Touring "Reed Gold Mine" and my Dad's birthday...

Today is Jeffery's birthday, he is 56.  For some reason, I thought that he was 58, but not yet, just 56.  We got him a card that said he is a "classic" as in classic cars... He like it.  We went to Rosarios for lunch.  It is a local Italian joint that is SOOOO yummy.  Tonight we had planned to go out to dinner, but we all had eaten too much for lunch, so we decided to "86" that, and eat here at the house...and eat my Mom's delicious-looking cake!

Today's adventures lead us into "gold country."  Just to the south here is Reed Gold Mine .  A snippet from their Web site describes it:

Reed Gold Mine is the site of the first documented gold find in the United States. From this discovery, gold mining spread gradually to nearby counties and eventually into other southern states. During its peak years gold mining was second only to farming in the number of North Carolinians it employed. The estimated value of gold recovered reached over one million dollars a year. North Carolina led the nation in gold production until 1848, when it was eclipsed by the great rush to California.

The tour guide was really knowledgeable, and told us a lot about how the element of gold actually came about in the area.   The highlight of the tour was walking into an old mine (50' underground!)

Here is a handful of photos that captured our adventures (all of them are on Facebook )!  We leave for FL in the AM, although it will be sad to leave family, we will not miss seeing our breath when we walk outside or having to wear hats, gloves and winter boots!  :)