The Bear Necessities

After several mess-ups and re-designs, the frame for the bear insert was completed this weekend and the wrought iron bear scene was installed.  Brent had attempted to router the handrail such that the outer edge of the frame would have been embedded in the oak.  After attempting to hollow out the bottom of the handrail all that was accomplished was botching up the bottom of the handrail and burning up the router.

The final design was to insert piece of pine into the botched hollow section of the handrail and cover with red oak trim pieces.  This new design worked out great and the bear scene was inserted.  It took two (2) days and some time to grind down the wrought iron edges, but it was bolted into place over the weekend.  The insert is designed for installing on outdoor decks and meets all the required dimensional code requirements to make sure a small child can not fall through the railing.  We still need to paint the bolts black to match the insert and install trim around the insert on both sides.

Upon our arrival on Thursday night, we were greeted by a medium age large size real bear.  Cookie went wild and was wound up the rest of the night.  After a stare down for a few minutes, Brent finally ran the bear off.  He galloped down our stairs and raced by Jennifer's car before he disappeared into the night.

We have also been visited by "Rocky Raccoon"on our porch.  Jennifer discovered him one (1) night trying to get into the storage can for the birdseed.  To avoid attracting any unwanted quests, we have suspended feeding the birds for the summer and will resume the feeding during the fall period.

We enjoyed the Memorial Weekend and did take the time to remember all those who served and gave their lives for our country.

Brent inserting the bear scene.

The final product. 

Cookie stops to admire the new scene.

Getting closer to finishing the stairs.

The scene does remind us of our mama bear and cubs except our resident bear has three (3) cubs. 

The view coming up the stairs.

The view heading down the stairs.

Summer Jobs & Spring Cleaning

During the week, the girls obtained summer jobs in Gatlinburg.  They will be working for a family that owns, two (2) stores, The Tin Roof and Ranger Bob's both located down town on the parkway in Gatlinburg.  We look forward to the 35% employee discount as Ranger Bob's sells a lot of cabin themed interior items.  They will start work around June 6th.

So now that the girls will be spending at a minimum the summer in Gatlinburg, the majority of our time,this weekend was spent rearranging  bedrooms at Blackbearry Ridge.  We went through the closets and purged a lot of clothing and dismantled the bunk beds in one (1) of the bottom bedrooms.  The bunk beds converted into twin beds which were moved upstairs and the queen bed was moved to the down stairs bed room.  Now we have one bedroom down stairs with a queen bed on an incline and the other bed room with two (2) queen beds.

We did have some time to install the iron balusters but Brent still needs to put in an adhesive to prevent them from turning.  Our goal is upcoming weekend is to install the bear insert and cement all the balusters.

The girls will be heading down to Galveston, TX this weekend for a week long cruise with Maw Maw.  They expect to make stops in Birmingham, AL, Baton Rouge, LA and Opelousas, LA.

The Tin Roof on the parkway.

Ranger Bob's on the parkway.

The iron balusters "dry" fitted.  The tape is to protect the floor  from excess adhesive.

Looking from the hallway.

Walking down the stairs.  The bear insert is behind the balusters on the left.

Cookie sitting on the dashboard of the Beetle at Food City.

The Graduates

Jennifer and Jessica both graduated with honors from UT on Friday, May 11, 2012.  We are so proud of them and now summer jobs and graduate school loom on the horizon.

We had a good time this week during the festivities with the family.  Maw Maw had flown in from Opelousas, LA while Grandmother and Paw Paw Neal had driven up from Baton Rouge, LA and Aunt Becky and Uncle Tommy drove in from Birmingham, AL.

Blackbearry Ridge was full as were all of us.  During the trip, the eateries included, Jason's Deli, Hard Knox Pizza, Bear Creek Restaurant, The Jarrett House, The Dillard House and JoLynn's famous enchiladas.  After having to pack and load up the apartment at UT, we had really worked up an appetite.

With all the festivities, only a minimum amount of work was done on Blackbearry Ridge, but Brent was able to install some of the balusters.

Jennifer and Jessica

Grandmother and Paw Paw Neal with the graduates.

Maw Maw with the graduates.

The graduates.

Jennifer and Jessica

The graduation cake.

On the floor at graduation with the grandparents

Eating at Bear Creek.

Aunt Becky and Uncle Tommy at Bear Creek.

The Body Farm

Jennifer in a recent meeting with Dr. Bass.  Dr Bass is best known for his research on humanosteology and human decomposition. He has also assisted federal, local, and non-U.S. authorities in the identification of human remains. He taught at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and though currently retired from teaching, still plays an active research role at the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility, which he founded. The Facility is more popularly known as "The Body Farm ".

Jennifer with Dr. Bass at a UT reception on April 30, 2012.

Treading On New Steps

After spending last weekend in Birmingham, AL, celebrating Conley's 7th birthday, we returned to Blackbearry  Ridge this weekend.  The goal this weekend was to install the stair treads and the bear ballaster insert.  We were only able to accomplish part of the goal.  I am happy to report that the stair treads have been installed.  We still need to add one more coat of polyurethane on the bottom wrap around tread.  Also, in installing the treads there is some touch up of the paint on the skirt and risers that is required.

Brent experimented with the router and the handrail and was able to burn-up the router, so the bear ballaster insert will have to be constructed and  installed at a later date.

We are now down to just a few days till Jennifer and Jessica graduate with honors from UT.  They were here this weekend and helped clean up ole Blackbearry Ridge for the family arriving for the graduation.  The mountain laurel is in bloom and should be in full glory all across the ridge this week.

Having some problems loading the pictures, so most were taken in portrait, but for some reason blogger.com is only uploading in landscape.  So you can either turn your computer screen ( I hope you have a laptop or I-Pad) or download the pics and rotate.

This view is correct.  Looking down from the top of the stairwell in the den shows the progress of installing the treads. 

New treads installed.

The construction treads are removed for the final time.

A of the bottom wrap step.

Looking down the stairs (correct view)

A view from the top landing of the finished installation.

A view from the bottom of the finished installation.

The bottom side or wrap step.

The handrail is temporary but functional.

All the treads installed.

The second sconce light was installed.

As you can see no balusters have been installed.

The bear insert.

The mountain laurel in bloom.