2015-06-06 - Saturday - Charlotte Squawks

Saturday night we went to see Charlotte Squawks XI with our friends, Tom and Lisa, and their sons, Christopher and Daniel. The show was amazing, as always and our faces hurt from laughing so much.

We started out at the Epicentre (yes, I know, we were probably the oldest ones there!) at Libretto's pizza for supper and then off to the show. When it was over the parking deck wasn't moving at all so we strolled back over to the Epicentre and hit Moe's Southwest Grill while the traffic dispersed.

It was a late night, but a fun one spent with good friends.

First row seats.

Apparently a lot of fingerprints on the lens.

Karen, Tom, Lisa, Daniel.

Tom, Daniel, Christopher, and Lisa.

.

April 18 - Saturday - Around and about

Saturday I was out in the yard working on clearing some of the weeds from the neglected garden beds.  Some of that Johnson grass is so well-established it's like trying to pull out a clump of pampas grass.  I ended up cutting what I could with the hand clippers.

While I was manually harvesting the grass in (what was) the path between the beds I found a trail that the rabbits were using.  The under-grass was all hollowed out by rabbit traffic.  My fear was accidentally opening up another nest with infant rabbits as I did several years ago.  Saying I was cautious would be an understatement.  I was watchful with every move I made since I was worried about rabbits, mice, chipmunks and snakes.  When I got about seven feet into the twelve foot path an adult rabbit burst out of the far end of the path and ran around behind the garage.  That was my cue to quit.

I headed out to the front yard to pull weeds.  I weed the front almost daily.  I think they spring up while we're sleeping.  Since expanding the natural area to most of the front yard last Fall, the weeds are trying to have a party.  It's an uphill battle.

In the evening we got together with some friends for dinner at the Landmark Diner.  They have a HUGE menu and a killer dessert case.  I don't believe anyone left the table hungry.

I also tried using the panoramic function on my Android phone that I didn't know I had, until Karen showed it to me.  Being the gadget geek that I usually am, I'm embarrassed I didn't know about it.  Oh well.

I'm hoping chipmunks live in here.

Lady bug nymph (right) and
pupating relative (left) on my oregano.

On to the front yard...

The autumn ferns are doing quite well.

The hostas have exploded.

One of two oak leaf hydrangea.

On to supper...

My choppy panoramic shot.
Karen, Tom, Daniel, Lisa, Christopher, (me), Chip, and Pam.

.

Saturday - terra4m Sale and dinner at the Kelley's

Saturday was the first terra4m sale of 2011.  It was a nice spring-like day with temperatures in the high sixties.  We were pleased to have several friends stop by and visit with us.  We didn't break any records, but it was so nice to sit in the sun and spend some time with good friends.  Unfortunately our good friend Elaine, the other member of terra4m was unable to attend the sale and we missed her.

Tom and Lisa invited us over later to cook some steaks and we were quick to accept.  Their sons, Daniel and Christopher were having some fun with a stuffed monkey that was part of a Valentine's Day gift.  We all had several fits of giggles being silly with the monkey.

All in all, a good day.  I hope yours was too.

Shelley, Lisa, David, (customers), and Becky.

My display.
Thanks to Kim for sharing her shelves with me again!

Becky's birds.

Kim and the Mullins' returning from the car
after finalizing commission plans for a new birdbath.

Kim's birdbaths.

The rest of Kim's work.

Tom and Lisa visited us on the bike.

Stephanie and Meredith watching Tom and Lisa leave

Christopher with...  "The Monkey".

Daniel and Christopher with some monkey business.

We're all so proud.

Tom.

.

2010-08-03 Tuesday - NASCAR Speed Park

I have fallen way behind again on posting, so please bear with me while I catch up on a few days.
Before we even went to the shore, my friend Tom and I took our respective kids (who not so little anymore) to the NASCAR Speed Park at Concord Mills.  Tom tries to take the boys up there every summer and we don't know how much longer they will want to go there, so we have to take advantage of it while it lasts.
We had a nice time and ate at the food court, played some video games and spent some time just being kids.  Now Christopher is off at college and Stephanie will be going next year, so who knows when we'll be back there.

Me, Christopher, Stephanie, Tom, Meredith, Daniel.

.

Meredith, Stephanie, Daniel, Christopher.

.

 Racin'.

.

2010-07-04 Sunday - Independence Day

We had a small cookout on Independence Day and our friends the Mullins' and the Kelleys came over.  Unfortunately Lisa Kelley was out of town at a wedding, but we managed to have some fun anyway.  After eating the Mullins family left and someone said, "Let's go see the fireworks!".  We hadn't planned a trip downtown and the show was scheduled to start in twenty minutes but we all climbed into the Expedition and took off anyway.  We ended up a few blocks from Clayworks standing by a fence and we had a great view.

After the show Stephanie wanted some ice cream so we took our whole crew to the Sonic Drive-in and had some ice cream and more fun before calling it a night.

Having fun in the back of the Expedition.

(Christopher (ducking), Meredith, Stephanie, Daniel, Karen (ducking, too))

Tom, our driver.

Stephanie at the fence.

Tom and Daniel fencing.

Christopher and Daniel.

Fireworks!

Stephanie at the Sonic menu board.

Christopher and Stephanie.

Daniel.

Stephanie and Tom.

Christopher and Meredith.

.

2010-05-31 Monday - Memorial Day

Tom and Lisa invited us to their house for a cookout on Memorial Day.  We had some great burgers and brats, cupcakes and fruit tart, and some of us had a little bit of beer.  We had some great conversation along with all that good food and afterward, the young people (well, I can't really call them kids anymore) played Guitar Hero with guitars, drums and vocals.  Later we completely trashed their lovely home with some Nerf dart guns (one had a 36-shot magazine!), and then played some other video games.  Unfortunately I was way too involved in the goings-on to remember to take pictures.

Stephanie, Christopher, Lisa, Daniel and Meredith.

Before the melee.

.