Posts Tagged ‘Betsy’

Whatever Became of . . .

June 22, 2012

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

Can you possibly imagine what became of the sweet little girl in the picture above?  It’s obvious that Shirley Temple had absolutely nothing over Elizabeth Bruce Banks of Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

It’s been rumored that young Elizabeth was something of a tomboy, but I think we shouldn’t put too much stock in rumors.  Let’s just say that Sheriff Banks did a great job of preserving law and order in Big Stone Gap.

By the time she was a senior in high school cowboy hats and boots were put aside for more feminine attire.  It’s obvious that Miss Banks was a very beautiful young lady.

Fast forward to 2001.  On June 23, 2001, Elizabeth Bruce Banks made me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife.

Happy Anniversary, Betsy.  Thanks for becoming my Beautiful Bride and for eleven wonderful years together.

The Dream Goes On

April 23, 2012

Cane Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

In my lasts post (click HERE if you missed it) I explained why Fall Creek Falls State Park is such a special place for Betsy and me.  Saturday we visited the park again, and did many of the things we did eleven years ago.  The weather Saturday wasn’t nearly as nice as it was back then, but we’re still glad we went.

We did check out most of the waterfalls, although we took a nearly 2 mile hike between two of them which we didn’t do on that first visit.  The water levels were somewhat low, but the falls were still pretty.

Betsy at Cane Creek Cascade, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2012.

My bride is every bit as beautiful as she was eleven years ago.

George Hole, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2012.

But for the life of me I can’t figure out where the old man sitting with her came from.

The best part of the day. Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2012.

The weather may not have been perfect, but I got another kiss which made the day perfect as far as I’m concerned.

Once Upon A Time

April 20, 2012

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

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

I like to think of myself as a realist who doesn’t believe in fairy tales, but sometimes fairy tales do happen and come true.

Once upon a time I asked a beautiful, blonde preacher to go to Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee with me on April 21, 2001.  We had gone out a couple of times before that day, but this was our first ‘big’ date.

When we got to the park we drove to the lodge and walked along the lake for a while.  That’s where I took the picture  above.  When I took that picture I was thinking how lucky I was to be out with such a beautiful woman.

Fall Creek Falls and Coon Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee. April 21, 2001.

After talking at the lake for a while, we visited the waterfalls which give the park its name.  There wasn’t a great deal of water going over Fall Creek Falls (on the left in the picture above), but we both thought it was very beautiful.  Fall Creek Falls and Coon Creek Falls (on the right in the picture above) were the first two waterfalls we saw together.

Betsy and George at Cane Creek Cascade, Fall Creek Falls State Park. April 21, 2001.

Fall Creek Falls State Park contains five major waterfalls and we saw all of them.  By the time we got to Cane Creek Cascade we were holding hands (Yeah!).  It wasn’t too much later that I got my first kiss.  (Double Yeah!!!)

Now you know how our waterfall ‘collection’ got started.  Since that wonderful day we have visited over 450 different waterfalls.  We’re still visiting waterfalls, Betsy is still beautiful, and we’re still holding hands.

NOT The End.

Our World: Lake Sherwood

March 19, 2012

Lake Sherwood, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. February 7, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

Fairfield Glade has several small lakes and Betsy and I enjoy walking around them whenever possible.  We walked around Lake Sherwood a couple of weeks ago.  It was a beautiful afternoon and the reflections in the lake were gorgeous.  The surface of the lake was smooth as glass.

Time-share units on Lake Sherwood, Fairfield Glade. February 7, 2012.

Wyndham Resorts has time-share units in the Glade, some of which overlook Lake Sherwood.

Betsy at Lake Sherwood. February 7, 2012.

I got this picture of Betsy on the footbridge over the Lake Sherwood spillway.

Lake Sherwood, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. February 7, 2012.

We had a great day for our walk, and we got to enjoy some of the beauty of Fairfield Glade.

The Women in My Life

February 20, 2012

Betsy and Mrs. P at Wetumpka Falls, Tullahoma, Tennessee. February 9, 2012.

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A couple of weeks ago Betsy and I took Dad for a ride with us as we checked out a couple of waterfalls in the Tullahoma, Tennessee, area.  One of the waterfalls we visited was Wetumpka Falls northwest of town.

This picture was taken at Wetumpka Falls, and shows the women in my life.  Betsy needs no introduction to readers of this blog.  Behind her is our Prius, affectionately known as Mrs. P.  If you look closely on the dash of Mrs. P, you can make out our GPS unit, Miss Barbeak.

It seems to me that at least one of these women is always telling me where to go!

Our World: High School Football Game — Half-Time Show

November 1, 2011

Landon during the half-time show. Bearden High School, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

I’ve done two posts about the football game Betsy and I attended in early October.  The first post was about the pre-game festivities, the second was about the game itself.  This post is about the half-time show.  It’s really appropriate that I’m sharing the half-time show after every thing else, because we had to wait until after the game to see the show.  The visiting band’s program lasted too long for Bearden’s program to be completed during half-time, so it was postponed until after the game.

Betsy’s grandson, Landon, is the drummer in the middle of the picture above.

Half-time show, Bearden High School. October 6, 2011.

The band’s program was based on Clockworks.  I must admit that I’m not familiar with that work, but I enjoyed the band’s playing and marching.

Half-time show, Bearden High School. October 6, 2011.

Of course we tried to keep an eye on Landon during all the evolutions.

Flag-bearers during the half-time show. October 6, 2011.

The flag bearers  put on quite a display as well.

Majorette, Bearden High School. October 6, 2011.

During the show one of the majorettes did her thing with three flaming batons.

Majorette, Bearden High School, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

I was frankly amazed that she didn’t get burned.

It’s Football Time in Tennessee

October 20, 2011

Betsy at Blue Hole Falls, Elizabethton, Tennessee. February 14, 2008.

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Betsy bleeds orange every football season.  She’s a very dedicated Tennessee Vol fan.

This has been a difficult season for Betsy.  The Vols are a very young team playing a very hard schedule.  One of the bright spots for the team has been their talented young quarterback, but he got hurt and will be out for several weeks.

Hopefully Betsy will get through the rest of the season without too much heartburn.

This picture was taken on Valentine Day, 2008, while we were visiting waterfalls in northeastern Tennessee.

Our World: High School Football Preliminaries

October 18, 2011

Betsy's grandson Landon (middle drummer) at the high school game. October 6, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)
This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

Earlier this month we went Knoxville to see a high school football game.  Betsy’s grandson, is a drummer in his high school band.  That’s Landon in the middle in the picture above.

Both of my children were in the band during their high school years, so it was interesting to see how the pre-game activities have changed since my kids were in school.

Bearden Bulldog banner at the game. October 6, 2011.

Things got started with a group of students bring a large banner out to midfield.

Cheerleaders leading the team out onto the field.

The cheerleaders burst through the banner . . .

The football team arrives on the field. October 6, 2011.

. . . followed by the football team.

Fireworks welcome the team onto the field. Bearden High School, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

The fireworks reminded me of an NFL playoff game.  But everyone (except perhaps the visiting team) seemed to enjoy the excitement and soon it was time to play football.

The Women In My Life

October 13, 2011

Betsy and Kelly at Dale Hollow State Park, Kentucky. August 25, 2007.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

I was going through some old pictures recently and came upon this picture of Betsy and my daughter Kelly.  It was taken back in August, 2007, at Dale Hollow State Park in Kentucky.  Kelly and her husband, Chuck, were getting ready to move to Buffalo, so we met them at the Dale Hollow Lodge for a dinner and some time together.

All I wanted was a picture of these two women together.  I thought it was a simple request and could be easily done.  Obviously, I was wrong.

I just can’t take these two any where!

My World: Birthday Sunshine

August 9, 2011

Sunflowers on the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina. August 5, 2011.

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

We went to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville on Betsy’s birthday.  There is so much to see and the gardens change with each season.  We visited the Italian Garden on this trip, and I’ll have pictures from there at a later date.

But as we were leaving the estate, we came upon a field of sunflowers.  Of course we had to stop and get some pictures.  We especially liked the mountains and hills in the background.

Sunflowers for the Birthday Girl. August 5, 2011. (Photo by Betsy)

The sunflowers themselves were big, bright and beautiful, as you can see in this picture Betsy captured.

Betsy enjoying her birthday sunflowers. Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina. August 5, 2011.

But I personally think that the sunflowers paled in comparison to the smile of my Beautiful Bride.