Catch up post!

Wow - where does the time go?!!  Our time in PA flew by at record speed.  We had a busy three weeks and kept quite busy with family.  We had a great seafood picnic for Labor Day and ended the day with bike rides.

Ann, Sarah, Pauline and Landon

Colleen and Doug's new puppy - Abby

Picnic in the garage - weather was too iffy to have it outside!

Ann and two of her grandsons

Hunter and I  

Dan and Hunter racing bikes

Everybody got in on the action!

Dan's great nephew, Hunter, LOVES riding bikes with us.  He is such a cutie and calls me "sweetheart"! We ride in circles on the driveway and he goes really, really fast for a 4 year old!! One afternoon we rode over a mile....all in circles!!  I am quite sure that the next time we see him, he will not be using training wheels.

We saw several beautiful sunsets at the farm too.

The day before we were leaving, we chatted on the phone with our friends Charlie and Dot. They were in the area and we ended up meeting them for lunch.  We got caught up on each others lives and bid them "safe travels".  We will see them again in a few months in Cedar Key for the winter.

We made it to NC safe and sound after an unexpected pit stop in Carlisle, PA.  After we had been on the road for about 3 hours, Dan noticed a vibration. He pulled off the interstate and into a truck stop and found that we had a bulging tire on the truck.  Rutroh.  After new tires and an overnight stay in a campground close-by, we were back on the road.  The tire never blew, we didn't have any damage and we were safe.  Can't ask for much more than that!!

Since we've been in NC, we've been going non-stop catching up with family and friends.

Kork always has "Welcome Home" signs out for us!

I got to hang out with both of my kids last Saturday.  They make me laugh with their crazy antics- it is so good to see them again. I had a girls day out with two of my sisters and we went thrift store shopping and had lunch out as well.  I've had girl's night out with my bestie, Linda and Dan has reached out to several of his friends as well.  And, we've had tons of laughs and have shared a few meals with Kork.  Kork, her Mom, and I also had a girls day out.  Late yesterday afternoon, Kork and I dressed up like pirates and went to the local Krispy Kreme.  They were giving a free dozen donuts to everyone who came in dressed like a pirate.  It was International Talk Like a Pirate Day!!  Dan thought we were crazy but we had a blast!!

Arrrgggghhh - our best pirate faces!!

We only have a few more days before we start our trip south again.  Because we will not be back to NC for the holidays, we are celebrating "Christmas in September" tomorrow with the kids.  I did some Christmas baking today and wrapped presents.  Our itty bitty Christmas tree is out and tomorrow I will cook a traditional Christmas dinner. After we eat, we will play games.  :-)  Ho ho ho - it's going to be fun!

Life is good!!

RIP our friend

Mat and Marty

Our friend, Marty Boyce, passed away on Saturday, September 7th.  We met Marty and her husband Mat in Cedar Key, FL in 2011.  Dan and I had an immediate connection with both Marty and Mat and quickly became friends.  Just a few weeks ago, we spent 10 days in Vermont and visited with Marty and Mat.  We had such a great time "noshing" with them each evening.  Marty and I had also several "girls days out".

Marty's zest for life and positive attitude were an inspiration for many.  She was a two-time cancer survivor and had overcome several other hurdles in her life.  In the time that we knew her, she rarely complained and wanted to make sure she lived each day to it's fullest.  Her impish grin and twinkle in her eye made Dan and I chuckle whenever we saw her.

Marty had told us that the doctors had discovered a spot on her lung earlier this summer. Shortly after we left in August, she had some more tests done.  When I talked to Mat this morning, he said Marty quickly went downhill after we left.

Dan and I will cherish the memories we have of Marty.  Even though we didn't know her long, she made an impact on our lives.  Marty Boyce - RIP our friend.  You will be missed.