A Season of Slowing Down

Arriving in New Wilmington on July 2nd, we were ready to settle into a slower rhythm for a while. After months of being on the go, seven delightful weeks of home life felt like a gift. We filled our days playing with our grandchildren, visiting with Matt and Maggie, dining at The Tavern, gathering with friends, tending the garden, and tackling a handful of satisfying home projects.

Backyard Bliss

One of the sweetest rituals was our nightly cocktail hour on the patio. Each evening unfolded like our very own nature documentary—birds flitting in and out, fireflies blinking at dusk, squirrels scampering, cottontails hopping through the grass, and chipmunks darting around. Now and then, a groundhog made a cameo before the inevitable appearance of mosquitoes and bats marked the day’s end.

A Parade of Birds

But the birds stole the show. Over the course of a couple of evenings, I counted  more than a dozen species at our feeders and birdbaths: Northern Cardinal, Tufted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, House Wren, House Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Bluebirds, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Common Grackle, Blue Jay, and American Robin—a vivid parade of color and song. With the help of Merlin (a marvelous bird-sound ID app), we’ve been learning to recognize them by their unique calls. These quiet moments with nature felt deeply restorative, a soothing balance to our often fast-paced travels.

Back in Valencia

Now, we’re back in Valencia and happily reconnecting with this wonderful city and our friends here. At the same time, our minds are turning to fall travel plans. On the calendar already: a few days in Madrid with friends. Also on the wish list: exploring San Sebastián, road-tripping through Galicia and Asturias (Ed’s new Spanish driver’s license makes that possible!), discovering French gems we’ve yet to visit—Rennes, Nantes, Chartres, Montpellier—and returning to Bordeaux and, of course, Paris (because who could resist the City of Light?).

A Healthcare Detour

On August 19, I had a preventive CT scan to check for cardiac artery plaque. In the process, the scan picked up a small nodule on my left lung. These nodules are quite common and almost always benign, but it does mean a bit more follow-up is needed. Thankfully, we’re able to take advantage of Spain’s excellent and efficient healthcare system, and I feel grateful to be in good hands as we sort this out.

Looking Ahead

We’ll be stateside in late November, starting with Thanksgiving week in Atlanta with Mark and Shannon. December will bring us back to New Wilmington to celebrate the holidays—snow and all. Then in January, we’ll kick off what we hope becomes a new Noble family tradition: a winter reunion trip. This year’s destination? Curaçao. Swimming with sea turtles sounds like the perfect way to welcome 2026.