2018-05-14 - Monday - Parents visit

My parents were visiting and we always go to Ru San's for the sushi lunch buffet when they're here. It's good stuff.

Another sign that they're visiting is the tow dolly in the back yard that they tow their Prius on for the trip.

On another front, my favorite mixed nuts now have no Brazil nuts, my favorite nut. When I looked around, all the brands have dropped Brazils from the lineup. It appears that the Brazil nut harvest has been dismal and companies have all replaced them with other nuts, like pistachios. Bummer.

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2016-04-21 - Thursday - Fungus, fortune, and the moon

Thursday my parents came for a visit. While setting up their RV I noticed some fungus growing on the far side of the split rail fence.

Later, we went to dinner and I got a mysterious fortune. It's good to know my goal will be met, but which goal? I guess only the baker knows.

Still later, I noticed the full moon through a gap in the trees. I first took a photo with my phone, but it was useless, so I got my camera. Try as I might I could not get the camera to record what I was seeing: a full moon shrouded by some wispy clouds with a halo between dark tree silhouettes. We take what our eyes and brain do completely for granted.

The best I could do with the phone.

The best I could do with my point and shoot.

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2014-05-08 - Thursday - Mom and Dad visit

My parents visited with us for a few days during their trip home to Pennsylvania from their winter in Florida.  I made pizzas for supper and we sat and talked for hours.  It's always great to see them and we've missed them during the last couple of trips because they couldn't stop due to scheduling conflicts.

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2010-04-29 Thursday - New recycle bins

My folks left this morning after a Bojangles biscuit breakfast (the folks don't have Bojangles in PA and really look forward to their biscuits here).  I helped them load up the Prius on the tow dolly and they pulled out with their coach.  Sometimes guiding my Dad through the gate gets a bit dodgy, but we usually get through without incident.

It's a 38 footer.

Inside the coach.

We got our new recycling bins today.  Our old ones are small red basket-type bins and these are larger with a lid and wheels.  Starting in July we will be getting our recycling collected every other week instead of every week as it is now.  They are similar to the trash bin we use (the gray one in the foreground).

They pulled up in a rental truck with a lift gate, unloaded, assembled, and delivered them to all the houses.  I happened to hear them unloading and snapped a few pics.  How sad is it that this is the most exciting thing that happened today?

2010-04-27 Tuesday - Barn

Tuesday afternoon I went to the Quail Hollow practice rounds with my friend Jim, his son, Andrew, and his son's friend, Max.  We got to spend about ten minutes on the course before the horn went off to clear the course due to lightning.  We waited out the rain in the Mercedes pavilion and when the sun emerged we went back out and were told the golfers had all left.  There was a consensus to walk part of the course anyway and I am here to tell you, that course is amazing.  We walked for about half an hour and then got back to the car just in time as the next band of rain came through.  I didn't want to take my camera out in the rain, but Jim took some shots with his pocket camera and will email them to me.  I will post some when I receive them.

Tuesday night my parents were here and I had to take the girls to their riding lesson.  Unfortunately for them it was stormy and they had a barn lesson instead of riding.  We hung out in the barn and then headed home for pizza.

It's so hard to get everyone smiling at once.

Now it's Mom's turn.

Half price pizza Tuesdays.  Yum.

2009-04-29 Wednesday

My parents came for a visit in their new motorhome for Meredith's Confirmation. It is 42 feet long and BARELY fits in the driveway, but it is amazing. There is a lot of room inside --I will post some interior pictures soon. My new camera came and I have a lot to learn about the features.

It has four slides and takes up the whole driveway.

Bishop Jugis annoints Meredith.

One out of three hostas came back in the back yard.

Saturday - night

Saturday night we went out for some barbecue at Elliot's to celebrate Karen's birthday on Sunday. My parents stopped in for the night on their way home from Florida and some friends met us at the restaurant to surprise Karen.

Lisa, Daniel, Christopher (looking pensive) and Tom.

Karen, Jet, Jennie, Lindsey, Cathi (hiding), and Matthew.

My parents, John and Pat.
(Stephanie has turned her back on the camera.)

Family outing

My folks came for a visit and on Saturday afternoon we took them to Homearama and then to Ru San's for supper.

There were only three houses at Homearama this year, but they were quite impressive. The master bath in the second house was alone worth the price of admission.

Mom and Dad on the tram from the Homearama parking lot.

Karen, Meredith, and Stephanie finishing up their meal.

Mom and Dad enjoying the
pulsing beat of the house mix.
(The music was a bit loud.)

Meredith showing her
expertise with chopsticks.

One of my favorite sushi side dishes.