Gettysburg 2017

 Here is a video I put together and put on youtube from our visit to Gettysburg PA back in 2017!!!!

Navajo Land

I am probably going to put this postcard in a nice display. I love the colors on it.

On the back it says, "On the largest Indian reservation located in Northern Arizona and New Mexico live over 40,000 self-supporting Navajo Indians. This Nomadic tribe are at home wherever night overtakes them."

Indians in Ceremonial Attire

Sent from Tucson, AZ in 1942.

"The Indian in the Cupboard" by Lynne Reid Banks

So........  I'm getting older.  It happens....  but I have been thinking a lot about when I was younger.

I have great memories of my childhood.  I had a good time.  Good parents and good people around me.  AND, I know I have mentioned it here before, but I had a great elementary school I went to in Utica Kentucky.

I remember the first real book I ever read was there.  We had all read the basic Jack and Jill type short books with pictures, but this is the first book I remember reading that kinda seemed overwhelming.

That book was Lynne Reid Banks' "The Indian in the Cupboard".  The book wasn't huge, but it was over 150 pages which was big to me at the time.

Anyway, I recently went back and reread it.  I enjoyed it as much as I had before.  It is a really fun story.

If you never got around to reading it, it is about a little boy named Omri who finds out that if he puts plastic figures into a cupboard they will come to life.  Putting them back in will return them to plastic.  He ends up having some adventures with a confident Indian and an emotional cowboy and their horses.  It is a very sweet book and I really loved it when I was a child.

There were FOUR more follow up/sequels....  and I did go back and read them too.  I enjoyed them, but they just didn't have the excitement of the original.  I enjoyed them all, but none had the wallop for me of the first book.  I probably would have loved them if I had read then while at Utica Elementary School.

Pottery Mill Cafe- Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Yeah, I have mentioned the Pottery Mill Cafe a ton.  We always go there.  The food is always perfect and the place is clean.  Also, for the area, the prices are more than reasonable.

"A Faithful Witness" by Teresa Flora

I definitely wanted to give a quick mention to the book, "A Faithful Witness" by Teresa Flora.  While we were in Sugarcreek Ohio, I saw this one at the nice little Christian bookshop, the Gospel Shop. We were actually picking up books for my mother in law, but I saw this one and flipped through it.  Christian fiction usually isn't my thing, but there was the Civil War connection.

I thought about the book after we got home, and called the Gospel Shop and they sent me a copy.

This is historic fiction about religious objectors to fighting, during the Civil War.  It is very well written, especially for a book from a smaller publisher and all.

The story is good, the book has a nice flow, and though there is a lot going on, you can read it pretty quick.

There are descriptions of some of the famous battles, and some historically documented events tied in.

Most interestingly, the author gives a very nice perspective from the Brethren (Anabaptist).  It was really interesting hearing how these pacifists dealt with both sides, and their neighbors, during the Civil War.

The author and the book are BARELY mentioned on the internet.  This is a very obscure book you might have to really hunt for, but consider finding a copy.  Its a nice story from a rare perspective.

Monster Mash Burgers in Sevierville TN

So, as we were driving around the Great Smoky Mountains area, I saw Monster Mash Burgers.  Ah....  yeah, I knew I would be having a meal there.

We went in and ordered take out.  The place was interesting, but I did kind of expect more.  Sure, there were some monstery things here and there....  I don't know, maybe I was hoping for more of a monster museum.

I asked about merch too.....  they had nothing.  I think these guys are really missing something by not selling shirts and stickers in this market.  I was more than prepared to throw some coin down for a shirt before I even walked in.

I had a burger that was actually really good!  They nailed it.  I asked for it medium (sooo many places don't know how to cook a burger) but they got it perfect.  I also had some of their chili too and man was it great!

In fact, the food is worth stopping for.  To their credit, I was surprised it was so good.  Often, gimmicky places have bad food.

So, this is a newer place that I think is on the right track.  I will be going back again.  Still, this place, with its location, could become a mecca for monster fans.

Gondolier Italian Restaurant Sevierville TN

Gondolier Italian Restaurant is a very cool little chain that I believe is mostly in Tennessee.  We have been to a couple of them now.

And I think it will be a must stop for us when we are in the Great Smoky Mountains.  The food is really good.

I don't want to insult them and say that this place does Italian by the numbers....  but it kinda does....  in a very good way.

I love their pizza because it is exactly what I want when I want pizza.  They aren't trying something unnecessarily fancy.  They make classic pizza and it tastes like classic pizza.  In fact, I am comfortable saying this is some of my all time favorite pizza.

We've always had very pleasant and friendly waitstaff here, and its very reasonably priced.  Check it out when you can!

GSM Outfitters- Sevierville, TN

As I was googling around to see if there were any new coffee shops near the Great Smoky Mountains, I came across GSM Outfitters!  This is a cool little mom and pop place that sells items you might need for your hike into the National Park.  AND, they have a coffee shop!

We stopped by in late May, as businesses were opening back up.  The business had a sign out front requiring people entering to wear a mask.

When we entered they said that, to thank patrons for wearing a mask, they were doing a 25% off sale!  The prices were good already, but that was a major added bonus!

They had some GREAT t-shirts and other clothing items.  We got a shirt, a jacket, some stickers, and 2 cups of coffee.

Size-wise, the business is small but jam packed.  We liked the independent and knowledgeable vibe, and the fact that they are selling gear along with fresh coffee.

The Local Goat Restaurant, Pigeon Forge TN

We went to the Local Goat a few years back right when it opened.  It was OK, but they didn't hit it out of the park, so I never wrote about it.  I am sure they were just dealing with starting up and all.

Anyway, we gave it another try on our last trip and I am glad we did.  The food was really good, and the service has matured.

I had a really well made portabella mushroom sandwich.  My wife had salad that she liked too.  We had a friendly waitress who was on the ball.  We will be back.

Smoky Mountain Relic Room in Sevierville TN purchases

I know I have talked about the Relic Room before....  and man do I love that place.  There are a ton of photos around of it....  I have put many up on this blog.....  but I thought I would show why I love it so much with some of my recent purchases there.

They have a LOT of great affordable small things (in addition to impressive Holy Grail pieces too on the higher priced side).  BUT, a kid can walk in and buy an actual Civil War bullet for a fiver.  Someone wanting a small piece of a meteorite or a dinosaur bone can get one affordably too.

I bought a great old candy token showing Calvin Coolidge, one of my favorite Presidents (remember to stay cool with Coolidge).

I bought a Kennedy in 68 political button.  Sure, its not rare, but for $4 you can get a great Kennedy item!

I found a wonderful old Woolworth's Civil War caisson toy for $15!  I paint toy soldiers, and this is the scale I like (about 1/32nd).  For $15, I will be painting this one up.

Oh, I had a coupon from a travel magazine for a "free relic" from the relic room.  Well, they let me choose among some crystals, a bag of shark teeth, and a 6-8,000 year old projectile point from the Sahara Desert.  Well, I picked the projectile point of course!  I'm guessing these are fairly common if they are giving them away, but how cool is that?  I was very appreciate of my very old treasure that I got as a freebie!

"Demon in the Woods: Talll Tales and True from East Tennessee

I had a great book find while in Gatlinburg on our recent trip.  I picked up Charles Edwin Price's "Demon in the Woods:  Tall Tales and True from East Tennessee" for a cheap $8 cover price!

This ended up being a really fun book to read while on our southern adventure.  I love that it is so area specific, and it just has some interesting legends in it.  PLUS check out that great cover by David Dixon!

This is a great, light read for a trip through Tennessee.  This isn't a general ghost book....  I thought of this as more of a "campfire stories" type of book.

AND, though these stories are legends...  the author gives his sources when available.  He names people- so you aren't exactly getting hard facts, but you do know that, in many cases, an actual specific person passed the story on.  It gives the tale some legitimacy in my opinion.

Price touches on the Cherokee Creation story.  There is a "Big Cat" story, which has been seen in urban areas, and the cat has been known to walk upright!  The Madoc legend is covered and examined (Welsh making it to America centuries before Columbus- explaining some white Indians and mysterious cultures).  A talking horse and an 18 inch Devil show up too, along with some other great stories for late at night!

Berry Springs Lodge in Sevierville..... Again

Yeah, I have RAVED about Berry Springs Lodge here MANY, MANY times.  We have gotten to where staying at this cozy B&B is the main focus of our trips.  It is such a perfect place to stay.

When most people think of the perfect bed and breakfast in a place like the Great Smoky Mountains, this is what they should be thinking about.

Its calm and relaxing just thinking about it.  The back porch view is so hilly and green.  A lot of people, including us, spend a chunk of time on each visit rocking on the back porch- reading and watching birds.

There are some great walking areas on the property too.  there are a couple of ponds, bikes, etc.

Each morning the breakfast is special and filling.  Check out my photos.

Our Trip to Gatlinburg in late May 2020

Several months before the whole coronavirus thing happened, we had planned a trip to the Gatlinburg area.  We can't get there enough.  I think we are shooting for 2-3 trips there a year, and that doesn't feel right.  We want more.  This is a magical area on several levels.  I can honestly say that, as we leave town each time, we start talking about our next trip.

This trip was a little different though.  With Kentucky still feeling like it was on lock-down, and travel discouraged....  Gatlinburg Tennessee was popping with life as businesses were opening back up.


We toyed with pushing the trip off for another day..  but we were itching to get out and explore too, though we knew we should be cautious.

Our all time favorite B&B Berry Springs assured us they were being overly careful right now, disinfecting constantly.  Also, we are good at dodging crowds.  We did a lot of hiking around the Berry Springs property, and we drove through the National Park.  I am proud to say that we were careful.

So, with several masks and hand cleaning supplies, we made the 3 plus hour drive south for a desperately needed weekend in Tennessee.

We actually went and walked around the strip in Gatlinburg early one morning before the crowds arrived.  Its nice seeing whats new, but this is generally getting to be a smaller part of each trip with each visit.  Normally, we can walk from one end to the other and back in around an hour.  We are quick and efficient!

You always notice something new though, and we ended up visiting Jonathan's Bear Necessities right in downtown.  I think this was the first time we have ever been in that store.  Have you been?  Man, I liked their sticker, postcard, and t-shirt selection.  They also had a VERY nice local book section (something many shops neglect).  Their prices were reasonable too.

 I was sad to see Cooter's Place has moved to the Pigeon Forge area.  Seeing their old building, now as a Ripley's Attraction was a little sad.  For many of us, the Dukes of Hazzard was a really special show growing up.  Visiting Cooter's right on the strip just seemed right.

Anyway, here are a few pictures!

"Call Sign Dracula" by Joe Fair

I found this interesting little 1st hand account of the Vietnam War at Sweetwater Bookstore in Campbellsville.

Joe Fair's "Call Sign Dracula" reads like a journal a descriptive person may have kept about their 1 year experience fighting in Vietnam.  He gets right to it too...  sure, he gives a LITTLE information about his life before the war, but he gets to the meat of things pretty quick.

The book doesn't follow the traditional format of a book either.  He rambles a bit about his friends, what happened to them, what happened to him, etc.  You feel like you are setting next to Joe listening to his many stories from that time in his life.

There is a huge picture section, but a lot to read too.  You get the good- Joe gets the girl and lives happily ever after, but you get the bad too- a friend accidentally shoots and kills a buddy while they are horsing around.

I really like this book.  I know a lot of Vietnam vets are super reluctant to discuss their time in that war, and it is to Joe's credit that he has put this book out there.  Readers, and historians for generations to come will be glad that it exists.  This one gets my highest recommendation.

Dover New Philly OH 07 2020

AND one more video from a recent trip through Ohio.  This is from an area I am very attached to- the Dover/New Philadelphia area.

Hoppin' Vines and Delicio in Cincinnati Ohio

 In Kenwood (Cincinnati) we stopped by the bar/food and pizza place that has Duck pin Bowling!

It is actually a couple of businesses in one location.

I wanted to get a pizza here at Delicio, as they have unique, COAL ovens that cook the pizza!

We ordered some wings, a salad, and a unique buffalo pizza.  All drinks must be ordered from the bar, but the service was still great and the drinks were nice.  You pick your own seat and the main dining area has a very casual vibe.

AND, they have duck pin bowling!