BSS Reunion

Sunday we went to the Bolling Shortt Sturgill Reunion as is our routine the last Sunday of July. We even got there earlier because Peggy asked Tim to say the blessing before the meal so we skipped out of church a few minutes early so we could run home and change, pick up our food and drive to Flat Gap. The weather was glorious this year. Even though it was in the 80's, thankfully it was less humid so very comfortable. A few clouds made their appearance too.

Here are a few pictures from this year.

Sweet little cousins. Ean, Bailee and Kacie.

Mini Dur Dur band. Elijah, Cayden, Ean and Bailee.

Uncle Check wasn't there since Aunt Ina just came home from her rehab for a broken hip so Tim was the money counter.

The "Paul Bollings."

Ean in the sack race.

Ean and Bailee.

Trying to get a frozen tee shirt loose so they could put it on. Jacob won. Seems like there was something wrong with Jacob competing with Elijah. Considering there was a thirteen year age difference.

Kelsie and Kacie.

After a lifetime of Bolling Shortt Sturgill reunions they kinda all run together now so I continue to take photos so I can at least look back and be able to tell them apart.

On the Reds front, they just won 10 straight...oh yes they did!! They are three games ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates and we are going up Friday to watch two games. Reds verses Pirates!! Can not wait!

The Rest of Sarah's Visit

I'll tell you, coming up with a title for posts is hard. For me, anyway.

So, on Saturday I got up and baked my oatmeal raisin cookies and mixed up some slaw dressing to take to Roger's cookout. We drove to Kingsport and arrived a little after one. Of course we were almost the first ones to get there. I bet that was foreign to Sarah. ;) It was already HOT.

Roger grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and everyone brought something. I took this picture of Tim's plate minus his hamburger to remember that he ate Kim's broccoli/cauliflower salad. In the thirty some years I have known him I have NEVER known him to eat broccoli. And he liked it...the salad that is.

The crowd was a bit smaller this year. It seems as though it ebbs and flows. Sarah hadn't been to one of Roger's cookouts in years since she moved to Northern Virginia. I couldn't tell you the last time Seth went either. Bum. ;) Jen and Michael were there with Addy. Jen is due with a boy in August and she looked fabulous. Addy isn't familiar with us so she never has warmed up to us yet. It's hard when we only see them a couple of times a year. Mammy had been in the hospital a week ago because she fell. She is home recuperating but didn't feel well on Saturday (she had overdone it the day before) so Jane brought she and Pappy over for just a little while. I'm glad Sarah was able to sit inside (with air conditioning) to visit with Mammy and Pappy.

Roger and Pat had their first 4th of July cookout in 1990, the year they moved back from Pennsylvania. Their screened in back porch inspired us to build one too. I'm glad Roger continued having it after Pat passed away. It has become one of my favorite family traditions. The kids used to love to go and swim every year. We haven't taken our swimsuits in years. I guess you just kinda grow out of swimming. Sarah sat poolside for a few minutes before we left. It was just too hot to be in the sun.

Even though the car had been parked in shade this was the temperature when we got in the car to leave.  The air conditioning felt so good on our drive home.

On to the next party we went. Andrew's 5th birthday party at Jen's "Flat Gap" house. Thank goodness we got there late and just in time to miss the birthday boy getting pushed into the pool by Ean (payback) and splitting his chin open. So thankful we missed the drama! He survived though and partied like a trooper. Erin took him to the emergency room later and he got seven stitches.

We always get such a kick out of the funny things Andrew says. And the way he says it. After he cut his chin he was crying and said, "Just my luck, now I'm gonna be four and won't get to turn five." Also, when Erin told him they would have to ride over to the hospital to let a doctor look at it he said, "but you are a doctor and you already looked at it." You can't get anything past him. Seth told us later that he saw Andrew pass Ean and heard him say, "thanks a lot" and of course Ean was oblivious. Oh, just the thought of it now cracks me up. Never a dull moment!

Like I said the party went on. Andrew enjoyed playing an swimming with his friends and cousins. He even made up with Ean.

Ean, Cayden and Bailee

Fortunately, the sun went behind some clouds about the time we got to Jen's so it wasn't too hot. Gary Dee, Colma, Gary, Peggy, Pete, and Tammy's crew were there too so we mostly visited. After Erin and Jen left to take Andrew to the ER we helped Fred clean up and then headed for home. After being gone most of the day it was nice to be back home for the evening. We watched some of the reds game but didn't stay up as late. Sarah needed to leave by nine the next morning to pick up Dan in Roanoke and we had church so crashed at a reasonable time.

Sarah's Visit

Since Dan has class every other month in Roanoke Sarah was able to come home last weekend. She dropped Dan off for his MBA classes Friday morning and drove home. She stopped in Wise to have lunch with a couple of friends and then arrived here after one. One of Sarah's goals while she is home is to visit as many people as possible. So, we always try to have a family gathering or she tries to go see everyone. Luckily for her this weekend worked out perfectly because Gary Dee and Colma had already planned to be home for an anniversary party for a friend. Peggy and Gary planned to be in also since Pound Heritage days was going on. Fortunately, Roger had planned his annual 4th of July cookout for Saturday and Erin had Andrew's 5th birthday party that evening. We were set for the two days Sarah was home!

Peggy called Thursday because she wasn't sure if we knew Gary Dee was coming home. Gary Dee had called Tim. In the meantime I knew I was going to cook diner Friday evening so I invited Gary Dee, Colma, Peggy and Gary. Of course Sarah had already put in her request...a garden meal. So, we had green beans, corn on the cob, cole slaw, fried yellow squash, cucumbers, tomatoes and cornbread. I made a peach cobbler for dessert and served it with vanilla ice cream.

I stopped at the bottom of the hill and picked these black eyed susans which I had been eyeing forever but had never stopped to cut them.

I had every ceiling fan whirling because it was HOT again. In the upper 90's and humid. I couldn't live without my ceiling fans.

Friday afternoon was spent in the kitchen. I mixed up oatmeal raisin cookie dough to bake Saturday morning for Roger's cookout. Then made the rest of the food for dinner.

Sarah set the dining room table.

When Sarah spoke to Seth he said he planed to come over and when Peggy talked to Pete and he heard what I was making for dinner he invited himself. Of course I didn't mind. It was a privilege to feed Pete...even if he did come almost two hours late. Vintage Pete. He had been napping. :)

I thought we would go out to Jen's after dinner but they had gone to Flat gap to get ready for Andrew's party the next day so everyone stayed to visit. They sat around the table and told stories. I missed out hearing any but by the look on Sarah's face I would guess this was when Pete was telling "war" stories.

Tammy and her family had been gone but after they came back to Pound she, Elijah and Ean came up for awhile just as everyone else was leaving. Can you tell the boys had been swimming that day? After they left Seth stayed until almost 12:30 a.m. visiting and watching the Reds. They were playing on the west coast.

It was such a nice evening of visiting with family. It was so nice for just the four of us to sit around and visit too. That is rare these days. We got in the bed late but it was worth it.

The Fourth

We didn't have any plans for the Fourth of July, well, except watch baseball games and relax. But just as I was going around the house taking a few pictures of my flags placed here and there Jen called and asked if we wanted to come up to their "Flat Gap" house to swim.

So, to Flat Gap we went. We even got in the pool. I hadn't been swimming since we went to the beach two years ago. With the temperature in the 90's again it felt great! We weren't the only ones swimming. See Daisy.

They have a hard time keeping Daisy out of the pool but when she jumped in and almost drowned Ean they had to put a stop to her getting in.

I had some hot dogs and buns here so I took them. We ate a hot dog and had watermelon.

Watermelon is a must on the Fourth of July.

It was nice to be at Jen's Flat Gap house again. Since they moved down to Granny's house we haven't spent any time up there since. I love having them living down here now but I miss their old house and get togethers at Flat Gap.

A Good Day

Tim and I got up early Saturday morning to go to an estate sale in Appalachia, specifically Derby. Derby is one of the old coal camps over there. I intended to take my camera with me because I joked with Tim that I was going to take a picture of the gas prices. It was $2.97 in Wise!! I think the highest it got here at one time was $3.65 so I hope it continues to fall. Unfortunately I forgot my camera and we forgot the cell phone too. Well, wouldn't you know we saw something that I honestly can't imagine seeing again in my lifetime. Ugh! I was so disappointed I didn't have my camera or at least the cell phone. We took the "old" road between Norton and Appalachia and beside the road in a wide spot was a bear! It was in a straight stretch so we were able to stop and roll down the window and watch her. How did we know it was a her? After a minute of watching her dig around in the gravel beside the road we saw a little paw under the guard rail and then two bear cubs came out from the woods!! It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. Luckily there wasn't any traffic so we were able to watch them for about three minures or so. The cubs stayed underneath their mama the whole time. We blew the horn to scare them before we drove off and the cubs scurried back to the woods. Outside of a zoo I can't imagine I would be fortunate enough to see a mama bear and her cubs ever again. I am bummed I wasn't able to take a picture but so thankful that God allowed us to see them.

So, on to the estate sale we drove. We had driven up to another coal camp, Stonega a year and a half ago when we went to another estate sale in Appalachia so I was excited to drive up to Derby. It didn't disappoint. There were lots of company houses which had been refurbished. It's so interesting seeing a community like that and imagining what it would have been like to have lived there back in the day when coal companies owned the homes and everyone worked for the companies. We got to the estate sale by 8:30 a.m. and luckily they let us go in even though it wasn't supposed to start until nine. Neither one of us even noticed what the old house looked like on the outside. Guess we were excited to see the inside. ;)

This was the second day of the sale so I figured it would be a bit picked over. I guess it was but I couldn't hardly tell because there was still a lot of stuff. Even though I keep telling myself I am not going to buy anymore ironstone except old ironstone from England with markings I could resist a set of dishes. I'm sure they would be classified as "ironstone" but they had no markings. There was only one coffee cup so I guess that is what was used through the years and the others had probably been broken. I think I can get some use out of the dessert plates and bowls. We also picked up some small dessert bowls that were seperate and three jars with little stars around the rim that would have had jam but could be used as juice glasses now. I plan to use them as little vases for the 4th of July or any patriotic holiday or event.

We bought this tool box for $1.50. I'm not sure where I'll put this but it was kinda cool looking and I've seen a lot of people around the blogosphere buy them.

We found a box of old Christmas ornaments. I couldn't make up my mind whether to spend $15 on them or not. I had set a self imposed limit of $25 to spend and this box put us up to $40. I carried them around and kept thinking about it. I think Tim put it best when he said, "Either obsess about spending the money or obsess about not buying them." He knows me so well. I bought them.

After three walk throughs we were ready to go. Yes, three. We like to look and I always love looking at the homes. This home had wide wood moldings, large windows, plaster walls and high ceilings. I love to look at older homes.

After we left the estate sale we drove by Asaka and through Rhoda, two other old coal camps. Seriously, they are the coolest things ever. We could tell a couple of the large homes would have been the homes of the bosses. Then we had to get back to reality and go to Walmart to pick up a few things. We headed home and tried to stay in all day because the temperature hit 99 degrees. Seth came over and watched the Reds game with us and ate a burger.

I talked to Sarah on the phone as I unwrapped my treasures. There was some severe weather, especially wind Friday night in Virginia and other states but fortunately it missed us. There were over three million people without power including Dan and Sarah in Falls Church. Luckily their power came back on Saturday afternoon. Many people will be out up to a week. I can't imagine being wthout air conditioning and ceiling fans in this stifling heat. I am so thankful for these "luxuries." It really makes me think of how other folks live, not just people in other countries but some people here in this country don't have air conditioning. Makes me feel a bit spoiled in a way.

We don't have any plans for the 4th of July. Tim will be off work so I guess it will seem like a Saturday to us. Sarah is coming home Friday and leaving Sunday morning. Dan has class in Roanoke. Luckily Roger's annual "4th of July" cookout is on Saturday so we'll drive over to Kingsport for it. Gary Dee and Colma will be in for the weekend as well as Peggy and Gary. Pound Heritage days will be going on. John Patrick and Elijah both have Little League tournaments in Lee County so I'm not sure what our weekend plans will be besides Roger's cookout. Guess we'll play it by ear. ;)