April Showers

It is hard to believe April is nearly over. Again. Overall it was a pretty good month, albeit a bit odd at times. Happy visits, fun roadtrips, unexpected twists and turns, and a few hearty showers. A year ago I was counting my pennies and fretting about quitting my job to move back east. Now I'm back east, saving my pennies, and I have an improved job. Better.

This morning I sorted my laundry only to realize, "Holy crap, I have no clean clothes and I will be doing laundry all day." The nice thing about laundry is that I'm doing it right now. RIGHT NOW. I can blog while my clothes get clean. And then I can fold them while I watch TV. And I can clean the bathroom or get rid of those leaves outside that are probably really ticking off my neighbor while the next load gets clean. Oh, most importantly, I can drink my coffee while I do my laundry.

Last weekend was Easter weekend. Now, I'm not much of a church-goer these days and Easter kind of snuck up on me. Candidates and coworkers kept talking about the holiday. Everyone was on PTO last Friday and Monday. Huh? Oh, right. Easter! Always the joiner, (never the rebel or difficult one don't cha know,) I made the weekend a holiday and went to visit my parents. We had a lovely weekend of chatting, shopping, and dinner out with some friends.

Friday night I drove up to Blacksburg and met Mom and Dad after they went to Good Friday church. They were dressed somberly in black for the occasion but I couldn't help and chuckle at Dad's "dress Carhartts." I think it made me laugh because when I was in high school I insisted my black, zipper sweatshirt from Old Navy was dressy enough for church. Years later I saw pictures of myself in my "dress sweatshirt" and cringed. (AJEM, you were right ok??) The dress Carhartts don't make me cringe, they make me smile!

You know I have been educated well when I get excited about the presence of an AED. This was also at the mall and I was impressed to see it there. (They save lives people. Don't be afraid to use one, just don't forget to "clear!")








At the mall in Christiansburg there is a huge mural with animals and sporting goods painted on the wall. I don't really understand it but insisted on taking pictures. Here is Mom with a buffalo (and a basketball? Wha?)










Dad being attacked by a bear. It was a wild weekend.
















Now this I just took a picture of because I didn't understand it and frankly, I was a little frightened.











Um, we went to Dairy Queen ok? It was a special family outing. You can tell by the sign that it is indeed Easter weekend. I snapped a photo because I was surprised to see this on a Dairy Queen sign. What happened to the separation of church and ice cream?











This is horribly inappropriate...but I took a picture of it anyway...because it made me chuckle. I know this is shocking, but a teenager was driving this car.












I bought some birthday whiskey for a friend and the bottle was so dang pretty I had to take a picture.












Post church. Oh we're so cute.

Pictures speak louder...

Here are the last few months in pictures because I can't seem to use words on my blog these days.
In February I went to Dallas and this is what I found while at DFW. Yikes.
In February I discovered my niece has her very own coffee shop in Asheville! Pretty impressive for a 3 year old.
My boss sent me flowers on my birthday. She is so sweet! What a nice surprise.
My first beer at the Bywater, my new favorite place.
I mean, I had to take a picture of it...
Birthday sandwich. Large birthday sandwich. Ah, but what kind of sandwich?
Only the best Shrimp Po' Boy this side of the Mississippi.
Oh yes, I did! And I survived too.
Kubb made its Asheville debut this spring! Looking forward to many more rounds, at the Bywater and beyond.
In March I finally traded in my Washington plates for North Carolina ones. It was not easy, let me tell you. I procrastinated as long as I could...washed, vacuumed, detailed the car and then finally changed my plates. I bought this sticker so I would have a little something to show for all those years with Washington plates.
Here I am safely taking pictures while I drive through heavy fog and snow in the Tennessee mountains in April.
What? It's funny.

Blech. Cincinnati, OH.
Michigan is pure. Who knew? Don't worry, they still let me in.

Driving through Ohio was worth it because I got to meet Nora!
And I got to eat cheese puffs.
Happy to be back in the mountains!
Post-hike food. A lot of food and the world's biggest beer.
Spring is here!