If you were expecting her to have a genteel Southern accent, you'd be sadly mistaken.  They seem to be a thing of the past here.  She told us the 10 minute film on the history of the garden was about to begin and we should go in and sit down.  Most of the folks visiting the gardens were  much older than Robert and I.  We noticed none of them seemed to be headed into the theater.  I guess the movie was just for us wippersnappers (did I spell that right?).

Robert said, "I wasn't about to tell her we didn't want to watch it.  So I just hung my head and said, yes ma'am."

With the thought that the only thing missing was her huge ruler, we giggled through the entire film.  I have to be fair though.  It was a nice film and it included some beautiful poetry.

 The gardens are truly lovely and it is more than you can see in one day.  There were loads of butterflies (or flutter bys as my friend Betty calls them).  The sculpture resting amidst the huge oaks and beautiful flowers is simply breathtaking.  It was a great way to spend our anniversary.

I'm off to get some sand between my toes!

To my husband,

 Happy Anniversary!  I love you!

I first read about the book in Reader's Digest.  It is an amazing piece of work that touched my heart.  Some extraordinary people share their perspective on such things as life, aging, inspiration, creativity, self-expression, and peace.

No comment I make could do it justice. So, I won't bore you.  Just click on wisdom and experience it for yourself.

ENJOY!!

STOP, DROP AND ROLL WON'T WORK IN HELL!

Somehow, I don't see this drawing in a real big crowd but it sure caught my attention.  I found this hilarious so, maybe I should start looking for an asbestos suit???  Does laughing at this statement make me a horrible person???

Oh well, guess I'm doomed!

Paje and I are going to see Nine Inch Nails November 3rd.  I must admit that I haven't heard much of the new stuff and measuring up to the show in Charlotte will be a difficult task.  I mean really, NIN and a huge storm!  We heard there was even a tornado but we didn't see it.  My body was drenched and my eyes and ears were flooded with everything I loved about NIN and Trent Reznor.  The memory even makes me dizzy.

While we won't be out in the night air this time, I'm sure the experience will be just as twisted.  I'm starving and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

The pictures have been posted in Peep's Travels.  You'll see pictures of Greenbo Lake, the lodge and lots of wildlife including Bob.  Bob wasn't ready to come home either.  If you want to see full sized pictures, you can click on the thumbnail and then click on the picture again to get the full sized picture frame.

Just a few things you'll see in the photos...

• Bridge to Ohio (blue)
• Bridge to Kentucky (green)
• Oldtown Covered Bridge
• Bennet's Mill Covered Bridge (you can drive on this one)
• A coal/coke processing facility (I thought it was a really interesting structure)
• West Virginia's Capitol building. I saw it from the highway and we stopped to see it on the way home.

We learned the answer at a great little shop called Homespun Sisters. The owners, Wanda Burton and Janie Little, were kind enough to chat with us and answer all our burning questions. They made us feel right at home. So, here comes life lesson number one. There’s always at least one on every trip.

We found Homespun Sisters on our hunt for a power cord for Robert’s laptop. He left his at home and we only had enough battery power to last us through my first journal entry. Life, as we were used to it, was coming to an end! Who knew this was going to be so difficult??? We searched every place we thought would have one and found nothing. Before we left the shop, I asked if there was a website for Homespun Sisters and they told me they didn’t have one anymore. What??? A business can function without cyberspace??? Surely not!!

Sitting in a boat on Greenbo Lake, I realized I had turned into the very thing I despise. You know how city folks move to the country and inform the locals of all the things they “need” only to turn the small town into the same hustle and bustle they were trying to escape? I had become one of those people!

Wanda and Janie have an important message painted on many of the items in their store…

SIMPLIFY

Greenup, Grayson and Ashland aren’t missing a thing. They are filled with beautiful scenery and warm, caring people. Lesson learned!

Did I mention how much I love this place?

• Church steeples are fascinating creations. They are beautiful and they stand above all else no matter the terrain.
• West Virginia has a very ornate capitol building. We will try to stop there on the way back.
• West Virginia has some really amazing old bridges.
• Peep is a bug eater.
• Bug juice comes in an array of neon colors.
• We met Bambi, his sibling and a Bambi Mama.
• Wild Turkey is not just bourbon...We've seen three of the gobblers!
• Lots of Kentucky folk have stars on their houses...searching for the the meaning behind them

Pictures coming soon!  More later!

We have a group of volunteers at work that knit and/or crochet for Warm Up America.  I was sending an e-mail about donating our completed blankets to Hospice and, of course, I didn't read it thoroughly before I hit send.  The embarrassing statement went something like this...

"We will be taking a few pictures to share with the Foundation.  It would be great if those attending could wear their volunteer t-shirts but it is not required.  We hope you'll be there with or without the shirt."

Robert even volunteered to take the day off from work to take those pictures!

Donating topless is NOT recommended but the choice is yours.  That day is coming soon.  I'm scared to think that  anyone will take that statement literally.  Should be an interesting day.