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Getting ready for the upcoming school year. The Homeschool Gathering Place in Raleigh.

Happy 500th Birthday!

Today is John Calvin's 500th birthday.

Learn more:

John Calvin - Wikipedia

Calvin's Character

Institutes of the Christian Religion

Calvin 500

The Fresh Market - Southern Pines

Just grabbing a few things while visiting in town. It's one place we miss from our days in Winston-Salem.

On the River - Gabe

Gabe was all smiles as we made our way down the New River. I think he had just as much fun playing in the river as he did fishing. We put the canoes in right in front of our house and coasted down about 1.5 miles. The boys love when we stop and cast our rods in a few "honey holes."

Maybe a bit more commentary on this trip later. The next three days promise to be pretty busy/hectic/interesting/exciting. I might be a little tired by Friday afternoon this time around and ... Dare I say it? Ready for a weekend at ... (gulp!) HOME?

On the River - Ethan

Ethan caught a rock bass on his very first cast this trip. He was loving that. He was wading in up to his chest to cast his lure in a couple of places. He might be a natural.

On the River - Caden

He isn't big enough to cast a rod on the river just yet, but he refuses to stay home. Caden loves the ride in the canoe. Every stop meant plenty of play time in the shallow spots. This 3-year old son of mine never complained once about being on the river for 2-3 hours. He loved every minute of both trips he took with us.

Javan and Caden

Two cousins having a big time!

At the Lake

Gabe and Ethan winding down the day at Jordan Lake. A great time! I wish I would have put more sun screen on, though!

Good Times in the Wilderness

Smoking a pipe and picking a few tunes with good friends. We had twenty in the camp at one point. Martin guitar. Rocheleau pipe. First born son in upper left corner. Legendary pipe smoking expert Mark Hale (Just Pipes) singing along with me.

Self Portrait

The mirror on the wall in the linen room.

Poor Bunny

I was enjoying a really good bowl of PW&W #191 tobacco in my Peterson Aran tobacco pipe tonight while sitting next to the dogs. It turned out to be such a beautiful evening with a light breeze and very low humidity to speak of. My two labs will sit right next to me and, though wary of the smoke drifting from my pipe, enjoy my company as much as I enjoy theirs sometimes, I believe. It was twilight, and the sky was clear except for a few small clouds floating slowly toward the southeast. The darkness was closing in and I was expecting a very quiet close to the day. Then I heard the squeals...

I used to hunt wild rabbit with my dad when I was younger. Sometimes we would run beagles and watch them zoom back and forth across the paths just a few feet out in front of us. There were so many rabbits in those mountain fields that their senses must have been overloaded. Yet they keyed in on something every time and we never went more than ten minutes before an "opportunity" came up. That's what my dad called it. An "opportunity" to shoot a rabbit.

He would always let me have the first shot or two, especially knowing that, as a young teenager, I needed to hone my skills. I remember the first few chilly outings we hunted them. I hunted with him three straight mornings and three straight mornings I didn't fire a shot. They were so fast! The beagles would spook a rabbit across the trail and I would try to aim, but he would be gone - quick as a flash! This would happen four or five times. Then my dad would gently say, "Let me show you, son." Minutes later as a rabbit would break across the trail my dad's shotgun would fire within a split second and another rabbit would cartwheel to a stop. Whenever I see a wild rabbit now I think of those few seasons of hunting rabbits with my dad in the mountains. Though I eventually got the hang of it and killed a few on my own there was nothing like watching my dad's mastery of the hunt.

The squeals I heard tonight were pretty ominous, but I instantly knew what they were. A rabbit in distress. I had a rabbit distress call (on tape, even) when hunting bobcat in the California foothills in the early 90's. I also remember the time a black snake caught a rabbit in front of our house in Winston-Salem a few years ago. And, of course, the occasional "bad shot" would injure a rabbit from time to time. So I ran out to the woods leaving the dogs behind and wondering what was up. I had expected to perhaps find another snake with a rabbit in its jaws but was surprised to see our one year old cat Sully with the baby bunny in his mouth. I called for him to come to me but I think he knew his master was going to relieve him of the rabbit. Off he went through the brush and briar and off I went after him. My legs took the brunt of it with lots of little red holes from the briars. Sully finally stopped and I reached down and grabbed the rabbit behind his ears. He was really squealing then!

I took the bunny up to the house and showed the boys. My wife said, "Get that thing away from our house!" I was unsure if we should keep it or not but after reading up on a couple of wildlife web sites I determined that he was indeed old enough to make it on his own and set him free in the woods beside our home. He hopped away just fine and seemed no worse for wear. Sully has killed (and eaten) a few other baby bunnies this spring, and I'm sure he'll catch a few more in his days, but this one lived to see another day. Hopefully Sully will focus in on mice and the moles that keep digging up the edges of our yard in the future. As for this adventure, Father's Day was a good day to have it as I remembered my Dad once again as the day was ending, and miss those times when it was just him and me, and a couple of beagles hot on the trail of another rabbit.

That was Fun!

Time to go home!

HOT!

The pool will save us.

Saturday Morning at the Vet

What brand of misery awaits us on this trip to the vet? They're being good boys.

Friday Thoughts...

We were going to travel this weekend but it is going to be just plain HOT out there. So we have decided to just pack it in and try to stay cool. Hopefully the electric bill won’t go out the roof trying to keep the house cool. I think we’ll shut down the upstairs areas and set that thermostat on 90 so everything won’t melt. Then we’ll try to keep cool downstairs or maybe set out in the shade and watch the boys play in the sprinklers. Maybe even wash the cars and the dogs in our bathing suits. I know our two labs will be hot!

So... Did you happen to catch Senator Barbara Boxer yesterday? During a senate committee hearing she was speaking with Brigadier General Michael Walsh. General Walsh was doing what he knows to do and referring to Boxer as, “Ma’am” during the questioning and discussion on some matters related to Hurricane Katrina restoration. “Yes, ma’am.” “No, ma’am.” He was being very polite and responding with respect for the senator as military officers have done for years and years. While giving one answer Boxer interrupted him and said the following:

“You know, do me a favor," an irritated Boxer said. "Could you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?'"

“It's just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it, yes, thank you," she said.

General Walsh responded with, “Yes, Senator,” just as he should have.

That irritated me a bit. Here is a person who was given her title and position by the will of the people who voted for her telling someone who has truly earned a position through working his way up the chain of command that she has earned the right to be called by her lofty title.

It reminds me of the exchange between Colonel Jessup and Lieutenant Caffee in the movie “A Few Good Men.”

Col. Jessep: Thanks, Danny. I love Washington.
Kaffee: Excuse me. I didn't dismiss you.
Col. Jessep: I beg your pardon?
Kaffee: I'm not finished with my examination. Sit down.
Col. Jessep: Colonel!
Kaffee: What's that?
Col. Jessep: I would appreciate it if he would address me as Colonel or Sir. I believe I've earned it.
Judge Randolph: Defense counsel will address the witness as Colonel or Sir.
Col. Jessep: [to Judge] I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here.
Judge Randolph: And the witness will address this court as Judge or Your Honor. I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat, Colonel.

I kind of wish Walsh would have responded like Judge Randolph responded in the movie. But, of course, he is a professional.

Watch the exchange on YouTube.

One last note: Food Lion in Tramway and the one on Hawkins at US 1 both carry Le Bleu bottled water now. Please be sure to pick some up and give it a try. I think you'll like it. Well, that and I get a piece of every bottle sold in the US. But it is truly delicious water. Their system is amazing. We went to grab a case last week and there was only one left, so it looks like some other Sanford area people are pretty excited about it as the shelves were cleared. It's a strange economy out there. If you would like to know how to get in on this action and make some extra cash let me know. I can't really say how much I earn, but I can tell you I make my wife's car payment each month with it and I'm buying the boys a new Wii gaming system and Wii Fit this month, as well. Having the extra cash has been nice. I have two other Sanford people working with me now. There's room for plenty more. But you could live anywhere in the USA or Caribbean and work with me. Shoot me an email!

Ethan's Cacti Garden

 

Ethan started it with a lone cactus and expanded from there. Gabe jumped in late but takes ownership of two of them now. It's off to a good start. I hope they don't ask to move to Arizona any time soon!

Painted Cacti

Ethan decided to paint some cacti today. I said "cactuses." He always corrects me with "cacti." I think they are both acceptable, but he corrects me nonetheless.

The Cacti Garden

 

I Wish My Baby Was Born

More Cub Scouts

Gabe (far left) finishing up his rope.

FWD:Cub Scouts Summer Program

Ethan learning the fine art of whipping a rope end from the master.

Employee Service Awards Banquet

We're celebrating some awesome people who have been serving for a good number of years. Chef Paul's!

Quick Thoughts for June 15

Just a few quick nuggets:

Happy birthday to my very best friend and wife Stacie! I hope you enjoyed our little trip to the mountains this weekend and our date to Brickstone in West Jefferson Saturday night. (I thought our stomachs might explode with all the food!) I hope your day today is an awesome one and that you know and feel the love your three boys and I have for you. Life is so much better in every regard with you in it, so be sure to have many, many more happy birthdays, will ya?

Now, for anyone who has been keeping up with Gabe’s health the last 10+ years here’s an update: The ultrasound showed Gabe’s kidney still looks good. As a matter of fact the pediatric urologist said his kidney is even beginning to look more and more like a normal one as he (and it) grows. Even a bit of the “kidney bean” resemblance is beginning to show. So we thought that was wonderful news. So the doctor recommended that we go and speak with a nephrologist at Duke U. Medical Center very soon and check on some things as he gets closer to life as a teenager with one kidney. The nephrologist will do a few different tests on functionality and blood, etc. Hopefully these will be good reports, also.

Our 3-day weekend family trip to the mountain house was pretty awesome even though the river was too murky to fish from all the recent rain. We enjoyed the hike in Mt. Jefferson State Natural Area. The overlooks are great and the boys always scramble up any big rocks they can find. We took the boys swimming in the river. They love the cool water and played with some new friends they met. I don’t think the boys have ever met another kid that wasn’t an instant friend. We’re looking forward to our next trip up there coming very soon! I’ll try to post a couple more pics tonight or tomorrow, time permitting.

Mt. Jefferson State Park

This is a perfect day for a hike. So beautiful.

Swimming in the River

A perfect day for it, too.

Early Morning Bluegrass

We're eating breakfast with all of the other owner-members of Blueridge Electric. I think we'll skip the big meeting. Pictured is the Cockman Family.