My Playground

The Town of Waynesville sponsored a hike on Saturday, November 3.  The hike started shortly after 9 and we were back a little before two.  We stopped for lunch before turning around.  The difficulty level was moderate, though it had plenty of uphill.  Other than the twice-yearly hikes, the town's watershed if off-limits to the public.  The watershed covers 8600 acres.  The water in Haywood County only comes within the county, so it's particularly important to keep it clean.  We split into two groups.  One group was more leisurely and planned to stop more to look at birds, etc.  Ours was the hard-core group.  I've been ready to explore these parts since I interviewed for the job.  There is a Saturday hiking group that I can't wait to get plugged into.  I found out about it through this event, so I'm really glad that I went.  This is my playground.  :)      

Happy Halloween!!

I started celebrating on Saturday night.  A local museum, the Shelton House, was hosting Ghosts and Goblets.  Shelton House houses the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts.  We split into groups and visited three rooms.  Each room had a host who told a story.  We also had refreshments in the barn (nice building, actually), which I expect for 10 bucks.  ;) They had stories and a campfire for the kids.  I spent some time by the fire and torched a few marshmallows. 

On Halloween night, I participated in the fall carnival at church.  I've been visiting FBC Waynesville, which is downtown.  The Waynesville Downtown Association gets in the spirit on Halloween as well, which the church tags onto.  Kids can visit the downtown merchants for candy.  The church holds their event during the same hours, which is a neat way to reach out to a lot of families.  They have a pretty good relationship with the WDA.  Bonus: the church was getting rid of the pumpkins.  I took one home and it is a fab fall decoration to have by the front door. 

The Shelton House

 

 

 

Welcome to Waynesville

Here's a snapshot of what I've been up to.  Hre are has some scenes from around town, including the amazing views.  Some pictures are from the Apple Harvest Festival.  Apples are a big deal around here.  Haywood County has an apple growers association.  At the festival, I volunteered with the Chamber of Commerce.  Mostly, I had the hard job of sitting at a tent and enjoying the entertainment.  I got to see clogging for the first time.    The entertainment was in the parking lot of FBC Waynesville.  Festivals are one way that the church reaches out to the community (free water, bathrooms, and parking...they take donations).  It's a rough life, but someone has to do it.  ;)

The full album is posted on Facebook.  The album name is Welcome to Waynesville. 

 

   

 

Five months?!!

Five months ago Friday, I fell head over heels in love...with this little fella.  He's actually a big little fella and I heart him.  He is now eating food, including cereal.  Anderson is also getting a few teeth.  He spent the night with Gigi and Papa last week.  He was a good boy and slept all night.  He needs to save some sugar for his Aunt Megan...I miss him!  

Watch out...I may just climb out of here ;)

I am handsome.  Look how my hair has gotten so light. 

Farewell, Pirate Nation

This says it all.  :)

For most of the last 11+ years, Greenville has been home.  I can't believe that it's been that long.  I came here for college and never truly left.  I've come to love life in a college town (minus the traffic and the train...no one likes the train).  This time of year, it's all about football.  Don't worry, I still have plans to make it back for a game (see you on BLACK FRIDAY). 

Since moving here, I've lived in five dorm rooms and five apartments..whew! That translates into five roommates and tons of great friends. 

I began running in Greenville as well and have made some fabulous running pals.  I will most definitely miss the flat terrain here (but not College Hill).

I also joined Oakmont Baptist and it's been a great church home.  Bonfires, thanksgiving dinners, a pirate statue scavenger hunt, you name it! I look forward to joining some of my Oakmont buddies for the Outer Banks Marathon in November.  Love you all! I'll be back to visit!

I spent six years in school (two degrees, not the six-year plan), switched majors and did two internships.  The Carolina Pregnancy Center was my first one.  They'll always be near and dear to my heart. 

Bye, ECU, Greenville, and...PEE DEE the PIRATE! Arrgggh!

Movin' on up!

I am moving to the mountains.  There is a lot of fun to be had, and I plan to have as much of it as possible.  Here are ten cool things that I must do:

10- See waterfalls (Transylvania County has 250)  http://www.visitwaterfalls.com/
9- Go skiing (Cataloochee and Wolf Ridge are nearby) http://www.skinorthcarolina.com/
8- Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; hike and watch animals http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
7- View Christmas lights in cute downtown areas  http://www.visitdillsboro.org/specialevents.html
(scroll down Dillsboro Lights and Lumaries)
6- Go to local festivals (the Apple Harvest Fest is on 10/20) http://www.haywoodapplefest.com/
5- Observe elk in Cataloochee Valley http://www.romanticasheville.com/elk.htm
4- Run around Lake Junaluska http://www.lakejunaluska.com
3- Cook yummy food with locally grown apples (from above said apple fest)
2- Breathe in lots of mountain air
1- Pack my suitcase to visit the folks back home! :)

It's Football Time!

For the App State game on the 1st, I tailgated with Marc and Shelley.  Marc and I grew up at the same church.  Shelley and I took Spanish III together with Mrs. Messina.  This was an early (and HOT) game.  We feasted on Bojangles and tailgated over by the baseball stadium.  We were taunted by the sight of a giant, blow-up mountaineer.  We won 35-14 and proceeded to guzzle down the Gatorade. 

http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/Despite-ECU-Efforts-Hundreds-Treated-For-Heat-Illness-At-1st-Football-Game-168556576.html