Ridgecrest, NC

Bill and I

went to Ridgecrest, NC last weekend for a national library conference.  There were a range of classes offered from beginning a library and all that includes with selecting and processing books to advanced classes in our library software.

We stayed in Mountain Laurel.  The room rates are extremely reasonable.  This is only the right half of the building.  Please notice all the stairs.  The beautiful campus is on a steep mountain so you are constantly on stairs or inclines unless you choose to take the elevators in the buildings.  We did both.

 

In the middle of the building is a covered walkway to one of the buildings where we had classes.  Look at the stone columns.  I really liked that architectural feature.

 

Here is a view of the beautiful bridge to the building.  Notice the different levels.  Many of the buildings were like that.  I'm glad Bill had a great sense of direction because I never knew if I was on the Concourse or Level 1.

 

Look how clean this is.  We had a lot of wind and still there was no debris anywhere.

 

This porch was on the left of the covered entrance.  As you can see, we were blessed with BEAUTIFUL weather.

 One interesting thing about Ridgecrest Conference Center was the number of volunteers we saw working.  They were all ages.  Some friends from our church did this last summer and enjoyed it a lot.  The woman ended up in housekeeping.  She said she changed a LOT of beds.  I was impressed with the restocking of clean towels - - - - better than a hotel.  If you might be interested, here is the link for volunteer opportunities. 

This weekend, we are home and even though we have had two terrific weekends out of town, we are happy NOT to be riding in our car for any distance tomorrow or Sunday!

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep : for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.  Psalm 4:8

St. Patrick

If you follow our church's library blog, you have already seen this.  If not, I want to give you a link to the real story of one of my Christian heroes.  St. Patrick's day is not about getting drunk on green beer or just eating corned beef and cabbage -- - - which we did on Saturday because we love it - - plus it's what my daughter requested when she came to visit after one of her certification tests for teaching.

St. Patrick's day is about being obedient to the call of Christ on your life and honoring one who was.  So here's hoping you have a great green day on Thursday!

http://libraryfbc.blogspot.com/2011/03/who-was-st-patrick.html

And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hathforgiven you.  Ephesians 4:32

A week’s difference

 

Returning from Lake Lure last weekend, we drove through heavy rain AND even snow for about 20 miles beginning at Maggie Valley.  With all the rain we had, the streams and rivers were rising and rapid.  We probably saw over 3 dozen waterfalls and run-offs pouring down the mountains.

 

About Galinburg, we left the pure, untouched mountain views to the commercialism of the tourist area.  I love having the choice of both.  We enjoyed lunch in the Pigeon Forge area with a quick stop at Five Oaks Tanger Outlet.

  Bill had never visited a Bass Pro Shop but we remedied that at Exit 407 before more interstate driving.  (All the above pictures are from inside the store and the man climbing the wall is a mannequin.)

 

This weekend’s weather has been beautiful springtime temperatures and as you can see, there are quite a few things in bloom. 

Forsythia

 

Daffodils

 

Hyacinths

 

Bradford Pear Trees - - - unbelievably gorgeous in the spring and fall.  When they line both sides of a highway, it looks like someone has decorated for a wedding.  However, the flowers don’t last very long and they STINK when in bloom.  But they are still a feast for the eyes.

 

Enjoy your week!

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come..... Song of Solomon 2:12a

Best Time of My Life

 

As you have noticed, I generally only blog about once a week - - - on the weekend.  When I miss a week, we were possibly out of town - - - which was the case last weekend.  We were honored to be guests at the wedding celebration of the daughter of a dear friend.  It was held at Lake Lure in Chimney Rock, NC. 

You are thinking that might sound like a familiar place.  For movie lovers, it’s the area where the movie, “Dirty Dancing” was filmed. 

 

 

 It’s easy to get there - - - interstate all the way except the last 15 miles of “S” curve roads.    Elevation climbs from 980 feet in our city of Cleveland, TN to 2,280 feet in Chimney Rock.    Make sure to be chomping on chewing gum because your ears will, pop, pop, pop!!!

 

  

Even though the weather was rainy with fog, it was a beautiful drive and we had a great time with friends.  I got only a few pictures because as much as I love you, standing in the rain with my camera was not high on my list of things to do.  (The above pictures were taken from inside the car with the window down or from our hotel room.)

 

There was a wedding . . .  John 2:1

Kindergarten Drop-In

 

Today I drove an hour to visit the classroom where my daughter is interning in a Kindergarten classroom as part of her requirement for the MAT program at Lee University.   The environment in her school is delightful.  It is obvious the teachers enjoy their coworkers.  The students seemed very happy, too.  Here is Amanda getting parent/teacher communication folders ready to send home.

 

She demonstrated the active board to me.   Many of you probably know it is a white board on the wall that is actually an extension of your computer so the entire class can see.  However, you use a special "pen" on the touchscreen to interact with the software.  It is a LOT of fun - - both for the teacher and the children.

 

(Those are not birthmarks on her neck but rather some of the pictures being projected on the board.)  Here is a small section of the classroom.  As you can see, each child has his/her own locker.  Over each two lockers is a wide storage cabinet for the teacher's supplies.

Today was 'Show & Tell' Time.  Here is one stuffed toy eager to escape and be seen by all and cuddled by her owner.

One parent brought the family's new kitten because her daughter asked if she could.  She was so thrilled to have a feline friend - - - - had been wanting one for a couple of years.  The little girl decided to petition heaven with her prayers and a kitty showed up under her house within a week.  How could the parent deny the child?

My daughter said that I was her show and tell.  They asked why she brought her grandmother!  However, I am the age of their grandmothers and they couldn't quite grasp the concept of their teacher being my "baby".

A couple of things really impressed me - - - besides the obvious great job my daughter did teaching the children.  The first was each child was allowed to pick a plastic bag of "goodies".  Evidently each Friday, a local ministry makes up enough 'sacks' of snacks for the students.  There are up to half a dozen items.  They can take them home or leave them at school for afternoon snack time.

The other was the simple spiral-bound notebooks each child received within the last two weeks.  They are given assignments for journaling - - anything from completing a sentence to doing picture math problems.  They can also write or draw in them during their free time because it is their book that they get to keep and take home at the end of the year.  Those simple notebooks were treated like prized possessions.

After school, my "baby" and I went for a snack at a local restaurant that had these items on display for sale.

Log Sculpture

 

 

Yard Art from Tools like Shovels

 

Being in school every day with young, very active children takes a lot of energy for the teachers but it is exciting to see how much they are learning.  It was a FUN, relaxing day for me.  I had a GREAT time!

Buy truth - don't sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight.  Proverbs 23:23

Peek a Boo

 

One of the exhibits we like most at the Chattanooga Aquarium is the penguin exhibit.  The background is a mural.  This is a statue with Bill peeking around from the back.

The penguins below are real and not super clear since they were taken through glass.

Below these rocks is the swimming area.  This penguin seemed to be playing a game with my husband. It was looking straight into Bill's eyes.  First its head was above water.

 

Bill would look into the penguin's eyes and it would pop under the water and then back up.  They repeated this about a dozen times and the penguin really seemed to be having fun!   It smiled and so did we!

 

And here is a fun outside picture.  It is the awning/roof over the entrance to the Mellow Mushroom Pizza Restaurant - - located a couple of blocks from the aquarium.

 

Why the Coca Cola tops?  Because Chattanooga was the world's first Coca Cola bottling plant in the world. 

You heavens, praise him; praise him, earth; Also ocean and all things that swim in it. Psalm 69:34

Library Meeting

Some of the church librarians in our county met for a scheduled meeting at this church today.  Many of the Baptist churches have this look but the newer ones do not have cemeteries anymore.

 

Our program was fun.  The director and I collaborated on an original skit that involved a visit from the "Library Doctor".  She entered in a lab coat - - and I wore a paper knee-length disposable gown over my clothes.    We had a few "jokes" in the skit but the line that went over the biggest was "at your age" which we repeated more than once.

Refreshments are generally served and today was no exception.  They served a delicious breakfast.  Two of the favorite dishes were a cheesy hash brown casserole and also the Duncan Hines Apple Cinnamon with Oatmeal Granola Topping Muffin Mix.   The ladies decorated with some cute homemade bird houses and these beautiful paper plates and napkins that were purchased at Hobby Lobby.

Like many of the rest of us, their library is sponsoring a winter reading program for adults.  Their theme is Winter Wonderland and used the following to decorate the top of their window display - - - so simple but so very pretty.

 

Before coming home, I ran a couple of errands - - - - one to Kohl's where they are still having their insanely fabulous clearance on winter items - - - many at 80% & 90% off - - - plus I had a coupon for 30% off my entire purchase!!!!   I got a $50 blazer/jacket for $7.

And this (statue) is on loan and parked outside one of the grocery stores.

 Have you ever seen a real Clydesdale?  They are beautiful, majestic animals.  I know they used to pull delivery wagons but I still hate that most people think of beer when they see them rather than a gorgeous horse created by God.

Hast thou given the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?  Job 39:19