Not About Food!

This time I’m not posting any food photos.  I know that this is unusual, especially during this Covid-19 restricted era, but it was time for a break! 

I am working on a final posting about our 2006 road trip to the southwestern USA, another based on a nostalgic illustrated look back at America…and yes, one more food focused post too.

This post includes striking views of the area where we live, a bit of history, a potential new dining spot, Mother Nature providing some excitement, a little construction, an airport, a family member and fall décor at home…

The preceding photos of Tellico Lake were either taken by neighbors from their house up the hill near our home or by folks ‘stuck’ at bridge construction stop lights along TN Hwy 444.  We do live in a beautiful area!  Relaxing views in this times of stress… Which photo is your favorite?

Debbie, yet another neighbor, is into hiking.  She recently posted these photos of the “Pearl Harbor Tree” in Cades Cove on Facebook.  For those who aren’t familiar with it, Cades Cove…a valley surrounded by mountains in the Smoky Mountain National Park…is the most popular tourist destination in the park.

The gentleman who planted this tree was Golman Myers. (Could we be related?) He and his family lived in Cades Cove and when he heard President Roosevelt announce the attack on Pearl Harbor on the radio, he knew that the USA would be going to war.  He had 2 sons of draft age as well.  To mark the historical moment, he sought out a sapling sweet gum tree and transplanted it in his front yard.  He placed a rim from an old automobile tire around the tree to protect it. 

Golman died of a heart attack in 1945 and his family moved out of Cades Cove.  The tree continued to grow and the old family farm grew into a popular destination for park visitors.  The old wheel rim split and grew right into the bark.  Golman’s son, Bernard, used a chain to attach the tag shown above to the tree.  Many visitors place American flags to pay homage to this folksy memorial.

Laurie and I were encouraged and hopeful when we recently drove by the old Southern Railroad Depot in Loudon Tennessee.  The depot was originally built by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1914.  For quite a while it housed the local Chamber of Commerce but it’s been empty for a couple of years now…

That big sign in front of the depot announces that the building is a future location for the Monkey Town Brewing Company.  This small East Tennessee chain of restaurants and beer purveyors was founded in Dayton Tennessee…home of the famous/infamous Scopes Monkey Trial.  Currently they have 3 locations and it appears that Loudon will be number 4!  Hopefully, despite Covid-19, this new dining venue will open as planned…

One night, not too long ago, as Laurie and I were about to go to sleep…we heard a big whooshing sound along with a thump.  It sounded like something had hit the house!  Laurie checked it out with one of our high-powered flashlights…but didn’t see anything.

However, the next morning the source of all that noise was on full display, lying completely across our street right next to our house.  This was the second tree to block the street in about the same area in recent months. 

Neighbors Mike and Sherry’s deck construction is coming along despite a ‘little’ hang up.  The roof over the deck couldn’t be built so that it would meet code!  Consequently, a more expensive alternative has been chosen…an electric louvered pergola.  This should be one heck of a party deck when it’s done!

We just got this photo on Wednesday, 10/2.  Dawn Marie took the photo as she was checking in for a flight on American Airlines.  It’s hard to believe but this was American’s check in area at Philadelphia’s International Airport.  No, the photo wasn’t taken at 11:30 PM… It was 3:30 PM in the afternoon!  More proof of the impact of Covid-19!  No people!  Plus all restaurants, shops and frequent flyer lounges were closed.

Time for a little family… This photo is of one of Laurie’s double cousins, Alan Templeton.  How does one have double cousins?  It happens when 2 brothers, (Laurie’s father Robert and his brother John), marry 2 sisters, (Laurie’s mother Doris and her sister Lois), and both couples have children.

Alan and his wife Bonnie live in Colorado and they love to hike.  What a nice scene!  Alan is a geneticist at Washington University in St. Louis where he is the professor emeritus of biology.  He also holds a professorship in the Institute of Evolution at the University of Haifa (Israel).  Much of what he’s accomplished is beyond my comprehension.  If you’d like to learn more about Alan, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Templeton.

Time for a little home décor… Can you tell from the look of our fireplace mantle what time of the year it is?  We also have pumpkins and a few Halloween related items scattered around the house as well as on the front porch… We don’t get trick or treaters here but tis that season anyway and it gives us an excuse to buy a bag of mixed candies “just in case”.

That’s all for now.  Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stay Safe and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave