<FONT size=3> <h2>Keys (scroll down)</h2> <p> 1 - Spending <a href=Asheville.html target=1><b>New Years with Fran & Jim</b></a> in Asheville is an emerging tradition. They rent a place there in December / January to get away from Chicago winter for a while. However, this picture of Beth is from a hike shortly after returning to Quail Cove from Asheville. <p> 2 - A new adventure was seeing the <a href=http://scaquarium.org/STR/ target=2><b>turtle hospital</b></a> at the South Carolina Aquarium. After the turtles are treated sufficiently, they are released back into the ocean. <p> 3 - Something else new was visiting the <a href=http://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/ target=3><b>Center for Birds of Prey</b></a> in Awendaw. The staff is quite knowledgeable. Seeing the Kestrel fly high in the air was impressive. <p> 4 - Even more impressive was this Eagle! <p> 5 - Spoleto is an established tradition, both in Charleston and our house. As a matter of fact, we live here because of Spoleto (and Carol & David.) <p> 6 - Cousin Denny stayed the second week of Spoleto. He always likes a project. This year it was building a bench, on which you can see him putting the finishing touches. <p> 7 - Mike is demonstrating how strong the bench is. :-) <p> 8 - Another new adventure was exploring the <a href=http://www.mobot.org/ target=8><b>Missouri Botanical Garden</b></a> with Beth's mother. <p> 9 - We particularly enjoyed the <a href=http://www.mobot.org/hort/gardens/japanese/intro/ target=9><b>Japanese Garden</b></a> section. <p> 10 - Seeing Billy Joel & Elton John perform at Wrigley Field was a new experience. Since we didn't have tickets, we arrived early to get seats at an outdoor "cafe." On another day, Jim & Mike watched the Cubs play (inside Wrigley :-) <p> 11 - We are establishing a tradition of celebrating our anniversary of living in Quail Cove (for the summers.) This year Carol & Baxter joined us, allowing Beth and Carol to combine their hostess expertise. <p> 12 - We helped celebrate another anniversary ... Carol's and David's wedding. This was the first time we had had dinner with them on their anniversary. Another first was having dinner with someone, <a href=FranAndJim.html target=12><b>Fran & Jim</b></a>, on our anniversary. So, by the law of "transitivity", Carol & David need to have dinner with Fran & Jim on their anniversary! <p> 13 - This crusher is used in the process of making Sorghum Syrup, which is pretty much like molasses. Tracy, the mason who built a patio for us at Quail Cove, showed us how it's made. <p> 14 - Here Tracy and a helper are boiling down the mash. We bought a few jars. Beth made some excellent <a href=http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Moms-Molasses-Cookies/Detail.aspx target=14><b>cookies</b></a>. <p> 15 - Our cat, April ... always an adventure! <p> 16 - Something we've wanted to do for some time is drive to the other side of the mountain range, the Newfound Mountains, from Quail Cove. This is a view from Newfound Road. We found the town of Sandymush and made a complete loop. The peak of Sandymush Bald is the source to both Bald Creek (which runs through our property) and <a href=SandymushCreek.html target=16><b>Sandymush Creek</b></a> on the other side. Also, we had a picnic lunch at the end of a paved road. <p> 17 - Having Thanksgiving dinner with Beth's mother is a long standing tradition. Here she is showing off her collection of angels. <p> 18 - Another well established tradition is viewing the decorations at <a href=http://www.brookgreen.org/horticulture.cfm target=18><b>Brookgreen Gardens</b></a> with Carol & David and Carol & Baxter. <p> 19 - On three weekends in December the gardens are lit by <a href=http://www.brookgreen.org/NOTCentertainment.cfm target=19><b>thousands</b></a> of real candles and electric lights. <p> 20 - At this time each year, Beth always hopes for a "white Christmas." We figure that we have a much better chance if we spend the holidays in western North Carolina rather than Charleston, SC. This picture shows a branch of Bald Creek flowing from our yard in the snow.