Turkey Invasion

The critters are taking over the Ponderosa.  The Mamas were on high alert and would not let me get any closer.  They began to bunch them up when I came out on the porch.

I think there were 23 little ones and 3 adults having lunch near the edge of the front yard.

World's Largest Treehouse

This is the world's largest tree house in Crossville, TN.  It rises 97 feet into the sky!  The support for the tree house is provided by a live, 80 foot tall white oak that is 12 feet in diameter at its base.  Six other trees brace the structure.  It has 10 floors and is estimated to have 8 to 10,000 square feet of space.  Horace Burgess built the tree house.  He says it built it for everyone and the the Lord told him, "If you build me a tree house,  I'll see that you never run out of material." He calls it God's Tree House.

Parker, Peanut and I visited this spot on July 6th.  We climbed to the top.  Well, we climbed as far as the steps went.  The very brave could climb a ladder to the belfry. We didn't think that was a safe thing to do.  We made it to the window with the flags.

This is the view from that window.

The tree house is centered around a chapel/basketball court.

The tree house is like a maze with lots of twists and turns and some very steep steps.  I also saw several places that one could easily fall to their death!

These are the steps up to the top, at the time they were not so bad, but the next day my leg kept reminding me that old people do not need to be climbing around in tree houses.

Parker thought this would be a good place for a show.  I saw it as another place one could fall to their death!

There were lots of doors leading out to the balconies.

These bears guard the entrance.

Parker's favorite part was the swing.  The swing was a lawn chair suspended from the very top of the tree house.  Notice the duct tape covering the swing.  We are not sure if it is for comfort or if it is holding the swing/chair together.

 There was a resident goat at the tree house and some ducks and miniature horses.

If you feel adventurous and want to visit, be sure you have directions, there are no signs but it is easy to find and just off the interstate at Genesis Road. There is no admission fee, but you can buy a t-shirt or a painting while you are there!

Fireworks on the 4th

You don't need big fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July, just a few you personally choose from the fireworks stand will do.

You need a P-pa willing to help with the dangerous parts and an audience filled with grandparents and you can create a spectacular show filled with

 

sparklers

 smoke 

racing cars

and loud bangs!

 

This was the exciting grand finale!

When a frog hops out into your fireworks show you need to grab it and relocate it to a safer place in the yard.

This fireworks show took place in Pa Lyle's driveway on July 4, 2012.

At the River

When the July temperatures started breaking records, we headed for the river to cool off.  The Wolf River is one of Parker's favorite places, so he wanted to share it with his little cousins! We had a great day!  There was. . .

 

Wading

And more wading

There was crawdad hunting. . . 

which is mostly a boy sport!

With the expertise of their great grandpa the hunt was successful!

There was fishing with nets! And Granny Lerion actually caught one.

Brooks retrieved it from the net and gave it a little hug! You can see it hanging from his hand.

We found butterflies. . .

and rocks.

Some of us sat in the river,

 

Some watched from the bank!

 We had a picnic lunch with sandwiches from the nearby General Store.

Brynn tried rocks for dessert, but her dad didn't think that was a good idea!

 We played with toys,

and made leaf boats to sail down the river.

It was a great way to keep cool and a fun adventure for all!

We took this adventure on July 2, 2012 at the York Grist Mill in Pall Mall, TN

Twelve on the Twelfth of July

It's time again for twelve on the twelfth!  It was a much welcomed rainy day on the Ponderosa.  We also went on an adventure with our retired teacher friends.  We all meet together at least once a month for a fun day and to catch up with each other.

We left the Ponderosa early this morning and headed north on our way to Liberty, KY.

We must cross Wolf River Dam on our way.  It has been under construction for years to stop the leaking. I like to drive fast across the dam in case it decides to break while we cross!  I guess I think we could outrun it!

No trip to Liberty would be complete without a stop in Russell Springs at our favorite place to find bargains, The Mighty Dollar, where everything is a dollar.  Not even the rain could keep us from hunting for treasures.

This was my favorite Mighty Dollar find today!  We needed some new drinking glasses and the cute factor on these is very high so I bought four!  They were Libbey brand and meet my standard for good drinking glasses because they are heavy and you can put your entire hand in and reach the bottom when they need to be hand washed.

Then it was on to the Bread of Life Cafe where today there was chicken and dumplings, ham, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh corn, rolls, peach cobbler and oreo cake.  There is an unbelievable salad bar and soup and ice cream and rolls and biscuits and more!  You get all this and more for $8.99 and the drink of your choice is included.  You will always leave here stuffed.

 A Mennonite family had a produce stand set up in the parking lot.  My friends all made a purchase!

We also visited this store in the Mennonite Community where I found some great produce.

I found peaches and blueberrries and something brand new to me, white sweet potatoes.

When you shop in the Mennonite Community you see all types of transportation.

Back at home we just watched it rain on the flowers and

and the garden,

While these four critters played in the front yard.  The little ones were running and jumping and frolicking for joy in the rain!

And this frequent visitor to the back yard enjoyed eating some wild cherries as it does every afternoon!