Birthday celebrations

We packed after breakfast and moved our things to the car.  We then drove to the Roaring Fork tour.  It was a dark but beautiful drive through a one way road along a few old homesteads from the late 1800s.  The road was narrow and had a 10 mph speed limit.  There were beautiful views periodically through the trees.  It took nearly an hour and a half to leisurely drive through this popular site.   We left for home and arrived around 3 so we had time to take a nap before going to Gary and Linda’s for a pizza birthday party that Linda had planned for me.  They had bought 2 Papa John’s Pizzas for us to share.  She had also made a 3 tiered layer angel food cake with pineapple frosting and strawberries on top.  It was delicious.  We had a very good time and came home early.

Saturday we went to the grocery to shop for some items to make a birthday cake for our neighbor Doris and me.  We had invited her for dinner and cake.  Her birthday is Sunday and mine was Friday, so we had the party between our days.  She will be 82.  Evelyn worked much of the day making the delicious cake.  Doris came at 6 for pizza.  We have a lot of pizza to eat, so we shared it.  We had a good time until about 7 when Evelyn and Doris began to make some table decorations for the Independence Day party.  They had a good time making them until about 9. 

I wakened about 6 and spent around an hour trying to catch up on my reading my Through the Bible in a year.  I read enough that I am only 2 days behind now.  We showered and went off to Bible study and worship that featured Holy Communion.  During the Bible study I realized that our interim pastor is very liberal who doesn’t see that government subsidies are taking the blessing of serving from Christians who would like to minister to others.  We will talk more later.  After church we went to brunch with Brent and Susan.  We really enjoy being with them and invited them here for some of the cake Evelyn had made.  After they left we took a nap.  We then went to Gay and Linda’s to deliver some of the decorations for the party to be held at their house on Thursday.  While there Gary talked about playing golf with Jimmy on Tuesday after work.  He didn’t ask me to play, and I was miffed.  We have played together many times, and I was offended.  We came home and I trimmed the holly bush between our homes.  As I finished, a small bird fell out of the bush.  Marty was upset but put the bird back in the nest but doesn’t think the mother will return to the nest.  We had our usual popcorn for supper while Evelyn talked with Emily on the phone.  We watched a movie during the evening.

Driving to 75

Wednesday morning we drove to Roswell to see Olivia swim in a meet.  We arrived for lunch, and Tom barbecued hamburgers for us.  We had a good visit with Stacy and family before the meet.  We had to drive home that night, so I took a nap while Stacy and Evelyn went shopping.  We then went to the meet in the sweltering afternoon.  We sat by the pool and saw her swim once.  We talked with a man who made himself sound very famous.  He developed a website called theoryi.  We will try to check it out this week.  Stacy took us to her house to get our car and have some of the Dairy Queen cake she had bought for me. I was very blessed at her efforts to honor me in an almost impossible situation. We were happy to get into some air conditioning.  We stopped for a blizzard and gasoline that was only $3.29 per gallon, cheapest all summer.  We were home by midnight and felt very comfortable in our own bed.

Thursday we left for Gatlinburg and arrived at the Brookside Resort around noon.  We were too early to check in, so we just went on a drive to one of the restaurants for which I had a coupon for lunch.  The drive was laborious uphill and ended at a ski resort.  Our GPS led us there.  We were impressed with the activities available.  There were several outdoor games—a couple centering around water rides and even an ice skating rink.  We rode a chair lift to the top of the mountain where a bluegrass trio was playing.  We returned to the motel for some reading and a nap.  We dressed and went to another restaurant for dinner.  It too was up a hill but smaller.  The restaurant was in an old log house and featured good food.  It was sprinkling when we went in and rained hard during our meal but stopped just as we left.  We struck up a conversation with a couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.  She plays a dulcimer in a bluegrass band called “Poplar Family Reunion”.  I slept well in the motel room (I had a Living Social coupon) but Evelyn could sleep very little.  We went to breakfast and packed to leave.  We found a beautiful drive called Roaring Fork through some abandoned mountain settlements.  It was unique in that was one way, making it easier to stop without worrying about being hit from the front.  The road followed the same brook that was just below our room at the lodge.  We returned home in time to go to Gary and Linda’s for pizza and birthday cake.  Linda wanted to celebrate my diamond birthday.  We had a good time with them.  It is very different in being 75.  It certainly makes one more aware of mortality.  It will not be too much longer until Christ will welcome me into His home in Heaven.  I have certainly been blessed with a great wife, children, job, health, wealth and relationship with Christ and His other children.  I always remember that it is only His Grace that has allowed me to have these things.

Preparing for days of driving

Sunday the choir had the day off.  We had planned to worship in Asheville but ended up at Our Savior.  We went to Asheville anyway to use a coupon at a place called Scully’s Grille and Bar.  We ordered 2 meals because we had to spend $22.50 but could only eat one of them.  We shared a crab cake sandwich that was very good, but we took my full rack of ribs home.  We had to hurry because Linda and Gary had invited us for some cake she had made.  It was called drunken grandma cake and was delicious because it was very moist.  We ate with Andy and Adele, and Sam and Barbara as well as the hosts.  We left their, took a nap and prepared to host them for cards and popcorn.  They came to play Phase 10 and have fun.  I would have invited the kids from across the street, but they came home late.  We had a heavy downpour for about half an hour just before G&L left for home. 

Monday we went to the rec center for a short work out on  the machines.  Then we went to the library to get some books for Evelyn.  I took Holy Communion to one of the shut ins from our church.  She had polio as a child, and it had begun to increase in its presence about 2 years ago.  She had requested Communion a couple of weeks ago and I had thought someone had taken it to her but was wrong.  I took the portable Communion kit from the church and took it myself.  We had a difficult time finding their home as usual.  We returned home and took items to recycle on the way.  I saw Marty there and thought she was going to ask me to play golf, but she thought it would rain.  It didn’t until almost dark.  We finished watching a goofy movie, “For Your Consideration” in the evening.

Tuesday, after Silver Sneakers, we came home, showered and dressed for our stint at the hospital.  It was somewhat muggy.  I sat outside in the golf cart and took some people to their cars.  There was a brief shower but no one got very wet.  We came home, Evelyn walked with one of the neighbors, ate supper and went outside to trim our shrubs.  We went to bed a bit early because we plan to drive to Roswell to watch Olivia in a swim meet.  We think this will be her last one of the season.  We have to come back home tomorrow because we have to go to Gatlinburg to spend the night in a Living Social motel that I bought weeks ago.  It expires tomorrow night.

Plottfest in Maggie Valley

Saturday was a big day or sitting.  I had won passes to a festival in honor of Plott Hounds that are used to hunt bear in the mountains.  We packed a light lunch and went to sit and listen to various artists play music—mostly bluegrass.  The headliners were those in Balsam Range, a group that has become famous nation and somewhat world wide who all live in Haywood county.  They probably make big bucks but all still work other jobs when they aren’t on the road.  We met one of the directors of the rec center who schedules and drives to many events for geezers.  He is kind enough to schedule trips to our local minor league team on Thursday Thursday when beer is only $1.  It is nice to have a designated driver.  We had a nice chat with them and met Phil and Joann Loyer.  They had been good friends but are too busy with family to couple with us much.  Phil and I used to play golf, but I grew tired of always being the prime mover in the event.  I decided I will not ask him again.  He did imply that he wanted to play again, so I gave him information as to when we could play and a website that gave information about a golf club that plays on Mondays.  Perhaps he will to make a plan, but I didn’t and won’t call him.  He knows my phone number.  I don’t think I will anticipate his call with baited breath.  We went downtown to greet our friends, Tom and Melanie, who were at the bi-weekly square dance.  We didn’t stay and probably won’t dance much if at all this summer.  I do hope we will get together with them sometime.

ballroom dancing.

Friday we didn’t go to exercise because I had planned to make pancakes for us.  We had bought 5 plastic jugs of pancake batter a couple of weeks ago, so I beat Evelyn up and proceeded to mix the batter with water.  I used milk instead but not enough.  I thought I was to add 1/2 cup of liquid but was wrong. The batter was thick and lumpy.  It should have been 2/3 cup.  I cooked them anyway, and they were good.  We worked around the house: Evelyn ironed for several hours while watching one of the movies I had recorded.  I worked outside making repaired.  We stopped in time to get dressed for the ballroom dance in the evening.  We were early and got a repeat lesson in tango.  We both felt pretty good when dancing but still left early.  We often have aches in our legs and knees but not tonight.  We were just tired.

A big mess and too much food.

Tuesday we went to Silver Sneakers and worked up a sweat even though our leader had been sick for several days and was not cured as yet.  We also learned that the rec center will take 1 more trip to the Asheville Tourists baseball game.  It will be on July 11—Noah’s birthday.  We returned home and showered before going to work at the hospital.  We stopped at the doctor’s office to see why Evelyn’s prescription had not been called in to the mail order prescription service she uses.  He was on vacation, so the receptionist called a local pharmacy and placed the order.  We went on to the hospital for lunch, and I was delighted to learn that one of the featured items was gumbo.  It was delicious.  I went to the fitness center to drive the golf cart to transport people to the gym.  It was always threatening rain but few people rode.  Those who did ride were really thankful.  Evelyn had a quiet day too.  We were home by 5 and watched one of my recorded movies in the evening.  It was a comedy full of vulgarities, but it was funny.

Wednesday we worked out on our favorite machines before proceeding to the Open Door to serve our Lord.  We had a special treat today.  There were 2 16 year old boys doing court ordered community service.  We worked the drink cart and had one of the boys help each of us.  It was interesting witnessing to them although mine was a weak witness.  I did have a good time with them and tried to encourage them to make something of themselves in the future.  We were finished by 2 and came home.  After a shower and a nap, we ate a light supper and, when finished, we went to choir practice.  Later Evelyn continued preparing the food she wanted to make for tomorrow’s Bible study.  She is scheduled to be the presenter and the hostess.  She has been cooking for 3 days off and on.  I help he a lot by doing the dishes and clean up.  There are many things to clean up. 

Thursday I wakened at 7:30 to find Evelyn up working as she had been since 5.  She had loaded the car with most of the things she needed.  We then went to the church where we unloaded the car, and I left and went to the nearby Goodwill location to give them our outdoor chairs.  We have had them since before we moved from Indiana.  I went on to the rec center to work out a short while before coming home.  I had decided to use the hour I had to catch up a bit on my daily Bible reading.  I was 8 days behind.  I read about 2 days when Evelyn came home with Rolene.  It was only 11, and I knew something had to be wrong.  She said the water heater at church had broken and sprayed water all over the basement floor.  The Bible study was scrapped and a clean up time replaced it.  The truth is that when everyone left the situation had not been satisfactorily rectified.  We don’t know yet what the situation is.  The strange thing is that there was a great deal of food left over since the meeting had closed down, so we had to get rid of much of it.  We went to the young kids across the street and gave them some.  Doris wasn’t home so we gave some to Bill and Diane before going on to Keith and Sammy’s to share with them.  We came home and ate some of it ourselves but had even more left.  Evelyn was tired from the short night and went to bed for a while.  I read some more before waking her.  We tried to do some trimming but couldn’t find our electric trimmer.  I think I must have loaned it to Marty last autumn.  Evelyn walked with Doris after having the last of our no nuthin soup.  We spent the evening writing this and watching the 3rd episode of the final season of Burn Notice.

Farewell to a pastor

Saturday Gary had asked me to play golf with me, so we met Jimmy and Johnny at Iron Tree.  I shot just over 100.  Evelyn went to a flea market and bought a bud vase she wanted.  We have 2 but in Texas.  We had hoped Gary and Linda would come to join us for pizza, but they had some things to cook for evening dinner guests.  Evelyn had bought 2 more of the $5.55 Pizza Hut pizzas to share with them.  Instead she wrapped 2 at a time to keep in the freezer.  I was tired so I showered and took a nap.  We stayed home and watched a movie I had recorded.

Sunday was a farewell party for former pastor John Greene who is moving to the St. Louis area where he will be remarried. His first wife left him 3 years ago.  He preached the sermon, although few could understand him due to a problem with the air conditioning.  That noise accompanied by the fact that the speakers did not get close enough to the microphone left most people straining to hear.  Many former members returned for the dinner served by the church members.  We got home around 2 and took a nap (this is becoming more and more a habit).  I popped corn to take to the monthly band concert at 6:30.  We were much earlier to save chairs from some of our church members who always attend too. 

Monday found us at the rec center to exercise at 9.  I didn’t play golf because I have decided I will not ask Marty until she asks me.  I can’t remember much of what we did but do remember talking with Stacy about coming to see Olivia swim.  We just lay around the rest of the day, I guess.  Today was the final day to record movies free on the Starz channel, so I did.

Happy Mother’s Day!

If you skip reading any of these blogs, don’t do it this time.  We arose this morning with a list of about a dozen errands to run.  We exercised first and then began running around.  One main item I was looking for was a GPS.  I was told that we might find one in a pawn shop, but I couldn’t find one in either of the 2 I visited.  I went to the bank for some cash and looked for an anniversary card for the friends from church that we planned to meet for dinner tonight.  We came home for a light lunch and a nap.  We left for Asheville to meet our friends at Frankie Bones.  We went to K-Mart to find some shoes for me and found 2 pair.  We went on to buy a rose and bud vase to give to our friends.  We arrived at the restaurant at the same time.  I had a gift card from the restaurant since it is my birthday month, but Brent and Susan bought Evelyn’s dinner to thank us for replacing them at church for the past 3 Sundays.  The restaurant comped them with a flute of Champaign and chocolate covered strawberries.  They had done the same thing for us a couple of years ago.  We took them to the local Earthfare market for a couple of NY strip steaks to take home.  They were 10 ounces for $6.99 each.  We each took one home.  We parted and went on to the Belk in Asheville.  Here is where the Lord’s mercy is manifested.  Back in May I wanted to buy a dress for Evelyn and found one at Belk, but she wouldn’t pay the $134 price tag.  We couldn’t find another one.  Fast forward to this evening.  We went back to Belk to just see if it was still there.  It was.  More shocking was that the price had been reduced to $32, with another 40% marked off of that!  Needless to say, she bought it even though it is a bit snug.  This might serve as an incentive to lose a few pounds.  Regardless, the shoes were what she gave me for Father’s Day and the dress is what I gave her for Mother’s Day.  Thanks be to our gracious Lord.  (We completed every one of our errands too.)

Tornado warning

Wednesday we slept late, because we had both had a bad night.  I don’t think it was related to last night’s meal but can’t be sure.  I rather expect it might be from eating too near bedtime.  We were up and off to town by 10.  We were scheduled to work at the Open Door but not until 11:30.  Evelyn wanted to look at a metal art garden near there, so we spent some time there.  She wants some sort of yard art for the slope near our house.  She enjoyed the walk.  We went to serve and found things had changed.  We no longer take the meals to the patrons.  Instead they come to the kitchen counter to get their plates.  We just manned the drink carts that they come to for sodas, tea, etc.  Things seemed to run smoothly under the new system.  It was new to us but commonplace to them.  There were only 80 served today.  Many of them come in after the opening devotion.  It irritates me but not as much as those who come in neat cars talking on cell phones.  We were home by 2:30 after looking for a jeweler that would reattach a post to an earring.  We went to a shortened choir rehearsal before coming home for the night.

We were under a thunderstorm watch all day.  I went to town to do some shopping for some ingredients for her dessert she will take to the farewell party for our former pastor John Greene.  He is leaving to begin a new life in St. Louis.  I went early because the storms were supposed to arrive in the afternoon.  We didn’t go to exercise because Evelyn had an LWML meeting at church.  She took the car, so I just stayed home and worked on emails.  She was home shortly after noon for lunch.  But there was no rain yet.  She began blending the ingredients for the dessert while I wrote some blog entries.  We both got tired and took a nap.  When we wakened, we went out to look at the approaching storm.  The TV and radio were both following the approach.  There was a tornado sighting causing us to be under a tornado warning.  We had a violent rainstorm but no tornado.  There was a great deal of thunder from afar but little lightning.  The noise from across the mountain sounded strangely like a train.  This is the sound everyone reports as the sound of a tornado.  We made a plan to hide in one of the bathrooms incase of emergency.  We were blessed to not see one.  We had the remainder of our pizza for supper before Evelyn went to walk with Doris.  We watched the 100th episode of “Burn Notice”  before going to bed.

Visitor from IPFW

The important event of Monday was a short conversation with the IRS.  I went to Doris’ to use her phone to call the toll free number.  I waited a quite a long time before getting information that was of no help to me.  I mailed our quarterly payment for 2013.  We had gone to exercise earlier and had cleaned up.  I had thought Marty might ask me to play golf since it is geezer day, but she didn’t.  I had told her that I won’t call certain people to play because they never ask me.  She is one of these and will not be on my ask list except when I go to help her use her Groupon for High Vista.  We just relaxed in the evening.

Tuesday morning we went to Silver Sneakers and then to the hospital for Evelyn’s mammogram.  I dropped her there, came home to shower, and returned to get her.  I went to where I thought she was and waited until our appointed time to meet: 11:15.  Unfortunately I was in the wrong office, causing her to get in the car to go looking for me.  She was upset because her friend, Elaine Cowen from Fort Wayne, was coming to visit.  When we got here, she arrived at the same time.  Evelyn had lunch prepared and waiting, so we all ate together.  Afterward, I went to the fitness center to operate the golf cart.  Many cardiac patient have difficult times walking from their cars to the center.  This is North Carolina, land of hills and mountains.  I helped a few ladies but had one problem.  A man drove past where I was standing, honked his car, and went to park.  I didn’t know he was signaling that he wanted a ride.  When he walked up, he complained that I had ignored him.  I was reading “The Harbinger”, and he said I should get my nose out of that book.  He may have been right, but I will watch for him or others more closely.  Evelyn had taken Elaine around Lake Junaluska where she had visited with her father, a missionary, 70 years ago.  She was thrilled to go.    Gary and Linda had invited us to their home for dinner.  We went there at 5:30 and had a nice talk before a crab salad dinner.  Gary had bought me a large bottle of special Belgian beer.  Gary used to go to Belgium each year with others from his company.  It was really good. 

clematis and knock-out roses in our yard

Rain and more

Friday I took Evelyn to the Rec center and then went to the hospital fitness center where I met to learn what to do when I drive the golf cart to transport people to the center to exercise.  That has always amused me: ride up a hill to run or swim to get into shape.  Why not walk up the hill to get some free workout?  Regardless it will give me a chance to volunteer at the same time Evelyn does. We went to the library to get some more books for Evelyn.  She must read 100 books in the summer.  We came home and had some no nuthin soup for lunch.  It was a rainy morning so we just worked inside most of the day.  We decided to take advantage of Pizza Hut’s offer of a large one topping pizza for $5.50.  We went to town and carried an Italian sausage home.  We added some onions and cheese to it and loved it.  It is hard to beat Pizza Hut for pizza.  We also had a piece of the wonderful rhubarb dessert she made.

Saturday morning we ran errands.  We went to McDonald’s for McGriddles and pancakes.  We walked next door to CVS and spent a lot of money because I had a 25% coupon.  From there we went to two farmer’s markets looking for strawberries but found none.  We did find and buy some tomato plants.  When we came home I planted them and Evelyn watered them with blue water.  It rained again for the 4th day this week.  It became quite hot and humid again driving us inside.  We had to engage the air conditioner on a rare occasion.  We also called Olivia in a hospital for mentally ill teens.  It was good to talk with her but sad to hear screams in the background and the fear in her voice.  She had to hang up but promised to call back.  She didn’t but couldn’t get to the phone again.  We learned from Stacy that Tom went to the hospital to bring her home.  We worked on the Bible lesson for tomorrow because our friend Brent was too sick to go to church.  He really appreciates our substituting for him. 

Sunday we led Bible study and sang in the choir before coming home, changing clothes, picking up Gary and Linda to go to Asheville for lunch.  I had made reservations for 12:35 and were exactly on time.  I had a Groupon that expired today.  The problem was that I hadn’t read carefully enough to know that it was not good on Sunday.  That was my oversight, but the manager told me that the coupon was only worth $10 after expiration.  I had paid $20 and that never expires.  I was quite upset but held my temper.  She was somewhat rude, so I wrote the Groupon company asking that they put my $20 toward a different restaurant.  We went past Dallas and Karen’s to return the items they had bought at Biltmore last week and came home.  About 4 Gary came to unplug our downspout.  We went to Gene’s and got his ladder.  Gary went up and removed some leaves causing the water to gush out of the downspout.  In order to possibly prevent another clog, we went to Lowe’s for a device that will prevent a clog.  It was still sprinkling when Evelyn, Doris and I began walking around the loop.  Joetta joined us and Doris and I dropped out after 2 rounds.  We had popcorn and rhubarb crunch for supper.  We will clean house tomorrow because an old friend/colleague of Evelyn’s from the campus will come to visit next Tuesday at noon.  We are expecting more rain for the next 2 days, something that will likely cause more shallow root trees to collapse, pulling the roots from the ground.

Golf again

After a night of rain, I was up and off to play golf with Gary and Marty.  We had thought the rain might begin again, but it didn’t.  We played about our normal level.  I had 100 even for 18 holes.  I also try to pick up the recyclable items and take them to the center on the way home.  Evelyn led her Bible study and was just arriving home when I arrived.  We had lunch and showered before resting.  She started a large pan of “no nuthin’ soup” for our evening meals the next week.  We found that our friends, Brent and Susan, have been sick this past week and may not be able to go to lunch with us on Sunday.  If they can’t, Gary and Linda will go with us to the Fireplace restaurant.  I have a Groupon that expires Sunday.  Evelyn walked with 2 of the neighbors around our loop.  I watched the beginning of the final season of a show I like, Burn Notice.  It was quite violent but good.   Gary and I may play golf again tomorrow morning weather permitting.

We know Bo

We went to the Rec center late this morning.  We were told we should not use the same equipment 2 days in succession, so we just walked and rode some stationary bicycles.  We were home for lunch by noon.  While Evelyn heated the gumbo we had brought from Texas, I watered our plants outdoors.  I really loved the gumbo.  We then showered and rested in the afternoon.  I went to Gene’s to get the new smoker he sold to me.  They were cleaning out a building and found it.  It had been used only once, but they didn’t want it.  They sold it to me for $10.  We watched a documentary on Bo Jackson, probably the greatest athlete of our age.  It was great to see some of his feats and realize how humble he is.  I got a call from the hospital today saying I might be able to drive the golf cart at the fitness center on Tuesday afternoons.  Evelyn and I will likely be able to volunteer this season.

Eating out all day.

Tuesday we went to Silver Sneakers and really worked up a sweat.  After that we worked on the machines before returning home to dress for our duty at the hospital.  Evelyn has a  permanent assignment, but I am still looking for one.  I was needed in patient escort but just for today.  I will keep looking for a place.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch, our reward for volunteering.   Evelyn and I insist on working the same day, making it harder to find a slot.  We left around 4, came home and rested and went to a new Jamaican restaurant with many of the people from our association.  We shared some curried goat that was very flavorful.  We took 2 other ladies with us in our car making 12 in all.  After dinner, the ladies insisted in going out for ice cream.  We were home about 8:30.

no golf Monday

Monday we went to the Rec center to work on the machines.  We were disappointed to learn that the Thursday trip to the Tourists game had been canceled.  The man who drives is also in charge of the day camps for the kids in the county.  We went to work on the machines and were given some excellent advice about how to use them.  We finished exercising and returned some movies to the library.  I also went to the Folkmoot center and paid for our tickets to the gala in July and picked up some more brochures before returning home.  I wanted to play golf but have decided to not ask Marty to play golf until she asks me.  I always ask her.  She never came over at all.  I hoped Gary might be interested, but he was too tired.  I had gone to make an attempt to dig some of the “red hot pokers”, a flower that Evelyn wants to plant here.  The roots are so deep that I couldn’t get them out of the ground despite the ground’s being very loose after yesterday’s heavy rain.  When Wanda came home, I borrowed a long handled spade from her to use tomorrow.  I also borrowed her garden hose to use in case the fire I plan to start tomorrow gets out of control.  There is an impressive stack of broken twigs in the drainage ditch next to our house, and I want to burn them.  It was such a beautiful evening that we went for a walk around the Lake after my news show, Special Report with Bret Bair.

Celebrating life and survival

Sunday was busy again.  I called our friends who make the coffee for church and learned they were sick and unable to attend church.  We went to church and started the coffee.  It takes 36 cups to fill the large thermos.  We made 48 cups last week and had to bring many cu”.ps home.  I also had to lead the morning Bible study as I was supposed to do last week when everyone was gone.  We were blessed with Holy Communion and then left for the cancer survivor’s dinner.  We took Jo with us and an umbrella since it had rained throughout most of the worship service.  The dinner was a chicken buffet at the Waynesville country Club, a different location from last year.  There is always a bluegrass band and releasing of butterflies that have been nearly frozen and shipped in from South America.  It had poured down rain during the entire lunch but stopped for the release.  The Lord really blessed us.  The highlight before releasing the butterflies is the singing of “You’re my Hero” or “You are the Wind beneath my wings”.  This year’s soloist was marvelous and had nearly everyone teary eyed.  We came home, rested and made popcorn for the evening.

Saturday fun

Dallas, Karen’s mother, Karen, Bob and Evelyn at the charity barbecue dinner at Acton Methodist Church.

We We are getting packed into the 1966 Mustang for our drive to Biltmore.  It gave us a nice drive through the Blue Ridge and back the Expressway but died in their driveway when we arrived home.  We had to push it into the garage.

We are enjoying the samples of wine at the Biltmore Estates.  Karen is serious about something.

I thought I would throw in this picture of our newly reupholstered couch.  We had it raised about 8 inches, improving the ability to get out of it.

A great time at Biltmore

Thursday Evelyn went to Silver Sneakers while Marty and I played 18 holes of golf.  I played better than I have played for some time.  Both she and I broke 100.  Evelyn had a great day too, especially after she came home.  Thursday evening we watched a movie from the library called something like “Running Mate” starring Tom Selleck.  It was pretty good. 

Friday we went to the Rec center to work out on some of the machines and walked.  We are not infatuated with the workout classes any longer.  We went on to take 2 pillows to be reupholstered with the same material we used to recover the couch.  We can get them done for $22 each but not for 3 weeks because they are covered with work.  We had invited Gary and Linda for supper of spicy chicken chili.  They had been forced to eat sandwiches all week because Gary had been working all week to remove their kitchen counter.  It has been a terribly difficult job that eliminating doing any cooking.  They really appreciated the chili.  We visited for a while before they left.  Linda gets up at 4 AM every morning.  We walked 3 times around our loop and then watched some of “Ring of Fire”, the movie about June Carter Cash.  We were tired and went to bed a bit earlier than usual.

Saturday was the flea market for June.  It is held at the fairgrounds 1/2 mile from here.  We didn’t get there until around 10:30 but didn’t find anything we wanted to buy.  Actually we went to buy some strawberries but were too late.  The vendor had only 1 gallon left, but another person bought before us.  We went on to the local farmer’s market and found a farmer with many gallons of berries.  We bought 1 and brought it home.  Evelyn cleaned them and prepared a strawberry pie to take to Dallas and Karen’s in the afternoon.  They had invited us to go to a barbecue dinner at a local church.  We did that and then we got into their 1966 Mustang convertible and drove took the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Vanderbilt mansion for a wine tasting and some music.  We also found some cheese ball mixes for some future parties.  There was a jazz duo playing in an outdoor pavilion and we danced a couple of numbers.  The patio was rough making it difficult to dance, but I don’t like to dance to jazz anyway.  We had to drive on the Expressway on the way home, causing the girls in the small back seat to get windblown.  Evelyn said she loved the ride.  We went back to Norris’ for the pie and then came home for a good night’s rest.