Malcolm Saying "Hello".	Barbara and Malcolm having a cuddle.	Duncan sleeping next to me while I crochet.
Sally doing what she does best, everywhere she does it!	Duncan and I having a cuddle.	Malcolm and Sally with Brian and me on the sofa.
Duncan falling asleep on me . . .	. . . and then pretending that he's awake!	Three boys and a girl!
Duncan and Sally sitting on the sofa . . .  (There's a nursery rhyme in there someplace, right?)	Sally looking around while Malcolm guards her.	Miss Sally playing!
Miss Sally hunting something!	She liked that ball!	Alot!!
Now, it looks like Sally's guarding the ball!	She wasn't afraid of anything-- but then, he's harmless so what is there to be afraid of, right, Sally?	The Three Buddies

Saturday, November 30, 2002

Time to Go Home

After the guys played with their computers for awhile, fixing some last minute things, we left for the drive home which actually went pretty well.  We hit traffic around Fredericksburg, VA but that was to be expected, I suppose.  I can't imagine (and don't want to try) what traffic will be like if we would've  come home today!!  I know it would've been horrid!!

We got home around 6:30pm and unpacked.  I watched "A.I." which turned out to be better than I had expected and then, we were off to bed.

I'll put up pictures here or on my Meanderings page at some point in the near future but, just wanted to give a full accounting of the week in North Carolina.  A lovely time was had by all: Barbara is a wonderful hostess despite Bob's pushing "Buffy" down our throats the whole time-- sorry, equal time and all-- I had to get that in there somewhere, didn't I?  ;>)

Seriously, I look forward to the next time that we get together with them-- its nice to be on the east coast and have such good friends so close by!

Thanks again, Barbara and Bob-- and a special head scratch to Kerry (the adorable bear-faced pooch), Duncan (the silent one) and Malcolm (the demon dog)-- they are so cute!!

Serious Shopping

Barbara told me about a crafts fair that was held every year at the Greensboro Colliseum so we made plans to go this year.  I prefer crafts shopping to regular store shopping the day after Thanksgiving-- sorry, Shelley!  I was able to complete our Christmas shopping there with some unique gifts for friends.

Brian and I had planned to stop in Virginia on our way home to buy some wine for our stock-- it is cheaper in Virginia than in Maryland.  As it turns out, it is even more reasonably priced for some nice wines in North Carolina!  I bought a good supply for a tolerable price there and we picked up the buying guide so that Barbara can bring up a stock for us the next time that they come up for a visit.

We dined on Turkey Day left overs (which of course were even more delicious) and played a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit.  It was nice that it ended with each team (Barbara & Brian and Bob & me) winning a game-- that leaves room for future competition.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Barbara's folks joined us at the Thompson Techno Grotto for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner cooked up by Barbara and her mom.  It was also nice to meet Dutch ("Dad") and Sankie ("Mom") Fritchman after hearing about them for so long.  Her sister, Francis and her new husband, Al, were MIA in Ashville, North Carolina for a holiday feast so we weren't able to meet them.

We watched a little football (cousin Tom was playing) and had a nice time sitting around their house playing with The Boys and talking with her parents.

Shopping Practice

This is the day that Barbara and I went to Replacements, Ltd.  I'd started buying from Replacements more than four years ago but had never been to their facility, obviously, because of our location having been in California.  As long as we were in North Carolina, I wanted to go to see their operation since I had heard so much about it over the years.  Additionally, of course, there were pieces from my mother's china that I wanted to purchase-- I was thinking of a tea pot or a 3-tiered pettifour tray.  Going to the source can be dangerous, of course, because once you see them, you have to get them.  After strolling the store (which is HUGE!), we went back to the counter where I fell in love with the tea pot.  It is absolutely precious-- little bamboo wrapped handle but the style of it is something that my mother would've adored.  I had a tear in my eye when I thought about her not being able to see it because I know she would love it so I bought it.  The 3-tiered tray was elegant in its stance and so it, too, had to come home with me; we won't be able to display it until we get a dining room set (which won't happen until we get a house) but, its one of those things that you have to buy when you're there or you'll never buy it . . . so I did.  Those two items along with some Christmas presents for myself and others and we were off to our second stop: Old Salem.

Old Salem is a restored village where (if I remember correctly) Salem, as in "Winston-Salem" was settled by the emigrants of Moravia.  Everything in the village is Moravian in style and design along with their accessories for celebrating the holiday season.  It was a fun walk through the town and the stores-- of course, I picked up a couple of ornaments and, when we hit the bakery, we hit the bakery!!  Lots of nummy treats for us to have over the remaining time with our hosts.

After leaving Old Salem, I wanted to stop by A.C. Moore since they don't have those stores up here.  Although I saw many neat ideas for making holiday crafts, I didn't find anything that had to come home with me other than a scarf and a can of spray acryllic.

Barbara and I left for home and me, a nap upon our arrival-- I was on vacation, remember?  That automatically constitutes a nap-a-day requirement.

After my nap, we went to their favorite Chinese restaurant and stopped by to meet Lenore on our way home.  It was nice being able to meet her-- we've heard about her for so many years-- and spend some time with her, as well.

Driving Day . . .

Drove to North Carolina today, arriving at about 5:30pm.

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