More Christmas photos

Virginia

We spent Monday evening at the Blue Mountain Mist B&B near Pigeon Forge; it is one of our favorite places to get away for a night or two. On Tuesday we drove to Haymarket Virginia to be with Alethea, Justin, Camdyn, and Charlie. Last evening Karisa and Johnmark arrived from Philadelphia where they had spent Christmas with Johnmark's family. Last evening we exchanged presents. Camdyn demonstrated gymnastics. Charlie enjoyed his trucks, and tools, etc.

South Carolina for Christmas

Yesterday we drove to Greenville to visit Cheryl's family. Highway 64 is still blocked by a huge rock slide so we took a southern route across the mountains/foothills of Georgia. It was a beautiful drive through lands we have never seen. Anticipating a Christmas Day drive, I had planned ahead and filled the tank with gas, but we didn't think to pack sandwiches. It is a long hungry drive to Greenville.

We spent time with Cheryl's mother last evening and this morning. Last night we spent some time with Cheryl's sister Ruth, her husband Greg, and their son Seth. We spent the night with Glenda and Comet (pictured last) at the old home place. Glenda's daughter April came over this morning with her husband Rocky and their son Zachery.

After visiting with Thelma again we drove home on a different lovely rural/mountain route. It is great to be home.

Christmas 09

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve candle-light service last evening. The Waldrop family led in song. Dr. Gause read a couple of original poems. Dr. Han brought the homily. We closed with communion.

We have talked with the girls and children. Charlie and Camdyn got everything they wanted and more; they were happy. Cheryl and I are leaving in a few minutes to visit her mother and sisters.

Florida to see Family

We returned from Florida this evening. On the way down on Sunday we stopped in Atlanta and visited with Shirley, Ryan and Andrea. We stayed with Darlene and Thurman. Jonathan came by for a visit Monday morning. We went to Georgia Monday afternoon in a failed attempt to visit my aunts. We did visit several sites of family history. Cheryl took a picture of me in front of my Grandparent's (O'Quinn)house. When I was young my mother's Uncle Felton told me the Oak tree I am standing under was planted as a boundary marker by the Spanish. There is a line of these trees for miles. We visited the Corinth Primitive Baptist Church (last pictured) where my Great Grand-parents (Nettles) were members and are buried. We also put flowers on my parents graves at the Bachlotte Cemetery and I took Cheryl to see my Great Grand-parent's (Harris) graves at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery (first pictured) where Cheryl took a picture of me behind the pulpit.

Monday evening my brother Jimmy, his wife Iris, and Jonathan's wife Jennifer came over for dinner (Darlene is a great cook) and to exchnge presents. On Tuesday we went to Jimmy and Iris's for lunch (Iris is also a great cook). Afterwards we all(Cheryl, Jimmy, Iris, Darlene, Thurman and me) went to Saint Augustine, enjoyed a buggy ride and had dinner. We went back to Jimmy and Iris's house and played Phase Ten until one in the morning. On the way home we stopped in Atlanta and saw Shirley and Mike for another exchange of gifts.

Benton Falls Revisited 1974 - 2009

Snow in Cleveland

I have always said it would snow in Cleveland before I died. I just didn't think it would happen before I needed help getting outside.

Benton Falls

We hiked to Benton Falls today. Karisa and Johnmark used my camera, thus, no pictures of Johnmark.