We had our Halloween event here at the village. It was amusing seeing people you work with dress up. I was a backpacker attacked by a bear. So I had a beard, with gruff on my neck, and my hair was a mess, and I was wearing backpacking close, with a rip in my shirt, and blood on my face. So I pretty much look like I do everyday with the addition of blood. Not too many people found my outfit amusing. Here is a picture of Sara, Pence, Cathy, and Edna.
I think Sarah looks the scariest.

After renting a u-haul truck and loading all of our junk into the new house, that same night, because of my thriftiness, I returned the U-haul. I took off to Robbinsville for the return before Sarah because I had to drive that insane beast of a vehicle on the mountain roads. Once I arrived it was pretty late and near dark. I walked around making sure I would know where to return all the keys and paper work once Sarah arrived. It was pretty cold so I soon found myself waiting in the u-haul. When cars would drive by I was expecting Sarah, but she didn't show for a while. It was probably 45 minutes plus before she would arrive. Finally lights were shinning in my direction, instead of passing like the other vehicles. I stepped on the brakes to let her know I was in that truck. I opened the door and began turning off the heat when a mans voice yelled out, "PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM." I then noticed it was a large man, but also an angry large man with a gun drawn pointing in my direction. I put out my hands, which had the paper work for the rental and searched for the right words to say. He then said, "EXIT THE VEHICLE." I then realized this was a cop. As I did this I was afraid to say anything thinking I would only sound guilty. Now here in the story is where I need to back up just a tad. On the way to the drop off I had a couple love seats that the old owners had left in the house. Since I had a large u-haul I decided that night to dump them at the local dumpsite. When I did this I noticed that there was a sign saying, "Smile you're on Camera." I then noticed another sign saying, "Household trash only." I assumed this excluded large recliners but didn’t feel like hauling those things out of the trash, so I left thinking I was all right. Okay, back to my exiting the vehicle with a gun pointing at me. I then began telling him I was waiting for my wife. Still pointing his gun at me he said, let me see your paper work. Once I showed him this and answered a few of his questions he was no longer screaming. He informed me that an off duty police officer was driving by and saw me walking around the parking lot so he reported it, and that is why the cop arrived.
As I crawled back into the u-haul and turned on the heater I was not at all mad by the incident. I immediately saw its potential as a great story to tell others. The story makes me feel good that I live in an area where a man walking around a parking lot raises suspicion to scare the crap out of him and hold him at gun point. It shows they have there eyes open and care for the community.
I only imagine what they do to real criminals.

The same day that we got in from Florida, and one hour after closing on the house, I had to arrive to work for our Fall Hike Week Program. I was exhausted from driving, the stress of closing on a house, and now having to run my first program at the Village, but I was excited as well because I knew I had a few days of hiking to come. I saw several of the hikers who had been to the Spring Hike Week, which was my first week of working at Fontana. The weather wasn't to cooperative for us the next four days, but we still got in a few good hikes.
This is one of my favorite photos. This is Tom Robbins who did two presentations for us on some of the history of the Park. Here we are at the Mountain Farm Museum enjoying the fall colors and artifact of a few of the houses and barns that use to be in the area. I am hoping that after I put in a few more years here in NC that I can learn more about the area and become a Park Ranger like Mr. Robbins.

The day we got back from Florida we closed on our house. We arrived at Robbinsville at 4:30 pm and closed on the house at 4:45 pm, so it was pretty crazy. Our new home, is on an acre of land, which I am having a boyish time walking around blazing a trail for Sarah and Pence, as well as Scouting out trees to build a few tree houses for guests who visit.
Notice how the house matches the car. This was done purposely.

My Dad came up from Florida and looked at some land. When he went back he packed Pence with him. For two weeks we were childless and tried enjoying the time. We went to explore Eagle Creek Copper Mine, but never found it. On the way there we past this tree. Last time I was here a friend, William, was jumping off into the water, almost empaling himself on a branch while falling. This is a good example of Fontana Lake's various water levels. Three months ago you could climb it and jump into the water, now doing such a stunt would lead to a painful fall on a pile of jagged rocks.