From Anne

Thanks, Susan for filling us in on your family vacation at Saint Simons Island. You made it sound so appealing that we were ready to take off and join you but that would go beyond family. So, treasure these times together. The Larcoms certainly do--on Saturday we will travel to Tampa to attend our granddaughter's H/S graduation events. Susan, we do appreciate that you stay in touch even when traveling. Keep updating us on your happenings.

Best wishes from Anne and the gang.

ABOUT THE TRIP (FINALLY) TO BARNSLEY-- not many of us made the trip, eight altogether including three of the husbands. We enjoyed the day, walking between points of interest in a perfect-weather day. Almost everything seemed to be in bloom and many trees and shrubs had identification markers. We were impressed with the museum, created in parts of the ruins. Almost a century and a half have passed since Barnsley stood in regal splendor, unaware of the fate that awaited it. Still, curators have been able to come up with documents, photographs and pieces of furniture that tell a story of a much earlier time. We were fascinated to learn that when war, disease and other bad happenings took the men away, strong-minded women emerged to carry on, to save what they could, and to feed and care for the children.

Our last stop before departing for Red Top Mountain and the restaurant was the rose arbor where many climbing rose bushes had been trained over an overhead, curving frame work that seemed to go on for ever...the entrance was a good place for picture-making (with Judy Baer's I-phone and Caroline's disposable camera) as had been the fountain in front of the ruins, rising out of the parterre garden with boxwoods which had been planted in the 1840's when the mansion was young. Barnsley remains a place of history, intrigue and romance as was evident in preparations for a late afternoon garden wedding the day of our visit.

And, to Nola, if you had made it to Barnsley as you had planned, you would have been given a long, lost sister's welcome! We don't give up on our members, we are always waiting to welcome them. Bye for now.

From Nola

I hope everyone had a great time at Barnsley. I wasn't able to attend after all. Please click on link below:
http://www.kennesaw.edu/alumni/association/assoc.htm

From Susan Bennett

Dear Sisters,

I'm sorry to miss our reunion trip to Barnsley Gardens, but I am on St. Simons Island with my family for our annual Spring trip to the beach. We are staying in a wonderful four-story house right on the beach. At high tide, half of our steps to the beach are under water. It's more like being on a ship than in a house at some times of the day. David and I are here with our son Davis, his wife Helen and our two precious grandsons , Grayson, 6, and Candler, 5. We just love this week of non-stop fun and games - and arguing over who gets to punch the buttons on the elevator. Our days are filled with swimming in the pool, playing on the beach, arts and crafts, playing in the village playground, playing putt putt, and eating whatever we want whenever we want. We just hope that we can keep this tradition going forever.

We're really lucky to be here this week. We had quite a scare last week when David passed out at a church picnic and took a fast ride in an ambulance to Emory Hospital. It turned out that he had a complete electrical heart block, which the doctor said could very well have been fatal, but a pacemaker implanted last Monday fixed the problem. He's bruised and tired, but a very lucky man, and the doctors agreed that a week of rest and recovery at the beach surrounded by those who love him is just what he needed. How blessed we are! Just another reminder what a fine line we walk on all the time and how important it is to live life to the fullest every day. We know how fortunate we are that this happened five minutes from Emory Hospital and not two months ago when we were in Antarctica.

I hope everyone enjoyed the visit to Barnsley Gardens and being together. I look forward to the next Mu Rho Sigma event. I'm so happy that we decided we just couldn't let our association with each other end. Here's to a happy and healthy summer for everyone.

Susan Bennett

Deirdre Russell Comment

Just wanted to let you know that I cannot come to the reunion/meeting/event at Barnsley Gardens this Saturday. I am having all four wisdom teeth extracted on Thursday and I don’t think I will be up to much on Saturday.

You ladies have fun and take lots of pictures. Speaking of photos – here is a new one of my sweet baby girl Ginny.

and one of me AND Trish Early at a recent women’s conference (Trish is on the right, I am on the left)