This was our lady slipper day...We found about 100 pink ones and one yellow..A beautiful day in the mountains...

Day in the mountains with David and Meissa

After the run , we went to look for lady slippers

We found yellows

and a pink one

David and Melissa came on Friday night and we got up early so he could run the loop at Cades Cove..Then we went to Noah Bud Ogle  cabin ...David spotted some lady slippers that we had overlooked on our last trip..

We went to the top and they hiked to the overlook at Clingmans Dome..

An early spring day at Greenbrier to see the white fringed phacelia

We hiked up Porters Creek trail on Friday, April 12...It had been a cold spring so far  and the flowers were later than usual...

The water was running high and loud along the trail..

Sammie took our picture..

We were the wildflower experts with the help of our book..

We got to the fringed phacelia field after a mile and a half...I had seen this many years ago when I went with the Happy Hikers..I remember how thrilled I was when I crossed the bridge and saw the flowers that looked like snow had fallen all over the mountain

You have to cross this scary bridge to get to the field...It's pieced together with three logs, and with the water rushing below, it makes you glad to get across...   It was a grand hike..We are so thankful that our friends take us to the mountains....It has been three years since we started hiking with them..Our first hike with them was this same one but we stopped at the Hiking Club cabin that time...

Hike on Friday, March 15, 2013

On the Chestnut Top trail to check out the first wild flowers

We wandered around a bit before we hit the crib gap trail...after lunch on a log the men turned back to the car and Sammie and I went on to the end of the trail..The men were waiting for us there....

We had a visit from David and Melissa...on St.Patrick's Day..

Corn beef and cabbage at Cracker Barrel

A day in Cades Cove

we had a good day in the mountains

chocolate lasagna for birthday girl

inside John Oliver cabin

We spent the day riding around the cove with some short walks to the John Oliver cabin and beside Abrams creek to look for otters and up the Tremont road.  We celebrated Sammie's birthday in Maryville at Peleos  since we coluldn't eat at Miss Lilys place.  It was closed along with everything else in Townsend...We all wore my crocheted hats...

Another Birthday celebration

The Frenches picked us up for church and then took us to thePottery for lunch

We had chicken almond quiche...soo good

It was such a clear beautiful luminscent day...we drove to the mountans this is Gburg overlook..then we drove to Newfound Gap to where the road was closed because of the landslide...Sammie and I walked about a mile on the road...We got to Deep Creek Sign.

Snow on Gpa's birthday

JMB had a good birthday...It started with pancakes and bacon breakfast...then we took cupcakes to the Ocoonnor exercise and they sang Happy Birthday...After we got home it started snowing and we have at least 3 inches of snow...JMB built a fire and we were cozy and warm and looking out the window at the beauty.  All the children called,and many friends wished him Happy Birthday on facebook..He even got a birthday video from Todd and Jana...It was a good day...Sammie and Mark were going to surprise him today with lunch and a drive, but I think it will have to be postponed because our road is slick...

Christmas 2012 and Birthday 2012

The girls moved so fast I couldn't get their pictures...

Rose had her house  all decorated for Christmas

Our friends Sammia and Mark took us to Cracker Barrel for my birthday breakfast and then we took a drive to Norris Dam..We stopped at the nursing home and visited with Sara Raby.  She knew us and was glad to see us...She is doing well and she likes it there. 

We went shopping on Christmas eve and JMB got this shirt and sweater...

We spent Christmas day with the Whalens ..I got to hold Daniel!

Daniel looking at GGpa's mustache...He grew itfor Todd' and Jana's wedding

 They had a fire going!

Perfect Day in the Mountains

Lunch at Elkmont...

 

Party on the Dome...

 

We went to the Clingman's Dome road closing party...They  closed it for the winter on this weekend, and they were serving hot apple cider and cookies at the shop on the trail to the top.  We stopped at Sugarlands Visitor Center first and took the little (one mile) nature trail behind the center.  It's a nice little trail that ends at the John Ownby cabin.  We met people on the trail from olden times....They were practicing for a party on Saturday at Sugarlands with old time Christmas as the theme.  One of the women had a basket with misiltoe in it and she held it over our mens' head and gave them a smackoroo!!They loved it!

Party on Clingmans Dome

We started at Sugarlands Visitor Center for a hike to the John Ownby cabin..

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They served us hot apple cider

Thanksgiving 2012

After the dinner we walked around the block.. 

 

 

David and Melissa enjoying...

Gpa and son and grandson..

These two will be married in fourweeks..December 21

                                                                                                                                        

Rose suggested that we have Thanksgiving at our house and I sent out an invitation to the family.We had 16 people on a beautiful warm November.  It was a covered dish so that made it easy for everybody.