Early summer
Lots of time spent on the porch. Sun setting around 8. Yard is green and scruffy, smells great. Time for paint, deck, and mower maintenance. Might head to the boat to get it ready for summer. Pics soon!
Looking forward to it
July's family get together will be a real joy. Brother John just kicked cancer's butt and we will see our dear Aunt Alida for the first time in years. A picture with all the third and fourth generation will be a must-see. The only thing that would make it better would be a surprise visit from Canadian family!
Super Sunday
Had a fantastic time at the house preparing for the game! Lots of friends contributed to the menu and we had plenty of snacks with good variety. The game itself was hard fought and close, the halftime show was a treat, and watching with the laptop going is the only way to go. Kathy will recover soon from all her hard work. Come on summer! See y'all then.
Thankful
We have Karen and Stan over for the week and plan to relax and eat a lot. Very thankful to be able to do that. We'll drink a toast to family all over the world, and hope to see them soon.
Summer's over
School started. Football is under way. Days are shorter. Leaves are falling. Getting ready for more photos and more memories.
Louisiana Trip
We made a whirlwind trip down to Louisiana to visit our family. On Thursday, July 22, we drove to Baton Rouge and spent two nights with Karen and Stan. Such a lovely time! We just relaxed, looked at her pretty yard, ate, relaxed, drank coffee, and then relaxed. The mini-dachshunds Molly and Mojo were sweet, and Billy the cat seems to be holding his own with them. Karen and Stan are great hosts, and we really appreciate their hospitality.
Saturday we drove in to New Orleans to spend a couple of days with John, Julie, and some of their clan: Jane and her two cuties(Will and Lucas,) and Jessica. We went by to see nephew Mark at his new apartment on Magazine Street, and managed to get in a short-but-sweet visit with Larry too. We ate out, and ate in, and played Monopoly, and drank coffee, and laughed, and yes - relaxed.
We returned to North Carolina on Monday, glad that we were able to go, and glad that we were able to return.
Warm Weather & Blue Skies
The season of outdoor living has begun. We are sailing, working in the yard, and enjoying as many sunsets as we can. So many projects, so little time!
Spring is almost here
I can feel it. Wore short sleeves yesterday, snow still dotting the ground and piled in high mountains in parking lots. We have a ton of work to do around the house to make it look nice, since we've been cooped up after December. We still won't get out much, so come by and see us. Saints are in the Superbowl!
Christmas in Louisiana
This year the North Carolina contingent of the family migrated south for the holidays. Mama and Daddy stayed with Karen and Stan for several weeks. Bill and I managed a week in Louisiana, which we split between Baton Rouge (Slaughter, actually) and New Orleans. It was wonderful!
While we were in New Orleans, we had the one of the largest gatherings of the Harrison clan in a while. Everyone missed Edda tremendously, as she was holding down the fort back in Kingwood, TX. We celebrated Jane's 30th birthday, our 21st anniversary, and visited with old friends.
Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Giving Thanks
A glorious Thanksgiving Day is drawing to a close. After weeks on end of rain, we had blue skies and shirt-sleeve weather. My family is so dear to me, and even those I didn't talk to today are on my mind and in my heart. So I give thanks to my God in heaven for all the blessings I have received.
Summer's End
For those involved in the world of education, the beginning of August is the last gasp of freedom. So, when LSU students Mark Redmond and Jaden Kifer decided to visit us here in North Carolina, we wanted to wring as much fun out of the days as we could. A trip to the Outer Banks was in order.
Beachcombing, swimming in the ocean, climbing the Hatteras Lighthouse, walking the site where Orville and Wilbur Wright first flew, and sailing on the Albemarle Sound were a few of the experiences we packed into our days. We enjoyed spending time with Mark, and getting to know Jaden.
Tomorrow, I will begin my 8th year of teaching in Franklin County. Mark and Jaden will return to classes at LSU next week. The rigors and pressures of another school year will occupy our time, and we will do our best to excel in studies and service. And, we will be able to look back at these pictures and memories to refresh us until the next time.
Summer half through
Kathy works harder now than when school's in session. I try to help with frequent breaks, but there really is a lot to do around here. It's not a rut; sometimes you just have to put your head down and plow for an extended period, and the harvest comes later. We always have something to look forward to: a sailing trip, a nephew visit, first day of classes, football, retirement.
Summer Therapy
Reading - old paperbacks that others have given me. I really enjoyed a couple of mysteries by Earlene Fowler, so much so that I ordered the entire Benni Harper series from used-booksellers on Amazon.
Yardening - killing weeds with round-up, tending to the tomato plants, looking at how beautiful everything is. Even when it is weedy. Bill transplanted some pine trees along the back of the pasture behind the barn. I'm trying to decrease the size of my lawn.
Cooking - Daddy cooks during the school year; I get summer duty. Today, I'm marinating some chicken thighs in a lemon-basil concoction. I'll cook some pasta in the drippings. I've also made a peach-apricot sheet cake for our Bible/book study group tonight.
Quiet time - I'm reading my Bible. I find myself through finding God.
Big week planned
Karen got in today around lunchtime. We will head to the boat tomorrow and sail to Edenton on Thursday, where there will be a big festival in the park. We'll come back Saturday, and John and Jeanne will help celebrate Father's Day with a huge brisket. The stuff dreams are made of.
2009 May 22-24 Cypress Cove Marina
Bill and I went to the marina last weekend on Friday night, as we like to do. As soon as Bill gets home from work we zoom on down, and when the days are long like they are right now we can usually arrive before sunset. We open up the hatches, letting the breezes freshen the boat and our spirits. As we sit in the cockpit enjoying the night, we rejoice in God for the blessings of love and a sailboat.