Tom and I have been enjoying the Rivermill Music Series all summer. Yesterday Paul, Virginia & Aidan came out to Saxapahaw and got to experience first hand what we've been talking about. They are coming out again this weekend for the final event, Oktoberfest. This Saturday events start at 3 pm and go through 8 pm under the lights. There will be 4 different music groups, tours of the Rivermill Apartments, microbreweries and more. For more details go to http://www.rivermillvillage.com/farmers.html#music and scroll to the bottom of the page. I just finished listening to a sample of Regina Hexaphone and was very impressed. Y'all come!
I realize that the non-NC folks probably won't be able to make it but at least you'll be able to take a peek at the website and see what we're up to. I'm going to start the day at Benjamin Wineries, less than a mile down the road from us. Yes, I can walk to get my wine! Check out their website: http://www.benjaminvineyards.com
October 29---Harvest Festival at Benjamin Vineyards, 12 noon-5 p.m. Help us celebrate the end of the grape harvest! Admission fee of $5 includes BBQ buffet, music, tasting of all our wines, and a souvenir wine glass.
If anybody would like to join me, let me know and I'll wait up for you.
We have been very busy with yard work, working, doctoring the latest batch of kittens, working, etc. We really enjoy our Saturday night out at the Rivermill. Through that we found out about the Carrboro Music Festival - really enjoyed that - Friday nights at Bynum General Store outside Pittsboro - that was really neat, and Pittsboro General Store - cafe and live music. The time flies by so fast I almost want it to stop ... but I don't because we want to be retired sooner rather than later.
Our latest kittens have become friendly, at least Boots, Cinnamon and Buddy, because they all have the herpes virus, kitten version. I finally took one that I could catch to the vet and paid $68 for some medicine, an Rx and lots of information. Hopefully I can follow the Vets advice and keep them healthy. Aidan fell in love with Cinnamon but Paul wouldn't let him take him home. ...maybe I'll have better luck with the Thompson girls. We spent one whole weekend cleaning out the garden shed to make room for cat beds...I don't want to take anymore inside ... have too many now. We put in a small pet door and replaced the broken windows. It's a good thing that Tom is as much (if not more) a cat lover as I am. Unfortunately he has to bury a kitten today, one we found dead near our rubbish pile. It wasn't one we have seen at the food dish. Eventually they'll find out where the best deal in town is ... at our back door.
The weather is perfect here today ... quite cold this morning but just wonderful in the sunshine. I think the grass finally stopped growing even though we haven't had a frost yet. I still have to make another round with the trimmer then we'll be good until spring. We only have a few leaves here and there that have turned. Sometime soon we have 4 cedar trees to move out from under the big old oak to new places along the driveway ... replace the redbuds that died on us.
Jean is busy baking pumpkin rolls for a charity event at Carolina. I was asked to be captain for our department for the State Employees Combined Campaign this year . Each year we have a Sweet Charity where you pay $3 to sample all the desserts you can hold - donated by employees - and then pay $1 to vote for your favorite. The baker of the most popular entry gets to choose the charity that all the proceeds go to.
Tom is doing his weekly dump run. He has made friends with the fellows that mind the landfill - one is coming by tonight to have some machining work done. Tom enjoyed a free beer yesterday from old Juan, the father of Geronima Aguilar, who lives across the street. The old guy doesn't speak any English but somehow they sit and chat for an hour! Somehow I don't thing you're surprised by that.
Life is good here in Saxapahaw.
Love you all. Come and visit - sit a spell.
Helen
2005-10-01
Tom and I drove to Rich Square to visit Tom and his family. We had a nice day for a drive and spent most of our visit outside once we got there. I gave my new digital camera a workout and got some good pictures of the kids and SweetTea. The dog hasn't grown very much since we saw her last. She isn't going to be a very big dog. Shayne, Emily, SweetTea and I went for a short walk down Quail Trail. SweetTea likes to chase the firsbee. Tom and Tom sorted out used chain link fencing that Tom-III got from his farm. We were able to take some home to use to enlarge the pen for the Noel and her two puppies. They make quite a mess of Tom's workshop. The kids let me play video games with them. One of the ones they showed me was a lot like Tetris. I did OK with that one but they plowed me under with all the others.
| Emily, SweetTea and Shayne | Emily | Shayne | Emily & SweetTea | Me (taken by Emily) |
| Emily | Shayne | SweetTea | Tom Jr. and Tom III | New project for Tom |
2005-04-06
Spring has finally arrived in the Carolinas! The Redbud trees are in
full blossom and the Redbud Festival is just around the corner:
http://redbudfestival.4t.com/
We are looking forward to some good Bluegrass music. Progress is being
made on the apartments in the old mill.
Last week was checkups time for me with a visit to Dr. Wilks. I gained
6 pounds on Jean's cooking. Guess it's time to pay more attention.
Sunday I made a killer chicken soup, heavy on the spinach and cabbage,
and salmon patties with crushed almonds, rolled oats and grated
vegetables. Funny how nobody in the house steals my "healthy" food.
They didn't like my green rice either - brown rice, spinach, almonds,
tofu and nutmeg. I'm scheduled for an endoscopy on Monday, 4/11. Tom
is taking the day off so he can squire me around...that sure made his
day. I will be going to the new UNC facility at Meadowmont but still
see the same Dr. Dr. Levenson left Chapel Hill Internal Medicine to
head up the gastroenterology unit at the new place. He will also be on
the teaching staff at UNC Medical school. I will let you know how I
make out. My cholesterol was the best this time that it's ever
been...under 200 for the first time. Of course my blood pressure was up
with the weight gain. Dr. Wilks didn't adjust my medicine...he's
trusting me to get back on the ball with exercise.
Last Saturday Jean and I met Erin for breakfast at IHOP and then went on
to Rich Square to visit Tom and his family. Jean did another session
with Allison in preparation for the GED. Tom and the kids and I watched
a couple movies: The Incredibles (cute!) and Van Helsing. I liked Van
Helsing better than I thought I would. I had to see the ending even
though Jean was ready to go 45 minutes before that happened. We weren't
able to hook up with Kierstin or Erin on the way back through Raleigh so
we ended up having dinner in Carrboro at an Italian place,
Panzanella's. The food was awesome - hand made cheese and walnut
ravioli with marinara sauce. You guys have to try this place. Then we
caught the last half of the Tarheels game against Michigan when we got
home.
How about those TarHeels?! I can get t-shirts for anybody who's
interested...they run from $18 and up.
Two of our outdoor female cats have had litters - we haven't seen the
kittens yet - and another is well on the way. Noel, the dog, still
hasn't had her pups but she surely looks ready. I just found out about
a place that will do spay/neuters for $30 each - including a distemper
shot. I took all 3 appointments that they have available in April.
Hopefully we'll get this animal population under control.
Eric and Walter will be coming for a visit beginning 4/16 for a week.
That works out well for Jean - she won't need to buy a plane ticket and
Walt can keep an eye on Eric while she works. We will go out to dinner
the last Friday night that they are here...haven't decided on a place yet.
Y'all keep in touch. Haven't heard much from many of you.
*All pictures courtesy of Peter C. Hartmann
Tom really enjoyed his driving experience even though it took nearly 2 years to come to pass. His fellow team member was a youngster, early thirties, so afforded some pretty stiff competition. Tom says it's a piece of cake. The training is awesome and they tell you absolutely everything you need to know. Experience with 3-speed or 4-speed is a definite plus. Tom does tend to minimize his own skills and capabilities. I know it is absolutely nothing I want to do - I have trouble controlling my bladder under normal circumstances.
If you would like to know more about what it was like, make sure you have time to spare and give Tom a call - 336-376-0266. You better have at least a half hour to spend. It will make Tom's day - he loves talking about it!
