Nicholson Family 1939

 Wonderful photo of the Nicholson clan from 1939. Parents, Francis and Frances in front. Mike's father, David, center back. Next to him is Mary Webb. She was the first licensed woman pilot in NC.

 During World War II American women were barred from any type of combat duty, so Mary joined a group of women pilots who would ferry planes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary. In May of 1943 she was flying when her plane developed engine problems. She made an emergency landing in a farm field, but was unable to avoid hitting a farm building. Mary Nicholson was the only American woman in the ATA-RAF to die in World War II.

Frank Nicholson was one of the original Piedmont Airlines pilots and his son Tommy is also a commercial pilot. 

Piedmont was based in Winston-Salem. It was bought out by USAir in 1989. 

Art by James Arthur

I wanted to post this because it's hilarious and smart. James A. is such an inventive kid. He is very much like his father was at his age. 
 

Giving Thanks for Family

 My wonderful brother was driving back from Atlanta after spending Thanksgiving with Allanna. He, Arrianne and husband Kyle, along with Jon and his family all met together for lunch. We ate at Pho Happiness, an excellent Vietnamese joint. The food is great, although the menu is limited somewhat these days due to "supply chain issues." It was so nice to get together...we don't get to do that much. By the time the pandemic is under control, I'll be too old to do any traveling. I guess we just have to do the best we can in the meantime.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Day 2021. Staying home this year. There's still too much covid in the air. Maybe next year we'll be over the worst of this crap. It's getting tiresome. ANYHOW...we had the Nicholson traditional holiday nachos. And later we're going to watch some old Godzilla movies. I have the next 11 days off from work. WooHoo!! I am SO looking forward to doing stuff that is not work related. 

DTCC doesn't pick back up until end of January...so I really do have time off from everything. 

I got some nice text messages from several friends and family members. I count them among my many, many blessings. 
 

Art of the Carolinas

 For the record: Pargie and I attended Art of the Carolinas in Raleigh this year. We each took a class. She took an oil portrait painting class and I took a journaling one. It was okay, but I won't be taking a workshop from this artist again. She has ADD and was SO scatter-brained. It was a little frustrating. But, AOC is always a blast. And Pargie is the most amazing human alive. It was really nice hanging out with her.

Looks like Fall and a UFO

 

It's definitely fall. The leaves have turned and are falling off the trees like rain. 

We found this odd structure during our walk. It is unidentified and it's an object, but I doubt if it did any flying. So, that makes it a USO, an unidentified stationary object, or maybe a UGO, an unidentified grounded object. The dogs took little interest in it. I'm sure it's something the hunters left behind, although there are "no hunting" signs posted everywhere. Of course, there are also "no trespassing" signs--which makes me equally guilty. 

Best Dog in the World

 

He's such a sweet old thing. We both enjoy our walks in the wooded areas out behind the house. Sophie usually runs off in search of rabbits. Early tends to stay near me and he will generally come back when called. Sophie...not so much. She runs through the underbrush, nose down, hot on the trail of something or other. If she does manage to find a rabbit, she goes tearing off after it, yapping like a maniac and then Early will chase after her. It's not good for his bad knee, but he can't help himself. 

They are messy and often stinky, sometimes expensive, but they are such good companions. I love them both. If people were more like dogs, I might like them more. As it is--I prefer the company of animals. And the older I get, the MORE I prefer animals. 

What is this thing?

 

A fungus among us. I saw this beauty on our morning hike today. It's the size of a softball, pure white and kind of fuzzy looking. Very interesting. The weather is unbelievably awesome right now. The spiders are starting to pack up for the year, so it's not too difficult getting through the forest. And speaking of packing up...heading to DC tomorrow to visit the grandboys. This will be such fun. Halloween with the kids is always a blast. HOWEVER, I must admit I'm feeling a little anxious about the drive. This is the first trip I've made since Covid began and I know not everyone is as diligent as we are about masks and vaccines. Also, we have to take Early with us and I worry about my boy. And I worry about Sophie because she doesn't eat when we're gone. Our dogs are such fragile, emotional creatures! 

Fungus and some happy pets

Found while hiking--the biggest mushroom I have ever seen. I stuck my foot in the picture for scale. It was HUGE and in perfect condition. There are mushrooms everywhere right now.

Update: the poor, sad runaway dog was reclaimed. I'm sorry he has to go back to less than desirable living conditions. Turns out the old boy is 15 now. Honestly, I hope he dies soon--then his misery will be over. I wish I could save the world and yet, I can't even save one old dog.  

Early, Sophie and Clawdia taking it easy. I've got to get a bigger bed. Now these are some animals that are living the best life ever. If only all animals, domestic and wild could live a peaceful, happy, painfree, stress free existence. It's only animal and plant life that live up to the full measure of their creation. Humans are such a major disappointment. 

Homeless Dog

 

Admiral Halsey

This guy showed up on the doorstep this morning, looking dirty and hungry. I believe I know who he belongs to...which means he has been neglected for many years, tied up outside. I am not going to take him back there. He doesn't deserve that sort of miserable life. I called the Vet and they can't see him for 5 days. I notified the animal shelter and Mike posted a picture on Facebook. So we've done our due diligence. I gave him a bath, and because his skin is a mess, I gave him a capstar (just in case), some antibiotics and benedryl. He's had a good meal and is sleeping now. He's just the sweetest old dog. I know, I know I need another dog like I need a hole in the head, but I'm a soft touch. Obviously, he escaped and has been wandering around for days and finally came here where he knew he'd be loved. Poor old guy. I think I know his name, but I'm calling him Halsey, as in Admiral Halsey because he's part British (English Bull Terrier). I will not call him by his slave name. Oh dear...what have I gotten myself into. 

Early morning in early October with Early

We decided to brave the wilds of Chatham county and take a little hike. I was going to wait until the spiders had packed it in for the season, but we were too anxious to get outside. I truly love spiders. I think they are AMAZING creatures. They work so hard and there they are just patiently waiting for their next meal and we come stumbling through destroying their homes and their livelihoods. I have nothing but respect for them, but I don't enjoy getting those sticky webs in my face and hair. 

We saw 2 box turtles. I don't usually see them traveling in packs. I hope they get to where they want to go safely. May God go with you my little friends!

When we got home, I gave the kids a little treat. Some kind of chewy bone thing. They like them.

I'll be 65 in slightly less than a year. Not sure about the whole retirement thing. Would love the free time, but hate to give up a nice fat, steady paycheck. Luckily I don't have to make a decision yet...we'll see.

The picture above is of the old powerline right-of-way that is behind our property. There's a wooded area between this clearing and our house where me and dogs like to hang out. It used to look like an airport runway--nowadays nature is reclaiming her own and the weeds and trees and coming back. 

Clawdia

 She's so sweet when she's sleeping, otherwise she's a super pain in the hinder. We have to keep the studio and the bathroom doors closed because she has this annoying habit of sneaking in there and pooping, EVEN THOUGH I keep a window open so that she has free access to the great outdoors. In spite of this, she can be the sweetest cat I've ever had. She likes to get in my lap when I'm working and she has started sleeping in the bed with me. The dogs are already taking up a lot of real estate on the bed, but she will curl up next to me for most of the night. We have a king bed, with me and Mike, both dogs and now Clawdia--it is pretty dang crowded in there. It's okay. As I've said many times before, I prefer animals to people. Animals fulfill the measure of their creation. Actually everything in the universe does--except humans. Go figure. 

Fall is here

 

It is technically fall, but the weather is more like late summer. Trees are just starting to turn. The nights and mornings are cool. We don't have to run the airconditioning. I took the dogs for a hike in the woods today. They love it. I love it. Although I did have to give Sophie a bath when we returned. She was a mess. I took a picture of the old chicken coop out in the woods behind the house. That's what our house will look like in a few years, I'm sure. But at least it has a toilet. 

Life is just grinding along same as always. Eat, sleep, work. This is probably pretty much how things will be until I retire--which I HOPE will be in the next year or two.

4th of July celebration (belated)

 

We had another chance to get all the grandkids together. Also a chance to use up the fireworks we didn't get to shoot off last weekend. I'm sure the neighbors were thrilled. And Sophie. Poor little girl. She doesn't like loud noises. All the dogs and cats are a bit put out by all the activity in the house this weekend. The cats make themselves scarce. Sophie and Early just stay nervous. Lucky for them, we don't get many opportunities to have all 4 boys in the house at the same time. They are so different from each other, each with a full set of gifts and talents, and are all just so amazing.

Family Reunion!

 

Hannah came to NC to get vaccinated and brought the boys. We went to visit Jon and Lila so all the boys could get together. FUN! They played in the bounce house and then we had take-out from Samantha's Pupusas. That is the best Mexican food I've had in probably my whole life. It was so good. Definitely not Taco Bell swill. Hannah came in Thursday night and left Sunday morning. It was a wonderful visit. It was the first time we have seen her boys in 10 months. 

Today is Jon's birthday. I'm still freaking out about how quickly time is passing. In a couple of years I'll be retired and can finally have time to visit people and get moving on my hundreds of projects.

The semester at DTCC is over. I ended up teaching 2 classes since the other teacher sort of flaked out. I'll be teaching 2 classes again for the summer session. I enjoy it. And the money is a nice bonus. 

Still doing Art-O-Mat...and I really need to get moving on it.

Camelias in bloom

 

The camelia bushes are loaded down with blossoms. They are so beautiful. They probably could use some pruning. I'll need to consult an expert--I don't want to damage or kill them. The big one was here when we moved in 20 years ago. The little one was a gift from my coworkers when Mom died. Camelias are slow growing, but they seem to be very hardy. I mean, I haven't killed them yet. 

I have a big gardenia bush in front of the house that was also here when we moved in. It is in a bad location, but it blooms every year with the most incredibly wonderful smelling flowers. I love them. They were Dad's favorite flowers. I'm afraid if I try to transplant it, I will kill it. 

My gardening skills are marginal AT BEST. I enjoy the flowers so much, but during the summer when it's hot and humid and the weeds are waist high...I just lose interest. 

I'm determined to do better this year.

Pho Happiness

 

A rather cool late winter afternoon. Lunch at a new Vietnamese place in Chapel Hill, right next door to Local 506. It used to be an Indian restaurant. Good food and reasonably priced. My most favorite thing they made was crispy ramen noodles with fried tofu and veggies. They took it off the menu. 😞😞😞 But they have other good stuff, so not to worry.

Jon and Lila brought the boys and met us there to get take out. Then we went home and ate. Spent a nice day hanging out in the yard, cooking hot dogs on my home made rocket stove, building my shed and annoying the dogs. 

David is now 4 and James will be 7 this summer. Wow. Blows my mind. My grandchildren are growing up.

Finally got the shed together

 

It took months, but finally got the garden shed put together. When Jon and Lila came by with the boys, they helped me assemble it. It's really a tarp covered tent, but it will work just fine to keep my garden tools and wheelbarrow dry. I have accumulated quite a selection of tools the past year. I'm planning to do a lot more yard/garden work this year. Probably mostly flowers. I want to keep the bees and butterflies happy.

Vaccinated!

 

Got vaccinated last week. We went to a little independent pharmacy in Cary, next door to Mike's friend's new tapas restaurant. Thanks, Allan, for hooking us up. 

It was no problem--except we did feel kind of crappy the next day, which is good actually--a good immune response.

We got the Johnson&Johnson vaccine, so only one shot needed. I still plan to keep the mask on, but I do feel safer. Hopefully in a short while we'll be able to go to D.C. to see the boys. I miss them. 

David just turned 4. The James' will both be 7 this summer. I am just reeling. Time is zooming by. 

Feeling the Bern!

I did a watercolor of this now iconic photo from the happiest day of my life...AKA inauguration day 2021 when the ass clown's reign was officially and finally over. I won't lie--I truly and deeply hated that creature. 

We're almost a year into the pandemic. Things are just now starting to turn around. 1/2 million dead. Unbelievable. Mike thinks he has a line on the vaccine, so we're hoping we can get our shots soon. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to go see the grandboys in DC. It's been since June that we saw them last. I see the other boys in Mebane about once a month, but even that trip is sort of nerve wracking. I just don't like going anywhere when so many people are still so casual about this virus. 

I am a couple months into the new job and it's going well. Also teaching this semester at DTCC and painting blocks for Art-O-Mat. I'm keeping busy. Makes the time go by faster--getting closer to retirement.

Weather has been crazy as usual. We had major equipment failure and had to replace the HVAC unit. ugh. Another unplanned expense. Of course the week we had no heat was the coldest it has been all season. But, we're back in business. It's all good.