Gatlinburg - First 4th of July Parade in the Country

Happy 4th of July.  We met the Birmingham crowd at Blackbearry Ridge and then headed down to Gatlinburg for the 4th of July parade which begins at midnight.  What a great tribute to the men and women in the armed service representation from all the branches.  There were several floats which had the Tuskegee Airman, a float with a Congressional medal winner and numerous floats with veterans.  It also was a great time to reflect and understand that the upcoming election is very important and to rid our country of socialism, we need to kick 44 out the door.  The Tea Party even had a float in the parade.

Lining the streets of Gatlinburg at 10:30 pm.

Rebecca, Conley and David.

David, Becky, Jennifer, Jessica and JoLynn.

We were sitting on the Parkway across from the aquarium.

Conley joined in the pre-parade activity of kids scrambling for coins thrown by parade watchers.  

Here comes the start of the parade

Lots of flashing lights and loud sirens.

Several marching bands from across the country and Canada.

A marine shaking hands with Conley, Jennifer and Jessica.

Aunt Mahalia's Candies

This week, our featured Gatlinburg establishment and building is Aunt Mahalias'.  There are two (2) locations of Aunt Mahalia's.  One location is in the Mountain Mall and the one pictured is on the parkway.

With all the renovation happening in Gatlinburg, this building may be destroyed in the next few years.

This location of Aunt Mahalias I believe took over the building that once housed McCutchen's Candy.  When McCutchen's occupied the building, the large storefront window on the left allowed people on the street to watch the worker hand roll the peppermint candy on a large wooden table.

Across the parkway.  The building on the left was recently renovated in the last few years.

The Battle of Blackbearry Ridge

As noted before, the war on kudzu at Blackbearry Ridge has been in full force for nearly two (2) years.  This weekend at Blackbearry Ridge was the scene of a major battle that has shifted the outcome to our favor.  We were unaware that kudzu cells had spread their evil vines into the base of Blackbearry Ridge.  While the battle lines had clearly been draw on the ground and a front establish, the kudzu had become airborne.

This weekend at the Battle of Blackbearry Ridge, we attacked the kudzu aerial assault and inflected major damage on the enemy.  With a chain saw and heavy artillery (the jeep) two (2) trees that had been harboring the kudzu and providing a base for their aerial attacks were taken down with precision strikes.  After taking down the trees the kudzu was brought down to the ground level where it was quickly neutralized with a lethal agent to kudzu but environmentally friendly to animals and the allied forces.

We have clearly stopped the advance this weekend but we are not allowing ourselves to become complaisant but instead vow to continue the attack and bring the battle to the kudzu root.  Our largest problem is the neighboring property which appears to be kudzu sympathizers.  This had forced us to make numerous covert strikes on the property to weaken the kudzu stronghold.  No collateral damage has been witnessed by these covert missions, but after witnessing the battle firsthand and forced to retreat, the kudzu leader has retreated his forces but all signs indicate the fight for the kudzu's claim to Blackbearry Ridge will continue.

A cable was attached to the second kudzu base.

While the cable is attached to the base, forces move in to make precision cuts and  weaken the base.

The kudzu air force is brought to the ground.

The pile of kudzu wreckage combine with the trees.

Allied ground forces quickly move in to destroy any remaining kudzu.

The ground assault continues as the kudzu is destroyed.

The heavy artillery is called to the ridge in case of another attack. 

The kudzu leader surveys the damage and ponders his next move.

In retreat, the kudzu leader crosses the new battle lines that were formed.

Happy 3rd Annivesary

How quickly time goes by as today Renee and Greg  celebrate their third anniversary today.  No grand children yet but we do have a grand dog.

This was taken at their apartment  in Evansville on June 16, 2012

Vanilla? I Hate Vanilla!

After taking last weekend off and heading up to Indiana to see Renee and Greg, we were back this past weekend at Blackbearry Ridge.  Not any work was done on the inside besides some more spring cleaning but we did attack the weeds and approaching kudzu outside.  Yes our neighbors have allowed kudzu in their front yard so, Brent wanders over and sprays the kudzu to keep it from entering our yard.  So far we have been very successful but we did spot some in a dead tree by our parking area.  This next weekend that tree will be taken down and the war on kudzu will continue.

Jennifer and Jessica worked during the day on Saturday, so we all headed back down in the evening to walk the streets and get some supper.  After a debate, we decided to eat a Johnny Rockets which has opened on the parkway within the last six months.  The hamburgers were great and we will definitively go back.

Because of all the changes happening to down town Gatlinburg, Brent has become has started taking some pictures of the buildings in case they are suddenly removed.  The title of this post as meaning only to a few in our family but the pictures below will explain.

Just entering the park outside of Cherokee, NC we spotted a domesticated female elk (notice the collar) in the field outside of Oconoluftee.

The sun was setting as we passed through the park.  This is  picture was taken after passing by Newfound Gap and heading down towards Sugarland.

Eating at Johnny Rockets.

When Rebecca was young, the World of Illusion had a Genie in a bottle display in the window on the sidewalk.  There was a video image of girl dressed as a Genie that was projected into a large glass bottle.  There also was a speaker and microphone which allowed the actress to talk with people at the large window.  Rebecca after viewing the Genie began to cry after the Genie asked her "To get me out of here."  The Genie display is gone, but we still think about that every time we pass the building.

Now for the rest of the story.  This is the scene of the crime where Brent yelled at an unsuspecting server, "Vanilla?  I hate Vanilla!"  At least 30 years ago and before children, while staying in Gatlinburg, Brent, JoLynn, Kathy and Len decided to head to town around 9:00 pm for ice cream.  Brent was in the mood for butter pecan so we headed to Baskin Robbins.  As soon as we drove up and parked, the lights turned off and they closed.  So we tried a few other establishments only to find the stores had closed.  Then Karmelkorn was spotted and we stopped and parked out front.  After being informed that the only flavor available was vanilla, Brent uttered the famous slogan.  We think about that every time we walk by and laugh and utter the phase, "Vanilla?....." which has now been adopted by the next generation.