June is bustin' all over at our home in GA

 We have really enjoyed the spring flowers this year, in April and May , and now  the day lilies are blooming in June!  The canna lilies and asian lilies and four o'clock's are just now emerging for the summer blooming season.  

Family Photo Sunday

Nothing quite like random photos of your grandkids when they pop up on social media. (photo credit to Brielle)

 

this happens when your wife is on vacation...

Special times:  When your wife is on vacation and loves to try out new recipes. These were very good and we ate the last of them (out of the freezer today)  By the way, the recipe book was bought for us by Brandon , when he went to visit Nova Scotia in Sept 2003.

 

Celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary on June 4th

 O HAPPY DAY !   June 4 1977 , Cindy and I were married in the Philips Chapel at Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN . Pictured with Carole Granderson (Junior Bridesmaid) and  Tony Mitchell (Junior Groomsman)   Dr J R Faulkner officiated our ceremony.  49 years and counting!  

Welcome to ELKHORN - INSP TV SERIES

 

If you are a history buff, you will enjoy this INSP series about Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.  Other than the typical "western" violence and lawlessness, ELKHORN  is one series most of the family will enjoy.  The first season only is available to watch on AMAZON PRIME , but you can watch Season 1 and Season 2 for free on TUBI (with ads).  The series takes place just after both his first wife and his mother die on the same day, and he decides go out west, and to the Badlands in North Dakota  to  "find himself". 

He decides to buy a ranch and try his hand at raising cattle in the 1880's.  Roosevelt was  24 in 1883 when he first visited the Badlands, and established his ranch (Elkhorn Ranch) when he was 26 in 1884.  You will find yourself on Google reading up on the history of this President of the United States,  and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota; and how this experience led him to establish and protect 230 million acres as national parks.  

Theodore Roosevelt served as President of the United States from September 14, 1901, to March 4, 1909. He assumed office following the assassination of President William McKinley and went on to win a full term in the 1904 presidential election.  

Spring Photos of our family - such a blessing!

It is so nice to have Spring photos of our three son's families.   We are  so thankful for God's blessing to us.  Photos from April (Stephen and family) and from May (Joshua and Brandon's family) 

2026 is turning out to be a very special year for my wife and I!  

 

Potter's General Store is now reimagined in Cowpens, SC

 

This is great news for my hometown.  Instead of tearing down Potter's Store, a fixture of my childhood. Yes, the pot belly stove keeping everyone warm, while old men are sitting in rocking chairs and playing checkers, and barrels of candy !  Renovated now as Potter's Loft.  

all about Cowpens SC - memories of a simpler life

My home town of Cowpens, SC in 1952 and 1953 -

 pictured just before I was born in 1955 at Dr. Crow's Clinic.

Things seemed so much simpler then, but life was not a bed of roses. We did not have a telephone until the early 1960's.  Mom used a wringer washer outside to wash our clothes (I was one of many kids who had their arm get stuck in the wringer trying to help I am sure) There was no air conditioner, but lots of fans, one for each room it seemed.  

When I was born , we lived in a house below the railroad crossing , then later moved to an apartment near Gospel Baptist Church (my Dad's first pastorate).  By the mid 1960's we had moved to a house which we called the Coyle's House. Mr. Don Edward Coyle used to run a grocery store (Coyle's Supermarket)  where the ice cream shop is today. This house was located on the street behind where Hardee's is today. Of course, there was no Hardee's back then, and we had to drive to Spartanburg to enjoy those .15 cent burgers!).