Tennessee Theater

The Tennessee Theater has been having some movie showings again. This weekend is Grease. Sunday is the last of the two showings. In August they will be showing It Happened One Night and Gone With The Wind. To learn more visit the events page at the Tennessee Theater website.

First Fruits

I checked on our garden today and look at what I found! There were three watermelon in one mound and one on the other. Hopefully we will have some wonderful, juicy Charleston Greys soon!

Me And My Papaw

I am not sure, but I think I only have this one picture of my Papaw with me. Just thought I would share it with you all.

Knaffl Madonna

I received a comment on my Merry Christmas post, which I used a picture of the Knaffl Madonna in, that has asked about the people in the picture. I thought that I would post a bit of information about the picture. There is a book by Betsey Beeler Creekmore called Knox County Tennessee: A History In Pictures. It has information on the Knaffl Madonna.

At the end of the nineteenth century, when "Art Photography" was all the rage, this tasteful composition by Knoxville's Joseph Knaffl received worldwide acclaim. A copy of the famous "Knaffl Madonna" is prominently displayed at Hopecote* because, before her marriage to Albert Hope, Miss Emma Fanz posed for the photograph holding baby Josephine Knaffl who, in later life, was Mrs. David Baker, Sr.
Courtesy of Sam Knaffl, Jr.

*Hopecote was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hope. It is currently owned by the University of Tennessee and is used as a guesthouse.

A Treat

Tonight we were blessed with a rare occurrence. We saw a barred owl sitting in a tree across the street. We have only seen an owl one other time. I got my camera out and tried to get a shot so we could get a better look at it. It never moved other than his head turning. He just watched us from time to time as he listened for his prey.

Later, as we were sitting in the house, Joe noticed that there were a couple of them flying in our neighbors yard (right beside us). We all got up and looked and not only were there two flying around, but three! It was amazing to see three when in my life I had only rarely seen one at any time. It was too dark at that time to even attempt a picture. That would have been marvelous!

Favorite Painting

Joe and I were discussing art and I told him that one of my favorites is from a local artist. The actual painting is in the McClung Collection in the East Tennessee History Center. I pass by it every time I go to do genealogy research. The artist is Catherine Wiley (1879-1958). The painting name is In The Sunlight.

We were watching TV last night when a Dove commercial came on talking about the low self-esteem of girls due to the constant bombardment of skinny, pretty airbrushed models. It talked about seminars for girls to help them know that they are beautiful and not to compare themselves to others.

After the commercial Joe said "You know that is really sad...that some people have ugly girls! We don't have to worry about that! High five!"Of course he was teasing (hence the "high five"), but I doubt that Otter will have problems with all the guys in our house fawning over her constantly. They all tell her how cute, beautiful and smart she is. I think it is very important that she will have such great love from the men in her life. Let's hope that it does not result in her having too big a head, though.