

Fall colors are still on display in the background.

Warm sunshine and a long distance mountain view is
enjoyable, but Aunt Marian laughs as I tell her to take 'one more' step back.

Aunt Marian on another Tootsie Taylor White Knuckle Tour.
She is still laughing, so that's a good sign!

Letting the Impala rest while we do some rock climbing.

The clear blue water of the French Broad River makes a
beautiful backdrop scene.

Still smiling, but the rock is cold! Time to head back
to the farm, the sun is getting low and dinner time
is getting closer.

Mighty Spartans

The culmination of our ancient civilizations studies was a Greek Festival.  My students wanted to be Spartans. We made helmets of black construction paper with capes from red plastic tablecloths over white t-shirts from the Dollar store. The girls fashioned white togas with (green construction paper) ivy leaf headdresses. 

The Spartans challenge all  who approach their homeland (homeroom).

While in Sparta the warriors hone their fighting skills.

Ready for battle!

The Spartans journey to the Olympics.

Waiting for Olympic events to begin.

The feast after the games.

Toasting the champions.
A fun filled day for all!

Sunday Drive

Aunt Marian and I took the Impala on the Blue Ridge Parkway this afternoon. It was a clear, sunny day. The fall colors were beautiful.

Sorry the photo is sideways, but here we are leaving the house, petting the dog goodbye.

On our way we stop to admire the view.

Aunt Marian laughs as I direct her to "take a few more steps
backward" toward the straight down embankment.

Back in the car, still smiling while the Tootsie Taylor
Whiteknuckle Tour careens down the road.

Purchase Knob Home

Our first Fall field trip was to Purchase Knob as noted in
previous post. I had added this photo of the home, but
it disappeared when published. So here it is. A beautiful
place built as a summer home in 1964 and then donated
to the government in 2000. This would be a difficult
place to give up, but as a result, many more people
can enjoy it.

First Fall Field Trip-Purchase Knob Science Center

Here we approach the mountain top property via a narrow, steep, winding lane. We pray there is no oncoming traffic. It is a beautiful sunny day, the temperature drops as we get higher and higher.  I drove my car behind the bus, that is another parent in front of me. It was a dust storm by the time we got to the top.

Students file off the bus and head for the house for a short orientation.

After a short hike into the woods we sift the leaves collecting bugs.

The rangers say don't worry about poison ivy or oak.

It doesn't grow in this high elevation. Several

parents have come along. I was happy for the help.

We enjoyed a sack lunch on the side porch of the house.

Teacher assistant, Mr. B, knew more about the flora and fauna

than the rangers. He has a BS from Indiana in agriculture.

Beautiful view from the side porch of Purchase Knob.

We viewed the collected bugs projected on the wall of the once

master bedroom. Bugs were under a microscope and MUCH

bigger than life size. Interesting but eerie! It made my skin itch.

Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Appalachian Highland Science Learning Center is based on 535 acres in Haywood County, North Carolina, contiguous with the rest of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The parcel includes the 5,086 foot elevation Purchase Knob, a historic cabin, and two buildings which contain offices, laboratory space, a 50-person classroom, and housing for up to eight visiting scientists.
The buildings and land were donated in 2000 by Kathryn McNeil and Voit Gilmore, who had owned the property since 1964, and had built a summer home upon it. This represents the largest donation of land since GSMNP came into existence. Since then, the park has averaged about 5,000 visiting scientists, students and teachers each year. Everyday, the staff and program participants thank the family for their generous gift.
In 2001, Purchase Knob became the home of one of five initial Learning Centers created by Congress to support research in the National Parks and to transmit the information generated to the public. Eventually, 32 learning centers are expected nationwide.

Full Size Football

We've wanted a big screen tv for a long time. A couple of years ago we were numbed by sticker shock and came home with a modest 32 inch flatscreen. This week we took the plunge and went shopping and came home with a 55 inch LG flat screen LED tv with 3D!  We are watching University of Michigan football right now and feel like we are sitting in the bleachers of the Big House!

Hopeful...

Justin Verlander is having the kind of season where you could see him pulling off the impossible — advancing to the World Series and knocking off the powerful Phillies.

Well, we can only hope!!