Dream Catchin' on a Southwind!

THERE IS A PLAN.....

Jul 7, 2009

Lewis and Clark left St Charles, Missouri, May 21,1804 on a journey of a lifetime.  Their journey inspired the whole of our journey, for me and Jud too, I think.  Therefore, it is only fitting that we returned to St. Charles to visit this monument.  Meriwether Lewis and William Clark had their trip planned but no doubt their plans changed on a day to day basis....none the less, they never lost sight of their original plan, their goal....to follow the Missouri and find a route to the Pacific and return.

Here they are depicted looking forward up the Missouri River to the future....without knowledge of the experiences they would share with each other, their Expedition members and ultimately the nation....but trusting they were blazing the right trail.

We visited this monument at Frontier Park on the bank of the Missouri this morning before leaving St. Charles....

 

Lewis, Seamon and Clark

If all goes as we plan, this is our last night on the road.... we have been gone 3 weeks, today.  Lewis and Clark's journey lasted 3 years....from start to finish....1803 -1806.

Back in 1804, St. Charles was an established French settlement, originally named Les Petites Cotes (Little Hills).  It was founded by Louis Blanchette in the 1760s and was considered the "last major jumping off point for up river journeys." (Daryll D. Hersemann's A Short History of the Lewis & Clark Expedition 1803-1806, a really great book!) This town of about 450 people later became the Headquarters for St. Charles District of Upper Louisiana.  It was here Lewis and Charles assembled their final corps and and began their  expedition up the Missouri River, May 21,1804.

Last night after a 9 1/2 hour drive from the Sac & Fox Reservation in Nebraska, we arrived in St. Charles, exhausted, but wanting to see the convergence of the Missouri and the Missippi, the Gateway Arch and the Lewis & Clark Park.....Crazy, I know.  But it was still daylight so we loaded into the "toad" and raced in the direction we thought it was.  The road to the "confluence" was closed due to flooding.  The park was closed.  We rode around in circles for an hour and a half and never saw where the rivers meet or the bronze statue....but we saw the sun set over the Missouri

 

and the moon rise over the Mississippi...

....and over the Missouri.  We were riding in circles, but we were definitely close!

And we watched this fellow (and some relatives) take it all in....as was his plan....

 

And then.... we did some other crazy stuff....like press on to downtown St. Louis, in the dark, to find the Gateway Arch, up close, and got so lost that poor "Polly" (our GPS) was so confused all she could do was just turn and turn and turn her little hour glass...but we finally found it, without Polly's help. Jud got out to make the obligatory picture (I stayed in the car).  At this point I needed food and a necessity break!!!!  We wound up at one of the huge Cassinos by the Mississippi River eating a very late hamburger, taking our "break".....and losing twenty bucks in about 15 minutes in the slots.  (Definitely crazy!)  We finally got back to the Dreamcatcher about 1:00 AM and fell into bed....vowing to never do that again (sound familiar?)  Absolutely none of this was planned.

But it occurred to me....no matter how crazy we get and how bad we mess it all up...the sun is still going to set, the moon is going to rise just as it has for thousands of years right over these two age old rivers.  And there is still going to be beauty to find in this world of ours.....

and that old muddy Missouri is going to keep right on rolling along....yes!

There is a plan.....and it's much greater than we are!  I need to remember that.

I hated to leave the Missouri...but it was time to go....

We left the St. Lewis area about 10:30 this morning (7 July)....past the skyscrapers and the steel webs of interstate, past the cassinos and the Gateway Arch....

  and over the mighty Mississippi.....

  ...headed East and South!

We made it to Joelton, Tennessee!  Imagine that...Joelton is just north of Nashville...we're in a small campground called OK Campground...and it's OK.
We stopped early (before dark) to relax, sleep and be ready to travel all the way to Georgia tomorrow!  We should be arriving in Stone Mountain tomorrow evening....and we are ready to be there!

At least that's our plan!

It's Important....Being on the Right Trail

July 3, 2009

Homeward bound....Our faces to the Rising Eastern Sun, our spirits lifted high....

Leaving South Dakota, the beautiful open skies, the tepee's stretching to meet those skies, the wild life, the Black Hills, the Badlands, Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the Native American Culture and History, the Prairies, the rivers, the ranches, Pierre (the Capitol)...and that's just some of it!

 

At times I felt like I could touch that sky!

We will miss all of it!

Musing.....

Well, I read back over what I've posted thus far and I've confused myself.  I'm having a little trouble deciding how best to proceed.....

At least some of you have received the photo albums from Shutterfly that share our "favorites" (that was a re-learning curve!)...so far the feedback has been positive!   If you didn't get them, email me....I would love to send you the link.

Now, I want to concentrate on the blog and make it a travel log....a record to capture our memories so we can enjoy (and recall) them in the future ....and a story to be shared, now, with you.
Perhaps the best format is to briefly tell you where we are today and then return to a chronological  account....I always have this problem!  So....

This morning, we returned to Madison, SD our "new home town", picked up our mail....and headed for Minnesota....

Tonight, we are in Pipestone, Minnesota....headed home.  We'll be here through Jul 4, continuing our trek on Sunday.  Why Pipestone....well we have been intrigued and influenced by the Native American History and Culture....this is an important site and part of the story.
  ...We're parked across from the Pipestone National Monument, a national park established to preserve the Pipestone Quarries for the Yankton Sioux and other Native Americans and to preserve/conserve our national grasslands.  The quarries are considered sacred and the red stone has been used for generations for ceremonial pipes.  Today, only Native Americans are allowed to quarry the stone.

BACKTRACKING NOW.....to 18 June 2009

ARRIVING IN SOUTH DAKOTA - Day 3
Gosh, was it really 16 days ago...only 16?
After our Missouri crossing, we vowed we would never again drive so many hours in one day!  Leaving early, we figured we could jump over into Nebraska for a little side trip and still make it to Madison SD by mid-afternoon....

Traveling through Iowa...we met our first real Cow Pony....the real cowboy was inside making a pit stop....

 

Lucy enjoyed her new fan.....she is a great traveler but it helps keep her cool.

As planned, we crossed the Missouri River into Nebraska and found....... the Lewis and Clark Center!

 

Perched high on a bluff above the Missouri River.... this stop would prove to bring focus, clarity, purpose and passion to our own journey......a beautiful and well done center!

 

Surrounded by Crown Vetch (a European Herb....we had seen all over...gorgeous and sweet smelling)

   

On , July 4, 1803, the 27th birthday of the nation, (206 years ago today) Meriwether Lewis celebrated....he had received his final instructions from Jefferson, gotten his personal affects together and was ready to proceed to Philadelphia to get the keelboat he had commissioned built to carry the expedition up the Missouri River.

Approaching the Center.... a replica of the Iron Keel Boat used on the journey up the Missouri...

 

Inside wonderful displays ....including the pirogue (left) along narrow river boat that was one of two that helped make the journey and the only boat that survived it....  The center captures the essence of Lewis and Clark's expedition into uncharted lands, gained by the US through the Louisiana Purchase.  President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Lewis to explore this territory.  Lewis selected his friend and former fellow army officer, William Clark to join him...they shared the command and kept meticulous journals.. volumes of them!

Jefferson charged them....find a route to the Pacific, be harbingers of peace and goodwill with the "Indians, establish trade relations with them and "observe and record the flora and fauna they encountered" (Daryll D. Hersemann's A Short History of the Lewis & Clark Expedition 1803 - 1806... I bought a copy...a great read).  In all they Identified 122 new animals and 178 new plants.  They wrote daily in their journals.  And it seems they kept the peace, since only one man failed to survive the trip....and he died of apparent acute appendicitis.

In addition to the 25 enlisted men, Captain Lewis' dog, Seaman, a Newfoundland.."hunter, watchdog and faithful friend." was a valuable party member and apparently returned with them because no mention of his passing is made in the daily writings .

In Nov, 1804, 16 year old Sacagawea (pregnant with her first child) and her husband Toussaint Charbonneau (a French Trader) joined the expedition.  Since Sacagawea was Shoshone they felt she would be helpful in locating the Shoshone, communicating and negotiating trade for horses. She did and proved to be a valuable member of the expedition in many ways.

Gifting was an important part of establishing good relations with the existing tribes....US flags, Jefferson Peace Medals, clothing, handkerchiefs, tobacco, beads, knives, food to name a few were given...and the Native Americans shared in like measure....one gift received by Lewis and Clark is this Grizzly Bear Claw necklace...  

Below a sculpture of Jefferson surrounded by the "souvenirs" returned by Lewis and Clark...including a live prairie dog and magpie...

 

 

 

 

This short visit set our course...provided us focus and made our trip purposeful and exciting...
We were ready to follow the Louis & Clark Trail...to discover new (to us)  "flora and fauna"...to explore the Missouri....She became a familiar friend as we continued on to South Dakota crossing and recrossing this age old river......

Crossing back into Iowa...we continued our trip with new enthusiasm...It had taken more time than we expected but we enjoyed the Center and we were on the Lewis and Clark Trail! 

But we didn't anticipate the Dreamcatcher's hiccup.  In Sioux City, we stopped for gas.  As we started to leave, she wouldn't/couldn't crank....just a sick little sound.  BUT....

There are angels in Sioux City!  Jud went inside and the guy was nice (even though we were tying up 6 of his pumps)...he called a friend, who called a friend, who knew an RV repair guy.  About 45 minutes later (still blocking the pumps at rush hour) the really nice repair man showed up....the problem was the battery...the ground wire.  He jiggled it...the motor cranked right up....He said (and I quote) "Remember battery to ground makes the world go round"  Think about it! 

He wouldn't let us pay him a red cent!

Well, we were now really behind....but on the right trail!  And very thankful!!!  Pressing on we made our entrance into South Dakota...Great Faces, Great Places.  At a rest stop we saw the first SD tepee    and what we thought were prairie dogs ....turned out they were ground squirrels (we think)...lots of them... living in colonies like prairie dogs....too cute!

A storm was approaching.....

We hastened on and finally just at sunset arrived at Madison, SD (our soon to be new address) and finally Lake Herman State Park our "home" for the next several days....Praise God, we made it!

   That was 16 days ago.  We are different people today.  And that was Day 3.

Happy July 4th, ya'll....hope you, like Meriwether Lewis way back on July 4, 1803, have great cause for excitement and anticipation of a new journey of discovery!  It's important to be on the right TRAIL.

WESTWARD HO.......I CAN HARDLY IMAGINE...

June 26, 2009....Friday

Good morning! 

Change of plans....(you can do that when you are retired!).... Jud says we will not go to Mount Rushmore today but instead, head North to Sturgis, Spearfish, and over into Wyoming to Devils Tower.

Back Tracking Now....To share Day 2 of our trip west....

Day Two, Wed, June 17, dawned bright and clear and we left the Walmart parking lot in Padukah, KY refreshed and eager!  We soon crossed the Ohio River....

       

Lots of river traffic, barges, boats etc.  And then we were in Illinois.

Our plan was to forget about "the job", pace ourselves enjoy the trip and arrive in Madison, South Dakota, on Friday...
It turned out to be the longest day of my life....almost.  We took advantage of Rest Areas and when we saw this sign at one in Illinois....

Our response......."you'd think!!!"  We really hoped all those truckers would read and heed!

   Road construction everywhere!  It made our trip slow at times, but what these guys (and all the others) are doing is remarkable....such an improvement!  We've seen more than one sign indicating "Your stimulus dollars at work." Thanks, Guys!

As we crossed Illinois the flooding was evident.

Many fields flooded, many more too wet to plant.  But I was most impressed by the wild flowers!

  According to the information center, "Nearly 22 million acres of Illinois were once prairie. Early pioneers described it as a vast waving ocean of tall native grasses and brilliantly colored wildflowers stretching as far as the eye could see. Today, less than 1% of the prairie remains."  Like many other states Illinois is trying to restore their roadsides by re-planting.  The beauty is they are making it look so natural....everywhere....not just plots. 

      

Gorgeous!  Sweet smells of grasses and blooms.  This must be the best time of year.

Finally, we reached St. Louis, Missouri....Gateway to the West!  Somewhere near here, the Mississippi and the Missouri converge.  This is also where Lewis and Clark met up to begin their journey west.  Jud and I both were eager to learn more about them and their trip so this was a mile marker...like them, we seemed to be following the rivers and excitedly exploring and learning as we went.  We passed "through"  the Gateway....

over the mighty Mississippi....

We were now into the state of Missouri...headed toward St. Joseph, Missouri where we planned to spend the night again "boon-docking" at another Walmart. 

We drove all the way across Missouri from St. Louis to Kansas City. 
Sorry to complain but....Interstate 70 has to be the longest, roughest road I have ever endured.   I can only imagine what the pioneers experienced...and WE traveled 60 miles/hour WITH air conditioning.  Our "buggy" swayed and bumped and went on and on and on.....
I am positive there are many wonderful things to see and do in Missouri....in fact almost every exit advertised Wineries (Missouri is second in the nation in the production of wine) and Casinos but they were not visible to the Interstate and always seemed to be 15-25 miles off the highway.  We did get off once to try to find a Winery in Hermann...but the Motor Home is not conducive to searching for some elusive place without some assurance we would be able to turn around, park, and get back out of there...so we gave up and resumed our trek....on and on and on....It began to get late.

miles yet to go....

It got DARK.....







Jud was still pressing on....He wouldn't admit he was exhausted...probably because I did, loudly and often!

I recalled the sign "for the truckers"....Duh!

We finally made it to St. Joseph around 10:00 PM EST but.....had trouble finding the Walmart.   45 minutes later, we stumbled upon one.....thankfully they put out the welcome mat for us.

It's a long, long way across Missouri.  I really can't imagine how the pioneers did it...must have taken days, weeks, maybe months....but I've heard the trip was definitely not for Wimps.

Lesson learned:  We will never, ever again travel 15 hours without a layover!

 

WELL, IT'S OFFICIAL.....

June 25, 2009....Thursday, Day 10

Well, we've done it!  Jud and I are now official residents of South Dakota.  We got our drivers' licenses this morning in Rapid City, SD...the City of Presidents.  As you can plainly see, Jud is very proud.

But it was not that easy for me....very traumatic, in fact.  But now that it's done, I'm feeling better.

Besides, it's a beautiful license with a picture of Mount Rushmore on it...and my photo turned out better this time (better than the one below)....and it's good for 5 years!

It's Day 10 of our trip and I'm trying to follow my brother's (Tommy) advice and write about where we are NOW.  We have seen so much and all of it so different from what we are accustomed to.  South Dakota is as diverse and beautiful as Georgia and North Carolina but in very different ways....Wetlands, prairies, Badlands, Black Hills, Native American Reservations.  We've put a lot of miles on both our vehicles and made a ton of pictures...you wouldn't believe...so I figure I'll start where we are....and backtrack. 

Last night we arrived in Blackhawk, just 5 miles outside Rapid City.  The campground is purely utilitarian, no shade, and right next to the Interstate, which is being reconstructed.  But the hills behind us and up ahead are beautiful and this is a central location for seeing so many places.  (plus it's a Passport park and we can stay for $16.00/night which is half price!!!)  Yes, it's hot but not like in Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina and it really cools off at night.

Rapid City, the City of Presidents, is a sprawling city....very large...but because you can see so far, you can almost see to the other side of it.  We are just beginning to see the Black Hills.  I always thought they were black because of the soil....not so (but you probably knew that!).  They are covered with dark green Ponderosa Pines, so dark and dense that from a distance the hills look black.  Very unusual since trees until now have been mostly Cottonwoods (and no pine trees) and few and far between.

After getting our licenses, we ventured downtown to find Prairie Edge...

We were amazed to find incredible bronze sculptures of past presidents on every street corner.  We made several pictures, but this was my favorite....can you tell who it is?

President John F. Kennedy

We found the Prairie Edge.  A wonderful gallery and Sioux Trading Post with extremely well done and gorgeous native art. 

This bronze sculpture outside spoke to me.  It appears to be an older Native American Woman with a grandchild.  The shared love expressed in the relationship is almost tangible.

When you walk inside the gallery, it's like being transported back 200 years or more and yet the Sioux Trading Post is very active today....Mostly Sioux (which I am trying to learn more about) but also work of many Native American artisans.

On the third floor there is original fine art displayed....unbelievably incredible (in the thousands of dollars) and every piece tells a story.

On the second floor....a plethora of books, music and DVDs about Native American history, cultures, tribes...amazing...I bought two books, Waterlily by Ella Cara Deloria and Mitakuye Oyasin "We are all Related" by Dr. A.C. Ross.  In Waterlilly the author talks about the special relationships between children and their Grandparents...

and downstairs...hand made ( but not one of a kind) work that is more affordable but still pricey and beautiful.

    

Remember you can click on the photos to enlarge them.

Tomorrow we head out for Mount Rushmore!  But I'll backtrack and try to catch you up on the beauty and majesty of this great state!  We have been awed!

PS  How's this for a camper?  Actually it's a "house" that the Rapid City Firefighters take around to schools to teach Fire Safety....but it looks like a camper! 

 

A NEW CHAPTER.......OR NOT?

Jun 16, 2009

Day One...
Having spent the evening before getting everything ready, we got up gang busters, headed for South Dakota....our soon to be new "home state".  Yes, we are changing our residency from North Carolina to South Dakota.  Are we going to move and live there?  No.  Don't ask....it's complicated.  But Jud is thrilled and thinks it will save taxes and provide better mail service.  Me?  Just call me "present but hesitant".

Anyway...it has everything to do with Jud's decision to go back to work at WRALC in the Labor Relations Office.  He is supposed to start Jul 6.

Here we go!  Westward bound to start a new life, with a new residency, new drivers' licenses, new address....

oops....there's Jud's phone (just as we are pulling out of Stone Mountain Heights RV Park).

What?  The position is going to re-announced?  Jud will have to re-apply and be re-selected (maybe/maybe not)?

SHOCK!  DISMAY!  ANGER...some!  "Can't talk now....am driving....will have to call you back soon as I find a place to pull over."

We proceeded on to the gas station to get some "cheap gas" before it went up....thinking, thinking...then we crossed the road to a Lowe's parking lot to re-access the situation.  What to do and where and when?  Ater about 45 minutes of review, deliberation and prayer the OPEN ROAD won out.  We decided OK we'll take it as it comes.  We really were eager for a road trip anyway!

It was 11:00 am by that time.  Jud called the guy back, said he would re-apply....we were on our way to South Dakota...we'd be in touch.

It's a long way to South Dakota....we had no reservations and hoped to boondock some at Walmarts on the way.  In what seemed like a short time we were leaving our beloved Georgia.....fresh and green as it has ever been....

and headed north for Tennessee.  It turns out this will be a Journey of Rivers....

Our first cross-over is the beautiful Tennessee River,

Moccasin Bend at the foot of Lookout Mountain.

....which we learned (week before last on our trip to Chattanooga with our grandson) flows into the Ohio and from there to the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf of Mexico!......Maybe I knew that....

Past Nashville....past the Land Between the Lakes....so much to see but we have to save it for another time...

We made it to Kentucky, Home of Abraham Lincoln!

 

About 4:30 EST we made a short rest stop to walk  Lucy (who seems to be enjoying being back on the road as much as we are!), admire the scenery and appreciate the lush corn planted close by.....

But the "shot of the day"  goes to Jud!  He caught this robin with a mouth full....I hope you can click on the photo to get the "full" effect.....

Back on the road...we pushed on.  Our spirits were greatly lifted.  We were enjoying the open road and the excitement of seeing new places and learning new things.  Live for today! 

Another river?  No...we are re-crossing the gorgeous Tennessee on it's way to meet up with the Ohio.

 

At this point it was about 6:00 and we were getting ready to reach Paducah, KY.  Right at dark, we arrived, found the Walmart, where we planned to "boondock" for the night.  They were gracious hosts, we got a few groceries and settled in for the night.....so far, so good!

Jud phoned his contact, the one who initially solicited his return to Robins as a re-employed annuitant, and was reassured the job would be re-announced, he would have to re-apply and he would have to be re-selected (?) and/but the start date would slip.  OK.

And so ended the first day "on the road again"!!!!!  It felt good!

"WHAT ON EARTH HAVE I DONE?"

This was actually drafted 18 months ago and never posted....until now....sort of like "lost scrolls..."

January, 2008...a new year, winter in Georgia, a time for hibernation, contemplation, soul searching....being still!  I've always felt it should be so, but until now it seems I held my breath through the holiday rush only to find that January was always booked ahead of my second wind!  Ah but now....we are retired!  Finally I can revel in a slower pace.....cover up with my wonderful "Rambling Rigsby" afghan, (a warm thoughtful gift from friends, Mary and Jim) in front of our DVD fire (which snaps, crackles and pops...it's really very convincing when you plug in the electric heater and position it just below the Panasonic, honest!) ..........and read to my heart's content! 

                           

See the fire?  Feel the warmth?

Our recommended book list includes Robert Fulghum's "What On Earth Have I Done?"  Jud's favorite author......a philosopher, humorist, teacher/unorthodox minister, lover of life, now 70 years old asks several questions:  "What on earth have I done?"  What in the name of God am I doing?" "Who do I think  I am?" What will I think of next?.....all time-honored questions asked by parents of small children!
What better time than winter to engage our inner child and pose these same questions.....
Certainly I have....What on earth have I done by giving up my stick built home?  What on earth have I done to my knee?  Who do I think I am....not the parent, just the grandparent!  What on earth am I doing to my body?  What will I think of next? 
Have you ever noticed how clearly you can see things in the winter? 
                           
It's amazing how different the world looks when stripped of it's foliage.....like the "winter of the soul"
Beautiful....revealing.....cleansing....
Peaks and valleys.....
But always the promise of new life.....
                        

The month has been a series of ups and downs, back and forths.... between Hayesville, Loganville, and Perry.  Struggling with decisions about health issues, courses of action....peaks and valleys of the soul.

But by far the "peaks" won out!!!

Grace made a trip to North Carolina with us to check on the mail, the lots, etc....we encountered snow!!

and icicles!!!!

                              

and witnessed a vivid sunset from the top of the mountain!!!!

We finalized our ties to Marshallville, by selling our building (once the town telephone office....back in the days of party lines, four digit numbers and the chatty telephone operator.)

                        

Rumor has it, the upstairs was once a hideout for bank robbers.  It was the local "Bottle Shop" for many years.....but the most exciting thing that happened while we owned it was the 25 cent recycled clothing store, sponsored by the Methodist Church!   Now it's getting a makeover!  The new owner has great plans and for that we are thankful.  We still love Marshallville.  The countryside is beautiful and the Massee Lane Gardens are a treat any season.  Margo and I spent a January afternoon walking, visiting, enjoying the camellias and the birds in the gardens and a ride through downtown and the surrounding countryside.

                      

I was thrilled to discover that The Marshallville Depot has taken on a new life....very exciting!

                     

Now it's a lovely gift shop and soon to be eatery in the rear.  A long time dream come true, The gift shop carries incredible works of local artists, products indigenious to Macon County, and promise for the future! I bought a small print of a Central of GA Locomotive passing through Marshallville.  The local artist had his reasons for painting that scene, but he could not have known what memories of my Dad and my time in Marshallville it would evoke.  It hangs in the bathroom sink area of our RV....a perfect addition to our home on wheels.   

Pre-Post Note - Jun 22, 2009

We didn't know at this writing "What we had done" or what the future would hold.  BUT God did!

The next 18+ months would present challenges, promise, miracles, new birth, new growth and blessings for our family that we could not even imagine in Jan, 2008.  But the promise always was/is - HE would walk with us and Praise God, HE did!

  

DECEMBER 2007.........LESSONS LEARNED!

WOW!  We've come to the end of another year....2007.  And what an awesome year it has been! 

We got so use to the Journey that settling back in was somewhat of a challenge.

But then we always expect too much of December.  I suppose it's similar to all the other months.  We're subject to the same aches, pains, "bugs", bronchitis, colds, allergies, bum knees, out-of-whack backs, traffic, stress, strain....but somehow we expect MORE/BETTER in December.  We try to cram too much into the same amount of time and our rigid expectations soar beyond reality....Add to that, the loss of a dear friend,  a much loved one, and instead of celebration and joy......our spirits miss The Spirit and we spiral downward.   This Holiday Season started out no differently than all the rest....we got the "bugs", the aches, the pains, the traffic was awful, the list of expectations dictated by "tradition" started the tension mounting.....I mourned the loss of my friend and Christmases Past.  There were moments when I wallowed in self pity and longed for my "house".  I resisted being flexible enough to embrace the here and now and to open myself to new experiences, new ways to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.  How could such an awesome year end on such a pitiful note?        It didn't!

There were low moments for sure, but we experienced the love of family and friends in non-traditional ways and discovered a sustaining joy ..... a lasting Christmas Spirit! 

Early in the year, Jud, Tommy, Ray, Terrie and I decided we would gift ourselves and each other with a trip to Mexico Beach, FL, the second week in December.  What a week it was!  Since Jud and I were committed to provide "gran-care" for Grace, she had no choice but to join us.  She certainly didn't mind!!!  Her excitement was infectious!  We headed for Florida taking two days to get there and every few miles she wanted to know if we were at the Beach yet?  It was glorious....if you love the beach you understand, if you're not a beach person....all you'd have to do is see it through Grace's eyes.....such joyous abandon!!!!!   

Cousins, Cheri and Amelia, joined us....Cheri had to leave before this photo was made.  We hated to see her go and were very concerned about her...rightfully so.  Thank God, she is feeling much better now!

  Despite our concerns, it was a great time with precious family and a rare opportunity....brought back lots of growing up memories.  Hope we do this again!!!

We had music with "Uncle Sally" (i.e. Aunt Terrie) and Uncle Ray! With all the Christmas Music, plus!

Papa Jud made Grace a tin-can dulcimer, so she had her own "instrument".....Perhaps a "rock star" was born????  (The Coke box was her own creative addition!)

"Aunt" Amelia (really a cousin) has ocean water in her veins and beach sand in her shoes....always!  She's also a 5th grade science teacher...who loves her job and her students.....so she taught us things we didn't know about the beach.....like the holes we see in the sand are made by tiny little sand pipers (not crabs).....and we learned all about sea turtles!

The giant mama turtle crawls out of the sea, digs a big hole with her flippers, moves into her hole....

patiently lays her eggs, then gently covers them with sand...packing it with her body, and crawls back into the sea.

Rustic Sands Campground was fully decorated, lights everywhere....Grace was "impressed" (her words) especially with the "blowups"....the child cannot fathom a Christmas without "blowups"....she loves them....... and now so do I!
Imagine that!
We returned in time for the Preshcoolers' Christmas Program!  A sparkling performance by 3-year olds.  (The others did a fine job too)....I thought about Mother....she would have loved this Kindergarten program!!!!  Music, Lights, beautiful elaborate Sets, proud Parents and unpredictable Children doing their thing.  It was something!  Grace and her friend, Emma Grace, in the center were quite the hams!  What joy!  What spirit!

We traveled to Warner Robins for the celebration of the life of our dear friend and to mourn his passing. In the midst of sadness, Carol Archer (a cancer victim herself and a wonderful spirit) pulled us all together for coffee and cookies at her house afterward.  We were warmed by the love of friends and the sharing of that special bond we have with one another...about 10 families of us, who have loved and nurtured one another through the years.  It felt good to be together.  Thanks Carol and Dan!

Meanwhile the achy knees, the whacked backs, the coughs and sneezes continued....yuk!  We had to postpone our visit in Macon with our precious longtime friends, Mary and Jim...."but we've never missed celebrating Christmas with them," I wailed......We felt like a pair of old shoes....and still the shopping and wrapping.....and cooking?  Did I dare?  Would it be Christmas if I didn't?  What about everybody's "favorites"?  How could we get around to seeing everybody?  And besides....they certainly didn't need our germs...Oh Woe! 
And then there was the problem of "all being together"....preferably at "my house"....only my "house" is so small....

Well, we weren't! (all together or at my house!)

And somehow it all turned out to be both beautiful and meaningful!

Tommy graciously invited us to visit with him on Christmas Eve.  We attended a beautiful Christmas Eve Service at his church....our hearts were warmed and The Spirit made His presence known as we joined

others in holy worship.... The Christmas Story, the Chrismon Tree, the Traditional Carols and Christmas Anthems.....lovely!

Afterward, we did something I've never done before....we had Christmas Eve Dinner at a local Atlanta Restaurant, famous for their catfish!  The restaurant, Six Feet Under, is across the street from the historic Oakland Cemetery.  The food and service were certainly non-traditional, but deliciously outstanding!  We had a memorable Christmas Eve with my dear brother, Tommy, and may have started a NEW tradition!

This year was the Hodges' turn to have Amy, Andy and the kids on Christmas Day....so Jud, Joel, and I planned to spend the day together.  What a neat day it turned out to be.....totally relaxed!  Amy and Andy generously offered us their home....fully decorated.....and we spread out and enjoyed every inch of all that lovely space!  Amy also has mastered (and improved) my Fruit Cake recipe and left us half a cake, that she made!  And I made a few "favorites" to go with the Honey Baked Ham!!!

Joel was there by 9:00 AM....we ate, visited, laughed, ate, talked, watched TV, ate, exchanged gifts, ate, napped.....and then started all over again....no china plates or fancy linens....we even decided not to sit at the table (very non-traditional)....in fact we agreed that we didn't even want our pictures made....this was our view....beautiful fire, tree, and TV! 

What an incredible day and evening...totally laid back.  Joel spent the night and we had the pleasure of his company the next morning.  A very special day with our son!  Awesome!

We transitioned again Wed afternoon....

Christmas doesn't belong just to little children but when you experience it with them, you can't help but catch their spirit....We experienced it all!

.....The Anticipation!

....The Pleasure!

....The Love!

The joy of Giving.....

The Delight and Satisfaction of gifts well chosen and well received......

 

The Bike.....                                                  The Guitar Hero.....

 

And the aftermath.....

Cole was in his room, "practicing" his guitar...part of his Christmas was a promissory note for a real guitar and lessons, when he is ready.  He thinks he will be soon.

AND....we will spend New Year's Eve tonight with our dear friends, Mary and Jim!!!!  We are looking forward to ringing in another new year with them!

I remember my Grandmother saying...."I'll take them as I can get them!"  She was a wonderfully, wise lady and I wanted to be just like her when I grew up....perhaps age CAN bring flexibility, a willingness to break with "tradition", and the treasures that go with it.

Lessons Learned:  Certainly  there is merit in being able to find gems of peace, beauty, joy, Holy Spirit - in among and around the junk stones we carry around.   December comes once a year....but we really can experience Christmas every day, if we will just open ourselves up, lower our expectations, be watchful and "take them as [we] get them"!  (sort of like looking for sea glass!)

We must remember to BE as a little child!  This one is a good example!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY....... AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.....all 365 days of it!!!

WE GIVE THANKS!

HOME COMING....

Thanksgiving, 2007

As our 10 year old grandson, put it...we've been "all over the world".....but nowhere was prettier than right here in Georgia!  The color is rich, vibrant despite the drought.  The kids and I have a beautiful collection of "painted leaves."
It's good to be "home" with family and friends.  We said we'd be back by Thanksgiving, actually we got back a little sooner.  Once we started in this direction....it was like "heading for the barn"!  Our kids "needed" us to provide "Gran-care" so that Amy could go back to work temporarily and part-time.  What fun!  What a challenge!!!  We arrived, 9 Nov, spent two nights in Amy and Andy's backyard in our Dreamcatcher....then moved to Fort Yargo, near Winder GA....not too far from their house.  Fort Yargo, a Ga State Park, is one of our favorite places to call "home"....quiet, beautiful woods, full of deer, chipmunks and squirrels.....sunsets over the lake.  We highly recommend it!

We were eager to see the kids.  Started right in with our duties as assigned.  One-on-one time with some of our favorite folks....

               

Our little "Tom-girl" at the park!  She doesn't hesitate to try new things!!  Loves life and is going to experience as much of  it as she can.

               

"Cole-Man" and Papa Jud try whittling....lots of shavings!!!!  Our boy  carved a really neat rocket and Papa fashioned a fish!  We were proud of their efforts....really good!!

First chance we headed for my brother's.  I could hardly wait to see Tommy.  We had communicated often, but I really missed him!  We loaded up the grands and headed for his house.

                        

Together they built an Inuk in Tommy's backyard, using stones we brought back from Cape Enrage, New Brunswick.  (Inuks mark a good place....and this place really is a good spot to be in!  We love being at Tommy's!)

                     

We had the kids overnight in the Dreamcatcher, Sun evening, and A&A joined us Mon evening for a campfire, with hotdogs, marshmallows, the works!

Tues and Thurs are our "days off".  So,Thurs, we took a road trip to Unicoi for the Annual Dulcimer Festival.  The group that was to play at noon were late arriving so the performance was canceled (aw-w-w-w!)  But we talked with lots of folks and new friends, Flora and Harry, were there....lots of dulcimers and dulcimer "stuff".  Beautiful instruments!  After much deliberation, I found the right one!

                                        

A "Sweet Strings" Dulcimer built by Jon Harris, 28 Jun 2006.  Beautiful poplar wood with a smooth full sound!  And here's Jon!  Jud came home and immediately re-strung my card board dulcimer to be a "leftie" so he could learn to play too.  He really wants to learn to build them!  Meanwhile, I love my #445...."Sadie".....and hope to be able to do her justice some day.  She is a beauty!

Thanksgiving Day dawned....we enjoyed the breaking of day as we woke up in the "Tree House"...what a pleasant experience.  (The "Tree House" as we affectionately refer to it is Brother Tommy's beautiful backyard "shed" that defies tradition and is a work of art!  It is WOW!)  Perfect for family gatherings...he's generous to share!

 

           This is actually last year's photo and doesn't do the Tree House justice....Tommy continues to make improvements and has added a rail/wall along the deck.  Looks terrific and is so functional!!  Folks started arriving.  Joel and friend, Rollee got there first, bearing pineapples....for the first time ever, we had enough fresh pineapple to satisfy all of us!  Thanks, Rollee!  Then Amy and Andy and the grand chillun'.  Finally Michael rolled in from Charlotte.  It was a house full and we enjoyed every minute.  Food was delicious!  Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, sweet potato casserole, green beans, cranberry relish, huge fresh salad, pistachio salad, rolls, apple pie and chocolate cake!    It felt good to be together!

                                     

The three "Musketeers", Michael, C, and G .....Joel was content to sit back with a big grin and watch Michael entertain his cousins!  He remembered all too well when he was the "entertainer" and Michael was the "entertainee."

random shots of a fun, relaxed day....so relaxed I failed to get any pics before Joel and Rollee left!  But then I scrambled to get a few.....      Father and son pulling the pulley bone!

Sharing.....her most prized possession, her blanket, with her "Lucy-Dog"!

We have much to be thankful for....family (including those in Bradenton...Ray, Terrie, Dee, Sophie, Hannah, Tank and ChiChi....we missed them) friends, plenty, health, joy in living!  Certainly Jud and I are thankful for our journey the past year and the wonders we've been privileged to experience, but it's good to come home to open arms and feelings of belonging.  Thank you, Lord for all these blessings!

On Sat after Thanksgiving, A&A started decorating for Christmas!!!  They let us join in!

Andy loves the lights and he does a terrific job...looks like Santa's workshop when he gets through....and off we went to Jack's Tree Farm to find "the perfect tree".  Our "Cole-man"`made the first cut....

and we hauled it back to the pay station in the truck.....

"Excitement" and "Satisfaction"!

What a terrific holiday weekend!  We Give Thanks!

"PLOUGH THE WAVES"....REMEMBERING PEI

Remembering.....PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (PEI)

27-31 Aug 2007

Prince Edward Island, Pennsylvania's Lancaster County, and the NC Appalachian Mountain regions all remind me of one another....the common denominator has to be the plow/plough.  All are farming communities, with strong anchors of Faith, Family and Love of the Land.  All three help me reach deep and touch my own roots.

Jud can remember his daddy plowing with a mule.  I just remember the stories....embellished perhaps and no doubt romanticized in my own mind, but clearly a part of who I am.

Three distinctly different cultures.....with many distinctive similarities.  All boasting a simple life, an independent and self reliant spirit and a resistance to encroaching media, commercialization, the "Super Store" and "made in China". Well, maybe not always...many in PEI found themselves "owing their souls to the Company Store"...most were very dependent on the Fish Company Stores until the Cooperatives began to emerge.  All three cultures encourage and appreciate beautifully made handcrafted items, a strong work ethic, and joy in midst of hardship, a strong survival instinct....music is an important element, at least in PEI and Appalachia!

As we departed the Ferry from Nova Scotia and found the Visitor's Center, we encountered the sign above.....I wondered what it meant.  We found out....but not right at first.  We had four days, Jud was convinced that PEI would be the highlight of our trip....I have to admit, I knew almost nothing about this part of the world.  We made Holiday Heaven our new "home", a beautiful park right on the bank of the West River.

The next morning, Jud captured our first and only SUNRISE right out our front windows...(we're SUNSET people and don't have much early morning experience....at least not since we retired!)

                                          

But this was awesome!  And later we enjoyed our coffee as we watched the loons, enjoy their breakfast, on that same river!

Immediately we set out to see all the regions....King, Queen and Prince.  We were on a quest to find that special something that makes Prince Edward Island, the "Gentle Island", a memory maker!  What?...we didn't know.  We rode and rode and rode....put 750 miles on the "Toad."  We saw some really neat places....but we couldn't quite figure it out....we were somehow missing the point....and a little Disapointedpointed.

Finally, two days before we left, we found what we'd been looking for at the Farmer and the Fisherman...

 

a small restaurant frequented by Locals in Charlottetown, excellent food, well prepared, very reasonably priced.....but the real treasure was the black and white photos covering the walls.  We were intrigued ..these photos came from a photo album published as Pride in Small Places, A Photographic Remembrance of Rural Prince Edward Island 1900-1960. This incredible pictorial was compiled and documented by David Weale to record and preserve the rich heritage of the Island.  I needed a copy.

If ever you go (or go back) to PEI, you must read this book and see these photos....if you can't find a copy, you can borrow mine....IF you give it back.  I just love it!  It clarified everything!  Suddenly we understood the places we had seen, the photos we had taken....    

Beautiful pastures, sheep....and the Sea!

Wooden fishing boats,  the lobster industry, herring, cod....and always the Sea!

Every square inch cultivated..... strong presence of the Churches in each hamlet....mostly Catholic, Unitarian, "United" Churches....

Picturesque Dairy Farms....with the Sea just behind the trees!

The most magnificent horses I'd ever seen....gorgeous work horses....and the Sea!

Bales and bales of Hay, number one export....with the Sea in the background!

Red clay roads, like those in middle Georgia, only these lead off through cultivated fields....to the Sea!

Light Houses, this one is West Point Lighthouse, with red sand beaches....where folks on holiday leave inuks, made from red rocks found on the beach, signaling this is "a good place"....

                      

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes....in bloom!  You could smell them growing!

                        

Road side stands and signs along the highway made them readily available.  We took them at their word....rode right up to the barn, found the bags, picked out a bag, put our $3 in the jar with the lid, and left.....without ever seeing a soul!  Best potatoes I ever ate!  These little yellow skins were amazingly delicious, crisp, fresh....the beginnings of wonderful potato salad, soup, and stew!

There is a strong French Acadien presence, which greatly appealed to me...... and equally strong Irish, English and Scottish cultures....all love music and delight in "music made by hand." 

The Ceilidh's, casual gatherings, and an integral part of family life, are the epitome of musical expression...we were fascinated by them and privileged to attend two....what a good time!

In the summer, they have them every night....somewhere!

         

At the second Ceilidh, 72 year old Tom in the center, above left, delighted us with his humor, his Irish brogue and his musical ability!  The younger man, Mike, at right, was funny.....very good looking.....very talented.....very French....Oui! Oui! Oui!  An incredible musician.....accordion, guitar, piano, drum.  I know now where Jay gets his "foot-stompin'"   

                           

Kate, beautiful Kate, played a "wicked" fiddle, and harp, and step danced while she played the fiddle....she sang too and her voice was enchanting! An exchange student from Scotland, she is studying in British Columbia and spent the summer on PEI.  Sensational Fun!  These people (young and old) have an infectious love of music, humor, and social gatherings....they are so incredibly gifted, playing multiple instruments......moving effortlessly from one instrument to another....singing and dancing and encouraging us all to join in!  We fell right in and begged for more!!!

Photos above were from the second Ceilidh we attended.

The first one we experienced was held at a small one room church, St Andrews.  Unfortunately we failed to get our camera settings right....none of our pictures turned out.  Artists included a young man, Aaron, (23), his mom on the piano, and several cousins.  Aaron is an amazing fiddler, plays the piano, guitar......and drums in a rock and roll band.  His cousin did an unbelievable solo on the saxophone  Amazing!  They entertained us for about two hours....then Jocelyne (McDaniel), accompanied by her Mom on the guitar and her brother gave a concert.  Jocelyne sang...we loved it!  We bought two of her CD's.  She sang one of Lyle Levitt's songs.....Later we found the perfect photo op to capture his song.                                   .

 

We kept seeing so many beautiful horses....we couldn't imagine...because we also saw heavy farm equipment....

And then we discovered Sea Weed Pie!  And more history that explained the relationship between the farmer and his/her horse....very special!  These gorgeous horses are instrumental in harvesting Irish Moss....from the Sea.  They are hitched to rakes and ridden into the surf in winter to gather the seaweed.  A family affair....everyone helps...young to old.  The Irish Moss is another cash crop....a special type of sea weed rich in carrageen, a substance used in milk, ice cream, cottage cheese...and Sea Weed Pie!  No, we didn't try it.

                              

In Summerside, we found the Piper's College and enjoyed a Mini Concert of Celtic Music and dance!

Incredible young people, studying, performing, keeping their heritage alive.

A quiet break at Victoria by the Sea....

                            

at a real Chocolatier...for a cup of coffee and slice of chocolate almond torte with homemade whip cream...on the porch!  Need I say more?

On to Avonlea and the country of Anne of Green Gables.....

                   

Yes, it is just as beautiful as Lucy Maud Montgomery depicted it ......can't you just imagine Anne peeping out these windows......her vivid imagination running wild?

We arrived late....and got to tour the grounds for free!  I read the first book and felt like I'd gotten my money's worth.

We were impressed with their plans for the Confederation Railroad and enjoyed the museum.  My Daddy was a trainman and I love everything that has to do with trains and Rail Roads!  It still gives me a thrill to stand on a train station platform and remember the excitement I felt as we waited for that big black bellowing iron monster to pull hissing and smoking into the station, early, before daylight...then boarding....then the sounds, smells, motions of the trip to my grandmother's in Alabama!

              

Daddy wore a hat similar to these.....

As a flagman, he would certainly understand the importance of these lanterns and their signals...

"The whistle, rumble and hiss of the train was first heard on Prince Edward Island in 1873; became increasingly less common after the mid-1900s; and disappeared altogether in 1989"  (Pride in Small Places)  Today, there is an effort to replace the tracks with walking and biking paths from one end of the Island to the other.

Do you see the fox?    

There was one there!  We weren't sure what it was....it was shaped like a large fox, but was black, gray and white....almost spotted...with a bushy white tip on it's tail....several folks had stopped and tried to get pictures but it was too fast.  Later we read (in Pride in Small Places) ...in the late 1800's mutant black or 'silver' foxes were bred in captivity for the fur industry....by the 1940's fashions had changed and the industry collapsed....thank goodness!  This one must have been a descendant of one of the survivors!  A beautiful creature!!!

Except for about a zillion crows, it was the only wildlife we saw on the Island....though we did catch the special perfume of many skunks!

And the breathtaking beauty of wildflowers!!!!  Fields of pink clover and Queen Ann's Lace, Poppies, daisies, bachelor buttons....and golden rod!

The Gentle Island is a lovely place....not exactly what we expected...a place where change is taking place at a rapid clip....where the small farmer and fisherman find it almost impossible to hold on and compete.  Similar to the small farmers and fisherman everywhere I suppose...We saw the evidence in deserted homes, beautiful old community churches and one room school houses no longer in use, small farms sandwiched between  much larger corporate farms.  But the spirit of the people lives on in the ceilidh's, the Piper's College, the music and the preservation of the culture, the "Lobster Suppers" and the "Kitchen Parties".  There are many who are trying to hang on....English and French, Irish and Scottish...lots of cottage industries, beautiful handmade quilts and hooked rugs for sale...a beautiful "small place" with a rich, rich heritage.  I hope they can preserve it.  I'm glad I got to see it and am very thankful for the journey....

It was time to go.  We had taken the ferry over, but we left by way of the Confederation Bridge to Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick....

                            

....a beautiful drive...but a bridge to the rest of the world...a bridge that some think may be a major contributor to the disappearing old rural order.  By the end of the century, only two out of ten small farms remain in operation and some communities have none...as one woman expressed to David Weale, "I'm still here, but it's not my Island anymore."  He understood.  I think I do too.

 

"SING BEHIND THE PLOW"....

9 Nov 2007
Each day a new journey begins....Today is the day!!
 

Anticipating the next phase!!  Right now we are high-tailing it down HWY 985....destination - Loganville, GA!!!

We just spent a week in Hayesville, laying the ground work for the next phase in our lives.....consulting contractors, "reasoning' with the Environmental Health folk (about septic), investigating  well digging, restructuring the plat for our lots....trying to communicate what we intend without incurring additional costs.  Fat Chance!  All that good AF training paid off though and I think we are now on our way.  We won't be plowing our selves but by the time we get back, our land should be "bush-whacked"....

Eventually this land will boast a nice gravel drive and an RV pad with a View!  Soon, I hope!

Meanwhile, we are eager to see our kids and grandkids and brother, Tommy!  Part of the plan is to take advantage of an opportunity offered to us by Amy and Andy.  We get to provide child-care for a time while Amy goes back, part-time to work in the corporate world!  She will continue her RELIV business while logging in hours and refresher training, necessary to retain her licenses.  We get three days a week to make up for all these months we've been "deprived"....I get to be the "subject" for"King Cole" and "Her Grace"!  YES!

On the way to Hayesville, we visited our nephew, Michael, in his new home

Such a good looking guy, incredibly gifted artist (it's the genes!), homeowner, well on his way with a new position that will allow him to use his creativity....his Mema would be proud!!!  Is proud, I'm sure!  We enjoyed our visit and got to see downtown Charlotte on a Sunday night....very impressive, especially the Children's Library!

But about North Carolina....and Singing Behind the Plow....

Hayesville, and the mountains.....

The color is just peaking and everything is aglow.....beautiful days, frosty nights!!!

I think that's the right combination!  We loved the brisk mornings, the cold nights and the crackling of leaves underfoot.  We decided we had seen lots of gorgeous country, but nothing more beautiful than Appalachia!

Right off we visited the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.  Jud and I are both looking forward to taking some courses.....the hard part will be deciding which ones....so many choices......they offer everything.....preserving all the old mountain crafts and promoting creativity....along with Singing behind the Plow...

From fly-fishing..to wood carving..to black smithing..to dulcimer..to spinning..to quilting..to writing..to fiddle..to dance..to painting..to pottery.....you name it, they probably have a course for it.....and the instructors are always masters in their particular art form.  Beautiful place to visit with a gift shop of original art, and you can walk right into the classrooms to observe students at work.  Their motto, "Singing Behind the Plow," and their mission promotes the joy of a job well done...no matter the task or the medium, there is self satisfaction and pride in the excellent completion of a piece of work. 

Friday night we attended a concert at the John C. Campbell Folk School, featuring Curtis and Holly Jones....an unbelievably gifted couple!  He played mandolin and flamenco guitar and could, no doubt, hold his own with Willie and Lobo.  Amazing!....next generation perhaps?  She played guitar and sang...her voice has a sweet mellow quality, sort of a cross between Allison Kraus and our own Terrie!  Listening just makes you want more!  Sorry, no photos...regret we forgot the camera!  But we did purchase two CD's so you'll just have to hear them sometime!  The following day (Sat), we went back for the annual Black Smith's Auction....many, many treasures, all handcrafted...but we live in an RV....what we buy has to be beautiful and functional....so though we enjoyed the auctioneer, Tim Ryan, (a hoot!), we did not succumb to his highly persuasive and wily ways!

It was great to visit with these long time friends, John and Beverly Adkins.....

will be our "neighbors".  They have encouraged us from the git-go and really made us feel welcome and "at home".  We enjoyed dinner with them at their home on Lake Chatuge, last night....delicious....thanks, John and Bev!  And we met "Molly" their "Lhasa Apso/Havanese" mix...their new baby.  This is Molly...and yes, she is "a blur!"  Cute!  Cute! Busy!  Gorgeous coloring...feel good white with warm brown patches and beautiful light brown eyes and nose.  Lots of fun....she's "just a baby!" John taught Jud how to do Stained Glass, years ago when they did the windows for Chirst United Methodist Church in Warner Robins, GA.  His work is beautiful to behold!  Beverly designs and makes incredibly beautiful, prize winning quilts!  Both are gifted artists....and RV enthusiasts....we have lots of interests in common!

They took us to visit Harry and Flora (John's sister).  Both are musicians and dulcimer players!!!  Harry has even built dulcimers and wonderful music stands.  Much to my delight, Flora was willing to share her gift with me and graciously gave me a lesson!!!  What fun we had!  She was so patient and gave me some very helpful tips....we worked on about 4 songs and her teaching helped significantly! Jud and I plan to go to Unicoi on Thursday to meet them for the Dulcimer.... [conference].....

Hope your Fall is as pretty and pleasant as ours....North Carolina and North Georgia are red and gold in spite of the dry weather.  We've seen beautiful color right here at home in the South! 

Well, we're almost to Loganville and will be arriving in the next ten minutes...starting our new job!  (Child-care!)  We may not be plowing (or maybe we will) with the GRANDS but until they send us back to North Carolina, we'll sure be singing!  What a wonderful opportunity for some quality one-on-one with our grandkids....sure hope we can keep up and actually be a help!  Prayers requested!