Hallelujah!

 
SKYE is coming HOME:)
After being away since May 24th at Ridge Haven Conference & Retreat Center in Brevard, NC, she plans to load up her Neon & travel home Sunday afternoon, August 3rd.

I'm sure she has mixed feelings.
She's leaving behind friends she's lived with for 2 & 1/2 months, & she may not see some of those friends again, or at least for a long time.
Everybody's heading in different directions.
I'm sure she's changed & grown. Living with young kids day & night for a summer is a tough assignment but rewarding in countless ways.

For now she's ready to be in her own room for a while, touch base with friends here, give Wyatt some TLC, and sleep!
Then we'll begin shopping & getting ready for her big adventure at App. State.
A year of change for Skye Chancel:)
And for Mom!

Symphony Lake Trail

 
Sunday evening Keith & I decided to take another short ride, so we loaded up our bikes and headed to Regency & Symphony Lake, 3 miles down the road from us. The trail was pretty quiet, only a few walkers & one fisherman. The lake is pretty, as well as the scenery, but the geese have made a royal mess of the road surface. Poop everywhere! So I'm afraid it ranks at the top for the nastiest bike trail we've seen in the area:( UGH!
And I LOVE Canada geese!!
Not sure how to solve that problem....
We went around the lake 3 times & took a side trail, but I don't think we'll go back soon.
Yuck!

Remembering

 
Yesterday I received the final paperwork to sign and mail to finish my mama's estate. I knew the legal things were coming to a close, plus the Stewart Reunion is Sunday (Mama's family), so she's been on my mind.
Also recently I came across 2 letters she had written sometime during her first two years at Carolina House Assisted Living. (She liked to write and was good at it) I had stashed them in my pocket after discovering them in her room on one of my visits.
They are sad.
I cried when I first read them (& probably the second & third time too).
But they give our family some idea of what the dark night of Alzheimer's Disease was like for Mama. She never understood why her mama never came to see her (her mama died in the mid 1970's) and why she couldn't go home.

"Sunday P.M.
Dear Mama: I want to come home and it seems that you don't want me any more.
I don't know why but I want you to tell me why you're turned against me so.
I'm the same girl you raised and could be a help now you know, if I just knew why you turned against me so.
I have raised two nice daughters and we all should be together and I think Lindsay {our baby brother} should be with us too.
But you have turned against me so bad that I can't figure out why and I think you should tell me especially.
So send the reason WHY, if you really have a good reason and tell me why.
I have only love for you as you've been good and kind to me up to recently, until now.
With love, your daughter, Catherene"

"Sunday:
Dear Mama:
It's time for me to go home. So please ask Lindsay to come for me right away, if possible. Tell him I'll pay him when I get home. I think I've got enough in the bank. If not I'll try to get money from mama, et.: been nice up here but the Sandhills seem good after a long visit and I'm ready for home now. If he'd rather, I'd be glad for him to drive up here for me.
I've enjoyed it but it's time for the Sandhills now-and maybe Lindsay would enjoy it in the mountains. Anyway it's time for me to get back to the Sandhills.
So please, I'm ready for home and , nice as it's been, Catherene is ready for home! Please!
Vass, NC RFD"

Bridge Over Terrific Traffic

 
A photo taken from the middle of the Cary Pedestrian bridge this lovely July evening.
I'm trying to practice riding my bike over bridges.
In August we're planning to ride the Virginia Creeper Trail. Keith tells me it has a few trestles scattered along the journey & I'm not too secure traversing heights.
I didn't succeed riding across tonight, but did fine walking my bike over and back:)
In time I'm sure I will feel more confident & less wobbly, wherever:)
Wish me happy bridge crossings:)

Snail Mail Boxes At Turtle Creek Farm

 
A rural scene just off the American Tobacco Trail. Should "snail mail" be called "turtle mail" here?

White Oak Creek Greenway Trail

Sunday evening Keith & I scouted out another biking/hiking trail called White Oak Creek, part of the Cary greenway system. We parked on Green Level Church Road & headed toward Davis Drive. The entryway at Green Level has two beautiful wooden bridges zig-zagging and spanning the creek for hundreds of yards.
It's a bit hilly after the bridges where you curve, climb, then coast, pass water areas covered by lilypads. Under Highway 55 there is a tunnel which empties you out onto the greenway section that meanders through a few subdivisions. I say that, and you probably think it's not very scenic, but it is! The trail is completely enclosed by shady trees & bushes, plus the creek gurgles past primarily on the right. A cool place to ride on a warm July evening.
After crossing Jenks-Carpenter Road, we gradually begin a slow incline which peaks at Davis Drive School. We know our limits so decide to turn around and head back. We've gone about 4 miles.
On the way back, near the lilypads, a young boy playfully darts across in front of us, and "Miss Grace" here was caught offguard which sent me sprawling into the grassy shoulder:( Thankfully only my pride was hurt and the little boy's feelings. (He hid under his mother's shirt).
Then next, Keith's tire went flat AGAIN (about the 4th time in a week!)! He had a spare so, after sweating in the heat to repair it (30 minutes later), we were on the road again.
Another adventure in our endeavor to explore Wake County on bikes. (No pics this time-I am afraid I forgot my trusty digital)

Another bike Adventure this week

 
This picture was taken last Thursday evening (July 17th) along the biking/walking path bordering Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh.
We parked at the NC Art Museum, crossed Blue Ridge Road, & headed downhill to Umstead State Park. After entering the park & still descending another 1/2 mile, we calculated our limits (knowing it'd be an uphill pedal all the way back), turned around & huffed & puffed, stopping to rest & take photos about three times, up to the Museum parking lot:) It's not too hard, but it takes some pedaling power on the return trip.
As we get more "in shape" it'd be nice to go further into Umstead.
A pretty trip:)
Check it out:)

July/August Dog Days

 
This is a photo of my favorite flower.
Some may argue it's a weed, but it's my favorite flowering thing, whether weed or flower:)
Some other favorites this time of year:
All colors of Crepe Myrtle trees
Cone flowers
Daisies
Mimosa trees
Shade
Air conditioning
Rain/harmless thunderstorms
Ice cream (Goodberry's, Henry's Gelato, home-made: yum!)
Watching the Carolina Mudcats or the Durham Bulls play ball
Going to a covered dish family reunion
Biking in the evening
Walking early in the morning when the humidity is low (like earlier this week:))
Smelling fresh cut grass
Checking out summer sales
Celebrating an anniversary

The Big Tree

 
This is "my" Pennsylvania Big Tree in the summertime.

I wrote last January about my "walks to the big tree" & posted pictures taken then. Wyatt & I took a number of walks down the same quiet lane, Moffet Road, while visiting family in Pa. recently. The majestic tree is lush & green now, but it's been friendly & inviting to me through countless seasons:)

Many tough life issues to deal with this visit, so the walk was a time to ponder the past, present, and future.
Actually, family health problems may result in such major changes in the coming months that I may never walk this way again...
If so, it will be best for my dear in-laws.

Life does change.
Change isn't easy.
But I firmly believe God holds us in the palm of His hand, & for those who love Him, all things are for good. I live by that.

On The Way

 

We've been away visiting the McFarland/Brown clans in Pa. so I've been unable to post updates. No computer access there:(
I hope to write a few things about this trip, but today I am pulled away by practical things here, like cleaning the car & unpacking.

This is a photo of Hawk's Nest State Park in WV, overlooking the New River Gorge.
We decided to take a detour off the main route to see this beautiful place. (Last summer we meandered around & underneath the New River Bridge)

For all you romantics Lover's Leap is located here as well:) Keith hiked down to this spot while Wyatt & I enjoyed the air conditioning at the gift shop:)

A pretty, pleasant place to rest for a while:)

An Art Trail

 

Saturday evening Keith & I rode our bikes along the NC Museum Of Art Trail:)
A trail I would recommend to walkers & bikers, although beware; it is hilly!

You can park at the Museum & signs direct you to where to enter the decorated paved trail. It takes you around back of the Museum & winds near these enormous "onion rings" where there is a beautiful vista of the surounding countryside. At various intervals other unusual art pieces can be viewed & inspected. After descending a while to a forested area, you climb another hill and gradually snake around & down to a small creek. Then it's up another good sized hill to the pedestrian bridge that spans the beltline:) A bridge that was a bit intimidating to me on a bike, but I didn't have trouble walking across. The trail then travels down to a tunnel underneath Wade Ave. that drops you out and up towards Meredith campus.
Please check out this walk/ride.
Keith & I procrastinated too many years to traverse this pretty walk/ride.
It was tough for us novice bike riders, but a delight to see a Raleigh gem.
A true walk of art:)