Sunday, March 21

Good Morning Friends and Relatives, near, far and just down the street,

Sunday morning we left Aunt Marie's and drove to Uncle Dean and Aunt Joyce's. It wasn't a long drive, but we took our time and enjoyed all of the blooming trees and bushes. The tulip magnolias are especially pretty and they are in abundance in the south.

When we got near Uncle Dean's, we found this pretty out-of-the-way campground in a town called Carthage. It was on a family owned 100 acre parcel of land deep in the pines and had been in the Sadler family since the 70s. Amy Sadler, the owner, was very nice, if not a bit surprised to see us. They don't advertise their campground, except online, and she doesn't have many drop ins......especially in March. Usually at this time of year, her campers are headed home, in the north, and the southern onslaught doesn't begin until June. But there we were, and we were given a nice area, with a view of the lake....small man-made lake.....with geese and ducks on it.....in a pine grove....with squirrels and deer and other creatures.....and I was salivating. I can't tell you how anxious I was to get out of the truck and into the woods.......alas, Amy told Mommy I had to be on a leash at all times. Why do people hate dogs so much?? It's sad......I could have had such a good time.......

Well, anyhow, we got the camper set up and then went off to see Aunt Joyce and Uncle Dean. Cousins Laura and Dan were there, too...from Ohio. Cousin Dan is a teacher and Cousin Laura works in a high school office. It was really nice to meet these new relatives, and I KNOW they were pretty impressed with me. I stayed in the truck while the grown ups talked...didn't want to get my black hair all over Aunt Joyce's house. She and Uncle Dean have a house in this gated community, right on a golf course. They are very rich. They spend their days playing.....golf, tennis, cruises......you know, the usual stuff rich people do. But I digress......the adults spent the afternoon gossiping about all the other relatives. Did you know that Aunt Margie....?????....oh, I'm not supposed to tell all that stuff. Uncle Deannie wasn't supposed to spill the beans, but you know how brothers can be.

It was really nice to see these relatives. Next time we come, maybe we'll stay longer but this time, Cousins Laura and Dan got there first and got dibs on the spare bedroom. Good thing we bring ours with us!!

We got back to the campground and I got to take a walk....on the leash....not the best fun but better than nothing. Then we had supper and that's when the noise began. We had heard it earlier and thought it was thunder, but no. Seems we weren't far from Fort Bragg and the noise was artillary fire....they were practicing!! We could even feel the noise.....so I wasn't unhappy about leaving the next day. I don't think I'd like living near a military base......

Hope you are all well; I'll be back!
Juni