Summer in Maryville, TN 2012

2406 Old Knoxville Pike

Maryville, TN 37804

Petunia Pot

 Hydrangea, replaced the wild and crazy rose at the front corner of the house.

 The Veggie Bed is sitting behind the Pretty Flowers bed.

 Pretty Flowers Bed

Since it's been 3 months that I last visited my blog, or posted anything on it, there is a lot of catching up to do. Today we live in Maryville, TN. We closed on our home on Valentine's day. I really believed that somehow there would be a new foster family for those puppies. Mom was adopted in two days after returning to Young Williams, but the puppies remained with us. They were to stay with us until our friend had room for them in her own place. That never quite materialized and we have grown quite attached to them. The blonde one is named Blondie. The black one we call Clyd, rhymes with Sid. It was originally Bonnie and Clyde, but we always butcher names until they come out just a little more original than they started. I'll upload pictures of the babies at the end of this post. Our new home has a great yard for the dogs, and so far I've created two beds for vegetables and flowers. There are many birds who live in the trees around our home. There are blue jays, robbins, finches, black birds, mourning doves, a hawk, and a host of others that I couldn't name if I wanted to.
Casey Anthony and pups when we first got them. They were about two weeks old. I say that they were born on August 1, 2011. Now it's June 2012. They're 10 months old now.

Clyd (rhymes with Sid), is being a momma's boy.

 Blondie is tired after a day of running around at the farm.

Erika has introduced me to Walter. He's her five year old off the track thoroughbred. I am totally falling in love with him. He's such a sweety on the ground, and when I ride him, he keeps me awake. He's fun without being crazy. He's exciting without being dangerous. Perfect actually.

 Brendan is working with his friend Tommy and making furniture on the side. It's pretty amazing what he can create from his mind's eye. I've just started to enjoy my summer break. I'm looking for some work so that I can bring some more cash into the household. We have a lot on our plate right now. We have the house in Asheville on the market and we're really hoping that the sale goes through. We've hit quite a few snags, and that's a shame. It's June 2nd and I believe the temperatures are in the 70s with a breeze and blue clear skies. I don't think that this day could have been anymore wonderful. I've ridden, gardened, and now I think I'll take a moment to relax.

Vote Smart

For a long time now, I have been asking for a way to gather information about a candidate for government. Apparently I was not the only one looking for an easy way to do this. I just found this during a random google wander. Check it out!  Project Vote Smart

January 16th has many interesting memories

Today is a federally designated holiday honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior. According to The Corporation of National and Community Service's website, this holiday, established in 1983, was purposed to be a day of service. According to the website, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision was not just focused on civil rights, but responsible, sustainable community. I spent most of my life hearing facts about Dr. King during this month. As a teacher, you are encouraged to teach about Dr. King during this month. I however, had never specifically learned that Dr. King's legacy included community participation and giving. I think it is wonderful. I would like to take this information and share it with my students. Most likely I will develop a project that my students can participate in that will honor Dr. King's vision of community service and community development. There is more information available at http://mlkday.gov/about/serveonkingday.php . I urge you to hop on the link and check it out. I will follow through on some of my service projects today in order to honor a man who lived by his heart and believed in the ability of people to be human. I wish that I could have met him. Thank you Dr. King, for everything.


January 16th has been the birth of many other interesting memories as well. Check out This Day in History from the History Channel.

Random Props for MoJoe's off of Southerland Avenue

I can't say enough how much I enjoy Brad and the rest of the crew at MoJoe's.
Brad Grant is the owner, coffee connoisseur and overall great guy! Stepping into the shop is to find yourself in Asheville without leaving Knoxville.
The brightly colored walls, entertaining and enlightening art, and the coffee are just incredible. As if this is not enough, there is also great food and deserts to be found at MoJoe's. The wraps and deserts are delicious and hit the spot whether it is breakfast, snacks, lunch, or an early afternoon dinner.

MoJoe's is open Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If you want to visit MoJoe's you will find it at 2920 Southerland Ave. Knoxville, TN 37919.
You can also like MoJoe's on Facebook.  
Come on in!
Say hi and order the first cup. After that, you will be hooked.

"Something you said to me, changed my life. So, thank you." - Customer's compliment to Brad, the owner. (overheard at Mojoe's on January 2, 2012)

I'm not the only one who feels this way!

This could have been...

So many miracles happened today. All tempered by the realization that I do not know how to meet the expectations given to me. I am told that I am a great teacher. I've been told this for a while. Why would I continue to do something if I wasn't good at it? Now there is this very inept formula for determining my worth as a teacher. I don't know how this is going to work out? I'm sad.

It's not about weathering the storm

It is hard to imagine this life without struggle.

Fostering 4-legged cuties

I'm in shock that I didn't include this in my blog last time. I convinced Brendan to let me foster a dog and her puppies. She is a jack russell chihuahua cross. She really looks like a slim jack russell with refined features and she has a wire-haired coat. She is quite cute.
Her babies are are blond with light brown patches (female)  and the male is black with brown tips. I think that the puppies are doing very well. When we first brought them home, they were not very active and didn't "seem" okay. After the weekend, the puppies began to gain alot of weight and some energy. Their eyes opened sometime during the week. I have a pretty good idea that the black puppy's ears will stand straight up like their mommas. The blond's ears are still laying down.

I can not wait to see how they look by the end of the week. The next foster family is going to have a blast with these three!