Ferrell Ard

It took several days to get into the new time zone after the 29-hr flight.
I've been re-meeting old friends and making new ones too. There have been several
good supper parties for people that were having birthdays or leaving going
back home. Gene had a motercycle accident and ended up with a broken left arm.
But, all in all, everything is going good. On Sunday, we are off to see
"The Musical" at the Kad Suan Kaew Performing Arts Theatre.

It's Sunday 1-6-2013 and again the bags are packed for traveling.
Leaving in the morning for Chiang Mai, Thailand. This time I will
enjoy my first LONG vacation - will return home on 3-17-2013.
(how do I pack for 10 weeks???)
And just like last year, Todd beat me AGAIN - he got to Chiang Mai on 12-6-2012.
O well, at least this time he has to leave before me.

It's time for the "Porter Clan" to gather for the annual Porter Family Housparty. Our annual get-together started back in 1941, and with the exception of one or two years during WW-II, we have gathered together at the end of July ever since. The gathering started back in 1941 with about 15-20 people coming to White Lake, N.C.; now we have around 150 (of the 240+) show up during the week. And that's for an entire week - including preparing 3 square meals a day. Here is the "family portrait" taken in 2008.



 

 

 

 

The "family" are the descendants of P.S. and Mary Ann Bush Porter Sr. Their siblings (8 of 10 survived) are our Parents.



 

 

 

 

 

"Bunny" is my Mother. In 2007, at the age of 92, she documented "The Porter Family Houseparty - The Bginning"

You can follow us having fun at The Porter Family Houseparty website

The flowers on the floats are not the only challenge. How do you power your sound system?



Note the speakers behind the float.



And the DJ's sound system:



How do you power the sound system?

Flying high amoung the tree tops is not an experience for the weak hearted.
The first time you "step off" the platform, your heart is racing 90 miles-per-hour.
And if you have a guide that says "watch out" as your feet leave the platform, you
just might be watering the trees below. After 3-hrs in the tree tops, you begin to
feel like one of the monkeys that live there. It's an experience never to be forgotten.
For a YouTube video, click here.

The annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival parade was held on Feb 4th, 2012. For more info about the parade, click here

It's the time of the annual flower festival. (3rd-5th for Feb).
Yesterday, most booths were being setup. Today will be the parade.


Flowers grow out of the BOTTOM of the pots


A new way to keep from painting your VW


Flowers using the local fruit




We are off into the 'old-city' again for more shopping

On Sunday, the streets shut down for shopping. We did our best to help by doing the 'shopping part'. For more info on Sunday shopping, click here.




Took time out to visit Wat Phan On. For a YouTube video of Wat Phan On, click here