Where Did August Go?

Nearly a month without a post. No wonder nobody reads this any more. Well, I was away for a while.

Saturday 8/18, we returned from a twelve day tour of the south seeing family, attending a wedding, and seeing historic sites.. It's really hard to believe it's more than a week since we got back. The trip was surprisingly enjoyable and trouble free and enjoyable, considering the 90 + heat and 2800 miles of driving.

We got to spend two days at Colonial Williamsburg which we had both visited as young teens. I'd show you some pictures but their site must have better ones. There is about a mile of restored and recreated buildings appropriate to colonial Williamsburg ca 1770. I spent a lot of time in the joiners ( woodworking) and furniture making shops. The skill displayed was barely believable. Perhaps one day I'll purchase one of their pieces.

While there, besides eating too much good food, we went to play that was a hit in England and America in the 1750s (I am retrogressing in my taste). It was a silly, almost slapstick, comedy but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Too bad the cast had to see such a sparse audience.

Charleston was next.

Charleston is an amazing town. The old town has about 200 pre- Revolutionary War buildings and many more from before the mid nineteenth century. Most of this is below Broad Street. The town was the port and social center for the surrounding plantations. It is filled, really tightly packed, with signs of wealth including many large and beautiful homes. The breeze from the bay makes the most seaward lots the most desirable. I'll post a few pictures.

While at Charleston, we attended a wedding of former senior patrol leader of my scout troop. He went to become head of important program areas for high adventure camps and is now a lead engineer at GE's jet engine facility in Cincinnati.

From there we went to Raleigh to visit my eldest sister and her family. We had a good time catching up with people who are important to us.

One of those was my thesis advisor, Prof. Gross, who is the reason I am now Dr. Cherdack.

Black Mountain outside of Ashfield was next.

My youngest sister lives in Black Mountain, a small town full of artisans and artists, and pretty good soft ice cream. We toured Ashville including a grand old hotel and then went on to Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi (got it right first try - no typos - wow)).

My sister's house is on a road so steep I wouldn't think of cycling on it. Walking was tough enough. The view from her porch overlooking a valley and ridge beyond has made me very jealous. It's a good thing I don't live there because I would never get anything done. I'd just sit on the porch all day. So why don't I show you a picture? Because I forgot to take one.

Been home a week and a day. Went to a big party at my sons, about 50 people. Worked on replacing rotted and broken boards on my porch. Got to a Gershwin concert at Tanglewood and cycled to the Cummington Country Fair (cows are beginning to hold some interest for me. This could be a bad sign..... I know I'll never be a good farmer.)

We are under siege by huge, but harmless insects called crane flies. They are almost 5 inches long from foreleg to hind leg. Here's a picture.