Unique Baptism Ceremony
When I was a kid… you know, back when pictures were drawn on cave walls… we didn’t have a fancy baptistry in our church. It was just a little country church, so when it was time for baptism by immersion, you headed for the creek.
I was around 12 years old when I was baptised.
Water Baptism in a country creek!
What was unique about that baptism ceremony is that my elderly grandfather was baptized at the same time. He was almost 78 years old!
Grandfather being baptized in creek.
While we were visiting family in Florida, we were privileged to witness another unique baptism ceremony. All four of the grandkids there were baptised in Rock Springs at Kelly Park in Apopka, Florida.
Oldest grandson, Lee
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Emily gets baptised next.
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Ryan ready to get baptized.
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Kelley takes her turn.
I made a video out of the pictures and short video clips I took during this unique baptism ceremony. I thought it was only fitting to use music by our oldest grandson Lee and his band, Red Redemption.
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I wish I could also have included a picture of The Farmer when he was baptized in 1985. He was much older than I was when he was baptised, and unfortunately, no one took any pictures. However, I can share one taken at the grandkids baptism ceremony.
Grandfather from Mom's side of family,Grandmother from Dad Sanford's side.
It was a very special baptism ceremony, and I’m glad we got to be there!
Happy Birthday Farmer!
Today is The Farmer’s birthday.
In Dixie: Old Times There Are Not Forgotten!
As you can see, he’s been around a while. 🙂
But here’s a few pictures just from this past year, and yes, in chronological order! The first from this past spring, when he was tilling up his garden.
Tilling the garden.
Later in the spring, he needed to burn some old boxes and feed bags.
Firebug Farmer
Come early summer, and he was cutting some old weeds down in the pasture with his newly repaired Allis Chalmers tractor.
Cutting old grass in pasture with his Allis Chalmers tractor.
In July we made a trip to West Virginia to visit family. We picked up my dad and went over in the eastern part of the state to ride on the Cheat Mountain Salamander train… a 9-hour trip through the mountains!
The Farmer by Cheat Mountain Salamander train.
The next day we went over to the Elk River (obviously the one in West Virginia, not the one closer to us in Tennessee).
By Elk River in West Virginia.
On the way home, we stopped at the National Corvette Museum to look at lots and LOTS of beautiful Corvettes!
National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky
The next weekend after we got home, there he was on his old tractor again. He was mowing down the weeds from the banks of the pond.
Farmer on his old Allis Chalmers tractor mowing around the pond.
Here we are, another hot Saturday in August, and he’s putting fresh water in the pools. Keira liked to drink from the hose when it’s hot.
Water for the llama.
Here he is with his best bud, Toby.
The Farmer & his buddy.
The first weekend in October always finds us attending the Old Time Fiddler’s Convention in Athens, Alabama.
The Farmer enjoying the jam sessions.
Later in October, we went over to the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg, Tennessee area, in the Smoky Mountains. They had lots of scarecrows around the town for decorations.
A new girlfriend?
And then one last picture, from about 5 years ago… just because it’s one of my all-time favorites because I like the way granddaughter Ellie is looking at Southern Grandpa.
Ellie and her Southern Grandparents
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FARMER!!!
#16
Whether you think, “What a lucky guy!” or “Poor soul” …
It’s been 16 years. My, my. How time flies when you’re having fun!
Happy Anniversary Farmer Dude!
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Home Again!
Yes, we made it home. Actually, we got home Sunday afternoon, but I’ve been mega-busy trying to catch up on stuff. When you’ve been gone for 9 days, and spent a few days before that getting ready to go… there are LOTS of things needing attention!
We had a great time of course! We even made a stop at the Okefenokee Swamp on the way down to Florida, and got to see lots of gators!
However, our main purpose of the visit was to see this little girl. . .
Our Little Mermaid
and her mom and dad, and all the Sanford clan, plus Randy too! We had a bunch of family in one place, and it will probably be a long, long time before it happens again.
Anyway, I’ll be putting the pictures up in batches, cause there are too many for one post! so stay tuned!
Back Home Again
Yes, I’m back home again, at least for a few weeks. It’s always a little disconcerting to be somewhere far from home one day, and then the next day you’re back home doing your usual chores.
I enjoyed the visit of course! Miss Ellie is doing quite well physically. Here she is out walking one beautiful morning.
At her therapy sessions, they are trying to progress to her walking with canes. These canes have a tripod base to make them more stable, but the first time Ellie tried to use them, of course it didn’t go fantastically well. So on the way home from therapy, she voiced the opinion: “Those canes don’t work very good.”
Funny girl.