merry Christmas

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas with friends and lived ones. Whatever your belief, Christmas reminds us to cherish each other, to do our best to others and to enjoy every minute of this wonderful life. I am so blessed to have you as a friend and I look forward to good times together in the new year!
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With Sandy and Ron at Tia Maria cantina

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Ron& Sandy Balsley <rsbalsley@gmail.com>
Date: March 22, 2011 2:32:56 PM PDT
To: Kathleen Martin <kmcnm@silverstar.com>

Sent from my iPhone

The El Capitan HOTEL

Built in the 30's and refurbished we wished we'd stayed there nut did have a very nice dinner there. On to Mesa-sandy and Ron there. Will stay for a couple of days then head home after more than a month's very enjoyable travels and respite from winter .

Had such a great time with Janet and Mark I forgot to take more photos

But after a 600 mile drive arrived in Van Horn TX stayed at achesp motel but then discovered...

Visiting Janet & Mark in Houston

We went to the Rothko Chapel

In New Orleans

Sitting on Diane's porch, knitting. T 70's. Off to meet a Friend for lunch- Skip wants a Po'Boy. Will see CE &Debbie for dinner- I am getting fat but can't pass up the delicious food here-boiled shrimp tails big as your thumb, fried stuffed soft shell crab oysters for Skip

On the beach near BocaGrande

Pelicans on the pier in Cedar Key

Chilly today. Sadly many of the restaurants and tourist stores are closed-hit by the recession I guess. However the hotels are still charging high season rates. We had a nice relaxing visit with Al and Gail

Al & Skip looking for sharks' teeth

Cathedral St Augustine

Unfortunately the old town is very touristy

Presbyterian church in St Augustine

On to St. Augustine and the Fort there

Castillo San Marcos. More photos tomorrow. We have found trolley tours to be a great way to get an overview and history/fable? about historic cities-much better than juggling guide books of walking tours and easier on the feet

We were happy to meet some longtime friends of Hank and Sue

Affectionately known as the Big Chill group, these friends have watched each other's children, and now grandchildren grow up

Hank too!

Sue &Skip at the oldest church in Bluffton

Beaufort SC

We went with Hank and Sue to Beaufort and tools carriage ride to see the antebellum mansions-reminiscent of N.O. Spectacular!!

Met Hank and Sue in Savannah

Went to Mrs Wilke's Dining Room for lunch, famous for serving all manner of Southern cooking boardinghouse style . I counted 25 dishes on the table plus a heaping platter of fried chicken. Then we took a trolley tour of all the squares of this lovely city. The architecture reminded us of New Orleans.

Last of the house photos

(on Sullivan's Island anyway ).We are on our way to see Skip's college roommate on Skipaway Island near Savannah, then to Savannah tomorrow and lunch with Hank and Sue at Mrs Wilke's Boardinghouse

More houses

Houses

Lighthouse Sullivan's Island

Sullivan's Island

More photos of houses to follow-I can't figure out how to send more than one at a time

Charleston SC

Famous church

Smokey mountains

At the Biltmore inn

Our friends Eddy and Bill

Buying pepper Jelly

Antiquing near Nashville

Diana in the Parthenon

The Parthenon

In Nashville

Qawpaw baths

We took morning soak at this elegant old bathhouse before setting out for Nashville-we may not be healthier but are cleaner!

Dinner at the Park Hotel

Shabby chic on the historic register in Hot Springs

The ceiling of s bathhouse pavilion

Bathhouse row Hot Springs AR

Six historic bathhouses remain

OK I said I 'd never go to Hooters

But after a 12 hr. drive from Denver to Okla. City it was right next door to our very nice $40 Hotwire hotel & had beer. Our nice waitress Ellyn is a Resp. Therapy student.

Relaxing in Denver

Having a great visit and sunny weather with my brother James wife Deborah. On to Oklahoma City tomorrow!

Test post-Why should we want to get away?

Warmer climes & good friends!!

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