Photos from Rock City and Ruby Falls

On the way down to the falls inside the caverns at Ruby Falls






Paula and Cindy in front of Ruby Falls







I will be posting more photos on facebook sooner or later, but will post some on my blog today. Paula came to spend the week with us and we visited Chattanooga on Monday, Helen GA on Tuesday, and Ellijay GA on Weds. Cindy and I were college students in Chattanooga (Tennessee Temple) when we met and even got engaged on campus, so we always like to go back to visit. It was our home for four years. (Our first date was to the Thanksgiving Basketball tournament - 1974) We enjoyed visitins Ruby Falls for the first time, and Rock City.





Our grandkids would love this place!

Walking across a suspended bridge makes your toes tingle!


Helen, GA is a great place to visit, especially during a weekday. There were plenty of parking spots available at $2.00 for all day. We walked up one side and down the other of the main street, visiting as many shops as we wanted to do. The city looked like any other small Georgia town in the 1960's. Then they decided to remodel all the stores to look like a Bavarian (German) town, and the rest is history.

Trying to decide what to order from Hofer's Bakery and Cafe - we enjoyed our lunch there!


Cindy and Paula, downtown Helen





>Ellijay is "apple country" and the small town has plenty of antique stores to check out, but many are closed on Tuesday and Weds. We visited a few that were open and found some bargains. But the main reason we went was to buy apples. I think we ended up shopping at four different apple barns. Each one was unique and I believe the apples tasted different at each barn.

family photo Sunday

Even Rock City is decorated for the fall season. We had our pic taken in this cave with the pumpkins recently. Our friend and former neighbor in Jax, Paula, took us along with her to visit Chattanooga's Rock City and Ruby Falls.

signs along the journey

Now this is what I like about fall festivals!

Where else can you buy things "made in America" these days?

Video - What happens in Helen stays in Helen, NOT!

Cindy and Paula tried to figure this rope trick out!

family photo Sunday

Hey, you're never too old to have fun!

Slideshow-October Family Birthdays

signs along the journey

This sign was posted on the rocks at Rock City...wonder what they really mean???

family photo Sunday

Our youngest son, Brandon and his family, photo taken at the Atlantic Beach of Fort Clinch in Florida.

Our June family vacation included a photoshoot at the beach.
Brandon, Rachel and Charlie

fall is in the air

Even tho the temperature is still in the low 90's each day, we can feel fall in the air. Today's high was 91 and it "felt" like 89 (with a Northwest wind blowing). Leaves are beginning to fall from some trees. Yes, Fall officially begins this week and we can only hope for lower temps to follow.

Duluth, Ga. will be hosting it's annual Fall Festival this weekend. It begins with a parade at 10 AM on Saturday, and then there are over 350 arts & crafts booths to check out and many food vendors. Since the festival is free, including parking and shuttle bus, you can't beat the price!

family photo Sunday

Our middle son's family, from the photoshoot this past June at Fort Clinch, the Atlantic Beach, in Florida.

Stephen and Leah have 3 girls and one boy:

Natalie, Meredith, Sophia and Ethan

ESPN Video - Quack Attack

In case you missed it, this cute video is from ESPN College Gameday, behind the scenes with the Oregon Duck.

one of our new American heros

I recently watched a Christian talk show host interviewing a disabled veteran of the War on Terror. It was an amazing interview. Brian Fleming is now a "motivational speaker" to school children and corporations across America. His book is pictured to the right, Yes, You Can!

Check out his website at http://www.blownupguy.com/

My name is B.C. Fleming. I grew up in a lower middle-class income family in a small factory town an hour outside of Detroit, MI. After joining the Army at the age of 18, I was severely injured by the savage attack of a suicide bomber who exploded 3-feet away from me in Kandahar, Afghanistan on July 24th, 2006.

family photo Sunday

Our oldest son's family at Atlantic Beach, Fort Clinch in Florida from our June vacation - photoshoot with Julie Paisley.

Josh and Janelle, Brielle and Layton

Slideshow-Sept Family Birthdays

family photo Sunday

Our grandson Ethan turned ONE in July,

he sure seems to be enjoying himself.

click to view more photos of Ethan

signs along the journey

What a way to end the month! Seems to be the story of my life :)

family photo Sunday

Leah took this great close up of our grandson Layton in Florida this past June. Josh and Janelle's boy will turn one in October.

My how time flies....

Click to view more photos of Layton

Video - Duke Summer Camp - Miles Dunks Over Brother Mason Plumlee

Just thought you would enjoy watching Duke player Miles Plumlee dunking over his brother Mason. I know basketball season is a few months away....

signs along the journey

This never happens to me, of course!

season changes are in the air

I am so glad the seasons change in Georgia, as it has been sooo hot this summer. Our last month's electric bill can verify that! I am looking forward to the cooler weather. The weatherman teased us yesterday and promised the temps would drop to 68 degrees this morning. I was disappointed to wake up to 73 degrees again today. But the forecast for the next ten days includes lows in the mid 60's and highs in the upper 80's. This is a good thing. However, the cooler temps also remind me that the leaves will be changing colors soon. And our tulip poplar trees have leaves that are yellow and already falling!

family photo Sunday

Our grandson in Florida, Charlie T, is finally trying to walk and this picture really shows how blue his eyes are - so I am choosing this as my photo of the week.

Click to view more photos of Charlie

Video - Former President George W Bush Greeting Troops at DFW

Hmmm, I noticed some striking differences this week between the current President and former President. While President Obama was starting his sixth vacation of the year at Martha's Vineyard yesterday, he stopped at a book store and was greeted with applause and requests for his autograph. Last week on August 11th, former President Bush was at Dallas Fort-Worth airport to help others applaud our returning soldiers as they arrive home from Iraq.

vacation journal, page four

We had fun in Arkansas with my mom and dad, and we headed home on Monday, August 2nd.

We called mom's sister in Tennessee and we were able to spend Tuesday morning with Aunt Louise including lunch.



We enjoyed our lunch at Lisa's BBQ in Jefferson City, and I really enjoyed the signs they had displayed all over the place. (As you can tell from my previous posts)

We took pictures on the concrete PIG bench to remember the day! Jefferson City was only about 2.5 hours from Cowpens; we dropped mom and dad off and made it home to Georgia in another 2.5 hours.

signs along the journey

Another sign from Lisa's BBQ in Jefferson City, TN. I am still looking for one that tells us how to end the stress!

family photo Sunday

Our grandgirls in WI posing in their raincoats.

What a cute picture - and you can tell by their faces that all kids love to play in the rain.
(Natalie, Meredith, and Sophie)
Click their names below to view more photos:

Natalie

Meredith

Sophie

vacation journal, page three

Other than avoiding the heat outside as much as possible, we spent most of Saturday and Sunday either buying food to cook, cooking food, and eating food. The last Saturday in July, we celebrated two August birthdays at Aunt Robbie's house, since Carl and my mom would not be around in August. I am serving the birthday cake to my mom and Carl in this photo-not sure what was so funny!
**Click photos to enlarge**

Special thanks to Aunt Robbie and Uncle Joel for hosting two parties on Saturday and Sunday, so we could see as much of the family as possible while on vacation in Pine Bluff. Even cousin Peggy and Charles Granderson made it for Saturday night, along with David, Joann, Rhonda, Denton, Layton, Allison, Gavin, Garrett, Leslie, Pam, Lori, Charlee Ann, Amy, Josh, Easton, Morris, Linda, Carl, Sharon, Winnie, Cindy, Tim, and Gene and Martha (my mom and dad).

I think this is only the 2nd time that mom and dad joined us on vacation to Arkansas. We were glad Dad's leg and back pain have subsided so that he could make the trip. As Mom said, "we need a vacation, too!"


As you can see, the men were all ready to chow down. Denton, Layton and Morris led the way! Even in 102 degree temps, Uncle Joe, Morris and Carl grilled the burgers, hot dogs and brats! Rhonda and Winnie made homemade ice cream, and boy was all the food good!

After church on Sunday and a huge Sunday dinner, a traditional birthday picture was taken of all who were there to celebrate Daniel's birthday (Aug 1st) and a family friend, Mr. Graham. Again, Robbie and Joel hosted a big celebration - along with Morris, Linda, Daniel, Mr. Graham, Mike, Susan, Bradley and Rachel, Colby and Haley, Dolores, Winnie, Cindy, Tim, Gene and Martha, and Airel.

**Click to read vacation journal, page one

**Click to read vacation journal, page two

signs along the journey

We always have to drive by and see "Little Miss Sunbeam" when we visit the family in Pine Bluff, AR. Glad to see they have restored the sign and she swings again!

signs along the journey

Another funny sign from Lisa's BBQ in TN.

family photo Sunday

Of course we did not laugh when Charlee Ann stuck her finger in Grandma's cake frosting :) But this needs two photos to tell the whole story this week!

signs along the journey

We ate lunch on Tuesday in Jefferson City, TN, with Aunt Louise and the little restaurant (Lisa's BBQ) was full of funny signs. I even took a photo of the menu to prove to everyone that I enjoyed eating their side item called "potato slop" for the first time!

Slideshow-August Family Birthdays

family photo Sunday

We are enjoying vacationing with both of our moms this week in Arkansas. This photo was taken at the Huckabee Nature Center in Pine Bluff.