Daddy

Private 1st Class H. M. Creel, Sr.

Soldiers! I am in awe of their commitment and dedication. I am so grateful that they put their lives on the line for us everyday. They have my utmost respect and admiration.

It seems that I've always been drawn to the military. I even wanted to work (as a civilian) on a military base, but I've never lived close enough. And then there's the time that Whitney and I tried to get on base at Ft. Jackson, but that's a story for another day. Maybe I'm drawn to it because my two times great grandfather was a Confederate Soldier in the Civil War. Maybe it's because my very own daddy served in the Army during the Korean War and Vietnam. Just maybe! I have several uncles and cousins who have served during wars and rumors of wars. And thank God, they all returned safe. Which brings me to.....Memorial Day.

Now, I know Memorial Day is the holiday we observe to remember those men and women who died while serving our country.

Oh wait, did you know that Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War?

Awesome!

And then we have Veteran's Day which is a great day of honor for our Veterans.

But, back to Memorial Day......even though we remember those who died while serving in the military, I just think it's fitting to also remember those who lived and are still serving and putting their lives on the line this very day. So many men in my family have served in the military. Some have served in wars and conflicts and some are still active today. I would like to honor those men for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. It is with much pleasure that I give them a special place of honor in my heart. And the one that holds the highest place of honor in my heart.....My Daddy.

Yep, you know me and Miss Nostalgia. We've been at it again. We've been walking down memory lane. This weekend is a big weekend for my family. Not only is it Memorial Day weekend, but it is also my daddy's birthday and his 'going home to heaven' day. That's him in the picture. Wasn't he handsome? And those ears....well, they're a family trait. Several of those ears are walking this earth, as we speak. I had a friend tell me this week that she thought he looks like Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimmer. Ha! I had never seen that before she brought it to my attention, but she's right...he does.

Daddy was a private in the Army, drafted in 1959. He was stationed at one time or another in Ft. Jackson, Ft. Ord, Ft. Benning, Ft. Bragg, Ft. Carson, Korea, Germany and volunteered for Vietnam, but they wouldn't take him because by this time he was married with four children. Ft. Carson in Colorado was his last assignment. After serving for seven years, he chose not to re-enlist. After leaving Colorado, we moved back home to SC, where he lived out the remainder of his life.

Today is daddy's birthday. He would have been 76 years old. And tomorrow is daddy's 6th anniversary of his 'going home to heaven' day. He had a good life...not always easy, but he was close to his family and managed to do many things he loved. Daddy was an adventurous soul. He had a heart for those less fortunate than himself, especially children. He loved his Church. He was always pulling pranks....his sister's and brother's, mostly, fell prey to those. Daddy had a great sense of humor and loved to kid around. He loved to travel and he loved to camp. I know I got my sense of adventure and love of travel from him. It didn't matter what he was doing, if I called him up and said, "Daddy, let's go on an adventure", he would be halfway out the door before hanging up the phone.

It goes without saying that I miss my daddy very much. I think about him often. I miss the mornings he dropped by for a cup of coffee. I miss our family get togethers where daddy was, no doubt, the center of attention. I miss how he used to take his hand and brush it down your face in a playful gesture. I miss his laugh and his gimpy walk. I miss his hands, which by the way is the last thing I touched right after his soul left this earth. I just plain miss him! Some people may wish that their loved ones could come back for a day or for one more hug or just one more I love you, but I wouldn't wish for daddy to come back here for anything. He's in Glory! He's not sick anymore and he's spending his birthday, today, with our Lord.

To My Daddy.....a soldier, a husband, a father, a papa, a brother, an uncle, a child of God:

I am so proud of who you were. I am so proud of your service to our country. I am so proud to call you my daddy. I wish you a Happy Birthday, a Happy 'Going Home To Heaven Day' and Happy Memorial Day.

Til we meet again,

Laurie

Adventures of a Mother's Day in the Upstate

The Hydrangea that Lidia and Sawyer gave their mama for Mother's Day

 

I know, I know, this is a little late coming. Time can slip through your fingers like water sometimes. So, before it gets away with me....I want to chronicle Mother's Day weekend with my grandchildren.

 

Emily had to work the weekend shift at the hospital, so I went up to keep Lidia and Sawyer for her. I like to plan activities for us and I've found that the upstate has a treasure trove of things to do. Untapped adventures, for sure!

 

A little recap.......

Saturday: We had planned to ride bikes on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. A rails-to-trails system that runs from Greenville, SC to Travelers Rest, SC.

 

We didn't know it at the time, but Greenville was hosting an Artist Festival and streets were closed to traffic in the area where we needed to get on the trail. So, we just drove to the Traveler's Rest end and got on the trail there. This is the neatest trail, which runs in part along the Reedy river and is about 17 miles in length. It's a paved path wide enough for multiple bikes or runners and walkers to pass each other. And, very scenic. Although, with two little ones in tow, I didn't get to see the most scenic parts. Their little legs can only go so far. But we had a great ride anyway. And after, we had lunch at a restaurant right beside the trail in Traveler's Rest called The Whistle Stop. I'm pretty sure it's an old train station.

 

The Swamp Rabbit Trail

 

 

The Whistle Stop Café...right beside the Swamp Rabbit Trail

 

 

Lidia and Sawyer outside the Whistle Stop Café

 

Sunday: We drove over to a very small town called Cross Anchor to visit an old Revolutionary War Battle site. Musgrove Mill Plantation was where this battle took place. Of course, the signs of the battle are no longer visible, but the history behind it was very interesting. And the grounds of the plantation itself is beautiful. I was concerned that the children might be bored, but they actually enjoyed it. That is until Sawyer's energy bottomed out. In the pictures you can see how his face looks like doom. When his energy goes.....it goes!

 

Lidia and Sawyer.......

Exploring the Musgrove Mill Plantation.

The site of a Revolutionary War Battle.

Exploring the trails....

 

....and making new discoveries. Lidia was intrigued by these flowers

that had fallen from trees along the trails. Can anyone tell me what it is?

Here's the face...his energy is starting to falter.

 

Almost gone.....

 

......Gone!

Even though his energy is gone and he is completely miserable,

sometimes I can still get a picture that makes me go......WOW!!!!!

 

After wandering around the plantation grounds for a bit and Sawyer's energy going south, we stopped for some nutrition. Good thing I brought PowerBars and water with us. Came in handy, big time. Energy restored.....and we were off to see the waterfalls that was on the property. We had to drive to that area.....good news for Sawyer.

 

 

 

We arrived to the waterfalls and met a few folks on their way back that warned us of snakes. It was pretty warm that day and I'm guessing the snakes wanted to cool off in the Enoree river just about as much as we did. But, I'm deathly afraid of them so we let the snakes have it. I did manage to get a few pictures of Lidia and Sawyer before my fears paralyzed me. By the way, we didn't see any snakes and the waterfalls wasn't much of a waterfall. But it was very pretty and the kids loved the thought of coming back when the snakes hibernate and exploring the rocks and waterfalls.

 

The Enoree River. So incredibly beautiful!

Having fun....

.....and really anxious to get in the water, but you know that thing about the snakes....yeah!

I was a fuddy dud LaLa, not willing to face her fears as Sawyer told me to do years ago.

 

We had a great weekend and I wouldn't have wanted to spend Mother's Day any other way. Adventures and exploring with my little Grandloves......AWESOME!

 

**********

 

Now, in case you were wondering:

 

I took a little break from running after the Divas Half Marathon and the Hell Hole Swamp 10K.

I had planned to get back to the gym more and get back on the bike this summer, but Whitney sent me a link to a half marathon in her neck of the woods (Denver).

 

And I was like, OMG!!! I have to do this race!!!

 

It is a 13.1 mile run from Evergreen, CO to Morrison, CO. It is all downhill with some of the most beautiful sights in all of North America. How could I not run this race?

 

So, as of next week.....I'll be back in half marathon training mode.

But, I'm thinking that since I am still somewhat conditioned from my last half

that I can still get a day in the gym and a day on the bike

and still have time and energy left to train for this downhill-half marathon

 in the Colorado Rockies.

 

And...and....Whitney is running it with me! Holler!

 

So, sometime after August 17th....I'll post about this one. I hope I can capture the beauty of the Colorado Rockies along the way.

 

Laurie

I Never Did Give Her A Name

No, I never did give her a name. Should I be ashamed? I mean, people name their cars, they name their boats and they name their property. And I would guess that people name their sewing machines. HaHa!

Did you?

Me? Nope, I never did.

She was just a simple girl.

Yes, simple and unassuming. She only had 8 different stitches.

But the old girl served me well for the last 30 years. She has been instrumental in the making of my girls clothes when they were little. She has helped me make their play clothes, appliqued tops to match their shorts and skirts, dresses for church, Easter dresses, curtains, quilts, daddy blankets, pillows and baby gifts of all kinds and we even started the second generation as she helped me start making clothes for Lidia. She was so important in my life that when Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989, she was evacuated with me.

I kid you not!

Lidia is wearing a dress that I made her mama for Easter, one year.

Daddy Blankets.

I made seven of these the year after daddy died, with a cast on my right hand. 

I cut up his old shirts to make quilts for mama and my siblings that Christmas.  

Pillows.....

And for the next generation...a sweet pillow case dress for Lidia.

                                    However, today, I'm sad to say she has sewn her last stitch.

Broken tension knob....

Holding on by a thread.

Her tension knob has broken and would have fallen off, if not for the thread running through it.

How did it happen? I can only imagine. Most likely from transporting her back and forth to the beach. Once again, we were headed for the beach to make new curtains, when I noticed her demise. Poor thing! She will now spend Glory in a special spot of my sewing room.

So now, I am on the hunt for a new girl to replace her. So far, my first choice is a Bernina. I've heard they are a dream to sew on and with their rock solid parts, last a lifetime.

When I find The One, you'll be one of the first to know. 

Love, Peace and Stitching,

Laurie

Hell Hole Swamp 10K

2014 Hell Hole Swamp 10K Gator Run

Jamestown is a very small town in SC. A crossroads, really. The last census reported a population of 72. But as small as Jamestown is, it is known for quite a few things. If you've ever traveled Hwy 41 or 17-A, there's a chance you were caught in it's infamous "speed trap". And for 43 years, the town has had the annual Hell Hole Swamp Festival that hosts beauty contests, barbeque cook-offs, a parade, a children's spitting contest using cocoa mix and an arm wrestling contest...just to name a few. Or, if you happen to be a runner, you may have run in the Hell Hole Swamp 10K Gator Run.

The real deal......

(photo courtesy of someone else)

The winners receive a real mounted alligator head.

Well, I am a runner and I ran the 10K Gator Run this morning. Of the 6.2 miles, the first and last miles were on pavement. The 4.2 miles in the middle were on a rock/dirt road that ran through part of the Francis Marion National Forest. Cliff and I drove the "run route" a few weeks ago, so I already knew the rock/dirt road was going to be a challenge. After riding the dirt road, I can't say I was overly excited about running this race. But I was already registered, so decided to do my best.

I read a race report from a previous year and it was described as sightings of alligators, snakes, boar and wild turkeys being possible. If you've been a reader of my blog for awhile, then you know how deathly afraid of snakes I am. So, this little bit of information did not help my excitement level. Cliff was unable to be with me today because he had a race of his own. (Bragging on him for a minute....he won his age group. Go Cliff!) Usually, he is with me and fighting off such animals is totally his gig. I might mention, he has never had to defend my life against such creatures, but it's his duty none-the-less. Or, to arm me with weapons....just in case I am charged by a wild hog or something.

So anyway, as I said before....I was not overly excited about this race. The thoughts of rock roads and snakes and such was enough to give me the shivers. I figured there was safety in numbers, though, unless I got left behind. OMG, there goes another fear!

The finish line, but also the area for packet pick-up.

Packet pick-up.

I arrived to the "middle of town" to pick up my race packet, which also happened to be the finish line. I overheard someone asking where the start line was and one of the Hell Hole Swamp staffers said, "You take a right and go down about a mile...there will be a white line in the road. Start there." HaHa, I was amused.

I guess this guy was making sure that there was indeed a gator along the way.

Oh well, to each his own. If I had to run with that thing on my back, I would chuck him into the first swamp I ran by.

At the start line, a pick-up truck came riding up beside us with a man standing in the back, wielding a shotgun. All of a sudden, we realized that he would be the one to give "when the gun goes off" a whole new meaning. He aimed his gun, shot....and nothing. The gun didn't go off. HaHa! He turned a little red. He opened the shotgun and replaced a shell and gave it another try. And BOOM......we were off.

The first mile was on paved road, which was not closed to traffic I might add. It was all good, though. The residents of Jamestown were happy to have us there and gave us plenty of room on the highway. After a mile, we turned right onto the rock/dirt road that ran through a portion of the Francis Marion National Forest. There was a well appointed water stop and although the temps were cool, I needed something to drink. I was already breathing hard after going out too fast, as usual. Let me tell ya, their water was ice cold....a nice surprise for sure.

Heading on down the rock/dirt road, I was acutely aware of my surroundings. I was looking out for snakes, wild hogs and alligators. I was concentrating on landing surefooted. The last thing I needed was to step on a rock and twist my ankle. I surely did not want to be left behind. And then, I started noticing the birds chirping and the smell of sweet honeysuckle. I was actually enjoying myself. Mile two came quickly, then another water stop, a right turn and then mile three. Ahead of me were three ladies and about this time I was able to pass two of them. The third was still a good distance ahead. I didn't make it a goal to pass her...I just wanted to stay near. Because, you know the thing where there's safety in numbers. Anyway, approaching mile four, I noticed that I was starting to gain on her. I began channeling my inner "Alice". Remember Alice....my very fast running friend? Well, I started chanting to myself....Run like Alice, Run like Alice, Run like Alice. And then, it wasn't long before I passed that lady, too.

The rock/dirt road and the lady I passed around mile four.

Just over four miles and the sight of the railroad crossing made me exclaim out loud, "Thank goodness, we are almost back to the highway."

Back on the highway, we had roughly a mile to go. Again, the roads were not closed to traffic and we had cars passing us every few minutes. I did not feel alarmed or worried. The drivers were being respectful. With about a half mile left to go, the parade participants had started lining the road. I don't even know what all those trucks and corvettes were doing in the parade, but there was a passel of them. We had to dodge a horse being removed from a horse trailer, a few men in red shirts and I'm guessing part of the "Shriners". I kind of laughed to myself because they watched us like we couldn't see them. I waved to them as I passed and they just glared. Can only imagine what they were thinking....probably something like "Look at that one there, she's done tuckered out." Ha!

And just like that.....the race was over. I was clearly surprised at how awesome this race turned out to be. I didn't see the first snake or wild hog....holla! The temperature was just right. The smells were just right. The water stops with ice cold water was just right.

And the enthusiasm of the Hell Hole Swampers was just right.

 I had a great race and will definitely be back next year.  

In case you were wondering:

Ran: 10K (6.29 miles on my Garmin)

Finish Time: 1:18 hr

Avg. Pace: 12:29

Place: 92 out of 105

Talk soon,

Laurie