"Here it Comes!"

 "JOY!"

The Bees have that little smirk on their faces,= JOY!

 I know tulips, and cowboys don't mix, but my cowboy knows 

   what I like. = JOY!

 

Me, at 12 years old. 

My Grandma Harwell made me a new dress for Spring! I really wish I still had it. It was so beautiful, with a full skirt, fitted bodice, made of satin, and covered in roses.  JOY!

 My mother cleaned and dressed up my room. 

It's SPRING CLEANING inside and out, with some frills thrown in. 

 I will always love the precious memories of my springtime grandmas and my mama! = JOY!

 

One of my favorite Spring days, 

was the day that Star had her colt! 

JOY

 

We saw the most beautiful baby lambs in Scotland! JOY!

  

Spring = Babies

JOY

Spring Flowers = JOY

 

Gorgeous Blue Poppies = JOY!

These "Peonies," are very special to me.

They bloomed in my Aunt Juanita's Garden many years. She gave them to me before she passed. Now they have bloomed in our Garden for 7 years. I was a bit intimidated to move them here, but they have flourished each Spring.  

JOY! = SPRING!

First it rains! Then the sun comes out! 

Over and over again today! I literally just snapped this photo in the front of our house.

JOY!

JOY!

   

Even the Turkey's, in the back yard, are so colorful!

JOY!

 

 

Our tiny Roses are blooming! JOY!

 

"Snowed In"

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

"Castle Petite"

This is the first time in my life, 

I've experienced being snowed in. 

It was an entire week of snowed in ness! Complete coziness! 

Our roads were covered with ice.

We had no mail for a week!

We have had this much snow before,

 but without the ice.

We had no Wifi, but we had plenty of firewood,

 Food, old movies, music, books, and the power didn't go out. We had candles just in cases!

Our old books, are full of treasures!

We love old movies!

So, is it "Shakespeare," or "John Wayne?" 

Chili Beans Cozy Comfort food is ready!

  Entertainment provided by the stars, moon, sun, and critters trying to outdo each other.  

 

The Sun is out today!!! 

The Icicles on top of our trees are melting a bit! 

I am a California girl. Never thought I would snap a shot like this. Or live in Tennessee. We have been here 20 years, and we love it. Especially the highly distinct 4 seasons.

Last week, 

the Governor of Tennessee  declared

"a state of emergency."  

 We lost 80 people. 

Please remember us in your prayers. 

We will not forget the winter of 2024.

May the Lord bless and keep you all, dearest friends! 

Love to you all! 

Happy Valentine's Day

I adore a holiday solely dedicated to ROMANCE!

The one day in an entire year to mark what God started in the Garden of Eden.

I really believe Saint Valentine 

never imagined this!

I think someone should make a movie 

about him. Don't you?

There's just something really fun about shopping for Valentine's Day!

 These 192o's valentine's were exchanged
between my mom's parents at school!

I enjoyed the tiny envelopes, and still do!
The exchange box is a work of art.

Especially my granddaughters.

This photo seems like yesterday.
I was in the 5th grade.
My Grandma Harwell gave me a new dress for the Valentines Day school dance.
She made it of course. 
It was silk, covered in roses.

It is very very cold and windy outside tonight.
 Randy and I are snug at home in front of a warm fire.

We are watching an old romantic movie!

 

July 2013

April 2023

10 Years Ago Today 

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

We flew out of Charles DeGaul Airport in Paris. 

We arrived in Atlanta 12 hours later and then home. "There's no place like home." 

But, I must admit it was pretty great.

I can hardly believe it has been 10 Years!

It was the best trip.

In some ways, it seems like 10 days ago!

The Roman Colosseum

2013

It's bigger than it looks. It is huge. The first time I saw it, I wept. 

  I, me, seeing it with my own eyes. A Country girl like me? I cried for all the Martyrs.

Please, everyone, read Fox's Book of Martyrs. 

It will touch your heart.

Yes, we have had a very challenging 10 years.

We must be doing something right! I do believe the devil tried to kill us, but he couldn't!

If I start to have a pity party, I just think about the truth of what the martyrs went through.

 

Seeing who fights our battles, makes Randall happy.

"The Trevi Fountain," in Rome 1979

Papa Bear, Mama Bear, & Baby Bear, (Randall, Me, & Kendra)

Trevi Fountain, Rome Italy 2013

1979

    The Swiss Guard is protecting the Vatican. 

He's making sure Kendra and Mommy are fine! 

They use Swiss Guards because Switzerland is a neutral Country. Traditional Uniforms are still used.  

 

Swiss Guard 2013 

On the Adriatic Sea headed to Venice, Italy

July 2013

Having toured Rome, Florence, Venice, and Paris, with villages along the way. We traveled by Jet Plane, Tour Bus, Boat, Train, and Taxi. Having crammed travel into our lives when we lived in Germany, we had  been to all of these places, before, and 12 other countries. 1979-1980

Florence 2013

Randy 

The Duomo, Saint Maria del Flore

2013

Florence 2013, Academia Gallery

The Duomo

1979

Venice, Italy 1979

Venice 2013 Saint Marcos Basilica

Venice, July 2013

Venice, July 2013

Saint Marcos Basilica, Venice, Italy 2013

Paris, France, July 2013 

It was just as hot, weather wise, in Paris, 

exactly 10 years ago, as it is today. 

The sky was so blue. 

It was a perfect day. 

It was not as crowded as it is now.

Not by a long shot!

No Airline troubles! 

No Electric Cars!

Lots of bicycles.

Imagine?

The trains were perfection.

They were really not accustomed to old cowboys!

But they loved this one! 

After all, just look at him.

Those French boys wish they were him.

 2020

They were really NOT used to, 

an old California girl, wearing' her baggies!

But they loved me.

2013

 Never did I ever think, 

 I would go to "Louis Vuitton."

Yep! To the Flagship Store in Paris. 

This is it! The Original "Louis Vuitton."

 Louis Vuitton actually opened and owned his shop on this spot since 1854.

I have never purchased a new anything

 Louis Vuitton. My girls keep me in style. The answer is yes, I love my Louis Bag.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France April, 1980

This was a dream come true. My Husband took me to Paris, France for our Anniversary in 1980.

We lived in Germany at this time.

The "Mona Lisa." 

 by, "Leonardo Davinci" 

"The Louvre Museum" 

 Paris, France

 

We were able to get really close,

 but our 1979 camera...did it's best. 

Seeing the genuine "Mona Lisa" 

was a wonderful wish fulfilled, 

for a country girl like me.

 In truth I think Mona Lisa would be fine with a Cowgirl hat, and was accustomed to straw and hay in an agricultural time.

April 3, 1980, my Randall snapped this shot of me, under The Eiffel Tower. The Moon and the trees were in full bloom this beautiful Anniversary evening in Paris, France. 

Our most precious Granddaughter in love, Erica standing not too far from where I did. I have a feeling they are going to travel like us!

2023  

2013

Going to the top, July 2013 

   

"The Arch of Triumph" is much larger than I had ever imagined. It is magnificent! 1980

2013

Notre Dame Cathedral 2013

2013

There are no words to express how it feels to walk into this ancient sacred place. It bogles the mind. How many human beings worshiped in this place. One can truly thank God that it is still here, having watched it burning on T.V. a few summers ago.

We prayed all over the world, and God saved it!

Isn't the French style a bit like me! 

This is my Kitchen. It really is! I don't do modern.

The "Hall of Mirrors," in Versailles Palace. 2013

Our youngest daughter, "Jessica Bailey Sanderson,"

gifted this marvelous European trip to her Dad and I.

We will never be able to thank her enough.