This is Mimi (Kim’s mom, Joshua’s grandmother). After spending the weekend with Papa Bob on the river, Scott returned to work in Apex while Kim and Joshua (who was on spring break) spent the week with Mimi and Papa John in Piney Flats. Kim works from home so she worked on her computer at our house. Weather was chilly so playground trips were cancelled.
Bays Mountain was a favorite place for Kim when growing up in Kingsport. Joshua and Papa John visited Bays Mountain to see the deer, otters, wolves, snakes, various birds. The planetarium has recently been updated. Joshua said the planetarium show was “awesome.” Papa John was impressed that Joshua knew the planets and constellations. See info at www.baysmountain.com
Mimi, Papa John and Joshua went to Dollywood on Thursday (the warmest day of the week). Since it is early in the season and many schools were on spring break, Dollywood was really crowded with long lines to get into the park. Once we got inside, it was not too crowded until you got hungry and had to stand in a food line. We rode the small roller coaster, bumper cars, sports cars, carousel, airplanes, swings, river rampage where we got wet. We rented a Q-bot so we could program in times for some of the crowded shows and rides. At 2:45, we get in a special Q-bot line for Le Grand Cirque; the first seven rows are reserved for Q-bot. We also saw the show “Heartland,” a film of Dolly Parton growing up in the Smokies. Joshua was surprised when we got slightly sprayed when the boy jumped in the pond and when it showed rain on the screen. The only game we played was a horse race. Papa John won a large dog; Joshua was very pleased to carry the dog around the park.
On Friday morning, Papa John and Joshua caught a huge carp in the lake. We cooked the carp for our cat, Jake. Last year when Joshua had caught a fish, he said that we were bone scientists when we were removing the bones from the cooked fish.

Ladybugs and Helgramites

Scott, Joshua and I spent the weekend at my dad's farmhouse on the Clinch River. The house is up in the mountains with no phone, no tv, can't get a radio station or a cell. All you have to do is walk through the front yard and down the hill and you are right on the river. Across the river is a railroad and the coal trains run all day and all night. The house even comes with an old dog, Wilma, that actually belongs to the neighbor but is often found sleeping on the back porch or under the front porch. It ain't nuttin' fancy but it's perfect for what it is...a place to eat, sleep and go to the bathroom when you are taking a break from fishing. It remains closed up when no one is visiting for the weekend.

This particular weekend at this particular time of year, the farmhouse was a haven for ladybugs. I don't know much about ladybugs except that you are supposed to have good luck if one lands on you...and that on a cool April weekend if you turn on the heat and lights in an old farmhouse they seem to appear out of nowhere by the hundreds. It wasn't too bad though...ladybugs don't bite or sting, they aren't nasty buggers like roaches, they aren't as scary as snakes, mice or spiders. So, when you think of the alternative creatures that could have been inhabiting the house, I'd say we were lucky. So yea, I think ladybugs are lucky.

Saturday was the most perfect day. We woke up early, ate breakfast, and headed straight for the river. Fishing was a little slow that morning because it was rather cold. We took a break and went for a drive to see my dad's old stomping grounds and went for a nice little walk. By the time we got back, it had warmed up a bit and the fishing was terrific. We...umm, I mean, I was catching them as quick as I put my line in the water. Now, I can bait a hook with a worm but I can not take a fish off a hook. I have to say I kept both my dad and Scott busy taking the fish off the hook. So much so that my dad gave up trying to fish and just kept close to me. We mostly caught redeyes, one large mouth and several small mouth bass and something my dad called a horny head that had horns on it's head. We all let Joshua reel in fish and he had a terrific time fighting with them. We fished until it was dark enough to have a fire and roast hotdogs and marshmallows. Scott stayed down on the river trying to do a little catfishing but didn't catch any. Sunday morning, we got up, had breakfast, and hit the river again. And, once again, pulled them out as quick as we could put the line in.

Now, the bait of choice for these Clinch River fish is what I've always known as grampus. I just learned this weekend that their official name is helgramite. They are ugly and have big pinchers and I also found out that they eventually grow wings and fly. Joshua loved the helgermites. He and papa went hunting for them and Joshua turned over rocks and picked them up all by himself. He came back and instructed me on how to pick them up...yea, I wasn't touching one of those things...Anyway, they are a tough bait and you can fish on one about all day long.

So, at 5 years old, Joshua can catch bait and can reel in fish. He just needs to be a little older so he can bait his own hook and cast. Oh yea, and take all the fish that I catch off my hook for me...