Golf Camp

View from the tee box on Number 2 at Pine Needles Golf Course.

I just got back from golf camp. This was my second year to attend Peggy Kirk Bell's Golfari for Women. She was under the weather this year and her presence was sorely missed. But, let me just say, the rest of the staff did a wonderful job of continuing on! By the last day, I told the ladies at my table during lunch that I was sure I would slap the next person who told me what to do about my golf swing! LOL. Now, I was exaggerating. I would never slap a one of the most gracious and competent teachers I have ever had the privilege of working with... my point is that you are worn out... had it to here... finished... by the end of the week. And, for just a few hours in the midst of the week, I actually felt the golf swing like it is meant to be... oh, how elusive it is... but, I felt it! There is hope of finding it again! My deepest gratitude to Mrs. Bell's wonderful staff.



Lined up at the start of the day... This place is nothing if not organized.




BIG buckets of balls... for the end of the day... when you STILL want to work on your swing... and they are available to give you MORE help... lol...



We listened...

We took notes...

We watched... We wished...

We tried...

We had moments...

Here is Peggy Kirk Bell... the Matriarch of Pine Needles... her daughter, Bonnie and son-in-law, Pat worked hard with us all week... We were glad to see her on the last night.

These are two wonderful ladies from D.C. Joanne, on the left, is an energizer bunny! Judy, on the right, was one of my partners for the week. She is a great little golfer! I was so happy to be paired with her!

These two ladies sat at our table the last evening. Emily and Mary Jane were catching up on their lives since boarding school!

And, Kris and Sarah had us in stitches all week! Great new friends from Chicago. Milha and I had a wonderful week... for the second time. Great golf, great folks, great food. Doesn't get any better than that.

Sock Monkey Shower

I am so far behind on my posts! The most fun gathering was on Mother's Day weekend. My daughter's friends and sister-in-laws hosted a most special baby shower for her. It was great fun to gather with those that look forward to this baby's birth almost as much as I do. It is a blessing to me to realize how much Amanda is loved. I am grateful.



Bless both these children...



Amanda's neighbor from Frisco, Carolyn, was so fun to watch as she first saw Amanda!




These young women just out did themselves! Every thing was just perfect. Sylvia (sister-in-law), Lisa (sister-in-law), Katherine, Dana and Lauri (long-time-friends), thank you so much. As you are beginning to realize with your own children, those who love and bring joy to their lives delight your own. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Cute Cottage...

Evan and I call this The Smurf House. Obviously, it doesn't look just like the Smurf houses we remember from the cartoon... but, it is fun. We love to look at it and wish every time we pass that we could go in... we wait to see Papa Smurf come out and invite us in... =) LOL.

The quote for the day: "It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances."
Oscar Wilde I have to tell you I had to read that twice to really get it... my brain read that only shallow people judge by appearances... not so according to Wilde. And, I have to say that after some consideration, I agree with him.

All the girls of The Brickstreet Bungalow are stressed. Seems we don't take well to lots of workers milling about the place with crashes and booms and chandeliers shaking. They are replacing the heating and cooling units today. There always comes a point with appliances, etc. where the cost to repair versus the cost to replace and improve efficiency teeters on the side of it-is-time-to-bite-the-bullet. I have witnessed four stout men with a rope and pulley drag a HUGE unit up into the attic off the porch. I wouldn't want their job... but, I would prefer it today over a hotter day! Oh, I wish them God's speed.

The Porch

It was this porch that landed us here at The Brickstreet Bungalow. Evan and I had ran past it for three plus years when the For Sale By Owner sign appeared in its front yard. We were due to close on another house at the end of the week. I pleaded to just go see it... well, here we are four and a half years later... in our urban bungalow. If you look closely, you can see the echo of columns continue on our neighbor's porch.



This back corner overlooks a fish pond... the rippling of the water sounds softly in the background. Those little birds in on the sofa table were a Mother's Day gift from Amanda... I would love them just because they are cute... but, I cherish them because they are from her.

That giant philodendron is from my Mom. She received it when her mom, MaMaw, passed away. That has been over thirty years ago... no pressure on keeping it alive. So far, it seems to love this spot in the morning sun.

These two pillows were finds on a Canton journey with Amanda and Barbara...

These from Roanoke...

My knitting nest... =)

The weather is perfect!

See you on the porch...

June 21, 2011 ... Linking to Kim's Southern Savvy Style Porch Party!!

Knitting for Little H

Saturday, after pulling on my zebra-stripped galoshes, I forged the thunder, lightening and downpour to take Tess, the Scottie, to the Emergency Vet. If EVER there was an animal who could use a health care plan, it is Tess. She has one malady after another... bless her cute little heart. If she were a car, the lemon law would apply. She is doing better now. (Although, Evan just left with her to have a follow-up with her regular vet.) Can you say ca-ching?



I digress... since I was already out in the storm, I decided launch into a search for yarn. I had in mind to make a blanket for Little H, my grandson-growing-in-his-mom's-incubator. I was most excited to find some perfect "sock monkey" brown yarn (H's nursery is going to be built around sock monkey material that his Great Granny found). You can see it HERE.



It has been twenty plus years since I have knitted... well, Zack was a baby and you saw yesterday... he is not a baby anymore... Anyway, I am enjoying making this blanket for my grandson... I am sure I could have bought a much nicer one for him for what I have spent on yarn... but, there is something wonderful about the love and blessings that will go into the thousands of stitches just for him. It gives me joy.





Houndstooth... =)

Birthday at The Bungalow

Sorting through the photos from last weekend... We celebrated Zack's 26th birthday! Hardly seems like that much time could have passed since he was a tiny (well, not so tiny) baby...


I was in heaven... both my babies home at once... a cake made with love... Evan grilling steak... meeting Janna...



My heart was full...

And, just look at my little pregnant one... not a very good shot to capture my growing grandson... but, take my word for it... he is growing just fine... cute as a button, she is! Oh, what a wonderful time to have my babies home.