Posts Tagged ‘Family’

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Mother’s Day 2021

May 11, 2021

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

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.

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Posted in American Life | 6 Comments »

A Hike Along Daddys Creek

March 3, 2020

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In early November, during a visit from Betsy’s son Mark, we went on a hike with Mark and Robin along Daddys Creek here in the Glade. The trail is one of several in our area, and this trail descends into a gulch and follows the creek bed for some distance. The total distance of the hike on this trail is just under two miles.

We didn’t have much autumn color in our area this past year, but there were still some evidences of color along the creek.

Daddys Creek is shallow, but fairly wide. The water is crystal clear and we could easily see the rocks on the bottom.

In areas where the gulch widen we were treated to beautiful reflections in the quiet waters of the stream. All in all it was a beautiful hike which we hope to do again in other seasons of the year.

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Posted in Hiking | 11 Comments »

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.

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Posted in American Life | 10 Comments »

A Visit with Great-Granddaughter

April 30, 2019

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Betsy doesn’t get to see her great-granddaughter very often, so it’s a treat when we can visit with Vivi, a 15-month-old bundle of energy.

On this occasion Betsy gave Vivi a book, in which she quickly got interested.

Sometimes Vivi can be lost in thought, . . .

. . . but most of the time she is on the run.

Look out world, here she comes!

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Posted in Family | 11 Comments »

Down Memory Lane: Pisgah Forest (July, 2009)

May 21, 2016

2009 -- Pisgah Forest

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

In July, 2009, Betsy and I met my son Robert and his family in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina.  We did some hiking in the Pink Beds and had a wonderful picnic lunch.

After lunch the young people (my son inclued) decided that they would like to check out Sliding Rock, a popular summer destination in the western North Carolina mountains.  As the name implies, Sliding Rock is a water slide down a smooth rock face.  Betsy and I volunteered to be the official photographers, so we had to miss out on the fun.

In the collage above, Sliding Rock is shown at the top left.  Robert, Sean and Zack are waiting their turn to slide down the rock (Sean looks a little unsure about what he’s gotten himself into).  The top right shows Robert and Sean going down the slide.

The bottom left photo was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway later in the day, while another picture of Robert and Sean is on the bottom right.

To see larger versions of these pictures and others, click HERE.

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Posted in American Life | 8 Comments »

Falling Water Cascades

December 8, 2014

Falling Water Cascades, Burgess Falls State Park, Tennessee. October 5, 2014.

Falling Water Cascades, Burgess Falls State Park, Tennessee. October 5, 2014.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

In early October Betsy and I met my daughter Kelly and her husband Chuck in Cookeville, Tennessee, to do some hiking at nearby Burgess Falls State Park.

The park contains three waterfalls, but the trailhead for the main trail begins upstream at Falling Water Cascades.  That’s the trail we hiked, so we took the time to visit the cascades as well.

The water in river was low, but the cascades were still pretty.

Burgess Falls State Park, Tennessee. October 5, 2014.

Falling Water Cascades, Burgess Falls State Park, Tennessee. October 5, 2014.

There was enough water in one channel to create beautiful flowing waters.

Falling Water Cascades, Burgess Falls State Park, Tennessee. October 5, 2014.

Falling Water Cascades, Burgess Falls State Park, Tennessee. October 5, 2014

Even the shallow water covering the rock river bed took on a dreamy experience.

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Posted in American Life | 25 Comments »

Our World: Narrows of the Harpeth

May 5, 2014

Harpeth River, Narrows of the Harpeth State Park, Kingston Springs, Tennessee. April 20, 2014.

Harpeth River, Narrows of the Harpeth State Park, Kingston Springs, Tennessee. April 20, 2014.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

My daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Chuck, have an Easter tradition of a picnic lunch.  This year Betsy and I drove to their home in Ashland City where we were able to join them for a very enjoyable day.

After an enjoyable lunch at one of the Metroparks, Kelly and Chuck took us to Narrows of the Harpeth State Park.  Betsy and I had never been there, so it was a wonderful treat.

Map of Bells Bend and Narrows of the Harpeth. (Image from Google Maps).

Map of Bells Bend and Narrows of the Harpeth. (Image from Google Maps).

Narrows of the Harpeth gets its name from the fact that the beginning and end of a seven-mile loop of the river around Bells Bend are within a couple of hundred feet of each other, separated by a high bluff.

NarrowsTunnel14042003

In 1818 Montgomery Bell, a businessman, cut a tunnel through the bluff that separates the two sides of the Narrows of the Harpeth.  This tunnel allowed him to create enough moving water to power a forge which he established on the site.

Kelly and Chuck at the pool where the tunnel empties on the downriver side of the narrows. Narrows of the Harpeth State Park, Kingston Springs, Tennessee. April 20, 2014.

Kelly and Chuck at the pool where the tunnel empties on the downriver side of the narrows. Narrows of the Harpeth State Park, Kingston Springs, Tennessee. April 20, 2014.

The four of us hiked to the downriver side of the tunnel.  There is nothing left of the forge, but a pool into which the water from the tunnel empties provided a wonderful place to sit and enjoy a beautiful day.

 

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Posted in Our World | 22 Comments »

Young Love

May 2, 2014

Mom'38

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When Dad passed away last December, I found this picture of my mother in his wallet.  From the worn condition of the photo, I couldn’t help but wonder how often Dad pulled it out to look at it.

I had never seen this picture before, and while the writing on the back was badly faded, I’m pretty sure it was a senior photo taken in 1938.  Dad first met Mom in 1937 when he was in the CCC at a camp near her hometown.

DadChristmas1938

I had seen the picture above of Dad before.  It was a photo taken in December, 1938, and given to my mother.  I now suspect it was a gift to her in exchange for the picture she gave him.

Mom died in 2011, but today would have been her 94th birthday.  Mom and Dad  were married on May 5, 1940.

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Posted in Family | 19 Comments »

Down Memory Lane: Mountain Air in 2009

February 7, 2014

2009 -- Mountain Air

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

In July, 2009, Betsy and I went to Mountain Air, near Burnsville, North Carolina, to visit my son Robert and his family.  Robert and Melissa were staying at a condo owned by Melissa’s parents, and they invited us to visit them there.

Mountain Air is a development built around a country club and get’s its name from the mountaintop airstrip that allows people to fly in to visit.  Robert and Mel  — as well as Betsy and I — didn’t fly in, but got there by car.

There are awesome views from many places in Mountain Air, as well as some beautiful homes.  We thoroughly enjoyed the tour given by Robert and Mel — as well as Zack and Sean.

The collage above shows views of the sky we enjoyed on our first evening in Mountain Air.  The picture on the left in the second row shows a view of the mountains on the morning of our second day.  The picture in the middle shows me with Robert.  The picture on the bottom right shows our hosts, Melissa, Robert, Zack and Sean.

To see larger versions of these pictures and others, click HERE.

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Posted in Travels | 15 Comments »

Our World: Fried Turkey

December 16, 2013

Bob injecting Cajun marinade into turkey breasts, Palm Harbor, Florida. November 28, 2013.

Bob injecting Cajun marinade into turkey breasts, Palm Harbor, Florida. November 28, 2013.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them).

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

My son Robert and his family planned to come to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, but when their plans changed Betsy and I travelled down to Florida to have Thanksgiving with them.  One advantage of making the trip was that Robert agreed to make some of his fried turkey for us, a treat that neither Betsy nor I had had before.

The process started with Robert injecting some Cajun marinade into two turkey breasts and a whole turkey (he must have thought we were hungry!).

Robert and Darron putting turkey breasts into the fryer. November 28, 2013.

Robert and Darron putting turkey breasts into the fryer. November 28, 2013.

The turkey breasts then went into the fryer with the help of a friend.  While these two played around fixing dinner, I worked hard as the official photographer.

Turkey as it came out of the fryer, Palm Harbor, Florida. November 28, 2013.

Turkey as it came out of the fryer, Palm Harbor, Florida. November 28, 2013.

The turkey was fried after the breasts were done, and it came out of the fryer a beautiful golden brown.

Thanksgiving dinner, November 28, 2013.

Thanksgiving dinner, November 28, 2013.

While we were busy slaving away outside with the fryer, Melissa was busy in the kitchen.  The result of all this work was a feast fit for a king.

Robert's pumpkin cheesecake with caramel topping. Palm Harbor, Florida. November 28, 2013.

Robert’s pumpkin cheesecake with caramel topping. Palm Harbor, Florida. November 28, 2013.

Robert topped this delicious Thanksgiving dinner with a marvelous homemade pumpkin cheesecake and caramel topping.

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Posted in Our World | 16 Comments »

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