Look What Got Between Betsy and Me

October 26, 2009
The rock slide on I-40, October 25, 2009. Photo by wpsa.com

The rock slide on I-40, October 25, 2009. Photo by wpsa.com

Yesterday (Sunday) started at an early hour for me.  I knew Betsy had to check out of the cabin in Maggie Valley at 9 o’clock (ignoring the time change).  I also know that it took three hours to get from Maggie Valley to the house on Tuesday.  So I set the alarm for 4 o’clock and was on the road before five.  I would get there to Maggie Valley with an hour to spare.

Everything went well until about 7 o’clock , as I was approaching Newport, Tennessee.  Flashing lights, a police car and a fire truck announced that there was a problem up ahead.  It turns out that there had been a major rock slide on I-40 at about 2 o’clock Sunday morning.  The rock slide caused about 30 miles of the interstate to be closed.  The closed section runs through the Pigeon River Gorge and is just about the only way to get through that part of the mountains.

There were volunteers giving directions, but unfortunately they didn’t agree on the way to get from where I was to Maggie Valley.  Following one set of directions took me in a circle and brought me back to the exit where I had to get off.  Our GPS can select a route by the shortest distance or by the faster time.  Both routes used the closed section of the interstate.  I finally gave up and took a route that I knew would get me there — eventually.  To make a long story (and trip) short, I finally got to the cabin just before 11 o’clock.  That three hour trip took six hours.

Fortunately Betsy hadn’t given up on me and I got reunited with my Beautiful Bride.  Since  the interstate was closed we decided to go back home over the Cherohala Parkway.  The autumn colors were gorgeous, but I’ll save that for tomorrow.

Sunday night they were reporting that the interstate will be closed for at least two months.  We might not be traveling east for the next couple of months.

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Posted in Travels | 19 Comments »

Scenic Sunday # 67: Maggie Valley

October 25, 2009
Maggie Valley, North Carolina. October 20, 2009.

Maggie Valley, North Carolina. October 20, 2009.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Betsy has been in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, since Tuesday.  She said that the colors had just exploded over the past couple of days, but I thought the scenery was pretty good on Tuesday.  The picture above was taken on the deck of the cabin they’ve rented.  I’m looking forward to seeing the view when I pick Betsy up today.

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Posted in Scenic Sunday | 10 Comments »

How Brave Am I?

October 24, 2009
Our side yard, Fairfield Glade. October 23, 2009.

Our side yard, Fairfield Glade. October 23, 2009.

I’ve always felt that I was pretty good at handling life’s little setbacks and disappointments.  I thought I could handle any adversity, but I’m beginning to have second thoughts.

As you know, Betsy is in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, with her childhood girlfriends.  She didn’t want me to be bored while she was gone, so she left me with a fairly extensive ‘honey-do’ list.  The two biggest items on the list were mowing the lawn (and picking up the leaves) and stacking the firewood that we were expecting to be delivered.

I finished the lawn on Thursday and it looked pretty good, if I do say so myself.  And just before it got dark on Thursday, the firewood was delivered and dumped in the side yard.

Unfortunately wood wasn’t the only thing that came Thursday.  Thursday night brought high winds and rain which continued off and on until Friday afternoon.  When the rain finally ended I went out, picked up the many branches that had fallen  during the storm, and faced my dilemma.

As you can see from the picture above there is a lot of wood to be stacked, and there also a lot of leaves on the ground.  There’s more wood than I can stack in a single day and the leaves are wet, so it’s going to take more than a day to clean them all up.

So the question — is do I have the necessary courage to face Betsy with an incomplete ‘honey-do list’?  What do you think her reaction will be?  Do you think I’ll end up in the dog house?  Would it do any good to ask Betsy to extend her vacation so I have more time to finish the list?

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Posted in American Life | 16 Comments »

Skywatch Friday: Western North Carolina

October 23, 2009
Western North Carolina mountains and sky. July 11, 2009.

Western North Carolina mountains and sky. July 11, 2009.

This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world.  To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.

Since Betsy is away in the mountains of North Carolina, I thought I would share this picture of the sky and mountains taken earlier this year.  Betsy is in Maggie Valley and this picture was taken north of Asheville, but the sky and mountains are majestic in both places.

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Posted in SkyWatch Friday | 20 Comments »

Memories of Atlanta

October 22, 2009
Betsy at Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, Georgia. June 2, 2001.

Betsy at Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, Georgia. June 2, 2001.

Since my bride is away for most of this week, I’ve been looking over some pictures of our life together.  (Can you tell that I miss her?)

Three weeks before we were married in June, 2001, Betsy and I were invited to the wedding of the son of Betsy’s friend, Susan.  Susan is one of the Get-Away Gang that is with Betsy in Maggie Valley this week, and she and Betsy have been friends since grade school.  The wedding was in Atlanta and we were invited to the rehearsal dinner Friday night as well as the wedding on Saturday.

Since we were free for most of the day on Saturday, Betsy and I took advantage of the opportunity to visit Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, which is where the picture above was taken.  In addition to admiring the carving on the mountain and the covered bridge, we took the tram to the top of the mountain.  (That was before we got serious about hiking — I’m sure Betsy would insist on hiking to the top nowadays.)

If you would like to see more of our weekend in Atlanta click HERE.

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Posted in Betsy | 8 Comments »

My Bride Left Me!

October 21, 2009

SadGeorge

If you read Betsy’s blog you know that she has left me to spend a few days in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, with her childhood girlfriends.  I’m optimistic that the separation will be temporary and that Betsy will soon be back home.

Betsy and the girls are in a beautiful cabin fairly high up in the mountains above Maggie Valley.  The road to the cabin is probably the worse I’ve driven on.  For the first time I had doubts as to whether our Prius would make it, but it did.  If Betsy had found a place higher in the mountains we would have had to have pack mules.

I don’t want to give you the impression that my beautiful bride heartlessly left me to a long and lonely week.  She wouldn’t do anything like that.  She’s made sure I’m not bored — the lawn will need to be mowed (hopefully for the last time) and then there are all those leaves that are coming down.  As if that’s not enough, we’re getting a delivery of firewood this week and that will need to be stacked.  Oh, yes, and I still have a few spring bulbs that need to be planted.

I’m beginning to think that Betsy timed her vacation perfectly.

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Posted in Betsy | 22 Comments »

My World: Autumn Colors

October 20, 2009
Red leaves and blue skies. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 19, 2009.

Red leaves and blue skies. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 19, 2009.

This is my post for the My World meme.  It is hosted by Klaus, Ivar, Sandy, Wren, Louise and Fishing Guy.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

I’m happy to report that all of our roses survived Sunday night’s low temperatures and I’m hopeful that we’ll get through Monday night just as successfully.

One advantage of the high pressure system over head is that in addition to cold nights we have clear, bright blue skies during the day.  I was working in the yard yesterday when I noticed these red leaves against the sky.  I couldn’t resist taking a picture and sharing it with you.

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Posted in My World | 13 Comments »

Things I Learned About My Bride

October 19, 2009
Bob, Steve, Betsy, Carolyn and Mickey. October 17, 2009.

Bob, Steve, Betsy, Carolyn and Mickey. October 17, 2009.

Betsy and I got back from her brother’s memorial service late Sunday afternoon.  It was a quick trip, but we’re both glad that we went.

Since Ray had been in declining health for some time, his death was somewhat anticipated.  As a result the memorial service was more a celebration of Ray’s life than a service of mourning.  Many people, family and friends, shared memories of Ray and the way he touched their lives.

Betsy’s three nephews and one of her nieces were at the service, and they did a lot of catching up and reminiscing after the service.  I learned  several things about my bride that I didn’t know.

Since Ray was 20 years old when Betsy was born, she became an aunt at a very early age.  I knew that, of course, but what I didn’t know was some of the things that my bride did when entertaining her nephews and nieces during visits their visits to Big Stone Gap, Virginia.  I heard stories of races down the hill from Betsy’s house to the church downtown.  Even more interesting were expeditions to explore neighbor’s basements — even when the neighbors weren’t home!

I always knew Betsy was a leader, but Bob, Steve, Mickey and Carolyn described a ring leader.  And to think Betsy was a preacher when I met her!

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Posted in Family | 18 Comments »

Stupid Camera

October 16, 2009
Cheoah Dam and Lake, Tennessee. October 13, 2009.

Cheoah Dam and Lake, Tennessee. October 13, 2009.

Betsy and I were home for about 12 hours Thursday evening and early this (Friday) morning.  That gave us just enough time to repack for Ray’s memorial service and to do a quick post to let you know we survived the first of our quick trips.  By the time you read this we will be on the road to Jacksonville, Florida.

As you know, we went to Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia to see what the waterfalls looked like when water was released from the dam above the gorge.  We hiked a new trail (for us) and the views were wonderful.  There was a light rain most of the day, but that didn’t stop us from our quest to enjoy the waterfalls.

Unfortunately about half way through our hike my camera decided to start acting up.  For the rest of the hike I could only take wide-angle shots if I could get any at all.  That was definitely a bummer, but as Betsy said, that just gives us another excuse to go back.

Now that Betsy has her laptop, I’m hoping Santa will bring me a new camera.  I’ve been wanting one with interchangeable lenses so I could get closer to waterfalls we can’t reach on foot.  I would also like to be able to get macros of our flowers.

I know many of you are great photographers.  I would appreciate any advice you may be able to give me regarding a camera that will fit my needs.  Thanks.

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Posted in Travels | 15 Comments »

My World: Iris in Bloom

October 13, 2009
Floor Show Iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. Octoer 12, 2009.

Floor Show Iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. Octoer 12, 2009.

This is my post for the My World meme.  It is hosted by Klaus, Ivar, Sandy, Wren, Louise and Fishing Guy.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

We woke up to rain Monday morning and a nice surprise in our garden — the iris in the picture above, Floor Show, was blooming.  We have several reblooming iris and their colorful blooms are a nice addition to this time of the year.

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Betsy and I are leaving this morning for a couple of days in northern Georgia.  They are releasing water from the dam above Tallulah Gorge on Wednesday and we want to be there to see what the waterfalls looked like before the dam was built.  We’ve had this trip planned for several weeks.

Then on Friday we are going to Jacksonville for Ray’s (Betsy’s brother) memorial service.  We will get back home on Sunday and then on the following Tuesday I will take Betsy to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, for her getaway with her grade school girlfriends.

I can visit you using my iPod Touch, but unless I can pry Betsy’s laptop from her, I don’t think I’ll be able to post for much of that time.  But don’t give up on me — I’ll be back as soon as possible.

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Posted in My World | 16 Comments »

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