First Guests of 2009

We started off the new year with household guests. And because they stayed overnight in our abode, they had to comply and have their picture taken at our favorite local photo opportunity: the Shell Station.

They were game-- which was good-- 'cause it's a rule. A rule begun only AFTER my mother's visit-- so her picture is missing from the group, but not for long.

These two are relatives of the Partner in Crime -- a cousin and his wife. They're from the great state of Texas-- where I've never been. They have a son in D.C. and stopped in to see us on the way back home.

As we do with most of our visitors (after they've been subjected to the Shell Station), we took them to Old Salem so they could get a taste of the history of our region-- the Moravians and all that stuff.

The cool thing is, I learn something new every time I go there and this time I applied the lesson from last time's visit-- and purchased some of this awesome sugar bread. Baked right on the premises, got it fresh from the oven... still warm in the bag. About a 9.975 on the yumminess scale. The PIC compares it to something called "Monkey Bread" which I've never had but he says we can make it sometime.

After that, we took them up to Mt. Airy so they could bask in the 

Americana that is the legend of Andy Griffith.

I don't get it, but that's okay.

The thing is, there's this sewing shop in town that our women guests seem to be all about... I guess maybe there's something to this sewing/quilting thing-- maybe it's time to get on board.

Naturally, because we're way down south, we had to end their stay with some ribs... cooked on the porch... because it was like 60-degrees!

I have to say, the Partner in Crime is getting this "ribs" thing down... they were yummy.