Two local businesses

 Sitting by Flat Creek at Ole's Guacamole Sunday for lunch.

The soothing calm waters were interrupted by visiting begging Mallards...and some folks were throwing them pieces of chips. I was adamant that they didn't get any from us.

I even tried growling and saying firm NO to the ducks, while my friend said sweet things to him. Geese, Do Not Feed Wild Animals people food! The very first tenant learned in relating to natural animals!

 Why do so many people in Black Mountain have trouble with black bears getting in their garbage? The cans are available, sitting all over town, and the bears can get in at least half of them. So the bears have a good taste for people food. They grow well, have more cubs as a result, and the next year, they teach the cubs where rich food is available. Poor bears.

I had a lovely Pechuga Fundida - probably spelled wrong. The chicken had been grilled to a tough stage, but the spinach and mushroom sauce was just lovely on the rice. I asked for no onions to be added and so I was able to really enjoy it, and take half home for another meal.

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On Saturday I stopped to see the Grand Opening action of our local hardware store which opened a branch in Swannanoa, the next town down the highways.

It has a completely different flavor from the old building in Black Mountain, where actually 3 stores are linked together with their wood floors. In BM they sell lots of touristy needs...toys and gifts, kitchen things, everything to the kitchen sink I bet. Here the focus is on hardware!

Great parking, and now I want to go back and see what the ghost sign says on the wall.

And I gladly accepted the treat of a rootbeer float with which to go home.

Everybody, soon or late, sits down to a banquet of consequences. -Robert Louis Stevenson, novelist, essayist, and poet (1850-1894)

 Sharing with Tom's Tuesday Treasures

Continuing family updates

After the event...some more photos from Caroline's graduation last Sunday.

Her mom, Michelle, posted these on FB. I wouldn't see, experience many events were it not for FB. I am always checking and scrolling past the ads to see what's new with friends and relatives. My grandchildren say FB is for old people. OK, that's me!

"Congratulations Caroline for graduating with a double major in International Relations and Public Health with a minor in German from 3 colleges at George Washington University. It has been an honor and privilege to watch you grow over the past four years driven by your passion for international cultures and your desire to help others, particularly those disenfranchised. You challenged yourself in multiple ways we are so proud of and are delighted at the friends and relationships you’ve made. We could not be more thrilled for your future and the impact you will undoubtedly make in the world."

- Mom, Michelle.

Those who attended: my son Marty, GDaughter Kate, son Russ, GDaughter Caroline, D inL Michelle, GDaughter Audrey, Michelle's mom Joanne, and behind is her hubby, Gerry.

Mom Michelle, Kate and Audrey sisters of the grad

Caroline with her parents, Russ and Michelle

The celebration with a toast to Caroline. from front l. Marty (my son) Russ (son) Michelle (DIL) Audrey (my GDtr) Caroline (GDtr) Joanne (other grandmom) Gerry (Joanne's husband) and Kate (GDtr.)

I may not have been there in body, but I was in spirit. So sorry to have missed all the fun!

A wedding surprise

I was a bit upset that I learned about my grandson's surprise wedding via Facebook. What happened to family being involved, after all, aren't marriages a joining of families as well?

Not any more. 

I still feel surprised about my learning about my grandson's wedding in this way. After all, he'd called when they knew they were expecting. He was quite excited about sharing that several months ago. 

"You're going to be a Great-Grandma," he said.

They had already planned a big wedding on a cruise about this time, inviting all the family members. I declined due to health. Then they changed the date a year later to include the baby.

 They also had purchased a new house together about a year ago moving from Tampa to near Pensacola.

The new house is closer to his step family, who he grew up with. 

There's a step brother who's older than him, as well as his step-father who raised him after he was 9 months old.  

My son didn't marry my grandson's mother.  But that's probably his story to tell.

My first great-grandbaby. (We didn't have ultra sound photos when my children were expected in the 60s and 70s!)

The story of my grandson's birth and being raised by a step-father that he thought was his real father, that's his to tell, I guess. He did meet my son and start having a real relationship with his birth father in the last 15 years at least.

Sunday this week was the day my granddaughter, Caroline graduated from college. My blood line is sure busy these days!

Our family is just like any other family. We fall in love, we fall out of love. We have children, they grow up. We're all just doing the best we can with what we know and have at the time.

I wish the newlyweds much happiness!

For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is to let it rain.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The George Washington University graduation 5.17.26

 Of course it would have been nice to be with Caroline for her big day of graduation.

But actually it was much more comfortable for me to stay home and watch the commencement on line. So glad it was shown live. A very good and only 2 hour performance, good camera work, and even though my laptop doesn't do HP displays, I did clip some photos of the event.

Live stream started a minute or two before the event began.

My two oldest sons, mother of the grad, the other grandmother and her husband all attended...way over to the side of the huge crowd of graduates.

The graduates were already seated, not in any organized way, but with friends. So I never saw where Caroline was.

It was held on the Mall in Washington DC. That must have been really spectacular. No mention of the reflecting pools being painted, so the only thing that made the site obvious was the Washington Memorial behind the stage...quite a ways away.

Each college had a banner, and this is Caroline's college...the Elliot School of International Affairs.

Parents and families were allocated seats off to both sides (here the left side)

Russ (Caroline's dad, my son) said they were sitting on the right side...which I think would have been this crowd just past the barricades.

The program went quite smoothly, though I admit to washing dishes while some of the honorary doctorates were distributed.

The Elliot School of International Affairs asked all its grads to stand and receive their official act of recognition at graduation. (Each college did the same)

 Somewhere in the crowd is my granddaughter...

The photographer on a Segway didn't capture much in my opinion...then it was on to the next group.

The grads had received the medallions on the red ribbons on another ceremony on Friday.

A college graduate

 I spent HOURS compiling a file of almost all of Caroline Heym's photos that I'd saved over the years.

Most include other members of her family, which is ok, because she's in a close knit kind of family. And many others include friends from school and teams she enjoyed swimming with.

Today she's having her special day! 

Graduating from George Washington University with a BA in International  Affairs.

CONGRATULATIONS CAROLINE! She's my granddaughter!

Caroline Cody and Kate in  front, Michelle, Russ and Audrey in back. 

Caroline, myself and Kate