2026

Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to OCTOBER. My header photo this month shows a gorgeous picture showing beautiful Autumn Colors God's Blessings to YOU for an awesome month.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Highlights of a Fantastic Birthday Trip






This was the view from our room at the Peaks of Otter (August 2, 2020)... This is ABBOTT LAKE.  One of our favorite things to do at the 'Peaks'  is to take a walk around the lake (only one mile).   We managed to take that walk a couple of times each day... It is such a gorgeous place --and SO relaxing.





My Sweetheart (who makes my life so fulfilling and rich) is the most amazing man I have ever known.  God has blessed me so much with George in my life.  We were walking around the beautiful grounds at the Peaks of Otter when I snapped this picture of my Cutie Pie (August 2, 2020).   





I took this picture of the Peaks of Otter Lodge (August 2, 2020) --when we were walking on the other side of the lake.  Isn't this a beautiful place?   I absolutely love visiting there.. Look at those reflections!!! 





This year,  we got a different room (Laurel 114) at Skyland Resort ---and had the most awesome view of the SUNSET.   I took this picture on August 4, 2020--from our balcony.  WOW!!!







On my BIRTHDAY,  August 5,  George took this picture of me inside the cave at the LURAY CAVERNS....  I was SO excited and happy!






On August 6, 2020--- we drove around in the GORGEOUS SHENANDOAH VALLEY.  We found a place to park and actually walked around awhile...  I feel like I'm in heaven when I'm in the Shenandoahs!!!!







Also on August 6th,  we visited the SHENANDOAH RIVER STATE PARK.  There are seven bends of this amazing river --so at this overlook,  we could see one of the bends.  It made me want to SING,  "O Shenandoah"....   I'll bet you are singing that song right now!!!!!






 Have you EVER seen THIS on your Birthday?????   WELL---thanks to George,  we got up early on August 5th ---and drove to a nearby overlook off of Skyline Drive just to see this.....Talk about amazing!!!!!!   The sun came up on that morning,  and I felt as if it was telling me 'Happy Birthday'!!!!

I think I will stop here with this post,  but just had to give you a short preview of what we did this past week....  Thanks to many of you (on Facebook especially) who followed me all week during that trip and who wished me a Happy Birthday...  That meant so much to me!!!

Hugs,

Betsy💕💜💚




Monday, August 3, 2020

Lilies in our Yard ---Part I

LILY COLLAGE 2020
Dear Friends,   I am 'back' to this new Blogger set-up  (I guess the 'old way' is gone now) ---so forgive me if things are all messed up a bit!!!!!   I'm not only learning about the writing of a post,  but am learning how to set up my Blog using the new method....... Quite a learning experience!!!!

Anyhow--- today I am sharing with you a favorite flower of mine  (and of the deer).... Because the deer were eating the beautiful LILY blooms,  George put some of our Lilies into containers and brought them to the deck last year...  SO far,  the deer haven't been on the deck --so the LILIES for the past two summers have been gorgeous.... I absolutely love LILIES --and have enjoyed seeing about 15 different varieties this summer with lots of blooms on each one.  This is such JOY for me --and they smell fantastic...

Hope you enjoy seeing some of these beauties today...   I divided some of my favorite pictures into two posts.....


A picture as I walked on the deck; Picture taken 6/14/20




PURPLE PRINCE LILY 7/3/20




STARGAZER LILY 7/7/20




GARDEN PARTY LILY 7/7/20




My View from our dining room --looking out onto the deck!!!!  7/11/20




DIZZY LILIES 7/13/20




CRIMSON PIXIE LILIES  5/31/20  (The first LILIES to bloom this year!)




TINOS LILIES 5/13/20




ROSELLA'S DREAM LILIES 6/23/20




PINK PERFECTION LILIES 6/25/20  (This is our TALL Lily---about 7 feet TALL.)




MUSCADET LILIES  7/5/20
 
Well --that's enough for today!!!!  They have all been so pretty --and we had lilies bloom from the end of May until the end of July..... 

Hope this all comes out... Busy weekend:  New Post,  New month with my August header and theme!!!!  Fun fun!!!

OH the JOYS of Blogging... I've been blogging since 2006 --and have gone through many changes given to us by Blogger ...  SOME have definitely not been what I call an improvement!!!!   Oh Well...  It is what it is!!!!!!

Hope you have an awesome week!!!!

Hugs,

BETSY