After the Rain

A Walk in the Woods, Part 2

Little Cascade Jigsaw Puzzle

Here's a few more pictures from the hike:

A Walk in the Woods

Maple on the Rocks Jigsaw Puzzle

Yesterday, Dave and I returned to the Cascades for his third (and finally successful) attempt to reach the waterfall. (Attempt #1 was aborted for Briana's broken leg (Take 1) and attempt #2 with the Special Olympics team was a washout due to a severe thunderstorm (Take 2.) Would you like to come along?







To be continued . . . .

Mexican Sunshine

Pumpkins

Kathie Fink's Legacy Tour

Tree Trunk Trio Jigsaw Puzzle

Remember on Tuesday that I went to Princeton? Well, here is what we did there: I took 6 kids with me to see Kathie Fink's Legacy Tour
at Mr. Tim Waugh's school. Kathie's family figures prominently in the history of handbell ringing in the US. They toured the country and were featured on TV back in the early 60's. Kathie carries on this fine tradition with an entertaining and educational multi-media presentation and live performance show, weaving seamlessly together video clips and tidbits about her family with her solo ringing. Check out her website (linked above) to learn more about Kathie, the Finks, and to see a schedule of her remaining performances on the tour. In this case, a slideshow just isn't as good as being there, but it's a nice preview, never the less. At the end, you will get to see the lucky few JoyBell Ringers who were fortunate to go see this concert.

Kathie Fink Legacy Tour Slideshow
Of course,here are some pictures for those who don't have time for the show:




Tim Waugh's Ringers:

and some JoyBell Ringers:

Fall on the Mountain

By golly, it looks like we are going to have fall after all; In spite of the drought and the persistant heat! Yesterday, I drove to Princeton, WV and Winston-Salem, NC. Today I drove to Roanoke; and everywhere, it was starting to look real pretty around here.

Joel and Kelly

Together. Forever.

Joel and Kelly sealed their commitment to one another this past Saturday on a mountain top surrounded by family, friends, and the most magnificent fall scenery imaginable. Joel's mom, Carol, is one of my very best forever friends. We started La Leche League together in Galax, and shared nursing and raising our babies together for many years until she moved to Florida. (Her oldest, John, and my Amy are one week apart; Joel and Amos are two weeks apart, and were absolute best buddies.) So, how much fun was it to get to relax and enjoy my friends at a wedding and take pictures just for love and pleasure!

Everything about their wedding was simple and beautiful! I loved their flowers (Joel said that he picked them out!), Marlene Adams created such an elegant cake for them, the big tent was so festive, and the blugrass band was pickin' and grinnin' as they say up here.




Loved. Loved. Loved their flowers!!




This was one of the sweetest father-daugher dances I've ever seen!





Here's the slideshow, but keep in mind, It's not complete coverage of everybody and everything since I was not "on duty" for this one!

Shady Square Small Stuff

Dobro Jigsaw Puzzle

If I were Garrison Keillor, I'm sure I could make an engaging story of the everyday passage of life here on Shady Square. Instead, it's just me, so it will be a rambling of recent events.

We are nearing the end of October, and this week marks the first truly fall-like days that we have had, and suddenly, and I do mean like in the span of just a day, the fall colors have turned on! We rode up to Troutdale in the Grayson Highlands yesterday for a wedding, and it was gloriously autumn!!! the air was crisp and breezy, the sky an endless azure, and trees, crimson, bronze, and gold. More wedding news and pictures to follow. Stay tuned. We haven't had a full-blown frost yet, so my rose bush (my only smart landscaping decision in the past 3 years!) is blythefully blooming away as if it were May.

It is a wonder to me that it has survived, much less thrived down there by the road in the drought. (Years ago, my kids wrote a book about the 7 wonders of Shady Square. Right now I can only remember one of the notable "wonders" that they recorded: the rainbow tree, that grew in a great arch with a root system at both ends of the tree. Surely this rose bush would have made number 8. If any of my wonderful progeny are reading this, please chime in and remind your dear old mum what some of the other wonders were.

Speaking of offspring, here is my first-born, 30 years (eek!) after the fact, with her nearly life-long friend, Stuart, as she was departing Galax for her return to Germany.

They have know each other since they were 7 years old when they both started taking violin lessons from the same teacher in Mount Airy. They've remained friends all these years (in spite of living on separate continents) and now she reports that while she doesn't know what to call it, they are both considering themselves to officially be a "couple." I love how much she favors her dad:

I just needed an excuse to put his handsome face up here so the kids can see their dad looking not goofy in a picture. He looks his usual normal, handsome self because I wasn't really taking a photo of him; he was just my willing, submissive test subject for my exposure settings at the wedding yesterday. (Goofy-looking eyebrows for pictures is another propensity Amber shares with her dad.)

I read a news story on the internet yesterday morning that there was going to be a meteor shower this morning of the Orionids that held the promise of being a best showing in about 70 years. I have a life-long fascination with the night sky and heavenly phenomina, so at 3 am, I drag the remains of my family out to Gambetta, where the sky is expansive and dark,for the really big show. Well, it was less than extraordinary, and while we did see a fair number of dim shooting stars, I did not have any luck catching one with the camera. This shot was the last frame I exposed. That freaky-looking fire in the sky is actually yours truly, staggering to my feet in front of the camera, illuminated by the headlights of the car. So this is my self portrait of the week:


The last newsworthy item to report is the passing of an era in the McPherson annals: We said goodbye today to the "White Chariot of Funness," our '85 Toyota Corolla that was bought for 400 bucks back in 98 for Amber to get around Winston in. There are SOOOOO many memorable stories wrapped up in that vehicle. To the Kings, who purchased it for $50 (what a STEAL: if it had been anybody else, I wouldn't have sold it for less than the $400 we paid for it!); never forget to park it facing downhill, and you have to let me borrow it to drive up Buffalo Mountain.

The C and C Show

C and C Jigsaw Puzzle

Finally, We have a slideshow from Chris and Christina's wedding, and boy, is it JUMBO and JUICY!!. Do Not, I repeat, DO Not attempt to watch this one if you are on dial-up!! Check out the short and sweet!! version, instead.

Everybody probably knows how much I have grown to love Chris and Christina over the last couple of months. In fact, without too many apologies to their parents, I am just going to officially adopt them! What a treasure it has been for me to be a part of their wedding celebration.

A Puzzle for Fall

Haute in Houston

Autumn Abstract Jigsaw Puzzle

Just some scenes from our trip to Houston. . . .




Actually, I have to give credit to Dave for the next shot. His good eye pointed this one out to me!

The ubiquitous self-portrait:

My big sis, Jackie came up to spend the morning with us. She just had surgery on Wednesday to have a "TENS" unit implanted in her back and is looking forward to a new pain-free way of life after decades of back pain and surgery.

The Young Nobili Men

The future is in good hands for the Nobilis!




This is from the rehearsal dinner on Friday night at the barn in Carrollwood.

What can I say??? Christina's not the only one to wear that dress!