Let the stacking begin...

Some progress has been made on the wood pile. I split all the logs
that were behind the house and and ready to stack some more. I need
to start hauling/splitting the rounds from big northern red oak that I
recently felled.

New Wood Storage Area

Finally ready to start stacking up wood for the winter. The new
storage shed in place... many thanks to Mr. Peterson for his
knowledge, tools and willingness to help. All I had to win his help,
was cut down a few trees...

Aeden's Seventh Birthday Party

Aeden's birthday. An all out water war broke at the end... including
copious use of the hose.

Tomato Hornworm

Found this guy in the garden. He was huge!!!

Group trip to Greenville

Nice trip to Greenville, the central location, to get our old Columbia
friends and kids together.

A friendly visit

Just before lunch they wandered down from above the strawberry patch,
checked out the hemlocks, headed across the drive and had a few grapes
from the grape vine and then headed down the hill. Just one cub.

Cathy's B-Day at Lineville Gorge

Linville Gorge

We headed up to the vistor center, just off the parkway. It took
about an hour and 10 minutes.

Nice hike down to the base of Linville Falls. The traffic on the base
trail wasn't too - but the upper overlooks were super crowded.

We enjoyed a nice pinic toward the base of the falls and everyone
splashed around in the water. A bit slippery in spots - but no
incidents and Aeden and August had a blast (though I think Cathy's
worry meter was on high alert ;-).

The trail down to the falls wasn't overtly long, about .8 miles and
only 300 ft total elevation change - but the lower section was pretty
technical - even for on foot. Aeden made it down the rocky, rooty
within only a limited number of "are we there yet" (ok - so 30 or 40
qualifies as limited ;-), but he was a trooper on the way back up,
leading and no complaints. August slept most of the way down and
navigated about a 1/3 of the rocky/rooty section on the way back -
pretty impressive.

Definitely nice - though I'd like something a bit less crowded. I'm
looking forward to some of the other - off the beaten path trails in
the wilderness system. Maybe Trails Illustrated is in store.

We had a birthday dinner at Godfather's pizza and followed that with
some ice cream from Ultimate - only to find our rear tire flat. Pop
pop saved the day bringing us the spare from home and even offering to
get it warrantied under his tire policy - definitely a downside to
have non run flats on the vehicle that doesn't a good spot for the
spare. We'll need to figure this one out. I'm thinking a 4"
elevation kit, serious mud tires, black wheel well protectors with
silver rivets and top mounted tire with the deluxe fog lamp package
;-). Maybe even a roof bike rack.

Anyway - home safe and sound.