Hands On and Gray Fossils

 What do you do when the grandkids come to visit? You can't just sit around the whole time. So, we went to the Hands On Museum and Gray Fossil Site. Notice that the sign is made of fake limestone with Mastodon (1) bones embedded.

There was a another "sign" in the form of a pictorial brick relief trifold with fountain just outside of the main entrance. My granddaughter thought it was cool, just as I thought the labeled rock garden on the other side of the entrance was nifty. Frequently, rock samples in the classroom are too "perfect" and too small to give the student a real visual and tactile feel for what the rock is like.

Little Man liked the blue, hard foam building blocks better.

A Hands On Museum is too engaging to remember to take pictures, but I did get a few outside. One worker said that Max, the Tri-color Blackbird is a regular visitor to the building's balcony railing.

There was a very nice wildflower garden. I think the flowers and trees were native, but the Bald Cypress are only native to the western part of the state, so I don't know if other plants were "regional natives" or East Tennessee natives.

There were a few blooms in the late Spring heat.

Their mother took a picture with the old fossil on the limestone with the youngin's.

Mamaw and Mom got involved in the Hands On activities, too, with stencil drawings. You could also color animals, scan them, and they would come up on an animated video screen. It had the cool factor but needed a more well thought out educational component.

Mastodon alert!

Seeing actual fossils instead of replica copies is nice, and these were all found on site at Gray, TN.

Everyone liked the sandbox contour map.

It looks like we have made an exploded volcanic island.

Mom got involved, too.

Even Grandpa had to get involved.

The children and I completed the castle of the last generation (some previous children).

One the playground day, Little Man was cruising around from on venue to another.

Left in his wake was big sister, who needed a little time out of the sun.

Grandkids keep you young and active if not tired at the end of their stay. We enjoyed our time together and learned quite a bit about fossil digging and preservation and habitats. It must have been quite the Flood that collapsed that sinkhole trapping Mastodons, tapirs, and over a hundred species of plants and animals in that deep little pond.

1. https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/12/a-fossil-site-reveals-an-ancient-sinkhole-and-its-enormous-occupant/

Vacation Villa

My wife and I have temporary residence in this fine home. I thought about giving you a tour inside, but then thought better of it for the sake of the owner's privacy. Needless to say, it is quite comfortable and also happens to be within 3 minutes of where I am working and several minutes from several places to walk or run.

 At one of those greenways I saw the most symmetrical, open grown oak tree.

There is a small pond there that is so full of turtles. They must surely feed them.

A walk around the neighborhood revealed this beauty.

Up until a few days ago it was too cool to try out the back patio swimming pool. It was quite refreshing after a run. You'll have to come by and try out our cement pond.

A little flower action was going on in the yard, too.

The shack with trees and fields that we call home for the time being does have a lovely porch on the front for sitting out in the evening and taking in the view.

Scottish Clad Grandchildren

 The Smoky Mountain Highland Festival Games is now held at the Townsend Visitor Center. It is an excellent spot with a large field and mountains all around. The Visitor Center building looks like a large log cabin.

We spent time perusing the booths. Scottish history seems to be all about dress and weapons.

When my wife and I first arrived, however, we found our daughter-in-law and four grandchildren watching a weapons demonstration. I should have pointed out that they were wearing full face and neck guards and thick padding, lest the children think you can try this out on an unclad sibling at home.

The whole family decked out in their Scottish regalia, here watching the swordplay.

One of the clansmen offered for the children to weigh the shield and sword. The grandson said, "It was quite the sword to wield." No, really, he did.

His little brother had to settle for a dagger and his Mamaw is eyeing his little sister.

The maiden in her Royal Stewart sash can hold it with a firm hand, too.

Big brother cuts quite the figure in armor and bonnet.

In their outfits and full sun, it was quite warm, so mom and dad brought water and snacks for mid-morning.

Mamaw is happiest when she is interacting with children or grandchildren.

Food all around for the young warriors.

Later we watched the pipe and drum bands march by.

After their performance on the field they came back our way, still droning and drumming.

Behind the Visitor's Center, under a pavilion, the lasses from young girls to young adults were judged for their dancing. I was interested to see considerable difference in ability. Some struggled through the highly energetic and precise movements while other flowed with precision and seeming lack of effort.

Our son's family was the only one we saw with the whole clan dressed for the occasion. Many people said how cute they were and took pictures. We actually are part of Royal Stewart ancestry, one of the protectorate families. There is more to my clan, four more children and four more grandchildren, but we most definitely enjoyed interacting with this branch of the clan.

In the parking area, before we left, the grandson at left in the picture wanted to show us the quilt that he made. Yes, mom and dad assisted, but they said he did most of the work, including stitching the squares together. Mom did admit that she had to redo a few of those stitches before she sewed on the border. Quite amazing for a first quilt, though.

All were tired and satisfied with the day. Heritage is interesting and gives a sense of belonging, and whether noble or ignoble, does not determine who you are. I am thankful for the grace of God in my heritage and overcoming parts of it, but also for my posterity, may it ever increase and deepen in knowledge of God.

Greenway Wildflowers

There were numerous young Buckeye trees blooming along one stretch of the riverbank.

For about a week the Carolina Silverbells bloom. I've never seen a large one of these and think they may not be much more than bush. The Mountain Silverbells are another story. On wind protected NE slopes in the mountains they can grow two foot in diameter and well over 75 feet tall.

Variety of Fleabane

If you say aster you will be right the majority of the time, and even more right if you say the color: 

Yellow Aster. It may be Golden Ragwort. My wildflower expert sis-in-law could tell you without a second look. 

The leaves give this away as Foam Flower.

Sweet Betsy Trillium

Southern Nodding Trillium (Trillium rugelii)

Before I saw the flower, I almost mistook it for another Mayapple among the several hundred in the patch. Further inspection revealed perhaps a dozen of these beauties.

Blackberry Blooms

Doghobble hanging near the water.

Raccoon tracks impressed me as well as the bank.

Mayapples bloom in April.

Sweetbush

These tracks are larger and were impressed by the Great Blue Heron that glided away as I approached.

How a tree can collapse with the riverbank and still live is amazing. A third large branch supports the "top end" on the river bottom. I guess it "top" gets more sunlight now that it is out in the river beyond competition from the other trees.

The trunk afforded a good view as though standing in the middle of the river. This flowing sinew moderates the winter and summer temperatures, ensures that no plant along its bank is ever without a good watering, and enrichens the soil with periodic floods of raised sand banks and mud. Mostly left alone, the wildflowers have returned and flourished on its bank along our local Greenway. Living things want to live and thrive as they were created to do by their Creator. I enjoy them doing so, glorifying Him who also sustains you and me.