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I captured this picture of the setting sun back in April while visiting Mark and Robin in Maryville, Tennessee. Sometimes I just get lucky!
Archive for the ‘American Life’ Category
Maryville Sunset
May 30, 2023Mother’s Day 2021
May 11, 2021
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Betsy was treated like a queen on Mother’s Day this year.
Her sons Mark (left) and Bert (right) along with Robin, Mark’s significant other, treated us to an adventure along Citiico Creek in the Cherokee National Forest. They provided a delicious picnic lunch, and found a perfect picnic spot along the bank of the creek.
Good food, great company, and a couple of hammocks made for an ideal day. Since Mark has a jeep we were able to go back into the “boonies” and to have the place pretty much to ourselves. It would be an understatement to say that we had a wonderful time.
Of course, when Betsy gets together with her sons, just about anything can happen — and it usually does.
But the creek was absolutely beautiful.
A Yearly Tradition
April 20, 2021
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Twenty years ago tomorrow Betsy and I had our first ‘big’ date. We went to Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee and had a wonderful time on a beautiful Spring day. We saw all the waterfalls in the park, but the greatest thing about that day was that I got my first kiss while we were there.
That day was so special that we try to make it back to Fall Creek Falls every April 21. (Yes, we plan on being there tomorrow!). We’ve missed a year or two over the past twenty, but I think we’ve done well to keep the tradition alive.
But the best thing about our visits is that I can still get a kiss from MY Beautiful Bride!
A Pandemic Adventure
March 23, 2021
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i had forgotten about taking these pictures until I saw them on my phone a couple of days ago. (I’m still getting accustomed to the idea of thinking of my phone as a camera). But since I found them, I thought I would share the story behind them.
January 2, 2021, was the first day people 75 and older were able to get the Covid vaccine in Cumberland County. Since both My Beautiful Bride and I qualified, we decided to try and get the vaccine that day.
The notice said the gate to the fairground would open at 8am. Since there was road work between our house and the fairgrounds we decided to leave early to make sure we got there in time.
We had no problems with road construction, but traffic came to a complete halt when we were little over a mile from the fairgrounds. Evidently many other people had the same idea.
It took a little over an hour to get into the fairgrounds where we directed to a parking lot and told to wait for further instructions. The parking lot is where these pictures were taken. Please remember that most of the people in these cars were 75+ years old. Oh, and another thing — there were no bathroom facilities open in the area where we were waiting.
So we waited … and waited … and WAITED. Finally, about 2 o’clock we were directed to the line leading to the vaccination station. For the most part this line kept moving (slowly), but it still took close to an hour to get to the stations where we received our shots. The shots were given while we were in our car, so that part worked out very well.
After waiting to make sure we didn’t have a bad reaction we were free to leave the fairgrounds and seek out a rest room as quickly as we could.
Clearly the county did not anticipate so many people turning out on that first day. We got shots 631 and 632, so there were a lot of people in front of us. We later learned that 981 doses of the vaccine were given out that day.
I’m happy to say that the county quickly got it’s act together and began scheduling times for shots. When we got our second shot, we were in and out in less than half an hour. The shots were still being given at the fairgrounds, but there were Port-a-Potties located all over the place.
All in all Betsy and I have to give Cumberland County high marks for the way they’ve handled the vaccinations. That being said, we hope we don’t have to go through anything like that again!
Gatlinburg Skybridge
November 12, 2019
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This past September Betsy and I, along with Betsy’s son Mark and his girlfriend Robin, visited the Gatlinburg Skybridge for he first time. The Skybridge, which opened earlier in the year, is the longest (680 feet) pedestrian suspension bridge in North America.
The Skybridge is located at the top of the Skylift in Gatlinburg. Robin and Mark rode up the mountain in the chair in front of us.
The Skybridge is even more impressive when viewed from the top of the mountain.
There were quite a few people on the Skybridge, but we were still able to enjoy the views of the Smokies above Gatlinburg.
We never get tired of seeing the Smoky Mountains.
A Special Place on a Special Day
August 28, 2018
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As many of you know, Fall Creek Falls State Park is a special place for Betsy and me. We had our first ‘real’ date there on April 21, 2001, It was there that we began our waterfall ‘collection’ and, more importantly, it was there that I got my first kiss from the wonderful woman I was with. For these reasons we go back every year on April 21 to celebrate.
Things were a little different this year. The park is undergoing some major renovations and health problems kept us from doing the hike we normally do when visiting the park, We were, however, able to visit Cane Creek Cascade. The picture above was taken near the top of the cascade.
Because of the work being done, a new trail was created from the parking area to the swinging bridge above the cascade. We were treated to a new (for us) waterfall along this trail. It wasn’t very big, but we were still delighted to be able to add it to our collection.
The trail followed Cane Creek for a short distance, and we were able to enjoy the beauty of the flowing water.
Passing under the swinging bridge, we can to a place where we could watch the sparkling water tumble down to the pool below.
But I still think the loveliest sight in Fall Creek Falls is my Beautiful Bride.
The Solar Eclipse
October 3, 2017
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Betsy and I had ringside seats for the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. Crossville was in the zone of totality, and it was a very big deal as you can see from the t-shirt My Beautiful Bride is wearing.
Clouds were forecast for the afternoon of the big event, but they fortunately stayed away enough for us to enjoy the show. It was quite an experience to see the moon start to block out the sun.
In some ways I wish I had better camera equipment, but I was delighted to get the pictures that I did get.
It was truly amazing to see the sun becoming a smaller and smaller sliver of light.
Then the sun was completely covered. It became night as solar lights came on and birds stopped their singing. I was able to capture the sun’s corona shining around the moon.
As the sun began to emerge from behind the moon I was able to capture a ‘diamond ring’. That was really a special moment for me.
As the moon continued to move away, a sliver of sun appeared in the sky.
As the moon moved even more, the sun became a crescent.
Our world got lighter as more of the sun became visible. Soon the magical once-in-a-lifetime event was over.
When in the course of human events . . .
July 4, 2017
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I’m old enough to remember when the Fourth of July was more than just a weekend holiday, as wonderful as that can be. Way back then, the Fourth was a time of patriotic music (when is the last time you heard a John Philip Sousa march?), and stories of the founding of this nation.
So, in the spirit of the Fourth of July from yesteryear, I thought I would share some pictures taken at Colonial Williamsburg several years ago. We weren’t there on the Fourth of July, but it was still possible to catch the spirit of the ‘Revolutionary City’.
We’ve always enjoyed the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps, as seen in the photo above.
One evening we were able to see a muster of the colonial militia. They certainly didn’t march with the ‘spit and polish’ of British regulars.
Even their firing line left something to be desired.
But I would hate to be in front of them when they fired.
The ‘colonists’ even had a cannon they were able to fire.
A Visit to Cades Cove
September 20, 2016
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In mid-August Betsy and I took a day to visit with our friends Judy and Charlie at their campsite in the Cades Cove Campground. We always enjoy a visit to Cades Cove (or any other part of the Smokies as far as that is concerned!).
Camping at Cades Cove is an annual event for Judy and Charlie, and we try to visit with them each year. They are experienced campers and always make us feel welcome when we visit with them.
After our visit, Betsy and I drove to the beginning of the Cades Cove Loop Road. We didn’t have enough time to drive through the cove, but we could stop and get some pictures.
My Beautiful Bride is always happy whenever we are in the Smokies.
As we were heading home we stopped at the Townsend Visitor Center for one last look at our beautiful Tennessee sky and Mountains.
Early to Rise
June 15, 2016(Note: All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)
“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
I wonder if they still teach that saying from Old Richard’s Almanac? I’ve given up on the wealthy and wise part of the saying, but my Beautiful Bride and I are hoping the healthy benefits of early rising hold true.
It isn’t always easy to get out of bed (and out of the house) before the crack of dawn, but we try. Fortunately we are often greeted by a beautiful sight such as the one above.
Some days are cloudy, but there is still beauty to be found.
Clear skies have a spectacular predawn beauty of their own. The colors are amazing.
In addition to beautiful skies, we are usually treated to the songs of birds as we make our way around the golf course. The peace and serenity can be felt.
And we know we can count on the sun to rise over the mountains to the east and show us the way home.
Senior Moments 