So we did..

So many years ago we had a fun vacation at Oriental, N.C.

If you look closely you can see the bridge in the background.

The place we stayed was just across from the place the boats got fuel.

This picture was taken of my brother in the late 1950's.

On Sunday my husband and I rode back to Oriental, N.C.

Boy, was I confused.

The bridge didn't seem to be the same.

I wonder if they have built a new one sometime during those 53 years.

Husband didn't want to take the time I needed to try to figure out where we stayed.

I was exploring this little town to see if I could recognize any of the landmarks in Nichols Sparks

BOOK.

This is what greeted us as went across the bridge.

This was only some of the ships in the harbor.

I'd like to go again when we are not in a hurry.

I'd like to walk some of the water street area and see some of the older buildings.

I know I will return sometime .. sooner rather than later.

My favorite way to spend a pretty Sunday Afternoon.

Missing ...

I don't know how many of you knew Sarge Charlie over at http://sargecharlie.blogspot.com/ . He was one of my favorites out in blogland. I think we met doing Photo Hunt. I started reading some of his other posts and found someone who was proud of his country and our servicemen and women. He loved his family too and especially his wife "Miss Bee." They are both listed in my list of blogs over on the right. She is Muffin 53. Sarge went home yesterday. If you will, I would like you to visit and see the very last post he did. It is entitled Sarge Charlie .. final edition...I'm going to miss him.

Photo Hunt - Fluffy Dark

Life

It almost seems as if I've had a vacation.

The three weeks of dealing with my thyroid were different.

I got a chance to read some.

And stayed home a lot!!

This week has almost seemed too busy.

I've been somewhere every day except today.

Yesterday was nice. I went to see Matti and soaked up some baby sugar!

That was a fun thing to do.

Other times I visited the eye doctor, the dentist, and a funeral home.

Today I stayed home, all day!!
Our weather man says the rain will be back tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday

Our New Baby

Got this email from my son and his wife:

Ladies & Gentlemen,
I would like to take this time to introduce Mattilyn Faith Zimmerman.
She was born Jan. 20, 2012 at 3:07pm.
She weighed in at 8lbs/4ozs and 20.5 inches long.
She has dark hair and looks as pretty as her Grandma ReRe.
Jessica did great during delivery and is doing fine and looking as pretty as
ever.
Thank you for all your prayers and thank our wonder Father above for giving us
this special gift.
Pictures of Mattilyn are making there way to facebook. I will try to share some
via e-mail later.
Love you all,
Tony and Teresa..

YOU WOULD THINK...

You would think I'm wanting snow of something.

Especially since I moved the snowmen into the room.

I'm really getting excited about my new granddaughter who will been here soon.

Jess is going into the hospital tonight to be induced tomorrow.

We are waiting for Mattilyn Faith Zimmerman.

Pray for us that all goes well.
You would think I'd have picked that white thread off the arm of the couch.

and maybe even dusted.

Collards

Do you love collard greens?

We like them cooked with ham hocks.

We like them with baked sweet potatoes.

And freshly cooked hush puppies.

The baby called the cornbread "hush doggies."

Sometimes we cook white Irish potatoes in the pot with the collards.

I expect if the goats could get across the fence we would have no collards.

Our small town puts on a Collard Festival every September.

We have collard cooking contest.

We also have collard eating contest.

WE LIKE COLLARDS!!

Do YOU?

Wordless Wednesday

I Need A Trip

I got another Nicholas Sparks book for Christmas.

This was the saddest one I've read so far.

I will not spoil the book by telling you anything.

My sisters have not read it yet. We usually pass Nicholas Sparks around.

I will say this one is set in Oriental N.C.

I've visited the area a few times.

I remember our whole family staying at Gene Newcomb's house there in my teens.

I have pictures to prove it.

After reading this one, I want to go back to Oriental and Vandemere N.C.

Soon!!

Photo Hunt - Circular

Don't you hate when this happens?

Contaminated

Use separate (or disposable) eating utensils for the first few days and wash them separately.

Use separate towels and washcloths. Launder your bath towels, bed linens, and clothng separately.

Try to keep the time you spend in close contact with others to a minimum.

Try particular to minimize time spent with pregnant women and young children.

Drink plenty of liquids.

And so goes my life for a few days. I received the radioiodine yesterday. Today I am posting, by hunt and peck, wearing disposable gloves. Now, I'm going to go read some other blogs.

Elsie Fancher's Doll House

Today I got more goodies in the mail. An article from my Aunt.

She had told me she would be sending it to me.
I'm not sure the pictures will enlarge enough for you to read them.
On January 4, 2012 the West Virginia Times published the story.
They do a feature on someone's hobby each week.
Aunt Elsie has been collecting dolls since 1978. She has 500+ dolls.
Her favorite is still the doll someone made for her of her mother from a picture.
I posted about the mother doll a few years back.
Click on the link for that post.
http://everlastingmercy.blogspot.com/2007/06/elsies-dolls.html
Thanks Aunt Elsie, I'll put this up with the other family memories.

Goodies in the Mail

Today I received two beautiful magazines from a wonderful sister-in-law.

I had subscribed to the Birds & Blooms in years past.

I think it has improved. I especially loved the following article.

As many of you know, I love Garden Junk.

I loved seeing some new ideas.


Military Spouse is new to me.
I wondered about her sending this one.



But then I found the article that featured our cousin Addie.

And her husband, Greg, and their program

Pro vs. GI Joe.

That was a wonderful surprise for a day that hadn't gone all that well. I had gone to the doctor to have xrays to be followed with therapy. I just got the xrays. My thyroid didn't take up enough of the iodine. So I was sent home with a "no iodine" diet and will try again next week. Ugh!!

Thanks Sandra!!

Wordless Wednesday

Looking back and Looking forward

Just did a quick run through a year's posts. The one that got the most comments was http://everlastingmercy.blogspot.com/2011/07/photo-hunt-backwards.html. That was one of the most calming times in the whole year. Even though we endured all kinds of trials, the LORD was with us through them all. And we have HIS Blessed Assurance that he will be with us through the new year as well. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!