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 The Virginia group settled into the Murphy Holiday Inn Wednesday afternoon about 5pm.

We did a lot in their three day visit.  About four years ago when the children stayed with us for a few days,  we took them to the Downtown Pizza Buffet for all-you-can-eat-pizza and arcade games.  So Thursday we revisited DTP for pizza and updated arcade games where you win tickets and cash them in for plastic prizes.  Grant got a beach ball with some of his tickets so we went back to their hotel and played water volleyball. I played a little too long and maybe a bit too energetic as my left shoulder was on fire all night, no sleep, but began healing by Friday afternoon.  It was worth it. I forgot to mention that Jim worked during this visit, even a few hours on the drive here.  Thursday and Friday mornings Lauria dropped him off here around 7 where the small bedroom transformed into his office. Between meetings he'd come to the kitchen and make himself coffee and breakfast.  We planned our eating out around his work schedule.

One day all the young energy got put to great use.

Sofia and Hayden detailed and washed the Kia.  


 

Washing the Kia after detailing

Grant weed-wacked the whole north side of the house.

Olivia annihilated overgrown weeds in the backyard with vinegar spray.

This is Grant's 16th birthday weekend.  Hayden and Olivia made a yellow cake for his strawberry shortcake. 


Sofia and Ben stayed out of the kitchen busy on their iPhones.


"Make do with where you are and what you have." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Virtual birthday candle and wooden match candle.  

Saturday morning we all went to the Blairsville Farmers Market.  Lauria shopped at our friend Roy's Mountain Pottery.  Grant is very much into woodworking.  He bought a beautiful heavy cutting board and got some new ideas from some of the vendors .  Cliff bought kettle corn.  I bought lots of fresh greens andsummersquash.


 Ben rode with us on the way home from the Farmers Market so Papa stopped at the fire station to show him the jaws-of-life and let him sit in the big truck.


Later we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Monte Alban.

Lauria taking a picture of me taking a picture and almost chopping Hayden in half.

Yesterday we let Cliff have a quiet house while we visited some shops in town.  Carolina Crafts is one I've never browsed through because it says "antiques" on the front window and I'm not an antique person.  But this huge deep store has so many interesting things and artwork and crafts from local artists that we spent our time with wide eyes trying to see everything.  The children were fun to shop with because they have a great appreciation for art and handcrafted work. They're not mesmerized by name brands or famous sport labels.  I'll be visiting this store again.  Hayden may send her artwork to see if this owner will sell it.  I have my art and other crafts that I may be able to sell too.


front row: Grant  Sofia  Hayden  Lauria

back row: Olivia  Ben  Me  Cliff  Jim


Yesterday afternoon Jim did the honors of grilling the fresh summer squash, hot dogs, and hamburgers for our last meal together during their visit.  With the tropical rains heading our way, Lauria and Jim decided to leave early evening and break up the trip time.  This morning she texted me from Jonesville, NC Cracker barrel and have about five hours to home.


 

l

Comments

Unknown said…
It was so much fun!! Thanks for having us. It was great to see you both and to see Papa doing so well. (One small correction: kids phones are android not apple) lol!!
June 22, 2021 at 6:43 AM
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