Wrapping up 2017

I've been remiss in keeping up the blog.  Other than a very special Thanksgiving and Christmas in our new home, nothing felt really "blog worthy".  Autumn was a disappointment; there wasn't a lot of color change, and we seemed to jump right into winter.  We were treated to a snowfall in early December, but did not have a White Christmas.  Then once again, it was time to usher in a new year.

At the end of October, we took a ride to the mountains in Franklin, NC, about an hour or so away.  Due to the dry, hot  summer, most of the trees had already lost their leaves, and those that didn't were wearing a coat of faded autumn colors.

 

Mid-November, we drove up to Caesar's Head State Park (elevation 3208 feet) along SC Hwy 11.  Although the views from the mountains were pretty, there wasn't much fall color here either. 

On Veteran's Day, there was a car show in West Union that we went to. It was very cold and damp that morning, so we sat in Bob's truck while the cars drove in, and then left shortly after.

Veterans' Day weekend, the Viet Nam Memorial Moving Wall was on display in Seneca.  Never having seen the one in D.C., it was truly "moving" for me.  I was able to find the names of Keith Perrelli and Richard Cyran, two  fallen warriors who grew up with me in Clifton.

 

We had our Thanksgiving the Saturday after Thanksgiving Thursday.  It was the first time in a very long while that we were able to celebrate it with one of my brothers and Bob's son.  Here Valerie, Mark, Jenna, and Bobby are giving a tomahawk cheer for the 'Noles before the feast...

while David, Amanda, and Bob root for the Gators.

Later, Mark and Owen had room for a bed time snack.

At the end of November, we drove to Stephens Park on the Georgia side of the Tugaloo River, about 40 minutes from Seneca, to see if we could gather up some pine cones for Christmas decorations.

The low water level showed the effect of the dry summer.

A little over a week later, it was a winter wonderland by us.

It snowed most of the day and part of the next morning, but most of it was gone by the following day.

It was wonderful to have the room to have a real Christmas tree again, and fun decorating around the house, even though it was just the two of us.

Oops!  Didn't mean to forget you, Roscoe!