Jan. 1
   Went out for breakfast brunch with Betty & Billy and then took flowers to Betty Hardin.
 
Jan. 2
   We’re No I!  The Gators beat FSU 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl.  We watched the game with Betty & Billy at 8 pm.  Beth, Zack, Coral & Katie ate lunch with us.
 
Jan. 3
  Morris & I delivered Meals on Wheels.
 
Jan. 4
   Dixie got home from Dothan.      
   Buddy Hannah died.
 
Jan. 5
   My turn to go to the nursing home to feed mom - Stayed from 5pm - 8pm.
 
Jan. 6
   I had a mammogram today. Everything OK.  Charlie Pardie died.  
Jan. 9.
   Went to Charlies Funeral.     Rain & cold all day.
 
Jan. 15
   Went up to see mom at noon.  Bob & Ellie arrived this afternoon.  I cooked supper for them, Dixie & David.
 
Jan. 16
   My 65th Birthday.  My, how time flies.  I really don’t feel any older but I wish I could stay 65 for a lot more years.  It’s also Uncle Bob’s birthday.  He’s 3 years older than me.  So we try to celebrate together each year.  We went out for dinner at Steak & Ale.  Morris gave me a diamond pendent.
 
Jan. 17
   Bob & Ellie left & Betty, Billy & us went out to eat at the Red Lobster.  It’s been very cold all day.
 
Jan. 18
   Big freeze last night.  Beth, Mark & Kids went to Naples to see Mark’s brother, Danny.
 
Jan. 19.
   Carole came up for a few days to help with mother.  David drove to Miami to fly out to Margariete (south America) for a week of wind surfing. Another freeze tonight.
 
Jan. 20
   Beth & Mark & kids went to Sea World.  Holiday today.  Martin Luther King’s Birthday.
 
Jan. 21
   Gary & Dianne moved into their big beautiful new home today.  Beautiful day.  Sue & Jim here too.  We played cards tonight.  Went up to see mom.  
 
Jan. 25
   Went to Dot and Lee’s 50th wedding anniversary party.
 
Jan. 27
   David got back safely.
 
Feb. 1
   For my information -  Beth has Brownies on Monday nights and Girl Scouts on Thurs. Nights.  She works 7:15-1:30 at GHS in the cafeteria and drives from Orange Lake each morning & afternoon after all the kids get out of school Coral & Katie go to Littlewood and Zach at GHS. My, how big they are getting.  Coral is the best student with almost all A’s.  Katie is still taking extra speech classes.  Zach is doing fine at GHS.    Had Dixie, David, Zach and Mother for supper.  It’s really hard getting mom here & in her wheelchair, but she begs to come so we try & bring her here every once in a while.
 
Feb. 3
   We picked up Zack at GHS after his baseball practice was over at six.  He ate supper with us & spent the night with us.  
 
Feb. 4
   Penny’s came & took down the drapes they put up in Dec.  and replaced them with new ones.  The Women’s group at our church gave a “Tea” for all of the ladies at our church.  It was really nice.  Carole came up to help with mom.
 
Feb. 5
   Put in a new hot water heater today.
 
Feb. 6
   Met our S.S. class at Morrison’s.
 
Feb. 7
   Morris & I delivered Meals on Wheels.
 
Feb. 8
   My turn to go up to feed mom.    Rained.
 
Feb. 12 and 19th (Full moon)
 
   The sand hill cranes left today.  What a beautiful sight.  They fly right over our house.  They meet way up high in the sky and circle around & around (like they are waiting for the slow ones to catch up) & honk & honk.  They winter down around McIntosh & fly north (it takes them months to get to Canada) after stopping at different areas.  
 
Feb. 15
   Went to Gary & Dianne’s house for a going away party for Kelly.  Sue & Jim came up.   Ft. Tatham’s Reunion at Wildwood 14 & 15th.
 
Feb. 16
   Mom had to go to the hospital - she has pneumonia.  We all took turns staying with her around the clock.  Dixie & I stayed til midnight.  Carole came up to help.  She really is bad off and it looks like she may die.
 
Feb. 18
   Kelly left for Culinary School in San Francisco, Cal.
 
Feb. 19
   The six of us are taking turns at the hospital with mom.
 
Feb. 20
    83° today.   
Feb.  21
   Stayed with mom from 12 midnight to 7 am for 2 days and from 7 to 10 pm Sat. Sun. & Monday.
 
Feb. 25
   Mom is better and they took her back to the nursing home on the 27th I stayed with her from 3-6 pm.   1997
 
March 1
   Went up to feed mom her supper & get her ready for bed.  She seems to be better.  Eating again.  
 
March 2
   I started today helping Visitors in SS to find their rooms, etc.  I’m a church hostess for the next month.
 
March 7-8-9
   Sue & Jim are here.
 
March 10
   Julie’s mother died.
 
March 18
   Our SS class ate together at Quincy’s.
 
March 19
   Katie & Coral spent the night with us.
 
March 21-24
   Brenda, Tom & Andrew went to Charlotte, N.C. for their old Church (St. John’s Baptist) homecoming.  (Tom was Youth Director there for 3 years and Kristopher was born there).
 
March 28
  Zack spent the night with us as he had a baseball game Sat. morning.  
 
March 29
   Had a birthday diner for Beth & David.  We gave Beth a new black dress (her wishes) & David shorts & a shirt.  After supper we all went to the Easter play at our church.
 
March 31
   Left for our cabin at Ft. Tatham, N.C. at 6 AM.  Arrived safely at 3 p.m. Cold & windy. P.S. I helped to feed, get mom ready for bed March 1, 6, 8, 13, 20, 24, 29, 30.
 
April 1-5
   30° this morning but sunny & got up to 70°.  Took us all wee to get the cabin cleaned up, yard cleaned up & to go to Walmart in Sylva to get groceries & other supplies.  Sunny & warm days til the 6th when it rained & turned cooler.  The pink dogwood trees are in full bloom & are beautiful. (Also the white dogwood and the tulips are all out)
 
April 9
   Very, very cold last night - 25°.
 
April 10
   Betty & Billy went home today.  
 
April 12
   Sat. First pancake breakfast cooked by the men here.  Rained last night 65° today. 40’s tonight.
 
April 13
   Cold & windy all day.  Went to 1st Baptist Church in Franklin.  Really like the pastor & the church
   mostly old people!  After church some lady took a video of the whole church congregation on the front steps as we said “Good Morning America”.  Can’t wait to see if they show it on TV.
 
April 14-15-16
   Sunny & cool days.  16th Marjorie & DeLouie (our neighbors) went to Key West Restaurant to eat fish.
 
April 17
   Our first Pot Lunch Supper rained last night.  Cold & very windy all day.
 
April 18
  32° last night.  Drove over to Maggie Valley & Cherokee today.   
 
April 19
   Rained last night & all day today -  high 55° today.   Went to the Flea Market in Ashville. Barb & Bob’s chili supper.
 
April 20
   Beautiful - sunny & warm 70°
 
April 21
   Betty & Billy got back from Fl.  
 
April 22
   Sunny & warm.
 
April 23
   Left at 7 AM to go home.
 
April 24
   Picked green beans from our garden in the back yard.
 
April 25-26-27
   Our Junior Family Reunion at Treasure Island Beach, Fl.  Danah did a great job of getting us rooms, the food & entertainment.  Beautiful days - Beach was great. On the way home, stopped & saw Bob & Ellie in Zephyrhills.
 
April 28-29-30
   My turn to feed mom.
 
April 28
   I went to the dentist -  broke a tooth.  Had a crown on the 30th.
 
April 29
   Eric gave us the cutest little doggie, we named him Sparky.  Red-brown miniature dachshund (about 4 ½ lbs) about 7 or 8 mo old.
 
April 20
   Jim had his shoulder (rotary cuff) operated on.
 
May 6
   Finally go the crown put on.
 
May 8
   Left for N.C. at 6 pm.  Arrived at 3:10 pm.  Sparky was so good.  He gave us no trouble in the car.  We arrived in time for the monthly birthday part here. May 8 & 10 Our granddaughter Anne Graduated from Vet School at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.  We are so proud of her.  The first Mixson in our family to obtain a doctors degree.  We are sorry but we didn’t feel up to go to Virginia for her graduation.
 
May 11
   30° this morning.
 
May 12
   Very cold all day.
 
May 13
   Drove over to Highlands to see Jean & Wendall.  Ate lunch there.
 
May 16
   Had covered dish supper here tonight. May 18 - 80° today.  Barb showed movie tonight.  
 
May 19-20
   I got perm today. (Didn’t take very good).  Got ready to leave for Kansas tomorrow.
 
May 21
   Sue’s Birthday.  Left early for Kansas to see Brenda, Tom, Kristopher, Jeremy, Andrew.  Drove 12 hours today.
May 22
   Arrived about noon.  Sparky was a very good doggie.  Gave us no trouble at all.  Brenda is still working (she’s a teacher aid at the high School)
 
May 25
   Jun 3 Jeremy graduates from high school (Also Heater, Kristopher’s girl friend)  He has a party (about 30 people) this night after graduation.  (Bad rain tonight).
 
May 28
   Brenda’s last day of work.  Spent a good time with them, seeing their new church, meeting their friends, going shopping & just visiting.
 
June 4
   Left Kansas at 7:40 AM.  Long drive today.,
 
June 5
   Arrived at Ft. Tatham 5:00 pm 927 miles.   Rainy, misty & cool  
 
June 8-11
   Katie & Coral went to Camp Crystal.
 
June 8
   Camp had a covered dish & corn boil.  Carl & Mary brought the corn back from Fla.
 
June 9
   Exercise class for 1 hour. Cloudy & cool
 
June 10
   Bible Study every Tues. at 10 AM
   Bingo every Tues. at 7:30 pm  
   Sunny & warm
 
June 11
   Fish fry tonight - compliments of the men who fish in our creek here.
 
June 12
   Birthday party once a month
 
June 13
   Extra party for Vivian & Mana  who are going on a tour.
 
June 14
   Pancake breakfast Dillsboro Heritage Festival
   Always something to do or go too
   What a good life!
  Thank you God for letting us live To enjoy our Retirement!  
 
June 17
   Bible Study
   Bingo
   Took Sparky to Vet
 
June 18
   Sue & Jim are at Murphy. She wants us to come over to see them.
 
June 19
   Potluck dinner, music & dancing afterwards. Morris extended the roof on the back porch.
 
June 20
   Paul & Yvonne Dixon arrived.  They stay with Betty & Billy.  We took a ride up on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
 
June 21
   Up at 6:30 AM to help set up the stuff for our garage sale.  Sold a lot of stuff but oh, so tired tonight.
 
June 22
   Sunday afternoon made homemade ice cream & had Betty & Billy, Paul & Yvonne over.  
 
June 24
   Bible Study & Bingo tonight. I rode with Harriet to Ashville today for her to see her doctor.
 
June 25-26
   We went to Murphy (1 hr. 45 min. drive) to see Sue & Jim and played cards tonight & spent the night with them.  Sue cooked a delicious meal (like always) and had plenty of leftovers.  On our way back we stopped off at Wayaha Bald (West of Franklin) and the Flaming Azaleas were all out.  Just beautiful.
 
June 30
   Today is my daddy’s birthday.  He would have been 91 years old if he had lived.  We packed up last night & left this morning to go home to Gainesville.  Go home at 4:45 pm & found out that Gary had a heart catheterization.  Very hot here.  
 
July 1st  
   96° today.  Wish we were back in the mountains.
 
July 2nd  
  Today is Zack’s Birthday.  He is 15 years old and such a good boy and grandson.  I love it when he leaves he says “I love you grandma”.   (Robert Michem, movie star died today)
 
July 3
   Very hot again. (Jimmy Stewart, movie star died today)
 
July 4
   Jeremy’s Birthday.  He is 18 today!  My how my grandchildren are growing up.  We had a family get-to-gether and lots of friends at Magnesia Springs today.  About 70 people.  The cold water felt so good, it was 96° again.  It did rain late in the day & it cooled off.  (Charles Kerralt, TV & Radio Commentator died today)
 
July 5
   Went to church & SS & fed mom today.  
 
July 7
   Left Gainesville at 6:30 AM and arrived at Ft. Tatham at 3:40 pm.  Sparky was real good.  He likes to hid under our hanging clothes in the back seat!  I miss our kids and friends when we leave Gainesville but it so much nicer here & cooler that I do love it here.  I just wish this cabin was a little bigger!  Oh, well, thank you Lord for it!
 
July 8-11
   Just the usual.
 
July 12
   Went to the Ga. Mt. Fair in Hiawaissee, GA.  We got tickets for the country music show.
 
July 14
   Hot enough to turn on A/C today for the first time.
 
July 15
   Took a ride up to Mt. Pisgah to eat at the restaurant there and to see the rhododendron.  Harold & Roene went with us.  Bingo tonight.   
 
July 16
   Our neighbor Harriet Johnson, a widow, took us out for supper (at Merriweather in Sylva) for Morris doing some work for her.  Hot all week here, had A/C on every afternoon.
 
July 18-28
   Beth & Mark, Zach, Coral & Katie arrive for a vacation. (10 days)
 
(18) Fri. did chicken on grill
(19) Sat. Campground had a fish fry.
(20) Sun. Fired round steak
(21) Mon. Pork chops
(22) Tues. Chicken & dumplings (Zack won at bingo
(23) Wed. Went fishing in a pond, did fish on grill.
(24) Thurs. Tacos & Tortillas
(25) Fri. Went to Pigeon Forge & the Dixie Stampede.
(26) Sat. Cookout hamburgers - Kids tubed down the river
(27) Sun. Pizza - had afternoon rain & cooled off.
(28) Mon. They left at 6:30 AM
They rented the cabin next to Betty & Billy form the Killingsworths, but it is to small & the bedroom has no privacy so they won’t do that again.  It was nice they got to come up and the kids really love it here, but I’m so tired by the time they leave!
 
July 28-29-30
   Nice rain & cooler!  Good mt. weather at last! July 31
   Sunny & cool all day.   1997
 
Aug. 1st
   48° this morning.  Beautiful day. Sparky not doing good with his breathing.  Took him to Vet for medicine and again on Aug. 4.
 
Aug. 5
   Larry & Julie arrived.  Julie stayed for 2 days & then went to Knoxville to visit her sister, Louise & her 2 girls.
 
Aug. 8
   The camp has a corn boil & covered dish supper.
 
Aug. 9
   Pancake breakfast & then we left to go Murphy to visit Sue & Jim.  Larry was impressed with Sue’s supper.  As usual it was a feast.  Got home after dark.
 
Aug. 10
   We took Larry to Pidgeon Forge to meet Julie & then they went on home.  It was so nice to have Larry here.  We don’t get to see him that much & its’ always a joe to have any of my kids here.
 
Aug. 11
   Took Sparky to Vet again.  
 
Aug. 11-12-13
   Our friends from Church, Carl & Judy Satterwailt were here.  They stayed with Betty & Bill.  We took them up to Mt. Pigsgah to eat lunch & show them the Parkway.
 
Aug. 16
   Someone got tickets to a football game in Atlanta so a van load of men went.  Morris, Bill, Dick, Carl, Buster and James.  They got back wan in the middle of the night.  Hot today - and A/C on.
 
Aug. 18
   Sparky to Vet.
 
Aug. 20
   Sue, Jim, Betty, Billy & Us met in Cherokee & had dinner then we went to the play “Unto These Hills”.  Not as good as I always thought it would be.  I guess it was the sound.  A lot of time we couldn’t hear what they were saying.
 
Aug. 22
   Picked Raspberries today.  Delicious.  Cool & sunny today.  48° this morning.
 
Aug. 23
   Morris’ Birthday
   71 years old.  44° this morning.  
 
Aug. 29
   James &  Anita Beck arrived.  They stayed with Betty & Billy.
 
Aug. 30-31 & Sept. 1
   Labor Day weekend and lots of activities here at the campground.  Games, Shuffleboard, Bar B Q cookout, ice cream party.    Red Wilson & Bob got 1st place in the shuffleboard with Morris & Carl Miller in 2nd place.  A very good weekend - we’ve had cool nights, no rain & sunny warm days - perfect!
 
Sept. 2
   We had a fish fry with Betty, Billy, James & Anita.  Rained today.
 
Sept. 8
   Today is Mom’s and Coral’s birthday.  Sorry we weren’t in G’ville to help celebrate with them.  I called and talked to mom; she was a Gary’s house.  Also called Coral & sang Happy Birthday to her.
 
Sept. 9
   Bingo tonight - hard rain tonight.  
 
Sept. 11
   I got a perm today.
 
Sept. 14
   Went to church & out to eat, then a nap.  Read the Ashville paper, ate a light supper & played cards til 10 pm.  This is our usual Sunday.
 
Sept. 15
   Another Monday.  Changed the bed and did 3 loads of wash.  Our usual Monday.
 
Sept. 16
   Rode up on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the Monarch butterflies come across the mountain.  An article in the paper said thousands would travel across the parkway on their way to Mexico for the winter but we were either too late or too early.  We saw about 10 after sitting & waiting for a couple of hours.
 
Sept. 26
   Betty, Billy & Morris & I left for Kentucky to see the Gators play Kentucky.    Mark, Zack and Danny (Mark’s brother) got here today.  They are staying in their tent.  They came up to dig  for gems.  Mark has gone bats over this.  He can stay out there til dark!
 
Sept. 29
   Monday -  They spent all day yesterday (Sunday) & most of today in the dirt.  I cooked supper for them and we sat around & talked real late.  They left early Tuesday.
 
Sept. 30
   Had our last Bible Study today.  A lot of the folks have gone home.  Cool, windy & sunny today.  You can tell “Fall is here” leaves are falling and the days are cooler.
 
Oct. 1
   Morris & I are Host and Hostess this month along with Annie, Miram and Marjorie & DeLouie. This means we host the Birthday Party, the covered Dish Supper & the Bingo games, & set up chairs for the monthly business meeting & other special events.
 
Oct. 7-9
  Sue & Jim are at Murphy this week.  
 
Oct. 11
   Zella Mae & Monroe Hedick (our friends from church) are visiting this week.  We went for a ride on the Parkway.  Not many colored leaves out yet.   
 
Oct. 12
   Bob & Barbara give a Thanksgiving dinner for all of us, complete with turkey, dressing, fruit salad, sweet potatoes, rolls & pie.  Very nice of them.
 
Oct. 13
   Carolyn & Lamar Upshaw (our friends from church) are here for a week.  They stay at the Franklin hotel.  Cold all week.  Leaves till not very pretty.
 
Oct. 17
   Chris & Henry Coburn (our friends from church) arrive.  They stay in Annie’s cabin.  Dick & Carole Williamson are at Sue  & Jim’s for a week.
 
Oct. 19
   Morris & I go to Murphy to see Sue & Jim, Dick & Carole & spend the day.  Got home real late.
 
Oct. 20 & 21
   Get the cabin ready to go home.  It’s a job to clean up everything.  Empty ref. & cupboards as we won’t be back til April 1, 1998.  
 
Oct. 22
   Left 8 AM - 38° - real cold. Arrived home at 5:45 pm.  The house looked real good and so big
   after this tiny cabin!  Glad to be back.
 
Oct. 35 & 26
   Grandma Mixson’s Birthday.  96 years old!  We go her on Sat. & spent the night with us Sat. & Sun.  Took her out to eat & took her home Monday.   She is in good health and gets around real good.  Her mind is still good too, except she repeats a lot!  And I have to help her in the shower & to get dressed.  I’m real careful with her so she doesn’t fall!   Takes days to get house & yard cleaned up, stuff put away, telephone calls, go up & see mom & all of the other stuff.
 
Oct. 30
   Tom’s Birthday - called him.
 
Katie is playing softball.  She had games on the 21st & 28th. She is so cute in her uniform!  
 
Nov. 1   
   Sat. The Gators played GA. In Jax.  We always go to this game.  This year we rode up with John & Evelyn Adicks.  We lost 37-17.  Betty & Billy who always goes too - stayed home!
 
Nov. 2
   After church went up to feed mom at the nursing home.  I’ll go up every Sunday this month.  It’s hard to get her to eat.  Sometimes I bring food from home & she’ll eat that.
 
Nov. 4
   Kristopher’s Birthday
 
Nov. 10
   Brenda’s Birthday - we called her.
 
Nov. 16
   Betty’s Birthday.  We go out to eat & then played cards.
 
Nov. 18
   I pre-registered at Alachua General hospital for an endoscopy on Nov. 21.  Still having lots of trouble getting my food down so it’s best to have this done again.  It’s so good to be able to eat & not gag it all up!   1997
 
Nov. 19
   We went to Jax to pick up our grandson, Andrew, from the airport.  He flew in to be able to go to the UF-FSU game on Sat.
 
Nov. 27
   Thanksgiving Day.  The whole family spent the day at Magnesia Springs.  Corky got mom & brought her out too.  She really didn’t enjoy it.  It was a good day and the springs look so good.  Gary has put in a lot of time and money into it.  It’s really a great place to have large crowds, and parties and reunions.
 
December 1
    Our 47th wedding anniversary.  Think we’ll make it to 50!  Went out to eat with Betty & Billy.  Carole came up to help with mom.  Had her over for supper on Wed.
 
Dec. 5
   Morris went to his heart doctor Dr. Grow.  He’s been having some difficulties & it’s time to have his heart by pass checked out.
 
Dec. 11
   Morris had a heart catheterization and thank the Lord all is well.  His bi passes which are 17 years old and still clear.
 
Dec. 13
   Went to church to see “The Living Christmas Tree” the choir put on.  Dixie is in it!  It was so good.
 
Dec. 14
   I took Patty, the girl who goes up & helps to feed mom, shopping for baby clothes.  She’s not married and needs any help she can get.
 
Dec. 15
   Sue & Jim came up from Melbourne.  Betty’s mother, Elizabet Dixon died today.  She was in Palm Gardens Nursing Home.  Her funeral was at Flemington Baptist Church on Dec. 17.
 
Dec. 18
   I had lunch with Sue & Kelly.
 
Dec. 19
   Our SS Christmas Party was at Carolyn & Lamar Upshaws.  
 
Dec. 22
   Beth & I went Christmas shopping today.
 
Dec. 24
   Went & picked up Grandma Mixson to spend Christmas eve & Christmas day with us.
 
Dec. 25
 
Dec. 26
   Morris & I left early to drive to Charlotte, N.C. for our trip with Christian Tours to California.
 
Left real early - The Tour Bus picked us up at the Motel & took us to the airport for our flight to San Diego, CA.  There were 44 of us plus our tour guide.  Got to San Diego about 6 pm.  Stopped at a buffet supper and went on to spend the night at the Lawrence Welk Resort.  Had breakfast, lunch, & saw the Christmas program in the Lawrence Welk theater.  
 
We took tours of San Diego, the Restored area, The Queen Mary Cruise ship & had dinner on it, the San Diego Zoo, Hollywood, went to the Christmas program at Robert Schuller’s Crystal Theater, watched them make floats for the parade, New Year eve - Knotts Berry Farm & Amusement Park, and then on Jan. 1, the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena with reserved seats.  Our farewell banquet at the motel the last night.