Back From the Brink
Back From the Brink About three years ago I wrote a post about the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) and its near extinction in the early 20th century due to the chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica, then…
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It Came From Above
It Came From Above Annie and I have had some amazing experiences at Sweetwater in the short time we’ve owned it. We’ve often watched the resident deer, some from the time they were born all…
Sweetwater’s Scaled Neighbors
Sweetwater’s Scaled Neighbors It was the last morning of a visit by our son, Travis, his awesome wife, Danielle, and their four children, 10-year-old Emma, 8-year-old John, and 3-year-old twins Isabelle (Izzie) and Carson to…
Fly Away Home
Fly Away Home Many, many years ago, when I read Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer for the first time, I noticed a little rhyme that ol’ Tom said to an insect. “Ladybug, ladybug fly away home. …
It Came from Beneath the Sea
It Came from Beneath the Sea In early January of this year Captain Daniel Griffee climbed aboard his boat, ready for a day of guiding sport-fishermen in Bogue Sound, North Carolina. The weather was nice…
The True Adventures of Pablo EskoBear
The True Adventures of Pablo EskoBear September 11, 1985 may have seemed like a normal morning in Knoxville, Tennessee. Fred Myers got up and started getting ready for the day. He stepped out of his…
Stampede!
Stampede! This year marks the 200th anniversary of an event you have probably never heard of. Once you read this though you may find it hard to forget. For some of the people who lived…
A Walk in the Park
A Walk in the Park There can’t be many people in the United States today who have not heard of Jurassic Park…as in, probably nobody. You know the theme well; scientists find a way to…
Fins, Fur, Feathers, and Bone
Fins, Fur, Feathers, and Bone Trying to advertise my blog I sometimes post a little blurb about the current post and include a photo to “catch the eye” of perspective readers. One lady took exception…
Hurting Feelings
Hurting Feelings I’ve tried very hard all my life not to hurt other people’s feelings any more than necessary, but life has shown me that there are certain times when you just can’t avoid it. …