A Saturday Stop and Write

The morning after a loud firecracker night but the fireworks in our neighborhood were beautiful.  Those over Spring Lake and across at Marbrook Manor(say that in a spooky Halloween voice) were simply entertaining and very professional-like.  Earlier in the evening we had planned to join the crew over at Lake Bain but as it turned toward evening the wind picked up, with a little rain and lots of lightning, so we opted for the safe confines of home.  Roy was so tired from the day it was probably best we stuck around.  He rode his trek for almost two hours in the morning and then bought and moved heavy cement deals that you put under the drain spout.  We also filled in places where water had created holes.

We are also taking time this weekend continuing our research on all things second home in the Asheville area.  It certainly is a process with several changes in areas we'd like to live in but the number one choice of Swannanoa has remain consistent.  Burnsville had been number two but is now totally off the list now. Marshall, Alexander and Mars Hill have moved up with Maggie Valley and Waynesville totally being on the plan B side of things.  We have also began entertaining the idea of an actual house not just townhouses or condos.  The emphasis on a house being landscaped with a more natural bent in mind.  The must have on the list is mountain view.  Some of our agents suggestions are wonderful homes but just don't have the view we are looking for.  Yes, we know we are minutes from driving to a view just about anywhere we light.  The other must have is A/C even though it doesn't get that hot there are days when the humidity and temps are high.  We are learning so much about structure, unvented gas fireplaces, the whys and no ways of having a log cabin type home, the joys of golf course living and the freedom of your home underneath the star covered sky.  We also want to have a place that friends will want to come up and visit.  Roy was researching how to winterize your home in NC and the lovely subjects of mice came up.  Almost backed down on wanting a second place but then I remembered one can find a company that does that kind of thing, closes and opens your home for you.  I do not want to be the one who has to come in and pick up the mouse traps etc... One of our main choices has over 3200 sq ft with a small yard of fruit trees and located very near The Cove.  It's the more citified of our choices.  How come the Green Acres theme song keeps rolling through my brain?  Our first choice is near a Target....Lowe's and Home Goods.

Next week one of my cousins is stopping in overnight as she makes her way from Atlanta to San Diego.  We are really looking forward to seeing her.  We had dinner with her several years ago when she was in Houston for a helicopter services convention.

This is becoming a summer of reading.  I finished The Stories We Tell and it was a fabulous read!  One of the sub plots delves into the deeply troubled individuals mainly interested in keeping the status quo and the high cost of living out the masking because of family history and reputation and the main character rescuing herself and daughter from it.  I started Blood Feud last night and could hardly put it down.  I am also reading about Moses Cone and his contributions to NC most especially Blowing Rock.

The gutter guys came Thursday while Chris was here.  The gutter guys did a really good job.  The new gas meter that was installed last week is huge!  It is also not painted the HOA required color.  We will wait until we get a letter before painting.

On July 4th I always make note that it is one month until my birthday.  This year is a significant one.  My most traumatic birthdays for me were turning 20 and then 50.  Even with all the happenings in this past decade of loss and near death, I think my 50's has been one of my all time favorite decades.  I'll probably write a post about that.