Three Years Ago...

this happened to me:

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A21927


please read my harrowing account of our healthcare system gone awry and the evils of over-the-counter drugs.

ps. click on Three Years Ago for direct linkage

Linville Falls

Yep.


Nature my friends.

Credit goes to my boys for hiking up this beast of a trail.

You guys rock.

But that piggy back the last half mile was unnecessary dontcha think?

Why Is It?

That people have the urge to say "moo" when they see cows? It's like - and you parents out there can vouch for me - how people feel compelled to speak baby talk to your child.

"Oh Bobby is sooooo cute-da beebee baahh baahh goo goo," they'll say.

I've admit it - I've done both myself (although I can say that alcohol was a factor in the cow conversation).

Just sayin'.

So here I find myself in the passenger seat as my wife took this picture "mooing" to the cow, kids in the back providing their own moo soundtrack.

Finally I barked out, "Can we go now?"

This wasn't well received.

"Can't we moo at the cows," my wife said with a cheerful giggle. "Oh my gosh."

I shook my head.

We drove off.

The cow mooed as we left.

I wondered what he said.

Priceless

Okay, so we didn't have much luck in the river that ran through it.

And maybe that's because I'm not some diehard fisherman.

I like to fish. Don't get me wrong.

But I'm more of a surf or lake fisherman.

We were smack dab in the heart of fly fishing country.

I lost a lot of hooks is what I'm saying... so we broke down and took the boys to a trout farm by Garndfather Mountain so they could catch some fish. It was sort of ridiculous: they supplied the rod & reel, bait, bucket and net. Yeah and even a pond full of trophy trout just for your pickin'! But we caught some fish, had them cleaned and took them home an ate 'em. Yum.

Plus, I got this picture out of it.

Rainbow Trout

With toasted pecans in butter, topped with parsley and served with the beverage of your choice and a few wedges of lemon.

And brown rice.

Can't you just about smell it?

A River Runs Through It

The family spent a few days in the mountains last week where we stayed at a place around Linville Falls called Camp Creek cabin. We spent the majority of our time fishing for trout and looking under the rocks for salamanders. At night we made campfires and enjoyed the scenery.

It was the first time we had taken the kids to the mountains. When we do have the opportunity to take a vacation, being the beach lovers that we are, we usually head to the ocean. But this time around we figured it was time to show the kids what the mountains of North Carolina was all about. They got to experience white knuckle driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, saw Grandfather Mountain, Linville Falls and Linville Caverns.

All is all it was a really good time.

The Family Garden

This thing was the subject of much debate for the past six weeks; what to plant and where to put it.

And finally, when it was all said and done, when it was built and the vegetables were planted foul weather came. And the weather hasn't been very good to our little project since - first came the freeze where we had to cover the plants or bring the potted ones inside. Of course the cat had a field day with the herbs. So we lsot a few to the frost and a few to the belly of our cat. Then came the torrential downpours and now we are experiencing the tail end of this nor'easter that is wrecking the entire East Coast.

Ah! The joys of DIY...

Oh Little Birdie

A finch has made a nest in our shed right under a tray for paint and in a pan used for changing oil in our cars. Sure hope the little chicks don't come out three-headed...

Dogwood blossoms

Did I mention spring has sprung here in North Carolina?

Spring Has Sprung

That greenish, yellow dust is pine pollen folks.

The local news station said it's the worst measurable pollen in something like eight years. Even though the weather is beautiful, you can't open your windows or the entire contents of your home will be covered in pine pollen dust.

I know this from experience.