First week in NC

We are really enjoying being close to family again for a while. This is what we have done this week...

Stu and the boys built up a little pool and caught crayfish in the stream beside the house.

We had a lovely 4th of July BBQ here at mom and dad's house. We have listened to rain on the roof and the stream flow and the birds sing...

We went up to Devil's Courthouse and rode up to Waynesville to see Stu's mom.

We are being tourists in our own land and that is fun.

Dad had this guy tip toe across the porch and ran up to get the camera so we would all believe him. You can't tell but there is a tiny Boston Terrier pursuing the bear into the treeline barking his head off.

We also now have cell phones, we bought a mini van, I have been shopping a couple times but I swear the selections are all so overwhelming I really do not buy that much. The Biltmore Square Mall has a cheap Dillard's (all the last season garments go there at insane sale prices - for example I got a $300 Ralph Lauren Dress for $9 and it would have been 2 for 1, but I was tired of looking for other things that fit me that were $9 dollars) and Mom brought me there to do some shopping.

Then Stu and I had a car buying date. We spent all day Monday going around driving mini vans. I know they are not the most sexy car on the road, but it sure is nice for the kids to be able to load in and out and not have to bicker with one another (as much).

I was so excited about the new VW mini Van. But we saved that one for last to look at since we had good Intel that it was not what it appeared to be. And boy was that Intel correct! The VW mini van was in fact a Chrysler just pretending to be a VW. So much for German engineering. There are VW mini vans all over Europe and Australia, but for the US market they don't want to bother with importing them, so they just buy Chryslers and slap a VW badge on them. Oh and they were so cheaply put together inside! It hurts me to say that, but they were. Stu and I have always had one VW or another, so we are big VW fans, but I am so annoyed with their sellout. The car salesman was a real toot too. Anyway we went back and bought the Chrysler Town and Country with a 4.0 engine and leather seats so the terrorists (my children) I roll with can be cleaned up after. I am still trying to figure out how to use the radio...a little fancy for my taste but it came with the van.

Yesterday Stu and his mom took the kids and went to Ghost Town in the sky and I stayed home with mom and quilted most of her Quilt. I ran out of thread, so we will have to go try to match some up later. How novel that will be instead of having to order some online and hope it matches when it gets in. I also unpacked my new baby...but I will save that for another post after I figure out how to operate her properly. She is old and her secrets are many.

Maybe we will go fishing today?

xo,

Tia