See Dave Jenkins for Many More!

Dave Jenkins photographed scores of these barns and turned them into a neat book: Rock City Barns, a Passing Era. Dave is a professional photographer and you can find his blog at - www.alifeinphotography.blogspot.com where you will find thoughtful prose and very interesting photographs. You really should read his posts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. Or if you wish you can go directly to the post about the barns here: http://alifeinphotography.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-book-that-changed-my-life.html

I had hoped to find one in my travels and get an image. This one is perched on the edge of the highway between Cherokee and Bryson City but it won’t be here too long. The kudzu and time are taking their toll. I actaullly found a second one in better shape a bit south of Seymoure, TN along the Chapman Highway. I stopped a few hundred feet away but simply could not safely cross the highway. So it will have to wait until Johnson Homecoming in February. I almost was able to meet Dave on this trip but we were just not quite able to get the timing right. Next time I will make a better plan.

Rainbow Rocks

The color kept shifting but it was so neat to see this 10 or 12 foot long color prism dancing across the waterfall spray.

"Double, double boil and bubble; icy cold and splashy babble.""

If Shakespeare lived in the Smokies.

Toot Toot

Most of the crew here at the house went for a ride on this neat train that is based in Bryson City NC. They all had a great time and said it was a very pretty ride with the fall colors along a river for the majority of the trip and a view of Lake Fontana. I choose to go and shoot photos instead but only found a few things other than the train. Still a nice afternoon poking around the town.

Cadillac Tracks - I was a boffo smash in my debut performance at Fabulous Jill’s movie There were some disappointments, no trailer for me, no fancy chair with my name on it and no Papa Rattzi. I guess they did not know how to find us because we were in a secret location. But what a day. I was in most of the scenes, I did not miss a line and I looked very hungry right on cue - one of my most outstanding qualities. I will write some more later but right now my PR firm says I need to keep this short until we can work out a more equitable financial agreement. I am holding out for $4.

Serenity

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 NLT

Moose Rules Four

What a week. Today I am in some town where I am probably starring in a movie or at least I will have a major part. So I spent the week working on seeing well with dark glasses, learning what a Papa Rattzi is and how to avoid them, perfecting my profile and looking completely disinterested. Also I practiced pretending to be serveral things because I don’t think Jill will make a western. So I am working on my timing for opera, comedy, drama and Disney. I hope it is Disney cause I look good in cartoon colors. I won’t have an immediate report on my spectacular success until Monday cause we stars don’t get up before 2 and the Driver insists this blog be ready by 6AM. Imagine. Well shortly that’ll change.

I can’t recall exactly what else happened this week. It may have involved hill, trees, water and food.

Just Before Dawn

We went out at 5:15 to watch the Orionids a meteor shower that peaks near this time. Everyone saw several - I saw two, very brief ones. They get their name because they “appear” to come from Orion’s belt.

Cadillac Tracks - Are you ready for my big news? One of my many personal great friends is Jill. Or as she is known to me, Fabulous Jill. She is kind and wise and sophisticated and so you can see why we are such great friends for those are among my outstanding qualities too. What I did not know is that she is, Like Thomas, a Major Movie Maker (3M in the biz). And she is shooting her movie tomorrow. I talked the Driver into going because Fabulous Jill is, I am sure, going to give me an important role in the movie. Maybe Chief Gripper. My first step to stardom and I will be able to further impress Thomas with my IMBD number. What a day Saturday will be - soon to be a major national holiday.

Tom's Falls

This beautiful little spot is just outside Bryson City, NC. We hiked a bit on two trails and viewed three waterfalls. I liked this one with the back lighting and the arch of the tree adding a bit of a frame.

Cadillac Tracks - I am having a hard time waiting for Saturday. My acting career is going to take off. All the details tomorrow. Now where do I want my second mansion?

Cool Running

One of the many beautiful streams in the GSMNP. This one is strewn with leaves in the late Fall. Color higher up the mountain and we will head there Thursday.

Cadillac Tracks - we are in an actual house. We gave the trailer to some man who must collect them cause he had a lot behind a fence. I think the driver actually might have done something well cause this house is a great upgrade and he made a fabulous trade. Hope we are done with the mobile toaster. I have very big news on my new career. Stay tuned!!!.

The End, The Beginning

This is the state capital in Montgomery, Alabama where the Selma to Montgomery civil rights march ended. A remarkable time that changed the status quo.

Little River Canyon

In Northeast Alabama, a surprisingly mountainous area to me who had never been here before. Quite a nice place. We were here for the Little River Canyon National Preserve in a valley high in the hills with this water fall marking the start of the canyon. It is an 11 mile drive along one edge with a few places to pull over for views or very shot walks. Kayaks are popular for the trip through the valley but we saw none the day we were here.

Reflected Sunset

From the bypass around Gatlinburg as the sun sets behind us mostly hidden by the mountains the clouds reflected this beautiful light on the mountain.

“May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful.” Psalm 72:3 NLT

Moose Rules #3

We camped first in a mountain cattle ranch, kind of neat and they had a cowboy hat and rope that I practiced with in case Thomas, the Major Movie Man, needs me to look stealthy and cool along an old fence, wrangle a cow, ride a horse (one of my outstanding talents) or leap onto a runaway stage coach. Mostly what I see cowboys do in the old westerns. Sometimes they shoot people but that will not be in my contract. 

Then we came to the Smoky Mountains which while they are very moosey we saw only elk and they were mostly elkettes. I might build my mansion (Actor Stars get at least three!) there because I would not only be a star but also the King of Antlered Beasts as elk are clearly not as magnificent when it comes to antlerism. The best thing that happened in the GSMNP was we met up with Rusty and Janet. I guess they were surprised that the Driver found them as they were clearly wanting to hide off in the woods. Yet even so, Janet was thrilled to see me and we chatted for hours and ate chocolates while the rest of them roamed the mountain with their picture boxes - human people are perplexing. Janet made me a lovely lunch and let me eat all of the black walnuts I wanted. Super. We did find some lovely ice cream but only on one day out of three - not a good ratio. (Point 8 to one is acceptable, point 4 to one is the preferred standard.) 

One more confusing thing. I think the cookers were broken in the traveling boxes cause Rusty and the Driver had to build a fire OUTSIDE and it took hours, caused much smoke and provided entertainment for scores of people all to blacken six tubey things they then ate. Did they not see the 400 restaurants we passed riding around all day saying, “Oh, that tree is pretty.” How on earth can you take HP seriously. Well, we are off again to another place that I most likely will not approve of, but here we go.  

Looking for Lunch

Osprey over the water at Davis Bayou, Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Cadillac Tracks - Oooh, that reminds me I have not eaten since breakfast and it is now nearly 10AM, wonder what I can find for the most necessary Mid-Morning Meal? Something that will hold me over until noon, so maybe a large ice cream and a sedge grass salad. Got to watch my figure now that I am going to be a major movie star. Still working on the lingo.

"I'll be sittin' when the evening comes"

I have no idea why but that song by Otis is simply one of my favorites and rattles around in my head a lot. Seemed actually a bit appropriate for this sunset photo on Mobile Bay. Not really a dock and no tide to speak of, still….

Freedom

This is the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery where M.L.King Jr. was the pastor from 1954 to 1960. It was in 1955 in Montgomery that Rosa Parks refused to move her seat on a bus that set the stage for the lengthy bus boycott here that advanced the civil rights movement. King was at the forefront of that effort and gained national prominence here. This is a part of the Selma to Montgomery NHT that traces the walk for voter’s rights. The church is now named the Dexter Avenue MLK Memorial Baptist Church.

Patience

I have tried to get a good image of a Belted Kingfisher many times and failed. Last year a finally got a decent photo, not exactly what I wanted but pretty good. A few days ago in the Davis Bayou - a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, I got one just after he dove into the shallow water and emerged with breakfast. I was actually here to practice birds-in-flight and there are usually pelicans here. None that morning, So an egret or two, some osprey and this nervous, skittish, erratic bird calling and fishing. I used a long lens and a fast shutter and still nearly missed. You can see the ripples where he entered the water and the trail of dripping water that leads to him on the left edge of the frame.

Long Bridge

This is a shot of the long bridge of Interstate 10 just east of Mobile, AL as seen from Meaher State Park. The park is located on an island in Mobile Bay. I shot this near sunset two days before the hurricane was to come ashore a bit further west that Mobile.

Value Each Day

Sunrise over rice fields along the Arkansas River.

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.” Isaiah 58:13 NLT

Moose Rules 2

What a week. We saw cool cars (no not the one the Driver has) we saw where they make real movies and we got chased by a hurricane. 

There were hundreds of these neat cars that are bright colors and make cool noises. They remind me a bit of the bears in my home area of Maine when they roar. Of course, there are not as fierce as a moose but they sound a bit more like these angry cars. I could really use one of these hot rods - if they ever allow moose to drive, cause lots of them don’t have a roof and my magnificent antlers can be fully admired as I cruise (I learned a new word!) down the street. Plus when you get one of those you get to stand around and talk and eat, two of my most outstanding qualities.

The big news is that we spent the night at John Schneiders’ Studio and met a reel (snicker) movie director - he is the major movie boss. His name is Thomas Johnston and on something called IMBD he is the sixth. I have been searching for a job and clearly now I have found it, I will be a movie person. Now, I won’t start out as the boss, but I know Thomas was very impressed with me, of course, and will find a suitable place for me to pretend whatever they tell me I must pretend. I am already very good at looking hungry! It may be one of my most outstanding qualities. That coupled with my natural good looks, my superior posture and impressive antlers, well, what can hold me back? The Nice One says that if you make movies some people become “stars” and while that actually did not make sense it was clear that it was good. So, I will plan to be a “star” or even a planet, whatever is the better. I need to let my good friend, Thomas, know I am ready as soon as we get out of this rolling pill box and back to normal, I will pack up and move to JSS. I imagine they will give me one of their little houses. Oooh, I hope they have a latte machine, I can’t live too long with out a latte. Also, I did not see any ice cream. Well, once I am a shooting star I think they will see I get what I want. How sensational that I finally found the perfect job for me and, of course, I will not forget Thomas as I become more starlike in the future. I can already see my IMBD, Cadillac Moose, the 27th!

I nearly forgot we got chased out of a park in something called Miss A. Sippy and are fleeing north to miss the Great Wind and Torrential Rain. We have wind and rain all the time but now it is something to be feared. Human People are astonishing. 

My good friend Thomas the Movie Boss clearly stunned at my talent.

Getting a little practice on this wild stallion in case Thomas wants me to do a Western. Notice the subtile “product placement” I did,- learning the movie language, it’ll be my 8th language that I speak. .

One of the many “hot rods” - I may use this for my first premier.