Happy TGIF- July 29th

A great Friday planned... Pancake breakfast followed by a leisure day at the farm with Paul and Meghan. Later today we will venture into Asheville for Bele Cher Festival. Last year was the first time we attended, so now making it an annual event. Have been going to Drum Circle on Fridays this summer. Not sure if they will be drumming with Bele Cher going on, but will check it out. Here are some pics from previous Fridays.

Some drumming, some dancing and more watching.

Paul and Meghan

Heading to the Asheville airport this morning to pick up Paul and Meghan for some WNC fun. Here's a few photos of Summer 2010 trip.

John, Meghan and Paul on the street during

Bele Cher Festival.

A stop while cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Cooling off swimming in Lake Lure.

People watching sitting at one of the many

sidewalk cafes downtown Asheville.

Waiting for 'Dirty Guvnors' to perform at

Bele Cher.

Checking out the scenery on

the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A beautiful day at Lake Lure!

Aunts and Me

While in Michigan this summer I visited Aunt June and her daughter,

Patsy.  Here we are enjoying ourselves outdoors at

Superior Woods in Ypsilanti. No the motorcycle

does not belong to any of us!

Here's Aunt Marian ready to 'run the roads'

with me in the Impala.

Aunt Marian relaxing in the front

room at home on Bemis Rd, Ypsilanti.

September,2010

Sara came to the mountains for her birthday

last September. She came to North Windy Ridge

and spent the day with my 6th grade students.

We had an apple party and made foam crafts.

Blue Ridge Parkway-My Favorite Drive!

Blue Ridge Parkway
Location	North Carolina & Virginia, USA
Nearest city	Asheville, NC & Roanoke, VA
Coordinates	36°31′07″N 80°56′09″W / 36.51861°N 80.93583°W / 36.51861; -80.93583Coordinates: 36°31′07″N 80°56′09″W / 36.51861°N 80.93583°W / 36.51861; -80.93583
Area	93,390 (377.94 km²)
Established	June 30, 1936
Visitors	17,882,567 (in 2005)
Governing body	National Park Service

Blue Ridge Parkway route map

The parkway near Grandfather Mountain

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles, mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains. Its southern terminus is on the boundary between Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina, from which it travels north to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and offers access to the Skyline Drive, the major north/south artery through the Park. The two All-American Byways are separate and distinct. The Blue Ridge Parkway was built to connect Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Parkway is not a National Park, but is a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road, and is the most visited unit in the United States National Park System. Land on either side of the road is maintained by the National Park Service and, in many places, the park is bordered by land protected by the United States Forest Service.



TGIF at Lake James

Spent Friday floating at the beach pictured above.

We arrived at 10:30am and stayed until the

thunderclouds moved in about 3:30pm.

This is a view of the State Park pavillion

with the lake and beach in the background,

nice, new facilities.

A view of the beach from the porch of the bath house.

Enjoyed a nice relaxing summer day.

When we got to the car the temp read 98 degrees!

Boating with Captain Brad

Sara and I enjoying the cool, calm waters of the

Atlantic Ocean.

Here I am braving the Atlantic Ocean 2 miles out.

A happy crew aboard Brad's Boat.

L to R:   Mary, Anne, Sara, Sue, Steve

Mother and son soaking up the sun!

Captain Brad with 1st mate Sara navigating

Ponce de Leon inlet.

Touring Biltmore Estate

It was a beautiful, but hot WNC summer day when a couple of friends and I spent the day at the Biltmore Estate. We arrived early and took the audio tour of the house. The largest privately owned home in the United States. Each tour I see new things and learn more about this era of America. We took our photos upon entering the house, no pics allowed inside, then didn't get the camera out again. :(  Then hungry we had lunch at the Bistro at the winery. The most visited winery in the USA! (Surprized? I was, thought Napa Valley would be #1.) We hurried thru (new) Antler Village, going from air conditioned shops through the heat quickly. A driving tour of the grounds, farm and gardens finished off the day.



Thinking cool thoughts...

The weather here is back in the 90s!

Mom used to tell us, "Think cool thoughts."

Here are some pics from last winter.

Sara and Paul dressed warm and ready to

play in the snow.

No sled, so we tried a cardboard box.

Meghan has the best success just throwing

herself down the hill.

Sara shivers while Paul readies a snowball.

Meghan employs a surfers stance downhill.

Rosey cheeks from the cold air.

Paul and Meghan sliding while I supervise.

Out for a hike in the north 40 in the snowstorm.

John and I huff and puff our way through the

heavy white blanket of snow while the dogs

enjoy romping.

Angie's Wedding

Sometimes daughter Sara, seen here in red, holds

 high expectations and makes seemingly impossible

demands. Case in point: attending Angie's wedding.

Sara expected me to drive 1000+ miles round trip

during a weekend.  I had to work at school on Friday,

attend wedding Saturday night and return home to

Asheville, NC to (mandatory) attend high school

graduation on Sunday afternoon.

Looking at this pics and remembering the

priceless memories, I am so glad Sara was

insistive. Hard to believe it was 5 yrs ago!

Grandpa Bill's Big Birthday Bash

April 11, 2011

Pater Familias

The pater familias, also written as paterfamilias was the head of a Roman family.

The term is Latin for "father of the family".

Gathered at the Grille for good times and a delicious meal.

A sparkler for a candle on the cake!

Dorothy holds the youngest member of the family.

Steve and Deb listen intently as Blake William tells a story.

Blake William giving Wm. W. a hug goodby.

Niko, Mary, Ryan and Anne begin the feast.

Meghan and Paul strike a pose.

Sara and Brad give a smile.