My Christmas Wishes Post today:

Dearest Friends and Family,   One of my favorite Bible Verses is from Luke 2:11:  "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a SAVIOR which is CHRIST the LORD."

Christmas is a season of great joy:  A time for remembering the past and hoping for the future. 

May the glorious message of peace and love fill all of us with joy during this wonderful season. 

I wish for you and your loved ones LOVE,  PEACE,  HOPE, Good HEALTH,  HAPPINESS,  JOY,  and lots of SMILES and LAUGHTER  in the coming New Year..

Merry Christmas and MUCH LOVE,

Betsy and George

FALL COLORS 2023

 Dear Blog Friends,   What a month I have had!!!! October has just passed me by!!! In fact, 2023 has been a year I hope I never have again!   After several heart-aches and health problems this year,   I am still glad to be here ---kicking and screaming (ha)!!

For you see,  I had another health emergency --and this one turned out to be the worst one I've had.  A few weeks ago,  following the big Hematoma on my hip,  my Cardiologist said that I needed to get a Watchman Implant put in my heart,  so that I could get off of the dangerous Blood Thinner.  I was thrilled to get that procedure done, so we planned it... 

On October 12,  I went to the hospital and had that procedure done.  It was successful.   HOWEVER,  during that process,  the doctors hit an ARTERY --which caused lots and lots of bleeding.  My Blood Pressure dropped so low that they thought I would go into Cardiac Arrest.  Luckily, they found the leak and fixed it (with the help of TWO stints)...  AND--I'm still here to tell that story!!  Thanks be to God.

It's been a little over a week since all of this happened,  and I'm am home recovering... I'm black and blue from the bruising and I have a big Hematoma on the upper part of my right leg...  But--with each passing day,  I'm beginning to feel better. It's a long process and I just need to be patient.

Yesterday my Sweet Husband took me for a ride along the back roads in our area... (We had missed our annual trip to the Smokies/Cherohala this year.)  So this little ride gave me an opportunity to take some Fall pictures on the Cumberland Plateau... It was so much fun --and was like "medicine" for my soul.

Here are a few pictures for you today.  Hope you are all WELL and HAPPY.  

Love to ALL,

BETSY and GEORGE

 Hello Blog Friends,   How are you?  I meant to post this earlier but 'life' got in the way!!!! ha....Here are some of our DAY LILIES and some of our ROSES this summer...  Hope you enjoy seeing them!

A favorite of mine this summer:  HEAVENLY BEGINNINGS DayLily

Another favorite:  SOUTH SEAS Day Lily

LAVENDER DEAL Day Lily

APRICOT SPARKLES Day Lilies

PINK PLAYMATE Day Lily (Don't you love that pale pink color?)

Another Beauty:  SPANISH GLOW Day Lily

After I got out of the hospital,  my sweet husband brought these beautiful ROSES inside for me to enjoy!

Always a favorite ROSE--named COLOR MAGIC

Meet DARING SPIRIT Rose

PINK PARFAIT Rose

A new Rose on the deck, named BY APPOINTMENT Rose

Always a favorite of mine:  GEMINI Rose

Some of you have asked about my health and I'm glad to report that I am doing fine, much better thanks be to God... We are even planning a couple of short trips ---so if they happen,  I will have something to share with you on my Blog.  

Hope you are doing great and staying healthy!  

Love and Miss You,

BETSY and GEORGE

Made it to 81----somehow!!!!!

 Dear Blog Friends,   WELL--where do I begin!!!!!  2023 so far hasn't been good to me...  Hopefully the next 5 months will be better.   IF you follow me on Facebook,  you will know all of this.  BUT since many of you aren't on Facebook,  you probably don't know this.... SO--here goes!!!!

You do know that from January-April 21,   I was dealing with my oldest son's cancer and then death.... May and June were good since we made a short trip to Bilmore in May and then our Anniversary Trip to the Pisgah Inn in June.... BUT then came JULY.... It was definitely not my finest month!

Here's what happened:   On July 7,  I somehow twisted my right hip/leg and heard something pop!!  I couldn't put weight on that leg and thought I had broken my leg/hip.  SO--after living with the pain as long as I could,  George took me to the emergency room on July 10, to make sure that I hadn't fractured anything.  

They ran tests (X-rays, CTScan,  CTScan using CONTRAST).   Luckily my bones were fine  (nothing broken) but I developed a huge Hematoma on that hip and since I am on a Blood Thinner,   they were worried about that Hematoma bleeding.  SO--they transferred me to the hospital where I stayed for SEVEN days.  I was off of my Blood Thinner from July 10-31.

The hospital then ran more tests (including another CT Scan using CONTRAST)....  The next morning,  my KIDNEY levels went sky-high... What the doctors had found out was that I was deathly allergic to the CONTRAST (liquid) that was in the CTScans....That is what sent my kidney levels into orbit!!!   (I have taken contrast in past with no problems --but NOT two that close together.). They filled me with fluid for 3 days to get rid of the contrast, but all of that fluid made me swell up like a huge balloon...  I was miserable. (Probably gained 20 pounds with that fluid in me!!!)

SO---as my Hematoma was getting better (no problems),  the kidneys now became the problem...SO---seven long days in the hospital for me!!!!  Once my kidney levels (Creatinine levels) started going back to normal---I begged to go home where I could get some sleep in my own bed.

I've never ever been in the hospital for more than 1-2 days in my life--so this was an experience for me, and not a pleasant one!  I got home on the 17th...After that experience,  I'll admit that it took me 2 more weeks at home 'trying' to get well... But by the first week of August,  I began to feel better and get some energy back (FINALLY).

As of today (August 13)---I am continually making improvements.  I am definitely NOT ready to run a marathon ---but I am BETTER... As I tell my family/friends---it's all about 'baby steps'....

One thing I do want to add:  George has been incredible to help me get through all of this.  I'm not sure I would have made it without him.  Thanks Honey... I am so blessed to have you in my life.

What I learned:

-NEVER ever let anyone put CONTRAST in my CTScan

-Here's one rule that hospitals have:  

    -They watch the patient, and the minute he/she goes to sleep, they wake him/her up to take blood pressure, vitals, blood sugar, etc.  Trying to rest in the hospital is 'for the birds'.... ha ha

NOW---here's some GOOD NEWS!!!   On August 5th --- I celebrated my 81st Birthday...  AND--my wonderful family came to visit and give me a 'party'....   We are usually traveling during my Birthday Week---so this was a wonderful alternative.   I had a great great birthday---and now hope I make is for another 10 years or so!!!!!  Hopefully ---NO MORE HOSPITALS for me!!!!

Here are a few pictures from my Birthday Celebration.  

The kids brought me a cute little Puppy-Cake for my Birthday!!

After sitting outside for awhile,  we came inside and chatted and chatted.  (I loved it.)

Lunch was healthy (even though the cake was not)... ha... The kids brought lots of healthy foods for us to enjoy!!!  Around the table:  George, Jeff (youngest son), Dawn,  Mark (middle son),  Robin,  and Kelly (George's daughter).

Gift time:  I got a new wind chime... YEAH!!

The sound is marvelous!!!!  It is hanging on our deck now!

Ah --how sweet.  It is a 'mushroom' Bird House... It is now hanging on our deck also!!!!

Mama and her two babies (Jeff and Mark)... What joy for me!!!

I love this picture of all of us!!!!

I added this one just 'cause'!!!   Look what Kelly did to the old Mom!!!!  That must mean that I'm getting well since my HORNS are back!!!!! ha ha.... I also wondered what Mark was thinking!!  His picture is hilarious!!

Finally,  I just must tell you a story....  See the Cardinals on my shirt???  I had to wear this shirt today because a beautiful red Cardinal flew on the top of the Bird feeders and just looked and looked at me when we were on the swing having our Devotions that morning.  I knew that BERT had come to see me and to wish me a Happy Birthday.   OH--how I still miss and love you, Bert. Wish you were here to help me celebrate!

WELL Friends... That's my crazy life... I sincerely hope and pray that the next 5 months of 2023 will be better for ME....  I am looking forward to see what Fall/Winter brings me!!!!

I hope all of you are well and doing good.... God's Blessings on YOU!!

Hugs,

BETSY and GEORGE

Our Anniversary Trip to Pisgah Inn 2023

 Dear Blog Friends,   George and I celebrated our 22 wedding Anniversary  on June 23.   SO--in order to experience this special celebration,  we headed to Pisgah Inn (on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina) from June 21-24.

Today I'll share just a few of our MANY photos from that trip. I put them in an order so that it would tell you a story about this year's Anniversary Celebration!  I hope you enjoy the story!!!

Uh Oh... This is what we encountered when we got up that mountain!!!!!!! (And it stayed FOGGY that evening and the entire next day!!)

After a good night's sleep, there nothing better to cheer someone up than a nice big breakfast at the inn restaurant.  YUM.

 Since we couldn't see or do much from the mountain top (Pisgah is at an elevation of over 5000 feet),  we headed down that mountain, and drove to Brevard to get away from the fog!   Of course,  we stopped to get some pictures of Looking Glass Falls... (As you know,  we can't go anywhere unless we see a waterfall!!!!! ha ha ha)

WOW---on the morning of our ANNIVERSARY,  the fog lifted and we had a view of the mountains and valleys below!!!!!!   Beautiful don't you think?

SO we headed east along the Blue Ridge Parkway taking pictures along the way.  Don't you love that sky????

We made it up to CRAGGY GARDENS (elevation about 5500 feet) --and while we were there,  the fog rolled in!!!  But we still enjoyed being there!!!

While near Craggy,  I was thrilled to see two of my favorite high mountain trees.  This one is named FLAME AZALEA...  

This one is called MOUNTAIN ASH and I love it... IF we were to come back in September/October,  this tree is covered with red berries!  So beautiful.

After a beautiful day along the Blue Ridge Parkway,  we came back to the Pisgah Inn Restaurant  for some delicious dinner.   While waiting,  I just HAD to smell the flowers.  Their Pisgah Pasta is so delicious (Garlic and white wine cream sauce, fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and parmesan over al dente pasta)

After dinner,  look what we saw!!!! Since I thought of son, Bert. so much during this trip--I think this RAINBOW was a message from him telling us Happy Anniversary and that he is doing fine... 

OH ---how I loved seeing that rainbow ---and just being at Pisgah Inn with the love of my life! Happy Anniversary, Honey.  Can we have 22 more years together???????

What a perfect ending for a perfect day!

The next morning at Breakfast,  our amazing waiter took our picture!!!  Look at the amazing view we had from the restaurant window!!!!

I love this big cloud!!!!  Bert is sitting up here looking down at us!  (I love you, my son, and  miss you more than you know!)

Here's one last picture of a beautiful sunrise on the last morning of our trip. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing pictures from our little Anniversary Trip.  Pisgah is a beautiful place --even when it is foggy!!!!!   Have a great July, my friends,  and Happy Birthday, America!!!

Hugs to all,

BETSY and GEORGE

2023 IRISES in our Yard

 Hello Blog Friends,  With all of the 'life issues' going on in my life in April and May (actually  January-May),   I realized that I hadn't shown you some of our pretty Irises in bloom this Spring... 

Hope you are doing well and staying healthy these days.   I had two Iron Infusions this past month to help my Anemia... (I'll let you know if they work!!!!).... 

Enjoy the pictures (all taken in late April/early May)... 

Bountiful Harvest

Electric Shock

Second Fiddle

Garden Grace

Goodnight Kiss

Feedback

Paprika Fono

Pinkness

Love the Sun

Orange Harvest 

Picasa Moon

Color Watch

Well---do you have a favorite?????  Every year,  I choose something different... Last year,  it was Bountiful Harvest and Orange Harvest... I still love those but this year,  I choose Love the Sun and Picasa Moon.  That yellow color of Picasa Moon just shines up our yard!    BUT--I also love Second Fiddle (unique) and Goodnight Kiss (which we have had for several years).  Besides these 12---we had a total of 36 different varieties this year!!!!  The deer don't like the Irises --so we get a good crop each year.

Have a great week, my Friends and God's Blessings on YOU and YOURS.

BETSY and GEORGE