Thursday - November 17

 Burrrr.....it was chilly and windy when we left the hotel this morning.   Drove downtown and found "Morning Times" (one of many coffee shops) and enjoyed our coffees, Mark's breakfast croissant and my marshmallow/cinnamon crunch scone upstairs in this neat old building.

We had a few stops (Total Wine and Duck Donuts in Durham and Trader Joe's in Chapel Hill) and then on our way.  

Duck Donuts are soooo yummy - we all remember our first experience back in 2007 having these  in Duck, NC (Outer Banks).    Made fresh to order.

Watching the donuts getting golden brown

And while still hot, the donut lady ices them and sprinkles toppings

And tah dah....ready to devour!!!

  Stopped in Morganton to drop off a Rx at CVS, get the car washed and I got a Christmas drink at Starbucks.    Got to Michael and Brooke's around 3:15, unloaded the car and settled in.    Michael is in NY, Brooke and Blair at gymnastics and Brady at basketball practice.    We drove over to see Luke, Maeve and Annette and give them some donuts.   Philip is working in Fort Lauderdale.   Their house looks great all decorated for Christmas...inside and out!

Good ole Frosty

Maeve flies around in her pretty 

pink bike

And Luke on his 10-speed

Brooke made a delicious chicken dish with fresh asparagus for dinner.    Fun to catch up and hear what's all going on in their busy lives.

 Blair is all sweet 'n cuddly in her pretty soft bathrobe

Brady - can't wait to see him back on the basketball court

Brooke's endless roses still have so many blooms in mid November!

Michael got home around 9 from NY - this was his view today from the

 87th floor of the One World Trade Center

Sooo good to be back in North Carolina!