Leaves Gone, if Only for Today!!

For the past week, George and I have worked VERY hard raking and blowing leaves out of our yard. In fact, almost everyone in Fairfield Glade has been doing this... WELL---yesterday afternoon, we completed the ENTIRE yard. AND--it looks so pretty. Since there are some leaves which haven't fallen yet (not too many), and since rain (from Ida) and winds are ON the way----WELL--we aren't sure the yard will look this good tomorrow or the next day... SO---we took some pictures around the yard to share with you today. Above is a picture taken from the driveway looking across the front yard. You can see that some of our Roses are still blooming. Note also all of the BARE trees. Below are more pictures.




Here is a close-up picture of what is left of our Autumn Joy Sedum.. As you may remember from previous posts, the Sedum changes colors throughout the Fall. Now--it's a dark purple and in some lights, a rusty brown color. The leaves turn yellow this time of year.




You can see that the Begonia (on the stump) is still blooming. The small rock bed (where the Autumn Joy Sedum are) still has a few Hosta alive. AND--the English Ivy and Periwinkle are doing GREAT there.




Here is a picture of the other side of the front yard. This is the 'lower' side with an empty lot next door. Note those few leaves still left on the Redbud tree.





This is our front porch --still decorated for Autumn. (I always leave our Autumn decorations up until Thanksgiving---since we are still celebrating HARVEST.)





Can you believe this little beauty????? This is our CHRISTMAS Cactus. I've had this plant since 2000---and it has bloomed every year for Christmas--until last year (when it bloomed for Thanksgiving). WELL--this year, it is blooming NOW.... What's up with that???? My Christmas Cactus needs a new name!!!!!! Goodness Gracious!!!!

I'll post six more yard pictures tomorrow.
Hugs,

More from Tallulah Gorge, GA

This is a continuation of our latest trip to Tallulah Gorge, near Clayton, GA. Before reading this post, click HERE to see the other two posts about this incredible hike (which we took on October 14, 2009). There is also a post showing the gorge in Summer (when we went there in June).

WELL---if you remember from my last post, we were on the top of the South Rim---wondering how we would get back to the North Rim. Hmmmmm---should we go back down those 600 steps and then back up 600 more on the other side???????? I may enjoy hiking and it may be good for me to get all of that wonderful exercise---but my answer to this would be: "I think NOT." ha ha

Today ---I want to show you more of the beauty we enjoyed while on the South Rim. Above is one of my favorite waterfall in the gorge, TEMPESTA FALLS. Isn't it just totally amazing???? Below are more!





Even with all of the rain that day, I still loved seeing the Autumn colors all around me.





Besides the 5 waterfalls that are part of the Tallulah River, there were two wet-weather waterfalls/cascades flowing down the mountain on the north rim into the river. You may have to click on the above picture to make it larger in order to see the CALEDONIA CASCADE as it flows down the rocks (on the left side near the top) ---and on to the bottom of the gorge. That cascade falls for 600 feet. Amazing!





Here is a close-up of the bottom part of CALEDONIA CASCADE.





This waterfall is harder to see from the South Rim. Its name is OCEANA FALLS.





The fog was quite heavy while looking across the gorge at the other wet-weather waterfall, as it pours down the rocks toward the river. This waterfall is named HIGH BLUFF FALLS.





I loved seeing the huge rocks all around the gorge--on both sides. This gorge is 1000 feet down in some spots. Amazing!





O-ke-dok-ee... We have seen everything there is to see on the South Rim .... SO--now where do we go?????? To be continued (for one more post)...

Hugs,

A Revisit to Where it All Began

George and I took his mother and father back to southern Indiana in October of 2006 --to re-visit the small town of Winslow, which is Mom's hometown. Mom grew up in the area and graduated from high school there. Dad Adams was in Winslow working in a CCC camp, with a group of young men who were building a new park in that area. Mom and her good friend, Virginia, met their future husbands when the young men came to Winslow to work. You can only imagine how the people in town felt about their home-town girls dating those 'outsiders.' Oh My!!!!!

Nevertheless, Mom and Dad did fall in love---and Dad would walk miles and miles just to see her. When we were in Winslow and Arthur (nearby town), they showed us how far the walk was from his workplace and/or camp to Mom's house. That was true love I'm sure!!!!

Mom's father and mother had ONE rule. She couldn't get married until she was 20... SO, on May 2, 1940, she turned 20 and they were married on May 5, 1940. We visited the church Mom and her family attended and where she and Dad got married. The church is the Winslow Christian Church --and the sign out front was dedicated in memory of Mom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Cassiday.

This next May, these two wonderful people will have been married for 70 years. Dad Adams is 97 and Mom is 89. They are such an inspiration to me. Here are some pictures from our visit to Winslow, Indiana in 2006 plus a couple of extra pictures. Above is a picture taken the week of Dad's 95th birthday --in 2007. I wanted to include it so that you can see Mom's gorgeous smile. Below are more!!!




This is the home in Winslow, Indiana, where Mom lived when she and Dad got married.




The sign in front of the church is in memory of Mom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Cassiday. Mom and her family were very active in the Winslow Christian Church.




Winslow Christian Church was built in 1923 and is in immaculate condition, inside and out.



Mom played the piano in this church many years ago. She played for us again on this day. Dad joined in as we sang "The Church in the Wildwood".





George even remembered the layout of this church--since he visited here as a young child. There were some gorgeous stained-glass windows in this sanctuary.





Dad and Mom got married in this church on May 5, 1940. These two lovebirds are as much in love today as they were in 1940.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Since there are no wedding pictures, I'll close with this portrait of Mom and Dad Adams and their firstborn, George, who was born on March 9, 1942. This picture was taken about 1943 when the family lived in Crown Point, Indiana. Isn't my Georgie a cutie pie????

Taking Mom and Dad back to Winslow and being there to relive their wedding was just awesome. When I married George, I found the most wonderful family one could ever have!!!

Hugs,

Getting Through the "Storms" of Life

After going through a couple of days of sadness (due to the tragedies at Fort Hood and Orlando), I found the neatest story to share today---a story about unconditional love. I hope this story will have meaning for you in your life today.


+++++++++++++++++++
HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.! The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said,
'She doesn't know me, but I STILL KNOW WHO SHE IS.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.


+++++++++++++++++++++++
All of my adult life, I have tried to live by the statement which is printed at the top of my blog. Here it is for you to read again: "Life is all about choices and attitude. Make the right choices, keep a positive attitude-- and you will find joy through all of your ups and downs. "

How do you get through the 'storms' of life? Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

Hugs,

Old Fort Harrod, Harrodsburg, KY

As you know, George and I love to hike and search for new waterfalls. BUT--we also love history. George especially reads --and remembers---alot of history especially around the Civil War time. It is so interesting to be somewhere with him because he knows so much about our pioneers and what happened in the past.

We love to travel on the back roads (instead of the interstate) when we can. SO--once we left Indiana on 3/10/07, we drove down through the bluegrass region in Kentucky. Talk about GORGEOUS!!! When we got to a town called Harrodsburg, we read a sign saying that it was the FIRST Kentucky settlement. It was then called Harrodstown--and was founded in 1774 as the first permanent English settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains.

After getting into Harrodsburg, we passed by an old fort (Old Fort Harrod). At that time, we both said, "Let's turn around and check it out." AND--are we glad we did!!!! We got to experience life and history first hand in this full-scale replica of the fort, built by James Harrod. The cabins and blockhouses are furnished with handmade utensils used by the pioneers.

James Harrod was the unanimous choice to be the leader of the expeditionary company that founded Kentucky's first settlement. He was an expert in the use of a rifle, a successful hunter, and a skillful antagonist of the Native American. He was a feared enemy to them, yet he was highly respected by them. Harrod joined George Rogers Clark's expedition to destroy Shawnee strongholds across the Ohio River. The expedition was successful and more settlers came to the peaceful, lush Kentucky territory. Colonel James Harrod died mysteriously during one of his hunting trips in the winter of 1792. His body was never located.

Besides James Harrod and George Rogers Clark, another interesting person we learned about was Ann Kennedy Wilson Pogue Lindsay McGinty. Ann was the first home economics demonstrator in Kentucky. When she came over the Wilderness Road to Harrod's Fort, she brought her spinning wheel on her horse with her. She lived to a ripe old age, surviving FOUR husbands, and died in the fort blockhouse.

One of Ann McGinty's husbands was William Pogue. William was the handy-man at Harrod's Fort. He made spinning wheels and looms that kept his wife and the other women busy. He also made the first plow that turned the first bluegrass sod in Kentucky.

After taking in the fort, we visited the old cemetery. This was the oldest cemetery in the state, with over 500 pioneer sites. I loved looking at all of the old stones, trying to read any inscriptions. And finally, we enjoyed walking around one of the oldest and largest Osage orange trees in the country. VERY DIFFERENT!!!! I have already blogged about the Osage tree. Click HERE to see that post.

The picture above is George inside of the George Rogers Clark Blockhouse. This is where Clark planned his conquest, which saved the Northwest Territory for his country. He presented his plans to Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, and was given the authority to proceed. More pictures are below.




Old Fort Harrod is a replica of the original fort.




I am standing at the McGinty Blockhouse. Talented woman, Ann McGinty, died here after outliving FOUR husbands.




George stands at the blacksmith shop.




Here is where Clark planned his conquest which saved the Northwest Territory.




This is the Mark McGohon Cabin with wife BETSY's cord cherry bed and her bonnet!





Capt. James Harrod and 32 men started Harrodstown. This is the schoolhouse where...




...George sits and recites his ABC's. Can you hear him??????? ha ha






Handyman William Pogue made spinning wheels with the help of his smart wife, Ann.





Rev. John Lythe, who carried a Bible in one hand and an axe in the other, lived here.




Here's one more peak at the fort before leaving. What an experience!

We hope YOU get to go to Harrodsburg sometime and enjoy this wonderful piece of history.

Hugs,