...."these streets will make you feel brand new...Big lights will inspire you.... " Christmas in NYC.... Incredible!

Mr. H and I enjoyed seeing NYC "all dressed up" for the holidays!  It is amazing to experience it all. 

We loved meeting Laura Lee and Julianne Ward....sweet friends we've known since they were BORN!  We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square...then we went our separate ways.....great visit!

The city is more beautiful each year ....I didn't take many pictures this year, but this will give you an idea of the splendor....AND THE CROWDS!   Not for the faint of heart!!

Windows at Macy's

I just buried my Mama.....

I lost my Mama on November 3.....the saddest day of my life. 
It felt like I was floating above all the activities last week.....that I wasn't really there.  That I was just having a bad dream and would wake soon.....not to happen.
Mama was 86 years old and sick.  She had COPD....a terrible condition that sucks the breath out of you.  Years of smoking and living in a dusty, chemical filled farm town will do that  to you.  I can remember her holding the flag while the crop dusters spewed their toxic poision over the fields...she would mark the rows for the pilot.  She often suffered with pleurisy (inflammation of the pleural lining around the lung).  Several years ago she had half of a lung removed due to hemoptysis from bronchiectasis ( a condition that causes your airways to become damaged so bad they can not carry air in and out of your lungs).  She lived a long full life in spite of the condition that caused her much discomfort.  The last year her health rapidly declined.  She went from being my precious, fun loving mother - to being attached to an oxygen machine and deteriorating before our eyes.  My last visit was the end of September...she didn't know who I was...BUT SHE DID TELL ME THAT SHE HAD A DAUGHTER NAMED MARTHA, TOO....HER DAUGHTER WAS MISS TENNESSEE!!!  I love that she though I was beautiful! 
Mama was beautiful.  Pictures of her in her youth are stunning.  She and my Dad have been married 66  years this past June.  Their marriage brought three daughters...my oldest sister, Pat...then June..finally ME!   They had the kind of marriage that you just don't find anymore...a true commitment to each other.   Don't get me wrong...thier marriage was FAR from fairytale!  They each had plenty of reasons to WALK...several times!  They each had issues that were not pretty...but they were committed to the marriage and it lasted the test of time....I am so thankful for that.
Mother was generous to a fault!  She would give anyone the clothes off her back....she always slipped me a few dollars when I went home..and loved being able to pay for everything when we were out together. 
She loved her Grandchildren so much.....Will and Michael received a shoebox full of candy EVERY HALLOWEEN until they finished COLLEGE!!!  Yes, she would buy candy and box it up..Daddy would take it and mail it!  They loved it so much!
I loved my Mama.....I am thankful for all the years we had.....I look forward to our wonderful reunion....when the roll is called up yonder.

Snowing already????

Yep...it's snowing already in Northeastern Pennsylvania!  Snowed all day yesterday and most of today....totalled about 7 inches or so here.  Our temps are in the low 30's so some of it has melted.  It is beautiful to see that first snowfall, but SERIOUSLY...NOT IN MID OCTOBER!  I want my beautiful autumn leaves and crisp weather back...not ready for winter......time to book a trip South!

Dozier sticks his head through the deck to look at the snow!

Our beautiful fall leaves are heavy with snow

Frozen treats for the hummingbirds....

when it first started....

Leaf Peepin in the Catskills..Woodstock 40 years later

Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts is the former Woodstock Concert site

Here I am..right in the center of the place where it all happened in 1969!  The gravel area just behind me is where the stage was...

Max Yasger's farm

Woodstock Harvest Festival

Still at Woodstock....lovin this VW

totally cool arts and crafts

Scarecrow of Duke...the original Woodstock interpreter...I met him and talked for awhile...he told me the greatest story about the time Roger Clinton (Prez's brother)...came up to Woodstock in a limo....when he got out, he asked Duke just what was that chicken doing sitting on the end of the guitar in the posters....Duke told him it was a peace dove..not a chicken......Roger said, "In Arkansas...we call them chickens"....

cool yard art at Woodstock

the pond where the kids bathed...and skinny dipped!

beautiful Bethel, NY

this is the monument that was placed at the original festival site

Here I am

and here's Mr. H.

checking out the monument

40 years later......

Beautiful Catskill Mountains

Keith Urban truck passed us...

Sweet Memories of Fun Times...

HeltonTexas visits HeltonPA!

Happy 7th Anniversary Will and Bern

There's a Bear in our woods!

Mr. H was walking Dozier this afternoon ... they were over on the golf course behind our house... look what was standing there! We believe he easily weighed 500-600 lbs. They followed him for awhile, the I came in the car (I'm not crazy) and we followed him more. He was huge....Dozier was freaking out!!!!! Ahhhh....so is life in Eagle Rock, PA.

July 4th in Eagle Rock, PA

Mom and Dad's 66th Anniversary .. June 26

66th Wedding Anniversary

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!
I have been influenced in my life by many "Fathers"......
My Dad has a strong personality that is sometime good and sometime not so good. He taught....and continues to teach me valuable lessons in life. I appreciate him for providing for me and for always encouraging me to be a strong, independent woman.

My Grandfathers were two very fine men. One who made mistakes and paid dearly for them. After having 12 children, he divorced my Grandmother for another woman! This was in the 40's when that was very taboo. Lots and lots of stories here, but I loved this old man dearly.
My Mother's father was quite different.... he was one of the finest men to ever walk this earth. He was kind, generous, loving to his family and a good provider. He was a gentle, sweet person. I can't find enough adjectives to praise Granddaddy Ligon

The Father in my life who has been the strongest influence to me is my dear husband, Paul. He is without a doubt the best "Dad" ever. I thank God for putting us together.


"The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and I call him Dad!"~~Author Unknown.

Michael & sarah

Sweet jimmy

Happy Birthday, Will!

Today, June 13th is my son, Will's 29th birthday! Happy Birthday, Will! I am so proud of all your accomplishments....you are constantly amazing me. It has been such a blessing to be here at HeltonTexas to be a part of your second son, Jimmy's birth this week. You have so much ahead of you! Here's a few pictures to share with all my friends...to show just what a joy you have been to our lives.

Will - one day old

leaving for hospital in Jackson, TN...my sweet boy

Daddy with Will

Beautiful 9lbs. 12.5oz......21.5 inches long

A little skin shot!

Mom leaving for hospital to have Michael

Beach visit before Michael's birth

Will's first birthday

Mowing the lawn at our home in Florida

Kindergarten

1st grade

2nd grade
3rd grade
4th grade
5th grade
6th grade
7th grade
8th grade
9th grade

10th grade
11th grade
12th grade

and now James Andrew Helton....see below!

Precious Little Family....

Yep....he really is going home with you, Jaxon!

Jaxon's thinking......so he is going home with us???

The Tahoe is packed!

Snug as a bug....in his carseat!

Family pictures before leaving the hospital