Bicycling

This evening we headed out to ride our bicycles again. There was one difference, though. We had an addition to our group. Linda joined us as she tried out her "new" bike. It was fun having her join us! We rode over six miles and played in some of the local fountains. Butch actually rode through one. It is an interactive one that consist of a circle of many water spouts. When they started going down he tried to ride through it. It did not go all the way down and started building up again. He ended up riding right over top of one spout getting soaked! Ahh, what fun!

New Look

For a while now I have wanted a new look for my blog. I have been searching for my new favorite template, but until that happens I came up with a compromise. This is close to what I have envisioned before, but not quite there. Enjoy!

Flowering Garden

I have been growing something in my garden that I do not eat. Okra. This is something that others, including Joe, like to eat (especially fried). I have never grown to acquire that taste. I have enjoyed growing it though due to this beautiful flower it produces.

Safety City

On the 6th of this month we went to a place called Safety City. They held a safety course for school children as they ride bicycles. The kids watched a video that taught them bike rules, had someone that helped them to properly fit and wear their helmets, then they showed what they learned in the small "city" in the back.

Here they are learning to stop and give hand signals to show where they are going

Otter found a house that was just her size. She knocked but no one answered!

Learning how to go around parked cars

Welsh Wedding Traditions

There are so many traditions that have been lost through the passing of time. I found this about Welsh Wedding traditions and thought it was very interesting.

Welsh Wedding Traditions

Greenways

For the past several months we have taken to evening bicycling in our household. We have all loved our new hobby. We were driving around in Oak Ridge the other day and noticed a greenway there. I looked it up online and thought I would add a link here for anyone interested.
Oak Ridge Greenways
City of Knoxville Greenways
Maryville-Alcoa Greenway

Hummingbird

My First Bicycle

I only recall having two bicycles growing up. We did not have a good place to ride bikes around our house, so I mainly rode in the yard or the gravel driveway. My first bike was a small Strawberry Shortcake Bike. So far this is the only picture I can find of it. I have not seen one of my second bike. It actually had my name on the cover for the chain. Now I ride Joe's tie dye bike and I have "biking hair"!

Amazing Athletes

I have been busy with not only the first week of school, but also the 2008 Olympic games. I love the Summer Olympics. Diving and swimming are some of my favorite sports. I have had a great time watching these amazing athletes that are breaking and sometimes shattering the previous world records. I also love the artistry and talent of the diving. I like to watch the beach volleyball as well. Just so many interesting things to watch!

Habanera

Thanks to Wesley for showing this to me! It was so funny I thought I would share it with all of you.

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.

Favorite Movies

I was looking through trailers of current movies in theaters and I was astounded at the lack of interesting movies (well actually not really). I enjoy watching movies, but so many just do not seem to interest me. I have several movies that I love to watch over and over again. I thought I would list some of my favorites:

Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Persuasion (1995)
Sense and Sensibility (2008)
On The Town (1949)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
Holiday Inn (1942)
Love Comes Softly (2003)
The Mummy Returns (2001)
My Favorite Wife (1940)
Sabrina (1954)
Singing in the Rain (1952)
Walk Don't Run (1966)
Pirates of the Carribean (all three)
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Hard Times

When you are in the midst of hard times it is difficult to look at the hard decisions that are necessary and be excited. Looking back on many of the hard times we have had I remember that there were several times I made a decision that was the right choice, but still very difficult and painful to me. I was reminded of these recently when we had some people in our church family facing hard times themselves. A quote from Anne of Green Gables came to mind:

"It's all very well to read about sorrows and imagine yourself living through them heroically, but it's not so nice when you really come to have them, is it?"

Job also went through some of the worst imaginable hard times. He lost his family, his wealth, some of his health, and through all that he was faithful to the Lord. He was probably not all optimistic and happy through those hard times, but he trusted that the Lord was with him and that He loved him. Through all the changes happening around him, Job knew that God was there and that He never changes.

When hard times come our Father wants us to come to Him and to turn these worries over to Him. He wants us to trust that He loves us more than we can comprehend and that He will provide and take care of our needs. He will reward our faithfulness. Job was faithful and praised the Lord's name, even through these hard times, and the Lord poured out His blessing on Job.

Humorous Headstones

I was looking at a website with some information on cemetery surveying and transcribing. There were several funny ones that I just had to share! You can also go and check out the Transcribing Monumental Inscriptions site.

At Potterne, Devizes, Wilts:
Here lies MARY the wife of JOHN FORD,
We hope her soul is gone to the Lord;
But if for Hell she has chang'd this life,
She had better be there than be John Ford's wife.

And a few for fun, origin unknown:
Here lies Ezekiah AIKLE
Age 102
The Good Die Young

In London
Ann MANN
Here lies Ann MANN
Who lived an old maid
But died an old Mann.
Dec 9. 1767

Ribbesford, England
Anna WALLACE
The children of Israel wanted bread
And the Lord sent them Manna
Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife
And the Devil sent him Anna.