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, June 11, 2014

More VISITORS Came to See Us!

From the smiles on our faces,  you will know how happy we were to have visitors this week!!!
Besides our son's visit on Saturday,  we had two other sets of visitors this past week.  On Monday  (6/2/14),   a childhood friend (Big Stone Gap girl --from my hometown) and her hubby came to our area... Mary Elizabeth Quillen Claywell (we call her MEQ)  and hubby, Doyle,  spent the day with us and we had a fantastic time together.   George and I took them to Fall Creek Falls State Park (our special place) --and showed them around... Then we enjoyed dinner at the lodge restaurant!!!!

Here are some pictures from Fall Creek Falls.  Hope you enjoy them.  Click on them for enlargements.
I introduce you to MEQ and Doyle...  MEQ is a Big Stone Gap, Virginia gal (personable, happy,  fun to be around--like all BSG gals) and Doyle is a Kentucky boy.  Like George,  Doyle doesn't always quite understand us BSG gals!!!!! ha ha .... MEQ and Doyle met in college at LMU in Kentucky.



We could not go to Fall Creek Falls without showing them the MAIN waterfall there.  It was pretty although,  like our area,  it was DRY here at this time, so not much water was coming over the falls.



MEQ and Betsy checking out the gorge area at Fall Creek Falls



This gorge area at Fall Creek Falls is 'locally' called the Grand Canyon of TENNESSEE.  George got a great picture of the mountains.



Doylc, Betsy and MEQ at Fall Creek Falls State Park  (Buzzard's Roost Overlook)


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The other special visitor we had last week was a cousin of mine,  Sallie Strang.  Sallie was driving her RV from Colorado back to her home in Washington DC---and stopping along the way to see some family/friends.  We are so glad that she stopped in our area on Friday,  6/6/14.   We didn't have too much time with her ---but we were able to catch up on all of the family and enjoy a meal (her treat) at Cracker Barrel.

Sallie's grandmother  (Hattie Bruce Cummings) and my grandmother on Mom's side (Ida Bruce Ballard) were sisters...  That makes Sallie and I SECOND cousins.

Meet Sallie Strang---my 2nd cousin!



Bonnie, Betsy, Carol ---more 2nd cousins
This picture obviously wasn't taken recently.  This was in October of 2012 --when these two cousins visited us.  These are two more cousins in the same family.  Bonnie Grubb Sweigart  and Carol Cummings Levack have the same grandmother (Hattie Bruce Cummings) as Sallie Strang does---but all three of them belong to different siblings in Hattie and Howard Cummings' big family (of 9 children).

SO--now that you are thoroughly confused,  let me just say that Bonnie,  Carol and Sallie are all FIRST cousins --and I am the SECOND cousin to each/all of them....  Got it now????  Oh how I love Genealogy!!!!


Here is Sallie's little compact RV... Amazing how much they can get in those little RV's!!!!
At the campground not far from us where Sallie stayed,  there was a family of RABBITS all around... They were so cute!!!!  You can barely see the black one --but he is lying flat on his tummy with his feet hanging out...  So precious!!!


Another cute little chubby bunny;  They really liked being around people!!!!



Here is Sallie beside her RV ---talking to the bunnies!!!!
Well---as you can tell,  we've had a busy week (like all of them seem to be).  Hope you enjoyed meeting another cousin of mine --and a good friend today!

Have a glorious Wednesday.  Please say a prayer for blog friend, Sandie (Chatty Chrone) as she is having serious surgery today!  God Bless her!

Hugs,

39 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

Spring is the time for visiting and coming out of hibernation! I am still just staring in awe at your wonderful header, the gorgeous sky over that brilliant blue water, with the pier as a man made treat! I love your falls picture from above!

Anonymous said...

It is nice to have visitors with us and enjoy the day. It seems you had a wonderful day with them.

Ann said...

wow, you've had lots of visitors. Always good to see old friends and family.
It looks like that campground was nearly empty.

eileeninmd said...

It is fun having all the visitors. Love the shot of the waterfalls.. Have a happy day!

Jeevan said...

Visiting people (friends/family) is always good and must indeed! What is there in life without meeting people and sharing quite some time...? Glad seeing you all and that’s wonderful caravan to travel around. Even with little water, the fall creek falls looks just amazing

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

hi Betsy Lovely to hear all your news and to see the visitor you have had over the past week. I am sure it was lovely for you all to meet up again.

From the Kitchen said...

I know all about cousins because I have lots of them--39 first cousins and all on my mother's side!! Tell George I love that mountain photo.

Best,
Bonnie

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a wonderful week of visiting you had. Miles of smiles.

Enjoy the rest of your week ~ FlowerLady

Out on the prairie said...

lovely to have all the visitors and a prayer extended to your friend wishing all goes well

linda m said...

Always love it when people come to visit. Especially when you haven't seen them in a long time. Praying for your friend Sandi.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Visitors are such fun. I am glad you got to spend time with two this week. My heart is with Sandie this morning.

MadSnapper said...

i like that RV and when i saw your title i thought your new visitors would be some time of new birds. LOL.. sounds like you all had a great time...i remembered to pray for Sandi surgery this morning, thanks for the reminder...

Peaches McGinty said...

Hi Betsy!
How lovely! lot's of visitors and lot's of happy times! it makes life even better - the waterfall pic made my jaw drop, it is so beautiful, it's a gorgeous photo - I understand the 1st and 2nd cousins! I have lots too, it can look a little complicated to some but when you are from a big family there is a LOT of cousins hehe! you are all just gorgeous (and your friend too!)
Of course I will say a prayer for your friend Sandie, I hope everything goes well for her x x x

George said...

I must admit that I enjoyed each of these visits. All of you BSG gals may be personable, happy and fun to be around, but you're still special as far as I'm concerned.

Linda P said...

Thank you for introducing your visitors.
There's nothing better than having them come by or for you to be able to meet up somewhere special. Summer is a lovely time in that respect. I will pray for your friend. Thank you for letting us know that she needs prayer at this time.

Nellie said...

What a wonderful time you've had with your company! Love that little RV of Sallie's. Just perfect for her.

Hugs,
Nellie

White Lace and Promises said...

How beautiful! How special to have friends to enjoy it with you! How fun!

Sylvia K said...

What fun you have had, Betsy!! I love your captures and reading about the good times had by all!! Wonderful pics as always!! Thanks for sharing it all with us!! Enjoy the remainder of your week! Holding good thoughts for your friend, Sandie and her surgery!!

Small City Scenes said...

This is what keeps us happy and young. Right!!
The big smiles on everyone's faces proves that.
I have a waterfall for you Betsy.
The waterfalls up here in the mountains are not easy to get too so we just look at them. MB

Terry and Linda said...

I have company coming in this week also! Prayers are being said for your friend!!!!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

David said...

Betsy, Its always great having visitors come to see us...here in East Tennessee paradise. Love the bunnies and we like Fall Creek Falls State Park too! Pretty place... Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Kay said...

You two are always busy and always so popular.

Connie said...

So nice to have visitors! Looks like you all had a good time. Those bunnies are cute!

Rose said...

Before I forget again, I meant to tell you I LOVE your header shot.

You have been one busy lady...but all sounded like so much fun to see family and friends.

happyone said...

Looks and sounds like a fun time. : ) Always nice to have friends and family visit.

Shug said...

You are just so full of life and I think this is super wonderful. There is always so much going on around you and it always looks fun, fun, fun. You look great Betsy!!
Hugs,,
shug

Anonymous said...

I love the little RV. Glad you had such a good visit with friends/family.

Ruth Hiebert said...

I am happy for you to be able to meet and connect with family friends.

Betsy said...

Hi Betsy!
I enjoyed seeing your family pictures and George's shot of the mountains was lovely. That RV is sure cute. I think it would be fun you have one of those to go places in. I wouldn't want yo pull our triller very far. It's way too big for me to be comfortable doing that.
I'm so glad you got to spend time with your cousin, um, SECOND cousin. Family is so important and I'm sure yours love to visit you.
Blessings,
Betsy

Kay said...

This is so wonderful! I'm so happy for you, Betsy. These are such wonderful photos. Looking at them will bring back such loving memories.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

gorgeous waterfall. glad you got to see some friends. i love small RVs like that ... perfect. why do we need some much junk & space. i think i need to get rid of more. cute bunnies. i love the mountain shot as well. that is gorgeous shot!! have a great weekend, Betsy. thank you for visiting me as well. your friendship is a real blessing. sounds like more rain here today. wild storms last night. i wonder what the weekend holds? we will see. ( :

Busy Bee Suz said...

Lucky for you to live in a great area AND have such wonderful personalities…..that's why everyone wants to visit. :) What a busy week. I love Sallie's compact RV-that is one I could handle I think. The rabbits look pretty comfy around people; adorable.

Anonymous said...

Hope Sandie starts healing soon! Lovely shots - always nice to have some great visitors.

Hootin Anni said...

Glad to read of such a happy time!! With all the smiles I just know you enjoyed your company and being a tour guide to such a beautiful area.

Miss Debbie said...

Life-long friends are wonderful! Glad you had a nice visit! Cousins that are friends are nice, too! :-)

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I will mark in my calender to visit you when I retire.

LV said...

What a fun packed week you had. It is nice seeing folks you have not seen in a long time. You two can keep anyone entertained with all your travels.

Chatty Crone said...

Hey I want to meet you one day - we are not that far from one another!

I want to thank you sooooo much for putting out prayers for me.

I know they are working - I got out of the hospital a day early, and I am getting to rest at home. There is no place like home.

Unknown said...

It's lovely that you had some family visits. Cannot wait for the wedding when my son and daughter, plus my brother and his family is coming over.