In Arkansas for Christmas

Back in early October I made reservations for a cabin the Smokey Mountains (Pigeon Forge, TN) for our first ever Christmas vacation. Since Jerry and I have worked retail hours so much of our lives we have never ad any work time off around the holidays. With Jerry retired this year, he was anxious to go somewhere. Talked to my mom and she expressed an interest in spending Christmas in a mountain cabin with a fireplace. And, that's how the cabin at Pigeon Forge happened.

from rental website

I found a great single story cabin with a fabulous view, hot tub, two bed/bathrooms and near Dollywood! We were so looking forward to seeing the millions of lights and Christmas in the Smokies at Dollywood. I was also anxious to go to the national park. But, something happened between the cabin owner and the leasing agent and they dropped each other which left us without a reservation. Money refunded, no problem, but it left us without Christmas plans.

We hadn't even put up a tree at home because we were going to be away. So, we decided to take the opportunity to spend Christmas with family in Arkansas. My mom's sister Joyce lives near Memphis and I am siting on her couch right now typing this.

We left Florida on Tuesday and drove as far north as Ozark Alabama. Yesterday we continued through Alabama into Mississippi, and then a short stint through Tennessee to reach Arkansas. The weather was awful at times and only sprinkling rain at it's best.  At one time we were very concerned with tornados because the clouds were low, dark, and it was windy. That was around Holly Springs Mississippi.

Despite sketchy weather we made it safely to Arkansas only to learn that tornados followed us. Last night we saw photos of the interstate at Holly Springs with semi trucks on their side and trees sheered off. We also learned there was a loss of life in the area. This all happened only a couple of hours after we drove past.

from Google images

We are very thankful that we made it safely to be with our family this Christmas and the families and victims of the storm are in our thoughts and prayers.

Birthday Weekend

This weekend was Jerry's birthday weekend. In our family birthdays are always celebrated on a Saturday but this year Jerry's really was on a Saturday. My Aunt Hellen (yes, that is how it is spelled) and Uncle Les are visiting from out of state so all 5 of us went to dinner at Basco's Chop House.



My family - Jerry, Les, Hellen, mom

Jerry & me - and I thought I was a bad photographer! lol

Last year for his birthday I signed Jerry up for Medicare part A. I did even better this year and signed him up for social security! 

Thank you Cousin Diane

I am working on a memory quilt for my Dad and was a little short on photos of his siblings - I could grab a photo of his great grandmother but finding one of his brother Raymond took some help, LOL. Anyway, Cousin Diane came to the rescue. I am sharing a photo of my Dad and his three brothers.

I don't know why but when I see this it reminds me of all those photos of the Kennedy brothers. Perhaps same time frame and a bunch of boys ;)

Anyway, they are (left to right) Melvin Manning, Carl Manning (daddy), Raymond Manning, and Johnny Manning. All born in Lawrence County Arkansas. Melvin was a school teacher and then later an administrator. My Dad worked in parts most of his life (mostly agri but also Buick for a few years) and was once a soda jerk! Uncle Raymond was a farmer, and Uncle John was a business man and mostly notably, to me, one of those businesses was a beauty school in Kankakee, IL. He is the dad of my cousin Diane who supplied this great photo. Thank you Di!