Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Thursday, May 28, 2009

On the Road to North Carolina


I recently made the comment that we were going to be home for awhile--at least until our Anniversary trip the middle of June... WELL---that all changed!!!!! (Are you surprised?) We got an invitation to meet our good friends, Judy and Charlie, at their mountain home in Otto, NC (south of Franklin) for a few days of R&R.... How could we ever turn down an invitation like that???????????

SO--we're leaving today for a couple of days!!!! Judy is one of the best friends I've ever had, but we don't live close to each other, nor get to see each other very often. We email EVERY day (sometimes more than once). AND--we talk on the phone on occasion. BUT--we never get finished talking!!!! SO---for two days while our hubbies read and do their thing, Judy and I will be sitting on their porch YAKING. And --I'm sure that even after two days, we won't finish our conversations!!! Ha!!

Above is a picture of Judy and Charlie's gorgeous vacation home.. Below are more pictures!!!!












The view from their porch/deck; Awesome, huh?





This is what we'll be doing for two days!!!! I cannot wait!!!!





This is Judy and me ---at another outing in Otto.





One thing that George and I have in common with our good friends is a love of the great outdoors. This picture of Judy and Charlie was taken in WINTER (can you tell??? ha)--on one of their many hikes. They happened to see a waterfall---so of course, they sent us this picture!!!





Finally, here is one more picture of my friend and me... She's a TINY thing; can you tell???? I'm about 5'6" --but she is MUCH shorter!!!!!! We'll be home Saturday night --and I'll post again on Sunday..



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The Rose-of-the-Day is one of my all-time favorites, named Double Delight... (This is one of George's fav's also..) You should smell this one!!! If you click on the picture and make it larger, you will see raindrops on this rose. Awesome!!!!



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It rained off and on yesterday---so I didn't get many pictures. But---I did capture this one of Mama Bluebird at the nest, feeding the four babies.




This is where I sit (on the deck) with my camera on the railing---staring out at that bluebird nest in our back yard. I use George's camera (with the ZOOM)---to get up close and personal!!!! I would love to see the babies when they fledge sometime the first full week of June.... Who knows???? ha

Thanks to all of you for the prayers and special thoughts due to the death of my cousin, Patsy. That meant the world to me.. You all are FABULOUS. See you Sunday!!!
Hugs,

47 comments:

Cedar ... said...

Why did they mount that satellite dish on the deck railing and spoil that view? I have a similar view and i mounted my dish on a deck support post to be out of sight from above. If they have a huge house like that just for a vacation home they must be very fortunate. It's always nice to gtg with girlfriends!

Beth said...

Your friend's home is lovely, Betsy. And, of course, you know I think that the North Carolina mountains are the most beautiful mountains there are! :-) Have a wonderful trip and visit!

Betsy, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your cousin Patsy. My condolences to you and to all the family. I know you will miss her.

Peggy said...

Now I am really jealous! You are going back to my stomping ground. LOL I have 2 daughters living in Franklin so if you get bored (yeah right) give them a call. Oh you lucky lady!

Shelley said...

Your friends have a very nice home and I can see why you're excited to go visit them! What great views! Have a fun time and yak to your hearts content!! :-)

Diane AZ said...

I love the pictures, looks like you're going to have a wonderful time! Double Delight rose with raindrops, so pretty. And, that's quite a view you have from your deck, you must see lots of birds and critters from there.

Carol Murdock said...

Besty....I'd go too, you know me, NEVER pass up a chance to stay in the NC mountains!! Have fun!!

I Am Woody said...

Have a wonderful trip!!!

Becky said...

Hope you have a great trip and we can't wait to see what you did while you were there. I have a guess that there maybe a waterfall pic. in the near future ;)

RA said...

Oh, I imagine that it will be a very lovely vacation! Who could resist something like this :). I hope you'll have a great time. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes, Betsy. Hugs and love from Indonesia.

T said...

What a wonderful opportunity!

Have a great time and can't wait to see the pictures from the visit.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: Have a great time with your friends. The weather should be nice in the mountains at this time of the year.

jlshall said...

What a beautiful place for a vacation home! Hope you have a great trip and visit.

Unknown said...

What a great invite!! Looks like a great place to relax and capture wonderful photos!!!

Susie said...

Hope you guys have a wonderful time. Staying at a place like that, visiting with friends, how could you not?!?!?

Arkansas Patti said...

Hope you take lots of pictures to show all of us stuck at home. What a lovely location.
Have a wonderful time and breathe deeply of that clean fresh air.

PCovi said...

How fun! Nothing like good friends and a beautiful place to be together! I want to recommend a game if you haven't discovered it yet...it is called Apples to Apples and is so easy...you don't have to concentrate or think~just laugh!
Your roses are spectacular.

Small City Scenes said...

Bye Bye and have fun. MB

Connie said...

Hope you have a great time and a fun visit with your friends, Betsy. Looks like a beautiful place to spend a little relaxing time. Those mountains are amazing. :)

~Daisy~

Harriet said...

What a wonderful place to relax with friends. Have a safe trip!

Pigeon said...

Have a great trip! Your friend has a beautiful home with a georgous view.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

WOW!!! Sounds like such a fun time will be had!!!! Hugs...m.

Judy said...

I am so sorry about your cousin and sorry that I did not know it before now. I hope you have a wonderful trip and enjoy your visit with your friend, Judy. She has to be great, she has a great name to go with all her other attributes! lol. Their vacation home is just lovely. I envy you your visit there!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Have a wonderful visit...I am sure you girls are good with the gab...I love friends like that!!!
Enjoy!

Deborah Godin said...

Wowie-zowie - now THAT'S a porch-and-a-half!!!

EG CameraGirl said...

Have a fun time, Betsy! But of course you will. ;-)

Cicero Sings said...

Always good to live life serendipitously ... much more interesting that way!

Enjoy your visit ... I KNOW you will. So nice to have such a good, good friend.

Grammy said...

Oh Betsy, how awesome ! To see your friend is a true blessing. Have a wonderful time.

Becca's Dirt said...

How nice to get away to visit your friends. That is a nice vacation spot. I know you will have a fabulous time.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Hope you have a fabulous time.Waiting to hear all about it.
Blessings,Ruth

Joy said...

Sounds like fun, fun, fun! Great friends, beautiful scenery and relaxing.
Good for you. Judy looks like a sweetie.
I love that momma bird with her head in there checking on her babies.

Dirt Princess said...

VACATION home??? What? I would love to see their "real" home! I would NEVER leave that place

A Brit in Tennessee said...

A lovely place to sit and catch up on all things that matter...
have a wonderful time Betsy and George, bring back pictures !
Hugs,
Jo

Jane said...

Have a wonderful time!

Jane

Forty Two East said...

Have a fun and safe trip.
I love the NC mountains....not because I am from NC but it's really a beautiful place to visit.

EcoRover said...

Oh, how I sometimes miss those Appalachian hills. That's a great blue bird box!

Rosa said...

How fun indeed! Who could turn down a trip like that? It looks heavenly! Love your bluebird pictures as well as the rose. So pretty. Enjoy your time!

Rose said...

I suppose you are gone by now...I had Lorelei today and just getting around to visiting...you and Judy sound like my best friend, Beck and I. When we lived in TN for that year and a half, we saw each other almost daily and never ran out of things to talk about...what I wouldn't give to have some of those days back.

Jayne said...

Have a wonderful time in the mountains Betsy and soak in the girlfriend moments!

Lagean Ellis said...

Betsy,

Hope you and George have a wonderful time this weekend. As always, I appreciate you sharing your photos.

Oh, my Ollie is coming home Saturday or Sunday. I am so excited. I haven't seen him in weeks. Haven't showed him the chapel yet. Maybe I'll sneak it in. haha

Diane said...

Have a great trip, Betsy. I don't see how it wouldn't be great.

Wendy said...

What a beautiful vacation home! Have a blast! Enjoy - will hear from you when you get back.

Mary said...

Have a great time!

Unknown said...

I wanna go,too!Take me with you!
It's looks so beautiful!

Karin said...

Oh the blessings of a precious heart friendship like that and then to have all those wonderful amenities and gorgeous views thrown in as well!!! Sounds like Heaven!!! Enjoy! Hubby and I will be heading out next week to visit family in British Columbia!

Gorgeous rose, that's for sure. We'll see you when you get back. Have a safe trip and enjoy! I know you will.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Betsy,when you return, pop on over to my place, I have left you a little something :)

Femin Susan said...

What a beautiful opportunity! Looks magnificent....
sounds like your anniversary trip was brilliant.
Cheers!

marmee said...

oh how much fun you are going to have. my sis, meems and i haven't stopped talking and we just can't catch up so i know what you mean...it is great to have a friend or sister like that.
have a peaceful, restful time while you are there.
meems and i are heading to the beach for several days. whew! i am ready for it.