Smokies Hike & Dollywood's Festival of Nations

It was a glorious camping weekend.  We hiked the Schoolhouse Gap Trail in the NP and took the 2nd turnoff  DOWN DOWN to the left to this meadow of wildflowers, called White Oak Sinks.  It was a steep climb back up and out of there, but worth it.  

The lavender phlox were everywhere!

The usual picnic fare - at Cades Cove picnic area. 

This is where we hung out till almost sundown, enjoying some good books and the gurgling stream beside us.

While riding around the Cades Cove campground we spotted this beauty!

Back at Eagles Nest campground Sat. night. . .

Leaving the full campground Sunday morning, headed to Dollywood

It was an old car rally weekend so the parkway was very busy and lots of old vehicles lined the road.

Via Romen from Russia and the Ukraine were very talented

One of our two favorite groups we heard - Celtic Coast from Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island and we brought home their CD

The other of our two favorites - United Kingdom Ukelele Orchestra - we bought one of their CD's too.

Monday's at the Samaritan Center

Monday mornings I volunteer at the Samaritan Center.  There are several others there at the same time in the Volunteer Room.  We have lots of fun, no matter what we're doing.  Jeannette and Janie sort through donated games to be sure all the parts are there.

Milton and this gentleman sort through baseball cards to make packets to sell.  Milton was out when I took the picture.

Connie, Ruthie and I sort through donated fabric and measure and price it along with craft kits, yarn, and you name it.  A lot of times we get partly completed afghans or quilts.

Charlotte goes through racks of clothes in the Clearance Center picking out empty hangers and putting clothes back on the hangers that are on the floor.  I used to sort through donation bags and sort clothes with Charlotte before the addition was finished.

Last Friday there was an appreciation banquet for the staff and volunteers at the Samaritan Center, which they have once a year.  On the program it stated that this year the Sam. Ctr. directly assisted 9,787 people in need. A total of 2,003 hours were spent by volunteers processing games, fabric, sports cards, Barbies, jewelry, and knives.  Volunteers served a total of 16, 681 hours, or the equivalent to $417,040.  They also give us $25 gift certificates on our birthday, at Christmas and at the banquet.  It's nice to be appreciated.  It really is a fun way to start my week each Monday.

Group picture of all the volunteers and staff who attended the banquet

Patty generally cleans up and dresses Barbie dolls. but this week she started sorting through costume jewelry to price.

Ruthie's BD, CA Alumni Weekend, Smiths and Fords Visit

Thurs. night, April 7, at Provino's celebrating Ruthie's birthday

Oliver came for the weekend with his grandma and grandpa.  What is in that glass looking up at him???

We enjoyed having Connie, Roger and Oliver with us over the Gym Masters home show weekend.

It is nice having the goldfinches again at last this weekend.  I guess the fresh thistle worked!

Sun. evening Ken and Renee came for a visit since they were in town.  

It was Alumni weekend at CA.  It was good to see these two girls from the class of '06, Caleigh Teasley and Meghan Dishroom who worked for me grading papers.  Caleigh is a nurse in Chattanooga and Meghan is an accountant in NY City for Deloitte and Touche!