Things, They are ‘a Changing…

I retired and we moved to East Tennessee in August of 2009… We had originally found the area we retired to way back in 1989.

We moved in and settled down, adjusting to retired life very quickly and easily.  The Knoxville area also allowed for many trips throughout the south and eastern part of the USA.  So many destinations are within a day’s drive.

We were surrounded by forest or at the least a nice screen of trees.  In the back we had and have plenty of privacy.  The nearest house to left of us is across a gully with downed trees, thick undergrowth and lots of big trees.  The area across the street was and is completely wooded… The right side of the house was separated from the nearest house by 2 forested lots.  Deer and turkey were frequent visitors.

The first signs of change occurred when a corner lot was cleared and a home was built about a block and a half away. 

...and then it happened!

Then one day in late August or early September of 2106, only one lot away on the right side of our house, change really began to take hold!  We tracked the builder’s progress over the month’s right through to completion.  Note the photo with the turkey picking its way through the forest debris.  We actually had a huge flock come through feasting on the upturned soil. 

In late January of 2017, just before the house shown preceding series of photos was completed, (seen to the right in this picture), we came home one day to note this sudden change in the lot right next door.  As it turned out, the deal between the builder and the lot owner fell through and the deer and turkey kept wandering through the wooded lot visiting our house along the way.

...and then it happened again!

We of course knew that it was inevitable!  The lot next door was fairly flat and promised any new homeowners a view of Tellico Lake and the mountains beyond.  So, in early May of this year, the lot was cleared and leveled.  Then construction began.  Note the tree stump with its roots wrapped around that giant boulder.  It took a couple of days, a big jackhammer and some heavy equipment to extract that chunk of wood and rock from the ground!

We did luck out though!  This is Mike and his better half, Sherry.  They've already moved down to East Tennessee from upstate New York and they'll be our new neighbors… We’ve had them over, we’ve gone out together quite a few times and they seem willing to put up with us and our various quirks!  To top it off, the turkey and deer haven’t left town!  Mike and Sherry were at our house the other day and we all watched a whole herd of deer (accompanied by two bucks) come across the back of their lot and then wander through the woods behind our house.

Things in the neighborhood are indeed changing…but sometimes change is not only inevitable, but it can be a good thing!

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

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave