Girls Weekend - Plus One

One week ago we made a weekend trip to the Other Banks with our daughter and our oldest granddaughter. Lucy Ann referred to our time together as "girls weekend with Paw Paw". We had a memorable two days. The purpose of the trip was for Mr. Goodneedle and our daughter to experience hang gliding from the dunes at Jockey's Ridge State Park; this was my husband's Christmas gift from her and her family. Unfortunately, this was also the Y-Guides Spring Outing weekend for our son-in-law and Mason; we missed them, but, undaunted by their plans the four of us pressed on for an adventure.
These two were scheduled for a Saturday morning flying lesson, which left Friday evening for exploring and walking along the boardwalk in Duck at sunset. As you can plainly see, it was a sweet and relaxing time.

It was a good thing that we were well rested because we had to hurry through breakfast on Saturday morning so that we had time for this local treat before flying!

Here he is-- gone with the wind!  My husband had the time of his life, as did our daughter. 

Lucy Ann did too, she spent the waiting time productively: shopping(!) and perfecting her cartwheel. All too soon it was time to head home once again. I was sad that it all went by so quickly but, even one week later, I am warmed still by the memories of sweet smiles and giggles, hearty laughter, the thrill of a shared adventure, delicious meals and one incredible sunset!

Life is Good!

 

Reflections On Christmas

Mason and his custom-designed sport locker.

Mason had a special Christmas request this year from PawPaw; a sport locker. He sat at our kitchen island on Thanksgiving day and carefully drew a detailed sketch of what he had in mind. He was sure that he wanted cubbies on the top for his football helmet and other sports paraphanalia and he was clear in his desire for a closet rod where he could hang his jerseys and uniforms. PawPaw took it from there; with a fairly limited time frame, the workshop was a busy one in the past few weeks. Mason's mother informed us that the locker, when it arrived at their Capital City home, would reside in the garage. Mason had a different idea altogether!  On Christmas eve day we loaded up the pick-up truck with the locker firmly and tightly wrapped in a plastic tarp to protect it from heavy rain; it worked, the locker arrived dry and ready. Once unloaded at its destination (hidden just inside the garage) we joined the family inside the house until it was time to reveal the surprise. No one noticed when Mason entered the garage for something else and surprised us all by declaring that he had found his locker! Although anti-climatic, the moment was no less fun; Mason was thrilled to pieces with his gift! He would hear no part of its planned placement in the garage, he was bound and determined that it would stand in his room, at the foot of his bed; his determination won out!

PawPaw in the workshop (where the magic happens... yes, those drawers are dove-tailed) with Mason's sport locker, my only regret is that somewhere along the line we misplaced his design sketch.  There was something so sweet and heartwarming this year about a little boy drawing up his plan and having every confidence that his special wish would be fulfilled.

Lucy Ann wove a potholder on a loom, she was so proud of her creation; a gift from her great-grandparents. I remember making these too, when I was her age. A classic craft that delights today as much as it always has; making something with ones' hands, linking generation to generation. 

Lynnleigh, at her home, Christmas morning. She and her brother each received tablets and headphones from Santa. At almost three, Lynnleigh was ecstatic over each and every gift she opened; according to our son she clutched a charging cord for this unit to her heart and said how much she loved it after unwrapping it! She was content to sit and watch a video with a few goldfish crackers when all the hoopla died down. My mother made her the little purse in the foreground; as you might have already guessed, her favorite color is orange.

This might just be my favorite photo of the season. Gregory's wish this year, topping his Santa list for months now, was "scuba gear"!  (Who ever could have predicted that it would be warm enough to actually use it?) When this cute little elf-in-flippers and a snorkel clomped into the kitchen for show and tell at Christmas breakfast I thought my heart might just burst to witness his joy. For sure, when I reflect on Christmas 2015, I shall remember the happy innocence displayed on four very special little faces. 

Life is Good!

Build A Bridge... And Get Over It!

Mason crossing Coral Rock Bridge; the dream project that he envisoned, coming to be.

Chapter Two

The boys were back in the woods bright and early this morning, bridge building takes time. They decided that wood "slabs", leftover from a major log milling following storm damage here a few years ago, would provide the perfect planking for the bridge floor. Knowing that, and actually hauling them back there were two entirely different matters, they are quite heavy. Step by step, one at a time, they were carefully placed and secured.

Mason was a big help, he handed Pawpaw the nails that he required, as he needed them.

Snack time... this team of builders is tired after their hard labor.

The official christening of Coral Rock Bridge, long may she stand!

Well done, boys; the hand rails and remaining flooring will wait for another day.

Life is Good!

Build A Bridge

Chapter One

Here's where it all started... where all good plans begin, with a drawing and a dream. Mason wanted to spend the weekend with Nana and PawPaw and build a foot bridge over the creek out in our back woods. The last one that he and PawPaw had begun together was swept away after a heavy rain. He had a grand plan for this one, with beefed up supports and even a hand rail. We picked up our grandson yesterday evening and bright and early this morning, after blueberry waffles, the boys set to work.

Trees were felled for the beam supports to span the creek banks.

Holes were dug for the posts.

A winch was used to move the trees out from among the other trees when they were hung up.

First beam support in place, spanning the creek bed!

Two beams in place; success! The planking will be attached to these beams for the bridge floor.

Logs were rolled over the supports and the weight load was tested.

Two happy bridge builders after a full day of work.

It's always a good thing when a plan begins to take shape;

the designer has named his masterpiece: "Coral Rock Bridge".

You might think that's pretty advanced for this little guy,

if so, you might be unaware that he just finished kindergarten; 

yes, it's true, he's a first grader now!

Stay tuned for chapter two...

Life is Good!