Today was the state championships at the BMX track. Jeff & I weren’t going to be able to go to those, so we went over last night for the regular races. There was a huge crowd competing, with folks already in town for the weekend, and the boys did great. I got this picture of Adam (in the red) on the final straightaway. He had to compete as a 12-year-old intermediate with the 13-year-old experts, one of whom is nationally ranked, so he didn’t make it to the main, but he certainly hung with them the entire race.

And got this of Charlie after the racing was over. He came in third in his 14-year-old expert division. Proud of these guys.

One of the little girls in our Sunday School class – that I never get to see any more, of course – was selling mums for her dance company, so I bought a couple. Alas, I wasn’t here when they were delivered, but they are absolutely gorgeous. I can’t wait til they bloom out completely.

Tuesday evening Meg & I headed to Gaffney, to Henry L Jolly Park, for the annual presentation by the Overmountain Victory Trail’s Association on the anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain. Normally it is held at Kings Mountain National Military Park, but due to Covid restrictions by the NPS, it was moved to this lovely city park in Gaffney. They present it every year, and I have never been, but this year we made it happen. They just did such an excellent job. The reenactors were just spot on in their presentations – I loved it. This is the man who was portraying the preacher who traveled with the men from Abingdon to Kings Mountain, and who preached a sermon for them the day before the battle. He did a great job of showing the ways of an old mountain preacher. Very cool.

There were a few women in the group, and we really enjoyed talking with this lady after the program. There were probably 18 or 20 reenactors there, and she said that most all could trace their family heritage to the Battle of Kings Mountain – although they came from all over the country, which was pretty cool. She was very informative about the role women played during the Revolutionary War, so we enjoyed hearing that. And she said that in normal years they present their program to many groups of school children as they travel the route from Abingdon to Kings Mountain, but of course this year that just wasn’t possible. So glad we got to see one of their few performances.

Today we were at the Chester Golf Club for the day-long tournament to cheer Mallory on. I didn’t get many action photos, but did get this one afterwards of the team – their last time playing together, since they didn’t advance to the Upper State Tournament in 2 weeks. Such a good bunch of girls.

Mallory will be going on to the Upper State, though, due to her third place finish in the conference. This is the only picture I could get of her getting her medal – she’s on the far right with the bow in her hair. For one thing it was so bright I couldn’t see anything on the camera screen, and it wasn’t exactly a ceremony – they just called her name and handed her a medal. We sure are proud.

Saturday we were at Ashe County Park in Jefferson, NC, to celebrate Zol’s big day. It was pretty low key, since it was a no-hug, outside kind of event. Zollie, Josh, Olivia, & maybe Taylor ran a half marathon that morning to celebrate; the rest of their immediate family did the 4-mile portion – either walking or running. So proud of them! I got this picture of Josh and Hillary when they told me that they had their student loans almost completely paid off, and once that happens they will start house shopping. I was so proud of them I had to capture the moment 🙂

Got this photo as we were getting ready for the blessing of the birthday boy and Renee. Fun day.

Friday night Meg & I headed up to Andy & Amy’s to spend the night, to be closer to head to Zollie’s 60th birthday party Saturday morning. It was the first time we had been to their house since they moved back over a year ago, and it was just as cute as I knew it would be. They have been doing a ton of work in their yard, and are really turning their backyard into a fairy garden. This is one of their new flowerbeds – just lovely.

And this is a picture of the gate in the side yard, leading back into that fairy garden. Amy said it really is gorgeous when all the jasmine is blooming.

Regional tournament is Monday. Clara had soccer practice so didn’t play today, but I did get this action photo of Mal putting for par.

Mallory had quite the entourage there today to cheer her on. Jeff and Addie’s husband Lee are on the cart; in front are Elise, Boo, Mallory, Addie, June, Mason, Lindee, & Mal’s other grandmother Emma. We were all so proud.

Last night was Clara’s final match of the season – there’s one more this evening, but she has soccer practice on Thursdays, so won’t be playing. She ended up the season by playing #3 in the match yesterday, so that was really good. Just got this one picture.

Today we were at the final home golf match of the season. I have gotten almost no pictures of Clara all year – they never seem to turn out that good. Same thing happened again today – what’s up with that? But here is about the best action shot I got – hitting it out of the rough.

It was senior night, so after the match was over they had a little celebration of the girls who are finishing up their golfing career this year. These three have been such great teammates for both Mallory and Clara. They will be missed next year.