Nov/Dec Journey 2012 - Home

We are home!

By Monday night, we both knew we were getting colds - ugh! We began forcing fluids, getting more sleep, and taking cold medicine. Tuesday night, we ordered in  at the motel. There were no fun stops, no shopping and very little knitting. Ray relinquished some of the driving both Tuesday and Wednesday - so you know he really didn't feel well! 

I feel better this morning. Ray isn't up yet but I know he's slept well. 

We had a great journey but it really is nice to be home!

Nov/Dec Journey 2012 Part 4

"Grandma!" "Grandpa!"

What wonderful words! I love hearing them! And we have for the last few days while visiting our older son and wife, Brad and Sheila, and their family. To be very honest, we heard "GrandPAW" more than "Grandpa"! 

We had a great time and enjoyed great weather! We went to eat last night in short sleeves - Brad wore shorts!

We stayed busy! We played. We took walks. We went to the park. We made treats:

Milky Way Sleds

Reindeer

and cutout cookies. We decorated those cookies and ourselves with lots of flour!

We went to the city tree-lighting ceremony. Granddaughter Grace sang with her school and they did a wonderful job! The temperature was around 50 so we all enjoyed the free hot chocolate and cookies!

The Holiday Express at Pullen Park in Raleigh was lots of fun - especially the train ride and the carousel. So glad that Brad was able to get tickets - they sell out in a hurry and now we know why - it is really fun and nice!

Grace spent most of one day with us - we shopped for fabric to make pillowcases. If you want a super slow Joann Fabrics store - I know where there is one! Just saying... After lunch, I cut fabric while Grace sewed the sausage part of the pillowcase. 

Grandpa ironed. The next day Jackson used the sewing machine and finished the pillowcases. 

They were a hit!

Everyone loved the fabric that Grace picked out!

We are still eating too much! Last night we ate at the Aviator Smokehouse. 

Brad had the Boil Over - a burger with bacon, smoked pulled pork, brisket, fries, sour cream, BBQ sauce, cheese and beer braised onions piled high on a fresh baked local beer bun!

Ivy, the youngest wasn't too sure about us but we finally won her over. She even put her arms up asking us to lift her! 

Grandpa loving every minute!

And one more picture taken shortly before we said good-bye. Can you guess what clothing we gave them for Christmas? Go Cubs!

Can't believe I didn't get a picture of the kids with their parents. We usually do but not this time. Guess we'll have to go back soon!

Now our journey continues as we head towards home. We are in Beckley, WV tonight. Football is on the TV. My knitting is calling me. The weather is cooler. We have been in rain most of today - at least it is not ice! 

Nov/Dec Journey 2012 Part 3 - Wilmington

Our time in Wilmington, NC, was wonderful! We had this neat little condo with a balcony overlooking the Riverwalk on Cape Fear River. 

That is our balcony on the left upstairs. I took this on the last morning and it was cloudy.








Our street was a one-way cobblestone street with almost no traffic. We could walk to all of the shops and restaurants in the Historic District. 

Our building is on the right. 









It is off season but most things are open, there are no crowds, and we had temperatures in the 70s! And I loved having a washer and dryer in the condo - we needed to do laundry!

We toured the USS North Carolina one afternoon - I felt like we were alone on that huge battleship - not many people around. The older ships always amaze me - how did people sleep on the 5th bunk??! Is it still that crowded on our current ships?

We also toured Historic Fort Fisher - I learned more about  the Civil War. It was fascinating to see and the day was absolutely gorgeous! We had lunch outside near the beach visitor center/ranger station. Then we spent some time walking on the beach - the sand felt so good! 



It looked and felt like summer but it was December 5! The sand wasn't hot but the water was cold.







A ranger told me the water was probably in the mid 60s - it was cold! This area and Kure Beach seem very laid back and relaxing.

Of course we ate! There was a neat bakery/coffee shop across the street at Chandler's Wharf and another one, Bella's, a few blocks away. Also a few blocks away was the Front Street Brewing Company where we had a great meal one night. We were shopping at City Market, which is lots of little shops, and a gentleman offered us pecan samples. Oh my, the praline pecans were wonderful! So we bought a bag and, of course, ate them all!

The last morning we visited Yarns of Wilmington. I found yarn for another sweater with help from the friendly owner. Then we went to Sew Happins, a quilt shop that is just 18 months old. 





The ladies were very friendly and I just happened to find a couple of things on my 'needed' list!






We headed to Wrightsville Beach. It seems very populated similar to the Outer Banks areas of Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills.  The one lady at the quilt shop told us to check out Topsail Beach - a little further north and a lot less crowded! We'll keep that for next time.

And there will be a next time - we're looking forward to returning to this area!

Nov/Dec Journey 2012 Part 2

Out journey continues...

We have had an awesome weekend visiting friends in Durham, NC. Y was our pastor for six years. He and his wife, A, also a pastor, have three daughters, J, K, and L. When they lived in our town, we unofficially adopted them and became 'grandparents' to the girls.

Some highlights:

We helped pick out, set up, and decorate their Christmas tree! Fun!

Y, Jeanne, J, A, L, K, and Ray

Touring Bennett Place, the site of the largest troop surrender of the Civil War. This was a part of history that I did not know and it was interesting and fun to see plus it was a beautiful day to be outside!

Spending time in Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Wow! They were incredible on this December day - we can't wait to see them in the spring or summer. It was great to be outside for a nice walk in the park-like setting on the Duke University campus.

L and K holding up some bamboo.

Touring  Duke University with Y (a chaplain there) - especially seeing the chapel, the hospitals, the buildings with the blue stone, and the sports areas including time on the floor of Coach K court.

A fuzzy photo of Ray and Y

Sunday morning, I stayed with the 'not feeling well' daughter J, while Ray and all went to church where A is the Director of Children's Ministries. I evidently missed a great service, a beautiful church,  and meeting some really nice people. Next time I'll go!

Spending time playing games and visiting. Priceless!

While we were in the Sarah Duke gardens, L and K found a Farkleberry tree. They wanted me to take their picture with it for a mutual friend named Jim R. They send their love and prayers Jim and hope you are doing better!

"Farkle...berry!"

We had a great time. Now we are in Wilmington, NC. It was 75 degrees today!!! We have a few days here with no special plans and a very nice condo. Dinner tonight was at Front Street Brewery - very good! I'm thinking we are doing way too much eating on this trip!

Nov/Dec Journey 2012 Part 1

We are on the road again!

Day one was spent driving - actually Ray drove and I knitted. I haven't made a sweater in about 25 years! And then it was sweaters for the boys. Now, I'm making one for me!

Day two we woke up to snow - just 1/4" or so. The roads were totally clear as we headed out and it was pretty. We spent part of that day and the next walking and shopping in Nashville, Indiana. One evening we ate dinner in Nashville at Big Woods Pizza. GOOD!

The whole town was decorated for Christmas. One afternoon we found a fabric store but it was closed. I looked in the window and a lady opened the door and invited us in. 

This was a brand new shop set to open in a couple of days but instead they opened right then and I was their first customer! I found things (surprise!) and the owner gave me a nice discount!

We stayed at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park. They have a water park and great hiking trails. We enjoyed both!

We stopped in Berea, Kentucky on our way south. It is so neat to walk around the Boone Tavern area. We enjoyed lunch and did lots of looking!

Later in the day we arrived at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and stayed at the Dupont Lodge. We went to see the falls before dinner and then went back at 8 PM to see the moonbow. 

The best viewing would be from 8 - 10 PM so we were there from 8 to about 10. No moonbow! Almost all the conditions were right - full moon, clear night, plenty of mist from the falls - but there was haze and evidently enough haze to stop the needed light from the moon. ;( It was a beautiful night to spent outside talking to a few other hardy souls! And we really enjoyed the fireplace when we returned to the lodge!

Today has been a long day of traveling and we are now in Durham, NC, ready to spend the weekend with some friends. 

I've just spent over an hour trying to clear photos out of Picasa - how could I have exceeded my quota??!