Month: August 2010

On Wednesday while we were at Big Canoe, Carol, Fiona, Michael and I went to Helen, GA to go tubing down the Chattahoochee. We signed up for the “short” ride which was about an hour and a half. Fiona and Michael had to wear life jackets because they were under the age of 10, though you could easily stand up in the water and it came about to our knees.

When we were about half way through our time, a butterfly landed on Michael’s life jacket. Fiona saw it first and told Michael. Now, Michael is not ever still, you know, but that butterfly just moved around from back to front, always staying on Michael’s life jacket through the rest of the ride. When we got to the point where we had to get off the tube, I thought the butterfly would fly away, but it did not. It stayed with Michael all through his getting out of the tube and walking on up the bank. When we got up to the top of the bank, Fiona said “Michael, you have to take off your life jacket – let me take the butterfly.” So, she put her finger out, and the butterfly climbed right onto it.

Michael took the jacket off, hung it on a hook, and the butterfly flew right back to Michael and landed on his shirt. It stayed with Michael all the way as we walked up to get on the bus. When we went up the stairs of the bus, the butterfly flew onto the handle by the driver of the bus. It stayed there until we got rode back up the hill and the driver opened the door. Then it flew out the door.

That was grandaddy, you know. He was always playing tricks on us and he just had to be there with us and let us know he was! It’s a fun memory.

Carol, Bob, David and Andrew joined me at Big Canoe on July 30th for a week. We stayed at Petit Crest Villas, a time share exchange. Ted came up and spent the day with us on Saturday. Jami came up on Sunday and brought Fiona and Michael. The children stayed and Jami returned to Athens later that day. Kathy and Jeb rented a very nice cottage at the top of the mountain for 4 nights and Claire and Kelly came with them. They arrived on Friday. Jeb and Kelly had to go home on Sunday night because they both had to go to work on Monday.

On Monday, all of us at Petit Crest and Kathy and Claire went to Amicalola Falls and climbed to the top of the falls, then came back down the steps along side the falls. They are the highest point in Georgia and the falls are beautiful. We walked up on a wooded path and we all made it to the top – even Michael! Yea!

The highlight for Fiona was the rock slide. She slid down 19 times over the week, in spite of all of the times when the slide was closed because of thunder or because there were not enough life guards. The beach area is so nice and includes a salt water olympic pool, paddle boats, canoes, volley ball court, grills, restaurant, and the famous rock slide. We also got to use another pool by the north gate and it had a huge baby pool with water buckets and umbrella sprinklers.

On Wednesday, the Petit Crest gang split up. Bob, David and Andrew met UT at the DOT office near 6 Flags and they all went to 6 Flags. It was so hot, but the roller coasters were awesome (as reported by Bob). Carol, Fiona, Michael and I went to Helen, GA and went tubing. The water was cool and refreshing and the ride was about an hour and a half. We then picnicked by the river and watched the tubers.

Thursday was my b’day. Grant came up early enough for us to all take a hike to the Upper Falls and Lower Falls. There was a water moccasin at the Lower Falls and Grant got up really close to take pictures, and only had flip flops on. While we were hiking, Eric surprised me with a call from New Mexico to wish me a happy birthday and we talked a long time.

After we got back, Jeb was there. Nicole called me from Armenia to wish me a happy birthday and it was another wonderful surprise! Then, we went over to the North Gate pool and Bob grilled some awesome hamburgers. They hung a birthday sign and we all wore party hats. A coconut cake topped it off. And, of course, the very loud Cashin/Ettensohn Happy Birthday Song! Then we all swam until we were run off by thunder. We had had enough, anyhow. For dinner, we went to a Mexican restaurant. Grant, Fiona and Michael left for Athens after dinner, and Jeb went back to Snellville.

It was a good week. I hope everybody had as much fun as I did. I am so blessed with such good children and grandchildren.