From Forest to Hockey Rink

Mike and I just returned this week from a wonderful vacation in North Carolina. We went there to visit Ben and Sara, our son and daughter-in-law. We had a great time there! I took a lot of photos, not all of which turned out quite as I'd hoped. Still, I have some good ones to share.

We always enjoy pleasant hikes near Ben and Sara's house and that was our first order of business. These photos were taken as we were walking into Duke Forest. It was pretty cool and windy but still so pretty and I was so happy to be with Ben and Sara. Their little dog, J-rake, led the way when allowed. I was impressed when Ben called out, "J-rake, Caboose!" That cool little dog stopped, walked backwards a few steps as we walked forward and then walked behind us all.

I enjoyed this area where the layers of grasses, little evergreens and then bigger trees lined up in order. The contrast was pleasing to me.

Just a pretty, crisp day and a stroll with our far-away kids. I felt so happy.

Later that evening we went to see the St. Louis Blues play the Carolina Hurricanes. We're talking hockey here people.  I'm not exactly a hockey fan but I was pleased we got to attend as I AM a Mike fan and this made him very happy.  I don't know that Ben and Sara are hockey fans in general but they seemed to have fun. For some ridiculous reason they felt  that since they live in North Carolina, they ought to cheer for the North Carolina team. They are lucky we acknowledged them at all!

The hockey game started right off with the St. Louis Blues making two goals. For those of you who follow hockey, you know that sometimes those games can go a looooooong time without a score. As it turned out, it was a pretty exciting game and I had fun as well.

And, yes, the Blues won!

I'll stop here for now but the vacation got even better the next day!

North Carolina Adventure - Day 1

Last night Mike and I just returned from an extra long week-end trip.  Friday we went to Durham, North Carolina to see our oldest son and our daughter-in-law, Ben and Sara.  We'd never been to North Carolina so it was pretty exciting.  They've lived there for a year now so it was most definitely time to make the trip.

After our long flight it was fun to enjoy this nice leisurely walk with Ben and Sara through Duke Forest.  Yes, I am wearing a giant leaf in my hair.  Ben thought it appropriate for the adventure.

It was so wonderful to be able to go see them!   They live too far away but they are happy and busy.  You other parents know how hard it can be with grown kids.  You spend their childhood teaching them how to spread their wings but sometimes when they do that, they fly away!  Well, it is as it should be and we are happy for the opportunities they have encountered.

I'm so proud of Ben.  He's confident and smart and is making a nice life there with Sara.  I miss them but it felt so much better for me to be able to see where they live now.   Over and over I kept thinking how grateful I am that we live in a time when it is not beyond our reach to travel back and forth to see each other.  I thought of my great-grandparents who actually left North Carolina about a century ago and ended up in Wyoming.  I'm guessing that when they left they said good-bye to their relatives with very little hope of seeing them again.

There is a perk to having children live far away; we get to visit and learn about their surroundings.  This Southern orest felt much different than a forest in the Wyoming mountains.  It had it's own sort of beauty.  Much of Wyoming is prairie and we can see for miles and miles.  North Carolina has trees EVERYWHERE!  It was most definitely an adventure for us.

There were a lot of flowers growing wild.  Ben picked one for me, just as he used to do when he was a little boy.  Sweet, huh?

We had dinner at a little cafe with tables outside.  The evening was lovely.  We ended the day on the deck at their house, which is also nestled into the woods.  

What a pleasure it was to be there.