Twinkle Twinkle

During our Christmas adventures in eastern Kentucky, we noticed a strange phenomenon. There were stars on peoples homes. Lots of stars. BCD thought they had some significant meaning, like some sort of secret cult. With the advent of satellite TV I think it's just overdose on HGTV. On one two hour day trip through the hills we counted 73 stars on houses. Some people even doubled up and had two. It was like some crazy fairy had run amok throughout the hills of eastern Kentucky waving its magic wand and poof! there were stars everywhere. I suspect the same fairy has been in western Kentucky too. I just haven't been looking lately but I know those stars are here, I feel 'em.

Christmas in Eastern Kentucky

Christmas in eastern Kentucky consists of a big yummy spread put on by my sister in-law Jeannie and her husband Shannon. After the meal, the "boys" retire to target shoot and hang out. Cameras and guns lend themselves to posing 1880's style. Ben re-enacts the Jessie James look above and his Dad, BCD, gives a mean snarl brandishing his pistols, below.

A red-neck Kentucky Kristmas was had by all!

The Winter of Our Discontent

We've gone several rounds with old devil flu bug himself this week. Both BCD and I have been down for the count for the second half of our vacation. Side swipped by the most vile villan of a virus that ever crept. It lept on us somewhere between Wal Mart and K-Mart and round we went. No matter the quarts of Purell used, it found it's way into our systems and downloaded it's nasty spam. Finally, with Imodium on our side we are slowly entering into recovery. What began on Monday is subsiding today (Saturday). Of course, the plus side is we've both lost 10 lbs, but I really want a pizza. Sad but true.

Where you at ATT?

We're spending Christmas "down on the farm" in Grayson this week. No internet available so my updates are far and few between. I'm just kidding. This photo is not BCD's farm but it is a place down the road from his farm where the folks still use this bridge as the only access to their house. BCD says the folks do have electricity though. Here is a photo of our farm, the old smoke house and tobacco barn. There is no longer a residence on the farm, only barns and out buildings.

I've been inspired by Sue and her wonderful closeups so I tried one of my own. Pictured below is the pulley wheel of the old well on the farm.

I'm hoping for some pretty weather. I would like to take some shots of the old churches around Carter County. They are disappearing fast. So much history in those old buildings and congregations. Here is one of the Crane Creek Hopewell Methodist Church.

Bears bobbin' for apples

This wasn't the actual bear that tore up our hot tub cover three days in a row, but it is a pretty good facsimile. Actually, there were three bears in our cabin yard the first night we were in Gatlinburg. The next morning we found the hot tub cover torn to stuffin's. The rental company brought a new cover, but the bears tore it up too. And the next one. We thought we might get some apples and load the hot tub up to see if we could get them to bob for the fruit.

By the looks of this cover, I don't think I would advise leaving any food out for bears.

Adventures in Gatlinburg

We took off in the company truck Wednesday for Gatlinburg for work and adventure at the annual Smokey Mountain Gift Show. All was good until we hit I-40 in Nashville. I looked down and saw that the temperature gauge was "pegged" to hot. We pulled off and opened the hood and Wendy, who has some mechanical experience decided we probably blew a coolant hose as fluid was all over the inside of the hood.

After some discussion Lori decided to walk across the street to the auto place and I called our friend and head of GTB maintenance, Tom. Tom got right it and found a Dodge dealership in Nashville. The dealership called a tow truck and a cab to come and get us.

The tow truck showed up and began hooking us up and a few minutes later the cab came. I gotta tell you that cab smelled horrible! I think the man must have worn diapers and they were well past time for a change. Awful. He got us to the dealership at the same time the tow truck (who left after we did) showed up. I'm pretty sure the cab driver took us around the block the long way for the extra fare. The trip cost about $30.

After waiting approximately 45 minutes we were told that our problem was definately repairable and they could get us going right away. Seems they thought the radiator cap had come loose, spewing out the coolant. $134.00 for that bill. Hummm. We thought not. The girls think it was a thermostat that stuck and I tend to agree with them.

OK, off we go to Gatlinburg. But now we are late and must check in after hours. We called them and they will leave the key and map for us in the overnight box at the office.

hi ho hi ho

It's off to Gatlinburg I go. We're headed to the annual Gift Show in the Smokies tomorrow and I'm lookin' forward to the break. Notice I am taking only the most important necessities, the camera and the money. Harrah's casino sent me coupons for early November, wonder how they knew I was coming to the area?