Charpex2026, Dinners, Tree Removal, and Hiking

It was a busy week last week!

On Saturday, we went to Charpex in Charlotte, NC. We left at 7 am and got there around 9 am. It was drizzling along the way, but luckily we never hit any heavy rain. Don got some things off the free table. Since we were early, we walked down to Burger King and had breakfast (which was not very good). By the time we returned, the show was open, and I walked around to scout out postcards for Don and look at the exhibits. Then I settled down to knit. Around 11, there was an opening ceremony in another room, so I went to it. They talked about how Postcrossing may be a way to entice young people to get interested in postcards and stamps. At 1 pm, there was a Postcrossing meetup, and I went to it. I ended up signing up for Postcrossing and got my first address. Then we spent about 2 hours signing everyone’s postcards. Next year, I will bring a stamp! After that, we left and got home about 5 pm.

Tuesday, we mowed the lawn in the morning, and then we went out to dinner with our 55+ group from the senior center. We met at Break at the Lake in Greenwood. The food was tasty, and both of our dinners (Crab cakes, 1 side, plus water) totaled about $50. It was fun to chat with our friends.

On Wednesday, Southern Lawn and Landscapes came to remove a tree in our backyard. They showed up at 7:30 and ended by 3:30. On Thursday, they returned to fill in the holes the tree made when it fell. They also messed up our driveway, which the owner, Max, said would be repaired. On Friday, they fixed the driveway, and I ended up paying $1600 ($1500 for the tree plus $100 for the dirt).

On Thursday morning, we met our friend Debbie for a hike at Conestee Nature Preserve. We were able to hike 2 miles, but we had to leave early when Max called and said the crew would be there to fill in the holes. Debbie went home and came back with her weed eater and helped us clear the back fence area. We ended up going to Home Depot and buying a battery-powered weed eater.

We also went to Ruth’s Chris Steak House for dinner on Thursday night. We got a free steak dinner for listening to a presentation on Wills, Trusts, and Estates. We didn’t learn anything new, but I got a free filet out of the deal, which I enjoyed. Don had a couple of bites of his, and I ate the rest of his steak too.

Friday, I convinced Don to let his back rest up from the hard yard work we did on Thursday. I decided to make another project bag and it came out so much better than my first one!

Saturday was also another rest day. I did some baking, cooking, knitting, and meeting with knitting friends on Zoom.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Play Ball!

I’ve been to several major and minor league baseball games and even toured a few of the big baseball stadiums. If you have never been on a tour at one of the stadiums, I highly recommend it because it is an interesting tour. There is something magical about being at a baseball game and hearing the crowds, smelling the food, and watching the game. My favorite part is when we have the 7th inning stretch and they play the song, Take Me Out to the Ballgame! It never gets old!

The 1939 Centennial of Baseball U.S. postage stamp was the first American stamp ever issued to celebrate the sport of baseball. The 3-cent stamp was issued on June 12, 1939, in Cooperstown, New York, during the opening celebration of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The stamp honored what was then believed to be the 100th anniversary of baseball, based on the story that Abner Doubleday created the game in Cooperstown in 1839. Today, historians know that baseball developed over many years from older bat-and-ball games, but the 1939 celebration helped make Cooperstown the symbolic home of baseball. The stamp shows young boys enjoying a neighborhood baseball game, reminding Americans that baseball has always been a sport for people of all ages.

Baseball's history actually began long before 1839. Games similar to baseball were played in England and North America during the 1700s and early 1800s. Over time, players created new rules that shaped the game into the baseball we know today. By the late 1800s, professional teams and leagues had formed, and baseball became known as America's National Pastime. The 1939 stamp celebrated baseball's popularity and its importance in American culture, encouraging people to remember the sport's traditions and the joy it brings to families and communities.

Another special baseball celebration is Play Ball Day, observed each year on August 1. The day encourages children and families to play baseball or softball, learn new skills, and enjoy spending time outdoors. Communities, youth leagues, and Major League Baseball often hold events to introduce young people to the game and promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy exercise. Just as the 1939 Centennial of Baseball stamp honored the game's rich history, Play Ball Day reminds us that baseball continues to bring people together and inspire new generations of players and fans.

References: 

• National Postal Museum. Baseball Centennial Issue. Smithsonian Institution.

• National Postal Museum. Youth Sports: Playing to Win.

• National Baseball Hall of Fame. Government-Issued Memories.

• National Baseball Hall of Fame. Where It All Began.

• Play Ball Day https://nationaltoday.com/play-ball-day/

• https://www.mysticstamp.com/855-1939-3c-baseball-centennial/

Summer Harvest: Sweet Corn

When I think of July, I remember family cookouts that always included corn on the cob. That is my favorite summertime vegetable! Slathered in butter and salt, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it!

The United States Postal Service celebrated one of America’s favorite foods with postage stamp #5005, called “Sweet Corn.” The stamp was issued as part of the U.S. Postal Service’s efforts to highlight everyday objects, foods, and traditions that are meaningful to Americans. It was issued on July 11, 2015, at the California State Fair in Sacramento, California. The Sweet Corn stamp features an image of fresh corn and celebrates a crop that has been an important part of farming and food in the United States. The drawing of this stamp was inspired by vintage shipping crate labels, seed packets, and catalogs and was designed by Michael Doret.

Corn is popular and important because it is used in many foods that people eat every day. People enjoy corn on the cob, popcorn, cornmeal, tortillas, and many other foods made from corn. Corn provides important nutrients, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals that help support a healthy diet. It is also used to make products such as corn oil, animal feed, and ingredients found in many foods. Because it is useful, affordable, and easy to grow, corn is one of the world’s most important crops.

July is considered Corn Month, a time to celebrate this important crop and the many ways people enjoy it. Summer is a popular time for fresh sweet corn because many crops are ready to harvest. During Corn Month, people celebrate with summer meals, festivals, and recipes featuring corn. The Sweet Corn postage stamp helps remind us how this simple crop connects farming, history, and American food traditions.

Time to go hunt for some corn on the cob for dinner!

References:

• U.S. Postal Service — Stamp information and stamp releases
• USDA SNAP-Ed — Corn nutrition information and food resources
• Healthline — “Corn 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits”
• National Today — “Corn Month” information
• https://www.mysticstamp.com/5005-2015-first-class-forever-stamp-summer-harvest-sweet-corn/

Summer Learning Place 2026

It’s that time of year again, and Summer Learning Place started this week. I have one teacher who is my student, and we expected 3 children to attend.

Today was the first day with the children, and only one showed up. I called one parent who said the boy’s dad had custody of him over the summer and would not be attending. I talked with the parent of the third child, who said he was coming home from camp in TN, and they had transportation issues. She said he was expected home tonight and would be in class tomorrow.

I asked the teacher to come up with 3 goals, and I wanted to come up with some for myself also.

• I want to ensure the teacher has opportunities to practice new techniques.
• I want to be available to help the teacher in the classroom when she works one-on-one with a student.
• I want to share strategies that might help the teacher in challenging situations.

This is the first year that I’ve only had one student, and so I’m having to change some things that I usually do, but I want to make sure that this is a meaningful experience for her. I want to make sure that she isn’t shortchanged on anything because she is the only student.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park June 2026

6/23/26
Originally, we reserved a campsite (D38 for Wednesday through Sunday), but since we weren’t doing anything, we decided to go up on Tuesday and camp at D40 for one night. We left around 9 am and arrived at 12:30. We unhooked the camper but didn’t set up the Clam since we would only be at that site for one night. We stopped at the Oconoluftee Visitor Center and stayed for the 3 pm talk about the Elk. Then we went to Dairy Queen for a late lunch and then relaxed at the campsite for the rest of the evening. For some reason, our battery didn’t get charged, and none of our lights worked in the camper. We were able to use flashlights, so everything was okay. After we went to bed, we heard something like a pop, but didn’t hear anything else, so we went to sleep.


6/24/26
We had breakfast at Waffle House, and I had to drink coffee because they ran out of ice. After breakfast, we drove up to Clingman’s Dome and hiked on the Spruce Fir Nature Trail. Then we came back and moved to site D38. We had sandwiches for lunch and relaxed. Then we decided to hike the Oconoluftee River Trail from the visitor’s center to Cherokee. For dinner, we had more sandwiches and sat around the campfire. When the propane ran out, we swapped the propane canister with one from the camper (the camper has two). After we were almost asleep, we heard another pop, but nothing else, so we went to sleep. Don had leg cramps in the night

6/25/26
After breakfast at Waffle House, we went to Food Lion and got some ice for the coolers. When we returned to the campground, we hiked the nature trail and part of the Smokemont Loop Trail. Then we drove up to the visitor’s center to sign up for the night hike (even though the notice in the paper didn’t say you had to sign up). The park ranger at the campground told us we had to sign up.) Before returning to the campground, we went to Arby’s for lunch. When we got back to the campground, we walked to the old amphitheater, which is no longer used. For dinner, we sat in the Clam and ate cantaloupe. Don noticed we had 2 small pieces of a tree limb on the roof of our camper. We think some kid probably tossed it there as a prank, and we didn’t fall for it. Don had more cantaloupe, which seemed to help the leg cramps.

6/26/26
It is our 44th wedding anniversary! We had another wonderful breakfast at Waffle House. Then we drove to Bryson City and walked around town. At 10:30, we watched the steam engine leave for the Nantahala Gorge. Next, we drove through Deep Creek Campground and saw that there were only about 4 sites that we would feel comfortable parking our camper on. After the campground, we drove to the “Road to Nowhere” and saw the “Tunnel to Nowhere.” We talked to a couple of backpackers who were waiting for their ride. For lunch, we stopped at an Ingles Deli, and I had fried chicken, and Don had catfish. Next, we drove to Fontana Dam and enjoyed the views. We went back to our campground and had sandwiches and cantaloupe for dinner. Don was able to stand on the milk crate and use the broom to get the 2 pieces of wood off the camper roof.

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6/27/26
After breakfast at Waffle House, we decided to pack up and head home. The weather forecast predicted rain in the evening and the next day. I hate packing up wet stuff, so we took our time and packed up everything. We left the campground around 10 am and arrived home about 1:30. We were able to unpack and get lunch before it started pouring down rain.

It was a wonderful trip. The weather was perfect, and we never had a drop of rain the whole time we were there. Don thinks the Subaru pulled the camper pretty well and may have done it better than the Tahoe.

Original Photos by Pat Hernsley