Statesville balloon festival 2012

No School

The kids had a few days off this week.  We woke up to a beautiful blue sky day and decided to go hiking.  We hit the Blue Ridge Parkway with all the other October, leaves are changing, yahoo's and found ourselves hiking with Grandma's and Grandpa's through the most beautiful forests.  

 Linville Falls

 I was wondering, while taking this photo,  where my fishing pole is hiding.

 The kids and I counted the circles on the tree stumps to figure out the age of the trees.

 The lower falls were quite spectacular

At the beach

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!

It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Jim had some Chinese balloons, they only cost $1.00 not a bargain if you burn down your community.  This is how it works: You start a little fire to a pack of flammable something attached to a piece of cardboard and watch as the fire inflates the tissue paper balloon, then you gently lift the balloon above your head and it floats away into the sky.  What a great idea to celebrate our last night together.  Or so we thought.  It was difficult to light,  then wouldn't inflate properly, then as it catches a breeze it takes off, but no, the breeze is finicky and it drops to the ground, still on fire, it's moving quickly as the men realize it may not clear the trees at the park, they can't catch it.  It's rising slowly and is now just a fire ball that at any moment could plummet into a million dollar beach front property. 

"I feel sick" 

"me too"

"I can't look did it pass the trees yet?"

"How long will the fire last?" 

Holy *!** We're going to be on the front page of the Garden Island Newspaper!"

Finally, it heads out over the ocean.  It's going to be ok.  A big sigh of relief from everyone.

Locals only

David plays the taiko drums.  

Uncle Jim is David's dad 

 Sean was able to join us for the Obon dance.

The Obon dances are held every weekend at different Buddhist temples on island to honor the spirits of our Japanese ancestors.  It's a great way to reconnect with all our friends.
Sean, Vicki and the kids joined the Obon dancing

  This is Hamilton, my stylist and friend.