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I’ll share a sentence or two from a letter I sent them after they left: “I love how the five of you enjoy each other’s company. I am extremely proud of the way you have all turned out to be good, intelligent, interesting, humorous, musical, productive, fun-loving people. (I could have listed more adjectives, but I was fearful of a reprimand from Kelly. Overuse of adjectives, or something. LOL!)”
Yay us! We North Carolinians can take a measure of credit for the freedoms all Americans enjoy! We fought the “Federales” and won! We didn’t ratify the original draft of the Constitution until we knew that certain personal and state freedoms were guaranteed. We rock!
Happy Independence Day!
What every grade school student knows:
North Carolina and the [...]]]>
Yay us! We North Carolinians can take a measure of credit for the freedoms all Americans enjoy! We fought the “Federales” and won! We didn’t ratify the original draft of the Constitution until we knew that certain personal and state freedoms were guaranteed. We rock!
Happy Independence Day!
What every grade school student knows:
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Here’s Gail on the trail, with the river on the right.
And yours truly…
The trail is shared by bikes, hikers, and horses!
There are many places where you can rent bikes (though we brought our own, of course), horses, or things for having fun on the water.
It really was a great ride! On our way out, we took this shot of the area we had just ridden. You can see I-77 where it bridges over the New River. You can see the beautiful countryside, and an arm of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. We’ll be coming back to bike the other segments of the trail, for sure!
The Trail Not Taken
Two trails diverged in a yellow wood,
and being unable to take them both
and have one butt, long I stood
considering my rear for as long as I [...]]]>
The Trail Not Taken
Two trails diverged in a yellow wood,
and being unable to take them both
and have one butt, long I stood
considering my rear for as long as I could
until I felt bad for its overgrowth.
…
Two trails diverged in a yellow wood.
And me, I chose the one cut wider-ly.
My butt made all the difference.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Apologies:
Dear Mr. Frost,
Sorry about that. But don’t spaz out. I’m pretty sure your poem was better. Please, do not turn over in your grave! Thank you very much.
Ferd
I have [...]]]>
I have added a couple of pictures from our feeders of mother birds feeding their young. Bluebirds and Downy Woodpeckers.
Like most years, my pick did not make it to the top. Though I truly congratulate Lee DeWyze and [...]]]>
Like most years, my pick did not make it to the top. Though I truly congratulate Lee DeWyze and wish him the best, I think America missed it on two extremely artistic and talented contestants: Crystal Bowersox (from Toledo, Ohio! Yey!) and Siobhan Magnus.
In the past, the American Idol finalist has not always been the most successful. Sometimes it’s best to be number two. So I hope in the future to hear a lot more from both Crystal and Siobhan and their very special, unique talents.
I’m grateful for all these young people on American Idol. Their music brings me a special joy. They are all winners in a big way!
Sometimes silly. Sometimes serious. Always fun! Step out of the box. Be creative. Use your imagination.
We all love to wine and dine with our families and those we care about. Some of us talk about it. Some of us don’t. Regardless, we all have stories to tell…. past and present. Take a trip down [...]]]>
Welcome to the Queen’s Tuesday Meme #38
Sometimes silly.
Sometimes serious.
Always fun!
Step out of the box.
Be creative.
Use your imagination.
We all love to wine and dine with our families and those we care about. Some of us talk about it. Some of us don’t. Regardless, we all have stories to tell…. past and present. Take a trip down memory lane or unfold your fantasy night out on the blog for all to read. We’re all ears. Waiter! Waiter!
1. When is the last time you went out to dinner with someone special? Tell us about it.
Well… we skipped dinner today (but not dessert!) because we had a late lunch. So it was yesterday, with Princess Gail! It was a romantic pizza, with lovely green peppers, onion and ham, nicely presented on a round pizza pan!
2. Show us a picture of your favorite cuisine.
3. What is the funniest thing a man/woman has said to you lately?
You know what, I can’t remember any one specific thing. Gail and I laugh at dumb stuff all day long. I get chuckles at work, and through several of the blogs I visit. My gift/curse is that I have a pretty even keel. I don’t experience life in the extremes, including “funniest.”
4. What makes a gentleman a gentleman in today’s dating world? Are there any left?
Off the top of her head, Princess Gail said it’s good manners and respect that make a gentleman. She also said she got the last one. (We gave each other rose colored glasses as wedding presents.) 
5. Is there anything you won’t tolerate when out to dinner with your significant other?
I can’t even imagine it. We have never treated each other with anything but love and kindness.
6. What type of ambiance do you enjoy in an eating establishment?
I like a blend of elegant and eclectic. I like a casual dress code, but not sloppy. I like creativity in the way the place is decorated, and the way the food is prepared and presented. I like the energy and excitement of a popular place, but not overly crowded or noisy to the point that conversation is difficult.
7. Tell us about the worst public dining experience you ever had, whether it be a date or with your family.
I can’t think of one that would be “the worst.” I can almost always find something that I enjoyed about a night out. I guess my glass of Diet Coke is always half full!
8. What is the lamest or rudest thing a man/woman has said to you lately?
I ordered Diet Coke, and the jerk waiter said “Pepsi?” Then I said “with lime,” and he said, “lemon?”
9. Are you a good tipper?
Never less than 20%
10. Do you ask for doggie bags when you leave food on your plate at a restaurant?
Gail and I often split a meal and still have enough to put in a doggie bag! Too much food! And anyway, we have to leave room for dessert!
11. What is your pet peeve about restaurants and dining out in general?
Probably that the temperature is never exactly right. That’s not that big a deal, though.
12. Do you prefer to order yourself or do you ever let your significant other order for you?
Like I said before, Princess Gail and I often split a meal, and I almost always let her decide what we’ll eat, because I like just about everything. But it’s not like we order for the other person. I’ve always thought that was controlling and weird.
13. Describe your most intimate romantic dinner ever. (fantasy or real)
Yesterday’s pizza was really very special! 
14. Do you enjoy piano bars?
Yes! A lot! Because of the ambiance and the type of music, not because of the alcohol.
15. If you could go anywhere in the world for dinner, where would it be and who would you be with?
The Green Valley Grill, with Princess Gail, Queen Mimi and her King.
]]>The Yellow-crowned Night Heron:
Similarly, this Red Shouldered Hawk was really far away, but it’s cool to see them in the wild.
Turtles on a log:
A male and a female Eastern Towhee:
And a lovely female Bluebird:
Looking for birds is a great excuse to just be outdoors. I’m glad Gail and I share this kind of geeky interest. Now I’m tuning in more and more to the beautiful plant life in this part of the country. I’ll share some of that later.
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