Canoe Trip

Isn't it beautiful?! South Carolina has this little national park called the Congaree. It's the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain forest on the continent. On Saturday we went with two other couples in the ward on a little canoe trip down this creek.

We're getting ready to launch!

The Hobbit Tree! This hollowed out water tupelo tree was near where we stopped for lunch. But, similar trees were all over the park. I couldn't believe that a tree that had been eaten away like this could still be living, but it was going strong with green leaves. The spikes around us are the "knees" of the tree. They are part of the tree's root system. Cool, huh?

Quilting

In high school I pieced a couple quilts with Mom, Grandma Erickson, and ladies in the ward. So with the time I had this summer, I tried it out on my own. I'm still learning the art, but it's fun. The tumbling block quilt is all pieced, but I still need to add one more border, put on the backing and batting, and machine quilt.

A Step Back in Time

We visited the Levine Museum in Charlotte which had an exhibit on the reconstruction of the "New South." It was neat to see how the South transformed it's economy and really it's entire society after the civil war. We tried on clothes at the "new" Belk Department Store (Dad's suit is my favorite) and visited the barbershop.

Andy Griffith's Mayberry

Until we arrived in Mt. Airy, I had no idea that this was Mayberry, the hometown of the Andy Griffith Show and where Andy grew up. When we learned this, Tanner and Dan whistled the theme song as we drove through the town. Their rendition rivaled the version playing over the loud speakers on main street. I'm not an Andy Griffith follower (in fact I don't think I've ever seen an episode), so it didn't bring back flashbacks like it did for Mom and Dad, but it was fun to hop back in time for a few minutes while strolling down the street and to see the old shops that apparently were in the show.

Nascar Racing

North Carolina is Nascar territory, so we had to visit the Nascar race park. I was the official photographer given my new, very exciting condition! Here are some fun pictures of the race. I think we finally decided that Mom and Dan were the winners. They hugged the curbs and would stop at nothing to win! On the last lap Dad bumped Tanner and sent him into the tires to wait for an attendant to help him out. It was payback for Tanner's earlier grievances against Dad. Holls was delightful to watch as she just took a leisurely drive through the track (you can see her in the 2nd picture)!

Mt. Airy Family History

The Haymore family (my Grandma Watkins' maiden name is Haymore) has roots in Mt. Airy, North Carolina in the 1800s. So we took advantage of how close we were and visited the family sites.

We saw the house my great great grandpa grew up in and in the trees next to it we found the family cemetary. It was quite an adventure searching for it. All dressed in our Sunday clothes (I was in heels) we weed wacked our way through the trees and brush to a little gated overgrown plot with headstones. Once we found it, we realized there was a gate on the otherside. So we weed wacked out, and this time let the guys weed wack back in through a different route to reach the gate and get some good pictures of the headstones.

It was neat to see where we came from and hear the stories from Dad. Boy am I greatful to my ancestors. It was my great great grandpa Haymore who was the first member of his family to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He joined in Mt. Airy and moved to Utah. I'm so glad he saw the truth and jumped at the opportunity and then passed it on to his posterity (me :)! Thanks family!

Our Safari

The Watkins family came to visit for the 4th of July. What a great B-day present! We went to this place called Lazy 5 Ranch. It's like a drive-through zoo. You get a few buckets of food and drive through this ranch filled with exotic animals. The animals come right up to your car and eat out of your bucket. It took me a few minutes to get used to the idea. I saw horrific scenes in my mind of toes and fingers being chomped off, but we all left in one piece.

One of the highlights was watching Tanner feed an ostrich. If you know Tanner's lack of love for birds you know what a great accompishment this was.

Also, Daniel getting in a fight with some sort of giant goat over a bucket. I was laughing so hard I couldn't snap any pictures...too bad. We thought Dan would be pulled from the van or the goat would join us. In the end, Dan did win and somehow managed to keep the bucket that the goat had clenched in his jaws. It was quite a fight!

Mom's driving was entertaining! The zebras and giant ostriches were a little big for her to handle right as we entered the park and we saw just how quick Mom can step on the gas peddle.


We left with a car filled with dust, dirt, and animal feed. It was delightful!

Land of North Carolina

We've ventured east and are in the land of North Carolina for the summer. We love it! I wouldn't mind if the hot, humid weather cooled down a bit, but otherwise it's beautiful. Dan is doing an internship with Metso Power while I'm quilting, reading, and preping for the school year. It is a great life!

It just so happened that I had my camera on me when we stopped by Dan's office to pick up his jump drive. I documented his home away from home. His cubicle needs a little decorating, but he insists the bare walls are fine.

And we're back!

We took a little time out from blogging, but my enthusiasm is renewed and this time with lots of good news!