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The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed from U.S. 441 northward to Soco Gap due to the Stony Ridge fire near Cherokee.
The Laurel Falls fire that has burned nearly 270 acres since early this week appears to be abating.
Laurel Falls fire abating; part of Blue Ridge Parkway closed
Denese
Tags: fires, Great Smoky Mountains, News, road closures/delays, travel info
April Fog
Redbuds
Snow!
Snow on the Pawpaw Blooms
Dogwoods
Large Flowered Trillium
Mayapples in the Rain
Baby Carolina Wrens
Wild Miniature Irises
Mulberry Blooms
Fire Pinks
Flame Azaleas
Laurel Buds
Wild Columbine
Stonecrop
Giant Ferns
Mayapple Blooming
Ginseng
Goldenseal
Yellow Trilliums
Baby Pawpaws
My Two Blooms
Blessings,,
Denese
Tags: nature, photos, wildflowers
Gratitude Notebooking Pages – set of 27 notebooking pages, each page includes a scripture relating to gratitude. Free this week from CurrClick.
The Attitude of Gratitude Lapbook – from Homeschool Helper, for grades 1-6.
Gratitude Journals – “Instead of having kids write "about" their day or weekend, have them write 5 things that they were grateful for during that time.” From Teachers.Net, lower grades.
How to Teach Small Children Gratitude with Art – make a a “gratitude” art display.
Teaching Children to be Grateful – a good article for parents with ideas on teaching your children gratitude.
Blessings,
Denese
Tags: children, education freebies, virtues
According to Tennessee Radio Network News, the Cobbly Nob fire is out.
Firefighters are still battling the Laurel Falls fire as of yesterday, no new updates today.
Fire keeps Park’s popular trail closed: Firefighters battle Laurel Falls blaze
Rain and storms are still forecast for the Smokies on through the first of next week.
Smoky Mountains Weather Forecast
Safe traveling,
Denese
Tags: fires, Great Smoky Mountains, News, travel info, weather
There are all kinds of free and low-cost events happenin’ this weekend in our corner of East Tennessee.
Friday May 1
Smoky Mountain Musical Homecoming – featuring The Country Tennesseans, Smoky Mountain Grass and Mountain Gap
Friday May 1 – Sunday May 3
Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival and Old Timers Day – bluegrass music, arts and crafts, BBQ, Appalachian skills, antique cars and tractors, wildflower hikes and the beauty of the Smokies in the springtime.
New this year:
For full details, please visit the Townsend Visitor’s Center website.
Saturday May 2
Spring Heritage Festival – skill and trade demonstrations, storytelling, music, crafts, games and more in an historic setting.
Saturday May 2
Old Timer’s Day in Cades Cove – bluegrass, storytelling and reminiscing from former Cades Cove residents, their descendents, and others from surrounding areas. Visitor’s welcome, pack a lunch and bring a chair. Old Timers Day is held the first Saturday in May and last Saturday in September.
Blessings,
Denese
Tags: Great Smoky Mountains, local events and activities, Townsend
Here is the latest word on the fires in and around the Smoky Mountains.
Crews working to contain Laurel Falls wildfire in Smokies
It’s supposed to rain, and it looks like it wants to, but we haven’t had any so far.
Stay tuned for updates.
Denese
Tags: fires, Great Smoky Mountains, News
The other I day I mentioned that I had been bleaching the logs in our add-on. Penny asked me why I was bleaching the logs.
Was anyone else wondering why?
I guess you wouldn’t know why logs are bleached, unless you’re involved in building log homes – so I’ll tell you all why it’s done.
When logs have set for any length of time, they start to discolor or “weather”. If they’re stacked or under plastic, they will mold. The logs will also get moldy after they’re put up, if the roof doesn’t get put on right away and it rains a lot.
So, the logs are bleached and the weathering and mold disappears. Sometimes they’re bleached several times, depending on how bad the discoloration is.
We had to do some dry scrubbing first.
The bleach is diluted half and half in a pressure sprayer (a spray bottle will work, also), and there’s a certain way to do it – you start at the bottom and work up. If you work from the top down, you’ll have drip marks.
It’s best to bleach the logs before the roof goes on, because of the fumes. One feller we know bleached a cabin after the roof was on – and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia! Even though our roof wasn’t on and the windows not in, I still put a fan out there while I was bleaching. (If you have to work inside; I would open every window and door in the house, set up some fans and work on small sections at a time.)
Our logs have been setting a while and I bleached them three times. There are a few dark places, still yet, but Lacy says the sander will take those out.
Looks a lot better, don’t ya think? 
Note: Bleach can also be used on discolored and stained decks, driveways, outdoor furniture, siding, fences, etc.
Now you know what to do with discolored wood.
Blessings,
Denese
Photo credit: First five photos by Abby D.
Tags: holler livin', our cabin
As of this afternoon, firefighters were battling three wildfires in or near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and monitoring a controlled burn that is still smoldering.
Crews battling three wildfires in or near Great Smoky Mountains
National Park responds to four fires
Some hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains have been closed due to the wildfires.
More Hiking Trails Closed due to Wildfire activity in Great Smoky Mountains national park
Rain is in the forecast for the rest of the week, hopefully it will help.
I’ll have another update on the wildfire situation tomorrow.
Stay safe,
Denese
Tags: Great Smoky Mountains, News
Don Quixote -an hour long audio adaptation Don Quixote’s humorous and absurd adventures, originally broadcast on NBC University Theater in 1950. From Homeschool Radio Shows, available all week.
Don Quixote Volume 1 – audio translation of Don Quixote, volume 1, from Librivox.
Don Quixote Volume 2 – audio translation of Don Quixote, volume 2, from Librivox.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes –free e-book from Project Gutenburg.
Stories of Don Quixote Written Anew for Children by James Baldwin – A retelling for ages 8-12 of the most interesting parts of Cervantes’ great novel about Don Quixote. For ages 8-12, from Google Books.
An Introduction to Don Quixote – curriculum unit for 7th grade Spanish I and 8th grade Spanish II, from Yale New Haven Teacher’s Institute. HT to Mr. Donn.
Exploring Don Quixote: The Enduring Quest – A multi-lesson unit on Don Quixote for grades 8-12, from ArtsEdge.
Don Quixote Quiz – from the Don Quixote Virtual Museum.
Don Quixote Images –public domain pictures and illustrations of Don Quixote.
Don Quixote Drawings –printable coloring pages of characters from the novel “Don Quixote”.
The Don Quixote Online Exhibit – translations and illustrations of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s novel “Don Quixote de la Mancha”.
Don Quixote Route – online tour of the route of Don Quixote.
Happy learning,
Denese
Tags: classic literature, education freebies, free audio, free e-books
Attention Smoky Mountains vacationers:
There is a fire burning on Cobbly Nob, a resort community of mostly vacation cabins, east of Gatlinburg. According to news reports, approximately 30 acres and 3 structures have burned. The area was evacuated overnight and the Red Cross has set up a shelter for those affected.
Wildfire forces Cobbly Nob evacuations
Cobbly Nob Fire Update: Red Cross opens shelter
You might want to call ahead if you have reservations there.
Safe traveling,
Denese
Tags: Great Smoky Mountains, News
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Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalms 127:3
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