Archive for the ‘Betsy’ Category

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The Way I See Betsy

January 13, 2011

Betsy at Crooked Creek Falls, Langley, Arkansas. February 22, 2010.

Betsy got her new camera about a year ago, and she has become a very good photographer, as you know if you have seen the photographs on her blog.

The good thing about her photography skills is that she gets some wonderful pictures and shares them with me (and with you).

The not-so-good thing is that when we visit waterfalls or other scenic places, the view above is how I most often see Betsy while we are there.  This picture was taken when we were at Crooked Creek Falls near Langley, Arkansas, last year.

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Don’t Believe Her

December 16, 2010

Snow in the Glade, December 12, 2010.

If you listen to Betsy, I’m sure you think that it never snows at our house.  But although we never get enough snow to please her, I offer these pictures as proof that we do get snow.

The picture above was taken Sunday evening.  We had light snow most of the day on Sunday.  The worse thing was the very low temperatures that came with the snow.

For some reason Betsy likes this picture.  She says it just shows what a dedicated photographer I am.  I think it’s just because she likes to see me on my knees.

Betsy in the snow in front of our house, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. December 12, 2010.

So the next time you hear Betsy complain about the lack of snow here in the Glade, just reminder her that you’ve seen her bundled up in the snow in front of our house.

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Down Memory Lane: Fall Creek Falls

August 12, 2010

Scenes from our visit to Fall Creek Falls, April 21, 2001.

If you’ve visited my blog for any length of time you know that Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee is a very special places for Betsy and me.  Fall Creek Falls was the site of our first kiss back on April 21, 2001, and it was the beginning of our waterfall collection.

Since I’ve been retired we try to get back there each April 21 to celebrate and remember that special day.  The collage above was made from pictures taken on April 21, 2009.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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It’s Someone’s Birthday

August 5, 2010

Betsy and I celebrating her birthday at a cabin near Tellico Plains, Tennessee. August 5, 2007.

Someone has a birthday today.  Can you guess who?  Hint:  It’s not me!

The picture above was taken on Betsy’s birthday in 2007.  We celebrated Betsy’s birthday at a cabin near Tellico Plains, Tennessee.

Plans for her birthday this year are top secret.  All I’m prepared to say is that we probably will not be making any new posts until Monday, although it is possible that we can do some visiting between now and then.

If you get the chance stop by Betsy’s site and wish her a happy birthday.  I can’t (won’t) tell you how old she is, but she can no longer tease me about being so much older than she is.

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Return to Fall Creek Falls

April 22, 2010

George Hole, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2010.

As I mentioned yesterday that we would do, Betsy and I went back to Fall Creek Falls State Park (about an hour from our home) to celebrate the ninth anniversary of our date there.  We essentially retraced the steps of that magical day in 2001.

One of the places we visited that day was the green area pictured above.  Back in 2001 it didn’t have a name, but a last year a sign appeared calling it ‘George Hole’.  I have no idea how that name came about, but who am I to argue?

In the afternoon of April 21, 2001, after a day of hiking and visiting waterfalls, Betsy and I spread out a blanket in about the middle of this picture and I proceeded to show her an album of photos from my year in China.  We looked at those pictures, talked about my experiences and some other things.  It was about then that I got that first kiss.

The best part of the day. April 21, 2010.

We didn’t have a blanket with us yesterday, but I did get that kiss!

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What a Difference a Date Makes

March 29, 2010

The beautiful preacher in the picture above was the Associate Minister at my parent’s church near Nashville, Tennessee, in 2001.  I had started a new job with a company in Nashville in November, 2000.  The preacher started her new job in December.

Early in 2001 The Preacher started a Bible Study that my parents wanted to attend.  Since Dad didn’t like to drive after dark, I told them I would attend with them so they could go with me.  Everything went just fine for the first few weeks, but then my job started taking me out of town during the week.  I missed several sessions of the Bible Study, although I did exchange e-mails with The Preacher in an attempt to keep up.

When my job allowed me to stay in town again, I offered to take The Preacher out to dinner so she could catch me up on some of the things I missed.  The Iris Cafe had a pretty good reputation, so one evening, March 29, 2001, I picked up The Preacher and took her to dinner at the Iris Cafe.  The dinner was delicious, the conversation was delightful — and the Bible Study never came up.

As we were leaving The Preacher said we should do this again some time.  She doesn’t like for me to tell this, but the next two times I asked her out she said ‘No’!  Fortunately I inherited some Irish persistence from both my parents and asked her out for a third time.  I must have worn down her resistance, because she said ‘Yes’ that third time.

The Preacher is now my Beautiful Bride.  The Iris Cafe is no longer in existence, but we reminisce every time we go past where is was.

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I’m very grateful for that wonderful dinner date nine years ago today.

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Betsy Fibbed To Me — And To You

March 12, 2010
Betsy enjoying a snow bank in the Smokies. March 9, 2010.

Betsy enjoying a snow bank in the Smokies. March 9, 2010.

If you’re a regular reader of Betsy’s blog, you were very surprised when she said a couple of weeks ago that she was tired of snow and she was now ready for Spring. I was personally very shocked when she wrote that.  I’ve heard her complain bitterly about the lack of snow during some of our recent winters.

As you know, Betsy arranged a birthday trip for us to celebrate my 68th birthday.  We stayed at a wonderful cabin in the Smokies near Cosby, Tennessee.  Tuesday morning we decided to travel to Tallulah Gorge in Georgia to revisit the waterfalls there (remember that we both have new cameras!).

The drive was only a couple of hours, but it took us over the mountain at Newfound Gap.  As we headed up the mountain we started to see snow along the side of the road.  The higher we got, the more snow we saw.  The road was clear, but the piles along the side were quite high in places.  Of course, we stopped a few times to take pictures.  Guess who was grinning from ear-to-ear!

Betsy tired of snow?  Don’t believe it for a minute!

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My Christmas Angel

December 24, 2009

No, Betsy didn’t pose for this angel figurine, but she easily could have.  She has short blond hair, big blue eyes and an angelic face.  During and after college Betsy sang in choirs and in theatrical productions.  When we first met, Betsy was the Associate Minister at my parent’s church in Hendersonville.  So for all of these reasons, and others that will be evident shortly,  I’ve considered this angel to be very representative of my angel.

It wasn’t very long after we began dating that I was convinced that I had found an angel.  Don’t get me wrong — I still feel that way — but the feeling was new and exciting back in 2001.  I realize I’m showing my age, but in my mind I had all the questions that were asked in the lyrics of the big-band era song “When Did You Leave Heaven?”.

But back to the figurine.  The first time I saw it I just knew that it just had to represent Betsy.  Betsy did have another side to her personality — a side that was shown by the twinkle in her eyes at times and an almost impish grin.  As I got to know her better — and as I met her sons and heard their stories — I realized that impishness was indeed a part of her character.

What does all this have to do with the angel figurine?  Take a look at the back of this angelic figurine.

That’s a sling shot sticking out of her pocket.

That’s my angel!!!

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Betsy and I will be taking a long weekend from blogging to have time to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.  We’ll be back Monday, but in the meantime we want to wish you and your family a very merry and blessed Christmas.

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My Beautiful Multi-Tasking Bride

December 19, 2009

Betsy 'relaxing' at home. December 18, 2009.

We had planned on going on going to Hendersonville today, but when we got up there was ice on the driveway and road in front of the house.  Since the weather was expected to get worse, we called Mom and Dad to see if they could get by until Sunday or Monday when the weather was expected to be better.  They said they were well-prepared for any emergencies and that we shouldn’t try to come when the weather was bad.

The only time I went out all day was to get the mail — it was a nice change of pace from our usual routine and I must admit it was very nice.

Late in the afternoon I came upon my beautiful bride seated on her throne (recliner) in the living room, wrapped up in a quilt, enjoying the Christmas tree, watching television, visiting blogs on her laptop and texting on her telephone.  Oh, yes, you can’t see it, but she was also enjoying the fire in the fireplace.

Who says senior citizens can’t do more than one thing at a time?

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Betsy’s Newest Toy

December 5, 2009

Betsy sending a text message on her new phone. December 4, 2009.

For quite sometime, Betsy has felt that she would have more contact with her sons and grandchildren if she could send and receive text messages.  She had said several times that she didn’t know how her two Texas granddaughters could use the tiny keyboards on their phones, but she did know that they were constantly texting their friends.

Well, a couple of weeks ago we qualified for a new phone from our wireless carrier.  Betsy wanted one that would allow her to send and receive text messages, so that’s what we got.

I’ll admit that I was sceptical about how much texting Betsy would do, but she has definitely gotten the hang of it.  I couldn’t begin to count the number of text messages she has sent and received in the past two weeks.  She was definitely right about having more contact with her sons.  During last Monday night’s football game the text messages flew from our house to Chattanooga to Texas to Nevada and back every time New Orleans scored.  I’m very impressed with my tech-savvy bride!

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