2010 Levine Scene

2010-12-23T16:30:00.009-05:00

Gathered around the old wood stove, a cup of hot chocolate to keep us toasty, we watch the temperature gauge take a nose dive into the low single digits and snowflakes blow across the hilltops. Winter is here, bringing bone chilling temperatures.

Time for sharing the adventures of the Levine year in review with friends and family. We begin with the exhilaration of being grandparents this Oct 13th, as Mat and Amie received a special delivery from the "Blue Ridge Mountain Stork".... a beautiful baby girl bundle they named Gabriella.

New Daddy Mat continued with his work as biological science technician on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and spent spare hours getting the house ready for their new "bundle of joy" by becoming plumber, electrician, sheet rocker and structural stabilizer, for "Brie's personal laundry service area".

New Mommy Amie also continued with her work on the Blue Ridge Parkway, spending spare hours with the wonderment of pregnancy and becoming a mom. Brie is already learning about hiking, cross country skiing, jogging, and all kinds of exciting outdoor adventures that mommy and daddy love to do.

Sara is thrilled to be Auntie Sara, and is full of happy smiles that she was also able to attend the birth of her niece, giving support as a doula. Beginning the year working as administrative assistant for a local humane society, Sara changed course mid year and became Director of Human Resources for a rapidly growing Information Technology company. She truly enjoys her job and is honored to be involved in a company that values its employees.

Mark is a four time uncle and first time "Muncle Ark" to Brie. This year he began working at a social justice organization and is happy to be using his environmentally conscious new motorcycle as primary transportation.

Grandpa Ron is still with the same home inspection software company, working three days a week, and dreaming of finding gold in those mountain streams in his spare time. As you can see, he did find his treasure this year...a "bundle of Brie"

Grandma Naomi is loving all those Brie snuggles and can't believe her first born now has a first born!!
Her favorite job of the decade took place mid summer, taking in the joys of nature's wonders...wild turkeys, fainting goats, rolling hills, farmlands and beautiful vistas while working as Census Enumerator! After Census withdrawal, Naomi has returned to the world of senior companion care.

This is the second year of our Levine Scene blog and now reviewing past year's news is just a click away. This year we are pondering a new life for the studio we built for Gram. Wishes and wings of independence were Gram's dreams, fulfilled early this year with her move to a retirement community a short distance from here.
Travel trips this year found us visiting local scenic meccas, such as Atlanta, Helen, GA, Raleigh, Wilmington and the Outer Banks, NC. Family times abounded with Mark leading the way to trying new tastes and textures at the table. Our dinners are times of stories to tell, pictures to share and laughter to create new family memories. From our home to yours, may love and joy sing in your heart this holiday season and bring a New Year of Happiness in a world of peace.

Love & Hugs from all of us,

Grandparent's Club

Great Grandma & Brie

Shelby

Blue Ridge Greetings!!

Mat, Amie and Brie's pooch, Maddy

Sara & Mark's boys, Ike & Mike

Shelby's sister, Tillie Cat

2009-12-26T20:51:00.000-05:00

2009 Levine Scene

Snowbound with 17+ inches this holiday season, a power outage that lasted 8 days, our Levine greeting of the season is delayed. Huddled together at the old wood stove, staring at the beauty of this winter wonderland, we thought of our family and friends, hoping all of you were enjoying a warm and toasty time!

This time last year we were beginning plans for the expansion here to our cabin. In March, "Gram's Studio" was completed and Ron's mom moved here from Rhode Island to her little cabin in the woods.

Mat, as you can see, is uplifted in mind body and spirit with his work as Plant Ecologist along the Blue Ridge Parkway. His work involves monitoring rare plant species, treating hemlock trees for the woolly adelgid, cutting hazardous branches and lots of tree climbing.

Amie was happy to share her knowledge with the National Park Service again and worked for the Blue Ridge Parkway this summer at the visitors center, campfire programs and educational programs for community youth groups.

Setting out to pick blueberries, Amie captures the breathtaking views of Craggy Gardens, and the spectacular sunsets.

Remodeling projects bring us to Mat's famous performace of the "ceiling dance", where you can see his latest steps in the "acoustic tile attack".

When the project was finished, the new ceiling added several inches of height for tall friends and family. And with the dishwasher and new kitchen sink and cabinets Mat installed, they were ready to head out again on their mountain bikes.

Travels this year to Ocracoke Island, to Utah at Thanksgiving with Amie's family and then to the Pacific Northwest to Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula and then down the Oregon and northern California coast to see the beautiful Redwood trees.

Sara and Mark began the year by exploring the other side of the world. They went to South Korea, taught English, ate all kinds of delicious dishes and travelled the country in the bitter cold wintertime. Mark returned in the summer to teach English again and then to research the age old question..."if you dig far enough through the earth's core will you get to China?". The answer is a big YES, and Mark was thrilled to live his dream.

(mmm-bird on a stick)

(napping cubbie at day spa)

Sara followed her dream to become a doula and then became practice manager at an integrative family health practice. But aside from the working world, the simple joys of life come from "meows that massage the heart". They became foster parents for several felines, until they called to tell us we were grandparents for real, when they made the decision to adopt Mike and Ike. Yard sales here in Asheville, can open up treasure chests of surprises. At a friend's yard sale, Sara had the good fortune to personally meet a favorite author, Barbara Kingsolver, and then hear her speak at a local high school and get a signed copy of her most recent book, the Lacuna.

Ron spent the first several months of 2009 planning and designing the studio for his mom, along with working at HomeGauge Mon-Wed. in sales and support.

Naomi returned to the world of caregiving, this time as family caregiver for Marcia. Also enjoying a bit of gardening, reading, walks and talks with friends and hopefully a return to jewelry or some creative crafts.

As for wandering from the Asheville area, we missed the shore. "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky"(John Masefield)....We ventured to the Outer Banks in June and then to Charleston, SC in Nov.

As you begin this year of 2010 with a new start on old habits, we send our wishes for beautiful tomorrows, abundant joy, a healthy body, and a heart full of love.

Peace and hugs to all,

                                          Amie, Mat and Maddy

Sara and Mark

Ike and Mike

Naomi and Ron

Shelby the dog and Tillie the cat

Naomi & Ron Levine

2010 Levine Scene