APPLES AND STAIRS AND BEARS... OH MY!!

Ella doing some "serious chillin'" at Park's Peak

With the house "broken in" by our friends, it was time to share it with family.  Emily and the girls came up to Park's Peak for Labor Day weekend.  Friday  afternoon they arrived in the rain, so all we could do was some "serious chillin'" that evening.  Abbie immediately claimed the day bed with all of the pillows in the loft and Ella took over granddaddy's chair (see above)!  On the way up, Dave and I stopped at Walmart in Shelby and bought some new board games.  After supper we had a good time playing "Left - Right - Center" and Farkel with the girls.  It was so cool after the rain, we lit the portable fire on the deck and the girls discovered the hot tub!  As the grown ups sat and drank wine around the fire, all we could hear was giggles from the girls, and an occasional  "watch me!" - followed by a splash and little butts and feet up in the air!!  Later that weekend, Dave had to add water to the hot tub as several inches had been splashed out!!

After breakfast on Saturday, Abbie wanted to revisit her "playground" which she had renamed "Nature Valley".  Though it is close by and within hearing, it is out of sight of the house.  After the bear incident we decided to institute the "whistle or walkie talkie rule" so that we could be in touch.  Abbie got a real charge out of Granddaddy using "over" and "10-4" and we soon learned if we gave her the walkie talkie, we would have a complete running commentary of what she was doing!!

Abbie with her journal and walkie talkie in Nature Valley

  Soon she and Granddaddy decided that one of the paths to Nature Valley was too steep, so they began to design stairs from the wood Granddaddy had had cut (see Blog #1, Distraction #9).  They got out shovels and hoes and enlisted Emily in helping choose and place logs from the wood pile.  Ella and I decided to be the cheerleaders and photographers.  

Granddaddy digs out a step, and Abbie places the log

Mom inspects Abbie's digging

Selecting the very best log

Ella, they aren't THAT far away!!

THE DESIGNER AND THE ENGINEER and a JOB WELL DONE!!

  After lunch, it was apple picking time!  We drove into Hendersonville to Grandad's Apples.  They had a playground and bouncing pillow for the children along with a train with cow themed cars that got pulled behind a tractor!  The girls enjoyed picking a 1/4 peck of apples and when we got back to Park's Peak they helped me bake an apple pie for supper!

Thank goodness this bear was just a playground attraction!

Emily said, "Thank goodness they are too small for grown ups!!"

Did she wear the right shirt, or what!!?!!

Abbie was able to jump-bounce on her bottom-and land on her feet!  I wasn't able to capture it all!!
 But I did get  the dirty butt!!

But how will she bite it with her snaggle tooth smile?!

Twisting so that you got an apple with a stem and leaves was Abbie's "proper technique"

I guess in a few weeks, we'll be back for pumpkins! 

After all of the digging, log moving and playing at the apple orchard, everyone was TIRED and except for some more splashing in the hot tub, and eating our apple pie after supper. We all, grown ups included, pretty much crashed and enjoyed sleeping with the cool mountain air.

Sunday brought a nature walk where Abbie enjoyed photographing the mushrooms and lichen.  We need to ask Aunt Rosa their names.

After an early lunch, it was time for the girls to go back to Charlotte.  Dave and I rode down the mountain with them to the Flowering Bridge at Lake Lure.  Not only were the flowers beautiful, but Emily and I liked the sculptures, especially the fairy riding on a dandelion!  (look carefully!)

As it usually is after an extended time with granddaughters, Dave and I returned to Park's Peak happy but exhausted!  We each retreated to a novel or ballgame and basically crashed.  But Monday we decided to "labor on Labor Day" .  Dave got out his chain saw and cut down and cut up some wood, while Deb made the house once more look like a construction zone as she got out ladders and paint, and finished painting the den.  Once she finishes the master bath, the whole house will have fresh paint!  Then comes painting and installing the base molding!!