Update

It has been quite a while since last blog, but have been busy like one would not believe. Rock Branch Sales, Inc. is on fire right now and the consulting side of it in Real Estate is very active as well with a 50 million dollar deal poised to move forward that I closed a couple of months back. We have had visits from family this summer and I put in a small pond in the back with a fountain and fish. Anne feeds them each day and over the past two months they have grown. Looking forward to football season as it starts in a week now. Plenty of rain and cool temps this summer. Never reached 90 with most days in the high 70's to low 80's.

What A Month

Jan 09 was unbelievable month for us weather wise.  We had 6 inches of rain and it snowed 9 times during the month.  We got down to 6 degrees several nights and our highs remained mostly below 30 during the days.  Starting for the month of Feb we have had two snows two days apart with each bringing 2 inches of snow.  AH--but is has warmed starting yesterday and today we have reached near 60 so all the snow has melted.  

Sportsman Club

Yesterday was a new day for me.  A friend of mine (Bob Miller)  asked me to visit his club and shoot skeet.  Since I had not shot in years, I warned him that not to expect much.  He laughed and said not to worry, let's just go and have fun.  He shoots weekly on Thursdays.  I arrived at the club and he showed me around and we went into the clubhouse and met some of the guys.  I picked up two boxes of shells and we went to the range and shot two rounds of skeet.  Each round is a box of shells and different stations to shoot the clay targets (birds).  I surprised myself and was able to hit quite a few.  I had a blast.  After shooting I joined the club and will shoot regularly.  Anne can even come out and watch from a gazebo behind us.  This will be fun for her.  So now Anne can watch me shoot and can ride with me while I play golf.  We are swimming together as well.  Looks like we have settled into some fun activities together.  She can also go with me to the Model train Club, but she chooses not to do that regularly.

Jan 19 First Significant Snow

Today marks our first significant snow since we moved here.  It is so beautiful.  A snow plow just came down the road.  I sent everybody a link to my web gallery so you could see what we had in the first hour or so.  It is snowing still after 5 hours and we have about 4 inches or so on the ground.  It is supposed to snow on and off the rest of the day.  Prissy and I have been out to play in this event and she had a blast.  Anne watched us from inside.

One of you commented  that my blog mentions only my activities.  I guess that is the reason--it is my blog--not Anne's.  In all fairness though I include Anne in all she wants and is able to do.  I guess some people do not realize what it is like to be disabled 24-7,  365 or do not know Anne's limitations so I hope to put minds at rest.  Anne had to learn to walk, speak, eat, write and all that we take for granted.  It took her around a year to get back as far as she will ever be.  She can walk with assistance maybe 20 yards at the max and then needs to sit.  She talks but is very hard to understand over the phone so she hates to talk on the phone.  She has very limited writing skills and asks me to do the correspondence.  She does get out with me to grocery shop when she wants and we do go places with her scooter in tow.  Most people do not know how to relate to her and her condition so they basically do nothing.  No phone calls or visits.  That was true in Georgia just as it is here.  She is able to get around the inside of the house by holding onto furniture and the walls.  She is responsible for making breakfast and lunch most days, she does the wash and anything else she wishes to do even if it requires my help.  She actively supervises my activities around the house and property especially my vacuuming, dusting, and yard work. We both knew what lay ahead of us before we married, but we each committed our lives to each other in marriage and have never looked back.  We are joined together and neither of us complains.  We truly are blessed to have each other and we would not have it any other way. Anne and I have both accepted the unfortunate circumstances, but we just move on and keep our faith in God to watch over and protect us.  I do have a few outside activities and we both agreed that it was important that I do.  I am always a short distance away and always carry my cell.  I do not leave her over an hour or so alone and always tell her where I am going and when I will be back.  Each day is a care and giving day for us.  We live in harmony with each other and the circumstances we endure.

Maybe this will set minds at ease about who we are and what we do in our lives.

JG 

A New Year

Here it is the middle of Jan 2009 and I am just now getting around to updating my blog.  I can not begin to tell you how busy we have been, but maybe I can find time to keep this up now that we seem to be settled into our first winter on the mountain.  It snowed here 5 times in December and four times already this month with maybe more coming tonight and tomorrow.  For the past few nights we were at 0 degrees and 6 degrees.  We love watching it snow and realize what we have been missing for years.  It sure is pretty.  The inside of our house is basically complete now with the addition of a sofa bed in my office, several floor lamps and a entry hall coat rack stand.  I rewired a family antique brass lamp and polished the brass.  It is a warm addition to our great room.  I am turning my efforts as soon as it warms just a bit to the finishing of the back woods which includes more stands for bird houses and hooks for the potted plants this spring.  I have a lot of limbs to get up and stack in my wood pile over by our wood stove that we enjoy when the weather permits.  If all goes well I plan on building a garden rail road in the back over time.  We will be able to enjoy it and the surroundings from the convenience of our deck.  That will be a major undertaking, but I am really into trains now that I am a member of the club up here.  I have completed my HO board and it is set up in the garage.  That was fun doing and I learned a lot. The Gibson Rail Road is up and running.   I have cut back on some activities to just not be too busy.  I am continuing the train club which requires a meeting once a month, Friday work days at our facility at the Outlet Mall from 12 to 4 and I have joined a 9 hole golf league playing on Mondays every week beginning in April.  Prissy and I are trying to get ready to ride my bike (maybe she will pull me)  and my consulting work is going well.  I am joining the Sportsman Club this week and will shoot with a friend on Thursdays each week.

Anne and I are so happy here.  We find ourselves pinching each other to make sure we are not dreaming.  We had a festive Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Anne says she will be in charge this coming year of placing our outdoor scenes.  We are having some friends over for a Super Bowl part in a couple of weeks and look forward to that time.

We wish all a happy, healthful and prosperous new year.  Visit us soon.

John and Anne

Settled In

What a busy last few weeks.  Seems that we have a ton of stuff to do each day.  Anne is set for swimming three days a week (me too).  My Plateau Writers Guild is very interesting, informative, and exciting.  It is twice a month.  My Model Railroad Club is fun as well. I am set for golf with my new clubs but have not had time to hit the links yet--that will come soon.  Gearing up for fall plantings of grass and winter flowers soon.  Prissy loves to chase all the bugs on our 5 times a day walks.  By the way--I have lost 6 pounds as a result so far.  Preparing to get propane hooked up by mid August.  We join our new Church in August.

July Fourth

What a July 4th.  Spent the day gazing at our new flowers on the deck and back.  Grilled ribs and all the fixins.  Watched fireworks from our bedroom as they made their way up the hill.  Today is a low country boil.  Life is fun!