.

.
Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

What a year it was---part 1

As I have done the last couple of years on the blog, I sat down today to review and reminisce about the year just ended.  I’ll have to do it in two parts this year since my internet connection is a little flaky. 

66 MS Sandhill Crane NWR 20124I started out the year with volunteering almost four months at Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR.  I had lots of visitors this year, and I’m sure regular readers will recognize several of them.  The visitors included family, fellow volunteers, personal friends, and other RV bloggers.  It seemed like hardly a week went by that I didn’t get to enjoy time with new and old friends.

66 MS Sandhill Crane NWR 20125

There were plenty of birds to photograph, and even one to catch in hand.  What a thrill that was!  Bachman’s sparrows are hard to see, and I was lucky enough to scoop one up in my hand on the VC front lawn.

66 MS Sandhill Crane NWR 20126

I also enjoyed the other critters and plants that make the longleaf pine savannah their home.  Towards the end of April, it was time to move on.

67 On the way to NC 201261

I took almost three months off from volunteering to slowly make my way from Mississippi to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Spent some time at the Prairie Creek COE park near Montgomery, Alabama, so I could steep myself in the history of the state capitol and the Civil Rights Movement.  I was humbled by their struggle.

67 On the way to NC 201262

Then it was on to another COE park just over the border in Georgia.  More history during that stay including FDR’s “Little White House” with a swim in the Hot Springs therapeutic pool,  and Andersonville and the National Prisoner of War Museum.  Met up with fellow bloggers at the beautiful Callaway Gardens for a wonderful butterfly experience and tour of one of their favorite places.

67 On the way to NC 201263

I then zipped up to Tennessee for a couple of weeks.  So many new experiences there!  A private Blue Grass concert, visiting the home of Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Alvin C. York, and wandering all the back roads trying to follow the quilt trail.  That brought me to the middle of June, and just about half way through this year’s journey. 

I hope some of you recognize yourselves in these collages, and I apologize for not providing links to all of the bloggers.  With my corrupt hip, I just don’t have the patience or fortitude right now to do that.  I truly enjoy others’ walks down Memory Lane, and hope the same is true for you.  I’ll endeavor to post part two tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy

22 comments:

  1. Glad to be a part of your year! We've really enjoyed our (too short) visits with you! :c)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have tried to send you an email. I have a book I thought you might enjoy but I don't think my emails have gone through. The book is called Shanghai Girls and the author is Lisa See. Let me know if you might like to read it while you're re-cooperating. krnlueck@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I started reading blogs at just this time last year and yours was one of the first ones I latched onto... so it's fun to see your recap and see how much I remember. One of these days I hope we meet you in person... but until then we'll settle for your great photos and narratives.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great way to sum up the year! LOVE the photo collage idea...Cheaper than doing Blog2Print. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful summation of your year! You sure have much to reminisce about. Happy 2013!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey Judy, I see you included a photo of my sister Nickie (I call her Ruthie) and her husband Jimmy. How cool is that! Keep you in my prayers for a successful visit to the Mayo. from Nannie

    ReplyDelete
  7. You had a wonderful year. Once you are out of all that pain, I am sure 2013 will bring you many more super memories. Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love your trip down memory lane. Looking forward to the second half.

    ReplyDelete
  9. We feel privileged to have been a part of your memories of 2012. Looking forward to following you for years to come.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm lovin' the term "corrupt hip"...Sounds like a bad hip hop band....Great re-cap!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey Judy, best to you next week!! For some reason your photos don't show up using Internet Explorer...I have to switch to Chrome..Any thoughts?
    David

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've been with you all the way and have loved every minute. These are great collages of your fabulous pictures. Wish I could have been one of the folks to visit you. Maybe next year. It's on my wish list. Really well done summary.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Loved your end of year wrap-up and hope to meet you one of these days on the road. I hope your new year brings an end to your hip pain and a quick recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  14. nice recap of the first six months of 2012..what did we all do before blogging? Sure helps with the trip down 'memory lane'!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great adventures this year. I loved going to all these places through your blog. Thank You!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Loved your recap of the year, Judy. As Sherry said, even though I have been with you all the way, it is still wonderful to see it all at once for the year past. Looking forward to part 2, and of course, wishing you well on the coming surgery.

    ReplyDelete
  17. A great trip down memory lane and great photos too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have enjoyed the ride. Thank you.
    I wish you a quick recovery from your upcoming surgery.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Enjoyed traipsing down memory lane ... looking forward to part II.

    ReplyDelete
  20. And how about that oyster on the half shell @ The Original Oyster House on the Causeway in Mobile? (learning experience!) That was a fun day for us! Thanx for ferrying us around to see the cranes!

    Best wishes to you for 2013!

    ReplyDelete
  21. butterbean carpenterJanuary 2, 2013 at 11:32 AM

    Howdy Judy & Emma,
    Thanx, for all of the re-cap pics; we really enjoyed the past year traveling with you, through all of you trials & tribulations and TRIUMPHS!!! We put you on the prayer list for a complete recovery and expect it!!! Thanks, to little brother for forsaking his Land of the Apache and coming to take care of and comfort you, during your recovery period.. Remember, THIS IS LOVE ON HIS PART, so be NICE!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wish you the very best with your surgery. Had a surgery last year. I think they were testing you for MRSA. Very serious stuff. I agree, I think you might need a button up front night gown. It is tough pulling anything up. Will say a prayer for you. Barbara (Florida)

    ReplyDelete