Breakfast with Santa

We were all up bright and early this morning.... because it was a BIG DAY .... We had a date to have breakfast with Santa.

Before we left, we had a family photo shoot

Late, during breakfast who should appear but......... Here he is ..... SANTA!

Olivia was a little shy at first, but when she finally settled on Santa's lap, she had no problem giving him her Christmas list.

Oh how I wish my Grand Children would stay little forever .... but no matter what, we will always keep The Magic of Christmas alive in this family!

Christmas in Virginia - a little early

As you can see from the photos below, our Christmas in Virginia was a wonderful one for us all - even little Cup Cake enjoyed the day.

The Mah Jongg "Dragon Ladies" enjoy an afternoon at the Grove Park Inn - to celebrate Christmas

We "Dragon Ladies" meet every Monday afternoon to play Mah Jongg. For those of you who understand the game, you'll understand what I mean by the game "going to the wall" and for those of you who don't know what on earth I'm talking about - it simply means that no one wins or "mah jonggs' for that round. When this happens, we all put in a quarter and each December we take that money and enjoy a Christmas luncheon together.

We try to find somewhere special and this year, we really "hit the jackpot". We all traveled to Grove Park Inn and enjoyed their sumptuous buffet. In fact we ate "non stop" for nearly two hours - from a beautifully presented buffet - that covered two rooms, while we enjoyed a view overlooking the North Carolina Mountains.

Afterwards, we joined the Christmas caroling in the lobby of this beautiful lodge and even found a willing soul to take our photo in the Santa's sleigh by one of the huge fireplaces.

To top off the afternoon, we marveled over the ginger bread houses - works of art - and submitted by people from all over the United States. You've probably seen some of them on "Good Morning America". Below are a couple - but these are not the ones that won any honors. They were incredible and unfortunately, I was too awestruck to take many pictures.

Holiday Fun

It seems that we've been "non stop" partying for the past three weeks - but oh what fun we've had - thought I'd share some with you.

Our "Whist Group" went to eat at The Charlotte Street Grill in Asheville the other night. Asheville has been "likened" to a little New York City - and in a a way it is. Lots of trendy, out of the way restaurants and this was one of them. We ate upstairs in a private room and our very obliging waiter snapped these photos of us.

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And now there are Five!

For years, a group of my friends and I had a "Birthday Party" group. We got together for lunch and celebrated the birthdays of those whose birthday fell during that month. (We all brought that person or persons a small gift). Since we had no birthdays to celebrate in December, we drew names and had a Christmas luncheon and exchanged gifts during the holiday.

We all made a vow - nearly twenty years ago that we would continue to do this until there were only two of us left.

Well, the years have passed and we have lost many of our members - and now there are only five of us. We've joked over the years that someday we'd be using canes or walkers or maybe be in nursing homes.

We were young then and thought - of course this would never happen to any of us. Well, it has ---- and though we are still young at heart ---- of those who are left, one is in a nursing home and uses a walker and one uses a cane.

This is a photo of us today in the lobby of The Inn on Church street in Hendersonville, NC - where we celebrated our annual Christmas Luncheon and gift exchange.

Moral of the story ------- Remain young at heart - but cherish each moment you have with your friends - you will not be all together forever - but your memories will last forever!

Just Three Little Elves who wish you a Merry Christmas

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Today we visited College Walk - a retirement community we may "retire" to some day.

http://www.collegewalkretirement.com/ As part of our "wait list" package, we get free dinner tickets to their dining room several times a year. We hadn't used any of ours so far this year - so tonight was the night. We have decided that this Grandma and Grandpa are definitely not ready for life in a retirement community yet - maybe NEVER!!!!!

Their web page certainly does not reflect the "real" thing - most everyone was using walkers and the buffet spread looked nothing like the elaborate spread they pictured. I think we'll stay where we are until we are can no longer function physically or mentally. (Or both). In other words - we'll just "struggle along" - singing a song - side by side"

Happy Thanksgiving

It's been a long time since I've posted on my blog. But, now that my daughter is here she is refreshing my memory and hopefully my blog will be updated more often in the months to come.

Here we are in the little village of Horse Shoe, NC. That's right, Horse Shoe, not sure where that name came from. My daughter brought us on a photo shoot and I think we have some very nice pictures that I'll share with you now and maybe some later.

Our granddaughter, Olivia with her special little doggie friend, CC.

Bill and I posing in back of Bill's great-uncle's milk wagon, a permanent fixture in our backyard that we decorate for season during the year.

My daughter, Trace-Ann, and I taking a break while we cooked Thanksgiving dinner.

Miss. Olivia with Nanny and Papa.

Retired means you can have fun on a Wednesday!

Last Wednesay, the 23rd of April, we traveled with 26 friends to Gatlinburg, Tennessee where we toured Ripley's Aquarium. We enjoyed all the beautiful sea life there - and "petted" lots of sting rays and traveled on a moving sidewalk under lots of hungry sharks and sawfish.



We had a great time - EXCEPT ..........





JAWS nearly got me ..... AND..........

A snake bit Bill in the nose!!!!!!!!

But .... we recovered from our respective experiences nicely and enjoyed a wonderful mid-day dinner at The Best Italian Restaurant a few blocks from Ripleys. (No kidding, that's the name of the Restaurant) and if you're ever in Gatlinburg - be sure to make time to eat there - it was wonderful!

Hope this post is put together a little better than the past ones - I think I MAY be learning!!!!

One of these days......

I'll learn how to post a blog correctly!





You won't have to read words that are


improperly spaced- it fact my blog


will be neat!

But -


For right now just bear with this little


"Old" but "Young at heart" lady as I learn


something new!

62nd Running of the Block House Steeplechase races

April 19, 2008

Every year,

a group of us attend the annual

Block House Steeplechase races, sponsored by the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club in Tyron, North Carolina.

This year, we did not need our usual sunscreen, because ominus storm clouds appeared early in the day

However, that did not stop us - we all got busy and put up our shelter - and enjoyed the day

We all enjoyed the hot dogs and brats that Bill grilled along with loads of other delicious food!

The Steeplechase is a little like a giant Tail Gate Party - but instead of watching "football" - we watch the horse races.


And of course we have a "Bookie" Want to meet her? Shhhhh - don't reveal her name!

It did get a little cold, wet, and windy and some of us got chilled to the bone. Still didn't stop US -
we improvised - used a table cloth to keep a fellow "Steeple Chaser Fan" warm!

Oh What fun we had! Easter, 2008

Here we are after our Easter Egg Hunt and before a big feast.

Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, children and doggies.

This year, we weren't in our Easter "finery" too early -

March 23, 2008. That won't happen again for a long, long time.

OH MY GOODNESS

Sorry about my previous post. As you can see, I am a complete "novice" at this whole thing and somehow a mysterious "genie" pushed a mysterious button and posted my post before it was "Post ready"

Just be patient with me, I'll eventually get it - however my brain cells aren't as young as they used to be!

Maybe I'd better go "under cover"

Have you ever seen a cart in a kitchen?

Well, take a look at this one.

Recently our "Ladies Group" traveled to Tryon, North Carolina - a small town south of Hendersonville - to visit a horse farm called "Tootin Hill". This area of North Carolina is primarily horse country and the "Tootin" in the name represents hunt country.

Doris, who after traveling the world, settled down here with her horses and pony carts to retire. What a facinating lady - and her home was filled with unique things - including this wonderful Italian festival cart.

Hello Blog World.

My daughter set this blog up for me. This is where I will share my 'million little memories' with you. More to come...