Focusing on Railroad...Depots and a Little History (#4)

Yet another look back at some of the hundreds of railway depots that I've photographed over the past several years.  The following series of photos begins with September 2018 and goes back to September of 2017.  I touch on depots I checked out in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Scotland in the United Kingdom.  Once again, I've shied away from derelict depots that once upon a time were the center of activity in many towns, but now have been forgotten and neglected.  Railroad fans love railroad history but they also care about the preservation, furbishing and reuse of the thousands of depots here and abroad that no longer serve railroad systems.

Where possible, I have included old time photos of the depots included in this post.  I find them interesting, especially when juxtaposed against the current condition and use of the depots today.

This was the former Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad combination passenger and freight depot in Paris Tennessee.  As per the papers filed with the US National Park Service in order to establish the Paris Tennessee Commercial Historic District, this depot was built ca. 1910.  Other sources provide different dates ranging as far back as 1896.  Passenger service to Paris Tennessee continued until 1951.  

I found a photo on-line that I couldn't copy that showed that the depot was being used as an antique shop sometime in the latter part of the 1900s.  When I took the photo shown above in June or July of 1918, the sign on the building advertised a Tax Service.  Apparently the owner/proprietor passed away in February of 2019 and the business closed.  Consequently, I don't know if this old depot is still being repurposed.  

In my search for updated information about the Paris Tennessee Depot, I discovered that by the 1890s this city in western Tennessee also served as a repair shop hub and rail yard for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.  Love the old postcard.

I recently discovered this old photo ca. early 1900s, showing the Tomahawk Wisconsin passenger and freight depot.

This is the repurposed depot as it appeared when I took the photo back in 2018.  In northern Wisconsin growth and prosperity in the late 1800s was all based on the timber industry.  In order for the timber business to grow, railroads were needed.  Both industries arrived at about the same time...in September of 1887.  The first train from the Wisconsin Valley Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad arrived in September of that year.  I couldn't determine when the depot was built by it appears to have been completely abandoned by ca. 1980.  

The exterior of the former depot has been restored by Tomahawk Stove Junction, LLC.  The restoration work was completed in 2006.  The building now serves as the company's office, warehouse and store.

The city of Tomahawk also has this Marinette, Tomahawk and Western Railway Company locomotive on display.  Locomotive #19 was built in 1923 for the Charcoal Iron Company of America for use in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  This tough old 2-6-0 type locomotive later served a Wisconsin lumber company from 1927 until 1947.  The lumber company then sold it to the Marinette, Tomahawk and Western Railway and ca. 1960, it was donated to the City of Tomahawk.  The M.T. and W. Railway never had more than 50 miles of track.  By the 1930s, the railroad's trackage was down to 13 miles and the railway had earned the nickname "Miserable, Tired and Weary".

This photo was taken in Plover Wisconsin's Heritage Park in the summer of 2018.  This park is just one of the 4 Portage County Historical Society's properties.  The park is home to a number of historical buildings from the area that have been relocated to the site and which are preserved for future generations.  The exterior and first floor of the depot were restored by Central Wisconsin Model Railroaders, Ltd.  They use the basement for their clubhouse.

The depot was moved to the park from nearby Bancroft Wisconsin.  It was built by the the Wisconsin Central Railway in 1898.  Subsequently it was served as a depot on the "Soo Line", aka the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad.  The caboose sitting next to the depot was originally operated by the Green Bay and Western Railway.

This large conjoined Prairie school style structure is the former Wisconsin Central Railway passenger and freight depot which is located in Stevens Point Wisconsin.  It was built in 1918.  The Wisconsin Central Railroad first arrived in Stevens Point in the 1870s and was instrumental in the city growing into a lumbering center.  Passenger train service to Stevens Point ended in the early 1950s. 

As you can imagine, just based on the size of the building or buildings, Stevens Point was once a key rail center in central Wisconsin.  Other buildings and trackage still exist in the vicinity...from back in the times when railroads ruled land-based transportation.  Canadian National Railway Offices, doing business as Wisconsin Central Limited, are located in the old depot.

Now off to central Tennessee... This is the old Tennessee Central Railway Depot in Cookeville.  The railroad ceased all operations in 1968, but like with hundreds of towns and cities across the USA, the railroad was key to Cookeville's development and growth.  In 1909 this structure replaced the original Nashville and Knoxville Depot that had been built in 1890.  With its pagoda style roof and all brick construction, it was unusual for the Tennessee Central Railroad.  Passenger service ended here in 1955.  

 

I really appreciate old photos showing the depots back in the days when they were still a critical part of so many town's and their economies.  This photo probably dates back to the late 1930s or early 1940s.

The old depot was in dire straits when a group of local citizens decided to preserve it as a museum.  The city of Cookeville purchased the property and depot from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1975.  By 1985, preservation efforts were completed and the Cookeville Depot Museum became a reality.

                              

The locomotive and rolling stock shown above are just a part of the exhibits that belong to and are preserved by the Cookeville Depot Museum.  That locomotive is a 1913 model 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler that was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.  After a career working for a couple of local rail lines in Louisiana...and being knocked out of service after a collision, it was sidelined until the Friends of the Cookeville Depot Museum acquired it in 2002.  It was then painted to match the fleet of 4-6-0s that had been operated by the Tennessee Central Railway Company.  

Moving on from central Tennessee in the USA, the recap of railway depots I've photographed will now cross over the Atlantic Ocean to Scotland.  

This lovely little depot is owned by ScotRail and it's located at the Village of Bridge of Orchy.  The village dates back to 1751 and it has a population of 152 residents.  The depot was completed in 1894.  At last check, the depot was being utilized as a resting point or bunk house for hikers along the West Highland Way, a popular long distance trail in Scotland.  Passengers have to buy their tickets in advance or from the guard on the train.

Given the tiny population of the Village of Bridge of Orchy, it's a bit stunning that in a 12 month period from 2023 /2024, a total of 7,286 passengers, (almost 20 passengers a day) were served at this stop on ScotRail.  The West Highland Way trail plus the fact that the River Orchy is one of the finest white water rivers in the UK must be the sources for most of the railway passengers.  Monday to Saturday there are 4 trains in each direction serving this depot, 3 from ScotRail and 1 from Caledonian Sleeper.  

The Dalmally Railway Station opened in April of 1877.  For some time it was the western end of the Callander and Oban Railroad.  This solid looking station is laid out with 2 platforms, one on either side of a passing loop past the station.  In earlier times, the Village of Dalmally also had a small railroad engine shed and a turntable.  

The Village of Dalmally grew up around an Inn that was built in 1782 which was followed by a church being built by a local Earl in 1811.  The advent of the railroad and the popularity of tourist steamers on  nearby Loch Awe accelerated the village's growth.  Today the population includes about 400 people.  

Today the Dalmally Depot is served by 6 trains in either direction Mondays through Saturdays.  An additional train operates from this station to Oban on weekdays.  More trains stop here during the summer/tourist season.  As is common in the USA, no real services are offered at the station.  Tickets must be purchased in advance or from the guard on the train.  A total of 15,298 passengers were served by this station during a 12 month period from 2023 - 2024.

Talk about a railway depot that seems to be in the middle of nowhere!  That's Laurie's brother-in-law Bill wandering down the depot platform at Upper Tyndrum in Scotland.

The Village of Tyndrum, population 167, actually has 2 railway stations...Upper Tyndrum and Lower Tyndrum.  These stations service 2 different rail lines with both depots constructed to match the contour of the countryside they service.  Upper for the highlands and Lower for the lower elevations.  The two stations are about a mile apart...a 15 minute walk.  The Upper Tyndrum station currently houses the offices of Scotgold Resources Ltd., an Australian company that recently reopened a gold mine in the hills just south of the village.   

The Lower Tyndrum Station provided rail service to 6,382 passengers in the 12 month period from 2023 to 2024 and the Upper Tyndrum Station handled 5,878 passengers.  There were also about 1,500 interchange tickets sold between the 2 stations/rail lines.  ScotRail trains service the Upper Tyndrum Station 3 times a day in either direction Monday through Saturday and Caledonian Sleeper provides service once a day on the same days.

The Village of Tyndrum is thought to have begun ca. 1740s as a crossroads of old drover routes.  Its growth was enhanced by a brief gold rush in the early 1800s.  The Village, a popular tourist spot, was built on the battlefield where Clan MacDougall defeated Robert the Bruce in 1306.  The Village is located on The West Highland Way hiking trail.

Moving along, this is the railway station located just outside the Village of Plockton in Scotland.  The depot was built by the Highland Railroad and it first opened in 1897.  The station was privately renovated ca. 2010 and it now serves as a self-catering holiday cottage.

ScotRail serves this depot with 4 trains each way Monday through Saturday and 1 train each way on Sunday.  In the 12 month period between 2023 and 2024, a total of 10,816 passengers were boarded at this station.  As with the other stations described previously, no services are actually available at the station.

The Village of Plockton is situated on the shore of Loch Carron.  With the warm North Atlantic Drift current just offshore and the village facing away from the prevailing winds, the village has a very moderate climate.  New Zealand cabbage palms thrive in town.  Plockton was established as a planned fishing village ca. 1800.  Locals had been removed from their lands and villages as part of the plan to clear the way for sheep grazing to accommodate the wool industry.  Considered to be perhaps the prettiest village in the Highlands, Plockton has served as the backdrop for at least one movie and two TV series.  

To learn more about the Highland Clearances (Removals) and to learn about the impact on Scottish culture, go to https://www.britannica.com/event/Highland-Clearances. 

Onto the last of our Scottish railway depots... This is the ScotRail station at Garve on Kyle of Lochalsh Line, one of the most heralded great train journeys of the world.  The Garve Depot opened in 1870.  Despite its size and the double tracks, a 1,300 foot long loop, this is the least used depot we visited in Scotland.  I was unable to determine what the old depot is currently being used for...

In the 12 months from 2023 into 2024, only 4,264 passengers were served at this depot.  Perhaps the fact that it is the next depot on this scenic line, with the Kyle of Lochalsh's start at Dingwall, only 11 miles away, is the primary reason for the depot's modest use.  There are 4 trains in each direction Monday through Saturday, with 1 train in each direction on Sunday.

The village of Garve has a population of about 250 people and its named after nearby Loch (Lake) Garve.  It is a quiet place made up of small stone cottages with their pleasant gardens behind the usual low stone walls.  Quality fishing in the Loch and nearby river are the key attractions.

Note: ScotRail or ScotRail Trains Ltd. is held by Scottish Railway Holdings Limited, a publicly owned company under the control of the Scottish Government.  ScotRail, just one of several passenger rail services in the United Kingdom, boarded 81,100,000 passenger journeys in the 12 month period of 2023 - 2024.  

Back to the United States!  Also, earlier in 2017, Laurie and I traveled down to Waco Texas and then came back up through Oklahoma.  This is the Amtrak Depot located in Ardmore Oklahoma.  Located at 251 East Main Street this southwestern style building with stucco walls, brick accents and a red clay barrel-tiled roof, was completed in 1916 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad...  Later in its history it was used by the Rock Island Railroad.

As in Scotland, the station offers only shelter, no passenger services.  The structure is owned by the Ardmore Main Street Authority, which restored the station in 2015.  It currently serves as an event venue and a public park, aka "Depot Park" was opened adjacent to the station in 2022.  

The station platform is serviced by the daily Heartland Flyer, which travels from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth Texas...a 4 hour trip each way.  A single daily trip is made in each direction.  The Flyer is operated by Amtrak and its funded by the states of Oklahoma and Texas.  In fiscal year 2023, the Flyer was used by 72,379 passengers.  

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for this journey by rail...then and now.

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Forty-Four Years and Counting!

 Time certainly does fly by!  It's hard for us to believe, but today is our 44th wedding anniversary.  The best part of that fact is that we still love and truly like each other... 

I was living in the St. Louis Missouri area.  Debbie, my former Administrative Assistant, with a retail company long departed, fixed Laurie and I up on a blind date.  The two gals were residents in the same apartment complex...and after Debbie applied enough pressure and  assured Laurie that I was harmless, Laurie agreed to go out with me.  That blind date took place exactly 45 years ago today...and despite me being an 'old guy', we hit it off right away.  This photo was taken on Valentine's Day in 1979...

I'd proposed to Laurie while 'we' were doing laundry in her apartment complex's laundry facilities.  I am such a romantic aren't I?!  In any case, she accepted and exactly one year after our blind date, we tied the knot.

Like most couples that have been married for a long time, we've had our share of ups and downs...but a lot more ups than downs!  In 1981, we moved to Chicago, then to Attleboro Massachusetts, then back to Chicago, all necessitated by my career.  I worked for 5 different companies over the ensuing 30 + years before we retired in 2009.  Along the way, we had some great vacations.  Notably, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, some amazing fishing trips to northern Ontario, and road trips in Scotland, Australia and New Zealand.  We've explored or at least touched on all 50 states in the USA.

Since we've retired and moved to Eastern Tennessee...with its forests, lakes, rivers, rocks and mountains...life has continued to treat us well.  Road trips are our favorite activity for sure and we continue to explore the USA.  Of course, our most frequent destinations are St. Louis to visit Laurie's sisters and other family members and then Omaha to visit our son and his family.  

We have ventured overseas again as well... The photo above was taken along Loch Leven in Ballachulish Scotland.  On this occasion we were accompanied by Laurie's sister Bonnie and Bonnie's husband, Bill.  The trip had begun with a visit to the sister's family who live in Scotland...  

From Scotland we flew over to Ireland... This happy couple was enjoying the great weather and the fabulous little town of Kinsale on the southern coast of Ireland. (It's referred to as the Irish Riviera) Another great trip enjoyed by all...and we all have Irish ancestral roots too.

Like the rest of the world, we had to navigate and survive that notorious plague that limited movement for the last couple of years...Covid-19.  It really slowed us down, robbing us of a few great road trips.  The good news is that when we caught it ourselves, we were super vaccinated and didn't suffer any serious issues.  I still think that we looked stylish in our lovely masks.  We were glad to put them away!

...and time marches on!  We're ready for whatever adventures life brings our way.  This pair of lovers is looking forward to our 50th anniversary and beyond.  In the meantime, we're ready to hit the road, visit friends and family and explore the back roads of America. 

It's been a great trip so far!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, David and Laurie

Our Michigan Road Trip – Family Visit

Following our long but interesting day perusing the indoor and outdoor exhibits at The Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, we headed north from Dearborn to Fenton Michigan.  We had family to visit!

My cousin Nathan and his wife Janice live in this 100+ year old house and they have for many, many years.  They have fixed it up and remodeled it over time and it’s a cozy refuge for their close knit family

This is the view from the front of their home.  They not only have a view of Dollar Lake which is connected to a second lake, but they also lakefront access right across the road!  Tie that together with their home being situated on multiple acreage, and the overall property is a big win… The family is even able to hunt deer for the freezer without leaving home.  Also…Janice keeps bees and makes lip balm, hand balm, and soap in addition to delicious honey. 

Janice and Nathan are retired and Nathan is kept busy with Janice’s ‘honey-do’ list.  Nathan met Janice while he was in the United States military and was based in England.  Fortunately for him, this Scottish lass was living in England at just the right time!  He was smart enough to know when he found the right wife and life partner…

The couple had 3 children.  Elizabeth (named after my mother), Nadine, and another Nathan (shown in the above photo and referred to by Janice as “wee Nathan”).  Elizabeth and her husband live down in McAllen Texas and she’s a teacher.  This is truly a nuclear family…they are always in close contact and they support each other.

“Wee Nathan” is the youngest of Nathan and Janice's children.  He has his own house which isn’t too far from Nathan and Janice’s home.  He is in the gardening business and is a multi-talented horticulturist, doing everything from raising plants to building greenhouses.  Best of all, he loves his work!  

Note: ‘Wee’ Nathan’s father, Nathan is extremely handy and can make or fix just about anything. When he doesn’t know how to do something, he has friends who’ll help and then he returns the favor as needed.  In any case, all of Nathan and Janice’s children, including 'wee Nathan' as well as Elizabeth and Nadine,  can do plumbing, carpentry and basic electrical work.  In contrast, I can barely pound a nail in straight or hang a painting.  

Wee Nathan isn’t married but he does have a partner.  Lulu even comes to work with him.  Lulu does like women much more than she does men…except for her ‘wee’ 6’ 4” life partner.

Nadine is the middle child, as her father Nathan was.  She managed an AAA office for a number of years but when she had her first child with her husband James, she decided that the children deserved her full attention.  She and James bought a place fairly close to the family home that includes a barn in addition to their house.  She and James are both handy and they’re in the process of remodeling and upgrading everything on their property.

Grandpa Nathan was out in the yard playing with his grandson Sherman. He’s pretty much non-stop!  Nadine’s oldest Charlie, was not feeling well when we visited so she stayed home in the care of her father James.  We hope to meet them both in the not too distant future.

We’d brought a couple of small gifts for Nathan and Janice and they had some items for us as well.  In the above photo I was perusing the many great railroad depot photos in a book that they’d bought for me.  Another item that will keep me busy for some time was a box of miscellaneous postage stamps, mostly on paper, from around the world.  What I can’t use will go to a local church that sells them to a wholesaler or alternatively to the Knoxville Philatelic Society for their children’s program.

Ah…a family photo.  From the left front - Janice, grandson Sherman and Nathan.  In the back – Nadine and her brother, ‘wee’ Nathan.  It was nice to see that these siblings fuss with each other a little but they also support each other.

And of course, we had to have a photo of Janice, my cousin Nathan, yours truly and Laurie, my better half.  As you will see in near term posts, we explored some interesting sites and historical places with Janice and Nathan beginning the very next day.

My mother would have been very happy to see Nathan, Janice and their family and just how close they are.  When my mom was living in Concord Michigan and we were in Chicago, she could count on frequent visits from the two of them and their children.  Nathan is my mother’s oldest brother Nathan’s son.  Yes, we have 3 Nathans in the family as well as 3 David’s…the latter starting with myself.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

This and That – July 2022

…taking a break from the family visit this past May during which we celebrated our youngest grandson’s graduation.  We’ll pick up on that road trip in a week or so, after a major ‘local holiday’ and a family visit to our home here in ‘paradise’, aka East Tennessee.

So here we go…with food, flowers and critters.

This is a slightly modified breakfast version of one of our favorite easy prep dinners, although it is decidedly not the heathiest thing we could eat.  I still had some Fritos and leftover no bean chili.  Heat up the chili in a frying pan, pour it over the chili flavored Fritos…and add a couple of nice over-easy fried eggs, plus Tabasco.  I had a great breakfast!  Laurie was happy with her favorite, toast and peanut butter.

Another day and another breakfast!  In this case, I had a couple slices of deli style corned beef in the meat keeper so I shredded them up, heated them with butter in the frying pan…and then combined the corned beef with scrambled eggs and shredded sharp cheddar cheese.  Add 2 slices of buttered toast and I was ready to face the day!

The first one of these beautiful pink flowers in our yard was consumed by some sort of critter only 1 day after it bloomed.  Thankfully, additional ‘rain lilies’ have now shown us just how pretty and delicate they are… No one has eaten these, yet. 

There are about 200 recognized species in this genus of plants and other common names include fairy lily, zephyr lily and magic lily.  These perennial bulbs tolerate many ecological climates ranging from periodically wet soil to desert conditions.  Parts of this plant are used for traditional medicines in the treatment of head ache, cough, cold, boils and more.

These bee balm flowers have always been popular with our local honeybees and butterflies.  Bee Balm belong to the genus Monardo and other common names for these plants include bergamot, horsemint and Oswego tea.

The crushed leaves of all species of Monardo give off a spicy, fragrant oil.  It was traditionally used by Native Americans as a seasoning for wild game, especially birds, as well as for a number of medicinal applications, including flatulence.  Bee balm is a natural source of the antiseptic compound thymol, the primary ingredient in some modern commercial mouthwash formulas.

We went on a walk through the neighborhood the other day and I had to take a photo of these big mimosa trees on the corner just a lot or two down from our house.  It’s that time of the year and these trees are in bloom everywhere around here.  They certainly add a bit of mid-summer color!

On the downside, mimosas have become an invasive species in the United States, although it is still planted on the west coast.  Nevertheless, these trees have spread from coast to coast, from Connecticut to Florida, west to Missouri and Illinois and south to Texas. 

Other names for the mimosa tree include the Persian silk tree or pink silk tree.  It is native to southwestern and eastern Asia.  Its leaves close slowly during the night and in periods of rain.  It’s modern Persian name is ‘shabkhosb’ which means ‘night sleeper’ and in China it is called ‘hehuan’, which means ‘shut happy’ and it symbolizes a happy couple in bed.

Part of Laurie’s Scottish family recently celebrated a birthday.  Della just had her 13^th birthday!  She’s flanked by her sister Maura and her brother Moir.  Her parents are Hazel and Scott.  Scott is Laurie’s cousin.  Great looking family!  Facebook has been great at helping the family stay in touch...

Back to food… With my current medications I can’t eat much in the way of green vegetables.  Who knew that I’d really miss my broccoli, spinach, green beans and mixed salad greens?!  Since head lettuce has little value going for it and it has little effect on my meds, I do make up a little side salad with some of my meals just to satisfy my need for fresh tasting veggies.  In this case my iceberg lettuce was accompanied by a few slices of yellow squash, bits of carrot and grape tomatoes.  I topped it with Olive Garden’s Italian Salad Dressing and a little pepper. 

The salad was the ‘starter’ dish.  The entrée consisted of slices of roasted pork tenderloin wrapped in smoked bacon and seasoned accompanied by cheesy baked scalloped potatoes.  The potatoes were pre-packaged by Reser’s Fine Foods, aka Main Street Bistro.  Laurie simply adds extra sharp cheddar cheese on top along with some seasonings to give it a bit more pop.

I’d previously published a photo of one of our pig shaped squirrels working on an ear of corn on the squirrel feeder mounted back in the tree line behind our house.  Here is one more photo of one of our fat little tree rats.  

The idea of the squirrel feeder was to draw them away from our bird feeder.  It didn’t work!  That is despite the fact that they can’t really get any food from our feeder because its spring loaded and closes when they jump up on it.  The problem is that they tend to jam up the mechanism and regular adjustments are needed…

The truly positive impact that has revealed itself via that squirrel corn feeder is that those little buggers are sloppy eaters and they leave corn all over the ground at the base of the tree.  That mess draws in the deer who just love that corn!  She looks appreciative don’t you think?  Of course, she is probably the one who eats some of our flowers too, but then again, it’s OK with us…

We do have ‘excitement’ around here once in a while.  With all of the new homes being built in our village, the contractors and service folks coming and going, traffic has really picked up…and so have vehicle accidents.  This nasty accident happened less than a mile from our house at TN Hwy 444 and the road that provides access to our neighborhood and various shopping and service venues.

We were on the way to the grocery store when we first spotted the crash and had to loop around it to get to the store.  This picture was taken as we headed home from with our groceries.  The accident, which involved a US Post Office delivery van among others, was still being cleaned up.  With all of the village volunteers who serve with our fire department and emergency responders, scenes like this always draw a crowd!

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

A Hodgepodge – Italian, Mexican and Celtic

In this post we visit a local Italian restaurant, a Mexican ice cream parlor and enjoy a loaf of Celtic bread…

This is Vittorino’s, an Italian restaurant that is located in Loudon Tennessee on TN Hwy 72.  Given the Covid-19 pandemic, we hadn’t eaten here in well over a year.  FYI, another Vittorino’s is located in downtown Sweetwater Tennessee.

Vittorino’s in Loudon is located at the end of a strip shopping center.  This allows for plenty of light as there are windows not only across the front of the restaurant, but also along the side.  The impact is that it’s a bright and cheery place with lots of wood décor and furnishings lending warmth to the dining area.  There is an outdoor dining area as well...

This lovely and very tasty appetizer comes with the meals.  Basically it’s pizza dough sprinkled with herbs and parmesan cheese, then baked and served with a nice marinara sauce.

Laurie ordered something new for her.  This was the Veal Pizzalola…slices of veal sautéed with white wine, garlic, olives, capers, herbs and fresh tomatoes served over linguine.  She enjoyed it very much but it was too much food so I had to finish off the remaining veal…

FYI…Vittorino’s offers 14 different specialty pizzas and 15 different calzones in addition to all of the basic pasta offerings including 7 different seafood entrees.  They also serve Pollo Tipico…a rolled flour tortilla with chicken and vegetables covered with cheese.

I ordered one of my usual Italian favorites…the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.  It was good with lots of pasta and chicken, but I would have liked it better if it included a bit of garlic or perhaps more Italian herbs for a pop of flavor.

The Vittorino’s Italian Restaurant in Loudon Tennessee is located at 2761 TN Hwy 72N.  Phone: 865-986-6822. 

After dinner with friends Bob and Teresa one evening, we impulsively decided to stop and try out a new ice cream parlor that had just opened in Lenoir City Tennessee.  This is a La Michoacana Ice Cream Parlor, part of a loosely connected chain of ice cream parlors that originated in Mexico and have since spread into the southwestern USA…and now into Tennessee. 

I took this photo as Bob and Theresa were placing their orders.  The interior is bright and cheerful…and they were quite busy.  

Once Bob and I were back outside on the bench in front of La Michoacana, Laurie took this photo of the 2 senior citizens noshing down our cups of ice cream.  Laurie and I thought that the ice cream was good, but it seemed a bit sweeter than we are used to.

As you can see from the photo, this particular La Michoacana Ice Cream Parlor is located at 123 East Broadway/US Hwy. 11 in Lenoir City Tennessee.

Since I’m bouncing around as regards types or ethnicities of cuisine, why not end with a 2 lb. loaf of a Celtic bread.  Struan bread was originally created by Celtic peasants, some claim it was in Ireland and others say it was in Scotland.  In any case, it is a harvest bread. 

In Scotland, the tradition was that on the eve of St. Michael’s feast, the oldest daughter in each household prepared the bread from harvest grains.  In this case the House of Douglas Bakery used wheat, oats, bran, bulgur, rice and quinoa but in those early days it probably included barley, wheat, rye and oats, or whatever was available.  After being milled, the grain was soaked in milk.  Usually unleavened, the bread was sweetened with honey…then brushed with a mixture of eggs, cream and butter.  Sometimes it was sprinkled with oats or caraway seeds.

We will tell you that the House of Douglas’ version of Struan bread was just excellent!  It toasted well, held up to ambitious sandwich creations and both the flavor and texture was spot on.  We bought this loaf of goodness at a farmer’s market in Dandridge Tennessee but their bakery/store is at 3323 Cosby Highway in Cosby Tennessee.  Phone: 423-487-4434.  The bakery’s website is at Bakery | House of Douglas Bakery | United States.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave