We're In Charleston For The Next Couple Of Days

Last night we had a lovely camp ground that was located in  Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

 It was dark when we arrived so we didn't know how nice it was till this morning. This was outside our door.

Driving thru the little town in the park was cool. Easy to see that it is a tourist trap. We're going to come back to Florida the same way next winter and spend a couple of days here in the park.

Tennessee is an absolutely beautiful state.

Way too many tunnels.

 So far I love Charleston. I had to stop at the Mercedes Benz dealers to have a headlight bulb replaced. As I was paying for it , the cashier who was  taking my money asked if I would like a rose for my gal.
Daisy loved it.

Florida or Bust

We're on our way. This year we just whistled thru the boarder at International Falls. Last year we got shaken down.

It was raining with light snow when we left Canada.We're glad to be on our way.

Even Daisy was cold and looking for some warmth.

We have been on the road by 7:30 these last couple of days.The sun is up by 7:15. 

An empty campground.

While driving thru Kentucky we decided there are more semi's on the road than there are cars.

Tennessee is a beautiful state. It's 16 Celsius and tomorrow looks even better.

Last Days In Winnipeg

We stayed in the kids apartment Sunday night so they could go for a spa day at the Hotel Ft Gary. Sunday afternoon we took the kids to Kildonan park. It was Cold out but kids did have fun.

Ellie loved rocking on the duck

Little kids make everything look like fun.

The ducks followed her up and down the banks of this pond.

She is the world's slowest walker. I held back and waited for her.

Back home Jack was playing with a game he won the night before at the wedding social.

Ellie was busy trying to fill me up with nuts. We had a great day and night with the kids but it is the last time I babysit the grandkids in a hotel room that doesn't have at least one bedroom. 

Monday afternoon we headed out to Bruce and Heather's place at Lake of the Woods. It was raining out but I feel like Lake of the Woods is always nice. No matter what the weather is like.

We stayed overnight . Another great visit. Their dog is also called Daisy. Talk about confusing. I'm trying to call my Daisy out for a walk but their dog kept coming instead.

Jon and Lorraine's Wedding

Friday evening we all got together for a family dinner at Lydia's place. This was in the apartment's common room.

Judy didn't want her picture taken but I was too fast. We all laughed when she couldn't move fast enough.

This is the first time we have all been together in years.

After dinner Ruth and I helped make food for the social part of the wedding.

Saturday afternoon we stopped by where the Wedding and Social were to be. We got there at 2:00 and it was starting at 6:00. No one was there to help. Only Lydia (Mother to the Groom) and her partner Luther. Both were a little frantic. No decorations done , tables not set up or ready . Not good. Luckily Sharon , Ruth and myself had nothing else to do except this. We got it done but it was crazy.

Jon made this Photo-Opp moon . He did the moon and I put the snot on the nose. I thought it was funny but someone took it off. Hahaha.

Jon and Lorraine wanted everyone to dress up in halloween costumes for the wedding and then move over to the social. Carrie came to the centre for 5:00 and started my makeup. Wedding was at 6:00 so it was a little rushed.

It took her about 30 minutes to get me done.

The wedding was beautiful. Likely the nicest one I have ever been to. The kids made up their vows which brought a tear to everyone's eyes.

Paul gave the toast to the groom. It was so sweet. Especially when he explained how much he loved his brother. Once again, Not a dry eye in the house.

 I thought was cool that almost the whole family came in costume to the wedding. We had 3 tables along one wall for the dinner and no one else at the wedding dressed up in costume. It was great.

My two beautiful daughters.

Here I am with my two beautiful daughters. The Sugar Skulls. You can tell they are mine.

A family picture.

Carrie and her crew.

They were the best looking family at the social.

I brought Daisy in for a photo. She didn't like her little hat.

Ruth , Jon's Red Aunt and Luther , the Jester.

We all took turns at the front desk. There were about 300 people come to the social and 99% of them wore costumes. Most of the costumes were great. Such fun.

Jack was a pistol. He talked and danced all night with anyone who would stop and visit with him. I use to think a little dog was a great way to talk to girls but I think I am going to rethink that. I'm taking Jack out with me from now on.

The groom looked especially handsome tonight.

Our nephew paul and his son Chris did a fine job as Dumb and Dumber.

Around 11:00 they had the draw for about 23 prizes they were selling tickets for. They were great prizes. Half a cow , 50 inch T.V. , an iPad and more.  Jack won that game table that is behind him. There were puzzles , books , games and more. It was a great prize. 

I won the iPad. Now , I already have one so we went the next day and bought a second one that was the same. We gave them to the girls as a family Christmas present. I am sure they were happy to get them. We were happy to give them. It was a great wedding / party.

Busy Friday In Winnipeg

I started off the morning driving thru to old neighbourhood. Len's house is along the Assiniboine River.  I had lots of Mrs Dombrowski's home made cabbage rolls under this roof while growing up.

Next I drove past the old family home. I loved living here.

This is the first house Ruth and I owned.

 We bought it when we were about 27 years old and had to sell it the next year because we couldn't afford to keep up the mortgage payments ever though we rented out the 3rd floor.

Next we headed down to the Forks to get a tour of the new Canadian Museum For Human Rights.

They had a 10:00 tour on the construction of the building and an 12:15 tour on the galleries that were ready to be viewed. We took them both. Well worth the money that it cost.

The building itself is beautiful. It cost $365,000,000. to build.

The interior is breathtaking.We went up to the observation platform which is 85 meters high. 

The metal work in this structure was very cool. It is like being inside of a makano set building.

From the observation deck we could see the Winnipeg skyline.

That is a restaurant which has opened up on one of the old train bridges. They turned in into a pedestrian walkway about 10 years ago.

The old Fort Garry Hotel. I use to frequent a night club they use to have in the basement called the Left Bank.

 That would have been in about 1972.

These are the remains of the St Boniface Basilica. This church burnt down in about 1965. The front of the building still stands and is as beautiful as ever. 

Winnipeg had beautiful architecture in the 1800's.

Inside the museum there were free standing walkways that you took floor to floor. The walls of the walkways are all alabaster stone with built in lighting.

Very imaginative.

If you don't like heights you wouldn't like looking down here.

Ruth took sister Martha out to the museum today. She seemed to like it .

When we were heading back to the parking lot I took a stroll with Mahatma Gandhi.