First the Mailbox, then the Basketball Goal...

You may recall me mentioning our ice storm this week, and posting a picture of our icy parking pad at the base of the driveway.  There was some melting the past couple of days, and the roads are clear.  All the houses on the opposite side of the street are on the high side, and are all clear of ice.  Our lot slopes downward, and there is still ice at the bottom of the drive.

It does not look like it from the street.  It sure fooled the Fed Ex driver who decided to back down the driveway this morning.

Not only was he stuck in the driveway for about an hour.  He also took out our basketball goal.

We decided that was not a bad thing, because the goal was old and rusty and rarely used since the boys moved out.  The driver was relieved to hear that he did not have to pay to put it back up.  I did not know that Fed Ex sub-contracted their drivers.  This guy would have had to pay for any damage.   For that reason, he did not want to go out of pocket to call a tow truck.  He and Charlie chipped and hacked away at the ice with my garden spade and a pitchfork, of all things, until the truck finally got enough traction to make it back up the driveway.  Kasey and I watched and breathed diesel fumes.

In addition to being unsightly, that basketball goal was a magnet for vehicles backing out of our garage or driveway.  I'm glad it's gone.

Well, not exactly gone.  He didn't offer to haul it away.  It will probably sit on the side of the driveway until it's covered with kudzu.

Anyone need an ugly old basketball goal on a slightly dented, rusted metal pole?

Enough with the early Saturday morning accidents, already!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you on this auspicious date, 1-1-11!

We spent our New Year's Eve with our traditional dinner with friends at the Angus Barn in Raleigh.  If you have ever flown into RDU (Raleigh-Durham Airport) you have seen this red barn-like structure.  It was decorated in beautiful holiday fashion.

Here is their Christmas tree, a peppermint fantasy!

The fireplace was glowing, and the mantels decked with an assortment of nutcrackers and antique-looking toys.

Above the mantel was a cowboy boot quilt with a sled suspended in air.  The picture of the quilt is dark.  I am hoping one of my friends will e-mail a better picture to me.  The Angus Barn features many quilts in its decor.

After dinner we all went to Richard and Pam's house to await the new year.  They have hosted us for many years now.

When we got home, we noticed that we no longer have a mailbox.  Someone ran off the road and took out our mailbox and post.

There is a utility pole and lots of utility boxes at the edge of our driveway.  They got hit, too.

The cables, although exposed, did not get cut, so we still have water and cable and power.

We called the sheriff, although we thought it would be highly unlikely to solve this case.  He was at the house by 10:00 AM.  The neighbors came over, and we found out that one had been in the yard with her child when the collision occurred.  The truck ricocheted into their yard after the collision.  So, the sheriff is on the lookout for a dark blue or black Suburban truck with damage on the front.

Could have been worse, but now we have to go put up a new mailbox.  Then, sadly, it will be time to take down the Christmas decorations until next year.  When that is done, I need to finish my Sketchbook project so I can mail it in before the deadline.  I don't think I have shown any of my Sketchbook pages here, so I will have to do some scanning.  All I need to do is finish about two pages, and do something with the paint-splattered cover and the title page.