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...

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Beautiful Lights at the Opryland Hotel Resort, Nashville, TN

Here's another post from our December 19, 2013 visit to see the Christmas Lights at the Opryland Hotel Resort.  Hope you didn't miss seeing the gorgeous Nativity from there I published on my January 10th blog post. 

Today,  I'll show you some more photos from outside the hotel.  Above is a beautiful decoration---made to be a huge 'tree' with poinsettias around the bottom.  Beautiful, isn't it?


Here is a close-up of one of the huge Poinsettias.   I love this flower/decoration.  Do you?



Above is a photo showing some of the beautifully decorated trees in the area.  Wonder how many many lights there are total????



Here is one more photo showing more of the awesome trees all lit up.



And here is a photo I took from outside while looking back toward the entrance to the hotel.  I will show one more photo from outside on my other blog (Betsy's Photo Blog) that you do not want to miss seeing.  Click HERE  for that photo (January 15 post).





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We met George's daughter, Kelly and hubby Chuck, in Nashville that evening for a Christmas Dinner at the Claim Jumper Restaurant in Opry Mills Mall and then,  we all visited the hotel in order to see their Christmas decorations --and of course, to take LOTS of photos!!!!   Below are some photos of the four of us taken in the Opryland Hotel Resort.


Here is a photo of George's beautiful daughter, Kelly, and her hubby, Chuck.


Kelly took this photo of George and me ---carrying all of our camera gear!!!!


AND-- Here's a photo of the four of us taken with the tripod... We had a great time with those two very active, very busy young adults.

Finally,  I want to send a shout-out to my middle son, Mark, who turns 44 today!!!!  Happy Birthday, Sweetie.  I love you!

Have a great Wednesday --and don't forget to check out the photo I posted on my Photo Blog.  Thanks to so many of you for your kind words to me after our near-head-on-collision on Monday afternoon.  I'm still talking about it --and keep thinking of what could have been.  For those who don't know,  a car came straight toward us on a 2-lane road here near our home --in OUR lane.  He was about 15-20 feet from hitting us head-on.  George swerved and we went into a ditch.  Luckily,  the ditch wasn't steep and there were no trees nearby for us to hit.  We were FINE and the car is fine --other than being extremely muddy and dirty around the tires and bottom. Our angels were with us for sure --and I thank God and thank George for staying calm and knowing what to do to save our lives.  Neither of us have EVER gone through a close-call like this before.  SCARY.

NOTE:  Anyone getting an email from me (with a Cox.net address)--do NOT open it. I will not send out an email just with a link.  The one that hubby got, was a link and said AMAZING.   I must have gotten spammed!  I will change passwords AGAIN.  Thanks..  (So far,  nobody has received an email except my hubby--so hopefully,  things are okay.)

Another NOTE:  Anyone with Google+  may want to read THIS if you don't want your name used in advertisements --which you may not recommend.  

Hugs,

41 comments:

eileeninmd said...

The lights are pretty Betsy! Lovely photos. And George's daughter is pretty. Great series of photos. Have a happy day!

Peaches McGinty said...

Hi Betsy,
I didn't know at all, oh my goodness how terrifying for you both? I am so relieved you are both fine, I read this holding my breath, but you are both fine, Thank God x x x
p's I nearly forgot, your pics are wonderful, the trees lit so beautifully must have been a delight and it's lovely to meet beautiful Kelly and her husband x x x

Unknown said...

It looks so beautiful, it must have taken a long time to decorate all those threes with the lights.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Oh dear Betsy ~ I am so glad you and George are safe. How frightening that must have been.

The photos are wonderful and George's daughter is lovely. Glad the four of you had a great time together.

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments on my blog.

Have a great day ~ FlowerLady

diane b said...

The lights are just breathtakingly beautiful. Nice for you to meet up with the young ones and a Happy Birthday to Mark.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love the poinsettias. so pretty.

going to read about google + now. what now??! always on our toes i guess we have to be. ( :

Neal said...

Those are absolutely gorgeous.

Ms. A said...

Thank goodness you two are okay and Happy Birthday, Mark!

Beautiful photos, Betsy.

linda m said...

Such beautiful pictures. Happy Birthday to your son Mark.

The Furry Gnome said...

Those are amazing light displays.

MadSnapper said...

great family photos and the lights are wonderful. Happy birthday to Mark...

Nellie said...

The Opryland Hotel is a showplace anytime, and quite beautiful at Christmas! I hope you are having a good Wednesday and are continuing to recover from Monday's scare!

Hugs,
Nellie

Arkansas Patti said...

What a beautiful wonderland. Had to chuckle at all your equipment. You could use a pack mule. Good to see the love of photography runs in the family.
Still stunned at your near miss and grateful that it was just that.

Anonymous said...

Very nice photos of such a memorable trip. Wishing you both a nice day.

Hootin Anni said...

You two even have identical camera gear!!! I love that about you both.

The lights are phenomenal!! And enjoyed the family photos too Betsy.

If'n you like P. Manning [and the broncos] you'll have to stop by again tomorrow to see what I did to myself to get more in the spirit of the upcoming game. LOL

David said...

Betsy, I'm glad that you and George survived the idiot driver without much damage to yourselves or the car...just to your mental well being! Laurie and I have had a few such close calls over the years. Hitting a u-joint that fell off a semi going 70 mph on the Ohio Turnpike years ago and almost being blown off of I-40 by another semi just west of the I-75 merge headed for Nashville. A little luck and the ability that George demonstrated...stay calm and don't over react! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Oh, they really go all out with the lights!

Sylvia K said...

I didn't know about your near accident either!!! I'm so happy that you weren't hurt, but how terrifying it had to have been! You pics for the day are terrific!! What incredible holiday lighting!! I love it!! Hope your week is going well!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, So glad you both had no terrible damage or injury from your near-miss accident. Horrible situation. The lights in Nashville look beautiful. I want to see the Gaylord Hotel some day. By the way, our community here in FL had many homes beautifully lit and decorated for Christmas - sure did surprise me. Must be due to the many New England folks here. Ha! Have a great day!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Those are beautiful lights! Happy Birthday to your son. I'm so glad you and George are okay!! Praise God for keeping you both safe!

Rohrerbot said...

Looks like a fun night with family. Oh the car scare! Did they catch him/her? Or did they take off and keep going? Dislike idiots like that on the road....glad you both are okay.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Enjoyed your photos, Betsy; here and on your Photo Blog. Love that carriage.

I am so thankful that you and George escaped injury in your near-collision! You did have angels looking out for you.

DeniseinVA said...

Love the family photos, and those lights are amazing. I don't think I have seen anything as pretty as those in a long time. Thanks for the heads up on Google's privacy issues.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Family fun and beautiful decorations....great time

Ruth Hiebert said...

These pictures just confirms in my mind that I really NEED to got there.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

So glad you got a photo of everyone together. Great time!

happyone said...

What beautiful light displays.
Glad you two weren't hurt in that close call!!
That must have been so scary.

Connie said...

Gorgeous lights and decorations there! Can you imagine what the electric bill must be like? Haha!

So glad to hear you were OK after that close call. That would be so frightening!

Chatty Crone said...

Okay I have to tell you something - the lights at Calloway were really pretty - but these are much nicer! I have to admit that. Gorgeous! sandie

LV said...

Thanks for taking me to one of my favorite places. My husband and I went there most every Christmas. We loved it and I still like going anytime. Such a pretty and fun place.

Andrea said...

Those lights are wonderful, I cannot take photos here during the holidays as it is difficult to go home at night because of too many people shopping. I sacrificed my chance of taking holiday lights and decors. Happy New Year Betsy, i haven't greeted you yet. And take care, both of you.

Rose said...

Oh, I love those poinsettias! They are so pretty!

Elizabeth said...

This light show is wonderful! It looks as if the trees wrapped in white lights are filled with air and about to float away! And, Stunning as they are, I'm glad that real poinsettias aren't quite THAT big!! Glad you had such a wonderful time with family...love the picture of everyone with their camera gear! Hmmm, what's the favorite hobby here?!

Betsy, hope you are beginning to find some calmness after the near crash. So hard to get your mind to let go...I hope that blogging helps :-)

Joy said...

Awesome pictures Betsy. Sorry to hear about your almost collision incident. I am so relieved that both of you are safe.
Have a.nice day and take care.

Kay said...

Betsy, the lights are absolutely gorgeous! I want to thank you, thank you, thank you so much for the information about Google+. I'm not so sure I'm liking even being in it. It seems to be taking away more privacy. I've just made the recommended change with the advertisement thing and some other things also. I really appreciate this post!

Big Dude said...

They sure do know how to put on a fine Christmas

Donna said...

Those Opryland photos sure are pretty! It's amazing how much work and effort goes into their decorations. And it's a good thing your guardian angels were looking after you the other day!

Anonymous said...

What lovely lights!

A Colorful World said...

I've been to the Opryland Hotel and it was quite a sight to see, even not at Christmas! Would love to see all the lights over the holidays some time. Oh, that near-miss had to be very frightening! Thank God the two of you are OK!

I was a way a lot over several months but am now back in full force. If you read back a few posts you'll understand why. Hope you can visit my blog soon!

Grandma Bonnie said...

I am so glad to hear you are ok. I am always terrified to drive anymore because of such bad drivers.
You sure did get lots of beautiful pictures. I have got to go over and opt out of those advertisements thanks for the warning.

Lynda said...

I am so glad you told that about Google+. I changed my settings. Opryland Hotel at Christmas is amazingly beautiful. Definitely, definitely worth the trip and the crowds. Praising God you both are fine.