Friends are Forever…and a Birthday Celebration

                   

Our first stop on this journey was to visit Darrell and Judy Patterson in Crossville, Tennessee.  We arrived Tuesday around 12:30 and got all set up at Bean Pot Campground.  After resting a bit we freshened up and headed over to the Patterson's new home.  Judy and Darrell had prepared a wonderful meal for us but first we needed the traditional hugs and tour of the new home.  God has truly blessed them with a lovely home, neighborhood and community.  We talked for awhile and then got down to enjoying the delicious spaghetti and meatballs with Italian sausage and salad. Then we talked some more.  We made plans to meet again on Wednesday for lunch and a guided tour of Crossville.   Around 3:00 we returned to our doggies to give them a bite to eat and a potty break.  We joined Darrell and Judy at their church for Wednesday evening service.  We ended the evening at their house for a bowl of ice cream and a little more fellowship.  All too early we had to say our "so longs" and head to our next leg of the journey.  We gave our hugs and promised to meet again very soon...in fact Darrell has a great idea for a group of us to meet up for a Tennessee Tailgate rally!!  

                  

Yes, friends are forever!!  Thank you Darrell and Judy for a wonderful two days with you guys!! 

                 

We packed up and left early to head toward Lebanon, Tennessee and the Cedars of Lebanon State Park. This is the closest park to Murfreesboro, Tennessee where Mike's mom is now living.  Mike's brother Pat and family also live in Murfreesboro.  We arrived and got set up and headed to Stones River Manor to pull a huge surprise on Mimi.  She did not know we were coming to help celebrate her 92nd birthday.  It couldn't have been better...she was in a group meeting and one of the helpers there went in to tell her that her son, Mike was there to see her.  She politely said, "no, you mean my son, Pat?"  She got up and looked down the hall and saw us.  Her look was priceless!!  We visited with her for several hours and then planned a return the next day for a birthday lunch. 

                    

Mike's brother and his wife joined us for this lunch meal complete with cake and ice cream.  We sat and talked until they were about to run us out of the cafeteria.  Mimi is doing really well in her new home.  She has made lots of friends and this facility is pristine.  They have lots of activities to keep the residents busy and active.  She looks really great for 92!!  Happy Birthday, Mimi!! 

                   

We left Cedars of Lebanon early Saturday morning so we could make the trip back to James "Sloppy" Floyd State Park.  We stayed at this park on our way to Crossville and it is a beautiful campground, one that we want to return and stay for extended time. 

                   

                        

                         

We arrived early enough to sit outside and just enjoy this beautiful place.  For a weekend, it was just so quiet and peaceful...we sat outside into the night just listening to the tree frogs, crickets and all the night sounds in a campground.  We got a beautiful sunset picture and a few other evening shots of this place. 

                   

                   

We will be back to stay for several days...as soon as the temperatures settle into a nice range.

                   

                   

This has been a great trip!!  Wonderful weather with the temperatures at the beginning of the week in the mountains averaging upper 70s during the day and mid to upper 50s at night.  For those of us in the south these are wonderful numbers for August.  Toward the end of the week it warmed up into the mid to upper 80s.   We wish we could have stayed longer at each place we visited but we had to be home for my INR test on Monday.