SEE ROCK CITY

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Vintage postcards and printed material from 1940s from ROCK CITY and LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN:

GIANT POSTCARD

ROCK CITY

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PACKET OF 10 MINI CARDS

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN

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BOOKLET 'THE STORY OF

ROCK CITY GARDENS'

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See ROCK CITY the way it was 70 years ago...and get your vintage items here with FREE shipping!

follow me to tennessee...

do ur laundry on CATurday

why are you taking pictures? I thought we were gonna do the laundry

reminds me alot of my litter box without the smell

this laundry is not gonna do itself

wordless wednesday

Storyteller: The Academy

The story of the Bostick Female Academy begins with the death of a wealthy Mississippi plantation owner in 1872. Or does it begin 9 years earlier with the burning of Porter Female Academy by Union soliders? Or perhaps, this story begins 21 years later, when the first session was held.




While serving the small community for 49 years as a public school, another era began for the Academy. Located near a critical crossroad: the road that leads from Franklin to Murfreesboro


crosses the road that takes a due South direction from Nashville.







It's difficult to get a photo of the Academy without entering the property, so I took a shot from the highway.










Well, I do declare.

(STORYTELLERS IS A SHORT SERIES OF HISTORICAL MARKERS FOUND WITHIN A FEW MILES OF MY HOME. OUT OF THE 7 MARKERS, ONLY ONE OF THEM DOESN'T CONTAIN CIVIL WAR HISTORY....THE CEMETERY. AS I LEARN MORE OF THE LOCAL HISTORY, I'LL POST MORE STORYTELLER ARTICLES AND TIDBITS. THANK YOU FOR READING STORYTELLERS!)

i see u on CATurday

memory and imagination

A man at work, making something which he feels will exist because he is working at it and wills it, is exercising the energies of his mind and soul as well as of his body. Memory and imagination help him as he works. Not only his own thoughts, but the thoughts of the men of past ages guide his hands; and, as part of the human race, he creates. If we work thus we shall be men, and our days will be happy and eventful.

-William Morris

(1834 - 1896)

then to a watery grave

U.S.S. McCawley in the Solomon Islands
Jan. 18, 1943

They asked for volunteers to help with the patients that were pretty badly shot up and I volunteered. For once. They have 79 bed patients and I am kept pretty busy doing things for them but I don't mind.

Jan. 19, 1943

I went around this morning and I stopped at a bed where I thought this fellow was sleeping. I asked they guy next to him to give him a punch and see if he wanted anything to eat. When he did, the fellow didn't move. So he felt his hands which were crossed and they were ice cold, he said. I told him to feel of his pulse, which he did, but the poor kid was dead. His eyes were still open.

This afternoon I saw my first burial at sea and I attended the ceremonies. They brought him down on a stretcher sewn in canvas and draped with an American Flag. As they push him overboard they hold the flag. Before this prayer is said, the squad shoots 3 times over his body. Then to a watery grave.

Poor kid. He had asthma and could barely talk or breathe.


Met a Tech Sgt. on the boat who had a broken leg when he was blown in a fox-hole the other night. When the two bombers came in with our planes and dropped their load in "I" Company of the hospital. We in "H" Company knew it was pretty close. His name was Gordon R. Dowlling and a swell guy. He called me "Rebel" on the boat and I called him "Yank".

_______________________________

This is Harry's War Diary. All the artifacts of his army life were stored in a trunk for over 50 years. The trunk was rarely opened, and Harry was equally closed when it came to telling war stories. But through this diary we come to understand the 'fellow' that Harry was.

Harry actually kept 3 diaries (that we know of) but this pocketsized version is the only one we've found. The binding has seperated from the cover and the ink is cloudy and smudged. The edges are curled and mold has settled on the tops of every page. Each page of pre-printed lines has a quote or motivational line that was meant to boost morale. Sentiments like "Give me liberty or give me death - Patrick Henry" or "The man-at-arms is the only man. -Ilbsen" or "Courage is that virtue which champions the cause of right. -Cicero". Small slips of paper used as bookmarks are as telling as the content: A handwritten address written in pencil with a shaky hand. A clipping from an army publication that mentions the ship that sank. A $24.27 register receipt from Woolco. 50 Centimes note from Nouvelle Caledonie.

After the war, Harry didn't feel the need to share most of these details with his friends or family. We knew he was on a ship that was torpedoed and sunk and that he served in Guadalcanal. We knew that he was in the army before the Japs attacked Pearl Harbor, and that he'd served until 1944. We knew that alot of good fellows died because that's what Harry told us.

Now, with his diary we can fully appreciate his veteran status. Every veteran of war that has served so faithfully in the face of death deserves our complete gratitude.

and maybe I won't

Sun., Jan. 17, 1943


Yesterday I was evacuated from the 109th Field Hospital on Guadalcanal in the Solomons. I am now on a hospital ship in the harbor. We have been unloading since yesterday. They say I have spostic defunction abdominal pain and cramps. Also my tonsils are giving me trouble again. There will be around 500 patients aboard. Some are pretty badly wounded and needing operations. Some have Malaria, etc. Just heard that this Hosp. ship is the U.S.S. McCawley.


They have been playing some of Bing's records. A few that I have at home. It brings me back to the good ole days.





They are unloading closed trucks (van's) and these cranes handle them as if they were cotton or something.


This afternoon we pulled away from the harbor and away from Guadalcanal. It was a wonderful feeling to see that hell-hole fade in the distance. I did hate to leave behind "Gig", Johnson and the fellows. Maybe I'll see them again and maybe I won't. I hear we're going back to Caledonia. Also heard that the 43rd Division came in (the one that is supposed to relieve the Americal). I feel alot better just getting away from that place.



We have only one destroyer with us that I can see. Sure hope that there's not a retribution on this one (as the one of the Alchiba). I am now sitting on my mattress, which is over one of the hatches. They claim there are between 600 and 700 patients on board.


A Higgins boat just fell off and we have now stopped because they are going to sink it with the 5 inch guns. Have just heard that there are 523 patients on board.





___________________________

This is Harry's War Diary. The January 17th post is one of the longest journal entries so far in the little diary. Harry has finally left Guadalcanal after 64 days, and it's possible he'll return to Caledonia where his ordinance crew was stationed since March 1942.



Harry is saying goodbye to his fellows with a heavy heart. Leaving Guadalcanal, however, is something he's been looking forward to for a very long time. He immediately thinks of the Alchiba and how it was sunk when he was aboard it only a few months prior. But being aboard a vessel has it's perks: listening to Bing Crosby, having a clock and calendar, and of course the rumor mill.



Return to Edge ofthe Wildwood tomorrow for another article from HWD and read Harry's description of a burial at sea.

very considerate of the Capt

Guadalcanal
Jan. 4, 1942

We worked again near the front lines putting 5000 rounds of 150s up near the batteries of 10s guns. Our barracks bags came in today with the rest of our Co. from Caledonia. Had a mail call this evening and I rec'd a letter from "Mom" and one from Madeline "Blum Blum" of Caledonia. Still can't understand why she wrote to me.



Tues., Jan. 5, 1943

We haven't done a thing all day, although it is now 1:32 P.M. Sgt. Snitzler, Joe Meller and Rehrman's crew did however take a few trucks up to the front. The fellows in Wisler's area aren't doing a thing but checking and we're doing all the work. Very considerate of the Capt. Also we're in alot worse place than he is when the bombs start falling. At least they don't whistle over their heads.

Wed., Jan. 6, 1943

This afternoon 7 of us were picked for guards in the depot near the front. So around 1:30 P.M. Bud Robertson, Mangine, Hall, Sarno (General), Harry McCarthy and myself loaded all our things on the truck and went up. Sgt. "Red" Forrest went along also. All of us were cursing up a storm upon arriving in the jungle and unloaded our stuff. We found that Pitcher had packed up a burnt tent by mistake. So we slept in the pouring down rain all night. Of all the dopey things to do. Also we have no watch and we have to guess at the time.



Our first night was quite an experience. All through the night, shells of every description whistled over our heads. Besides that, there was the continuous sound of rifle and machine gun fire. The Japs are sure taking a beating, believe you me.

It gets pretty nerve wracking because we couldn't sleep and Sarno went all to pieces.

It's pitch dark here in the jungle. And why we have to guard something we can't even see is beyond me.

Fri., Jan 7, 1943

We thought we heard someone last night so we were tense and alert throughout the night. We are pulling 2 hrs. at a time. Bud and I are on together. There wasn't quite as much artillery firing and it was deadly quiet for hours at a time. A gun would go off and a shell whistle over your head and you would practically jump out of your pants.

Pitcher brought up a new tent finally at 2 P.M. and we had a hard time getting it up. "Red" has been pretty sick since last night and we all feel pretty bad. This afternoon I took a swim in the the Tenarau river with Bud and Hall. Boy! how that water does stink. It's salt water on the bottom and clear on the top. Here in this damp jungle it smells awful.

I took sick about 3 P.M. so I went down to the first aid station. Their med Colonel gave me 10 grams of quinine and sent me back. I don't think I have Malaria. I believe it's pneumonia, if anything. This damn jungle is a good place to get it, too.

Sat., Jan. 8, 1943

Rec'd another letter today from Blondie (Madeline Hardee). The second one in 3 days. I am feeling much better and I am sure glad of it.

The artillery has moved to new positions closer to the front and the guns have been going off pretty regularly all day.


_______________________________

This is Harry's War Diary. A special series of articles that honors Harry's service during World War II.

No calendar and no watch to tell time, explains the error in dating his entries: Harry skips Thursday but continues the calendar date. Later in his life, Harry was very focused on time and after reading about his experience in the Pacific theater I can understand why it became so important to him.

Harry was not known for sarcastic remarks, so I chose the 'very considerate' comment as the title for this post. His Tennessee way of talking: "believe you me" and "took sick" just makes Harry's thoughts all the more real to me.

Ten days pass until the next entry in his diary: January 17th. Come back tomorrow and read some of the longest notes that he's made so far.

The Chuck-Key Fairy | Upcraft.it

by Andrew Lewis

Beware the shed,
the potting shed,
where the chuck-key fairy lays.

It messes with the electric drill,
and takes the charge away.

It reverses the motor while you work,
and switches off the clutch.

It hides the chuck key,
shreds the bits,
and speaks in double-Dutch.

bunny monster

by House Morbid

It scribbles double-Dutch on notes,
where measurements should be.

Then watches as you whittle out,
a spoon that’s six foot three.

It stops to snap the pencil leads,
and tangles garden hose,
disorganises the spanner draw,
and greases up your clothes.

And so beware the potting shed.

Never DARE to stray!

Without a mug of nice hot tea,
to keep the beast at bay

Purple Monster
by audreynewhouse

The Chuck-Key Fairy Upcraft.it

my birthday is on CATurday

HBD2me

no fancy wrapping paper required

Dog Days and maddogs

According to Almanac the Dog Days of summer are traditionally July 3rd through August 11th. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in close proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather.

Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time "when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies" according to Brady’s Clavis Calendarium, 1813.

"maddogs"

by wildwood

$33.00

40 days of hot, sultry weather and more to come before the change of season.

give or take 1000 years or so

origins unknown

have you seen this hat?

MICHIGAN SERIAL KILLER on AOLnews.com

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches tall, with a muscular build and light-colored hair. Anyone with information is asked to call Flint police at 810-237-6800 or Crime Stoppers at 800-422-JAIL

just another Manic Moon day

It was once considered lucky to view a full moon on a Monday

day after CATurday

i slept right through CATurday...

wake me up in about 6 days

American Hardwoods: Red Oak

From little acorns mighty oaks do grow.





"King of the Forest" is featured in many ancient legends, and represents strength and endurance in many tales. With a life span of 200 years. a massive trunk and crown growth, and the volume in production of acorns, the red oak is rightfully King.







In Nordic folklore, the god of thunder, Thor takes shelter under an oak. It was believed to protect a home from lightning by placing and acorn on a window sill (Scandinavian). In more recent cultures, wearing an acorn could bring good fortune and a long life.



BOOKENDS by wildwood






The wood the oak has been selected over the centuries for it's dense and solid structure: boats, beams, doors, weaponry, and furnishings. Even King Arthur's Round Table was said to have been made from a single slice of oak. Barrels used for storing and aging wine, brandy, whiskey and other spirits are often made from oak that contritributes to the color, taste and aroma of the drink.





Live oaks are classified because of their evergreen foliage, and they are short in height with low hanging branches. Dried Southern live oak lumber has the highest rating in density of all the American Hardwoods.











In 2004, Congress passed legislation that offically name the Oak as America's National Tree.







AUTuMN LEAVES by wildwood




Follow our series of articles on AMERICAN HARDWOODS on Edge of the Wildwood. We examine over 20 species of hardwoods trees: their characteristics, legends, and resource. Our next tree covered in the AH series is Poplar.

ded sqrl

nothing to see here, folks

- move along please -

sorry, I don't know what ever possessed me to post this disgusting site on my pretty blog. Sometimes you just gotta post what you find:)

Storyteller: Triune

My rural surroundings are rich with historical landmarks! This marker tells the story of the city of Triune which endured over 15 military engagements during the Civil War.












Triune is now home to Castle Gwynn and the Tennessee Renaissance Festival!












Read more from our Storyteller series and come back to Edge of the Wildwood for the next article on Bostick Female Academy.

what is a Feed Mill?

a place where we feed good folks...and a few old goats!



Nolensville Feed Mill Amish Market - LocalHarvest



check out this cool article about the Feed Mill, and stop by for a visit so I can make you a sammich!

I'm lucky enough to work at the Feed Mill, and I'll be posting more stories about this unique country store very soon.

Silly but Sensible Irish

Meet Meri of ELBIT CREATIONS! She can stitch, sew, loop and lock just about anything:) You may find yourself happily engaged in Meri's fanatsy of Elves, Goblins and Fairies...like me.

Meri has quite a knack for creating romantic fashion accessories that capture the elfin spirit: Bracelets, anklets, earrings, necklaces and circlets...everything a lady needs for proper adornament!

BLUE AND GREEN CHAINMAILLE CIRCLET

I'm quite fond of merigreenleaf crocheted dolls. With their removable items that give the collector options to display and play, these darlings are adorable. Lots of fun details and fantastic craftmanship.

Crocheted historical renaissance wench art doll - Wynmaeg

I hope you'll click on the images and visit Meri at her shop or blog - there's plenty for a spunky sprite to get into:)

Meri Greenleaf is one of the hot bloggers of BLOGFIRE!!!