Gatlinburg, Tennessee --- SKY BRIDGE

US on the top of Crocket Mountain --welcoming you to join us!!!!

Dear Friends and Family,   Almost a year ago,  Mark and Robin took George and me to Gatlinburg (9/16/19) to walk across the SKY BRIDGE there.  It was fairly new --and I just HAD to check it out!!!!  I cannot believe that I didn't post about this right after we did it.... I guess I forgot!!!  ha ha...  ANYHOW ---what a great day we had!!!  Come with us on this amazing journey!!!!!

Here are these two wonderful people we were with,  Robin and Mark!!!!!  Thanks to them for this awesome day!

First of all,  we have to take the chair lift up the mountain to get to the top!

Once we were on the top,  here is what we are going to do... FACT:  This Pedestrian Suspension Bridge is 680 feet across a deep valley.   The height is 140 feet at the midpoint.  There is a Glass Bottom area at midpoint where you can look straight down into the valley below.

Mark and Robin say:  "Come On---Let's GO!!!!!"

I am now at the center point standing on the Glass Bottom ...  You can look down and see what is below you!!!!!   WOW!!!!  As you can tell,  there were lots of people there on this day!  Remember:  this was in Sept. 2019 --LONG before Covid hit us!! 

George took this awesome Panorama from the top of the bridge showing the Smoky Mountains AND  Gatlinburg (nestled in those mountains).   

Now we are headed back down the mountain on the Chairlift..  That is Mark and Robin in front of us!

This was FUN...  Hope you enjoyed our little experience today... Are you ready to join us? NOW ---it is time to EAT lunch!!!!!!!

UH OH ----Me thinks she ate a little too much lunch!!!!!!!!! ha ha

Well---I have lots more pictures to show ---but I'll stop for today.    Hope you get to Gatlinburg sometime to check out the Sky Bridge!!!!   It is truly AMAZING!!!   Here is a website for you to see many more pictures of the entire/project.  Click HERE.

PLEASE don't come NOW though...   With the Covid Virus still raging,  not one of us needs to be around so many people!!!!!  I think people have flocked here this summer hoping that they can hike in the mountains...  WELL--that is fine IF you stay away from the major trails and from the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area.....  Let's do our part and help get rid of the VIRUS first!!!

For your information (in case you didn't read this above),   we took this trip in Sept. 2019.  Little did we know then what 2020 was going to give us!!!!!!   We would never put ourselves in the position now to get around THAT many people!!!!!

Hugs,

A Day at Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee

Beautiful Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee 

Dear Friends,  George and I went on  another 'outing' ---thanks to Mark and Robin.   They came to pick us up on Sunday,  June 7, and  the four of us went to Fall Creek Falls State Park,   which is about an hour south of our home here.  What a marvelous day we had!!!!! 

We started out with a delicious Picnic Lunch (provided totally by Mark/Robin) --and then,  since Robin had never been to Fall Creek Falls,  we gave her a little tour.  We checked out cabins and the campground, for future trips there!!!!  We found that the park has made a lot of great changes in the past year  (such as the visitor center area) --but the lodge and restaurant won't be ready until about August, 2021.. 

We checked out the 'main' waterfall at the park,  Fall Creek Falls,  and we took the scenic drive along the gorge area.  We stopped at Buzzard Roost --and did some hiking to the rock overhangs along the gorge.  It was a HOT day (about mid-80's with added humidity) ---but that didn't stop us from enjoying the trails along that gorge edge....

Since Covid-19 'appeared',   George and I have done very little outside of our home.   SO-getting to do something like this is even more special to us.   Mark and Robin are SO SO SO very good to us.  

NOTE:  I'm struggling with the new Blogger format ---and  have not yet figured out how to move my pictures around to get them in order.   I hate bringing in one picture at a time--but will either have to do that next time,  OR get all of my pictures in the correct order BEFORE bringing them in.   Is this new Blogger Format supposed to be BETTER?????   Right now --until I learn more about it,  I do NOT think it is!!!

SO---hope you enjoy the pictures today --although they are NOT in the order I wanted to put them in...

A Happy Mom and her son, Mark, at Buzzard's Roost


 

Mark and Robin were on one overlook along the gorge ---and George and I were heading to another one..  Mark took this picture of me WAY up there!!!!  

Look how steep it is along the canyon!!!!!!

Mark and Robin fixed us a delicious picnic lunch!!!!

Lunch always tastes better on a Picnic!!!!  This lunch was FABULOUS...

Beautiful Fall Creek Falls,  the largest of about 6 different waterfalls in the park

Robin and Mark at Buzzard's Roost

One of several of the rock outcroppings along the gorge

My Sweetheart climbing around on the rocks on a gorgeous day in Tennessee!!!

Mark loved getting too close to the edge (says Mama)...  You'll have to ask him about that moment when a Buzzard flew right over his head and startled him!!!!!

Mark and Robin out on one of the big rock formations;  What great views from there!!!!

The old woman climbing on the rocks also...  (You must know that I couldn't let them have all of the fun!!)

Remember the picture above where I  was standing in the distance?   (Count back 11 pictures!)...  Anyhow that is where I was standing taking a picture of Mark/Robin at another overlook!!! He took a picture of me and I took a picture of him.... ha

My Sweetheart took this Panorama of our views from those rocks!!!!   What an awesome place --on an awesome day!!!!!!

The old woman was looking for a tiny bit of shade for a rest on a hot afternoon in Tennessee!!!!

Mark took this picture of Robin, me and George at the Fall Creek Falls Overlook!!!

Well----I'm not sure how all of this is going to come out,  but hopefully,  you'll be able to figure it out.   I love telling a story as I show pictures, but it's hard to do when the pictures are NOT in any kind of order....  I'll keep learning this new format as I have time to work on it... 

Regardless,  we did have a marvelous day!!!!  Thanks again to Mark and Robin for everything they do for us!!!!

Hugs,

Betsy

Son Mark is a "Happy CAMPER"

Why is MARK so happy on Valentine's Day??????????

Dear Friends,  As you can see from the picture above,  my son MARK is EXTREMELY happy these days... He absolutely loves the Smokies --and just being out in nature (whether he is hiking or driving his jeep,  or just sitting by a creek in his hammock)!!!!!

On Valentine's Day --he finally made a big purchase  (which he has been contemplating buying for quite some time).... He now is the proud owner of a POP-UP CAMPER.  He wanted something for camping that he can pull behind his 'purdy' Little RED JEEP...

He got a used one which had been used very little.   He loves it ---and was so excited that he invited George and me to come and see it.... Of course,  I don't want to miss an opportunity to see my sons....  So we drove to Maryville on Saturday  (2/15/20)  to check it out.     All I can say is "WOW".....  I am just SO excited for him/them.

He was still busy reading the manual and learning all about the bells and whistles...  This little beauty sleeps 4 easily and 6 if necessary.... There is a king bed on one end and a queen bed on the other.  There's a little stove and sink,  a small fridge,  and a table and benches which seat four. AND--the camper has AC/Heat, plus a small water heater.  To be an older camper,  this camper is in immaculate shape... He was lucky to get this one.. BUT--he has been looking for the 'perfect one' for him (and Bert and Robin) for a long time...

Besides "oohing and ahhing" over the new "TOY" ----we also just enjoyed seeing our kids for a few hours!!!!!   George and I took them to lunch --and they chose to go to Cheddar's.... Excellent choice --and we all enjoyed it...

Hope you enjoy seeing the pictures!!!!!   By the way,  they have invited us to go camping with them sometime.....  Hmmmmmm---sounds intriguing!!!!

There it is...  The new POP-UP CAMPER.  

Welcome to your new home,  Mr. Camper.... This one was taken when they first got home with it the night before.

Mark and another son, Bert (on left) showing the 'parents' the new TOY!!!

Mark and Robin are SO excited ---and ready to hit the road and do some camping!!

Come inside  and Mark and Robin will show you around...  We are looking toward the king sized bed in this picture.

Their little table with a bench on both sides

A small sink and stove  (They even have a small tank for hot water!!)

George and Bert are showing off the other end  --with stove/sink,  table/benches and queen sized bed.

They even have a TV out there now --which they hooked up!!!! 

After we left,  Mark hooked up the awning and brought out a couple of chairs...  (I 'think' that Robin even took a short nap inside!!!!!! ha)

My JOY---Being with 2 of my 3 sons!!!! 

Bert, George and Mark

Bert, George, Mark, and Robin

Bert, Mom, Mark, Robin

They are home!!!!!!!  (Taken on the evening of 2/14/20;  What a Valentine's Present!!)

I must tell you a story!!!!    Mr Fancy Red Jeep  whispered something in my ear which made me very very SAD!!!!!  He used to be the center of attention,  and the garage was his to enjoy--especially during these cold mornings!!!   NOW---he lost his 'home' and has to sit outside....    AND --- not only was he sad about being 'second fiddle' but he also has to pull that heavy thing around!!!!  POOR MR. JEEP!!!!!   Don't you feel sorry for him??????????   Tee Hee Hee!!!

Hope you enjoyed the happiness in our family on this special occasion!!!!   Mark is an outdoor person from top to bottom ---and I LOVE following him  (and Robin) on their hikes and 'adventures'...   Those two will REALLY enjoy the camper I'm sure!!!!

Have an awesome week, my Friends!!!
Hugs,

An Evening to Remember

Beautiful KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

Dear Family and Friends,   On January 8, 2020,   Mark and Robin took George and me on a special "Double Date"....  George and I drove to Knoxville,  parked the car,  and Mark and Robin picked us up and took us on a "Night to Remember" forever....

They drove us to downtown Knoxville  (which is somewhere we have not been in many years).  Knoxville has changed through the years with the community showing pride in their little city by renovating the old downtown buildings into restaurants and theaters and other types of stores which now draw folks back from the surburbs into the CITY..... I found the walk along GAY STREET (their "Main" Street) just awesome, and am pleased that the renovations have kept the decor and history of those beautiful buildings all through the years !!!!!

Downtown Grill and Brewery

After a bit of walking,  the Young Ones took us OLD Ones for a delicious dinner at one of the many terrific restaurants downtown.  This restaurant (which used to be in the old Woodruff Building) is named the Downtown Grill and Brewery.  What a fabulous restaurant! George and I had some of the best Pork Loin we have had in a long time... YUM...

Lobby of the Tennessee Theater

Following Dinner,   we walked to the nearby Tennessee Theater  (another theater with a fabulous history).   I had been to the Tennessee Theater many years ago --when my first husband and I went to hear the music of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in that theater.  When we walked into the theater this time,  I felt as if I had walked back into PARADISE.   What great memories that theater holds for so many!!!  WOW.

An old picture of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in the Tennessee Theater (which is the biggest memory I have of the Tennessee Theater)

DRUMLINE LIVE (a musical show for the entire family)

Mark and Robin had purchased tickets for the four of us to see this fantastic musical. Mark knew how much I have always loved Marching Bands  (since I was in one for many years in high school).  We also loved watching and hearing the bands at the Mardi Gras Parades we attended in New Orleans in the '80's when we lived there...  More great memories!!!!


But--the concert was much more than watching a Marching Band... Drumline Live is a synchronized musical showcase of the legendary Black College experience that ALSO features various genres of music from  Hip-Hop, American Soul,  Gospel,  Jazz, and more.

Mark took this picture of us before the concert.

The inside of the theater was GORGEOUS...   AND--our seats couldn't have been better!!!!

Looking straight up --at the ceiling above!!!!  WOW---those details were fabulous!

The four of us in the theater

Some pictures I took of the amazing concert;   On the way home,  Mark asked me what I liked the best... That was hard since it was ALL great.  BUT--there was a Saxophone Solo that was 'out of this world' that really caught my attention,  along with all of the phenomenal percussionists.

This concert was truly 1st class: the sound, lighting, costumes, and all of that incredible ENERGY!!!  WOW!

The concert was like a HUGE Halftime Show at a Fall Football Game.  They featured the sounds of favorites such as Tina Turner,  The Supremes,  The Temptations,  Aretha Franklin,  James Brown,  Prince,  and Ray Charles (featured in the picture above).

Guess who this is???!!!!!!  Of course, it's MICHAEL JACKSON (the "King").  

As Mark said on his Facebook Post after the concert,  "there was nothing which could take that huge smile off  of my face"....What an amazing performance...  I highly recommend it.  

My Sweeties:  Robin and Mark!!!!

Thanks so much,  Mark and Robin,  for this absolutely amazing, awesome, terrific evening.   I am STILL  EXCITED --and it's been five days now since we experienced this evening... I could go on and on about Downtown Knoxville,  our restaurant,  and the concert ... BUT--I'll close with some links you may want to check out  if interested.

Tennessee Theater and its amazing past:  Click Here
Downtown Grill and Brewery:  Click Here
Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee:  Click Here
DRUMLINE LIVE:  Click Here

I highly recommend  "Drumline Live" ---if they ever come to an area near you...  If you are looking for a  'feel-good' concert --for all ages,  this one is for YOU.  Kids would love it also!!!

Have an awesome week!!!!

Hugs,

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