Gadding About with the Ridge Rovers

I happened to be in Cleveland County recently when the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Seniors were planning a trip to Strawberry Hill in Chesnee, South Carolina, and my friend PJ invited me to go.  It's always fun to go with the Ridge Rovers as the Pleasant Ridge Seniors are known.

The bus. 

Pat (left) and PJ perusing the menu.

My friend Sue was along.

The menu. 

It's not surprising that the first sandwich selection on the menu was a Bologna Sandwich, and the last time I had that sandwich was as a child.  For old times sake that's what I ordered, and because I was ravenous it tasted pretty darn good (actually I'm not a fan of bologna.)

Bologna sandwich with mayo, mustard, and slaw. 

Across the road from the restaurant tractors pulling trailers loaded with strawberries were bringing in the morning's bounty. 

A really full gallon of strawberries.  

There were zucchini and squash fresh from the field as well.

After loading our purchases, we went back across the road to the restaurant for our dessert.  My choice fresh strawberry ice cream.  Delish!

It was a perfect day to enjoy the morning with the Ridge Rovers. I even threatened to climb aboard a John Deere for a photo, but I was strongly encouraged to just stand in front. 

I'd enjoyed Strawberry Hill vicariously in the past, but it was fun to experience it in person, and it was especially enjoyable to visit with friends of Pleasant Ridge.  Taking home fresh strawberries just picked from the field wasn't bad either.

Baa. Baa, Black Sheep

Three week old black lambs in the meadow.

We are all familiar with the children's nursery rhyme/song Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.  While in Cleveland County this past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit my cousins who have a flock of sheep. Within the last three weeks several lambs were born.  All the lambs are black, but will become white or gray as they mature.

One sheep had twins and one of the lambs was too immature to learn to nurse from her mother.  Cheyenne and Savannah have fed this "Little Bit" with a bottle (using  the mother sheep's milk).

Savannah (left) and Cheyenne holding one of the twins, "Little Bit".

The other twin nurses from its mother.

One of the lambs nursing from its mother.

It was fun seeing the lambs frolicking in the field as the sheep were fed.

Both Cheyenne, six,  and Savannah, five,  are animal lovers.  Cheyenne is quite the little "fashionista" too.  She was sporting a Clemson tee shirt (she said her mother went to Clemson), some cool sunglasses and a pretty little hair clip.

Cool sunglasses and pretty hair clip.

The girls show their sheep at the county fair.

Showing the sheep at the county fair.  (Photo by Debbie W. Bridges)

I may never be able to eat lamb again after seeing these cute little black lambs up close frolicking in the meadow.

Bottle Tree on Chatfield Road

Bottle tree in dead peach tree in our Chatfield Road backyard.

I have always wanted a bottle tree, and I had collected a few blue and green bottles in preparation for making one.  When we were in Cleveland County recently, I discovered that one of our peach trees had died and that it had a number of branches suitable for holding bottles.  I had five bottles there, but I hope to add more to the bottle tree as time goes by.

This blue bottle is one of my favorites.

Round green bottle in late evening.

View of our bottle tree from the kitchen window, and the study window.

Maggie's New Fence on Chatfield Road

Maggie exploring her new fenced play area.

We were in Cleveland County recently at our little house on Chatfield Road, and we had a small fenced area made for Maggie so she would have a place to play outside and where she would not have to be on a leash.

Raw materials for the chain-link fence from Lowe's.

Hardware for the fence.

Digging the holes for the posts.

Installing hardware for gate.

Maggie's fenced play yard.

When Maggie is in her fenced yard, she has a nice view of our neighbor's little garden.

The neighbor's little garden.

I think Maggie is going to be much happier when she is Cleveland County now.

Grandpa Jim Hawkins

My Greatgrandfather (front right with white beard), my grandmother (front left) and my grandfather (back right)

Since I've been here in Cleveland County for the last few days, I've discovered the Broad River Genealogical Society and their resources.  In one of the Cleveland County Heritage books, Volume II, I found a photograph of my Greatgrandfather James Bryant Hawkins (my paternal Grandmother's father) and his family.  The photo in the book was not very good, and my scan turned out even worse, but still you can kind of see what they were like.

Grandpa Jim was born in 1835 and served in the Civil War including the battle of Gettysburg and was wounded in the arm.  He returned home from the War and married Mary Lytton.  They had six children, including my grandmother, Dora Eliza (born 1871).  When Dora was three years old her mother died, but James married two more times.  By the time the above photo was taken his third wife had died.  Dora married my grandfather, James Lane Greene and they had eight children including my father Henry Erman Greene.

My grandfather was ten years older than Grandma, and he was her teacher in school.  She said that he once brought her an apple to school. Usually the students took apples to the teacher, not vice versa.

Dan has been interested in genealogy since I've known him, and he has traced his ancestry all the way back to Scotland.  Perhaps I'll spend a little more time tracing mine now that I've found the local Genealogical Society.  That's all I need---another project.

Broad River Genealogical Society in Shelby, NC

Broad River Greenway or "Take me to the Water"

View across the Broad River from the Greenway to sandbars on other side.

Friend PJ and I went for a walk along the Broad River Greenway down below Boiling Springs on Sunday afternoon.  This park or greenway wasn't here when I lived in Cleveland County.  I just remember crossing the Broad River Bridge when traveling from Boiling Springs to Gaffney, SC.  The Greenway is  a very nice place to walk along the River, and it was quite crowded with folks picnicking, hiking, swimming, and just enjoying the beautiful afternoon..

The pathways are nice and wide.

Playground for children along the way.

Nice place to rest and enjoy the view.

We even observed an old-fashioned baptism in the River by a group from a Baptist church in Shelby.  I guess this was the common way of baptizing back in the 19th century and early 20th century before churches had baptismal pools.  I suppose my grandparents were baptized in this manner. 

 Baptism in the Broad River.

Benediction after the baptisms. Notice the young girl in her white baptismal gown.

 This reminds me of the old gospel "Take Me To The Water" sung here by Nina Simone.

Lattimore Historical Society

When I was in Cleveland County recently I attended the annual meeting of the Lattimore Historical Society.  The meeting was held in the little restaurant in town, The Depot Cafe.

The Depot Cafe Menu.

 

 

Board members who have been working on building plans for the Lattimore Museum presented these plans and a preliminary cost estimate for the building.

Drawing of proposed Lattimore Museum, designed to be reminiscent of a train depot.

Fund raising is continuing, but it looks as if the Lattimore Museum is indeed within reach of becoming a reality. 

Folks at the annual meeting of the LHS.

The LHS Newsletter.

The newsletter for the Society is The Cotton Gin.  This is an apropos name because during the 1940s and 50s cotton was a major crop in Cleveland County, and there was a cotton gin in Lattimore.

Barbecue and More Barbecue

I'm visiting in Cleveland County now.  Cleveland County is known for its great barbecue, but last night there was Q and more Q at the Fairground's Hog Happnin'.  I usually eat barbecue when I'm in Shelby---either Red Bridges or Alston Bridges barbecue. This event allowed me to sample a lot of different barbecue.  My friend PJ, her granddaughter Kristen, and I went over to partake.

PJ and Kristen getting tickets for the tasting.

One of many vendors.

Clever signs of vendors.

Barbecued beef and chicken.

These ribs were delish!

Some of the trophies that one of the vendors had won over the years.

 I think I've had quite enough barbecue for a while.  Probably until I visit Cleveland County again.