A VERY SOUTHERN CHRISTMAS

Christmas in Roane County, Tennessee annually means that each city will have its own parade, a guided tour of its historical Queen Anne and Victorian homes, and other festive events. The home tours are held on consecutive weekends, usually the first weekend in December for Rockwood and the second for Harriman. The old magnificent homes are all decked out in their Christmas finery, with bright and flashing lights, with their owners dressed in period clothing, proudly showing off their homes. Some homes even offer finger foods and hot cider!

The seasonal celebration this weekend, for Judy and me, began in Harriman at the annual “Merry Tuba Christmas” concert. There are over 200 Tuba Christmas events held this time of year across America, and the one we attended was one of 7 in the state of Tennessee.

Harriman’s principal “Tuba Christmas” organizer, Dr. Joe Williams, has been leading this gathering for 21 years. He also formed the local Babahatchie Community Band, made up of enthusiastic musicians from all the local high schools and veterans, some of which are retired and played together in high school years ago!

This year’s event was at the Harriman High School auditorium, and led by Sande MacMorran who is Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Tennessee's Music Department, and the Associate Conductor and Tubaist with the Knoxville Symphony. Mr. MacMorran, who was once a member of the United States Army Band in Washington, is Music Director of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Programs, and has been Conductor of the Youth Orchestra since 1979.

If it’s not too late, click on This Link above and find a “Tuba Christmas” event near you. I guarantee you’ll have a great, usually informal, time, singing along with the band as they play your favorite Christmas Carols! Professor MacMorran also entertained us with his musical and historical commentary between carols.

I don’t know if all events are free, but the one in Harriman is always free…as a matter of fact, the members have to register and pay in order to participate in the concert. It’s a love of music, the season, and people that drives the bunch to perform!

Later Saturday afternoon, Judy and her sisters Terri and Neena (whom we call the Dragons), accompanied by us Knights (their men folk), tour Rockwood’s homes, following the map with numbered houses and addresses, with a history of each. We were impressed with how the current owners have kept up or completely remodeled the homes. I will post more on the Rockwood home tour next time, and a follow up after we make the Harriman rounds next weekend.

But first, let me talk about the “Battle of the Cannons” that is held on the Saturday of the “Rockwood Christmas Tour of Homes” at 2:30, featuring the men of the 28th Tennessee Infantry, Company “A” “Caney Fork Mess”, and coordinated by the “Sons of the Confederacy, Camp 1750” of Crossville, Tennessee. This year they braved light snow and a very cold chill factor to portray a small skirmish of Union and Confederate troops that occurred near Rockwood in September of 1863. Union troops were forced to quit the field and retreat from Chickamauga to Chattanooga and in trying to regroup and resupply, they came to what is now known as Rockwood.

Southern troops, in an effort to prevent the Union troops from resupplying and rejoining the larger ranks, frequently attacked the encampment. A full scale skirmish unfolded with great intensity from cannon and rifle fire. With terrifying “Rebel Yelling”, the Rebs unleashed a ferocious attack! The Yankee soldiers not killed or wounded were quickly subdued and captured.

However, I want to first talk about, and show you, the reason for the “very southern” in the post title. “What in the world does the Civil War have to do with Christmas?” Well, our country endured 4 years of a terrible War Between the States, which included 4 Christmases!

With such a grand local history, the organizers see fight to include this reenactment each year at Christmas time to coincide with the “tour of homes”! For two days and nights these brave reenactors set up camp and brave the elements, giving visitors a brief glimpse into what it was like to have been a soldier during this time.

Near the featured “Daniel Peterman House” (in background), an encampment of Union reenactors set up camp, complete with tents with straw bedding. Captain Peterman established a mercantile business after the war in Rockwood, and built this home sometime in the 1880’s, which features two staircases. It was easy to step back in time and imagine what it was like in 1863 when seeing this encampment near the old home.

My favorite shots were of the Confederate cannon atop a small rise, with a blue sky background, and that of a gentleman portraying an army surgeon showing the tools of his trade. The fake bloody leg was to illustrate where a punkin’ ball had entered a real leg during the war, and how the splintered damage of an actual displayed leg bone (click on photo with the medicine jar to see leg bone) occurred.

Later the “general” came out of the Peterman House and visited the shivering troops to boost their morale.

It was a wonderful evening, one that ended at the Gondolier for pizza, Italian sandwiches, and Fat Tire for all!

A LITTLE DAB’LL DO YA!

Got our first snow this year on December 5^th…hasn’t done that in several years; however the dab we got was about our usual. But, it gives us hope that we are returning to more normal winters in East Tennessee…in spite of Al Gore! (Hint: Global warming is a hoax!)

Judy saw to that we were warm and cozy with her prize winning chili in our stomachs. More on that HERE!

WINGS, CREAM HORNS, AND BASEBALL CAPS

Judy and I did a little shopping today after my dentist visit. I bought a warm looking black twill shirt-jacket and a pull-over, both half-price at Kohl’s. Judy also found some jeans that were also on sale and a little Christmas nightlight for Katie Bug.

Afterwards, we stopped at Wild Wings and ate a late lunch, and the leftovers turned out to be our evening meal.

Of course, we had to have dessert, so we stopped at Harriman’s new Pattycake Pastries, and bought a couple of “cream horns”! Supposedly, these babies are made from the very same recipe used when Merri Mac Bakery was open years ago in the same location. After eating them…later by the fireplace, they are as I remember! Good things are starting to happen in Harriman, and this is one of them. Please patronize Mike Borman’s shop frequently. We need to keep our money invested in our community. (More about the new bakery on the Princess Blog soon.)

Anyway, because of the buying spree, we decided to make room in our closets by bagging up some things for the “Clothes Closet”. Someone needing a couple of warm coats this year is going to be wearing some good ones! We filled two garbage bags, and made more than enough room for the new stuff!

I dumped in half my old collection of baseball caps, most hardly ever worn, so someone might like those. Anyway, I pulled a bunch of old hat/lapel pins off the hats before putting them in the bag. I made this montage of the pins, so you can enjoy them. You can probably deduct from them a lot of who and what I am. I really hated to put them way in a drawer, but I just don’t wear hats much anymore unless it’s below 32.

Some of you will probably enjoy this photo, ‘cause back in August and September of ’06 I posted two “cleaning out my drawers” posts that some of you got a kick out of…CLICK HERE OR HERE to go back in time!

All the time I was pinning them to the cushion I used as a holder and background, Judy sat there watching adorningly, talking to Tracy on the phone, and feeling all good inside from the wings and cream horn she had just eaten! Look at her…she’s beautiful and very happy!

THANKFUL FOR FAMILY, TURKEY, PIE, GUNS, AND MOONSHINE!

Well, it isn’t all that “cut and dried”, we actually were/are thankful for much more, but the title of this post does generally sum up our Thanksgiving Day together.

Thanksgiving dinner/supper is always at Charlotte and Gary’s. There is lots of room, a big screen, a screened porch for cigars, and a wide vista of East Tennessee fields, ponds, and hills! I think the primary reason for holding the annual event at their house is so the turkey doesn’t have travel! Charlotte rises early to prepare it and by the time we arrive Gary is busy carving it.

Each sister brings her assigned dish, and the guys bring their latest pale ale discovery, and me, well, this year I discovered Junior Johnson’s Midnight Moon! I really enjoyed the 80 proof clear elixir and its sweet corn taste. You should try it! We enjoyed our spirits in moderation…this year!

Visiting this year was Terri’s son Joey, his wife Krissy, and his daughter “Juliana-Bug-Bug” from Minnesota. Joey also brought his new little friend, a beautiful little Colt AR-15 A3 Tactical Carbine! Although we never fired the weapon all day, we did each grope it lovingly! There was a “shoot fest” at Steve’s on Monday, but we were entertaining Lily and didn’t attend.

Steve’s daughter Becky, and boyfriend Nick, joined us as well. Becky is a recent graduate and his currently teaching art in the Atlanta school system. They are always such a joy and I look forward to seeing Becky’s big smile each year.

Of course there is always the 15 minutes devoted to the annual “sisters group photo” (Linda wasn’t there…she has Thanksgiving with her daughters), but some of us tend to sneak…no…force our way into the sister-only shots! I was determined to get in the family photos this year. I bought a wireless shutter release for my camera, and after strategically placing my camera and tripod, I could fire the camera remotely! However, I made the mistake of shooting from too far away, which reduced the flashes range in some shots. BUT, they were good enough for blog use, and a good lesson learned. Thank God for Photoshop!

The photo session always reminds me of the Beatles’ “Hard Days Night” (or was it “Help”?) movie scene where they get off the plane snapping photos of each other! One of the sister’s will shout out, “Okay, look at Steve…now look at Ron…look at Paul!” It’s a wonder we ever get any decent shots, but even if the faces are looking at different cameras, they usually turn out to be an accurate record of the sisters!

The food was as good as usual, and, as these shots show, the turkey was ravaged to the bone and pies were all consumed!

After eating, Gary took us for a ride down through the fields to where he trains his Labs and hunts ducks during the season. He has flooded the nearby cornfields, providing a great refuge and overnight stop for ducks flying through the area. There were a couple of groups (of 6 or 8) circling the area as we left the area just about dark.

I am so thankful for this extended family. They mean a lot to me and I hate it when I have to miss a gathering of the dragons! I have missed two this year, both with pneumonia from my leaf allergy, and it really saddened me. They all teased me Thursday by asking, “And who are you?”

I responded with, “Paul Mashburn, damned glad to meet you!”

MOWING THE YARD AND PLAYING WITH GRAND-BABIES!

As usual, Judy and I picked up Lily from Wee-Pre-School yesterday, and had a ball eating at Chick-fil-a and playing blocks on the screened porch. It was a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine, giggles, and funny little sayings!

We then got a call from Connie, my former wife, who keeps Tia and Corey’s younger daughter on Monday’s at her house. She said she always cooked for Corey and her dad on Monday evenings, so we were welcome to come. Since she has invited us before, we decided to take her up on her offer this time.

As soon as Lily’s afternoon nap was over we headed across town. My mom and Corey were already there and it was so nice to see little Kinsley. This was only the second or third time I’ve seen the child since she was born in February. It’s just a timing thing, but Connie knew it was an opportunity for us to she her, plus an opportunity to visit longer with Corey than the 10 minutes it takes to say hello and load Lily into her car-seat for the trip home.

Kinsley is a doll, totally different from Lily, with big blue eyes and a friendly smile for everyone. Lily sometimes still hides shyly behind her parents, with her big brown eyes averted. So, it was nice to have one grandbaby that comes excitedly forward to be hugged and “man-handled”!

Soon Connie’s dad arrived. I love this man and I get the feeling from him that I’m still like a son to him. He’s a wonderful man who loves God and still works hard every day even though he’s around 80!

Judy got to feed Kinsley, who really loves eating…another thing besides the blue eyes she has in common with me!

I took loads of photos and thoroughly enjoyed watching the children play, including my son! Some of the shots turned out super and I just had to proudly share them with you. Hope you don’t mind!

We’re blessed with a relationship with Corey’s mom that allows us to visit and share our grandkids in a peaceful and even loving atmosphere. We got over the petty bickering years ago and have since grown to be good friends who just happen to share grandchildren. Connie and Judy like each other too and that’s special to us all.

This morning I was awakened by the doorbell. In my morning confusion, I could not imagine who would be awake at 8:30 in the morning. I opened the door and it was my neighbor from down the street that is in the lawn business. He had told me he would mow my yard and give me a price this week, but, of course, I had forgotten all about it. It was a great surprise!

I’m sitting here typing this post and listening to his mower running the rounds in the backyard. How wonderful! He also had a young fellow climb up on the roof and blew the leaves and debris out of the valleys. I tell you, I’m in Heaven!

I was forced into yard work retirement by my leaf mold allergy, but I might just get used to this arrangement!

Well, I think he’s about finished, so until next time…

THINKING ‘BOUT GETTIN’ OUT OF THE MOWIN’ BUSINESS

I mowed the yard Tuesday. The grass has stopped growing but my primary purpose was to mulch the fallen leaves that have accumulated since my mom has been sick. Normally, I try to keep up with the number of leaves in order to avoid them damming up in front of the mower, but having to be with mom during her resent illness prevented me from doing things normally. So, the leaves at times pushed up in front, making the wheels of the mower stop and the stirring impossible. I’ve learned to push them off to the edge of the yard and create little piles. Backing out of the pile, I can resume my trip around the yard until it happens again.

I say all this to tell you that I’m sick again…it’s that tree/leaf/mold allergy that I have developed over the years. I know the consequences of mowing the yard, but someone has to do it, and I’ve been at it about 7 to 8 months out of each of the last 40 something years! However, even though I’m now taking allergy shots twice a week, two shots a visit, I still have this affliction and I’m about over it!

Tuesday, while mowing, I broke a support piece on the deck of my mower. So, I got to thinking, you’re 63 years old and you’re going to suffer for mowing, so don’t you think it’s time to hire this done?!

While I was coming to this conclusion, my wife was sitting on the screened-porch snapping the last of this year’s fall shots. From here lofty perch, she attempted to capture a huge draft of leaves blowing from the trees and down across the yard where I was contemplating my life. If you look hard (CLICK TO ENLARGE) you can see the airborne leaves. What you can’t see it the leaf dust following along behind.

She captured a great shot up through the large hickory that grows over our open deck. There is great contrast with the chimney, some green from a white pine, and the blue sky in the background.

The yard is large and about a third on the hilly side, but it is beautiful most times of the year. So, I have enjoyed the opportunity to get lost in my thoughts and relax, but the allergy has made it less inviting. I think I’m going to find someone to take care of the yard while I watch from the lofty perch with Judy. However, until the shots do their thing, I’ll probably have to wear my usual dust mask on mowing days.

If you live in the Harriman area and would be interested in giving me an estimate, send me an email to fuzzbert_1999 at Yahoo!

MONDAY’S GRANDCHILD

Judy and I look forward to Mondays ‘cause it’s the day we get to pick Lily up from her church’s “Wee Pre-School”! As excited as we are, she sometimes is less than enthusiastic, sometimes hanging her head with her lower lip sticking out, or, like yesterday, starts crying for her mother! This always makes the teacher a little apprehensive about turning her over to us. However, we have all the right credentials and we know her name…so we must be okay!

I’m always afraid to say, “Lily, tell the teacher who we are,” because you never know what she might say in the moment of missing her parents. Then what do you tell the police!

Anyway, about a block down the street, she stops crying, not a tear anywhere, and starts talking to us. Of course, this is after we’ve told her we are going somewhere to eat, going to the park, or going home to ride her bicycle.Bribery has been a tool of good parenting for ages, and it usually works!

This week we decided to eat out before going home, and pizza seemed to be the magic word in Lily’s mind this week. So, we stopped off at Brixx Pizza, home of “wood fired” pizzas!

The waitress gave Lily a lump of raw dough to play with, and some crayons. She pounded the dough, and we kept encouraging her to make a hand-print in the middle, but she decided it was much more fun to bite off little pieces and put them back on the plate. They usually take anything made by a child to the oven and bake it, but Lily wasn’t interested in playing their game.

Instead, she loved the “cave” under the table where she played with an imaginary bear! Luckily for us the place is new and the area under the table was carpeted and clean. She popped up every now and then to shout out “smile” to me holding the camera! It’s almost impossible to get a shot of wiggly 3-year-old!

Most shots are of the side or back of her head, with her still saying “smile”!

The pizzas were unique, but quite good, so we’ll probably go back at some point. The one shown is a “Bronx Bomber” with spicy Italian sausage, prosciutto, Gorgonzola cheese, tomato sauce and fresh oregano leaves. Judy had the Chicken Florentine with wood-roasted chicken, crumbled bacon, Roma tomatoes, fresh spinach, and feta and mozzarella cheeses. Lily’s was a cheese pizza that must have been good; because she wouldn’t even let me eat the end pieces she had leftover!

Back at home, she rode her bike, and busied herself plucking Holly Berries from the shrubs, and playing an imaginary fiddle made of a pine-cone and a stick she found.She had so much fun that we could not get her to take a nap. She lay on the bed and “rested” reading her books, saying her ABC's, and singing every song she knew.

Soon Corey arrived and she got up excited to see her dad and the prospects of seeing “her baby” (her little sister Kinsley) again!

Momma Judy and Papaw are left waiting for Monday to come around so they can play again too!

NIGHT ON THE TOWN WITH COREY AND JOE BONAMASSA

My mom is home now and seems to be doing well, but last Tuesday night she was still in the hospital getting over pneumonia complicated by asthma. Tuesday was a rainy, foggy, and kind of chilly evening in Knoxville, Tennessee, but Corey (my son) and I were determined to relieve a week’s worth of worrying about her by enjoying a good meal, some pale ale and tea, and some great blues.

Joe Bonamassa, one of the world’s greatest guitarists blew us away! Corey could not believe an acoustic guitar could be played the way Joe delivered it Tuesday night at the Bijou Theatre! Awesome and unbelievable were two words that he used over and over to praise Joe’s playing. Check out this audience shot clip of a similar performance:

As one well lubricated guy in the balcony screamed, “You freakin’ rock, dude!”

Joe Bonamassa got his first guitar at age 5 and by age 7 he was playing Stevie Ray Vaughn tunes note for note. At the age of 11, during a short period of being mentored by Danny Gatton, he learned such styles as country and jazz as well as heavy rock. During this time with Gatton, Bonamassa sat in with Gatton's band whenever they played in New York. He first opened for B. B. King at 12 years of age. After first hearing him play, King said, “This kid's potential is unbelievable. He hasn't even begun to scratch the surface. He's one of a kind.”

Corey and I had dinner at the Downtown Grill & Brewery on Gay Street before walking the two blocks to the Bijou. And BTW, if you’ve never attended an event at the Bijou, you’ve missed an intimate little 900 seat venue for music.

Corey had his traditional chicken sandwich and fries, soaked down with glass after glass of unsweet-tea, while I enjoyed half a Hawaiian pizza (pineapple, bacon, and ham) with added onions, marinated in the Brewery’s own Downtown Blonde Ale (a light-bodied Kolsch displays a smooth malt note and a hint of fruit flavor in the finish. The Kolsch style has little hop flavor or aroma, letting the sweet malt taste prevail.)

Outside the Bijou we stopped to take a photo of Joe’s equipment trailer, and then went inside out of the drizzle. I gave Corey a tour of the theater, since he had never been there. I told him some of the history of the theater, mainly about it once being a brothel, and during my time at the University of Tennessee, a porn theater! He was shocked to hear that I had once visited such a place, but I was merely skimming the surface of my colorful past!

I also mentioned that some say the Bijou is haunted!

I got a shot of Famous Grouse blended scotch whiskey over ice and preceded up stairs to our loggia seats. Our view of the stage was completely unobstructed, situated along the right wall of the auditorium, just behind the upper level box seats. To our left, the balcony seats began just one level up from our view. We could get up and leave the theater and come back without bothering a soul!

Corey had never heard of Joe Bonamassa, but he became a fan Tuesday night. He has always loved “slide” guitar, like his daddy, so I’m sure there will be a couple of CDs of Joe’s in his vehicle soon!

I’m looking forward to more “nights on the town” with my son in the coming years.