fairies, soccer, found objects, memories and celebrating love...

 So, when Mary and Crit were here when we first arrived, Mary and Oliver discovered a magical village just by our house in a cedar tree that is wound with wisteria.  They deemed this area "Dreamland Village"....and then their imaginations took off.  There are fairies, wizards, dragons, Pegasus and ponies.  Many nights we have to go and feed the fairies a very specific meal of magnolia leaves, moss, grass and flowers.  This is all from the imagination of Oliver and Mary and it is lovely. 

Oliver's imagination has found new breath here....it was always alive...but it has run wild here....

 We had a fun sleepover with Kobe last weekend.  Here they are in the early hours....this will certainly be used against them when and if they are older and care that they were practically spooning.  Regardless....i love this...and sweet Kobe is such a good cousin.  He's so helpful and STRONG. 

Bryce and I are still navigating the schedule of him working from home.  It's been a challenge because he is HERE...but needs to focus and not be disturbed.  So, we are trying to develop our schedule.  One great thing (for me) is that on *workdays* Bryce wakes up with the boys and I get to either sleep in, go running or do yoga.  It's a toss up as to which wins....but...when I do yoga....(deep breath)....this is my sweet view...:

 I roll out my mat at the foot of our bed and look out this gloriously tall window onto a gigantic trees and a winding driveway.  I breathe deep breaths in this space...

 This was a gift from my sweet friend, Julie.  I feel it....  Right now...this is where I belong.  I am so connected to the earth here...


We've been going out on the pond almost every day....until recently...we only had an OLD flat bottom fishing boat that you have to empty out every time you set to water: 

Me and Huggie,, pre-pond-cruise:

 Oliver and Bryce fishing:

Oskar and I stayed ashore...hunting for turtles:

I found Bryce, Oliver and Oskar watching a soccer game in Dad's room....beautiful to see them enjoying this together:

So....as I have explained to Oliver...this house is FILLED with hidden treasures.  FILLED!  Recently I found Mom's sewing box.  it was filled with threads, needles, ribbon, lace, patterns....a wealth of projects and memories.  It made me feel so connected to her as I rummaged through its contents...

 so....I took a few photos in an effort to capture its magic...

While on the topic of *found* objects...my beloved Critti is getting married on April 21.  I am leaving tomorrow to join the wedding festivities.  I have been working for a while now on her gift, which is entirely made of fond objects in this home and our lives...  here's my collection: 

I wanted to also share my Cranes....when I was in the hospital this past summer, Mary (Crit's daughter) and her friend made me strands and strands of "get well soon" cranes.  They carry with them a power and I like to keep them close....:

Here is Crit and Tate's wedding gift that I created from the found objects.  In case you can't make it out, it reads "i carry your heart"...which is a line from a favorite poem of Crit's and mine by e.e. cummings. Every piece of this from the wood (reclaimed from one of the fallen buildings on our land) to the green fabric (cut from the baby sling that I carried Oskar in) came from things that I found and re-pourposed.  It was really fulfilling to create this.  I am so excited for Crit's beautiful wedding this weekend and welcome that I will be present for this union....

these  beads, that make the ellipsis are from a necklace that Dad brought back from Mexico...

 i love the grains of this wood...

 I wrapped the ee cummings piece and some NC pottery very mindfully as well...here are some shots:

I leave tomorrow for Arizona....to witness the union of my BFF to her love on Saturday.   I wish we could've afforded to all go...but it's just me.  I am looking forward to the time and the celebration....I'll take tons of pictures. 

Fishing, mountains and sunsets...

So, Bryce has been taking Oliver fishing.  It's been great.  On his first try, he caught a 12" bass.  This past week, they took the "boat" (I use the term loosly) out on the pond.  We were sure it would sink, as it already held water.  But it stayed true. 

This is Oliver, showing his faith in the vessel he was about to board.

Note, how close the boat is to the water....

Oliver was asking Bryce how to spell something.  What I love about him is that he will argue with you on how to spell.  He is so strong-minded. 

Oskar never sits still....understandably for an 18 month old.  However, he sat here with Pops for a good 20 minutes watching a movie. 

 Last weekend we took off for the mountains.  It was lovely.  We went to the Chimney Rock/Lake Lure area.  It was so amazingly beautiful.  Those hills are in my veins. I have so many memories there.  We ended up staying at a "cabin" (read, tuff shed with wood put around it).  It was sufficient. 

However, we did try to stay at a dive Motel right on the river, called Valley Court Riverside Motel.  It turned out to be one of the WORST service experiences I have ever had.  I was so shaken.  We were pricing out these Motels, because there are a many along the river and came back to one that seemed to be the cheapest.  Shirley, the hotel owner, showed me some rooms by the river when I went in alone to ask for pricing. 

When we returned, I brought the boys in.  She was amicable and friendly.  However, when she gave us the key to the room, it was not by the river and had no outside seating as she had indicated before.  I was just going to let it go, but she came to knock on the door to make sure we had fresh towels and toilet paper.  When she came in, we were unloading and I asked her if we could get a room with a porch facing the river.  She said that there were no double rooms in that area.  I asked her if we could just get a King sized room if they are by the river, as we only needed one bed.  She got a little weird and said, no, "you all can't stay over there".  Persisting further, I asked if thosse rooms were available.  She said "No, we can't have children over there...It's just for adults.  Imagine if you were here for a quiet weekend and all you heard were kids" as she pointed to my boys. 

Bear in mind, while she is talking, Oliver and Oskar are exploring the room.  Getting up on a chair.  Pulling opening the fridge.  Exploring. 

I said, "Well, we were really counting on some outside seating, because it's the only place we can sit and relax after they go to sleep.".  She said,  "well, you could go somewhere else".  I jumped on that and said, "You know, I think we may need to if we can't be moved into one of your other rooms...I'm not sure."  Bryce was weighing in as well and voicing that he didn't really want to move, since we've begun to unpack.  She then got kind of belligerent and said to Oliver "Don't swing on that door" She was referring to the refrigerator door, which he was opening and closing..but not harshly and had only done it twice....nor is it her place to correct my children.  She saw my reaction to her saying this and said, "Yes, maybe you SHOULD go somewhere else".  I said "I agree, We'll pack up and I'll bring my card to your office for a refund".  "Oh, that's right, you paid with a card." she said.  I guess that meant somethign to her.  She hemmed and hawed as we begun to get our things.  Then she said, "well, now you've laid on teh bed adn been everywhere, this place has to be cleaned".  All that had happened is Bryce had sad on the bed against the pillows.  I know that these outer pieces do not get launderred everytime, so I know this was not an issue.  I said "if you need me to leave you some cash for the cleaning, I'm happy to, but we are not staying here".  Then she left. 

We got our things.  I was fuming.  I can't really capture how she was looking at our boys with such disdain as she was in the room.  I know...I'm a mama bear and all...but I have NEVER felt that unwelcome before.  Bryce got the boys loaded in the truck and I went in with my card.  I was polite and waited while she figured out how to use a credit card machine and issue my refund.  As soon as she was done....i was done holding it in.

I calmly said...(go ahead and get ready to judge me here...I got a little belittling and mean):  "Mam, I have worked in the hospitality industry for 11 years and helped run a hotel in Utah called Sundance Resort....you can look it up...and I'm here to tell you that you don't belong in this business.  I have never been made to feel so unwelcome in my life and the way that you spoke to and treated my children and family was horrible and discriminatory."  She listened and said "I'm sorry you feel that way, but those boys looked like they were going to tear that place apart".  I almost jumped over the counter.  I just said "I will make sure that this experience is recorded.  I am a travel blogger and will also be on Trip Advisor the first chance I get" (the travel blogger part is a lie...but I couldn't resist).  To which she replied, condescendingly "I'm sure you will".  And I left her with "Just you wait, I promise, it's gonna sting"

Anyway....here are my criminals, at the cabin that DID welcome us:

 Funny thing about Oskar, he loves to kiss you.  But...with me, especially, he'll go all FULL MAKE OUT.  It's hilarious. 

 Little Hiker:

 The Blue Ridge Parkway....we could spend weeks/months on this road....so much to do!

 The Blue Ridge Mountains:

 I love the many tunnels on the Parkway:

 One of the things that I absolutely LOVE here is the FOG!  We tried to do a hike called Craggy Gardens, but there was too much rain and wind.  Had it just been the fog...it would've been magic...

 Oskar and me...

 Again....it starts as a simple kiss...

 And then....FULL MAKE OUT!.....  I couldn't love him more...

Okay, this one is SAD.  Oskar got all bit up by fire ants in our yard.  It was so sad.  I was inside and heard him crying a bit and realized, he was just standing on the hill, not knowing what to do....

 Luckily, the bits didn't seem to bother him.  They are mostly healed by now.  We are so lucky!  They usually itch like the dickens!

 Sprinkler fun in the yard.

 Sunset in the backyard:

 Fallen shed....sad thing is that there is a really nice tractor under there.  That'll be a project at some point...

 We found WILD ASPARAGUS growing in one of the fields.  They taste great!

 Sunset again...this is one of the old slave buildings...