Fall colors at Beaver Lake

Fall has been lovely here so far. We haven't been getting much frost but I have seen a little snow. Maybe 5 minutes worth. It melted as soon as it hit the ground. The cold temperatures haven't kept me from golfing yet but I imagine the day will come. I have raked many, many leaves. I'm using a rake I found in the tool shed. It has seen better days, though. It is small and has two or three tines missing. I could get a new one but do I really want to spend another $10 at Home Depot? Nope. Of course, $5 coffee at Port City Java is just fine. Sometimes I wonder about the calculations my brain makes.

The reception

The reception was quite fun. There was a dance master and almost everyone danced a little. Starla and I danced quite a bit until the one-step ended in a gallop and she ended out of breath. Brian and Nicole danced wonderfully and added an aristocratic air to the proceedings. Here they are doing the polka. The candy cart was a favourite for everybody. We still have a bag full. Also, you get a picture of me looking surprised. I'm not sure why.

Nicole and Brian get married

Two friends of ours were recently married. I sang in the wedding and Starla was a bridesmaid. It was in Sudbury, MA. We had a very nice trip except that Starla was sick the whole time. She toughed it out though and smiled the whole time we were there. Here are a couple of pictures of my bridesmaid. Also, you can see that Nicole made herself a beautiful dress. The wedding was supposed to have a Victorian feel that the old Wayside Inn and New England setting really accented. I wore tails.

Ruby exiting the couch

I thought I was done blogging this evening until Ruby pulled this maneuver. She stretches out like this about once a week but I had the camera handy tonight. If you grab her feet she'll just stand there until you let her go.

Proud husband

Yes, I created these drawers on my own. They are for Starla. Well, more for her clothes than for her personally. The drawer handles I bought for it were vetoed by Starla. So tomorrow I will be back at Home Depot to get different, more sophisticated ones.

Beaver Lake colors

Today we meet with our architect about the house. We are pretty excited about getting started. I have been doing a fair amount of work on the house but nothing that really changes the way it looks lately. I've been building drawers for Starla's closet. Here are a few pictures of our foliage and lake on this rainy day. Also, Ruby is crowding Starla on the couch. This is a regular occurrence and you shouldn't be worried about Starla. It is a symbiotic relationship. She keeps her feet warm from Ruby's body heat.

Spiked the trees.

Today I fertilized the trees. I used MIracle-Gro spikes for my three Japanese maples and most of the rest of my trees. The maples I planted 3-4 months ago are still looking good. Hopefully, the fertilizer will help and not hurt them. I, also, put down some grass seed in a couple of bare spots on the lawn. I am not sure if I have fescue or not so perhaps I will have different patches of grass in some spots. My next task is to dig up the bushes and shrubs along the driveway and plant a garden. Any tips would be appreciated.

Wine rack.

I made this out of some odds and ends downstairs. Good practice for my bookcases.

Yesterday.

I sang a a down town eatery called Vincenzo's. It is an Italian place that is nice and quaint. I had some food which was quite good. Anyway, I was singing because Asheville Lyric Opera asked me to. It was a two hour gig where a soprano and myself took turns singing in Italian while lunch was served. The event was in conjunction with a Chamber of Commerce type thing called A Taste of Asheville. It was a little fun. Next Thursday I am singing outside in Pack Square. Around this time of year they have something called Mid-day Musicals going on. And one of the mid-day events will be me singing along with a couple other people. That should be fun but I do not sing outside very well. ALO has also hired me to sing with the Victorian carolers. Four of us dress up and go caroling at various locations. I am really looking forward to that. We have several gigs at Biltmore during the Christmas holidays. I'll keep you posted.

Turkeys and a ball of yarn

Another walk for Ruby and another turkey gang. What are turkey packs called anyway? A flock seems too glorified for a bird with a wattle. Gaggle sounds right but those are geese. Also, a ball of yarn. Somewhere a cat is very sad.

My bookcase

I, also, built a book case. I painted it cream and gave it a paste wax finish. Now it is ready for books and what not.

Another turkey sighting.

This time I saw 6 large birds about two blocks from our house. Ruby was pretty interested but I wouldn't let her bark at them. I wasn't looking for any trouble with this gang.

Wall shelves

I recently built these wall shelves and attached them to the wall. I've been enjoying learning how to use my new miter saw. I've, also, done two rooms worth of moulding. Thanks mom for helping me set up the basement as a workshop.

Two new chairs

We purchased these a few weeks ago. Perfect for lake watching.

Year of marriage.

Well, it is hard to believe that Starla and I have been married for a year. We celebrated with a weekend in Atlanta. Here is an inept picture of us at a Moroccan restaurant. We sat on the floor and ate 5 courses at a little round table. It took us 2 hours and we had double full stomachs. The food was rather tasty. Still, I prefer Indian. While in Atlanta we drove around a lot. I guess that's what you do in Atlanta. The High Museum was quite nice. It had a nice assortment of folk art among other things. Of course, the martini I had at lunch before we visited the museum might have something to do with that opinion. I bet Henry Darger always seems more thought provoking and less plain crazy after a cocktail.

Turkeys in the hood

I walked up the street a few houses yesterday and guess what we saw. A bunch of wild (I assume.) turkeys on the prowl. Ruby was interested but a little shy. There were a dozen or so in this gang of hoodlums. Only a year ago we moved in to such a nice neighborhood and now it is just going to pot. I can only imagine what the graffiti will look like. Probably chicken scrawl over someone's new fence.

Old post.

Here are some pictures I wanted to post many days ago but computer ills stopped me. Ruby, Starla and I are on our way to Keith and Angie's rehearsal dinner.

My funny

Here is something that I just said to Starla that she thought was funny. Ruby was hacking and gagging around the living room until she finally barfed up a small amount of white saliva. Starla asked what was wrong with her. I told her that nothing was wrong with her except being a dog. They just throw-up from time to time. That's why they call them dogs. Because they are dog-awful. Starla laughed.

Sorry for the break

I have been trying to blog for the past several days but I haven't been able to upload pictures without my browser crashing. So here is a post without picture. Keith (Starla's brother) and Angie were recently married, congratulations. We've been busy going back and forth to TN for that.

More anniversary

After we all ate more than we ought our very nice waiter, David, brought out a special cake. There was a slight mishap during it's displaying for pictures but that's ok.