LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

What a Nice Visit

Our daughter lives in Wisconsin and we don't see her nearly often enough. All the more reason we enjoyed her recent visit.

She was our firstborn and was such an easy baby. She slept well, ate well, and was an adaptable, happy-go-lucky baby. She seemed to have a sense of knowing just what she needed to do to get along in every situation. An outstanding traveler, she easily adjusted to changing meal time and sleep time. She smiled a lot and made me smile a lot as well. I never dreamed having a baby would be so satisfying and fun.

On a trip when she was four, she asked if the people we were visiting had any children. I responded that yes, they had children but they were all grown up now. She pondered that for a moment and said, "If they are grown up, they aren't children then, are they?"



This Polaroid snapshot shows our little family so many years ago. My daughter was soon to have a sibling (a baby brother), so her days as an only child were numbered.




Now our daughter is an adult and we are good friends. We like the same movies and read the same books. We have similar attitudes about politics, human nature, and the environment. We stayed up late every night drinking wine and talking, occasionally watching Miss Marple or Sherlock Holmes.

Every day we took a trip to a different destination. The weather was cooperative for the most part. Our daughter loves the North Carolina mountains almost as much as we do.


On this particular day, we went to Chimney Rock. This is not an aerial photograph...I actually climbed this high above the rock formation to get the shot.


Both of the dogs were excited to have yet another person around who would stroke and pet them and cater to their every need. The morning after she left, they hung around the door to the guest bedroom waiting for her to come out. They were disappointed to find she wasn't there. So was I. It was a wonderful visit.

26 comments:

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

Sounds perfect! I think we were near Chimney Rock this weekend. I saw lots of signs.

You were so cute pregnant with your son :)You don't even look pregnant!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

I'm glad you had such a lovely visit with your daughter. There is nothing like family.

Jen said...

It sounds like a wonderful visit!! I'm so glad you enjoyed being with your daughter.

The picture of Chimney Rock is amazing! I looks like a post card.

Have a wonderful Wednesday (love the picture!),
Jen

D.K. Wall said...

Excellent photo of Chimney rock. it is actually been a number of years since I have been down there (always seem to spend far more of my time on the BRP or Pisgah National Forest).

Sounds like a great visit.

The Bug said...

I'm glad you had such a good time. Made me miss my mom a bit :)

robin andrea said...

Sounds like a really wonderful visit. Nothing in the world like time spent with someone you dearly love and enjoy. Sweet.

Karin said...

Your post sounded so familiar as that was our experience with our first - daughter as well. Going out for coffee with her as she lives in town. Going to visit the second daughter this week-end as she couldn't make it up to her Oma's funeral this past week.
Love that photo of the Chimney Rock - not sure if I could still climb that with my bum knee, lol! Great shot!!

Cheryl said...

How lovely....I can feel the love for your daughter ooooozing from that post. I understand.
My first born (son) was also an easy baby....they did not prepare me very well for my second born, who was difficult to say the least. She is now the most wonderful daughter and very good friend.

I love the photograph....so very charming.
Quality time is precious....

Busy Bee Suz said...

Your daughter sounds so wonderful.
My Mom and I NOW have this type of relationship and it is a blessing. I can only hope to have this with my girls one day as well.
Great shot of chimney rock!!!
Our dogs seem to sleep a lot and act a bit sad for a while after guests leave too.

Cicero Sings said...

What a great visit to have.

I agree, you were cute pregnant!

Would surely like to see that Chimney Rock ... looks awesome.

Love Miss Marpole. So sorry when that actress died.

Janet said...

Fantastic photograph - both of the mountain AND your beautiful family!

Vicki Lane said...

Wine and Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple (the Joan Hickson version) -- sounds a perfect time!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Carolyn, I'm so glad you had a wonderful visit with your daughter. I wish I would have had a daughter. I love my three sons --but a daughter would have been so special.

Love the picture of you all --when she was little. Gee--how fast the years fly by!!!! Wonder if that daughter will end up in NC when she retires???? Bet she does.

Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Love the family photo--everyone in the same color--and your almost-a-hippie hair. Good looking family!

The picture you took of Chimney Rock looks like it was taken from a dangerous perch. Yikes!

Daughters are wonderful--yours sounds special, indeed. :)

Sorry she's gone. Glad you're back.

Folkways Note Book said...

Our children are our treasures. So glad that you were able to be with your daughter last week. -- barbara

Jayne said...

What a wonderful thing to have such a grand friendship with your first born. Mothers and daughters are just so special together. :c)

Barb said...

Sounds as though you had a satisfying visit and even the Lucy and Ellie miss the company now that she's gone! That photo of Chimney Rock is great - it looks like you did a lot of climbing! I love the family photo!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

What a wonderful visit that I know has created a lot of memories for both of you!! I'm so glad you had a great time running around or just sitting around too!!

carolina nana said...

So glad you had so much fun with your daughter while she was here. You are a brave lady climbing above Chimney Rock like that. I'm afraid of heights so when we went there I stayed safe in the gift shop while everyone else climbed.
Blessings to you Marilyn

KB said...

Wonderful! I'm glad you had such a great visit.

I love the photo!

I might be "grown up" but I'm still a child - contrary to the very logical words of your daughter!

Rudee said...

Well this sounds like it was an excellent visit. I'm happy for you that you had this time to spend with your lovely daughter.

troutbirder said...

This sounds very familiar but ours was a son.
That must have been one steep hill you climbed to get that shot!

KGMom said...

Nothing better than a visit from an all grown up daughter. I would enjoy one of those myself, along about now.
Glad you had a good time.
Aren't dogs the most honest creatures--wearing their disappointment so obviously.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Herd - The trail to the top of the falls is still closed since the death of the toddler a couple of years ago. Obviously you will want to go in the off-season. Too many folks there already.

Cheryl - Same thing here. Our son came into the world on his own schedule and expected us to conform.

Cicero - I also miss Joan Hickson but I am warming up to Julia McKenzie.

Vickie - Yes, Joan Hickson was the real Miss Marple, just as Jeremy Brett was the real Sherlock Holmes. And fortunately they are on DVDs.

Janie said...

What a cute family picture with your daughter. Chimney rock looks like an interesting place to visit.

abb said...

As much as I would like to personally see all the beauty from Chimney Rock, I do not think I could climb those stairs and stand on that rock. The older I get the less I like heights. The Grand Canyon almost did me in!

You were certainly brave (in my book) to climb even higher to get that wonderful photo!