NYC--our 2nd day:)

Our 2nd day in the Big Apple began with brunch at Astro's once again. They actually serve grits in the middle of Manhattan--amazing! 

The Saturday adventures began with a trip to the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center. I was a little nervous, since heights are not my thing:( But, must say the elevator was so smooth & quick it felt like we were beamed up the 70 floors! And I didn't have to go outside to see a stunning view--acrylic panels are not comforting to me! The idea of stepping out onto the deck made my feet sweat (weird), but overall a great way to see the city!

Before going to the Top of the Rock, Skye had found a neat place to get an Americana coffee which she had had to give up when we got on the elevator, so she bought a 2nd one afterward, then we stopped in The Met Store to buy a few gifts, & afterward caught a taxi to Fish Eddy, a quaint shop Kelley had found online. It was Skye's favorite store (mine too)--cool plates, cups, saucers, plaques, towels, all unusual & reasonably priced :)

After purchasing some goodies we walked for a while, finding a farmer's market where Skye & I bought NY apples. She also saw 'Pete' from 30 Rock around the same time--a cool sighting:)!

Later grabbed a taxi to take us to Ground Zero.

Memorial Day was an appropriate time to go. We spent some time at St. Paul's Chapel where many, many people took refuge on 9/11. The site itself where the Twin Towers stood is surrounded by fencing, so it's hard to visualize how devastating it must have been. After a long hike to get a better view down into the area, all that was visible were cranes & other construction vehicles. I stopped briefly on our walk imagining how many screams & prayers hung in the air that day ....a sad, haunting place.

We took a break at a tree-lined park close by, located on the Battery, bought some ice cream & water, then caught another taxi back to our hotel for a much needed rest. That evening we ate dinner at The Mesa Grill, owned by Bobby Flay! Kelley had made reservations before our trip, so we were excited about our fancy meal.:) I had a shrimp & cornbread dish, prepared in a corn husk, with squash blossoms on the side--superb:) To finish off our fabulous dinner we shared a slice of his Coconut cake:) No Bobby in the house that evening, but what a treat!!

Walking back, we shopped a little at Anthropologie, then strolled north toward the Empire State Building, glowing in red, white, & blue lights in honor of Memorial Day, & on toward our hotel--a pretty evening:)

After arriving at the Hilton Skye was ready to head back out for some more nightlife, but the rest of us were just too tired:(! Sorry Skye:(

NYC--our first day!

Last Friday, Skye, Kelley, Kelley's mom Betsy, & I flew to NYC for a 3 day vacation to the Big Apple!

We were celebrating a milestone birthday for Betsy & me, & celebrating Skye's graduation from college:)!
Kelley helped with reservations beforehand, then, after arriving, guided us around Manhattan. She had spent a short semester during her Salem College years working at MTV, so she was pretty 'city savvy' as far as Skye & I were concerned (Betsy knew quite a bit too:)).

We stayed on 6th & 53rd...a very nice location:)
After a good brunch at Astro's (close by our hotel), we headed to 5th Ave. & Tiffany's, where Betsy bought a small souvenir. Then on to Central Park where we decided spur of the moment to do the tourist thing & take a carriage ride:)
And for the rest of the afternoon we walked around, through, took taxi cabs by, thoroughly enjoying scouting out, this beautiful lush 800+ acre park:)!

By mid afternoon we headed back to the hotel to check in & take a nap (we'd been up since 3:30 am!).

After resting for a few hours we headed down the block to the Modern Museum of Art. On Friday nights admission is free from 4-8pm. So we dived in to see some great artwork along with about half of NYC! It was truly an art party:)!

Then we strolled toward Times Square looking for a place to have dinner. We ended up at Angelo's Pizza where we enjoyed mouth-watering white pizza. Afterward we walked further down the crowded Times Square ( crowds reminded me of the NC State Fair), saw where MTV was located/where Kelley worked, & capped off our evening with dessert at Magnolia Bakery, not far from our Hilton--yummy!

A grand first day in the Big Town!

A May Birthday

Our first born, Cameron Stewart, was born May 29th, 36 years ago:)
Then, I couldn't imagine our lives with a baby. Now, I couldn't imagine life without all 6 foot 4 inches of him (& our other kids)!

Cameron's arrival was a great blessing:)
He was a quiet, easy-going, little boy, always playing with Lego's, matchbox cars, his Big Wheel, & reading. Quite content to entertain himself:)

As an adult he has attended NCSU, worked for a few computer companies in the area (now at IConnect), has a special friend Holly, owns a townhome, enjoys biking & playing computer games with friends, hosts movie nights for his buddies, & recently bought this new Subaru, pictured here.

Cameron, here's wishing you another wonderful, healthy & content 36 years, plus countless more.
May the Lord be your Best Friend, may you be surrounded with dear close friends, & family that you enjoy being with:)
Love you, Mom:)

A Tough Thing To Hear; The 'D' Word.

This week, Tuesday, I stopped by my doctor's office to have a TB test. While there I asked for a few minutes with my doctor to discuss recent lab blood work results.
The office called last Friday notifying me that my lab tests indicated signs of renal failure; the 'D' word was mentioned...
Dr. Jordon made time for me immediately and gave me her undivided attention.
The verdict?
Yep--Diabetes.
The 'D' word has been dogging me for years. The thought of it drove me to Weight Watcher's a few years ago. After losing 25 lbs. I simply became lazy and fell into cahoots with old gluttony once again:(
Gulp.
The kidneys are hit hard with high blood pressure, carrying too much weight,  loving sweets in excess.
My walking, which my doctor loves (and I enjoy!), simply cannot overcome all that. Walking is a diabetics best friend, but losing weight is equally important.
So, what will I do with this diagnosis?

I need to change.
I have a sugar addiction.
God, this is hard. Help me with self control.

Skye Graduates!

Sunday afternoon, a cool sunny afternoon, Skye graduated Cum Laude from Appalachian State University with a degree in Appalachian Studies & a minor in Religion.

How exciting!
Her Grandma Robeson would be proud.
She always believed education was extremely important. And Skye's first year at App was paid with Mama's inheritance to our family:) It couldn't have been used in a better way:)

Now Skye looks forward to graduate school, and with that, the responsibility of finding a job(s) to help support her through at least two more years.

This is her time to figure out her passions, her unique talents, where the Lord is guiding her....the adventure begins!

I'm proud of you, Skye-girl!

The Home Place

 

This morning I drove down to Aberdeen to have lunch with my brother Lindsay. Afterward we met our sister Christy where the three of us set out to hike our home place, named "Sandrock Acres" by our mama.
The original farm was about 73 acres, & continues today to be Lindsay's home & Christy's family's home.

Our brother Mark sold his portion of the farm property to our cousin Tommy in the past year. Recently Tommy has asked if he could trade some acreage with me in order to build a house on the back hill, so Lindsay wanted me to walk the land & see what Tommy's proposing before signing on the dotted line.

After dividing up the farm a few years ago, then Mark selling his part, we're also rethinking the way the farm has been partitioned, thus another incentive to walk the property today & discuss what might be changed.

The weather was overcast, a mite muggy, but overall a good day to take a hike.
I sprayed thoroughly with insect repellent (remembering past nasty attacks of chiggers!), put on sunscreen, & knee socks with hiking boots (in case I came across a snake--which I saw the last time I hiked the farm!)

Right away my sister's little dogs flushed out a good sized "mama" turkey!! She flew up & away from her chicks, diverting the dogs' attention. I can't recall ever seeing one growing up!

As you can see by the photo, everything is lush & green, with many of the trees maturing so much in the last few years I had trouble orienting myself once in a while.
I must say, it is a beautiful place, more beautiful than it was when I was young. The creek has created wetlands where hardwoods have flourished, & the pines, rising out of a fresh carpet of pine straw, are reaching to the sky!

A sweet time today with my family in a place where we were first loved so dearly:)
Mark, wish you had been there too.

“There is a serene and settled majesty to woodland scenery that enters into the soul and delights and elevates it, and fills it with noble inclinations.”
Washington Irving

A Sweet Place

 

“Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest”
Robert Montgomery

Wishing Seth & Kelley countless blessings, joy, & contentment as they set up housekeeping on Culvert Street:)

Last night they, & Three, spent their first night in their new cozy bungalow. Tonight they wrapped up moving the last items from their previous abode.

Welcome back to Apex, Seth & Kelley & Three!
We are tickled:)