Christmas 2013 part 3

I took mother to the Columbia Museum of Art. The works of Annie Leibovitz were on display; however I was not allowed to take any pictures in her section.

Click on the following picture to get a full view. Very funny.

Christmas 2013 part 2

We did not know it but Columbia, SC has a street fair on Saturday mornings and it was right out in front of the Marriott where we were staying.

Next stop: The Columbia Museum of Art which was one block from the Marriott.

Christmas 2013 part 1

We spent Christmas this year on the North Carolina beach. We left on December 20th and stayed in Columbia, SC Friday night. We enjoy visiting state capital buildings so we started the trip with a tour of the state capital.

This is one of the most friendly cities we have been to. Strangers waiting to cross the street would talk to you. We were really impressed.

Rudolph the raindeer

Rumor had it that Rudolph was practicing in Lake Arrowhead tonight. I did not see him but saw some hoof marks.

Thanksgiving 2013

Plates are all aligned for that big meal.

Dance team

Monday night we went to a basketball game and Taylor performed with the dance team at halftime.

Trip to Kingsport, TN

We went to Kingsport to hang out with the kids while Mommy and Daddy went to Texas for a short vacation. One afternoon we had lunch at a German restaurant in Virginia named Gasthause Edelweiss that Derek and Karen had recommended.

It was a light day and the owner visited with us and we talked about the German towns that we had visited.

She came over to America when she was 16 as did Nana's grandmother (GG's mother) when she was 17.

A view from the top

A nice view from the living room to enjoy the fall season.

Next view will be a winter snow storm. Stay tuned.

 Oh, by the way, please click on the picture to see the full beauty.

Training exercise

Lake Arrowhead held a training exercise Saturday for an elite group of terrorist experts at our community park. There are 23 stationed in Marietta and cover the whole state. Three of the members live in Lake Arrowhead.

We decided to go and see if we could take some pictures. To our surprise we were given a personal tour of the operation. It was quite informative.

This is a decontamination unit where members walk in one end and come out the other completely  "clean".

We were told they could communicate with troops in Iraq at any moment.

This is inside the mobile laboratory where they can get quick analysis of chemicals.

A day trip to Lavonia, GA

On Saturday John, Nana and I took a short trip to Lavonia, GA for antique shopping. But, I enjoyed the restored passenger train depot and some unusual sites.

You always see railroad tracks with a level grade. This uphill track was quite amazing. You can click on the picture to see how high the rise is.

An old rusted  Rio Grande sitting in the town. This engine is mostly in the west and I have three of them in my G-scale.

Holloween night

After we left the Hartwell square we drove to Anderson, SC and picked up John's friend, Theresa, and went to a music fest. During the band break I did a line dance with Theresa.

John's friend was wearing a wig for Holloween.

You can click on the last picture for a better view.

Trick or Treat

Location:   Hartwell, GA.  town square
Date:  Holloween
Time:  3pm to 6pm

Last of the decorations

Next, we move on to the people all dressed up.

Crime don't pay

Click on first picture to read signs.

Day before Holloween

We traveled to Hartwell, GA for Holloween. We took over 50 pictures of decorations and these are a few with more to come. Then we attended a Holloween bash, with a band, late afternoon on the city square on Holloween day. Then that night we attended a concert in Anderson, SC with John and his girlfriend. (more on that later).


This decoration won first prize.

Grandpa part of the scene.

Can you find Nana?

Hartwell is located near lake Hartwell.

Remember, you can click on the pictures for enlargements.

Final night treat after beach

We stopped at a yogurt place before heading home to pack for our trip home the next day.

This was our favorite flavor.