This & That

 
Keith & I haven't ridden our bikes in a week or more, simply because of rainy weather, being busy in the evenings, or just plain tired:(
Not good!
I've gained weight, & we're getting rusty:(
We need to get moving again!
September & October weather should be invigorating!!

My dear friend Lorraine & I are taking a short series of collage classes at Apex Community Center. Jillian Goldberg is the art instructor, & she is quite good---we took a pastel class with her last fall:)
Such a grand 2 hours to put aside every care in the world & play with paper & glue! It's so freeing....& can be very beautiful:)
I truly believe every counselor should have their clients do collage art for therapy:)!

Skye surprised us with a visit home this weekend--yea:)!
She's still scouting out App for friends & hangouts, which will come in time.
She does miss her buds here so it didn't take much to decide to head back to Apex for a quick visit:)
We haven't seen much of her, but just knowing she's around is great:)!
She did go to church with the fam today--ate lunch at The Loop, one of our favorite places:)

Had Small Group here tonight.
What fun to visit with friends over a light supper & coffee---friends that have listened to one another through the years as we've faced various & sundry trials, tribulations, & joys.
A great way to end a weekend:)

This week, Tuesday--Thursday, I'll be in charge at Hallmark. Yvonne is heading to the mts. with her fam, & most importantly, little Logan, the new grandbaby:) She deserves this time away!!
Wish me well. It can be stressful at times, but I love the girls I work with & they make it easier & worthwhile:)

A Memorial for Pat & Dash

 
Today, at Lake Pine, a bench was dedicated to Pat Adolfi & his faithful companion Dash. I was not able to attend but, thanks to Pam Meski who has persevered with the town of Apex, the bench was placed along the pathway recently and, later, a tree will be planted. For those of us who knew Pat & Dash, it will always bring them to mind each day we pass, &, maybe now & then, we'll sit and rest & think of them with a smile as we picture them moseying along the greenway, Pat walking his pal, with a grin & a cup of coffee:)

Wyatt

 
This morning I get home from walking Wyatt &, lo and behold, somewhere along the dimly lit greenway he has found a treasure!
He plunks it down.
And......there on the rug I see he's retrieved a pacifier!!

He was so proud:)

He traded for a Begging Strip:)

9/11

Seven years ago I fell to the floor and sobbed as I watched (in real time) the second Twin tower collapse....can some one's mind comprehend thousands of people dying in front of their eyes???
I couldn't wrap my mind around that.

Did many in the world grieve with the USA over the our murdered loved ones that day??
America mourned for months & months & months, united in our deep sadness & outrage...
Families will always mourn...........

Oh, the wounds inflicted on our nation when the innocent are slaughtered!
Do we remember???
If we don't we are foolish.

My Buds!

 
Here's a pic of my dear, dear buddies, Lorraine, Nancy, & Jeannette:)
Through many years we've had lunch a 1000 times together, shopped together, worked on crafts together & held craft shows, poured out our hearts to one another, listened to one another, laughed together, & cried together.

One of us is an Episcopalian, one is a United Methodist, the third is Baptist, and the fourth is Presbyterian PCA--ironic we all go to different denominations, huh:)

Tuesday, Sept. 9th, we celebrated Jeannette's birthday (she's the redhead in the black).
Every day is a miracle for her:)
1 & 1/2 years ago she survived a massive heart attack.
She was resuscitated 10 times! TEN!
She's a great story teller, a witty story weaver, that makes the saddest story somehow funny & uplifting; a true optimist:)
She's an inspiration to us & keeps us laughing:)

Jeannette, here's to praying for "60" more years of lunch, laughter, crafts, & shopping together:)!
God has been good---He gave you back to us:)

ICE CREAM--YUM!

I have never listed ice cream as one of my top favorite desserts, but---it seems to be moving up in rankings lately with my taste buds! Maybe that's because I've found 3 places that have scrumptious ice cream:)

I LOVE Goodberry's concretes, specifically banana with coconut (sometimes I splurge & add nuts:)).

I LOVE Killan's toasted coconut ice cream:) We discovered this wonderful place in Blowing Rock; that's where we read that there is one in Cary!! We found it & it's close by---a brand new store near Goodberry's--whoa, dangerous!:)

And, last but not least, I LOVE Chick fil A's cookies & cream milkshake:) The calories are not on my diet but....definitely worth it now & then:) Irresistible!
Why have I included calories in this blog---not relevant here!
Unless I add Henry's Gelato, which I also LOVE & is my fourth favorite & half the fat of the above:)

Makes my mouth water to think of these delicious frozen temptations!!!!
Do you agree?
It'd probably be worthwhile do a taste test to see what you think, or what you taste:)
Go ahead; go for it:)
YUM!!

September

September brings a promise of relief from the relentless summer heat & new beginnings.
In reality, here in NC the relief finally arrives by mid October. But September has it's cool mornings & evening sprinkled throughout the month, so it does give us a taste of fall:)
Harvest decorations begin to appear; pumpkins & dried arrangements.
Farms offer hay rides & mazes to explore.
College begins.
Traditional school begins.
Exciting new beginnings:)

September is my 'favorite' father in law's (Ken) birthday, one of my dearest friend's (Jeannette) birthday, one of my precious Bible study sister's (Angela) birthday, & my 'favorite' sister's (Christy) birthday--fun stuff:)

And my Mama's birthday is September 7th.
This year will be the first year without her. That brings back many memories....& makes me miss her.
Last year this time I was driving to visit her almost weekly, and as I drove down I would try to figure out what I'd do to entertain her that day or where to take her for lunch. Driving back I often cried. It was emotionally draining.

Now & then my brother Lindsay would join us at a local fast food restaurant or at John's Seafood--he wanted to see Mama but hated to go into Carolina House.

Her best friend, her cousin Ruby, misses Mama terribly and suggested having lunch, so, barring Tropical Storm Hannah barreling straight through the Raleigh area, I'm planning to pick her up Sat. morning in Sanford & take her to Aberdeen to meet my sister & have lunch, in memory of Mama. (I'll have to check the weather tonight to see whether I should re-schedule or not)

And since I mentioned my dear father in law Kenny, (who will be 88 on the 13th) he is struggling with Alzheimer's now:(
I probably have mentioned that here before.
It's a curse.
My dear mother in law, Jessie Mae, struggles with caring for him, especially since she had arthritis in her hips & ankles.
Old age is tough.
Keith's sister Jean & hubby Ken are remodeling their garage into an efficiency apartment for them & hope to have it ready by Christmas.
All of the Mc clan are hopeful this will be a 'gift' for them; that life will be a bit easier. Blessings on the Carson clan:)

Things change, time passes.
September brings to mind memories & reflection, and hope.

Shelley Lake Oak

 
Keith & I explored the walking/biking trail at Raleigh's Shelley Lake this Labor Day afternoon.
The trail is a bit hilly, & we had some trouble finding a 2nd trail, Bent Creek, since there are no signs (we were being guided by a Triangle trail map). So, with the walkway/bikeway steep grades & valleys, it ranks as one of the tougher trails for us amateurs. Not as tough at Lake Johnson, but still a workout! And we need to do some huffing & puffing, I'm the first to admit:)

This gorgeous tree, located at the beginning of the trailway, must be one of the oldest at Shelley Lake Park.
Such majesty & character in a gigantic tree!!!
A treasure, especially in the City of Oaks:)!

Raleigh's Shimmer Wall

 

Keith & I rode downtown to view Raleigh's new Civic Center's Shimmer Wall after a workout of a bike ride at Shelley Lake this afternoon.

I must say I am excited about this piece of art:)!
Not too much wind this afternoon, but the Wall did shimmer at times.....
And the tree is lovely. I love tree art whether it be paintings or jewelry or whatever:)

We've heard the wall is beautiful lit up at night:)
I say thumbs up for this artistic architecture rendering!!!
Maybe Raleigh is particular about how it's art is displayed. Instead of lights, it chose a moving mural....
I'm with you Raleigh:)

Brenda C. & Jackie

 
These are two of my co-workers who hold down the Apex Hallmark fort on nights & weekends; Brenda & Jackie:)
Such sweethearts:)
Jackie is going to Cosmetology School, and Brenda works at another job during the day.
Whenever I see them they lift my heart....
Bless you B & J:)