Again, I have been negligent in my blogging duties.  As I’ve been perusing the net, however, it seems to be a common occurance.  It’s the summertime blues — I just know it.

Last week, I made a super short trip to Asheville to celebrate my mother’s 63rd birthday.  She’s beautiful as ever and doesn’t look like a woman in her sixties.  I flew into Greensboro on Saturday night (Chucklebutt found me a sweet deal including rental car) and I got into Asheville around 12am.  On Sunday, we headed down to Brevard by way of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Brevard is one of my favorite places because it has great streams and waterfalls.  Mom packed a yummylicious picnic and off we went.

We ate salami and brie and gouda and grapes.  It was awesome!

Mom and I have many pictures of us on this rock.  We have been coming to this particular picnic spot for many years.  Directly behind us, is a path that leads down to the water.  Don’t I look like a big ‘ole frog?

So while Mom doesn’t look anywhere close to 63, alas her feet and knees are feeling their age.  She has something called plantar’s faceitis (sp?) and it is very painful to walk on her heels.  I coerced her to come half way down the trail, but she just couldn’t manage to make it down the steepest part.  Doesn’t she look cute?

Meanwhile, I went swimming!  My favorite thing to do in the world-

You can see me hanging out on a rock in the background.  The small waterfall was great against my back.

Jiggle Puff playing opossum. 

The water probably came up to my knees, but I hunkered down.  Oh yeah, and it was freezing cold at first.  

After the refreshing swim, we headed back to Asheville where we spent the rest of the evening relaxing, reading and visiting.  Mom just introduced me to the Alex Cross mysteries written by James Patterson.  I am a huge Kay Scarpetta fan (Patricia Cornwell series) and am glad to have found another series.  If you like mysteries, both of these writers are excellent.

Anyway, I had to leave on Monday at 10am in order to get back to Greensboro in time.  Yes it was a super short trip, but it was well worth it.  I won’t be back that way until Christmas.

Chuck has submitted one of his concert shots for JPEG Magazine.  Check on my past post to vote for his picture.  He is busy with work, photography and getting ready to participate in the “Run What You Brung” Rally in September.  5,000 miles in 5 days.  Sheesh!  That’s crazy.

I have discovered another super fun blog: Mind Wide Open.   It’s super cool!  Each month they give you an image and a word from which to create a piece of art.  Once you are finished, you email a photo to the site and then folks vote for their favorite.  I am working on a project right now, and while I don’t expect to win, I love the idea of creating art simply for art’s sake.  This is a gentle nudge in that direction.     

I’m going to leave everyone with some great shots of my mother’s garden.  I am so jealous.  I hate the desert in summertime.  🙁

My childhood home is like a doll house!

I sat in the Adirondack chair and watched the birds playing in the bird bath.  There was a family of cardinals that had a ball in it.

Happy Sunday!