The Last Half of October (Part 1 - NC)

This post is non-quilty so you can leave now if that's not what you want to see. However, it furthers explains why I've been missing from Blogland. There are lots of pictures to look at though if you decide to continue.

Three days after my friend returned home after visiting with me and going to retreat, my mother, husband, and I hit the road for Little Rock, AR. Good-bye, St. Louis! What a beautiful travel day and the Gateway to the West was standing proudly to wish us a safe journey! 

The Arkansas mission: meet my Texas sister and deliver her new-to-her sewing machine. I'd acted as a go-between and it was time for her to play with her new toy. One thing I'd like to add is that the missing knee lift was discovered in the bottom of the sewing table! What a great place for it when traveling!

We visited with her and her husband that evening, shared breakfast together the next morning, and then we all went our separate ways. It was so nice to see my TX relatives!! As we went through Memphis on our way to NC I thought we'd accidentally gone to Las Vegas! Doesn't this look like one of the casinos there? I told hubby we should return and spend a long weekend in Memphis. There's much to see!

The drive though the Blue Ridge was so scenic on the western slopes. Fall was at its finest. Look at those colors!

We had a wonderful time in North Carolina visiting my brother & his family. My niece Kelli gladly gave up her bedroom for me & hubby which also meant moving her office since she works from home. We're so proud of her! She interned for Wilson Sporting Goods after graduating this past Spring from NC State and the company liked her so much they kept her on. Now she's got benefits plus more responsibilities! Just because she works from home does not mean that she didn't need a new car. She had driven my daughter's old Ford Focus to over 260,000 miles and it was time to get reliable wheels. She decided on a 2022 Toyota Corolla Night Shadow. It's a sporty beauty!

While in NC I made a quick pitstop to Pineapple Fabric/Keepsake Quilting. Still can't believe that huge warehouse/store is located in my brother's little town! Gives me another reason to visit! Ha!

Fred spent a couple of days of fishing with my brother. Happy faces!

One of the days we all packed up and went to Ft. Dobbs in Statesville NC. We enjoyed our visit, the history lesson of how important the fort was during the French & Indian War, and the weather was wonderful! We would gladly pay the $2/person admission fee again!

The reconstructed Ft. Dobbs

Our tour group

Mom warning me not to let the bed bugs bite!
Sawdust bunk was more comfy than it looked

Our wonderful guide

John getting a lesson on gunpowder

On another day, us girls decided to revisit Allen & Son BBQ in Pittsboro to see if the sandwiches were as good as we remembered from years ago. Turns out, the joint we visited used to be in Chapel Hill but now had a new owner with the same recipes in Pittsboro. Let me tell you that was one of the best pulled pork sandwiches I've eaten EVER! It was juicy, vinegary, and delicious!

After lunch we decided to see what Pittsboro was all about. We'd seen a sign pointing the way to "Historic Pittsboro" and thought we should check it out. We ended up touring this lovely building which used to be the old courthouse and is now a museum.

Pittsboro's old courthouse now museum

Very old safe with our docent in the background

Looking inside the safe.
Below was another safe spot for documents.

Another day we visited my brother's property. Between him & Karen, they have really made some major progress clearing the way for their eventual home.

The driveway (Haha)

Mom & I checking out the homesite.
Behind us leads to the lake.

Mom getting some help maneuvering the turf

30' path for electricity leading to the pole in the background.
Power company now says it must be cleared 40'. UGH!

I think that's enough for now. I'll continue with our trip to MD in another post, probably not until next week. Until then, enjoy your week, your family, and whatever hobby gives your joy!