Should be a Semi-Normal Week. . .

Sprat is home after being away for two weeks at camps and I hope we can get back to normal.  Normal is subjective at our house.   My house is like a three ring circus and when we come out of the house  it is like a volcanic eruption. 
I hope at some point my boys learn how great it is to have a sibling and how blessed they are to have each other.
Sprat came home with wild tales of mission camp and how much fun they had.  Big T started leadership camp today and, to see him get off the bus with a huge grin is priceless.  He had a lot of fun and has this whole week  of learning ahead of him at our community college.   Sprat is back eyeball deep in football again and I guess until the season is over.  

I get a little nostalgic every year about this time, thinking about school starting back and the kids progressing along.  Every tick of the clock is another step closer to them making their way in this world and being on their own.  We want them to be on their own but it is hard to let go.  We want them to be happy, healthy, and successful in whatever they choose to do.  

Last Trip for the Week

Yesterday we went to check out the Bechtler House.  This is the home of the man that first minted the first gold dollar in the United States and it was right in my back yard.  Big T, grandma, Alli, and I are touring this time.  
We had a great time visiting with the family.  It really is amazing at how much history you can learn that is practically in your back yard.   I bet you think the gold rush started in California, nope.  It actually began in western North Carolina.  Christopher Bechtler began a mint to aid the gold miners of North Carolina.   He started in the early 1830's with a $5 gold coin and latter made a $2.50 and $1 gold coin.  Bechtler made the first gold dollar in the United States. 

I have hit the high points on all of our trips, please check out the websites I have mentioned for each trip to find out more or maybe even plan your own visit.  I think Big T has enjoyed his adventures this last two weeks, I know I have and I think we both have learned a lot.  Our trip would not be complete without a trip to see my sisters' house and to see her sweet goats.  Big T got some great pictures of them, he is quite the photographer.  We also went by one of our local high school agriculture barns to see their new piglets.   Check out Big T's pictures below.

Exploring Local History. . .

Big T and I are still exploring our little corner of the world.  We have an unusual home in our area called Korner's Folly, Jule Korner built the house in the late 1800's to use as a studio for his furniture and interior design concepts.  Big T and I set out yesterday to see this house, our little adventures these last two weeks have been a lot of fun for us both.  We have seen things that we may not otherwise have the opportunity to visit.  Next week Big T has leadership camp and Sprat goes back to football workouts and there will not be time for side trips.
I will give you a brief run down on the house, it really is a must see to appreciate how it all comes together.  To look at it on the outside it looks like a typical two story home, when in fact, it has seven levels and ceiling heights that vary from 5 1/2 feet to 25 feet.  I will not spoil all of your fun by telling everything, it is a must see to appreciate.  Check out their website:
www.kornersfolly.org  Below are some pictures Big T took.

Stay tuned we have at least one more trip this week maybe two if it all works out.  

Trip to the Dairy Farm. . .

Today Big T and I ventured out to a working dairy farm that gives tours.  These folks were the best!  The young lady that was our guide was very knowledgeable in the history of the farm since her grandfather started it.  We went on a hay ride around the pastures and got to see these beautiful cows. They milk their cows and make cream, butter, and ice cream right on the farm. We got to see the milking room and where the cows stay when they are expecting.    These cows are treated very well.   They are milked twice a day and the rest of the time they are kept in a cooling barn especially on hot days.  Here is the website for the dairy:  www.homelandcreamery.com
If you have a dairy farm near you that offers tours I highly recommend a trip.  We also stopped by a local pre-Revelutionary War battlefield.  We got our history lesson for today.  Check out your community around you, you might be surprised at how much history you will find.  We had a wonderful day learning a few things.
On another note, Sprat is at Mission camp this week with our Church.  So far they have torn down an old shed, for a neighbor of our Church, and taken away the garbage from it.   They have a few more things like this to do this week.

Field Trip. . . .

Big T and I went to visit my folks yesterday and we also went to see the Biltmore House.  I was able to talk my sister and her girls and my mom into going with us.  We had a blast and got to visit one of the most beautiful places in North Carolina.  We had a great day for our trip, the weather was perfect and the way we had planned it worked our great.  We visited the house and part of the gardens first then ate at the Stable Cafe.  We also went to the Winery and the museum at Antler Hill Village.
I had forgotten how truly  amazing this place was.  It has been years since I had been and many things had changed since I was here.   There were several things that Big T especially wanted to see; the pool, bowling ally, and the Napoleon chess set.   He was a little disappointed to find out they had moved the chess set to the museum at Antler Hill Village.   My favorite parts were the billiard room and the library with the spiral staircase.    We used the audio sticks and were able to hear detailed information about each room, it was almost like having a guided tour.  They told us about how Vanderbilt decided where and how to place the house so that they could take advantage of the beautiful views.   I was disappointed that we could not take pictures inside the house but we took a lot of pictures of the grounds.   I would love to go back at Christmas to see all of the decorations.  We had a great time.  Here are some of our pictures. . .

Stay tuned, we have a few trips planned for next week too.  

Sight Seeing with Big T. . .

Since Sprat is away at camp I thought I would take Big T on some short trips to check out some things that were not to far from home.  Today we did not get to go do what I had originally planned but we had a great day and it was quite educational.
Today we went to the first Moravian settlement in North Carolina, Bethabara.   I always thought it was Old Salem but it was actually Bethabara.  There are still a few of the original buildings there and they offer a quick tour.  You can also do your own walking tour of the grounds.  It was a little warm but well worth the visit.  We also walked to their graveyard for the Bethabara settlement.
We took a short trip downtown to a local glass blower shop, Olio.  I was fascinated by this place, Big T could take it or leave it.  We watched as an apprentice glass blower worked with the glass.  I could have stayed there all day to watch that.  We have another trip scheduled for later in the week and maybe two more next week so stay tuned.

Budget????

Have you made out your itemized budget yet?  I encourage you, if you have not put your budget down on paper, be intentional and do it.  If it is not on paper you might just float around your intentional spending and mess up your budget.  It is ok if you have to change your budget, it is a living organism and change is to be expected.  I always write mine in pencil for that very reason.  If you are married or are doing your budget with a significant other always talk with them when things come up and you think the budget needs adjusting.   Your budget should be a group effort and if you have kids you should include them in some of the decision making.  There are certain areas you would not consult them in but, things like entertainment and eating out the kids could weigh in on.  If we do not teach our kids that we as adults have guidelines and a responsibility when it comes to spending they will not learn that very important lesson.
This realization hit me right up side the head one day while I was out doing some shopping with my kids.  I had my list of groceries that I needed to buy and I was keeping to my budget.  Sprat picked up something that he absolutely had to have and was not on my list or in my budget.  I had to explain he could not have it and as you can imagine that did not go over very well.   The objections came with, "why don't you just swipe your card, then I can get it."  This opened the door to explain what that card really is.  We do not use credit cards, I do have a debit card and that is the card that Sprat was referring.   I think we send the wrong message to our kids when they see us swipe that card.  We think they understand the concept of a debit card but they really do not.  A plastic card is a plastic card they do not understand where that money comes from.  Sprat, Big T, and I had long talk about what those plastic cards mean and how they really work.  My kids did not know you had to have money in the bank to use those cards they just saw me swipe that card and walk away with our purchases.  I never thought about all of this before, we go about our lives going through the motions of buying groceries and going to the post office and not thinking about all the things our kids pick up on when they are young and go along with us everywhere we go.  We must be deliberate in our spending and in our education of our kids.  They pick up on more than you realize.

Let's Talk Tomatoes. . .

Do you love tomato sandwiches?   I love them and I eat them in a variety of ways.  There is your traditional tomato sandwich; bread, mayo, and tomato.  Very simple but oh so good.  My favorite is a variation on the traditional; bread, cream cheese, tomato, onion, and cucumber all sliced thin.  You can use either white bread plain or toasted.  My hubby brought home some pumpernickel, that with the cream cheese was wonderful.  My mom used to make little tea sandwiches and she would use the dark pumpernickel and rye bread.   She would use these for little get togethers with her friends and for baby and bridal showers.  She makes an amazing vegetable spread too, this does not have tomatoes but it is still worth mentioning since it does have onion and cucumber.
Vegetable spread:
2 carrots grated
2 cucumber peeled and grated
1 onion grated
squeeze the water out of each of these, then cream together with a block of cream cheese.   Add a dash of lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce and a little garlic powder.  Chill at least two hours, serve with crackers or as tea sandwiches.  One of my all time favorites.

Summer Activities. . .

I have been trying to find some cool things to do with Big T while Sprat is away at camp for a week.  I found this cool website and I thought I would share it with you.  www.factorytoursusa.com

You can click on your State or a State that you would like to visit and it will show you factories that give tours, some are free.  I found several places we may check out in the next few weeks.   I will be sharing our adventures too.

I found a working dairy farm and an automotive plant that I think would be really neat to see.  I hope Big T will enjoy these places.  We already have a trip planned with my sister and her girls and my mom next week and I am really excited about it.  I am going to keep you in suspense right now though.
Many of these places at factory tours are free the others charge a nominal fee.  Stay tuned for our adventures.  

Happy Fourth of July ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I hope everyone is having a wonderful fourth of July weekend.  We spent a lovely day at the lake yesterday and the boys got to do a little fishing.   Everyone loves a cookout and what better reason to have one than the celebration of our Independence.   We fished, played dominoes, and ate like Kings. We had your traditional hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad, slaw, fresh onions, fresh cantaloupe, my salsa dip, corn on the cob, pasta salad, cucumber salad, and for dessert a frozen key lime something that was FABULOUS.
 The weather could not have been better, it was nice and cool from our morning showers.  I think we are supposed to stay pretty cool the rest of the weekend and I am glad for that.  I do believe this has been the hottest June and early July that I can remember.  I will post some pictures of the boys fishing below.   Happy 4th of July from my house to yours.