A Pic of Our Little Dumplin

I went to the doctor's office today for another ultrasound. This was more to appease my little mind as to the continue development of our little miracle than anything else. It was great to see our little dumplin again and see that everything is great! The little one was just wiggling around at first. It was so funny to see! The heartbeat was also very good. My doctor was very pleased. We have been greatly blessed!

Camp Buck Toms

Butch and I went to Camp Buck Toms two weeks ago. It was fun doing all the different stations. Butch was most excited about the bb guns and archery. We spent the day Saturday having fun with some of the guys from our Pack going to the different stations. Then after supper the kids sat out on the field to watch "Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." There was also a haunted hike that the kids could take a tour through. Of course, they do not make is scary. I mean who wants to take their kids on a scary hike then take them back to tents for the night in a dark forest?! Butch decided to skip this so that we could stay in our campsite around the campfire while he played hide and seek in the dark with some other scouts. I really enjoy campfires! It was a fun day for both of us.

Minnow Racing and Archery

A Week Of School Spirit

This week was Homecoming week at the boy's school. Each day the children got to dress up to different themes. Monday was Western day, Tuesday was Duo/Trio day, Wednesday was Famous day, Thursday was Hawaiian day, and today is School Spirit day. This is always a fun week for me at school seeing all the kids and their different costumes. This week was no different. They were so funny with all of their unique ideas. Here are just a few of the pictures I took this week.

A Day With The Guys

Today the guys and I took a trip up to Cosby to do a scavenger hunt hike. Bubba picked this hike out of the scavenger hunt book that :o)} has. It is a short hike, but it had several neat sights along the way. You hike through an area that use to be a homestead, where parts of the stone walls and the chimney are still standing. It was also great to see Bubba (who normally will fall into any water in the vicinity) cross the creek on a tree without falling in, not only once, but four times!

Braves Stitch-n-Pitch game

Well, Sunday we had an enjoyable day together as a family at the Atlanta Braves game. This was a first time experience not only for Bubba and Butch, but for myself as well. We did not get seats with the Stitch-n-Pitch, but we did get some great seats along the third base line. We did go up to where the S-n-Pers were just to see. There did not look like there were more than 20 people in that section. Now we did meet a couple of ladies that, like us, got seats in a better section. I was able to get the nice little gift bag. I was a bit disappointed that we did not see any of the "vendors" that were suppose to be outside in the concourse. It was also funny to see on the jumbo screen two older men sitting there knitting. These men evidently amused the people behind the cameras because they continued to show them throughout the game!

The game was very enjoyable and we loved the "free baseball" in the extra inning. We were all excited that the Braves were able to pull out a win for us! After the game was over we took the boys to the line of kids wanting to run the bases. It was a long line! We did make it through and both Bubba and Butch got to run the bases. Bubba had Joe time him as he ran! After that they received a free t-shirt and a certificate saying they ran the bases. We were all very tired when we returned home. All in all it was a very good day!

Grapeyard Ridge Trail

On Friday I was able to go with Joe and his parents on a hike in Greenbrier. There were several interesting aspects to this trail. There were several creek crossings as well as two cemeteries located along the trail, one included some of Linda's family. This was also part of the area that Joe's grandfather grew up in. One of the most fascinating points of interest on this trail is an old steam engine used for logging in the 1920's that fell into Injun Creek about three miles up this trail. This was a fun time that I had with Linda as we walked the trail looking at all the surroundings. Of course Joe and Dad were taking the fast track rather than my slow snails pace. It was a fun time together and we wrapped up our evening dining at the Greenbrier Grill. Ah, I love to hike in the mountains! It is so refreshing.

The Teardrops Are Making A Comeback!

Today as we were coming home from our hike (which I will tell you about later) we drove through Pigeon Forge. This weekend is the Fall Grand Rod Run where everyone brings the cars that they have rebuilt to show off and/or sale. I was also surprised to see a few teardrop campers in the mix. I had just recently watched a show on TV about the comeback of these very unique campers. I thought that they seemed very cool for a couple who wanted to travel. The teardrop was famous in the 1930's-1940's as they were small and lightweight enough for the cars of that time to haul. They are about 4-6' wide, 8-10' long, and 4-5' high. There is a small sleeping compartment that is just big enough for a bed, and then the back hatch comes up to reveal a little kitchen on the back. Many of the owners of these campers get together at "gatherings" to show off and spend time with other teardrop owners. Doesn't this look like it would be a lot of fun?!

Last Time In Atlanta

Last night Joe reminded me that we will be heading down to Atlanta on Sunday for the Braves' Stitch-n-Pitch game. I was thinking tonight of my last trip to Atlanta. It was in the fall of 2003 when the boys and I (along with another mom and her two girls) made the trip to Atlanta to meet up with our military husbands. Joe was in the midst of training for an overseas deployment and they had a free weekend so we decided to meet about half way. That was a more difficult trip to take because we knew that after only a short time together that he would leave again. That was a time when every moment seemed to count because you did not know how long before you would see each other again. It is amazing to me that it has been three years since that time. I look at pictures and see how small my boys were and see them now and how much they have grown. As Bubba is always telling me "Not long before I am leaving home!" He is right. Time seems to be going by so quickly and they are growing so fast. I am left to wonder what it will be like when I have to deal with another one possibly leaving home. The possibility of moving away from one another is a frightening thought. I love my boys and I hope that through the passing of time we will always maintain a close relationship that will only grow stronger with each new day!

Duck Season! Wabbit Season!

Did you know that there is a squirrel-hunting season? In talking with a fellow Scout leader today I learned that there is a squirrel season and not only that, you have to have a hunting license to legally hunt them! Who would have thought that sitting on your back porch, luring squirrels with food and then shooting at them would be illegal unless armed with your $28 Combo hunting license?! ;) Here is a little information for those who want a more through knowledge on this subject (taken from the TWRA News/ Press Releases)

08/03/2006 ~ SQUIRREL SEASONS OPENS AUGUST 26

Tennessee’s hunting season for gray, fox and red squirrels opens on Saturday, August 26, 2006 according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The season continues through February 28, 2007 with a daily bag limit of 10.

The hunting season for squirrels is one of the longest fall seasons and one of the most underutilized. All that is needed to hunt squirrels is a $28 combination hunting license. This is a small price to pay for months of enjoyment and relaxation.

Two of the most productive ways to hunt squirrels are still-hunting (slowly walking through the woods watching for squirrels) and stand-hunting (sitting near food trees). Squirrel hunting with dogs has been gaining popularity in recent years. The best hunting with dogs generally occurs from November through February after the trees shed their leaves.

Squirrels are abundant in most areas where patches of woods are available. Excellent squirrel hunting can be found on many of TWRA’s wildlife management areas.

Squirrel hunting is one of the best ways to introduce a young hunter to the outdoors and squirrels are known for their excellent table fare. Most recipe books have a variety of recipes for squirrel, with fried squirrel and squirrel and dumplings being two traditional southern favorites.

For more information on Tennessee hunting seasons go online at www.tnwildlife.org

A New Persuasion

I learned today that there are plans to make a TV version of the novel Persuasion by Jane Austen. I am still unsure who exactly is putting this together, but I hope that it will be another well done adaptation and not so far from the original story that it is almost unrecognizable (i.e. Pride and Prejudice in 2005 with Keira Knightley)!

Now there is also another one of the works of Jane Austen that is up for a remake and that is Northanger Abbey, which will be done by Andrew Davies (who did the wonderful remake of Pride and Prejudice in 1995 with Jennifer Ehle). I must admit this is my least liked novels by Austen. The film adaptation done in 1986 was a horrid movie. I could barely stand to watch it! I hope that perhaps a new adaptation will breathe some new life into this novel.

It's Football Time In TENNESSEE!!

There is nothing like sitting in Neyland Stadium
on a Saturday amidst a sea of Orange!

Sleeping With The WHAT!!!

Last night Joe and I (and several other leaders from our Cub Scout Pack) went to Ripley's Aquarium to a CS Leaders Bash. We had a sidebar with food to eat and a meeting to learn about what is happening in the Sequoyah District this year. At this meeting we also learned about the different programs that Ripley's has available for scouting groups. One of these was called "Sleeping with the Sharks". There was a thought that went through my mind. How many people can sleep in that tunnel knowing that all kinds of sharks are in the water right over your head? I am not sure I could. First of all, I might be too fascinated at all the different creatures and secondly, there are sharks swimming over my head and I am expected to be comfortable enough to sleep?! Now there was an even worse thought when she also mentioned that they do overnighters in the Haunted Adventure called "Midnight with the Monsters" (of course only for grades 6-12) and also in the Believe It Or Not Museum the "Bedtime with the Bizarre" where part of the trip includes a scavenger hunt, wax hand, a Moving Theatre ride and much more! A WAX HAND!! Oh yeah, sign me up!

Big Creek Trail, NC

Yesterday the Francis family got together and went to the Big Creek Trail in North Carolina. This is a relatively short hike that we took that lead to a waterfall as well as many swimming holes. There was also a very unique cave and rock house that is just a little off the trail. It seems that this part of the trail is not very commonly known. Luckily we had Joe's parents who did know where this was and showed us.


So Joe, Bubba, Butch, Hair and I headed up the hill to these two rock formations. When we got up there we noticed that the cave had a chimney hole. It was funny to be at the top where the chimney hole was and to see the guys down inside the cave! There was also a tunnel that lead off the cave. When I got down inside the cave the guys were all trying to find out where the entrance to the tunnel was. I waited a couple of minutes until Hair and Butch made it around. Then I decided to go and see if I could get there. I learned why Joe was not going. There was a small crevice in between two rocks that you had to squeeze through. Hair, Bubba, Butch and I crawled back through the tunnel.


After we finished with that adventure we hike to the swimming hole. There was a rock that some kids we jumping off of, so Joe, Hair and I decided to try it out. That was very interesting! After we got to the top Hair jumped first, then I took my turn, and last was Joe. It was fun to jump even with the cold, cold water! (The rock we jumped from is the one in the center of the picture. We jumped from the left side of that rock where the water gets calm again.)


Linda and I took many pictures of flowers as well as all sorts of different mushrooms along the way. Of course, if you look at the picture below you can now see how Linda gets the great shots for her flowersofthefield site!


To end off I will add a few of my favorite pictures that I took on the hike.

Nothing Like A Good Watermelon

I have decided that the best watermelons I have ever had are the ones that I received from Jo's grandfather, Ruley. They are called Charleston Grey. They are the sweetest, juiciest watermelons ever! I love the ones that I was brought from SC on their trips here (or our trips there). I had a local raised watermelon tonight and I just kept thinking about how much better the Greys were compare to this. I am so eager for next spring so that I can plant some of these for myself (thanks to Ruley for giving me some seeds on our last trip).

Beauty of Summer

On the Trail to the Walker Sisters' Cabin

Back To School

Another year of school has started for Bubba and Butch. This is a happy time for me as I get to spend time with my friends from school as well. I also have the responsibility of creating a bulletin board for the Scouts that is located in the front hall of the Elementary building. This is always a funny time for me because directly across the hall is another bulletin board that a lady in the office is in charge of keeping up. I have slowly become accustom to her telling people that I always come to try to out do her boards and to make hers look bad. She has a fun time teasing me every time I come in to add something new. For this new board I was working on it and adding things to it for two days during teacher inservice last week. Today this lady was telling people how I just would live at the school if I could! All about my days spent there last week. We have such a fun time together there and we are like one big family. Boy is it great to be back!

Seeing Old Friends Again

After a couple of months of not seeing many of the friends I have from school, we got a chance to get together again. Today was a birthday party for one of the little girls in Butch's class. It was at the school's swimming pool. I was thrilled to see several other moms that I really enjoy talking to. We caught up a bit, ate cake and tried to stay in the shade as much as possible. I also got to hold the three month old baby that if you remember from back in May I tried to make a baby hat for and failed miserably the first time! We are all looking forward to being able to see each other on a more regular basis. It is so funny that my friends from school are mostly mothers of daughters! It is somewhat hard to bring two boys to a play date with only girls. We are looking forward to next Saturday when we have orientation at school. School starts in only NINE DAYS!!!

Atlanta Bound!

Tonight at my birthday dinner Joe gave me my birthday present from him. We have four tickets to the Braves vs Marlins Stitch n Pitch game on Sept 17th! I have never been to a Braves game and have wanted to go for years. My father and my father-in-law are big fans of the Braves and I have spent many times with them watching the games on TV. It seems that this will be a great time for me to spend time watching live baseball and crocheting!

Flower Watching!

For three days and two nights I was able to enjoy the chance to watch my niece, L. I had such a wonderful time playing and spending time with her. She loved that the boys were there, too. Every morning she would call for them as soon as I started with her down the stairs. They would let her chase them in circles around the house and they loved every minute. Bubba was about as thrilled as I was to be able to spend so much time with L. It was sad to have to say good-bye to her when her parents came home (although I know they were thrilled to be back home with her as well).

I Am Back!

I returned home yesterday afternoon from another trip to South Carolina. This time Jo and I went to attend my Lane family reunion. We left Friday morning and stopped for the night at her grandparents' house. We had a great time visiting and eating SEAFOOD!! Yummy! The next day we traveled to Marion County, SC to find some cemeteries where some family members are buried. We got lots of pictures of lots of headstones. We even found this cemetery (pictured) with its lone tree and headstones standing out against the surrounding fields of soybeans.

Next after our cemetery hunting was done, we got to see my family at the reunion. I always love getting to see my Lane family every year. Actually I would love to see them more often if I could. I got to reacquaint myself with family and I got to meet several new family members. It was so funny because I am trying to explain to Jo who all 50+ people are and how we are related. Sometimes I can get them confused, but we worked through it. She then amazed everyone by knowing their names and how they fit into the family. That was a great feat for someone who is a complete stranger, especially when half the time some of us that have been a part of the family for 20-30 years still have trouble with that!