Pictures Of My Furry Friends

Ok, I know some of you are disappointed now because you expected something a lot different but too bad. Here's some pics of my furry friends just to give you a break from all the history stuff I've posted lately. Hope ya like them, let me know what you think in the comments.

My best buddy Merlin. He's getting older now (about 14) so I try to enjoy all the time I can with him.

I recently bought a new printer so I could print some of my pictures and of course Jules the cat LOVES the box. She had a fit until I got the trash out of it so she could play.

"Why do you keep pointing that thing at me???"

"I'm going to come over there in a minute and you won't like it!"

"Do you mind? I'm TRYING to sleep here!"

More history pics coming soon.

Point Park, Lookout Mountain, TN - "The Battle Above the Clouds."

Last week I had to go Ashville, NC for work training. On the way back Thursday I decided to stop in Chattanooga and visit Point Park and the Chickamauga Battlefields. I've been going to Point Park since I was a little kid and have always loved the place. When I was in the Boy Scouts we earned our 50 miler award at Chickamauga. Today's post is about Point Park. This is the first time I've been up here with a good camera and time alone to explore and really figure out what happened up here. They've cut away a bunch of the small trees and undergrowth from the edges of the park and now you can look down and get a good idea of how the battle actually went down. Plus I finally went into the new visitor's center and saw the huge painting that was painted with the view from the valley floor. That gave me a new and better perspective on how the battle flowed. Anyway, enough history geek stuff, enjoy the pics and remember to leave a comment letting me know if you like them.

Great view of one of the gun batteries looking out toward the valley.

A really fun tree on the trail to the Ochs museum.

With the trees cleared away I was able to get out on ledges I've never been on before to get some really good views.

Looking out over Moccasin Bend.

Zoomed in on one of the gun batteries.

The New York Monument. The statue at the top is a Union and Confederate Soldier together to show the healing after the war.

Looking back across Lookout Mountain. There are a couple of vultures on the stone pillar there.

Zoomed in on the vultures.

Coming back up from the Ochs museum looking up at one of the gun batteries.

Looking past the guns out at Chattanooga.

I recreated the postcard photo I've been seeing for decades in all the gift shops around the area. I really do like this view too.

Hope you like the pics I'll be posting more as soon as I get them edited as I want them

Random Pics From New Years Weekend In Nashville, TN

We had a good time being touristy and at the same time avoiding the downtown crowds while Ryan worked. One of the places we went to was Cheekwood. Cheekwood was a mansion built by the man who created Maxwell House Coffee. After he and his wife died the kids donated the mansion and grounds to Nashville to be used as a botanical gardens and art museum. Most of these pics are from a temporary display that had outside using scale trains and reproductions of Tennessee landmars made from wood. Check it out...

The TN Capital building.

Just a random pic to give you an idea of the exhibit size and style.

"Train kept a rollin' all night long!"

Graceland for the Elvis fans.

The Cheekwood mansion recreated for the exhibit.

Walking up the driveway to the real mansion.

One of the statues flanking the front door. The inside was semi preserved as the family's home and partially turned into a modern type of museum.

In Franklin at the ruins of Ft. Granger. These small hills at one time formed the ramparts and enfilade of the fort. You can still clearly see the gun emplacements and the citadel of the fort. This was a Union fort and saw limited action during the Battle of Franklin.

Looking the other way inside the fort.

We had breakfast Sunday morning a cool old country restaurant in old town Franklin. Breakfast was GOOD! If you're friends with me on facebook you got to see a picture of my morning feast.

Pictures Of The Mansion At Carnton Plantation.

Here are the pictures I took of the house at Carnton. Since it was New Years Day the house was closed but you could still get on the grounds through the cemetery. When you get to the picture of the sign, take the time to read it. The tale of this house and its part in the battle and aftermath of the battle is very interesting.

From inside the cemetery.

A little closer, but still inside the cemetery.

On the back lawn looking at the rear porch. The just repainted the porch and the caution tape was still up.

I forgot to change the settings on my camera when I took the pic. It's easier to read in B&W anyway :)

I love these style porches. I have a smaller version of this on the front of my house now.

The front of the house.

Looking up the sidewalk from the gate.

A little closer. Last time we were here it was snowing so this is really the first time I've been able to walk around in the front yard and take pics.

Another angle

A tree over in the house's garden. The limbs of this one are making some really cool shapes.

As I said, look into this place it's worth the time.

Confederate Cemetary, Carnton Plantation, Franklin TN New Years Day

New Years weekend we went to Nashville to hang out with Ryan. Sunday before we came home we stopped at the Carnton Plantation outside Franklin. This place is hallowed ground as the final resting place of over 1,400 fallen Confederate soldiers killed during the Battle of Franklin. The house was used as a hospital to care for the fallen troops wounded nearby. There is a really interesting story surrounding this house. If you get the chance stop by take the tour and get some learnin'. In the meantime enjoy these pictures I took.

Looking down the rows from the main gate.

Another view

Each block is a soldiers grave. There is a book near the front with the names of all the known soldiers here. There are a few graves in the cemetery with regular tombstones placed by the families.

A state marker with dead flowers in front of it spoke to me. We live our lives and bloom too soon, only to die and fade away leaving good memories and tales of our deeds.

The monument to the 129 Alabama soldiers buried here.

One of the few regular grave stones. A tree grew right behind it and made a really interesting scene to me.

Another angle and camera setting.

And another.

From farther back with the house in the background. Carrie McGavock lived in that house and cared for these graves until she died in 1905.


Check out the wiki page I linked and be sure to read more about the Battle of Franklin, it was a horrible bloody battle and the brave men from both sides who fought here deserved to be remembered.

Eric Lindell On Sunday At The Blues Fest.

Sunday we stuck around to see Eric Lindell. There were quite a few good acts scheduled for the day, but we needed to leave around lunch to head on over to Natchez, MS for the night. These guys put on a good show, they are more a fav of my Wife's than mine but I was entertained none the less. It was a mid day show so there were no lights or night time craziness going on. Just good old music being played. Check out the pics and let me know what you think.

Eric getting the show on the road.

The rest of the band. The guy sitting in front is playing a lap steel guitar.

Close up of the lap steel player and drummer. The guitar player made some faces but never moved in his seat.

Eric again.

Here was the star of the show to me. Myles Weeks the bass player. Not only is a he a great musician, he is a VERY entertaining to watch. The man gets into his music.

Feelin' the beat.

Stoking his baby's neck.

Makin' music.

Showing some life...

Getting into it fo' real.

Play that song dammit!

My friend Bubba's cousin is running for Lt. Gov. You might remember him from the Gulf oil spill coverage.

Classic symbol of New Orleans.


Hope ya like the pics, I'll be posting more stuff as I see it.