GRADUATION DAY. June 2nd 2017

 Yes - finally I have managed a few minutes to try to get this blog up to date.   We have been very busy around the house and yard, and there really wasn't enough time in the day to get everything done that I had planned and hoped to get  through.                                                  

So here I am now!

FRIDAY JUNE 2nd 2017.

We were up and breakfast all done, ready to leave the house about 8.45 a.m.  The weather was good although a little on the warm side.  We have not adjusted yet.  It was still cool when we left home.

The Interstate into Greenville SC was extremely busy and as we neared the Arena that was housing the Graduation it got even worse.  No wonder at it though.  There were 545 students graduating and each student could have up to 12 family or friends attend,  I will let you do the math on that - it adds up to a heck of a lot of people all going to the same place at the same time.  There were two car loads of us for Kayleigh.

It was so slow going that as we reached the Arena Barb and I got out and Vince and Mike continued on their way to try and find a parking spot.  At the time we reached the Arena the parking lot was "LOT FULL".

Barb and I made our way to our seats where Barb's family were already seated and waiting for us.

As you can see there are a lot of  "student seats".

The beginning of the actual Graduation Ceremony  began about 10 minutes after Barb and I arrived.   That was close!

I managed to get a picture of Kayleigh entering the Arena.  Kayleigh is the one in flat shoes.

Unfortunately I was unable to get any shots of Kayleigh receiving her diplomas.

By the time the guys arrived, having walked 1.5 miles back to the Arena in all the humidity, the students were all seated, and the speeches well under way.

It was a really good ceremony and quite lengthy.  In fact,  this was the largest Graduation Class in the whole of Southern Carolina History.

Then came the conclusion of it all, and as expected a great many Graduation Caps were flung into the air.  It was a very memorable sight and a great experience to be there.

Then it was time to enter the grounds of the Arena and try to find Kayleigh.  It didn't take too long.

And time for some pictures.

After that we all made our way to The Olive Garden for a great Family Graduation Luncheon Celebration.

That was really fun, and of course great food!

We hadn't seen Barb's sister, Jane, in almost 20 years, and it had been ab0ut 5 years since we had seen Duane and Marylou (Barb's parents), so lots to catch up on.

Lunch all finished we headed back to Vince and Barb's for more pictures.  I didn't take many as Vince took some of all of us.  Which I am hoping we will receive in the near future.

Kayleigh.

Kayleigh with Proud Mum and Dad.

Kayleigh and Jane.

It was certainly an excellent day, and we all enjoyed it very much.   Mike and I were really pleased to have been a part of this great celebration.   Like Duane and Marylou, we were very proud Grand Parents.

And so, with the night closing in,  it was time to bring the day to an end, as tomorrow is another busy day with family excursions to look forward to.

SATURDAY JUNE 3rd 2017.

Once again, up and out by 9.00 a.m.   We are heading to Columbia SC today, to visit The University of South Carolina, where Kayleigh will be attending in August.

It was a very pleasant drive, about 2 hours, and we meet Barb's folks there.

The University was awesome, massive and very impressive.

Lots of pictures taken there too.

Some of the grounds at the University.

One of the many Cafe's.

Landscaping and buildings all quite magnificent.

It seemed every corner we turned or street we crossed there were more pictures to take.

We found the area where Kayleigh's dorm will be.
Unfortunately it was not accessible at this time.

The "apartment" building Kayleigh will be living in.

More buildings and grounds at USC.

                                                              Some of the blooms at USC.

We wandered around the grounds for a few hours.  Spent quite some time in the University Book and Gift Store, which was great.

Then we made our way to "The Thirsty Fellow's Restaurant".  Yes, after all the walking in the glorious sunshine we were all thirsty.

A friend of Mary Lou's,  Allen, joined us for lunch.  It was a really fun time.  The food and drinks were excellent, and the company could not have been better.

Bellies all full, we hit the road and headed back to Vince and Barb's for more festive celebrations.

Mary Lou had put together a video of the 18 years of Kayleigh's young life.  What a talented person Mary Lou is.  It was a fabulous video.  I wouldn't mind  copy of that.

And so on with the celebrations.

We spent some time all telling stories etc. before Vince did an excellent BBQ for us.  Barb followed that with a selection of superb desserts.   I don't think we should eat for a few days after this weekend.

Then came the finale of the Graduation Celebrations.  Barb had bought fireworks to end the day.

Kayleigh and Grandpa Duane.

Kayleigh, Grandpa Duane, Barb and JD (Kayleigh's Cousin)

And the fireworks came to an end.

What a wonderful end to the visit for Duane, Mary Lou, Jane and JD. who will be heading home to Minnesota tomorrow.

Mike and I sat around with Vince, Barb and Kayleigh for sometime before we wandered off to bed.

It had been a really busy exciting time.

Sunday June 4th 2017.

Up at a good time as Vince and I planned to go on a Photo Shoot trip into Grenville this morning.  We need to go fairly early to beat the heat.

So on the road about 8.30 a.m.    It was an excellent drive as not too many people were on the road yet.

Greenville is truly a great city with so many wonderful places to see, explore and wander around.

The Falls on the Reedy is one of my favorite area's in Greenville.  It is almost impossible to realise you are actually Downtown Greenville.

As you are about to see I did take a lot of pictures around that area.

Luckily Vince got a lot of really good shots for his liking too.  We both take different style pictures.

I love taking pictures that show reflections.

A very busy spot in the evenings.

Yes even the Sheriff was enjoying this Sunday morning.

A very artistic parking garage wall.

And after a busy morning - this is a very good sign!

Vince and I had enjoyed about three hours of photography by the time we headed back.

The clouds were beginning to roll in and the humidity was rising very quickly.  It began to feel like the perfect recipe for a very stormy afternoon.

Many years ago - far too many to count - Vince and I would get up early on a Sunday and I would drive us into the countryside for Vince to do his photography.  We usually left about 7 a.m. and returned about 10 a.m. ready for breakfast.  We lived in Guelph at that time.  It has been really fun to relive that.  Thank you so much Vince.

After lunch the storms did roll in, so I spent time working on my writing and helping Mike plan our route for the coming week.  We will leave here tomorrow morning and return here on Thursday.

Once again we had a wonderful family dinner, then spent a relaxing family evening just exchanging stories.  It was the perfect way to end a very busy exciting weekend.