The country life continues. Elley visited early last week, and Mom and Dad Strehl arrived while she was here and stayed until today. With visitors we rafted the Nanthahala River, rode the Blue Ridge Parkway, visited Cherokee, and enjoyed watching waterfalls.

On Sunday we went to Hot Springs, NC with the Strehl's. We hiked the A.T. into town while the parents enjoyed the town itself. The hike included a descent to the French Broad River zig-zagging down the bluff. The tiny town is a back-packers haven. It is the first town that the trail passes through from the south end. A.T. plaques are part of the sidewalk all along Main Street.

Today Chuck mowed the large lawn and checked the progress of the sweet corn. It is coming along nicely. Lots of lettuce, squash, beans, and Swiss chard have been harvested. The first tomato turned red yesterday. On Saturday Anne baked a blackberry/blueberry pie with blackberries picked wild from the property and blueberries we picked from a nearby farm. Wonderful.

We woke up to the sound of horses this morning. They were not ours. Two of our neighbors horses were out. Exciting for everyone. The good news is that they left no residue on the lawn.

Looking forward to our next set of visitors, the Carbones, at the end of the week.

All is well.