Biltmore Bound

After a rather stressful week at work that has resulted in a new job title for next year; I'm going to the Biltmore House for the weekend. My sister and I are going to take our cameras and take lots of pictures for 2 whole husband and child free days. I can't wait. New pictures tomorrow night!

BTW- I'm now going to be the curriculum coach for my school. I'm not sure exactly how that will pan out, but I've got a "get out of jail free" card if I don't like it. We'll see....

My cloggers! They are so awesome! 

Hwy 321 is going to be a 4 lane road in 3 1/2 years. I sat in traffic while they cleaned up the results of today's blasting and saw this Mountain Laurel - straight up! This rock will be gone when they're done. They don't leave mountains this close to the road anymore.
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This was at the bottom of Clark's Creek on Saturday morning. We had fog in the valley and clear skies up top. I couldn't bring myself to take any snow pictures on Sunday. Come on Spring! 

Grandfather Mountain on Saturday morning early from Clark's Creek 

Bumper Stickers

I've had a really fun weekend. I took lots of pictures yesterday between the two storms. The thunderstorms washed all the pollen out of the air and the sky was crystal clear. I'll post some tomorrow.

My cloggers performed yesterday! I coach our school clogging team which consists of 25 3rd, 4th and 5th graders from my school. Most of them have never danced before and they were so excited! It makes it even more fun for me because they are such an disparate group - 1/2 are boys, and they are a mix of white, black and Hispanic children. It's not what one usually expects from a clogging team! They did a great job and their parents were really proud of them. I'll have pictures soon.

I found this website selling bumperstickers. I recommend that if you like to adorn your car, you start here.

A Butterfly

I have a newly emerged butterfly living in my house. My daughter has emerged from her black hoody clad chrysalis and suddenly I have an amazing, beautiful butterfly slowly trying her wings. It was surprisingly sudden! On Monday morning my child emerged from her bedroom with a skirt, a pink shirt, toe rings, coiffed hair and makeup. I almost didn't recognize her! She has worn a consistent uniform of black sweatshirt and jeans with slightly mussed hair for the last year. I have to admit that I was a little unnerved by the transition. But, oh, what a lovely butterfly!

Thirteen

One of my good friends is a middle school teacher, and she warned me about 7th graders; "aliens". She has promised me that 8th grade will usher in the return of my lovely children - I'm counting the days. My kids alternate between being really awesome, interesting people to NOT. Report cards came home yesterday. ARRRGHHH. I'm certainly seeing the consequences of not turning in work - I wish the child getting the grades could actually see the connection.

Ah well.

For a beautiful photo please go to Blue Ridge Blog. Spring is sprung!

This is my neighbor's dog, Dora, keeping a watch out over the road. I kept waiting for her to just cross her legs and dangle her paws.
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The long road home (son's photo)
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The sky was PURPLE this morning
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Nice framing-- done by my son
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I liked the angle, but I had to tweak the color.
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The Thinking Camera

I have never had a digital camera before. I asked for a basic camera for Christmas and received this wonderful Canon PowerShot A400 with a (slight) zoom lens. It is loads of fun but I can't seem to turn off its brain! I learned to take pictures with an OLD camera - it would make suggestions but it was up to me to use a flash, adjust the speed, or change the F-stop. This little baby is a much faster thinker than me, and it seems to be hiding its brain behind layers of menu options and abbreviations I don't understand. Ah well, back to the owner's manual.

The beauty of snow in April is that it will be gone by the afternoon...
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April Snow
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Forty-two

The answer is 42! If you know the question, you know, the question...

and you're not afraid of mice;

then this website is for you.

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