Actual Vacation Bear Pictures..

These are Betty's actual bear pictures. This mama bear was big. They can really be cantankerous, just ask my son Stephen. He did have a bear take out after him years ago. Steve can m-o-v-e! lol!

Thanks for the pictures Betty!

A True Bear Story...

Well, I'll try not to be too embellishing on this story...

When we went to Gatlinburg, Tenn last week with our good friends Betty and Jim Jewett, we decided one morning to get up at the crack of dawn, really before, and go to Cades Cove. We reached Cades Cove before it opened. I was sleeping, but about the time we stopped, I looked over to my right and saw a bear by the road, so I excitedly say bear, then I look to the front and a mother and two baby bear are going into the woods and we all say bear. That was our first bear sighting. (The keep telling me I was sleeping and really didn't see the bear by my door...but, I tell you, I did!)

The big bear story took place later, closer to the middle of our journey through Cades Cove. When you see lots of cars stopped and lots of people out of their vehicles, something big is up. Well, this something big was a big bear and cub. There were lots of people out and lots of people trying to get close to this bear. If you know bears, they don't like to feel threatened! This bear just kept keeping an eye on the people while she sat there with her cub.

Well, Betty is trying to get close to get a picture and Merrill is trying to get close just to get close. This bear just keeps looking around to check out the people... probably, sizing up his meals. I hurt my leg, so I can't run fast and I just started hobbling out of the woods. I'm thinking... if that bear decides to charge can my husband, even as big as he is, fight it off ...or can Betty run fast enough to beat the bear! Of course, Merrill said, "I had to be just fast enough to beat Betty or the other people!" Well, the bear didn't get up while we were there, she just kept looking around frequently. We didn't hear about anyone getting attacked so I assume the bear wasn't hungry! How's that for a true to life bear story?

We've gone to Gatlinburg for years and probably haven't seen a half dozen bear. This trip, I saw six and they saw five. No, I wasn't dreaming!

Note: The bear picture here is not from our trip, but it is like the bears we saw.

Good To Be Back...

Well, it's good to be back. I've been busy, busy, busy... probably just like everyone else. It just seems like we're always on the go. Merrill and I went to the Farm Science Review the third week of Sept. I had a family reunion in Ky the last week end of Sept. I didn't stay until Sun., but came back for our church picnic. Then we went to Gatlinburg, Tenn. with some good friends Betty & Jim Jewett. And, then I got bronchitis the day after we got back home and I have been pretty much laid up for several days.

I haven't done any bloggin', so I guess you'd say that I've had a vacation from bloggin'. I have kept up with the election and a lot of what's going, but I'm ready to vote. Thursday, Sarah Palin will be in the area and I plan to go see her. That will be exciting!

Merrill has been working on the church ministries building. He has had lots of help for which he is very grateful. They are coming along real good. They are closing it in this week and the windows should be in next week. He was able to get the septic in and the catch basin close to schedule. It rained a little, but not enough to hamper his work. I know he is relieved about getting that done, just as he will be relieved to see the brick on the building. Weather can cause lots of problems for building projects. We're very thankful for the Lords blessings on us!

Well, that's just about it for catch up time!

Happy Birthday Caden. Hope you have a great Birthday. Sorry Grandpa and Grandma can't be with you. We love you very much.

Fall Is Here...

Fall is here. The schools are back in session, the crops harvesting has started and the leaves are starting to change. The gardens have pretty much quit for the season. But, I still have some tomatoes to harvest.

Today, Beth and I picked apples and pears, so we still have canning to do, but they're not a big rush like some things have been. We picked the tomatoes for Beth to can. We are alternating the pickings. She is getting great with child and can't hardly bend over, so she needed to take this picking. :) She wants to get her canning done. She's due Nov. 12, so it won't be long until she has her baby girl.

Last Thursday morning, I left for Ky for my yearly family reunion. I spent three restful days in the beautiful hills. My parents bought my grandmothers house several years ago and have added many nice improvements to it.It is their vacation home and they go down several times a year. It is a great get-a-way. It was nice to get to help mom and dad get ready for the reunion farther up in the hills. I mean... up a single lane road that was quite steep at times back into the hills, surrounded by trees and nature. There are very few houses in the area. Anyway, it is a beautiful drive esp. with the trees just starting to turn.

After my reunion I left around 2 o'clock to head back to Franklin, Oh. for our yearly fall church picnic and youth auction. So, Saturday was one full day. I was ready for my Sunday, day of rest.
I got home this morning. My dog and cats were very glad to see me.

So, that's how last week went. We'll see what adventures this week holds. Hopefully, pleasant ones! :)

Turn Everything Over To God...

Isn't God wonderful! We can turn everything over to God and He takes care of it! God is the healer of broken hearts and bodies, a comforter in time of trouble, our friend and Saviour as well as our Lord. I am so glad that I know the Lord of Lord and King of Kings!

This past week has been one busy, busy up and down week. I was looking in my blog draft folder which contained five unfinished blog entries. Usually my blog entry will only need a picture and I will let it sit until I find the time to look one up. I think, I've confessed this problem before. I finish them and will post several at one time. Well, my solution this time is to put up one and omit the last four.

I will share a little bit about some of the things that have happened. Those of you that are close to us, know that a couple of our sons had a four wheeler accident while hunting in Colorado. This was Friday, a week ago. Steve had a head injury and had to have 25 staples, and Paul had a shoulder injury and they both were sore from the accident. The Lord took care of them and they are both doing better. Praise the Lord!

Last Sunday, the big wind storm blew through and our area had many trees and limbs down. There were great power outages for many days. There are still around 34,000 homes without electricity. We were fortunate because our electric was only about about 6 hr. last Sunday. Three of my children and my parents had their electric out for several days. My parents were cozy in their home running a generator to keep the freezer and refrigerator going. I ate with them one day and I don't think they skipped a beat... it was almost business as usual just a little less food. They are older and know how to survive in hard times. Probably, most of the people that we know were worried about their freezers.

On Tuesday, Merrill and I went to the Farm Science Review around Columbus. We have gone so many years. I love to go to the cooking displays. They always have so many neat things that they cook and it is fun to sample what they fix. Then I usually hang around the gardens and listen to their talks. Merrill goes equipment browsing and he usually finds old friends to talk to at the displays. We both usually walk until we're ready to drop.

I had one neat experience in the display gardens. I was talking to this older gentleman. We'll being that I'm the age I am... he may not have been that much older! Funny... I don't know how I got here!:) Anyway, we were discussing the vegetable and flower displays and some of the plants. We talked awhile about some of the large tomatoes and some of the unusual plants and flowers. Then he made a remark that kinda got my attention... he said that the Farm Science Review was one of America's best shows. So, I got brave, and asked him if he was from England because he has a beautiful English accent. He is from England and he is a scientist. Wow! Sometimes, you never know who you're talking to.

So, you can see there were several things that happened. One thing that I know for sure, God is there for the good and the bad times. I remember the great lady Mary Crowley who founded Home Interiors. She had such a positive upbeat outlook on life. She loved the Lord and always had such neat sayings. I think I'll close with one of her sayings.

"Every evening I turn everything over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway."
-Mary Crowley

God Bless and Have a Good Night!

Praying For America...

I'm often reminded of this verse. We need to daily pray for our land especially in these troubled times. We are facing an important election year. There are so many promises floating around that people often get confused. It is always good to look at what the person has stood for in the past and what he/she is saying now. That's is usually what you've got.

"If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This one thing I know, God answers prayer and He will do what He says. But, we must do our part in prayer and in actions. Our goal for our country is for the continued freedom to live and worship freely. Our personal goals are to live pleasing lives for God so that He will heal our land. I'm often reminded of an old song...

There's more with us than be with them

We're on the winning side.

With banners unfurreled

We'll tell the whole world

That Jesus is captain and guide.

There's none to fear when He is near

Though fierce the conflict may be.

We'll never give in the fight against sin

With Christ there's victory.

God Bless America!