North Carolina Trip September, 2018

So these Cool Sweats took a trip to North Carolina last September and got to visit some of the other cool Sweats!

On one of our day excursions we drove to Pinehurst Golf Course which was just gorgeous. We sat in the lobby of this clubhouse for awhile. I felt like I feel when I go to Ethan Allen.................very insecure. It is marvelous how many different kinds of people there are in the world. Golfers - Dennis - Non-Golfers - Me. Rich people - Pinehurst clubhouse - Not Rich People - Me and Dennis. You get the drift?

However, I am rich ENOUGH, actually exceedingly rich. I can take trips, I don't have to go to work any more, and I can visit the North Carolina Sweats! Here's Care Bear in her darling bedroom. We always have so much fun when we're there. There are always lots of plans, loads of food and lots of laughter.

One of the things Dennis and I had on our "must do" list this time was to F-i-n-a-l-l-y make it to the Great Smokey Mountains. We'd tried to do it a few years ago at the height of the autumn leaves, but it was so foggy that day as to make the drive hair-raising. This time we were a little early for the leaves, but it was gorgeous! A true wonder of America, a land full of wonders.

 Just look at those miles and miles of rolling hills.

And notice these threatening clouds!!! Yes, we flew to North Carolina right at the height of a major Hurricane that made national news. People couldn't believe we were going "to" North Carolina. Luckily Greensboro is inland and just got bands of rain and high winds, but it was still quite the experience to be there that week. The stores were all running out of food, the gas stations were out of gas, everything was closed.

Appalachian State University is near the trails we hiked, and let me tell you, these trails were swarming with college kids who decided to hike the same trail we were on that day because we soon found out the schools were all closed because of the impending hurricane! This is one of those groups, and everywhere were SCADS of dogs!!

One night we visited the B and C's climbing gym and watched Caroline lead this group in exercises.

Here's Brandon showing us some of his skills (he actually wasn't feeling well that night and was just there with us picking up Caroline - I don't think he usually climbs in crocks :-).

Just being together at Andrew and Andrea's home is the best part of visiting!

Whitney is a talented homemaking artist. She likes to sew, and knit, and cook. She is also an artist artist and a musician.

And Caroline likes to get around like the athlete she is - why walk on your own two feet when you can do a handstand?

We did lots of jigsaw puzzles too! Good hurricane projects. I can't remember what this show on t.v. was but it was one of those 50's musicals that they don't make any more.

The compelling reason for visiting when we did was to see Whitney in Greensboro city's production of "Newsies." Andrea and I got there early and the rains started pouring down.

And then, they stopped - this is their cute downtown theatre district which reminds me of La Grande All small towns remind me of La Grand.

Andrea and I went to an art gallery that was next door to the theatre and saw these incredible miniature carvings. This looks like a street, but it's actually a pottery container the size of a vase with this carved in miniature into it!

Here are Andrea and I anticipating the oncoming storm!

And ta-da- our star performer Whitney after "Newsies" You can't take pictures of the play during the performance, but it was beyond fabulous. Oh my GOSH! Whitney sang and danced with all these other young talented professionals. It was fabulous! The PIPES on these singers. Whitney has a gorgeous voice, and so did everyone else too. Their power, and theatricality and musicianship just washed over all of us in the audience.  You had to be 14 to even try out so Whitney was one of the very youngest actors in the show.

The looks on Whitney's face in these photos just shows her natural exuberant personality. What a charmer!

It was such a memorable experience to be with our North Carolina Sweats! Can't wait to go back.
XOXOXO
Mom