Wow,  I knew it would be hot but this is incredible!  95 with 95 percent humidity.  I am healing with only small pain now but Paul is covered in Poison Ivy burns so we spend most of our time inside playing games with the family and watching more TV than I have in the past year and a half.

The best part of this stop is getting to hang out with the family.  We have played so much PITCH that I have finally really learned the game! I think?  Two of Paul’s sisters made a trip here while we were here so we got to see even more family.  The newest member, Lyla is adorable.  If only I hadn’t hurt myself, I would really have gotten my baby fix but holding her was painful so I just watched her a lot.

The local Theater, Neuse Little Theatre of which Paul’s brother is one of the Stage Managers had there opening night of Battle of Shallowford on Friday and we attended Saturday evening.  What a great theater, show, cast, & crew and all for only $10 each.  We had seats in row three and there are only 100 seats in the theater so all seats are great!  The play is about a grocery store hang out in 1939 during the broadcast of the Orson Wells, War of the Worlds!  Very cool concept and an amazing version.

We have been here about 4 weeks, 3 1/2 of which either Paul or I were not feeling well so being with family has been such a blessing.  We will be leaving on Wednesday heading north to New York State and hanging out with some more of Paul’s family.  We are looking forward to cooler temperatures but will miss the family so much.

Judy and David, Paul’s sister and son, are visiting from New York this weekend and since David is learning about the civil war and we are in the south, a trip to one of the battlefields was the easy choice.  We went to the Bentonville Battlefield which was one of the last battles in 1865.  It is hard to visualize 80,000 men running through these fields fighting because now there are lots of farm homes with corn and tobacco growing.  At the site is the Harper House which was one of the homes that was taken over by the Union during the 3 day battle and used as a hospital.  Just imagine a war right outside your door and having to move upstairs so the enemy could take over your home for their cause!

David, Judy & Paul on the steps of Harper House

The Harper House Kitchen

The day was capped off by a night of Bingo at the local Moose Lodge.  We had a couple of winners at our table.  Congrats to Paul’s sisters Judy and Carol who both got to yell BINGO and come home with more money than they contributed for the evening!  Some people have all the luck.

It has been two weeks since I had the bright idea of cleaning the top of my house.  There is still pain but slowly I am able to take care of myself.  It is a good thing I am healing cause now Paul has a huge patch of Poison Ivy on his chest and it looks so painful and today Duke has been sick.  North Carolina is at least cooperating with mild weather.  We spend a lot of time indoors relaxing and hanging out with Paul’s dad which is the reason we came this far.

Things are healing, never as fast as you want but when you abuse your body the way I did I suppose it may take awhile!  The “Shrek” colored shoulder with streaks of purple and yellow has finally peaked and I can see some of the swelling is going down.  The rib hurts when I breathe, but that won’t stop me!  The pain medication definitely helps but it has it’s side affects so I am trying to skip it!  One day I felt so stoned I could not even function.  When I was 25 that would have been fun, not at 53!  I can finally get out of bed alone and almost dress myself so Paul will be returning to his duties of sleeping in his fathers home keeping an eye on him and giving his brother and sister a short break.

The weather here has been beautiful and I spend a lot of time sitting on the porch watching a mother bird bring food to her babies in the birdhouse on the porch – very cool.

I have learned my lesson the hard way!  The plan was to wash the motorhome and it was going fine until I got Paul’s help to wash the roof.  This is where the OH NO comes in.  Paul set me up and I started up the roof using the roof ladder on the motorhome.  Two steps before the top I lost my grip and the next stop is the ground on my back. Oh the pain!  After several attempts at catching my breath and trying to stand Paul calls the parametics and off to the Emergency room we go.  6 hours and a CT Scan later it is determined that I have a broken collar bone, a cracked rib and an old compression fracture on my L1 vertibrae from the last time I fell down the stairs and didn’t go to the doctor! 

Paul is playing super nurse and I will be fine in a couple of weeks.

We made it!  2,850 miles, 26 days, 16 cities and more gas than we want to add up, we  made it to Selma, North Carolina.  We will be spending about a month here hanging out with Paul’s dad and some of his sisters and brother and all their families. 

Happy Tuesday!

We are staying at Campfire RV park near Asheville and this place definitely has an “it” factor!  Check in time is 3:00 pm and not before!  We arrive about 3 pm not even thinking it was that big of a deal until we entered the driveway and realized that this is the only way in or out and 2 RV’s would not fit easily!  The driveway is a gravel road about 1 1/2 miles long mostly uphill and with several switchback type turns, but when you arrive you know why people follow the rules and pay the price of $40 a night!  This place sits atop a mountain ridge and the view is spectacular.  With only 20 sites it is very quiet and beautiful.    

My Mother's Day Smile!

It is beautiful here although we are not spending much time as we are out touring again.  Today we went to Chimney Rock State Park to hike again!  More waterfalls and more stairs to spectacular views!  When you climb to the top you have the most amazing view of lure lake which is where Patrick Swayze taught Frances ‘Baby’ dance.  Remember “Dirty Dancing”?  It was filmed here and in Virginia.

Lure Lake from atop Chimney Rock

Denise trying to capture the landscape

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock

One hike was not enough for this Mom so we also hike the 1.5 mile hike to Hickory Nut Falls, a 400 foot water fall in Chimney Rock SP.  We were able to get up close to this falls and could feel the spray!

Hickory Nut Falls

Spray

Paul, George & Duke take in the view

Mother’s Day was beautiful, the only thing that would have made it better would be if my girls could have been with me.  Hope all my mom friends had a beautiful day.