Santa Train

The Santa Train started in the early 1940's rambling through eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and ending in Kingsport, Tennessee. It was a way to thank people for shopping in Kingsport. It happens the Saturday before Thanksgiving every year. The train starts in Shelby, KY and works its way to Kingsport, TN to bring Santa to the start of the Christmas Parade in Kingsport. On the way Santa and his helpers throw out things like candy, toys, and other little things. Here is a link to the train schedule: Santa Train Route

Otter's Friend

My friend, Em, had recently taken a picture of Otter at her house where her hair was covered in bows. Em had labeled her the Hairbow Queen. Well, today we learned that she is willing to have a Hairbow Princess! She was unselfish and wanted to share the bows with her friend. So here they are!

New Pictures

My cousin shared some new pictures with me today. This is one of my favorites! This is my great-great-grandfather on a boat. Of the few pictures I have seen of him, this is the most relaxed and casual. He is not even wearing a coat! Shocking!

Bearded Man

This is for Joe: I really like bearded men. Well, I also like men with a mustache, but I prefer more facial hair. I have a picture that shows one of my favorite beards on one of my favorite men, too (aka Daddy). If I find a picture of another good beard I will post it as well.

Political Pins

I am sure that this will surprise you, but Joe collects political pins. He can tell you how it started, but I know that he has continued to collect since we were married. Every presidential election he buys campaign pins from both sides.

Well, I saw this and had to share. On Antiques Roadshow on PBS they had someone come in with a collection of political pins. There is a picture, video and a transcript at this link.

Disapointment

There are no words to express the disappointment I am feeling to hear an acceptance speech given tonight by Obama. I pray that God will show mercy on us and that the next four years will not be as bad as I believe they might be.

Fulmer's Last Year

I just read that Coach Phillip Fulmer has decided that this will be his last year at Tennessee. (link)

Game Day

Today we prepared for another UT game day. I got Otter all decked out in her cheerleader outfit and Butch wore his UT outfit. When we stopped by my parents' house my dad insisted on getting his camera to take pictures as soon as he saw them. He was disappointed not to get all three kids in UT colors, but we had just picked Bubba up from a hike with the Boy Scouts.

Harvest Time

Today I finally got out and harvested my sweet potatoes. I was very eager to see how they did. The above ground vines were growing like weeds! I was so glad to see that I had a pretty good crop. I left some of the smaller ones to see if they would grow some more, but I completely filled a plastic grocery bag full of the others. I think it was at least 10-12 pounds all together. Here is a picture of my dirty sweet potatoes! That is one crop I know I will do again. Oh, my Blue Lake green beans are doing so much better this time around. It looks like the frost barely touched them.

Glasses

Otter and Daddy switched glasses!
BTW, those are Joe's old Army glasses.

UT Football

It has been two years since I have been able to attend a UT game. I was very excited when a couple of days ago my Dad offered me a ticket to the UT/Bama game. It was absolutely wonderful to be back there! I have really missed that time with my Dad (and of course my favorite football team!). I was able to also see a lady that has been sitting behind us as long as I have been going. She has known me since middle school and she is great to cheer and talk with.

One of the special guest appearances was from the 1998 National Championship team. Challenger, the bald eagle, made an appearance as well! I also was able to see the changes made to the stadium since I had last been there. I did not take my camera or you would be able to see it from a newer picture. Maybe I will be able to attend another game this season and I can take my camera.

Locks Of Love

Today I completed something that I have been "working on" for the past year. I had decided to grow my hair out for Locks of Love. They look for people to send a minimum of 10 inches of hair so that they can provide realistic hairpieces for children with medical hair loss. I had strangely enjoyed the longer hair which I had not had in many years, especially when we went biking and I did my "biking hair." The biking hair made it's last appearance on the Virginia Creeper last weekend and will not be seen for many months from now. I am now wishing I had a picture of it! :(

P.S.
I will try to get a good picture of my now short hair and my locks that I will send off tomorrow to add here.

Otter's Talent

What new talent has Otter learned? My she is so smart!

Virginia Creeper

These are a few shots I took on our Virginia Creeper Trail experience this past weekend. We rode a seventeen mile section of the trail ending in Damascus, Virginia. This was so much fun! It was kind of cold and I was not as prepared as I should have been, but we still had a good time.

Playing Dress-up

Yesterday was another fun day with Em. Would you believe that since we had nothing better to do we found other ways to amuse ourselves? We took one adorable Otter and played with her! Thanks to Em I now have pictures to share of how cute one little girl can be!

Learn Welsh At Home

I came across this website and thought I would share. I have wanted to learn to speak Welsh for a while now. I found on the BBC website what looks to be a reality show called "The Big Welsh Challenge." Several celebrities are taking a challenge to learn to speak welsh. There is a series of videos that you can watch to help you learn. It has English or Welsh subtitles or speech bubbles. Too bad that you cannot have the english subtitles and welsh speech bubbles at the same time! That way you know what they are saying without going back and turning on the subtitles. So here are a few things in the first lesson:

Good morning: Bore da
Good afternoon: Prynhawn da
Tea: Te
Yes, I'm Sian Davies: Ie, Sian Davies dw i.
Hwyl: Goodbye

I love the fact that you can also pick your tutor, too. Maybe Otter and I can learn and speak to each other in welsh during the day!

Foothills Parkway

I heard on the news last night that a section of the Foothills Parkway will be open to the public next weekend October 18th & 19th. Hopefully this time we can get a chance to go! Here is a link for more information: WATE 6

Popcorn

This is the annual popcorn sale time for the Boy Scouts. In a time when we should be rolling in popcorn, carrying the scent of popcorn on our clothing constantly, it seems the unthinkable has happened...

A Popcorn Shortage!

Is this all related to the "crash" of our economy? Is this the effect of the use of ethanol? Where has all the popcorn gone? We must find the next meteor coming towards Earth...perhaps it will be a (insert outrageous Scottish accent) popcorn meteor!

Bubba's First Solo

Last night Bubba had his first concert with the band at his new school. As well as preforming all together, several students preformed solos and also a quartet. Bubba was one of the soloist. He played a small section of Ode to Joy. He did amazingly well for one who had never played a clarinet before a month ago. Defiantly not a Squidward Tentacles!

Em, This Is For You!

Due to our conversation yesterday I thought of you when I saw this picture. This is adorable!