Spirit of Adventure!

This weekend I went and saw Disney & Pixar's new movie, Up. With the last movie they created, I thought Pixar had reached its "mid-life, life-is-serious" phase. I thought Wall-E was a little like the pot calling the kettle black, but I still liked it (potential propaganda aside). From the previews, I expected Up to be a return to their lighthearted sense of finding your childhood and not so thought provoking. Needless to say, I was surprised. 

For me, Up provided a poignant story of life, loss, and love. The decisions that had to be made were profound; ones that in some aspect, I think all of us are faced with at some point in time in our life. Perhaps over and over. The story hit me hard. Maybe it's because I miss my family so much right now. Maybe it's because I'm seeking and hoping and praying and watching for the next adventure in my life. Maybe it's because I'm like my Old Man and a die hard sap. Any which way, I'll admit I cried. A lot. 

I think everyone should go see it... But here's my caveat. If you have a significant other, please, please, please take them with you. Adventure is out there!

Durham

The first few years of my life here in North Carolina, I lived in the Happy Chappy (aka Chapel Hill). After that first three year stint, I moved directly east to Durham. While there is still a warm place in my heart for the Happy Chappy, I have grown to love Durham and all the wonderful things it has to offer. Here are some of the things I love about Durham:

Durham Bulls 

Wooly E. Bull dog at said Bulls Game It is a foot long hotdog covered with Carolina BBQ and coleslaw! Sooooo good!

Brightleaf Square  Some of the tastiest restaurants ever!

Parkwood Fire Department Bi-Annual BBQ Chicken Dinners All the money goes to the Volunteer Fire Department. My favorite part has to be when I tell the born and bred Southerners that I don't want any sweet tea with my meal. They look at me like I'm smoking something...

Duke Gardens

Hotels and parks with cool greenspaces with awesome water features

The fact that trains still run through town. I love the sound of trains... it reminds me of my Grandpa Baggs. I also love train tracks and how they go on forever and ever...

Revitalized American Tobacco Historic District

Frequent Rainbows

Durham Performing Arts Center  

My pink Crepe Myrtle (all my neighbors are purple)

Garden Week 3

I have some infiltrators...don't know if I should be concerned... but the basil's growing nicely.

Strawburees!

My dear friend Amber has had a birthday tradition for several years where she goes and picks strawberries with her mom and the occasional guest. I've gone along before, but it was only this time that I decided that I have a definite problem.... I have no strawberry picking inhibition. At all. If it's red, I think it belongs in my basket. Even if it has 'just one' brown spot on it. This is a weighty problem... literally. I ended up with over 16 lbs of strawberries!!!

Garden Week 2

Little Purple Pansies

Over a month ago I bought a 'raised' garden bed. It's 4'x4'x8" and fits perfectly in my little backyard.

Then Allyson and I patronized our local True Value and bought dirt.
A lot of dirt.

Last Saturday (April 25th) my meeting was canceled so I spent the morning at the church's day of service and then came home and planted my garden.

I used both the raised bed and the containers I've used for several years now. In my little garden you will find: green beans, bell peppers, beets, watermelon, zucchini, green onions, radishes, oregano, and basil. I'm planning on adding some tomatoes, cilantro, and rosemary, but don't have the plants yet.

After one week, some of the plants have already started to bud. I can see the beginnings of the zucchini, radishes, beets, watermelon, and basil. It's pretty exciting.