Where did the summer go?...no seriously..

There is no redeeming myself in providing an explanation for not posting since Easter, other than the well-worn excuse of the days and hours flying by at warp speed. I suppose just keeping the site on life support is an achievement given the circumstances. So, I will go heavy on the photos and light on the commentary..yes, unusual for me. Consider it a gift! We had a great and very busy summer, with fun activities crammed among Wes shifting positions at Appalachian (now a technology geek!) and teaching Cheap Joe's Watercolor Workshops; Lynne getting a promotion to Director of Advising at Appalachian (and increasing her workday responsibilities significantly); and Andie in several really fun ASU Outdoor Rec camps, Missoula Children's theatre production of Robin Hood (the middle Skunk in photo). This was her favorite activity of the summer. Andie also spent several weeks with respective Grand-moms getting the royal treatment. Genevieve is basically running the show and being the center of the Universe for all of us. She is a walking, talking, climbing machine now and demands close supervision..or else you will find a permanent marker mural on the wall or floor, or a kitchen drawer emptied of its contents in a flash. She is very good natured, funny, and strongly independent. If something gets taken away that is "HERS" you will have a fight on your hands! She and Andie are working out those boundaries successfully (most of the time)and overall they enjoy each other a great deal. Andie and I took a long hike and were caught in a downpour with a wet Daisy dog, and the 4th of July Parade in Downtown Boone with the McCracken-Knight girls was quite festive (and loud) as usual. We spent time with the Wilson extended family (Lynne's dad's family) in Newport TN at the celebration of her Aunt Lucile's 90th birthday. It was good seeing these folks after quite a few years and driving around the mountains and family farm area that Lynne grew up visiting. We ended with a family trip to Myrtle Beach in August, and in between, we enjoyed friends and festivities in Boone. There is really no better place to spend a summer I think. Our garden was exceptionally beautiful this summer due to the right amount of rain and sun, despite our limited efforts to care for it. Landscaping projects which Lynne and I both love, are definitely on the back burner for a while. In late August I attended a conference at Lake Junaluska (near Asheville) via Appalachian and did a little evening fly fishing. Some incredible photo opportunities arose due to the weather and time of day (below). I am still plugging away at learning Mandarin, and frequent the China Buffet for the opportunity to mangle the language with the non-English speaking wait-staff. We all smile at each other a lot. I was given a 50th (ouch!) birthday party and cookout with a live bluegrass band by some good friends. I don't have the time or energy for a mid-life crisis which is just as well. As long as I have Ibuprofen and get to see an occasional concert (Lynard Skynard here at App last month!) I will be OK. Check out the family photo album link to see more of the pictures of our summer. Andie started the first grade and is doing very well. We do have homework now of "List words and Sight words", which..i can handle, just keep the algebra off the table for a while longer. On line for October is Genevieve's second Birthday (Oct. 25th) and an Art Exhibit opening on my China images the same night! Stay tuned.. Now...to get email notices of future postings look for the "new" Subscribe Link (top right column) featured on this site! You certainly don't won't to pass up this opportunity.