The Homestead

                           I could not believe it... such a wonderful place to spend my birthday.

                                         We paused to take our picture at the entrance.

Susan had gotten us a suite...

I have awaiting  my arrival a huge welcome/happy birthday basket. Look at all those goodies!!

We start exploring. On display at one end of that long Grand Hall was a Christmas tree.

And, we find the shops! Didn't buy much but it was lovely to look at.

That's my Friday Five with Tom. Check out the other entries on his blog.

and I am also linking with Friday Photo Journal

Warm Weather and Weddings

What can I say....

It's November already!!

And, it's Friday - so it's time for Willy Nilly Friday Five. Thank you, Tom, for hosting this fun linky.

1. I started out the month right. I went for my annual physical/wellness checkup this morning. At age 84 I am doing great, little to complain about and looking forward to many more years of having fun! This picture was made this spring. Either the lighting was perfect or something but it turned out pretty good for an ole chick.

2. And, with age, your kids get to worrying about you so I am now on my son's cellphone account. One of those 'onstar' type thingys came with my new cellphone. Boy, am I in trouble. My son can check up on my driving anytime he wants. Well, let's see. driving home the other day I went 2 miles, used .1 gallons gas and never got over 48 miles an hour. Yes, I live in town, no hotrod driving around here. But, I am going to have to mind my ps and qs... Big Brother Son is watching!!!

3. The weather is ridiculous. In the high 70s. Wish it would stay that way another week so that when my Granddaughter has her outdoor wedding we won't freeze our tails off!!

4. Speaking of wedding. This picture is of the brides' mom (my daughter) and her uncle (my son) and me standing on a pier near where the wedding will take place. I can't wait to share pictures of the wedding but you know I'll have to wait until the bride gives her ok... I mean, I can't upstate her!!

5. I had to take my car in the other day. Had a leak. When I went to pick it up my eye wanders over to the sales department... and my feet followed... Oh my... how I would love to have the keys to this little jewel.

Fallish Five

The air is definately cooler. I got up this morning... and I crawled right back into bed. Haven't turned my heat on and that bed was soooooo warm. I did me some snuggling with my covers. 

It's time for Tom's Willy Nilly Friday Five

1. A pizza party. Sure, sounds like fun. But, we residents did not know that it was birthday girl, Susan G., who was hosting herself a party. We got treated to pizza and cake. We played games and won prizes. That's my friend, Susan in the blue pants below. Our friend, Nina, is helping her hold her cake. 

2. On a trip to Alabama the 11th of Sept, we passed this huge field of tobacco. You just don't see as much tobacco growing these days so this was a thrill. 

3. And, as I returned a month later I took this picture of the tobacco after it was harvested and out drying in the field. 

4. I posted a pinterest photo of a fall decorated lantern and wondered if maybe I shouldn't fix up my lantern similar. Here is my rendition. 

5. and this little collection of fall leaves and such is in vase that once belonged to my Aunt Lena. It sits on a fern stand in my living room now. 

Thankful Five

I am so thankful for so much. I've lived a long, happy life although it has been filled at times with loss and pain. I am no different than most people, you see. I wanted to share some of my thankfulness with you today. 

                              I am thankful that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. 

I am thankful for cellphones so that I may keep in touch with family and friends.

I am thankful for fall after a long, hot summer. For the color it brings, the apples, pumpkins, smoke rising from piles of leaves being burned. 

I am thankful for quiet peace. 

I am thankful for beautiful sunsets. 

Be sure to check out Thankful Thursday, Little Things and Willy Nilly Friday Five

Breakfast Fives

It's early this morning...

And, I am hungry!! 

I am just thinking back on some really great breakfasts I have had recently and wishing somebody, besides me, would go fix me some. 

1. I about fainted when I got this breakfast order. And, just in case you are wondering, I could not finish it all!! But, such yummy food. Love that southern gravy and biscuit combination!

2. This is really what I should eat... Very healthy, avocado and salsa on my eggs, and a salad. 

3. On a cold winter day there is nothing better than hot chocolate. But, I didn't wait for the cold weather! It's good anytime. 

4. I always eat my eggs scrambled. How do you like yours? 

5. Fruit is good anytime of the day. 

I think I will go check to see if anyone has fixed my breakfast.

Oh, heck... I forgot

I live alone!

Ho, ho, it's off to the kitchen I go.

Linking with Tom's Willy Nilly Friday Five

Five Household Tips

My fives today are tips to make life a little easier on us. We all need EASIER! Don't you agree! 

1. I always had a mess of these boxes on my cabinet shelf until I saw this. It's just a file folder. Because of the configuration of my shelves, though, I laid mine down flat and slid the boxes in. Works like a charm.

2.There's nothing I hated any worse than when mailing tape (or scotch) got stuck back on the roll. It would take FOREVER to unstick, if you could. Sometimes the tape peels off in little ragged pieces. Look how easy this is... a toothpick, for gosh sakes, solves that problem.

3. Now, why did I not think of this tip? And, I bet it would work on other surfaces as well.

4. The last time I traveled I did more 'unraveling' of chains, earrings tangled up in chains, etc. than was necessary. I am about to take another trip and I have straws to the ready!! No more tangled chains. 

5. I haven't tried this one but if it works... Wow.

Linking with Tom's Willy Nilly Friday Five

It Doesn't Take Much

                              I have so much to be thankful for. Big things, little things, it doesn't matter. 

                                                              God's blessings come in all sizes. 

Here are some things I am sharing over at Thankful  Thursday, Willy Nilly Friday Five and Little Things


                                                                 Good Books to Read

                                                                      A Quiet, Peaceful Sunrise

                                                                                 A Waterfall

                                                                    Naps On The Sailboat

             Ordering Food at a Restaurant and There Being Enough To Take Home For Another Meal.

Do You Keep A Journal?

                                                                     Do you keep a journal?

                                                       They called them diaries back in 'the day'.

  1. I started my first one when I was in my teens but it was one of those tiny little books with scarcely enough room to write anything. All I entered was the scantiest info, like 'met Elbert Barton today' or a couple years later 'he proposed'.

2. It was not until 1999 when I read 'The Widow Down By The Brook' a well-documented diary written by a widow. It made me realize just how little I had revealed about my life in those 'tiny little diaries'.

3. I bought me some theme paper (college rule, of course) and set about documenting my life day by day. There soon came our move from Alabama to Virginia, my cancer scare, Elbert and my journey through his Alzheimers and finally my new life as a widow. I had become that widow "Down By The Brook".

4. I have scores of journals, mostly the back and white composition books that we used in school.
I find they are about the right size for a years worth of journaling. As I have needed, I have gone back to those older journals to recall certain events, find out info I had forgotten and relive those special times in my life. How I wish I'd kept more detailed journals before 1999. Oh well, we learn as we go along.

5. I wonder if my children will keep my journals after I am gone. Will they read them or will they be stored in a trunk or perhaps eventually tossed out. It doesn't matter. They have served a purpose for me and that's all that is important.

Linking with Willy Nilly Friday, Thankful Thursday and Little Things.

This is part of my Growing Old Gracefully series. 

Five Reflections

I've been lucky to have traveled to a number of lovely places in this U. S. I thought it might be interesting to see a few of those places in which I took photographs that ended up having some great reflections in them. 

                                   I am joining with Tom's Willy Nilly Friday Five. 

1. This first one is Mabry Mill in the Blue Ridge Mt. of Virginia. I went there with my sweet companion, Leslie. We had a great time exploring the mountains. We also had lunch there. 

2. The Hilton Garden Inn in the Outer Banks of North Carolina is a favorite overnight stay for us. The lobby has two large aquariums. The real fish are to the left... the reflection are the ones on the right. 

3. Shirley and I took a bus tour which included Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. The sculptures were incredible. Their reflections in the pool added to their beauty. 

4. We recently visited the Old Mill Restaurant in Damascus, Virginia. Lovely, serene setting. 

5. The pool at the Huntsville (Alabama) Botanical Gardens featured this beautiful bird, well reflected in the water below. 

I hope you are taking some really nice photos as you travel about. There's so much to see and do. 

Traveling Five

I have some photos floating around with no place to land!! So this Friday Five will be an assortment of 'stuff' today. 

1. I just love this flag hanging outside a barbeque place that we had lunch at in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

2. This building is west of Richmond, Virginia. I don't know what it is but I find it fascinating. 

3.Cypress knees growing in the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. 

4. Redstone Arnenal in Huntsville, Alabama

5. Here I am, resting a bit, in the Butterfly House at the Botanical Gardens, Huntsville, Alabama

As you can tell, these five were made on trips I have taken recently. Hope I didn't wear you out. We did cover a few states!! 

Fun Friday

What a week! Returned home from a trip to Alabama only to face four doctor appointments. Hallelujah.... no appointments today. I can stay home and participate in Willy Nilly Friday and Five on Friday

1. There's nothing better than two adults acting like children. On a trip to the botanical gardens my son and I just had to poke our heads through this children's display. Boy, it was tough getting down to that low level!!

2. Oh, good. We found a pileated woodpecker in a tree at the botanical gardens. On closer look we realized it was made of Leggos. nearly 4,500 pieces. They fooled us. 

3.I got this picture off the internet. I wish I had this tee shirt. I failed algebra twice in high school. Just couldn't get the stuff. So, I'd wear this tee proudly.

4. I was fooled more than once as we walked around the gardens. Nope, that's not a gardener! It's Leggos again!! 

5. A year or two ago there was a fire in the Great Dismal Swamp in Va. This is a burned stump but I see a fox (on the left) confronting a swan (maybe) on the right. Not real sure about the thing on the right But, the fox is dead on. It looks real.

Have a great weekend, you all.