Hiking with Betsy

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Betsy planned a wonderful birthday celebration for me last weekend.  We went down to Fort Payne, Alabama, to do some hiking and visit some waterfalls.  We’ve been dan there before, but there was more water this time than on our earlier visits.

Hiking with Betsy is a great way to celebrate a birthday, or any day.  The collage above contains photos taken last weekend.  The picture on the upper left shows us at Little River Falls in the Little River Canyon National Preserve near Fort Payne.  Although I love hiking with Betsy, she does sometimes get carried away with the trails she picks as you can see by the picture on the upper right.

Betsy patiently waits while I’m playing around trying to get the ‘perfect’ shot, as the picture on the lower left shows.  (I love that beautiful smile!).  The middle picture shows us at Lost Falls in Desoto State Park.

The picture on the right shows the best part of hiking with Betsy.  This picture was taken along the West Fork of the Little River, also in Desoto State Park.

I’m already looking forward to our next hiking trip.

Mother of the Groom

Betsy and son Jeff’s wedding, Dalton, Georgia. October 6, 2012.

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Betsy’s son Jeff got married last month, and while the bride was beautiful, there is no doubt in my mind that the prettiest woman at the church was the Mother of the Groom.

Betsy and son Jeff’s wedding, Dalton, Georgia. October 6, 2012.

In the past Betsy has been self-conscious about her weight, and I often had trouble getting her to let me take her picture.  But now that she’s close to what she weighed in high school, I think she rather enjoys having her picture taken.

Betsy in the Smokies

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In late August we had some early morning appointments in Knoxville, so we decided to make a day of it by visiting the Smokies after finishing up in Knoxville.  We drove along Middle Prong past Tremont, and although the water level was low, we found plenty of reasons to stop and enjoy the scenery.  Later in the day we drove around Cades Cove, one of our favorite  parts of the park.

This collage is made up of photos I took of Betsy during our day in the Smokies.

Is She Trying to Tell Me Something?

Betsy’s ‘dream house’ in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas.  August 5, 2012.

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When Betsy lived and worked in Houston, Texas, she often spent the week after Christmas on vacation in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas.  Since we were in the area while celebrating Betsy’s birthday, she decided to show me around.

After finding the timeshare she used to own, Betsy decided she wanted to drive down to the lake.  She said this is something she did on every visit.  On our way to the lake she told me about a beautiful house that she liked very much.  She always told her friends (and her sons) that the house was her ‘dream house’ and that she would own it some day.

Another view of Betsy’s ‘dream house’, Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. August 5, 2012.

We drove by the house, and I must admit that it is very pretty.  We only saw the front yard, but I liked the wooded setting.  The house has a nice long deck along the front.  I must admit that I liked it as well.

Before you read any further, I need to remind you that the first time I ever went to Fairfield Glade is when Betsy wanted to show me where she stayed during a vacation in Tennessee several years ago.  You’ll see the relevance of this statement when you scroll down.

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Betsy has that mischievous look on her face. I wonder why?

Do you think Betsy is trying to tell me something?

Whatever Became of . . .

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Can you possibly imagine what became of the sweet little girl in the picture above?  It’s obvious that Shirley Temple had absolutely nothing over Elizabeth Bruce Banks of Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

It’s been rumored that young Elizabeth was something of a tomboy, but I think we shouldn’t put too much stock in rumors.  Let’s just say that Sheriff Banks did a great job of preserving law and order in Big Stone Gap.

By the time she was a senior in high school cowboy hats and boots were put aside for more feminine attire.  It’s obvious that Miss Banks was a very beautiful young lady.

Fast forward to 2001.  On June 23, 2001, Elizabeth Bruce Banks made me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife.

Happy Anniversary, Betsy.  Thanks for becoming my Beautiful Bride and for eleven wonderful years together.

The Dream Goes On

Cane Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2012.

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In my lasts post (click HERE if you missed it) I explained why Fall Creek Falls State Park is such a special place for Betsy and me.  Saturday we visited the park again, and did many of the things we did eleven years ago.  The weather Saturday wasn’t nearly as nice as it was back then, but we’re still glad we went.

We did check out most of the waterfalls, although we took a nearly 2 mile hike between two of them which we didn’t do on that first visit.  The water levels were somewhat low, but the falls were still pretty.

Betsy at Cane Creek Cascade, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2012.

My bride is every bit as beautiful as she was eleven years ago.

George Hole, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2012.

But for the life of me I can’t figure out where the old man sitting with her came from.

The best part of the day. Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2012.

The weather may not have been perfect, but I got another kiss which made the day perfect as far as I’m concerned.

Once Upon A Time

Betsy at Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2001.

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I like to think of myself as a realist who doesn’t believe in fairy tales, but sometimes fairy tales do happen and come true.

Once upon a time I asked a beautiful, blonde preacher to go to Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee with me on April 21, 2001.  We had gone out a couple of times before that day, but this was our first ‘big’ date.

When we got to the park we drove to the lodge and walked along the lake for a while.  That’s where I took the picture  above.  When I took that picture I was thinking how lucky I was to be out with such a beautiful woman.

Fall Creek Falls and Coon Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2001.

After talking at the lake for a while, we visited the waterfalls which give the park its name.  There wasn’t a great deal of water going over Fall Creek Falls (on the left in the picture above), but we both thought it was very beautiful.  Fall Creek Falls and Coon Creek Falls (on the right in the picture above) were the first two waterfalls we saw together.

Betsy and George at Cane Creek Cascade, Fall Creek Falls State Park. April 21, 2001.

Fall Creek Falls State Park contains five major waterfalls and we saw all of them.  By the time we got to Cane Creek Cascade we were holding hands (Yeah!).  It wasn’t too much later that I got my first kiss.  (Double Yeah!!!)

Now you know how our waterfall ‘collection’ got started.  Since that wonderful day we have visited over 450 different waterfalls.  We’re still visiting waterfalls, Betsy is still beautiful, and we’re still holding hands.

NOT The End.

The Women in My Life

Betsy and Mrs. P at Wetumpka Falls, Tullahoma, Tennessee. February 9, 2012.

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A couple of weeks ago Betsy and I took Dad for a ride with us as we checked out a couple of waterfalls in the Tullahoma, Tennessee, area.  One of the waterfalls we visited was Wetumpka Falls northwest of town.

This picture was taken at Wetumpka Falls, and shows the women in my life.  Betsy needs no introduction to readers of this blog.  Behind her is our Prius, affectionately known as Mrs. P.  If you look closely on the dash of Mrs. P, you can make out our GPS unit, Miss Barbeak.

It seems to me that at least one of these women is always telling me where to go!

It’s Football Time in Tennessee

Betsy at Blue Hole Falls, Elizabethton, Tennessee. February 14, 2008.

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Betsy bleeds orange every football season.  She’s a very dedicated Tennessee Vol fan.

This has been a difficult season for Betsy.  The Vols are a very young team playing a very hard schedule.  One of the bright spots for the team has been their talented young quarterback, but he got hurt and will be out for several weeks.

Hopefully Betsy will get through the rest of the season without too much heartburn.

This picture was taken on Valentine Day, 2008, while we were visiting waterfalls in northeastern Tennessee.

Someone Is Having a Birthday

I don’t want to mention any names, but someone is having a birthday tomorrow.  I definitely won’t mention anything as crass as age, but can you guess who this birthday person is?

The picture above shows her with her father before she grew into an accomplished drive-by shooter (with a camera!).  But even at that young age she was in the driver’s seat, making sure the men in her life went in the proper direction.

As you can see, Birthday Girl developed an early appreciation for flowers.  So really, what choice did I have but to promise her a rose garden?

I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the Birthday Girl is my Beautiful Bride, Betsy.  If you would like to wish her a Happy Birthday, you can do so by clicking HERE.

I’m trying my best to have a proper birthday celebration, so we may not have much computer time through the weekend.  But we’ll both be back on Monday.