11/21/2008, Cosby, TN
When on our little vacation to the Cosby cabin in the Smokies, we had hoped to find several new waterfalls. WELL---since this entire area has been in a drought, we only saw three on this trip. The first one we saw was Serenity Falls (shown above). And little did we know --until we got there-- that this waterfall is part of another set of gorgeous little cabin rentals.
These little cabins used to be a small community in the mountains many years ago. There are now 4 cabins along the creek/waterfall. One is called Ed's Mill. Locals used to bring their corn to Ed's Grist Mill to be ground into corn meal and grits. Another cabin is called the General Store. In years past, Ed Caton's Store was the place where local people shopped for food, fabric, hardware, sundries and medications that were commonly used during that time.
Another cabin is called Tillie's Stall. This building was once used to shelter Wanda Caton's cow, named Tillie Rose. And the fourth cabin is named Will's Barn. Will Caton, the original owner of the property, constructed this barn to house and dry his tobacco crop. Isn't this neat----that someone kept this little community alive by turning the old buildings into cute little cabins????
George and I hope to go back to the Cosby area and want to stay in the Ed's Mill cabin. It's the first cabin sitting below the beautiful waterfall. Well--if you have kept up with my blogs, you know that George and I absolutely LOVE waterfalls. Serenity was the 281st waterfall we have visited since 2001. AND to think how special it would be for 'waterfall lovers' like us to stay in a cabin which overlooks a beautiful waterfall. That is truly SPECIAL. I hope we can go to Ed's Mill cabin next Spring!!! (There are more pictures below!!)
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11/21/2008, Cosby, TN
George took this picture of me near Serenity Falls--as he walked down to talk to the caretaker about the cabins. We were so impressed with this area!!! (What I would give to own that land!! There's an old farmhouse there that I'd love to own... Dream on, Betsy!!!)
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11/21/2008, Cosby, TN
This is a picture of the cabin (Ed's Mill) ---looking toward the deck which overlooks the creek and waterfall. Can you believe that we found this beautiful place???? And to think--we were ONLY looking for a new waterfall! Wow!
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11/21/2008, Cosby, TN
This picture was taken from inside the cabin --on the big deck in the back, pointing toward Serenity Falls. Can you just imagine sitting on the deck --just listening to the roar of the water coming over that waterfall???? Hmmmm---I may just have to sleep on that deck!!!!
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11/21/2008, Cosby, TN
This shows the front of Ed's Mill Cabin (where we want to stay sometime). It was just neat to be a part of this history... I stood there and thought about people coming to the grist mill. Isn't that interesting??? Now you see why Serenity is MORE than a waterfall!
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11/19/2008, Cosby, TN
So far, I've showed you pictures of the cabin and the fireplace we visited recently on a little vacation to the Smokies. Today, I'll share one of our favorite things---the HOT TUB. On the back deck (which was very private) was a hot tub... Talk about relaxing!!!! We enjoyed that tub probably 4-5 times while we were there.
One of the most memorable times in the hot tub was one evening. We went outside that evening only to find a FULL MOON just above our heads. Can you imagine how wonderful it was to be in a hot tub with the 'love of your life'---and a full moon above your head???? Wow--how romantic!! Life can't get much better than this!!!! (There's one more picture below.)
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11/19/2008, Cosby, TN
This little creek was right behind our cabin.. There was a little water (enough to hear from the back porch)---but I'll bet this creek has ALOT of water after a big rain, or in the early spring when we usually get more rain. Be that as it may, it was neat to sit in the hot tub and listen to the babbling brook behind us!!!
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11/19/2008, Michigan
I love Shelley's blogs. She is from Michigan and publishes THREE blogs almost every single day. Today, on one of her sites, she is talking about a giveaway that she is going to offer. Here are some of the comments from her blog:
There is a special place called Zingerman's located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They have the best deli and bakehouse in the state in my opinion. In fact, their breads were voted one of the Top 12 Mail Order Bread sources in America! Every year during the holiday season they come out with this Cranberry Pecan Bread - it is so yummy that they have a waiting list for this bread! You have to try this stuff! In fact, I'm going to have a loaf shipped from Zingerman's to the winner of this Giveaway! All you have to do is post your entry here and leave a link back to your blog. If you mention my giveaway on your blog and link back to mine - I will add 3 extra entries for you to increase your chances of winning! Last day to enter is 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22nd. I will do a random drawing on Sunday, November 23rd.
Please take a moment to check out Shelley's blog by clicking here: SHELLEY'S BLOG. You can check out her other sites (listed on the right side).
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11/19/2008, Knoxville, TN
This past Saturday, George and I had the privilege of attending our grandson Landon's Bar Mitzvah in Knoxville, TN, at Temple Beth El. Landon is the son of Jeff (my youngest son) and Karen. Karen is Jewish and the children (Landon and Avery) are being raised Jewish.
The Bar Mitzvah ceremony traditionally takes place around the 13th birthday of a young man. The term Bar Mitzvah means "son of the commandment" and represents Landon's formal acceptance of religious responsibility as a member of Temple Beth El. Landon has been preparing for his Bar Mitzvah for the past six months by learning and studying his Torah portion, practicing the prayers and writing his speech.
One of the first presentations in the service was a beautiful stole which Landon was given to wear during the ceremony. This stole had been used in his family for four generations. Isn't that neat?
Neither George nor I (nor even son Jeff) had ever been to a Bar Mitzvah before---and we were all VERY impressed. Landon did GREAT---and I was a proud Grammy. He stood up in front of that large group and participated in almost all of the service. He read alot in Hebrew (which blew me away) and then he gave his interpretation of one of the scripture passages he had read.
His Dad and I BOTH got very emotional and teary---just listening to all that Landon had learned and was doing as he participated in that service. We were SO proud! The service contained music, prayers, and blessings by both of his parents (Of course I cried again when my Jeff said a neat blessing to his son.).
A "Mitzvah" or good deed is the responsibility of all Jews. Landon has been performing a Mitzvah by making and collecting CD's to donate to area nursing homes. He thought that this would be a wonderful way to share his love of music.
Above is Landon holding the Torah. The Torah that Landon read from is very special in that it was rescued from Poland after the Holocaust. The Torah scrolls are housed in the Ark, which is the focal point of the sanctuary. Each scroll is handwritten by a skilled scribe in beautiful Hebrew script.
Following the service was an "Oneg Shabbat" which means "Joy to the Sabbath." This refers to the reception following the service. All in all, it was a wonderful service---and this Grammy came home "proud as punch." Landon, we are SO proud of you!!! (There are three more pictures below.)
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11/19/2008, Knoxville, TN
This is a picture of my son, Jeff, with his son, Landon. I was so proud of Jeff---and he looked incredible with a new suit on!!!! Landon would not be the young man he is without his Dad's love and attention. Jeff and Karen are wonderful parents.
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11/19/2008, Knoxville, TN
That is Landon's sister, Avery. Avery is 10---so she'll be going through this ceremony (Bat Mtizvah) in about 3 years herself. Landon looks like his mother and Avery looks like her daddy. This little granddaughter is FULL of personality!!! She's a KEEPER also.
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11/19/2008, Knoxville, TN
Pictured above is Landon with George and me. Bet you can tell that I'm a proud Grammy!!!!!
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11/18/2008
George and I have both enjoyed wood fires in our fireplaces ALL through the years. On Sunday night, we were sitting by the fire watching Cold Case on TV... George got up --as he does quite frequently---and put another log on the fire... UH OH--what is that horrible smell???? There's a skunk IN the house. YIPES!!!!!
We both got up and checked the deck and the front porch to no avail. BUT--that smell was horrible.. Do you think a skunk could have gotten in our home???? Of course not---but it smelled like he was right there with us. PEE- UUUUUU.... Woooooooo!!!!!
We finally realized where the smell came from???? It came from a piece of wood George had put on the fire... A skunk must have sprayed that wood one time---and it must have dried (since it had no smell while dry).. Once George put it on the fire, that stink came out BIGTIME. Have you ever heard of such a thing????
Well---I did what I usually do when I want to know something. I went to Google and checked it out on the internet. It's true---skunks can spray firewood---just like they can spray other things in the yard!!!!! I had never heard of that.
The answer to keep this from happening, so they say, is to store your firewood 18 inches above the ground... HA---we will definitely NOT do that. Have you seen our firewood supply???? Yipes!!!! BUT---hopefully, since neither of us have ever had this happen before, it won't happen again for a LONG time!!!! I tell you---that is absolutely the worst smell in the entire world... How can an animal as beautiful as this stink SO bad??? YUK!!!
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11/17/2008
We got some snow Saturday night (early Sunday morning)----not much, but enough to stick on the bushes, roofs, leaves, deck, etc. I took the picture above of the snow clinging to one of our Rhododendrons out back. It wasn't much snow --but I thought it made a pretty picture this morning.
The birds were thrilled to have their breakfast this morning... I notice that we have more birds on rainy, snowy, and/or cold days than we do when it's warm and sunny... I guess they are doing whatever they can to stay warm. Eating all day might do that for them!!!! ha.... As I've said several times, they are eating us out of house and home now, especially all of those many, many Goldfinches!!!! GADS--I don't know how long I can afford to do this!!! ha ha (There's one more 'snow' picture below!)
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11/17/2008
Don't you love that picture above seeing that little Pansie with the snow all around it???? It looks like it is looking around---wondering what that wet, cold, white stuff is!!!!
Pansies are one flower that can make it through the winter here.. We like to have a little color in our yard during the winter.. SO---once we realized that Pansies will live from Fall through about July (or when it gets REALLY hot), we added Pansies to most all of our flowerbeds. These little beauties don't seem to mind the cold and snow. Brrrrr!
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