Friday - November 10

 Rainy Friday but much needed so the locals are happy!    Many "no burn" signs around as it would be so dangerous.   Nice to sleep in a bit and not to have to be "out the door" so early.    Brady was gone around 8:30 for practice and lunch with friends and then a physics class at Western Piedmont,

Blair, Mark and I left at 10:30 for Black Mountain and met our friends and across-the-street-neighbors at Cypress Trail at the Black Mountain Bistro.    JoAnn and Buddy live near Candler (close to Asheville).    It was so good to see them and we had a great visit and awesome lunch.    Really like this place and everyone left happy with good bye hugs.   Buddy and JoAnn leave in 2 weeks for a big cruise to Antarctica.    Sounds like quite the adventure.    They'll be arriving at CT on December 30th.

Mark, Blair, Pat, Buddy, JoAnn

We drove around Givens Highland Farms (where we plan to settle after we're done being nomads).  Lots of new construction going on!   Stopped at Ingles and got a few things, plus Starbuck treats for Blair and Grandma.

Rained all the way home.....good day to hunker down!   Grandpa took a nap and Blair gave Grandma a facial using all her skin care products!   She is REALLY into this and made a video of us!

My skin-care consultant

Always glowing!

On a rainy afternoon, our cozy, pretty view from indoors

Brady made pizza tonight - we each put on our favorite toppings!   And along with a bottle of awesome red wine that Mike and Theresa gave Mark for his birthday made for a really good Friday night dinner.

It'a all about the crust

Anne is on her way to Iowa City for Family Weekend with Liam.    Connor is on his way to Appleton, WI for a hockey tournament.  

  Our kiddos and friends arrive home tomorrow late afternoon from the Abacos!    Mark and I will be watching the Salem Tigers football game in the afternoon especially the cheerleaders??    The Tigers are undefeated!  

Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday - November 9

 Mark took Blair to school - she has a field day so will be helping the Pre-K thru 1st graders.    There are three 5th grades at Salem Elementary with approximately 25 students in each class.   Next year, she'll be at Liberty Middle School (6-8).    Mark got a haircut which was a new experience.   He's used to having an appointment (Bloomington, Fort Myers, Port Clinton, etc.)     This place in Morganton (Sane's Barber Shop) does walk-ins only.    He got there around 8 after dropping off Blair and there were 12 ahead of him (they open at 6:30).    They have 6 barber chairs, but only 2 working with a few more coming later.   He waited 50 minutes and was finally called.   Oh well....one more thing to cross off the list and then to pick up part for pontoon, only to find out the guy had not ordered it???   He said he would get to it today!   Onto Concord to pick up his new hearing aid.   He didn't get back to Morganton till after 4.    

I had a leisurely morning.....read, played some games on my I-pad, went for a walk, browsed the internet for some Christmas ideas and then the go go go began.... picked Blair up at 2:45 and then to gymnastics from 3:30-4:30; then dance (lyrical) from 5-6.   Her 6-7 cheer practice was cancelled. Mark joined us at Southern Swag Dance Studio parking lot.   I went onto Brady's scrimmage (2 games) at Patton High School.   They lost the first game 49-35 (against a class 4A school - Patton is 2A) but won 2nd game 53-29.   Mark and Blair picked up a pizza and brought to game - no concessions tonight.

On home....big day!    So fun to watch Brady back in action on the bb court.

So while we were watching the Patton Panthers play, Drew and Tessa were at Soldier Field watching the Carolina Panthers play the Chicago Bears (football)

Brooke and Michael in Hope Town, Bahamas

 Congrats to Connor - MVP for the CCHS golf season - he shares this title with his buddy, Luke Brady.

Downtown Morganton is all decked out for the holidays.    They've been decorating the light poles with wreaths and red bows, the big tree on the courthouse square and 3 huge stars (we remember these from last year) - very festive!

Big change coming in the weather tomorrow with 20+ degrees cooler and rain!  It hit 83 today!   No school (Veteran's Day)!   YEAH!!!!!

Wednesday - November 8

 Gorgeous fall day in the upper 70's (wish we could bottle up this wonderful weather)!   Blair woke up at 6:20 her usual chipper self!    She's a happy girl (even in the early morning)!   Mark and I took her to school and then drove downtown for breakfast at The Grind (our favorite coffee shop in Morganton).   We shared a Western omelet, fresh fruit and sourdugh toast - excellent and just the right amount.

Stopped at AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts for a battery maintainer and then drove to New Dimensions, (Luke and Maeve's school).   It's in a diffferent part of town and we had never been.    The charter school is housed in the former Shadowline (women's lingerie) factory which is no longer in Morganton.

Back home and on with the day.   Brady had a later start to his day at Western Piedmont Community College.   He left at 10:15 and we were off with the backpack and water for a good hike (1 1/2 hours).    Stopped briefly to visit Mike and Theresa and on home.

We had lunch, Mark did a garbage run and then had 1 1/2 hours to sit and relax a bit before we were off to get Blair and resume her Wednesday routine.

First stop was her piano lesson from 3:30-4 at Faith Presbyterian Church and we went to Toasted and Rolled for some unique ice cream (rolled).

Mixing the cream and peanut butter on a very cold metal surface (11 degreees)

Pouring Blair's chocolate cream to make a dirt 'n worm concoction (gummies and crushed oreos)

Spreading out the ice cream and then rolling up

Tah dah...my finished peanut butter blast

Mark had a rocky road sundae

Mark and I enjoyed this new method of ice cream!    And of course, it's a favorite of Blair's

Then we took Blair to her 2-hour dance classes (hip hop and jazz).    Mark and I went to CVS where we had appointments for our RSV shots.  Stopped at Chick fil A for a light supper and then waited in the car for her to finish up reading on our Ipads.    Stopped at Bojangles to get her supper-to-go and on home at 7:45.    Visited with Brady and ready to call it a day!

Tuesday - November 7

 HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  MARK

Grandpa and his girls

A fun day celebrating the patriarch of our family!   He's the best hubby, dad, grandpa and role model!   Soooo proud of him !!!

No school for Blair today - election day and/or teacher workshop?    She slept in....

Bummer to hear that Luke is home today with a sore throat and not feeling well. Maeve went off to school.

Mark worked on the pontoon engine issue and figured out the problem (we think?  we hope?) and a part (battery selector switch) has been ordered from the marina store.    

 Went to Morganton and had lunch at The Town Tavern with Bob and Judy (Brooke 's parents) and Mike and Theresa (Mark's sister).   We missed Dave and Judy (Annette's parents) who were home with Luke.    Stopped at Dollar Tree and Jersey Mike's - Blair and I picked up a few things.

At Town Tavern

Mark, Theresa, Mike, Bob

Pat, Blair, Judy

On home and Blair helped prepare Grandpa's favorite dessert!

Betty Ctocker doing her thing

and then entertaining us with her musical talent...

 

Attempting "Happy Birthday"

More Carolina beauty

Today Connor went on a bus trip with classmates to Springfield...

Empower Illinois

Front row!

Tonight we had a little party for the birthday boy - Dave and Maeve, Theresa, Bob and Judy, Brady and Blair.  Missing Judy, Luke and Mike.    Chocolate lava cake (in the crockpot) was the dessert with Blue Bell ice cream

Siblings

Mark really appreciated the cards, phone calls, texts, e-mails and gifts from family and friends!   

 

 

 

Monday - November 6

 Lovin' this spectacular NC weather!    We were up early and out the door at 7 AM with Blair.   Her busy schedule and routine are ready for another week.   Although this week, she's off tomorrow and Friday!

Back home, visited with Allie and Owen, said good bye to Brady as he was off till 7ish or later tonight.   Allie and Owen packed up their car and then the hugs good bye - oh....so much fun being together this weekend!    They drove to Asheville for their flight to Punta Gorda.   

Bye bye dear friends 

I did several loads of laundry and Mark dealt with boat battery issues.

Miss Maeve has some loose teeth going on......so, a few days ago, she lost her front tooth 

and then today...

another one....

all she wants for Christmas is her 2 front teeth!😁

While I was off to town to pick up Blair, Mark, Mike and Theresa dealt with the boats ending up towing the pontoon back to Michael's dock.    What an ordeal and still not sure about the batteries and why they are not fully charging?

Blair and I were going to "toasted and rolled" after school (an ice cream shop that has rolled ice crream???)    But, they are closed Mondays, so....another time. 

Enjoyed listening to Blair practice her piano tunes - all Christmas.   She did a very good job!    Brady got home after basketall practice at 7:45 - long day for him.