Our first worship of the summer.

Friday Marty and I went to Weaverville to play golf at Reems Creek golf course.  We played once last year and liked the course.  We had to start at 9:30 and found the temperature to be cool.  We dressed for the temperature, but it began to warm up around noon.  The wind was somewhat strong keeping things tolerable.  Unfortunately we played terribly.  Both of us.  It was so bad that we didn’t even bother keeping score on the back 9.  We were home around 2, and I showered, dressed and we left for Asheville.  We had planned to go to the baseball game, but Karen had called and backed out because she thought it was too cold.  I wanted to look for another suitcase at the big Goodwill store in Asheville.  We found nothing until after going to the Lifeway Christian bookstore.  Evelyn spotted a Goodwill store where we found a very nice large International Traveler model.  We had completed my mission and drove south to Fletcher to find the Blue Sky Café.  We used the GPS but found it took us to an empty field.  We asked a few people and finally found it.  We had a supper that was very good and had to take out a 3rd meal to meet the spending requirements.  I bought us a Blizzard on the way home.  We were tired after a good day.

Saturday we began serious packing.  I had to gather up our items to take to the dump site because my containers were all full.  On the way back I went to the flea market looking for another suitcase.  I couldn’t find one with wheels and just came home during the afternoon we gathered some twigs from our yard and cut the dead wood out of our knockout roses.  We put them into our galvanized barrels and tried to take them to Bollinger’s but couldn’t get our hatch closed.  Michael had offered his truck to use for our transport but didn’t want to do it today.  I left them at his house across the street from us.  We then went to Lake Junaluska and walked a short while before coming home to continue packing.  We also watched the Kentucky Derby.  I don’t really know why, but we enjoy horse racing.  Perhaps it is because we were able to to the the Oaks races a few years ago.  These are the races featuring the fillies in the race before the Derby.  It is held the day before and is much less expensive.

Sunday we had a meeting after worship to finalize some items related to the calling of a new pastor for our church.  We were then off to Bridgett’e Bistro for a brunch.  I had a coupon for $25 off the meal that I had paid $4 for.  (read that aloud) We went with a couple from the church that is very active.  We went to the HART area theater to usher for a performance of “To Kill a Mockingbird”.  The play was well done and the set was great as always.  We only stayed until intermission because we had invited Gary and Linda for popcorn.  We had a good time playing dominoes with some ancient tiles we didn’t know we had.  We thought we had a good set but couldn’t find them.  We will look further.  We spoke with Emily twice today and sent Rosalie pictures of some masks we will take for them to use in a masquerade ball she and Andrew will attend while we are there.  We are gearing up for our trip next week.

Happy May

Thursday was a cooler day and got cooler as the wind picked up.  I took Evelyn to the ladies’ Bible study at the church.  I went on to pick up my medicine and check back with the Goodwill store to see if they received another suitcase.  They hadn’t.  I also went to the Salvation Army and Thrift Store without success.  We will try to check at the Goodwill in Asheville tomorrow on our way to the baseball game.  I also deposited a check from the Tollefsons for the vanilla I brought them and then got some eye makeup remover for Evelyn and some batteries for our small instruments.  We came home, had lunch and talked with Phil and Norene Bollinger for nearly an hour.  I had wanted to share some onions with them because they normally bring us vegetables in the fall.  Evelyn then rested while I cut up some Andouille and chicken breast to add to the gumbo she had begun.  We had the gumbo for supper and then walked around our loop 3 times.  I really enjoy the weather here and am amazed at the beauty of God’s earth.  I also feel blessed to be able to live here with my wife.  We will have a difficult time in selling this if we move to the Air Force Village.  We will meet Karen and Dallas for the baseball game in Asheville tomorrow night.  This will be after I play golf with Marty most of the day.

The end of the month

We slept a bit late but began working right away when we did get up.  I finished unloading the trailer and Evelyn worked on unloading the tubs that I carried into the house.  While she was finishing a tub I began putting the onions into the hose that Evelyn had runs in and had thrown away.  This is supposed to retard spoiling by keeping the onions away from each other.  I know this works with potatoes because I used to work in a food market as a boy and had to throw out the rotten potatoes so they wouldn’t spoil each other.  It was a stinky, slimy job and I don’t want to do it again.  Jo came to our house at 5:30 and wanted me to drive her car.  We had thought we would drive, but instead I drove to Rolene’s to pick her up to go to the cancer survivor’s dinner.  We were late as we always seem to be each year.  Jo never seems to get the time right.  The dinner is always at the same church south of Waynesville.  The congregation is very sympathetic with the fight against cancer.  The program featured a sextet of high school boys from Pisgah.  They were a nice addition.  Then a teacher who was also a survivor told her story of throat cancer.  She was upbeat but also shared a gruesome tale.  One man also praised the caregivers of which I was one.  I teared up because I remember Evelyn’s struggle and know that I was only nominally a hero.  I think I did all I could but don’t want to take any credit for her recovery.  It’s the survivor that deserves the praise.  We left and went to Rolene’s apartment and spent an hour visiting with her and her landlords, Frank and Tori Costa.  They are also friends of ours and are great fun.  We came home from there.  I am having a difficult time adjusting to the eastern time zone.  Many of the TV shows I watch start at 10—the same time they end in the central zone.  That means I have to get an extra hour of sleep in the morning.  I will have to work something out.

Wednesday was errand day.  I had to take a medicine vial to the pharmacy and get a few groceries.  We have looked into the freezer, refrigerator and cupboards and found them cluttered.  We have determined to eat the existing products before buying more.  Some of the meat in the freezer is more than 1 year old.  The same is true of the canned goods.  Evelyn made some yeast hot dog buns so we wouldn’t have to buy any.  She also made pizza dough and made pizza for our supper.  I am also still putting onions into old hose but have run out. I will have to ask around the neighborhood to see if any women have some.  Very few women in this area wear nylons any more.  We invited several single neighbors for supper and Marty, my golf partner, came.  We enjoy her but she is a loner at heart.  After 9, Evelyn talked with Janice in Texas, Stacy in Georgia and Emily in Utah.  We cover quite an area.  Evelyn had not slept well last night and did nap a while in the afternoon.  I try to keep quiet because she needs her rest.  We really appreciate the beauty of this area and are still torn as to what to do about our home here if we decide to move to Air Force Village II.  The Lord will work that out.