Family Website - Family Photos - North Carolina June 2012

Family Photos > North Carolina June 2012 (28)

The infamous back seat

For the most part, the boys were very good on the trip down to North Carolina. Most of the time the issues that arose from the back seat were beause they would be touching each other. Something like this.
The infamous back seat

If I heard nonsense going on I would give a sharp "boys!." Then the scene quickly turned to this. Then they would say "don't worry dad, it just brotherly love."
Driving aid

For my part, Starbucks was the copilot.
Don't play with snakes!

When we arrived, grandpa and grandma were off at the vet to pick up Lilly on account that she was bitten in the neck by a copperhead (likely) or a timber rattlesnake (less likely). Lilly healed up just fine, but for the first couple of days there she was pretty swollen up and very slow moving.
The big one!

We have suspected that there was a big catfish in the pond, but William proved it! Here he is trying to real it in. We did not get a photo of it because as we tried to haul it up on land it wiggled losse and got away. It was probably about 6 lbs and around 18 to 24 inches long!
A smaller one

Here is a smaller catfish that William hauled in.
The strangest catch

Paddy gets the prize for odd catch of the week. A snapping turtle!
Night creatures

William's favorite thing to do at grandma and grandpas is look for critters around the yard at night. Here he is with a big toad.
TV time

One reason the boys like grandma and grandpa's house is the big TV.
Walks up the hill

Paddy, grandma and I enjoyed late afternoon walks up the road.
Walks up the hill

Here is the view from the top.
Horses on the loose!

One morning we woke to find the horses out on the front yard (not where they are supposed to be).
William relaxing

Here is William relaxing in the living room.
50 year meal

My big event while I was visiting is that I turned 50 years old! Dad made me a really delicious steak dinner to celebrate!
50th birthday ride

I'm now at the age where people like to ride their age. To be honest, 50 miles is still pretty easy to do. Since I was in the mountains, I thought it would be fun to see if I could find a steep hill and go 50 mph on my bike. I did. On the hill down from Sam's Gap I hit 51.2! Quite the thrill! In case you are wondering, it took me about 50 minutes to get to the summit, and less than 10 to get back.
Sand pile

William had fun playing in the sand pile. This is a volcano that spews molten gold and is guarded by a titanaboa.
Blueberry patch

Paddy likes the blueberry patch.
Blueberry patch

He runs up the rows.
Blueberry patch

And down the rows.
Blueberry patch

Then acts silly.
Roanoke

This is my friend Gerry Bannan. We go back a long way. All that way to art school. He is sitting in his new studio/gallery where it was cool. The rest of Roanoke, by the way, was about 435 degrees! I think it was the hottest place I have ever been. And I have been to Phoenix.
Roanoke

Gerry and Betsy's new studio.
Roanoke

This is a walkway that goes over the train tracks in downtown Roanoke. It was about 750 degrees in there.
Roanoke

Looking down on the train tracks was this old passenger train.
Roanoke

Later, we caught the train as it was leaving town. Quite a sight to see.
Roanoke

The Roanoke Star, which is the "world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star." Good information to have handy.
Roanoke

The view from the star is quite impressive. This photo is not out of focus. It is the humidity that makes everything fuzzy. Really. Did I mention that it was hot there?
Roanoke

Back and Gerry and Betsy's house were it was cool. Did I mention it was really hot in Roanoke that weekend?