Life with kids

Child rearing myth #1:

Labor ends when the baby is born.

- Author Unknown




There are two lasting bequests we can give our children:

One is roots,

The other is wings.

- Hodding Carter



You don't really understand Human Nature

unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round

will wave at her parents every time around -

and why her parents will always wave back.

- William D. Tammeus

We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children

that makes the heart too big for the

body.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous.

It is to decide forever to have your heart

go walking around outside your body.

- Elizabeth Stone

Mountain Farm Museum

This is a fun, kid friendly and educational hike. The kids and I enjoyed peeping in windows, smelling the flowers and checking out the farm animals of this rural homestead of the past. You will find this open-air museum full of buildings and gardens from about the 1900's. My family and I came away from our walk with a great understanding and respect for the heritage of our country and this region.

We saw how beautiful a simple, self- sufficient life was and still can be. The property included beegums, where families kept hives and produced honey for their own use and to sell. We also saw a beautiful kitchen garden and crop gardens. It was awe inspiring and gave me insight into my own kitchen garden. A chicken coup and a pig pen inspired awe in my children and we all were mesmerized by the sparkling, crystal clear creek that ran through the property.

Exploring the mountain farm made me wish for simpler times, a simpler life. Work was hard in those days and maybe didn't seem simple to those folks but I can't help but wish for just a bit of that life. I'd like to think that we have recreated a bit of this in our own home by growing and preserving some of our own food and buying local foods and products.

This was a great look into mountain life and life in general for rural families during the turn of the century. I loved it and the kids had a fun time as well. I can't wait to go back and see what it looks like in the fall.

Great Smoky Mountains Association

115 Park Headquarters Road

Gatlinburg, TN 37738

or

http://www.smokiesinformation.org/

for more information

Gatlinburg Tennessee

Last weekend my parents paid us a visit and kidnapped me and the kids and took us to one of my favorite tourist traps - Gatlinburg. I love this little city and all it's shops and attractions. It is a tourist trap to say the least but it is so pretty.

The Smoky Mountains are an oasis to the busy traffic, vendors and rides of this tiny city and usually we would spend our time there instead of down in the bustle of shops but not today.

Our first stop was at a little food vendor for a gyro and a slice of pizza for the kids. I couldn't recommend just one place they all are equally as good. There are food vendors, restaurants and every other type of candy, fudge, ice cream and whatever else you could imagine - fancy, down home, chain, foo foo you name it you can find it.

Our next stop was the sky lift and now my official favorite ride. You can see the whole world it seems from up there. It is a nice break from all the walking too and at the top there is a small gift shop, restroom and a food vendor. We hung out at the top for a while, I bought a nifty magnet for the fridge. The kids drank some water from the handy backpack I carry filled with cold (at the moment) water. We climbed back onto the lift and made our way back down.

The last stop we make before turning around and heading for the car is a local ice cream shop. I highly recommend NOT buying ice cream from the Ben and Jerry's but one of the local parlors there on the strip. They are all good and I can't beg enough to support the local ma and pa's there. There are several and I've been to three different parlors in my years and I can't choose which is better. Find one and choose your favorite - it's fun.

We say our final farewell to the strip by rubbing our hands all over the magically floating, turning ball of rock in front of one (of many, many) Ripley's Believe or Not Museum's or whatever you call em. LOVE IT! We spent the majority of the day walking in and out of shops tasting the food and for my kids and I we only spent about 15.00 - if Brandy had been there - 20.00. Self control is a must when walking down such streets lined with stores and goodies but it is possible to come out of tourist traps without being broke.

I love this one.

A weekend with the Mouse

My little sister Marcy visited me this past weekend. I miss her already and it's only Monday.

I learned a lot from her visit - about her, myself and how wonderful life, sisters and my brother are.












I love you Marcy.

Books I love and use

The Girl Scout Handbook. New York: by The Girls Scouts of America, 1947
I love this old, little book. I was lucky enough to find it in the bottom of a box of books at a yard sale. It's one of my favorites.

Adams, Kevin. Hiking: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Guilford, Connecticut: Falcon - The Globe Pequot Press, 2003

Means, Evan. Hiking Tennessee Trails: Hikes along the Appalachian Trail, Natchez Trail, Cumberland Trail, John Muir Trail and many others. Old Saybrook, Connecticut: The Golbe Pequot Press, 1999

Ross, John. Trout Unlimiteds Guide to America's 100 Best Trout Streams. Helena, Montana: Falcon, 1999

Rutter, Ian. Tennessee Trout Waters: Blue Ribbon Fly Fishing Guide. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications, Inc. 2003
This is my most favorite book of them all and I've used it more than all of them put together. If you like to fish for trout or just like to hike rivers and streams this is the best book I have in my collection so far. LOVE IT.

The Walnut Street Bridge

This is one of my favorite walks and it is very kid friendly and bikes are welcome. The kids and I pack up their little trikes and bikes and we head to the bridge usually in the early morning. We love the early morning light and cool breezes that come off the water in the summer.

This is a historic 100+ year old bridge that spans the TN River (Lake Nickajack). It was once a two lane highway but it's now a walking bridge. You can get to it from Walnut Street on the South Shore or from Frazier Avenue on the North Shore. I highly recommend parking on the North Shore side of the river. There are lots of local shops and places to grab a bite to eat or a drink. Coolidge Park is also there and is another family favorite. If you have a buck you can ride the old carousel - AFFORDABLE FUN!!! You can also play in the fountain outside in the summer. The kids never go for walks across the bridge or to Coolidge Park without towels and swimsuits.

This is an easy area to walk, especially the bridge. My Kids can make it across and back with no problems or whining for rides. We enjoy it because it's a nice switch from the crowded downtown streets on the weekends and the views are beautiful - morning is best in my opinion. Night time walks are fun too when I'm alone or it's just me and the old man. So, all you family and friends next time you visit put this one on your to do list.

p.s. didn't take my camera for this one

Insight of the Day

I do not expect anything
from others,
So their actions
cannot be in opposition
to wishes of mine.

Swami Sri Yukteswar
Autobiography of a Yogi


The only way that I can feel insulted by something someone says is if I expect to be insulted.
I wake up every morning not expecting anyone to insult me or damn me as the case is today. Still, I can't help but feel a bit sad about how some people may view what I believe in and what I am teaching my children. I, first of all, will never debate religion, spirituality or politics with anyone. These are deeply personal subjects and everyone is entitled to their own view point - especially spiritual matters.
I will not debate heaven and hell but I won't be damned to hell without taking a stand. My house is a house of Love and a house of Light. There is no room in Love for fear and I am not afraid of hell. I will not raise my children to be afraid of burning in hell. This isn't up for discussion.
We believe there are many Paths to Spirit. We believe Love and the Spirit never die.
My family has overcome HUGE obstacles and my husband and I continue to come together in Love and we are teaching our children that Love is universal and EVERYONE is entitled to and inherently Spirit - Period. No one can take your birth right from you and no one has the right to judge ANYONE for what they believe.
This is where I stand - in simplified form. I have given this much thought over the past 25 years. I am well informed on all the religions of the world including the one I was raised in. This is where I am happy and this is where my family has come together.
Please note, I will not comment, discuss or debate with anyone wishing to convert me. I am what I am and it has come over many years of living.