Monday, May 9, 2011

Shorter

The roadside spring coming from
the Big House where people stop
to get mountain water. This is just
below a pasture with the funniest
colt you've ever seen.























His name is "Shorter" after someone who lived on the
farm a long, long time ago. He is the most curious colt
I've ever seen. Not afraid of anyone or anything and
so curious!!! He was born April 30th.
















Jake & Sara play with Shorter. Or is it the other way
around?
















Here, the little guy tries to go right up to Ace who was
barking at him non-stop. He's simply NOT afraid!
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Bling

THE ring - while playing Skipbo.
















Porch bling: Thanks to Sara, we finally get the Save-the-Dates
addressed. Jake and Walker did our legwork, tracking
down addresses.
















Forest Bling: Mother's Day hike to the Big House to see
the new colt and to borrow a movie. Tonight the guys
are making Swedish pancakes with rhubarb sauce for
Mother's Day while we watch Knight's Tale.
















Forest bling: We found these lady
slippers on the trail.
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Spectator

Deck tennis is a game that is almost entirely unknown
in most places. Structured much like tennis except
for the fact that a rubber ring is tossed instead of hitting
a ball - it was played on the decks of ships. There is a net
and scoring and rotation happens just like in tennis but
the ring can't bounce so it didn't end up in the ocean.
The Big House has a fairy-tale-like court to play on.
















Complete with a low rock wall for spectators to sit on.
Nancy, Franklin & Sara enjoy the fast-paced guys' game.

















The Clarke's new dog, Constance,
teaches Daisy how to be a dog. She
was the perfect play partner.
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Chicks Dig Decktennis

Our new batch of 9 chicks just hatched.
















Susan & Franklin team up against Sara & Jake for a
game of deck tennis at the Big House.
















Our game was tame compared to the
pros. Here, Walker reaches for the
ring.























While Taylor (intern) and Jake get
ready to lunge.
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Buds & Bulldogs

The cowboy and the graduate.
















Brodski - Austin Shattuck
















Dr. Holt who, after much convincing, allowed Jake into
his class so he could qualify for pre-med.
















Rocky the UNCA Bulldog Mascot hangs with the gang.
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UNCA Graduation

Grandma Nancy, Susan, Jake, Franklin, Walker
Tassels are for soccer, good grades and sash is for
Jake's trip to Honduras.
















It's been a long road.























Time to start a new life.























The Sides Family: Nancy, Nan, Jake, Judy, Franklin
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Graduation Weekend

Cameron gets her masters from App. State. She's the
beaming blonde near the back of the line.
















Jake & Cameron after the ceremony and before Jake,
Walker and Susan drive back to Asheville.
















Finally - the "S's". Jake recieves a Distinction in Psychology
and graduates magna cum laude.
















A fist-pump in celebration of three years of late nighters,
no social life, studying on the way to and from soccer
games and being away from Sara.
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Monday, May 2, 2011

Bonnets, Barns & Monster Compost

Franklin won a beautiful hanging basket of flowers for his entry in a spring hat contest. It was a fundraiser for our local 1 X month newspaper - The Town Crier. It was held at Wintersun (you can google it) in Fairview. It's a gorgeous home on a huge piece of gorgeous land.
 
Saturday, a crew of guys put together this small donated barn that we've had in storage. It was scary, hairy and very challenging. Now we just need to stain it, roof it, add a door and an upstairs spy window.
 
Susan's church, Grace Community - sent a crew out on Saturday also to pick up a field of green 'hay' and turn it into a monster compost pile. Franklin is key to this operation.
 
 
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What's New in Fairview

Franklin works hard, even in his sleep.
 
Beet thinnings from the garden - sauteed up for lunch. Can't find in any store or resturaunt.
 
This year's new crow crew.
 
He came calling.
 
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