Favorite Pics of 2011

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from 2011.  There were many to chose from!

Santa's Man Cave

Last night Lynn, Barbara and I took a bus tour of the town to see Christmas lights.  This was our favorite, entitled "Santa's Man Cave".  The owner of the house was there to welcome us and said it took about 4 days to set it up.  He puts in the heavy stuff, then leaves town to let his wife take care of the details.  And there were gracious plenty details! 

I'm not sure what caused this picture to turn out this way, but I like the effect.  It was quite a ways off and I had to zoom, plus I didn't have a tripod and my camera was set on "night scenes" and the bus was moving just a tiny bit.  And all of that together produced this.

Then there was the lighting extravaganza at Grace Baptist Church.  The bus stopped for a while so we could go inside for hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies.  (The driver said they made 262 dozen this year.)  The lights pulse with the music and constantly change colors.  Occasionally all the lights go out for a few moments of darkness before coming on again to the music.  Overall we had a very fine time!

On Tuesday I played my best golf in quite a long time, exceeding the points I needed by 5 and won a little money.  My swing was so full and long, my short game and putting were good and in spite of my bad holes, my confidence was running very high.  So I decided to play again on Friday in the company of the guys I enjoyed so much. 

Yesterday I awoke remembering it was LaVerne's birthday and sadness came over me like a dark cloud.  I went to the golf course and tried hard to regain my concentration and my swing, failing at both.  The result was one of the worst games I've had in a long time, wondering if I should ever play again or not.  As I thought back on yesterday, I realized that I assumed my grieving was done and that the lingering sadness would not return.  I was wrong.  It did, I was, and once I acknowledge it I felt fine once again.  And I'm anxious to get on the course again and see what happens next time!

At Jubilee! all of the holiday celebrations are acknowledged, including Christmas of course.  So whatever your inclination at this time of year, I hope you're filled with peace, joy and happiness for being alive and able to celebrate all the goodness of this lifetime.  Merry Christmas!

Casy Key Tiki Bar

A couple days ago I rode in the back seat of Deb and Walt's convertible, not thinking about what it would do to my hair.  The wind quickly undid my pony tail then whipped my face unmercifully.  Lesson learned:  don't do that again!  It's one of those long hair things I had to learn the hard way.  It took me 10 painful minutes to get the tangles out just so I could run a comb through it. 

We went to the Casey Key Tiki Bar to see a huge sand sculptor of the championship speed boat, Twisted Metal.  Little did I know that the Travel Channel was filming the event for viewing in March.  I'll post the date and time when I find out.  There were 5 people doing the sand work and it was fine work, indeed! 

They depicted the boat cutting through the water and even included a tank of greenish water that gurgled.  The wake behind the boat was intricate and really gave the whole thing a sense of movement. 

"Can I get a Scotch and soda, please?"

This bar gives an entirely new meaning to the term "dog friendly", as you can see.  One of the barmaids, Skeeter, often shares a bowl of pasta with her canine clientele.  Others are just there for the drinks.

And some are there just because they're pretty and want to be seen.   I also discovered how potent the Rum Runner cocktails can be, since I was a passenger and not riding on 2 wheels for a change.  (The Burg is going in for major clutch maintenance soon and I didn't want to chance the old one disintegrating in the housing.) 

Lynn, sister Barbara and I saw the play "It's A Wonderful Life" last night and it was very good and very different.  It was about a radio play with 4 people reading all the parts and doing the sound effects.  Fascinating! 

Learned a few days ago that daughter Barbara and her family won't be coming down this year.  Sure was disappointed as we had such a good time at their last visit here.  Maybe in 2013, although that sure sounds like a long way off. 

Hope you're in the spirit of the season and enjoying every moment of it!  Thanks for stopping by!

A Christmas Parade with Floats that Float!

Yesterday was a very full one and thoroughly enjoyable, starting with a park-wide garage sale.  While shopping at a place on the main drag, I had several inquiries about the Vespa.  No sale yet, but it was heartening just to see and hear all the interest. 

Then Lynn and I scooted down to St. Armand's Key, which was crammed full of nice, expensive sports cars.  We didn't stop, as we had to meet sister Barbara for a movie.

We saw the movie "The Descendants" and it is excellent!  A very good story, very well written and well acted.  George Clooney moved up a step or two with his performance.  It's a tear jerker, so be prepared. 

We dodged a rain shower on the way home, did a quick change of clothes, then headed to the bay for the Christmas lights boat parade.  Wow!  It was very cool!  We didn't stay until the end so I don't know how many there were.  Also, it took me a while to figure out how to take decent pics of the event.  Next year I'll know better. 

The bay side park was crowded with cheering people, making the atmosphere very festive.  It was an enjoyable event and one I hope to repeat.

Finally, I'm enjoying a novel more than I have any in a while.  It is titled "No Safe Place" by Richard North Patterson and published in 1998.  It is about the presidential campaign of a man whose older brother was assassinated while campaigning for president.  It is well written and the speeches on the issues are thoughtful and thought provoking.  It is one of those books that is so good, I'm pacing myself to make it last longer.  And the timing is good, with the current politicking that's going on. 

It's off to the Sierra's for dinner this afternoon and we sure are looking forward to it.  It'll be Lynn's first dining experience there and chef Luis' fine reputation precedes him, as always.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Back in the Sunshine State

The trip from NC to Florida was a doozy this year, with heavy rain following us nearly all the way.  The new Eagle pulls like a dream, though, and that made the drive more tolerable (not that Howhee didn't pull well, too.)  We arrived at Ho-Hum RV park in Carrabelle around 8, raced to Eddie Teaches for some oysters and didn't get there in time.  The kitchen closed 10 minutes before we arrived.  Darn!  Drive for 12 hours while imagining that first oyster only to miss it by that much. 

We made up for it the next day, getting a half-sack of fresh ones from the seafood place, eating some raw while others steamed on the grill.  It was worth the wait and then some.  They are so fresh, juicy and delicious! 

On December 1 we awoke to a very cold trailer, as the propane had run out during the night and it was 35 degrees!  Brrr!  By the time we got hooked up and on the road, my hands were numb.  The drive to Sarasota was uneventful and pleasant, with clear skies and country vistas much of the way.  When we arrived at Sun n Fun, Lynn's sister, Debbie and her husband, Walt, met us at the gate in their golf court and escorted us to our site.  What a nice welcome!  The next day we ate more oysters, our last for a while. 

The next day we went over to sister Barbara's to pick up the Vespa so I could clean it up and put it back on the market.  Luis and I had charged the battery the day before and it ran like a top.Brother-in-law Luis kept it for me over the summer and I appreciate that very much.  Thanks Luis!

While at the Sun n Fun pool bar I met some golfers and was invited to join their Tuesday league, which I did.  Good guys, a very nice course and winning a little money my first time out convinced me to come back next week. 

It was 80 degrees the day I played and I even sweated a little bit!  After the 35 degree weather the week before, the warmth was very welcome. 

Ever since I started riding scooters, I've been trying to find a way to take my golf clubs on it.  Yesterday I finally figured it out.  I put the bag on my back using the shoulder straps, then sat on the Burg.  That didn't work.  The bag rested on the seat, making it very unstable.  So I got off, rested the bag on the seat sideways and saw that the straps would go over the cargo carrier like it was made for it.  Voila!   Eureka!  Finally!  Took it for a test drive and it works like a charm!

Now I just have to remember not to go between those posts or across that skinny little bridge when I'm carrying the golf bag. 

It is good to be back in Florida and getting ready for Christmas.  Yesterday we ordered a very nice, small artificial tree that looks like a real Frazier Fir, just like in Boone.  I'm glad to be near the Sierra's again and look forward to dinner with chef Luis and family on Sunday.  There are lots of stories to tell and catching up to do. 

Thanks for stopping by.  I continue to be amazed when someone tells me they read this, as it is often a person that never crossed my mind as a reader.  So thanks for letting me know! 

Thanksgiving 2011

Houston, Barbara, Trey and Patrick Crowder



Last year I realized how much I missed being with family over Thanksgiving, so this year I went to Virginia to be with my daughter and her family, my son, my lady Lynn and her chihuahua, Tinkerbell, plus my former sister-in-law, Linda, her husband, Otto, and my former wife, Diane.  It was a fine celebration!  There was lots of laughter, food, drink, games, stories, a tear or two and lots of love.  I'm very thankful for such a wonderful family! 

Tinkerbell was a hit with the boys and everyone else for that matter.  She looks and acts like a puppy in spite of being nearly 2 years old.  She begged her share of snacks and did a fine job of policing crumbs from the floor. 

This was Lynn's first Thanksgiving without her children, so it was bittersweet for her as it was for Derick.  His kids were with his estranged wife, Kim, and he was missing them a lot.  Next year they'll be with him and, hopefully, back at the Crowders. 

Diane and Trey's mom, Linda, were celebrating their birthdays on Friday, which added even more to the festivities.  As they opened their cards, Houston realized that his Nana, Diane, didn't have a card from him.  His mom reminded him that it had been on the list of "to do's" and just didn't get done.  He hustled off to remedy the situation and did so in fine form.  In the pic above, his Nana, Diane, is looking at a card and his meemaw, Linda, is looking on from the right.  So here is what he did...

"Dear Nana, I hope you have a wonderful purple birthday Nana.  Tell Memaw I said happy birthday.  Purple love, Houston"  He was in a hurry and needed 2 birthday greetings 5 minutes ago.  A very funny solution to say the least!  There was much laughter and a few tears mixed in!  It was one of the funniest things I've seen in a very long time!  Until I got home. 

We got back to Fletcher about 5:30 and I was tired from driving, lack of sleep and general partying.  We had disconnected the water before leaving as a precaution against frozen, busted pipes.  After connecting the water, I came inside to discover a strange noise coming from the vicinity of the water heater, and there was no water coming from the faucets or toilet.  What the .....?  How could that possibly be?  After checking everything again, I came inside and depressed the foot petal on the toilet and a brown geyser shot up!  YUCK!!!  Thank goodness most of it went straight back into the bowl.  It was only then that I realized that I had connected the water hose to the black holding tank flush feature instead of the fresh water inlet.  The black tank valve was closed, creating lots of pressure in the tank and no where for it to go.  Once I opened the valve, the pressure was relieved and all was well.  Whew.  Catastrophe diverted, barely!  Now I truly had a lot to be thankful for!

Tomorrow we're off to Florida for the winter with a stop in Apalachicola for oysters.  Oh yeah! 

 

New Home

My new home came with its' own name, Eagle, and I like it - both the name and the place.  We picked it up last Tuesday and spent the next several days settling in.  It is spacious, comfortable and very cozy.  There are so many things I like about it that I can't yet decide on what's my favorite. 

The living area is very comfortable with 2 rocker/recliners, an electric fireplace, 32" TV, Jensen sound center and sleeper sofa with an air mattress.  The refrigerator is much larger than the old one and the gas stove has an ignitor, which means no more matches or lighter!  Central heat comes through floor vents and air conditioning through ceiling vents.  There are also 3 skylight vents with covers which allows them to be open all the time without rain or bugs coming in.

The queen size bed has a real mattress and is very comfortable.  There is storage under the whole thing that is accessible from the outside, too.  There's lots of closet and drawer space, unlike little Howhee which had practically none. 

The shower is regular size and the hot water tank is twice as big as the old one.  But I've gotten so used to Navy showers after all this time that I only luxuriate when at a motel or someone's house, like Barbara and Trey's, where I'm going later today for Thanksgiving. 

On Sunday we had an open house for family and a few friends.  I had such a good time that I forgot to take a single picture.  Darn!  But here is the guest list:  Lynn, my live-in lady love; cousin William and his wife, Joyce; Wayne and Mary Caldwell; Hugh Huntington, brother-by-choice; and Myra Grant, a high school classmate and new golfing buddy.  And of course Tinkerbell, Lynn's chihuahua. 

And finally, an update on my pony tail project.  As you can see, it is quite long.  The only time it isn't in a pony tail is after a shower, seen above.  My last real hair cut was in April, 2010, with only a few neck trims since then.  So wearing my hair long is part of my new normal, which I plan to write about soon.  The blog intro is now totally out of date, as is the picture of my rig.  There has been so much change in my life that past 3 years it is mind boggling sometimes.  I am very thankful for the changes, in spite of how sad I was for much of it.  I have a new home, truck, scooter, place and style of worship, lady love and hair style.  Oh yeah!  Life is goood!  Very good!  Thanks for stopping by!

A Funeral, A Parade and A New Home

On November 11, 2011, Veterans Day, Melvin Porter Cagle, Jr. was laid to rest after a fine, traditional service lead by Charles and Gerald Sprinkle, father and son ministers, neighbors and long time friends of June.  I was honored to be one of the pall bearers and I'm glad the hill was a gentle one.  June's wife of 55 years, Hester, held up well in spite of her ailing health.  She's one of the strongest people I've ever known.  I wish her and the family well. 

Last Sunday I went to the liquor store for boxes to prepare for my move to the new trailer.  As I turned to go back for more, there were 2 wild turkeys walking by, apparently irritated by the store being closed.  Why?  Because they were looking for....some Wild Turkey!  Yeah, I know it was bad.  I just couldn't resist. 

I miss my little travel trailer, Howhee.  It was my home on wheels for the the past year and a half, and it was a good one.  Since I couldn't save my travel map or stickers, this was the next best thing.  Thanks for the good times, Howhee, and I hope your next owner enjoys you as much as I did.  Bon voyage!

Of all the moves I've made (and I'm somewhere in the 40's now), this was the easiest.  The trailers were parked door to door at the dealership, and we hauled the stuff about 6 feet from one to the other.  And settling into Howhee II has been easy because it is so much larger.  I'm having an open house tomorrow to show it off, so I'll take lots of pics and post them here.

Today I went to the Asheville Christmas Parade for the first time in over 40 years and thoroughly enjoyed it!  The weather was beautiful and so were the floats, cars, animals and girls.  This old woody was one of the finest exhibits as was the Wells Fargo stage coach. 

My proudest moment was when my alma mater came marching by - the Enka High School Marching Jet Band.  They were in step, in tune and lookin' real good!  Enka was and still is a rural school with a wonderful tradition for excellence, which still appears to be intact.  They also appeared to be the largest band in the parade.  It sure felt good to see them again!  Go Jets!

And finally, sometime during the past 2 weeks the 10,000th visit occurred  here on the blog.  When I began this in the winter of '09, I never thought about number of visits or anything like that.  I just wanted to journal about my journey to relieve my grief and perhaps entertain my family and a few friends in the process.  I  know I have accomplished the first and hopefully the second, too.  Soon I will be changing the blog as I have now redefined "normal" and want to share that with my readers.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you will return soon!

Remembering Junior Cagle

Melvin Cagle, Jr. passed away on November 6, 2011 after a 2 year battle with the after effects of 2 strokes.  For most of my life, I knew him as my cousin, though in reality he was my uncle.  In truth, he was most like an older brother, teaching me how to hunt and fish and even a little bit about women, all when I was a young teenager.

My first memory of him was his riding his bicycle up a home made ramp of board-laying-on-bucket, flying through the air like Evil Knievel, landing on the down slope of his front yard in Reeves Cove and grinning from ear to ear.  He was exciting.  An adventurer.  An entrepreneur.  A traveler.  And the best decision he ever made was marrying Hester, his wife of 55 years.  Together they raised a family of 3, Danny, Mel and Joyce, and ran 2 successful companies, Cagle Construction and M&H Auction.  They worked hard, paid cash and enjoyed the fruits of their labor through golf, fishing and travel.  They are 2 of the finest people I've ever known.  Sure, they had their faults, just like the rest of us.  But they never put on airs and always remembered where they came from.

June taught me to shoot and one of his first lessons, at the McIntosh house in Reeves Cove, involved a double barreled 12 gauge shotgun with a plastic stock.  We were sitting under an apple tree in his front yard and I had never fired one before.  He assured me that it was okay to pull both triggers at the same time, so I did.  The blast put me flat on my back and produced a big, colorful bruise that lasted for quite a while. Tears filled my eyes and I was shocked and hurting.  But soon I had to laugh, as he sure was!   I thought Hester was gonna kill him!  She was more than a little upset and thought my mom, Emily, would kill them both!  We laughed long and hard over the years at this story. 

It seems like June always had work to be done and I was always looking to earn money.  When building his first house in Reeves Cove, he decided to dig a well in the basement and because it was solid rock, he had to use a lot of dynamite.  He hired me to go down in the well after a blast to fill the bucket with rock, which he pulled up with a windless.  He paid me off with a pair of water skis, which I thought was very cool, until I realized I didn't have a boat or a car!  So, I converted them to snow skis and careened down through the woods in the dead of winter, only to be stopped by a very large poplar tree, much to the amazement of my witness and friend, David Rutherford. 

Another time, he paid me to clean up a large pile of lumber from a barn.  This time payment was a 16 gauge, single barrel shotgun, which I still have.  I hunted squirrels and rabbits for many years with that gun and even won a turkey shoot with it one time.  It's a treasure. 

Tomorrow I will help carry his body and casket to his final resting place. It won't be easy, but it will be an honor.   He was a good man and I will miss him.  

Sisters Visit, part 2, and More!

Barbara, Lynn & Nancy

On Thursday we headed to downtown Asheville for some shopping, sight seeing and brunch with William and Joyce at Early Girl Eatery.  This is across from the Flat Iron Building on Wall Street, a historic place of unusual architecture and beauty. 

Nancy, Barbara, Joyce, William, me, Lynn

Everyone seemed to enjoy Early Girl as much as I hoped they would.  The ingredients are local and fresh, and some of the dishes very unique to say the least.  I had poached eggs on fried grit cakes with tomato gravy, spinach and avocado.  Yum!  Once again, we enjoyed each others' company immensely. 

The ladies went shopping while I took William to his house, then I went to mine for a little rest.  The girls called mid-afternoon and wanted to visit the Grove Park Inn, so I headed back to town and resumed my duties as a tour guide.  The GPI never disappoints and this day was no different.  We had a snack and beverages on the terrace and enjoyed the spectacular view. 

Nancy & Barbara at Grove Park Inn

We stopped by William and Joyce's house on the way home for a brief visit and to say farewells.  They have a warm and inviting place, which made it hard to leave.  I planted the seed of an idea for a reunion before we left. 

Barbara, me, Nancy

The next morning I took the sisters to the airport and we promised to get together again soon.  It was a great visit in many ways and I'm very grateful they came to see me.  That afternoon, daughter Barbara and her husband Trey arrived to stay in the same cabin and celebrate his 45th birthday.  Whew!  Barely time to catch my breath and start partying again!  I loved it!

Trey at the Grove Park Inn

That night we went to the Grove Park Inn for the seafood buffet and it was soooo good!  We feasted well and ate far more than the law allows.  The fireplace in the great hall was blazing, but we headed for Hickory Tavern to catch the finale of the world series.  I fine finish to a fine day! 

Pumpkin display at Grove Park Inn

Part of Trey's birthday gift was golf at the Grove Park Inn, but wind and cold forced him to plan B.  This turned out to be...you guessed it...a visit to the Biltmore House for the first time!  So my annual pass paid for itself that day and provided a nice discount to my guests as well.  I see something new every time I visit and this time was no different. 

Trey & Barbara at Biltmore House

What a week.  Many memories were made this week with many of my favorite people.  I hope my other favorite people will join me here over the next few years and make even more good memories.  This place is like no other and it is my true home.  Thank you all for coming here and I'll hope you'll come again real soon!