The past week is past...

Webcam for the week. Where did all the leaves go?

Let's see, this is Tuesday already. Didn't quite get the blog out Sat. night, did I? As you can see in the previous blog, AK passed away on Sunday, being sick in the hospital since Thursday. I'm still going to add to the previous blog so check back on that one later. Her memorial service is tomorrow at 10am. (Later: we received a video - must try to find a program so we can get the full life history)

On Sabbath C played in the orchestra for both church services. Here is the full orchestra plus some brass players in the front. C's head can be seen right where the piano lid curves up! Yep - should have
brought the binoculars!

Here is the youngest member of the orchestra. (On the right is a family friend who helps out in the cello section and below, another cellist).

Tomorrow we drive to Indiana - hope it won't take too long....but we're looking forward to seeing all the family up there and the new old house, etc. Brother G has "minor" - no surgery is minor in my opinion - surgery tomorrow. I guess he'll be comfortable on painkillers by the time we see him!

Good news - brother R has a job in England - working for the government no less. We're happy for you, R! Now they're house hunting.

As promised last week, here's a look at some of the school work C has been doing in the past week or two.

We start out the day with Bible and Music.

The disciples in the boat

For you, Mamma

Then on to Math.

Then we go into the language arts but lately we've been doing a Thanksgiving unit, hence all the pilgrim and indian stuff.

You know, I actually do see people and animals in the above picture...am I the only one?

These two pics above, are actually from church where we dressed up as pilgrims to take offerings on Thanksgiving Sabbath several years ago, I think.

Here is our landforms model. Quite neat, huh?

And I mustn't forget - C got glasses last Monday!

Well, there's more....but I think that's enough for now, ha ha! We did several crafts and recipes, some of which I haven't photographed anyway.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Safe travels if you do!

Tribute to Aunty Kay

Dear great Aunty K has passed away. I guess she was one of those few who "die after age 100"! On Thursday she had a stroke and died today in the hospital - in Margate, South Africa. Next thing she will know will be to see Jesus coming in the clouds. For now, she has a peaceful unconscious "sleep" until that day. Next time I'll be able to gather together more of a tribute, as far as life's work and all that. For now I just know a favourite aunt who was always so full of beans, and had a bright and active mind even to the end; who gave the greatest back scratches; had the most wonderful stories and adventures to pass on; loved a great many things, including animals, farming of different types, birding, astronomy, mission service, genealogy and history, to name a few; and loved to pass on different memorabilia from days past to us kids. She was very interesting to talk to and always had a kind word and selfless service for those less fortunate. She was a nurse midwife and spent most of her life in mission service, along with her sister. She also spent time as the curator at an historical house museum in Maritzburg and also worked "behind the elephant" in a natural history museum. Anyway, as I said before, I'll write more when I get all the "facts".
More later...

Comparative Cam

Decided to put the infamous pretend "webcam" to some use by putting all the updates in one blog. So - I may be adding to them by and by...(just a warning).

OCTOBER 10, 2008


OCTOBER 17


OCTOBER 25


NOVEMBER 1


NOVEMBER 8


NOVEMBER 15


NOVEMBER 25

DECEMBER 2

DECEMBER 18 (more or less)


JANUARY 19, 2009


MARCH 10


APRIL 13


APRIL 17


APRIL 24


APRIL 27, 2010

MAY 30, 2009



JUNE 9, 09 (+-)


JULY 2009



SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 (+-)



EARLY OCTOBER, 09


OCTOBER 2009


NOVEMBER 25, 09 (newly painted house!)



DECEMBER 5, 2009 (snow melting already)


DECEMBER 25, 2010

JANUARY 8, 2010

Cloudland Canyon Camping

Willy-nilly - we decide to go camping this weekend - rain, shine or snow! Since we got to the campground early, we had our pick of sites. This one turned out to be in a prime spot! (Psst - If we're not going, pick spot #21 - next to the main trail into the canyon, set off by itself a little, and quite near the bathhouse. If we're going, you should pick site 22 or 20 - or something...;-) OK, sshh, don't tell anyone!



These photos need no comment, do they?


The trail around the top of the canyon with spectacular views - and drops...!


Here we are enjoying the lovely campfire before retiring to bed.

We hiked down from our campsite into the canyon to the two main waterfalls.
This is of the smaller waterfall - don't know why I didn't take one of the larger one - maybe just a little tired, perhaps? I forgot to count the steps coming back out - but it was a LOT! Nevertheless well worth the effort - another highly recommended spot to visit.

A view into Lookout valley from the Hangglider launch site. Here's a thought - why not do your leaf-peeping in Tennessee? - forget New England, guys - no crowds, no traffic jams, no exhorbitant hotel rates, and the weather isn't as cold - notice some short sleeves in the campfire photo, plus these spectacular colors and views. (I'll have to say that today was quite a bit colder as a cold front came in - but hey, still no snow or anything - yet - maybe just some teeny-tiny sleet...)

All in all, a wonderful campout.

And the weekly 'webcam' shows more leaves gone. Notice the reflection in the livingroom window.



Happy Birthday today to M in Arizona! And since Grandpa Gee is asking, next week I'll try to give a school update for GVE's second grade class. Will have to take the camera to school!

All the best this week - especially thinking of you guys in the UK. Sorry the economy is almost worse there than here (at the mo). Hope it picks up soon. I wonder what the talk of a new worldwide economic "system" will bring us? I guess we'll see by next summer - early June (they say).