In Flanders Fields

Dudeboy "visits" the fields of Flanders and WWI, and pays tribute to Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae by reciting his poem In Flanders Fields. Be sure to click the full-screen button to the left of the Vimeo logo to enlarge the video.

In Flanders Fields from TO Fife on Vimeo.

Great Smoky Mountains

This past weekend, Dudeboy and I joined Uncle Vic on a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. Ostensibly our trip was to give support to our good friend Keith who was giving a talk entitled Arches Along the Way: A Presentation of Arches and Natural Bridges Along Tennessee's Trails at the 22nd annual Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. However, we were able to find time to stretch our legs a few times, and Dudeboy somehow talked me into visiting the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge (I have to admit, it was a pretty neat museum).

Cataract Falls located just behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center

Along the way . . .

Porters Creek . . .

The best I can remember, these steps lead to the old Booger Whaley place

Laurel Falls . . .

Cades Cove . . .

Cantilever barn at the Tipton place . . .

This one should be obvious . . .

Farbs

This past weekend, Dudeboy and I rang in the new year with the 9th Kentucky Infantry (Union) as part of a living history program commemorating the 149th anniversary of the battle of Stones River at the Stones River National Battlefield. Our ancestor Joel "Top" Simmons was a member of the 9th Kentucky.

We got to sleep in this Sibley tent, which measures 18' in diameter and 12' high. Fifteen men could sleep comfortably . . . 20 uncomfortably. I think the most we had was six . . . very comfortably.