Friday Night Auction

You just never know whats going to come out of those boxes next at Thad Wood's Auction. This is a fun Friday night. Robert was able to enjoy the sights of merchandise and comical shoppers. You see his crutches in the picture: he has had a bad run with a back injury, bronchitis, and gall bladder surgery all this summer. But, he could still get his giddyup going to check out Thad Woods.

On this particular night, a buyer could get doll faces, wigs, and hands. I sure wish I could have gotten hold of a little bit of it. Krista could use a pair of hands for her bubble lady costume (SNL reference). There was also model train equipment, dishes, crestwhite strips, a stuffed lion head, Marilyn Monroe stamps, a ventriloquist doll, and pottery. All I got was a few boxes of honey buns. I was happy to be able to give Kevin a case of honeybuns cause he was such a good brother to get rid of the second dead goat carcas in a week. (That'll be another article.) I do regret that I was too late in arriving to bid on a fiddle that was new and went for only $75. Deardre really wanted a pink of fur that sold for just 7.50 that she could use in making Santa robes.

Toni and I kept giggling about this guy who was an enthusiastic shopper. I mean, he bought all kinds of stuff. We kept analyzing just what could he want all this for. So, when he walked by on one of his trips to take his purchases to his truck, I had to ask. Turns out that he has a store. He bought so much that he didn't even realize that he left an entire set of dishes.

Kevin's Birthday

After our time at The Factory, we made ice cream sundaes with lots of toppings and played canasta. We play canasta almost every night. Where four or more are gathered......Even when there's lots of loud action, Gah can read if she wishes because noise does not bother her at all.

Porch Sitting

The balcony porch is a place we sit to relax. Alma likes to practice her fiddle out here. It is generally cooler than inside; so, a good place to bring coffee or tea and a good book. Mama and Deardre spent mannny hours trying to get the perfect picture of a hummingbird drinking the red sugar water. They did get some good ones.

Boiler Room in the Fun Factory

We like to eat in the Boiler Room when we go to the Fun Factory. Kid's meals come on frisbees. The waitress said Kevin's broccolli was "catastrophic." I think she meant colossal; and it was tree size. I sang Beulah Land because it was in my head alllll day becase of a book I'm reading. Ski ball, Deal or No Deal, and buttcracks were the fun things that night. We like to rack up on tickets from games to get prizes. We usually get kinda junky stuff, but Alma finally got enough tickets saved for a lava lamp: 2000 !!! Thanks everyone for the donations to her cause.

Scenes from Fort Tatham Creek

Some people pay big dollars for mud baths. This is such a nice little creek spot. I put my chair down and get my feet in the cool water and enjoy a book. Chloe had a good time watching some bugs and spiders walk on the water. She also used an ax handle found nearby to do a little water golf with leaves floating by.

Pert Near Winning Mario Kart

Gah playing a little DS. This is not photoshopped but real picture. Jill P. took a sweeter one of all four girls around her sharing the moment. But, after they wandered off, Lorene just settled in to play on her own. I think we should get her a DS of her own with casino games, bingo, and a sewing mama.

We've gotten lot's of laughs because Gah described a book she was reading as "pert near pornagraphy." The title is Beulah Land. It is an epic saga set in Georgia post Civil War. We are now all passing it around. If you want a turn, just let me know.

Playing Around in the Tuckaseegee

Now that Kevin and Toni are living on the Tuckaseegee we have a place to hangout for convenient playtime in the river. It is nice to have a porch to rest on and a bathroom if you need one. Sometimes, Chloe is a little timid about the current and likes to find excuses to go inside and watch tv. I really can't imagine choosing Suite Life of Zack and Cody over the cool water. Brent and I tubed in this river when we were teenagers. Mostly, the girls climb around on rocks and play in the mud. They really enjoyed having Stephanie and Olivia here to swim with. It is interesting to see how the river varies day to day. Sometimes it is higher and faster than others. After a rain, it is muddy for awhile. We also drive along other portions of the river when we go into town. I'd like to get brave enough to use a kayak or a raft; maybe one day.

We watched fireworks in Dillsboro this year instead of Main Street in Sylva. Jackson county decided to not have them overthe courthouse anymore because of fire hazard near a historical building. I can respect that, but the huge explosions over that courthouse on a hill would just make you want to dance and shout the Star Spangled Banner and Dixie at the same time. This year, the crowd seemed a little milder and the fireworks show seemed so far away. I reckon we were spoiled; but, I hope that the community works together to improve it and get back to the July 4th that we loved in Sylva. Lynzi and Jill are waiting on the fireworks which were late to start. Lynzi gets very tired of having her picture taken; so, she was getting exasperated with all of our flashes. But, I do like this picture of Lynzibug. We enjoyed laughing at her and glad she got to spend the 4th with us.

A group of kids were giving out boxes of these pop-eyed spectacles. We collected a pile of them and played around with poses.

We sat on chairs and benches outside of the Dillsboro Chocolate Factory and enjoyed some street music, people watching, and frozen coffee drinks.

The Factory

We have lots of fun at The Factory. We play various arcade games and try to win tickets to redeem extra fine prizes. The girls want to save up for lava lamps that are about 4 thousand tickets which seems out of reach since a big night of winning including donated tickets from our whole group only yeilds about a thousand. We'd be better off if I just bought them a lava lamp from Wal-mart; but, somehow it is just not the same.

Laser tag is exciting. Since I have this bad cough and can't run around much, I found a good hiding spot and shot at the base spot. I did get lucky and hit a few of my opponents. Toni is proud cause she "totally kicked butt." She still has her score sheet to prove it.

The Boiler Room is one of the best restaurants in the area. Several of us enjoyed prime rib that was on special. Lynzi just could not be pleased because 1. The menu had too many choices, 2. They don't cook the broccolli to mush, 3. Her sandwich (which was a club!) came with mayo and tomato. Lynzi is proof that picky eaters can grow up to be nearly normal adults which is relief for my daughters.

Jill and Curtis camped at Mile High Campground a few days before the 4th. So, they are official members of the mile high club I suppose. It is near Maggie Valley and a little difficult to find. They discovered it last year while driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It has an ok bathroom, no electricity, but stunning views. While our group chatted at their picnic table, I took a nap. My snoring kept the bears away.

Then, we rode the slow and winding drive into Cataloochee. This is an area of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park that was once a settlement. It now has a couple houses and outbuildings, a church, a school, a cemetery that are open for touring. The park service is reintroducing elk to this area. They are doing very well as the population is growing and the bucks get larger each year. This one thought Curtis was pretty cute.

Here Again

I am here in Sylva again for the rest of the summer. By this time last year, I had already been in the mountains for a few weeks. But, our family had an amazing trip to Nevada and California that we are still recovering from. We saw Vegas, Lake Mead (along with the Colorado River and Hoover Dam), Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Yosemite National Park. Videos of that trip are being posted on my facebook profile as I find time to edit and upload.

My mom and dad brought Mrs. Smith last week after a family reunion camping trip in Helen, Ga. That's right: my mom and dad. The home belongs to my husband's family, but over the years mine and his family have truly become one big bunch. When I drove in late on Wednesday night, everyone was already settled in the house and the yard looked nice. It will be a lot less work than last summer. So far, all I've had to do was hook up service for the satellite dish.

At the house on 34 Dirt Road in Sylva, I have slept mostly in the same bedroom since I was only 16. It is such a familiar place; I have already arranged my summer reading in the nightstand, clothes in the dresser, and all my toiletries in a bit of order. At first, I was a guest of the family as the oldest son's girlfriend. Now, I've been married for 16 years and share the room with my two daughters and husband when he is here. I feel guilty leaving him in Florida with his normal routine of work and an empty house while we live the mountain life. But, not guilty enough to make me change my mind. Plus, there is the part about us being with Gah, who is 88 and would be alone most of the time without our company. It is strange to pack your bags and drive 10 hours to feel like you are simultaneously leaving home and coming home.