Its me again!
My recovery is almost complete. The Lord has blessed me with most of my strength and endurance returned. Greg and I even went to Disney a couple of weeks ago and I didn't have any real issues. More on that later.
Will has been a big help getting the garden planted. He did all the tilling and helped me plant. We have squash, tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, cucumbers, corn, and sunflowers. I have a couple of pots of marigolds and have divided my mint and chocolate mint into little pots as gifts. The yard has been mowed a couple of times. We have peaches and nectarines on their trees. The apples don't seem to have done much. My blueberry bushes (or booberry as Aiden calls them) are loaded. And our muscadine vines are growing.
The weather here is GA has been so weird. We were still using our fireplace into April some. One day would be 80 and the next would be 50. It looks like the warm weather is here to stay now.
Our newlyweds are doing great. I love having them 15 minutes away. They have been married for 6 1/2 months now! Time flies.
The grandboys are all getting bigger. Robert is almost 6, Thomas just turned 4, Aiden will be 4 in August, and Alvin will be 3 in September. We don't have babies anymore! I love their sweet hugs and kisses. They love to get together and play.
Back to Disney, we have been reminded a number of times thru the years, that each day together is a precious gift. In Dec. that hit us upside the head again. (Back history, we both lost our first spouses thru death, my husband in 1996 and his wife in 2004.) We've worked and saved for years, put kids thru college, had a major part in our 4 married kids weddings, etc. We decided to indulge our Disney love and buy an annual pass. We live 8 hours away, so we can easily do 4 or 5 days and get home. When we went to Disney in April, it was my first time in 34 years with no kids. It was fantastic. We've told everyone we were going to do the old folks trip. Walk, people watch, snack, watch shows, ride some rides, take it easy. And that's what we did. This is the first time I have come home, ready to go back again. I could go tomorrow. We are planning more trips in the near future.
We thought up a series of blog posts for "Disney for Seniors" or "Disney just the 2 of us" or something similar. Stay tuned!
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Friday, May 11, 2018
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Virginia and Tennessee
Greg and I went to a Memorial Service for an extended family member in Chantilly, VA last weekend. We took the opportunity to renew our National Park membership and visit Civil War battlefields in the area. We scheduled our rambling to where we wanted to visit.
We went to Antietam, Manassas (Bull Run), and Cedar Creek (a new one to us). Greg found a Civil War guide book at Antietam and you can stamp each park as you visit. Our goal is to fill the book. Gregs great, great grandparents are buried at Cades Cove. We got home and he started researching that family line and has gotten back 7 greats to a father and son that served in the Revolutionary War. Also, several greats back they owned 1000 acres on Cedar Creek in VA.
The we went to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Cades Cove. I know the fires last fall were horrific and did tons of damage. But driving through the towns ~ on the main streets, we didn't see anything. So the reports of mainstreet Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg being 90% gone were untrue (I don't think they could have rebuilt that quick). Pigeon Forge has become "Kississimee like", very crowded and wall to wall touristy stores. Gatlinburg is still the walk thru town with the quaint shops....at least the main street. I much prefer Gatlinburg. It was raining, so we didn't get out and walk around. Maybe next time.
We both love Cades Cove. Very quiet, beautiful, and peaceful. We got behind some extremely slow drivers. Turkeys and deer were their photographic obsession and even though the signs ask you to pull over, they stopped in the middle of the road and blocked all traffic. We hit another jam and Greg's comment was "if they ever spot a bear, they will lose their minds". I couldn't see anything of interest but there were lots of folks out of their cars with cameras. I asked a guy what they were looking at and he said a bear. So Greg pulled over and I jumped out of the car with the camera. Yes, people were losing their minds. It was great to get pictures~one is good as he dashed between cars crossing the road~no chance of a car hitting him because they weren't moving. But the clear crossing the road picture is of his hind end as he ran between cars.
Thankful for ~
time away
a husband with a love of history
nature
seeing deer, turkeys and a bear
cool day
picnics in the car
visiting with family
a love of history instilled by my daddy (I didn't appreciate it when I was younger)
apple fritters at the Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge
And here is my politically incorrect rant of the day ~ The demand/trend/trantrum about removing historical statues is STUPID. This is the history of our country, folks. Removing a statue of Robert E Lee in New Orleans is dumb and quite frankly disprectful. You can not change history by removing statues or rewriting history books. Also, the Civil War or as daddy called it The War of Northern Aggression was not started because of slavery but it became Lincolns goal after several years. KNOW your history ~ read history books written before 1950. Yes, slavery was wrong, very wrong ~ but it happened. If slaves are in your family lineage, be proud of them. They were a tough, strong people to have come out of that evil and have families and live productive lives. They are to be admired, not ashamed of. End of rant.....for now!
We went to Antietam, Manassas (Bull Run), and Cedar Creek (a new one to us). Greg found a Civil War guide book at Antietam and you can stamp each park as you visit. Our goal is to fill the book. Gregs great, great grandparents are buried at Cades Cove. We got home and he started researching that family line and has gotten back 7 greats to a father and son that served in the Revolutionary War. Also, several greats back they owned 1000 acres on Cedar Creek in VA.
The we went to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Cades Cove. I know the fires last fall were horrific and did tons of damage. But driving through the towns ~ on the main streets, we didn't see anything. So the reports of mainstreet Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg being 90% gone were untrue (I don't think they could have rebuilt that quick). Pigeon Forge has become "Kississimee like", very crowded and wall to wall touristy stores. Gatlinburg is still the walk thru town with the quaint shops....at least the main street. I much prefer Gatlinburg. It was raining, so we didn't get out and walk around. Maybe next time.
We both love Cades Cove. Very quiet, beautiful, and peaceful. We got behind some extremely slow drivers. Turkeys and deer were their photographic obsession and even though the signs ask you to pull over, they stopped in the middle of the road and blocked all traffic. We hit another jam and Greg's comment was "if they ever spot a bear, they will lose their minds". I couldn't see anything of interest but there were lots of folks out of their cars with cameras. I asked a guy what they were looking at and he said a bear. So Greg pulled over and I jumped out of the car with the camera. Yes, people were losing their minds. It was great to get pictures~one is good as he dashed between cars crossing the road~no chance of a car hitting him because they weren't moving. But the clear crossing the road picture is of his hind end as he ran between cars.
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| stone bridge at Manassas |
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| for our Stonewall ~ Thomas |
 |
| doctors kit |
 |
| this turkey was strutting around and showing off |
 |
| deer |
 |
| bear hind end |
Thankful for ~
time away
a husband with a love of history
nature
seeing deer, turkeys and a bear
cool day
picnics in the car
visiting with family
a love of history instilled by my daddy (I didn't appreciate it when I was younger)
apple fritters at the Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge
And here is my politically incorrect rant of the day ~ The demand/trend/trantrum about removing historical statues is STUPID. This is the history of our country, folks. Removing a statue of Robert E Lee in New Orleans is dumb and quite frankly disprectful. You can not change history by removing statues or rewriting history books. Also, the Civil War or as daddy called it The War of Northern Aggression was not started because of slavery but it became Lincolns goal after several years. KNOW your history ~ read history books written before 1950. Yes, slavery was wrong, very wrong ~ but it happened. If slaves are in your family lineage, be proud of them. They were a tough, strong people to have come out of that evil and have families and live productive lives. They are to be admired, not ashamed of. End of rant.....for now!
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
RV Adventure
Greg and I haven't used our RV in a long time ~ mainly because it was where one of our sons lived for a year and a half after we moved to GA. But he moved and it was time.
Greg made us reservations at the state park where Amy is getting married in the fall. Its a beautiful park and we wanted to explore it some.
He got off work early on Friday and we set out (just the 2 of us) on our grand adventure. We had food, bottled water, drinks, snacks, movies for the dvd player, etc. We stopped on the way to fill up the propane tank for heat since it was supposed to get cold on Saturday night.....and it did.
We got to the park and set up camp.....this is where the adventure part begins.....
We didn't have the plug for the hot water heater ~ so no hot water
The water line for the running water was split ~ so it spewed water whenever turned on ~ so no running water
The lights dimmed when we turned on the tv ~ we ran a cord from the power source outside to the tv for our 2 movies we watched
We couldn't lite the oven ~ don't know why. Stovetop worked fine.
Got up Saturday morning to 2 flat tires ~ argh
Mom came and rescued us and we went home to get the air compressor for the tires. The park is an hour from our house.
Greg pumped up the tires and it seemed to work good.
We ended up with hot dogs and chili for supper cause it was fast, warm, and easy. And no oven required.
Finished watching Sound of Music and then watched Gregs new Jason Bourne movie.
Went to bed....and got so cold! That full tank of propane and our heater blew out cold air all night long. We had an electric blanket but there wasn't enough power to heat it ~ and no, I did not jump out of the cold bed into the colder air and run the electric cord through a crack in the window into the rv for the blanket....for the record, Greg did "ask'!
Greg repumped the tires, we explored the park and then drove home ~ thankfully, a safe and uneventful drive.
The weekend wasn't a complete disaster (just seems like it), we went on our first RV trip with no kids, we did enjoy most of our time together ~ nothing like freezing with your best friend, we found a couple of great picture spots and rehersal dinner spots for the wedding.
We are not giving up on RV trips ~ I did tell Greg I was willing for us to drive it to Hilton Head (after its fixed of course) and camp on the island!
We are very thankful for ~
safety
blankets
distractions (the movies)
a long, extension cord
finding a nearby shop to take it too this weekend
time away
What we learned ~
to check everything, no matter what
that laughing is better than complaining
that we are not cut out for "off grid", not w/out a lot of preparation~!!
that Ma & Pa Ingalls and Mama & Daddy Walton were tough! Not sissies like us!
Have some easy food to prepare for "just in case".
Greg made us reservations at the state park where Amy is getting married in the fall. Its a beautiful park and we wanted to explore it some.
He got off work early on Friday and we set out (just the 2 of us) on our grand adventure. We had food, bottled water, drinks, snacks, movies for the dvd player, etc. We stopped on the way to fill up the propane tank for heat since it was supposed to get cold on Saturday night.....and it did.
We got to the park and set up camp.....this is where the adventure part begins.....
We didn't have the plug for the hot water heater ~ so no hot water
The water line for the running water was split ~ so it spewed water whenever turned on ~ so no running water
The lights dimmed when we turned on the tv ~ we ran a cord from the power source outside to the tv for our 2 movies we watched
We couldn't lite the oven ~ don't know why. Stovetop worked fine.
Got up Saturday morning to 2 flat tires ~ argh
Mom came and rescued us and we went home to get the air compressor for the tires. The park is an hour from our house.
Greg pumped up the tires and it seemed to work good.
We ended up with hot dogs and chili for supper cause it was fast, warm, and easy. And no oven required.
Finished watching Sound of Music and then watched Gregs new Jason Bourne movie.
Went to bed....and got so cold! That full tank of propane and our heater blew out cold air all night long. We had an electric blanket but there wasn't enough power to heat it ~ and no, I did not jump out of the cold bed into the colder air and run the electric cord through a crack in the window into the rv for the blanket....for the record, Greg did "ask'!
Greg repumped the tires, we explored the park and then drove home ~ thankfully, a safe and uneventful drive.
The weekend wasn't a complete disaster (just seems like it), we went on our first RV trip with no kids, we did enjoy most of our time together ~ nothing like freezing with your best friend, we found a couple of great picture spots and rehersal dinner spots for the wedding.
We are not giving up on RV trips ~ I did tell Greg I was willing for us to drive it to Hilton Head (after its fixed of course) and camp on the island!
We are very thankful for ~
safety
blankets
distractions (the movies)
a long, extension cord
finding a nearby shop to take it too this weekend
time away
What we learned ~
to check everything, no matter what
that laughing is better than complaining
that we are not cut out for "off grid", not w/out a lot of preparation~!!
that Ma & Pa Ingalls and Mama & Daddy Walton were tough! Not sissies like us!
Have some easy food to prepare for "just in case".
 |
| lovely little waterfall in the park |
 |
| ceremony venue |
 |
| the ceremony will be in here! |
 |
| beautiful craftsmanship |
 |
| can't wait to see "long and white" draped over these stone steps! |
Friday, January 6, 2017
Wedding Prep
Just ordered Save the Date cards online from Shutterfly! It was lots of fun going through all the Disney vacation pictures to pick out some for the cards.
Also, making plans to go to a big wedding expo in the Atlanta area the end of January!
Making guests lists, working on attendants gifts (Amy), and in discussions about where the newlyweds will live after the big day....nothing is definitely decided on that discussion.
Here are a few fun pictures I found yesterday ~
****These are all photopass pictures ~ I would totally buy this again on our next trip. We got lots of pictures of Will, Amy & Austin even though we weren't all together everyday. Our photo pass files contained over 600 pictures!
Will have many more fun times and pictures heading up toward the wedding day.....10 more months! Its a fun, emotional, creative roller coaster!
Also, making plans to go to a big wedding expo in the Atlanta area the end of January!
Making guests lists, working on attendants gifts (Amy), and in discussions about where the newlyweds will live after the big day....nothing is definitely decided on that discussion.
Here are a few fun pictures I found yesterday ~
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| one of my favorites |
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| Amy wasn't paying a bit of attention! |
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| LOVE Ariels face and enthusiasm & Amy's shock! |
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| sweet love |
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| Austin did a great job setting this up, we are thrilled we were all able to be there and witness this life changing event! |
****These are all photopass pictures ~ I would totally buy this again on our next trip. We got lots of pictures of Will, Amy & Austin even though we weren't all together everyday. Our photo pass files contained over 600 pictures!
Will have many more fun times and pictures heading up toward the wedding day.....10 more months! Its a fun, emotional, creative roller coaster!
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