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! 

Way Back Wednesday

My wierd Aunt Hellen. Yes, that is how her named is spelled ;) She's my mom's baby sister & #11 out of 11.

She really was a cutie pie! Oh, and any family members reading this, you could be next ;)

Happy Birthday Aunt Flossie!

My Aunt Flossie (who lives about an hour and a half away and is my dad's only remaining sibling) is having a birthday tomorrow. I believe she will be 92!

A couple years ago we (Dad came down for the occassion) went down for her 90th birthday hoping to take her to a nice dinner. When we arrived we saw she had baked herself a big birthday cake. She wouldn't hear of going out; instead, she made a dinner for 15 people! Some days I just ponder her life and try to figure out the secret a long and healthy life.

These photo are from a family gathering at my cousin Linda's in Illinois. It's the early 90's I believe and the only photo of Aunt Flossie on this particular computer.

First photo: the two kneeling are little Andy (Cousin Linda's son) and my Cousin Bud (deceased). Standing from the left: Aunt Flossie, behind her is Cousin Linda, then me in the jumpsuit, next to me is Mindy (Cousin Diane's dau), Then Dan (Cousin Diane's hubby & all around nice guy), then Cousin Diane, then my Dad & stepmom Bessie (deceased). The last person is Linda's ex-husband who will remain nameless because I am still angry with him.

Second photo is great shot of Cousin Linda in forground drinking applejuice (LOL), an almost shot of Cousin Diane's head, Aunt Flossie with her arm up, and finally Aunt Mary who died about 5 years ago.

Aunts

My mom, my cousin Leona (Lee) and I traveled to Beverly Hills today to see the Beverly Hillbillies, LOL. Actually it's Beverly Hills Florida and my Aunt Mary (mom's sister) and Uncle Larry will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Monday. Hard to believe because they look like kids in the photo below. In fact, I believe their daughters may be older than them, LOL.

Mary & Larry, Dec 2008

Aunt Ola Faye, another of mom's sisters, who I hadn't seen in 15 years. It was fun catching up with her.

My mom with Aunt Hellen in the background. All these photos were taken in Aunt Mary's kitchen. Her kitchen is always so clean and perfect. How does that happen? I want one like that.

Lee checking out Hellen's grey. Everyone is amaized that Hellen has very little grey and is in her 60's (but you didn't hear her age from me). Lee is my mom's deceased sister's daughter but they were raised almost as siblings.

Finally Aunt Hellen, mom's youngest sister.

Tomorrow we should see another of mom's sisters, Aunt Joyce and her husband Uncle Bob. Also Aunt Mary's daughter and granddaughter should arrive before we leave for home. Mom's mother had 11 children (9 females/2 males) and those mentioned here are the remaining surviving siblings.

Another 1 down, 2 to go!

It's Sunday night at 12:43 and I just posted the last individual paper for my online class and have also met all my posting requirements for the week. Whew...all that is left is the team paper. I turned in my portion yesterday but we were stalled for another team mate :( Oh well, I scheduled tomorrow off work purposely because it is the last day of class (Quality Management and Productivity). All that's needed now is a good edit tomorrow and I can think about other things....like my upcoming weekend with aunt H & mom.

Typical Sunday for me. Writing academic papers, listening to Prarie Home Companion on NPR, and dinner with hubby. Lots of calls back and forth with mon & Auntie but we finally have a decision - we're going to Naples. I am booking a spa package there that includes a massage, a scrub, and a facial. I finally had a pedicure so why not finally have a facial! I have had a massage once before (on my birthday a couple years ago) so I know what to expect and am sure it will be much more relaxing.

I just love this photo of my Dad. I took it about a year ago when we went to the Kennedy Space Center. He really like the place. It's nice to find good father-daughter, multi generational things to do together. If anyone has suggestions I would love to hear them because I am thinking I can get my Dad down to Florida at least once year.

Opening Day

Welcome to my first blog entry!

My Dad's visit is drawing to a close. He leaves tomorrow at noon. While we dread his departure, I undertand that he is anxious to return to his home in Dumas, Arkansas. We enjoyed the last month with him and especially appreciated spending Thanksgiving together. So many holidays in Alaska were spent away from family that every occassion spent with family is special. Eddie is going to miss his Papaw's continuous belly rubs.

Dad was able to spend a week down in Arcadia, FL visiting his only remaining sibling - Aunt Flossie. Dad made a quick trip last April to help Aunt Flossie celebrate her 90th birthday. We hoped to take her out for a birthday dinner but when we arrived (it's about two hours from our house in Clearwater to her house in Arcadia) she had not only made her own birthday cake but was preparing a dinner for 15 people!

Jerry is busy attaching icicle lights to our eaves and I am in the process of decorating the Christmas tree. We are picking up Jerry's mom in a couple hours and meeting my Mom and Aunt Hellen (yes, that is how it is spelled) at a Polish restaurant. None of us have ever been to a Polish restaurant so it took some talking to get everyone to agree but I've heard that Polish food is a well-kept secret. I'll let you know ;) I am looking forward to seeing my Aunt Hellen. She arrived at my mom's yesterday.

I talked my Dad into a surprize outing last night only telling him that we would be outside and would get a little exercise while having a good time. I took him to the St. Petersburg Shufflboard Club. They have a special hours of 7 - 11pm on Friday nights and since the temperature was perfect, I thought it would be a fun father-daughter activity. For the first time in 5 months, they were rained out! Too bad because a photographer/reporter from Southern Living magazine was there to take photos of the courts and people, all illuminated by the white Christmas lights.