Big Brother

Besides celebrating my birthday and checking out waterfalls, the main reason we went to Florida was to visit my sweet brother, who is in a skilled nursing facility, Westminster Woods, in Jacksonville, Florida. Some of you may not know that I had two older brothers. Ray (the one we visited) is 20 yrs. older than I am (which makes him almost 87. My other brother (Jim) was 12 yrs. older than me, and he lost his life to cancer in 1985 at the young age of 55. My mother was 42 when I was born, and Dad was 53. All are gone now except Ray and me. Today I will share some pictures of brother Ray ---taken through the years. Above is a picture taken on August 4, 2009 when we visited Ray. Below are more!





This was taken about 1945. Ray was 23 and I was 3.





This was on Feb. 18, 1951 --at Ray and Evelyn's wedding. From left to right: me, Evelyn's friend, Evelyn, Ray and our brother Jim. The wedding took place in California. Since my Dad worked for the railroad, we had 'free' passes ---so we rode the train from our home in Virginia all the way to and from California. What a wonderful trip!!!





This one was taken in January of 1953. Our family attended the Eisenhower inauguration in Washington D.C. Ray was 30 and I was 10.





This is Ray and Evelyn, taken in 2004, when they visited George and me here in Tennessee. We of course had to take them to Fall Creek Falls one day while they were here.





Brother and Sister --at Fall Creek Falls, in 2004





Ray and his 'kids' (Bob, Carolyn and Steve); This picture was taken at Evelyn's funeral in September of 2007. Ray and Evelyn have three wonderful children --and six grandchildren, although one is deceased.




Brother and Sister ---taken in Sept. 2007





Taken last Summer (2008) when we visited Ray





Sister and Brother---taken August 4, 2009; God Bless You, Sweet Brother of MINE!! I Love you!

Hugs,

Sempervivum (Chicks and Hens)

Since so many of you commented yesterday about the Semps, I decided to give you another dose!!!!! Sempervivum come in all kinds of varieties ---but this is one plant we don't know the names (since there are so many). You can go online and check out some of the places which sell Semps--and see tons and tons of different ones of all sizes. shapes and colors. Here are some of ours. Hope you enjoy!!!!

















Remember in yesterday's post that I mentioned the fact that the Mama 'Hen' will bloom (about every two -three years). Once she blooms, she will died and her 'chicks' will take over ... Once the chicks grow enough to have babies, they will become the Mamas --and the cycle continues. Above, you can see where one Mama Hen bloomed and then died. (George just reminded me that some of our Semps have NEVER bloomed----so who knows which ones do, and how often????!!!!)








This purple one is SO pretty in the yard.





See the Semps expanding ----and spreading out over the rocks? Those are 'babies' on the ends.





Semps love being around rocks!!!








When the Mama Semps begin to bloom, they sometimes grow their 'blooms' straight up in the air. Amazing, aren't they????




Several here bloomed at the same time. The babies (which were left) looked sad for awhile --until they 'took over' and started growing themselves and expanding.




I'll end with this one ---which has pretty, small blossoms. This one is similar to the one I showed you yesterday. Hope I've talked you into putting some Semps in your yard now. They are great ---and we put them in many of the 'blank' areas around the flowerbeds to add color and beauty.

Hugs,

P.S. George's elderly parents are having some major plumbing problems. We had to go to Hendersonville to help them all day yesterday--and are going back today to meet a plumber there. I apologize for missing so many of YOUR blogs. I promise to catch up SOON. Thanks for your patience.