Gatlinburg Aquarium Trip

We were at a Smokies baseball game 2 weeks ago and won some ticckets to the Ripleys Aquarium in Gatlinburg.....sooooo....in keeping with our family theme of "WE DO FREE", we went this past weekend.....it was pretty cool!

Hellllllloooooooo......

Hello everyone......yes, we are still alive, living on the mountain and doing well.  I just reaaaaaalllly suck at blogging, but people want some updates and more pictures, etc. so we are going to give it another try at being more regular (that don't sound right).

Anyway, check back soon and you won't be dissappointed (maybe)........God Bless 

Here Chicky, Chicky, Chicky

We finally took the plunge and got a couple of chicks about 14 weeks ago so we could start having our own eggs (one more step towards a self sufficient lifestyle). 

We've talked about it for the past year or so but never got around to building the chicken coop so when Chris called me from the Farm Bureau telling me they had chicks for sale, I decided that if we got the chicks we would have to build the coop.....and we did.

We only have 2 chicks since we wanted to start small, but now that the coop is finished we are going to get 8-10 layers.  Of course, we can't have meat chickens because Lydia and Lauren turn every animal into a pet and no way would they let them be killed, let alone eat them...!! 

We "repurposed" the girls first playhouse into the chicken house, repainted it to match the other outbuildings (it was pink and purple, so it didn't look much like a chicken house) and built a 10x10 coop......pretty nice digs..!!

We left the post long enoug to add a roof if we decide we need it, but we'll see.........

We're Baaaaaccckkkkk....

I know.....I suck at blogging.......been wanting to post but by the time I get home, eat, check the garden, etc. etc. etc., I tell myself that I'll do it tommorow and wah-lah, 5 months has gone by.

We have a lot of great stuff to share and since I have a long weekend, I decided that I'm going to do it.

So, check back in a few days and see if I'm like our President, White House Administration, Congrress, Senate......oh hell, just everyone in our government.......full of shit.

We'll see......Dave

Put up your dogs and cats and stay inside.......

A couple of months ago I decided that it's time for Lydia to learn how to shoot a gun (much to Chris' opposition).......so I dug out the old 22 rifle, set up a safe location to teach her, made sure that Chris, Lauren and all the dogs were inside and proceeded with her first lesson.
It didn't go too bad and after some initial butterflies in Lydias stomach and she was able to squeeze off a few rounds.

We decided that the 22 we have is too heavy for her, so we are looking for a lighter model that is more balanced for her. 

What a Knife...!!

Chris and the kids gave me a new knife for Christmas........nothing like a new bowie knife as a way to say "We love you"..!!!  

It's really high quality and I've put an edge on it that would peel the skin off of a tomato without dripping any juice.......I REALLY love my new toy...!!

Hiking to White Rock Ranger Station

At the end of October, Leroy, my nieghbor that I go hiking with, and Bill, another nieghbor that hikes with Leroy, hiked up to White Rock. 

White Rock is a former Ranger fire watch tower that has not been in use for quite a few years, but at one time was manned by Rangers in rotating shifts of 3-6 months at a time.  It is located on the East end of the Smoky Mountain National Park at an elevation of 5,900 feet. 

It is still accessabile by trails that are maintained by the park service, but in Leroy's true fashion (that I REALLY enjoy), we don't always stick to the trails and this was one of those times.  We took a VERY seldom used (or probably known about) route that starts a couple of miles up from our cabin that took us up some very challenging terrain and obstacles........and of course, Leroy (remember that he is 74 years old) had no problem with, but to be honest, it KICKED my butt.......but was well worth the views that were enjoyed.

Here are some pictures that I did manage to garner the strength to click the shutter...!!