A little of the top please...

I like the photo even though you would usually see it in color.
For more on the barber pole, see the below link from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barber's_pole

Visitor from Norway

A very good friend of ours recently came to visit us in North Carolina.  Although a relatively short visit of a couple of days, we ended up having a super time.  Here are a few photos from his visit.

Relaxing at home.

A photo at the top of our property.

Velkommen å våre huset



It doesn't get any better than this.





Anticipation is written all over our faces.  Bring on the pig roast.



Trying to get the chef to reserve a special section of pork.



Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

From the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - We wish you a Happy New Year!

And a belated Merry Christmas.  As you can see, we were all tuckered out and couldn't get to the blog!

Photo with Santa

Here we are at the American Legion getting Scout's
picture with Santa.  At first, like all good kids she
barked and howled at Santa.  Then as the scariness
wore off she calmed down.  Along side of Scout is
her best buddy from our apartment complex "Zoe"
and her Mom, Lauren.



Say "Cheese-woof"

Scout says...

And remember I don't like heights...

What does one do on a day off?  Go fishing, nah.  Read a book, negative.  Oh yeah, pull out the "honey to-do list.  Check, right answer.  I mean, what could be more entertaining than cleaning a chimney, nothing right?  All joking aside, it was something we had been meaning to have someone do for about a year of so.  Safety first. OK, Chris said I couldn't light up the wood stove until she was sure the chimney and stove pipes were cleaned.  Enter stage right....Next door neighbor.  Clean the chimney, heck I can help you do that. I've got the ladders and brushes.  And by the way, we could use my truck to move your wood down by the shed up next to the house. Just say the word. 

And the adventure began...

Ron, why is this stuff so dang heavy?  Well, based on my experience I would say the wood is heavy because it weighs a lot. 

Lefty loosey, right?



Creosote wasn't too bad, but better safe than sorry.




I made it to the top.  What the heck do I do now?



Time to scrub the chimney.



Beautiful view, just don't look down.



Hey, who's holding the ladder?  Guys? Oh, guys?



Pigs Beware!!

This past Labor Day Chris and I went to a party out in our neck of the woods.  The highlight of the party, besides the social interaction, was the main course.  A roasted pig, finger pickin-good!!

Well, the contraption that they were using to cook the pig was a neat boxy looking roaster (Insert: Wheels a-turnin).  Got to get me one of those said I.  So after some research on their website http://www.lacajachina.com/ and comments from people who has purchased their product....Several months later and wallah!


One of the cardboard boxes that showed up on the front porch. Let the games begin...




Step one:  Let the dog organize the pieces for constructing the box.

Step two:  Lay partly constructed box on its side, along side the dog's stuffed toy.

Step three:  Look for side piece, oh yeah
right next to the dog's squeaky toy.

Step four: Attach both sides and lay next to stuffed toy.

Step Five:  Mission accomplished
 (Dog and Toys not included)

A word to the wise...Beware of flying handles!!
Story to be continued....