Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Thank You for NOT Talking

Not enough can be said about silent travel companions on airplanes! And I was lucky enough to score 4 of them - one of each leg of my travels. This past weekend I traveled to Fowler, Kansas by way of Wichita, Kansas to celebrate my great-uncle's 100th birthday! It is quite a milestone and I was glad I went. I was able to meet about 3 dozen 2nd cousins... or that was just the best answer when I asked how I was related to them. "Oh, I'm your father's cousin's daughter's son." Seriously? The relational ties were absolutely mind boggling. But I was finally able to put some faces to the names in some of my grandmother's stories.
Uncle Ira (birthday boy), me, dad, Jackie, and Aunt Alice

We ate an exorbitant amount of food at the party, went to check in at our bed and breakfast (out in the boonies...), and then back to uncle Ira's to eat leftovers. I also dipped into my cousin Scott's homemade strawberry wine - delicious.

I can not forget to mention Grasshopper - the dog at the bed and breakfast. Grasshopper is a VERY skittish stray that made home at the B&B, getting his name because he ate only grasshoppers when he first arrived. Grasshopper had the most adorable little face and of course I wanted him to b my new BFF. It didn't happen. Grasshopper wanted NOTHING to do with me! Even after I fed him pieces of sausage and bacon which he accepted very begrudgingly, coming only as close as he absolutely had to. It broke my heart.

Grasshopper running away from me after taking some sausage from me and hiding under the chair.

We also took the required spins by the Salmon family land and homestead which is always fun to me. I have a soft spot for old farm houses (see below). I was able to poke around on the first floor of the Salmon homestead and wonder what stories those walls could tell - it was just a tad bit spooky.
The Salmon homestead

Hmm... The rest of the weekend was pretty uneventful. I came back on Monday just in time for the winter weather today! Governor Bev Perdue declared a state of emergency for North Carolina due to all the winter weather. Durham had about 5 inches of snow fall. There wasn't any better way to ease back into the work week then being by a fire, eating yummy breakfast, drinking wonderful coffee, watching the inauguration, and making s'mores.

Now I'm off to bed. I have to get up early if Iwant to beat all the cazies on the road. Night kiddies!




4 comments:

Nick said...

Yo. Good to hear the flight was good. Keep up with your blog, I'll be better reader. Thats my new years resolution

Maria Kay Salmon said...

I hope that Nick has more resolutions than that! But I am happy to hear that your new year is going well. Take care and keep in touch. Love, Maria

Anonymous said...

Hi Lizzie, test from Mummy. I think Im up and running to be able to leave messages from now on

Anonymous said...

I didn't write that Girl Bug - you're nutty brother did. But he did help me set up the the user ID.
Took them to the airport at noon - it's quiet around here --- it always is when one of you leave after a visit. You write well - keep it up.