This Past Week

  Walker & Cameron leaving for a white elephant party. Walker enjoyed putting his gift in a box wrapped tight with package AND duct tape and watching the recipients try getting at their 'prize'.
  Today was bread day. Four loaves. No recipe.
  Thursday it RAINED ! Finally ! It poured, actually. The creek down by the mailbox sounded like whitewater. No one can remember when we had a good rain like that. Western NC is still under drought conditions. River rats had a few good days of kayaking and such. Not my crew but Pat Stone took advantage of the high water.
  One of a few herds of cows and calves on Hickory Nut Gap Farm where Walker works. The ground was still soggy after the rain but their hay was high if not dry.

Erik Passes State Certification Test

  Oldest son, Erik, just called to say he passed the Florida State Certification Test for paramedics!!!! He is now hirable. We're so proud!! It's been a long time coming - a long time of studying AND working full time which is like going to college full time AND working full time. he says he knows Grandpa Randy would be proud. His brother, Kevin and cousin, Kyle are right behind him.
  I'm not planning on needing paramedics in Miami or Broward Co. but if I did, I'd feel confident with these guys on duty.

My Mother & Papa Dory

  Here's Papa Dory, my mother's husband. Ann had all types of activities planned for us and one of them was croquet. Dory was a pilot in the Korean War and in WWII !!! He was also an air-traffic controller at one point. When I first met him, his passions were fishing and restoring old cars. Now his passion is his dog, Daisy.
  Mom and Dory pose before taking my sister and I out to dinner. They pamper me big time when I visit.
  Mom and sister Annie- mom said she was always known for her stellar gams.
  Brother Kelly can be a pooh-bah sometimes but Annie coaxed him out of his shell by crafting a game of guessing the answers to "Do you remember when...?" questions. My sister has a photographic memory, I'm hopeless and brother Kelly is in the mid-range. Annie handed out Lotto tickets for the correct answers. I actually got a few right. Questions revolved around our childhood. She is the party hostess with the mostest.

Just to clarify: November is THE birthday month in our family. Dory, Annie, Melissa, Kyle, Katie and Ann's father-in-law, Alfred, all have birthdays in Nov.

Nieces & Nephews

  Courtney, Hannah and Jeremy - three of my brother's five kids.
  Twins - Katie & Kyle celebrate their 21st birthday. Older sister Melissa is taking them out on the town. They are my sister, Annie's kids.
  Melissa, Annie's oldest daughter, and her boyfriend, Eric (with a 'C' - my Erik is with a 'K')

Forgive Me- I had to do this comparison.

Ann, Kelly and Susan. Or is it Susan, Kelly and Ann...The years show on our faces and bodies but the years have also been good to us.
 
 
 
 

Erik - my oldest.

  On our tour of the old neighborhood we also stopped off at old schools. Here, I get a moment with my oldest son, Erik who lives and works in Miami.
  He is soon to graduate and become a paramedic, following in his dad and grandad's footsteps. He also has an uncle, brother and cousin in the department.
  My sister Annie thought of everything and since they had a cold snap, she'd planned to roast marshmallows. Here, Erik, who was an Eagle Scout, sees if he still has the touch.
 / Erik has to go home and get ready to pull a fourteen-hour day the next day. He's just such a wonderful person and we all love his company so much. Try as I do, I can't get him to consider moving out of Miami though - his only fault.

Susan Goes Home for Annie's 50th

  The whole lot of us: This isn't everyone but it's definately the 'A-List'.
  Some of the cousins goofing off. Yes, it's unflattering. That's the point.
  Sisters: Susan - L, Annie - R.
  We went back to the old neighborhood one day and who did we find living there but our old, next-door neighbors from the 60's. We spent many a day in the Solar's house, playing with their girls and just being spoiled. They are still as sweet as ever and are proud to be in their eighties.