Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to APRIL!!!! Spring is AWESOME. Enjoy some beautiful TULIPS from Biltmore!!

Monday, August 24, 2020

What we were Doing in 2009

Dear Blog Family/Friends,   As you know,  George and I have loved life to its fullest for almost 20 years now... We are so blessed to have been able to see so many gorgeous places since 2001 (when we got married). Today,  I just picked out a year in our lives together and will share some of my favorite pictures for you!   

Today's pictures were all taken during the year,  2009.  It is hard to keep the number down to 10,  but I have decided that 10 pictures per blog post is enough for most of us very busy people.... Since I cannot write a caption under the photos now,  I ask you to put your curser over each picture for an explanation. Don't click on it ---but just hold the curser there for a little bit --and the explanation should come up!!!!!

The picture above is special for several reasons:  1.  We were celebrating my Birthday in Ormond Beach, Florida that year;  2.  This was the sunrise I saw over the water on my Birthday (2009);  and 3. The fact that it reminded me of the gorgeous sunrise I saw this year (8/5/20) when we were on Skyline Drive in VA




A few months ago (June 22, 2020),  I published a Blog Post showing us walking behind this beautiful waterfall,  Dry Falls,  not too far from Franklin, North Carolina.  We certainly couldn't have walked behind this one in winter of that year (2009)....But--I enjoyed seeing all of the ice around Dry (Not-Dry) Falls.... 




To celebrate George's Birthday in March of 2009,  we visited one of our all-time favorite places,  MT. NEBO, Arkansas.  We always ask for Cabin 60 which sits right on the rim (with a view of the valley below) --and consider it "our" cabin!!! Oh how we love that little cabin!!!




I have been feeding our Backyard Birds here since about 2002...  I get so much joy of watching the birds year 'round!!!!!  This is a picture I took of a Male CARDINAL in Winter of 2009.




As you know,  I love all sunrises and sunsets... I also LOVE seeing the Moon shining down on the water! In May of 2009,  we were at another favorite place,  Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina  (north of Myrtle Beach,  SC).   When there each year (mostly in December instead of May, these days),  we seldom see the moon over the water... BUT in 2009,  we got lucky, don't you think?




In April of 2009,  we took a short trip to an adorable little cabin in Cosby,  Tennessee  (in the  Great Smoky Mountains) ---with this waterfall right next to our cabin.  We had a big picture window inside the cabin where we could see the waterfall... I loved not only seeing Serenity Falls --but also hearing the power of that water,  from our deck (over the creek).   




Besides chasing waterfalls all over the country  and taking care of my Backyard Birds,  another thing we do  (this is George's  hobby) is to grow beautiful ROSES in our yard... George loves his 'babies' --and takes good care of them.  I get to enjoy the roses when he brings one inside JUST for me almost every morning during the season.  This beautiful Rose is named,  APRICOT NECTAR--and she is one of many which have been with us for many years.... Oh how we love our Roses!!!! (I have six beautiful roses on my desk right now!)




For our anniversary,  June of 2009,  we made  a trip near Clayton GA --to visit TULLULAH GORGE  to see the beautiful waterfalls in that gorge.  There are 5 falls --and great trails all around the gorge and steps to go down into the gorge... I highly recommend this area to everyone!!!    This is one of the waterfalls,  Tempesta Falls!




Wonderful Autumn!!!!!! 2009 was a GREAT year to enjoy the Fall Colors in and around Tennessee and the mountains!!!!!  We traveled across the Cherohala Skyway (between Robbinsville, NC and Tellico Plains, TN) in October of 2009 --and saw so much absolutely fantastic beauty!!!! 




 I'll close this post with a picture taken from Mountain Air Resort in North Carolina (near Burnsville) when we visited George's son and family (who were vacationing there for a few days in July, 2009).  

This was our view from the deck of their condo... What a life!!!!!  Wow!

Hope you enjoyed today's pictures from just one year in our wonderful lives... As I have time,  I'll post more memories from different years!!!!  

As I told my Facebook Friends,  my ADVICE to everyone (especially those of you not getting closer to the 80's --as George and I are).... Get out NOW while you can, and travel and see the beauty all around you..  We don't travel far --and most of the time,  we stay in the USA!  BUT--we have traveled a lot --and have so many marvelous memories...  I am so glad that we had these past 20 years together to live life to its fullest... Now --even though we still travel some when we can (and hope to continue),  my biggest joy is traveling virtually with son,  Mark and his gal, Robin,  who are taking me with them on their travels.. I'm so excited for them as they love being out in nature --as much as I do!!!!

August is almost over ---so does that mean that some cooler Fall Weather could be on its way?????? I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE.....

Have a fabulous week!
Hugs,

Betsy💝💛💚💕


 

22 comments:

Ann said...

So many beautiful photos. That frozen waterfall is really something. As much as I would love to travel around and see different places, it's not much fun traveling alone.

George said...

Thanks for sharing all these beautiful pictures from 2009. Although we no longer travel as much, I hope we can still travel to get beautiful pictures and make wonderful memories.

Fun60 said...

How lovely to reflect on your previous trips when every picture tells a story. Here's hoping for another 20 years of special trips together.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I agree! We travel closer to home now but we sure do enjoy getting out in nature and always see something beautiful...and many times surprising! Love your photos! Enjoy your week!

Betsy said...

Good Morning Betsy! I enjoyed seeing your travel photos of 2009 but I think my favorite is that perfect apricot rose. Thank you for sharing and for your great advice.
Blessings,
Betsy

Marcia said...

Such a nice assortment. We do have the travel bug still but Covid has put a stop to some trips. We look forward to enjoying fall colors for the first time as residents of New Hampshire. Lots of state parks to visit here and once the border opens we want to visit Montreal and Quebec.

Arkansas Patti said...

Think that was the height of your waterfall days. Loved that moonshine shot. Hum sounds like a liquor shot but you know what I mean:))

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

I love all these awesome photos. I'm so happy you and George were able to travel so much. Take care and enjoy the cooler days of all.

Ginny Hartzler said...

You picked beautiful photos, and a good variety! You are turning into a computer genius to manage this cursor flyover for descriptions!

David said...

Betsy, Nice photos from one of your favorite places. Like you I'm revisiting trips from our past. Coronavirus has us very hesitant to travel except just locally... We have our fingers crossed that we'll be back on the road by mid-2021 and I'm sure you and George do too! Stay Safe and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Ruth Hiebert said...

You have a great idea of posting memories of a. certain year. I may have to borrow that idea once winter rolls around and new pictures are few. i loved this trip down memory lane with you.

Robin said...

Beautiful pictures and it it’s our pleasure to take you on all of our adventures mom !! Love you so very much .. Robin ❤️

The Furry Gnome said...

Yes, travel when you can and build those memories. You ever know what might happen!

BeachGypsy said...

Hi there Betsy, I loved all the PRETTY PICTURES! My favorites are the Tennessee waterfalls, of course! We do go watch the moon rise up over the ocean as often as we can, it's such a pretty sight. Hope your week is great! Stay healthy and happy!

pam said...

Gorgeous photos! I need to make a spread sheet of all the places you've visited and put them on our list!

diane b said...

Beautiful memories.

Busy Bee Suz said...

What a sweet little walk down memory lane with you and your honey. Lovely photos and I had no idea holding the cursor over the pics would give some information. SO cool!

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello Betsy
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs, and wonderful memories.
Look forward to seeing more.

Take care, my good wishes.

All the best Jan

Linda said...

Beautiful images! The waterfalls are stunning.

KathyA said...

Absolutely beautiful photos and wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing.

KathyA said...

Betsy, Great to hear from you, too, and wonderful to see that you are well and kicking!!

Yes, COVID has presented quite a change for us, too. We are being very observant. Have not done much except garden since March.

And I'm having problems with the new Blogger as well. Seems as soon as I get comfortable with a format they change it.

Not many of us blog anymore. I've taken to posting recipes as I've been cooking a lot.

Jeevan said...

Lovely photos from your travel life of 2009! You are so right about traveling and we need to travel as much possible before things take control. And these are memories to be cherished when holding back at home because of pandemic.

Glad you are doing well and staying safe.
Take care