Posts Tagged ‘Betsy’

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Where It All Began

December 3, 2009

Betsy at Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2001.

Monday was a cold, rainy day here on the Plateau on Monday, so I had a chance to work on some more of my archived photographs.  One of the folders I was able to work with contained pictures of the first time Betsy and I went to Fall Creek Falls.

Betsy and I had had a couple of dates (dinner, a morning in the park and lunch) before that Saturday morning when we drove to Fall Creek Falls State  Park.  Although Betsy had been to the park a time or two before we met, I had never been there before.

The scenery in the park is fantastic.  It is centered around the Cane Creek Gorge, a fifteen-mile long gash that contains views remeniscent of the Grand Canyon.  A road along the rim provides several overlooks with fantastic views.

Betsy and I were impressed with the five major waterfalls within the park.  We visited each and every one.  But the high point of the day (at least for me) was our first kiss.

We realized we were falling in love on that first date to Fall Creek Falls in April, 2001.  We’ve managed to get back there almost every year since to celebrate that anniversary.  Fall Creek Falls will always be special for us.

If you would like to see more of our first trip to Fall Creek Falls click HERE.

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Posted in Betsy | 7 Comments »

Memories of Centennial Park

November 23, 2009

My very first picture of Betsy. Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee. April 7, 2001.

I’m really beginning to like rainy days.  On rainy days I can work on pictures at my computer without feeling guilty.

Betsy and I had our first date on March 29, 2001.  It was a dinner date to discuss the Bible classes that I missed when my work took me out of town.  (That topic never came up).

I thought the dinner date went well, but Betsy was ‘busy’ when I asked her out again.  In spite of that rejection I wanted to see her again, so I took a picture of the spring flowers in bloom in Centennial Park, Nashville, (I worked near the park) and e-mailed it to her with an invitation to go there with me on Saturday morning.  The tulips must have been irresistible because she said ‘yes’.

Centennial Park has beautiful gardens as well a unique feature — a full-sized replica of the Parthenon.  The exterior was being refurbished while we were there, but the main hall with the statue of Athena and an art gallery in the lower level were both open.  We enjoyed our visit to both levels of the Parthenon.

I didn’t have my camera on our first date, but I had it when we were at Centennial Park.  The picture above is the very first picture I took of Betsy (I’ve taken a few more since then).  If you would like to see more of our morning at Centennial Park click HERE.

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Posted in Betsy | 8 Comments »

My World: The Fastest Leaf-Blower on the Plateau

November 10, 2009
BetsyLeaf

Betsy using the leaf blower in the back yard.

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.

Betsy and I have definite responsibilities around the house.  I mow the lawn and Betsy sweeps the deck.  I dig the holes to plant the roses and Betsy cleans and fills the bird baths.  I have, on occasion, both swept the deck and taken care of the bird baths.  But there is one job I would never dream of taking from Betsy — using the leaf blower.

As you can see from the picture above, Betsy is a pro at using the leaf blower.  Once she fires that thing up the leaves don’t have a chance.  There’s rarely a stray left on the ground once she finishes.

The front yard is the hardest for us to do since we have to bag or carry away those leaves.  The back yard is much easier, so Betsy usually blows the other leaves in that direction.

And why is the back yard so much easier than the front yard?

LeafPickup

Golf course crew picking up leaves behind our house.

The back yard is adjacent to the golf course and those nice maintenance men have some wonderful equipment.  I guess they are Betsy’s secret weapon.

 

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Posted in My World | 18 Comments »

Memories of a Smokies Autumn

November 9, 2009
BetsySmokies

Betsy along Little River in the Smokies. October, 2002.

Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees around our house, so in many ways the pretty part of autumn is just about over for us.  But I’m not sure which season is going to follow — the temperatures were in the mid-70s Sunday.  That’s entirely too warm to be raking leaves!  Some of our blogger friends have been complaining about the temperatures in Florida.  I think they must have sent that warm weather our way.  I’m going to try to send it back!

Although most of our leaves are gone, we still have many memories of of beautiful autumn colors from years past.  In October of 2002 Betsy and I spent a long weekend in the Smokies.  Of course we checked out some waterfalls, but we also enjoyed some wonderful autumn colors.

In the picture above my favorite tree hugger is making a tree along Little River very happy.  To see more of autumn in the Smokies click HERE.

 

 

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Posted in Autumn | 13 Comments »

Memories of Burgess Falls

November 2, 2009
BetsyBurgessFalls

Betsy at the base of Burgess Falls, Cookeville, Tennessee. May 26, 2001.

Rainy days have certain advantages.  One advantage is the ability to work on old pictures without feeling guilty about not being out in the yard.

We had a couple of rainy days last week, and I was able to get some work done on my computer.  One set of pictures that I worked with was a set taken back in 2001 when Betsy and I were dating.

I’ve mentioned that we realized we were falling in love on a date to Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee on April 21, 2001.  That date was the start of our waterfall collection, among other things.

On May 26, 2001, we were an engaged couple on a date to Burgess Falls State Natural Area near Cookeville, Tennessee.  This area is within the Falling Water River Gorge and a one mile hike allowed us to view a cascade and three waterfalls.

When we visited Burgess Falls back in 2001 we had no idea that we would eventually be living in the Glade, which is fairly close to Burgess Falls.  We’ve been back several times since.

If you look closely at the picture above you’ll see that Betsy is posing so that her engagement ring is on display.  I think she rather liked it!

To see more of that first visit to Burgess Falls click HERE.

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Posted in Waterfalls | 10 Comments »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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