Sunsphere View VI

A close-up view of the bank buildings and the Andrew Johnson Building.

Sunsphere View V

In this photo....the Knoxville Museum of Art (the building with the eyes)....and on the left....the building which houses the Chocolate Factory as well as some condos.

Sunsphere View IV

A view to the north of Knoxville. In this photo you can see portions of our World's Fair park in the foreground and the old L & N train station to the right. The ridgeline in the distance is called Sharp's Ridge. The gap in the ridgeline is of course called Sharp's Gap. Interstate 275 runs north of Knoxville through Sharp's Gap and then becomes I-75 North. You can also see I-40 in this photo which runs east-west through Knoxville.

Sunsphere View III

From this view.....Baptist Hospital, the Henley Street Bridge which crosses the Tennessee River and leads to Chapman Hwy. in south Knoxville, and Church Street United Methodist Church. The Great Smoky Mountains can be seen in the distance.

Sunsphere View II

In this photo....the First Tennessee Bank Building, BB&T Bank Building, Andrew Johnson Building, the old Knox County Courthouse, City-County Building, the old Knoxville post office (now houses courts), and the Medical Arts Building. (three buildings in the foreground of the photo not identified)

Sunsphere View I

This view from the Sunsphere shows the Tennessee River, buildings from the University of Tennessee, and Neyland Stadium....home to the UT Vols. You can see the Great Smoky Mountains in the far distance.

Est. 1844

St. John's Cathedral has a long history in Knoxville.

Red Doors

The red doors welcome all to worship . . .

Relaxation and Solitude Guaranteed

Another view of the courtyard at St. John's Cathedral in Knoxville.

Earth to Old City II

....still window shopping!

Earth to Old City

Window shopping at the Earth to Old City shop on Market Square in Knoxville.

My Hair-Raiser

Mama....Look what happens when I crawl through this tunnel! (giggle-giggle)

Hot Doughnuts Now!

I am on a diet....this time using the Weight Watchers online program. So far, I have lost 9 lbs.! I am happy about this, but know that really the difficult part comes when you reach your goal and then have to maintain your weight. I know this because I lost 32 lbs. in 2007 with Weight Watchers (meetings) and then in 2008 gained it all back and then some.

It is such a struggle for me to cut out sweets . . . especially chocolate. But another of my favorites is Krispy Kreme doughnuts. They are just so sinfully good.

We came across this retro/vintage Krispy Kreme store on one of our family weekend getaways to Chattanooga, TN which is about 100 miles south of Knoxville. I had to have a photo, and of course we bought a dozen glazed doughnuts, too!

(Photo taken in 2006.)

Ready, Set, Go Sledding!

Wait! I just want to take a photo first....then you can go. Ok, got it! Go! Wheeee! Wheeee!

Love is . . . .

Happy Valentine's Day to all! Wishes for lots of love, kisses, and chocolate hearts for everyone!

I didn't receive this rose today but one day last August. I copied & pasted this little bit of my family life from my other blog. A story of a single rose . . . .

(Friday, August 8, 2008) I was so very tired this evening. Husband took the kids to McDonald's to eat and play on the indoor playground so I could have some quiet time alone at home. I was asleep when they arrived back home. I heard "Mama" very quietly in my ear . . . . and so, woke up. The kids presented me with a single red rose with baby's breath in a vase. Husband stood behind them all quiet and smiling. They said they wanted to get me a rose to help me feel better.

I was thrilled and gave them all kisses. Of course, I received kisses in return. Such a very nice way to wake up!

My Rose

X Marks the Spot

A photo taken with my cell phone ~ from my car window ~ while driving. I just had to have an image of this "X" formed by the contrails of jets ~ their paths crossing in their travels across the skies. X marks the spot of a hidden treasure. The treasure being the beauty of our skies. Apologies for the poor quality of the photo ... I was happy to obtain an image ... no matter what method I used!

Happy SkyWatch Friday! To see more SkyWatch photos from around the world visit Skyley at www.skyley.blogspot.com.

Sledding in the Backyard

We have a tiny hill in the corner of our backyard which husband always hates when it comes time for mowing. But last week when we received our snowfall....that hill redeemed itself by providing our family with the perfect place for sledding! We had laugh-out loud fun and even let out a few Wheee's along the way! We took turns sledding with eachother and then sometimes took a solo trip down the hill. Our kids really needed to experience what it feels like to go sledding, and so I'm thankful for that little hill in the corner of our backyard. I think husband looks at it a little differently now, too. At least maybe until spring & summer arrive and mowing season starts.

Snowman Building 101

Son was excited to finally be able to build a snowman with the snow we received last week. Husband and I had to give him the basic instructions, and then he pitched in and helped with enthusiasm. Snow is just so much fun!

Snow at Last!

Even though the snowfall amount we received last week was small, the amount of fun our family had playing in the snow was enormous! Our area of East Tennessee rarely receives large amounts of snowfall anymore....like we used to receive when I was a child. My children haven't truly been able to experience the joys of a snowfall of several inches....building snowforts, creating snowmen, and having snowball fights. But this snowfall was significant enough to allow us to play in the snow, go sledding, build snowmen and throw a few snowballs. Now, I'm going to wish for a huge snowfall! We now have snowboots to play in and we want to get our monies' worth!

Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant

If you like down-home, family-style, country cookin' like your mama or grandma used to make back in the good ol' days.....then do I have a restaurant for you! The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant is located at the Apple Barn in Sevierville/Pigeon Forge near the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.

Young Men's Christian Association

Young Men's Christian Association. I like the scroll-work on this sign.

Swimming Lessons at the YMCA

This is the downtown Knoxville branch of the Y.M.C.A. My brother and I took swimming lessons here in the late 1960's. I still remember the fear I had of the deep-end of the pool and how I flat-out refused to dive into the pool. I remember the parents weren't allowed into the pool area and had to release their little ones into the hands of the swimming instructors. I was thrilled at the end of the lessons to receive my swimming certificate which announced I had reached "pollywog" status.

My Little Man

Son strikes a little man pose at the Apple Barn's Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant! My camera called my name and I listened. I love this photo of him!

It also makes me realize, though, that my little boy is growing up before my eyes. I must treasure every moment I have left of his precious childhood!

Happy & Grumpy at the Gazebo

This photo was taken on a recent family trip to the Apple Barn near the Great Smoky Mountains. We were on a weekend getaway which involved indoor pools and hot tubs!

We ate at the Apple Barn's Farmhouse Restaurant and afterwards posed for photos at their gazebo. Son was all grins while daughter was Miss Grumpy. The lollipop didn't even make a dent in her mood....well, maybe for a few minutes....then back to grumpsville.

A nap did the trick. It always works for me, too!

Let's Go Biking in the Snow!

My son loves to ride his bike....even in winter....in the snow!

P.S. I think we need to buy him a larger bicycle. He's growing so fast that I guess I didn't notice the bike was shrinking!

Eyes on Knoxville

The Knoxville Museum of Art has it's eyes on Knoxville.

Eyes in the Back of the Building

Open Your Eyes. Open Your Mind. The Knoxville Museum of Art has some wonderfully thought-provoking words and visuals to inspire all of us.

February Theme Day: Paths and Passages

St. John's Cathedral has Knoxville's only outdoor labyrinth. Look closely on the bricks of the courtyard. I have spent a few lunch hours here; it is such a serene place. I haven't walked the labyrinth while praying or meditating . . . but sometimes feel the urge to perhaps do that.

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