Down Memory Lane: Our Reception

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

Although we both lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee, at the time, we got married in Knoxville.  We did this so that we could have a small family wedding.  Betsy was the Associate Minister at a large Methodist church in Hendersonville and she didn’t want to have to make decisions about who in the congregation should be invited and who should not.

‘The Girls’, Betsy’s girlfriends from the Hendersonville church, gave us a reception in the church fellowship hall a few weeks after our wedding.  This allowed members of the Hendersonville church to share in our wedding.

I came across pictures from the reception when I was going through my archives and posting pictures on my photo website.  The collage above includes some of those pictures.  From left to right along the top:  Betsy and I when we arrived at the reception, sampling some of the goodies, and with ‘The Girls’.  On the bottom left we’re sharing some photos from our wedding and honeymoon.  On the bottom right I’m talking with Mom and Dad.

To see larger versions of these pictures and others, click HERE.

Our World: Ohio Autumn

Autumn scenes from Ohio, October 15-16, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

In mid-October Betsy and I went up to Ohio to meet our friends Patti and Neal at Hocking Hills State Park.  We had two wonderful days of fellowship, hiking, and beautiful autumn colors.

Two of the pictures in the collage were taken at a rest area on our way to Hocking Hills (I even managed to get Betsy in one of the photos).  The whimsical sculpture was almost as colorful as the trees.  The other two pictures were taken during a hike to a natural bridge in Rockbridge State Nature Preserve near Logan, Ohio.

Down Memory Lane: A Cabin in the Mountains

In May of last year our friends Judy and Charlie invited us to spend a couple of days with them at their cabin near Otto, North Carolina.  We’ve known Judy and Charlie for several years and enjoy their company.

Their cabin is a vacation hideaway in the mountains of western North Carolina.  The deck of the cabin is a perfect place for sitting and talking or just sitting and enjoying the mountain views.

One advantage of a May visit was that the mountain laurel was in bloom.  The cabin is one of only a few on the side of the mountain, so there are many mountain laurels along the road.  Walking along the road was a visual delight for more than the mountain views.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

Thankful for Blogging Friends

Mildred, John and Harriet on the porch of their home. October 25, 2010.

Betsy and I were fortunate to be able to enjoy an early Thanksgiving this past Monday.  We had planned to meet blog friend Mildred and her husband, John, at their home in northern Georgia.  What we didn’t know was that Mildred had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch planned for us.  The lunch was delicious and was topped off with a new treat for me — pumpkin ice cream on pumpkin coffee cake.

One reason we went down to visit them was that John has been having some health problems and we have been thinking and praying for the two of them.

The picture above shows Mildred and John with Harriet, the third member of their family.

This scarecrow welcomed us to Mildred and John's home.

Mildred is very creative and talented (in addition to being a great cook) and had this welcome set up for us on their screened-in porch.

Betsy and Harriet. October 25, 2010.

We had a wonderful visit with Mildred and John.  And, as you can see, Betsy found a new best friend while we were there.

Both Betsy and I are very thankful for blogger friends.

Meeting New Old Friends

Patti and Neal at Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina. October 20, 2010.

Both Betsy and I have been following Neal’s blog (and he’s been following ours) for nearly two years.  Neal is a retired systems analyst living in Indiana, although he was born in eastern Tennessee.  Neal is a wonderful photographer and features his photos on his blog.  Neal is also my hero — he’s not afraid to tell Betsy exactly what he thinks!

When Neal found out that Betsy and I were going to Maggie Valley to see the autumn colors, he decided that he and Patti would like to do that as well.  The four of us met up Tuesday evening and had a delightful dinner.  It was as if we had known each other for years.

On Wednesday the four of us visited the Cataloochee Valley to see the elk which had been reintroduced there.  We then drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mount Pisgah, stopping at just about every overlook to take in the colors.  I won’t frighten you by telling you how many pictures Betsy and I took over the three days.

Betsy, Patti and Neal at the highest point of the Blue Ridge Parkway. October 20, 2010.

Thursday we drove across the Cherohala Skyway from North Carolina to Tennessee, again enjoying the autumn color.  After visiting Bald River Falls near Tellico Plains, Tennessee, Betsy and I headed home while Neal and Patti headed toward a visit with Neal’s brother.

Patti and Neal taking pictures at Santeelah Overlook, Cherohala Skyway, North Carolina. October 21, 2010.

We enjoyed our time with Patti and Neal, even if this is the view of them we often saw!

Happiness Is A Milkshake

Mom and Dad enjoying a milkshake. February 12, 2010.

The snow and cold of the past two weeks have pretty much kept my parents holed up in their house in Hendersonville.  Friday our friends Judy and Charlie, who live in Hendersonville, took Mom and Dad out for lunch at a fast food restaurant.  Mom and Dad enjoyed the hamburger and french fries, but the milk shake was obviously a big hit as well.  Charlie took and sent us this picture on his cell phone.

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We’re supposed to get some snow Friday night and more on Sunday night.  I’m hoping to whisk Betsy away for a Mystery Trip between storms to celebrate Valentine Day.  I’m also hoping that we can get back home without any problems.  I can’t tell you where we are going since Betsy reads this, but the chances that the trip includes waterfalls are pretty good!  We hope to be back sometime Monday evening.

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Today I’m grateful for thoughtful friends who help without being asked.

My Bride Left Me!

If you read Betsy’s blog you know that she has left me to spend a few days in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, with her childhood girlfriends.  I’m optimistic that the separation will be temporary and that Betsy will soon be back home.

Betsy and the girls are in a beautiful cabin fairly high up in the mountains above Maggie Valley.  The road to the cabin is probably the worse I’ve driven on.  For the first time I had doubts as to whether our Prius would make it, but it did.  If Betsy had found a place higher in the mountains we would have had to have pack mules.

I don’t want to give you the impression that my beautiful bride heartlessly left me to a long and lonely week.  She wouldn’t do anything like that.  She’s made sure I’m not bored — the lawn will need to be mowed (hopefully for the last time) and then there are all those leaves that are coming down.  As if that’s not enough, we’re getting a delivery of firewood this week and that will need to be stacked.  Oh, yes, and I still have a few spring bulbs that need to be planted.

I’m beginning to think that Betsy timed her vacation perfectly.

Skywatch Friday # 54: Cades Cove

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. July 23, 2009.

This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world.  To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.

Yesterday Betsy and I visited our friends Judy and Charlie, who were camping at Cades Cove in the Smokies.  Judy and Charlie camp there every year, and Betsy and I usually go over to visit with them at least one day.  We sit around a campfire (it’s been cool in the mountains) and get caught up on what each couple has been doing since the last time we got together.

We talked so much yesterday that we didn’t have time for a hike, so the best Betsy and I could do was drive to the beginning of the Cades Cove loop and get a few pictures.  That’s where the picture above was taken.

Celebrating our monthaversary at Cafe Uno, Maryville, Tennessee. July 23, 2009.

Yesterday was our 97th ‘monthaversary’.  We decided since we met so late in life we would celebrate our wedding ‘monthaversary’ as well as the anniversary.  Since it was on the way home, we decided to stop at Uno’s for a deep dish Chicago pizza.  It had been quite some time since we had one and that seemed like a great way to end a special day.

Meeting Old Friends For The First Time

Leedra, Betsy and Shelley. Cleveland, Tennessee. June 12, 2009.

Yesterday was a very special day for Betsy and me.  We got to meet a couple of our blogging buddies in person!

The picture above shows Betsy with Leedra (left) of Leedra’s Photos For Fun and Shelley of Building A Log Cabin.  We all have been visiting each other’s blog for many months.  Leedra lives here in Tennessee not too far from us, but Shelley lives in Michigan.  Shelley and her husband Greg came down to Chattanooga on business, so a get-together was arranged.  We all met in Cleveland, Tennessee, for brunch.

As soon as we met it was like a gathering of old friends.  We talked, and talked and talked.  I’m sure we ate somewhere along the line, but it was the fellowship that was  most important.

We’re hoping that Shelley and Greg will soon get back to Tennessee when they can stay longer.  Betsy and I are hoping that we can soon get up to Michigan as well.  Shelley and Greg have a beautiful log cabin in northern Michigan and Betsy and I know that there are some beautiful waterfalls up there.

It’s Going to be Hard to Leave

Big Rose Bed, Fairfield Glade. May 23, 2009.

The picture above shows some of the roses in our large rose bed.  That bed contains 22 roses, but not all of them have bloomed yet.  But I can say that scenes like this make all the work very worthwhile.

Betsy and I are going to be visiting friends for a couple of days.  Judy and Charlie have a cabin in the western North Carolina and we’re going over there later today.  We met Judy and Charlie when Betsy and I lived in Hendersonville.  They still live there, but we have remained close.

This visit is for relaxation and to give Betsy and Judy an opportunity to ‘talk’.  Whether the talking will leave time for eating and sleeping remains to be seen.

I don’t think this trip will include any waterfall visits, although there are several in the area.  I’m taking some reading and may even get in a nap or two.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.