Looking Back ...While Going Forward: View from My Lens

Spring Awakening
by Johanna Fields

Just listen within the voice of spring
To each musical sound
What a pleasure it may bring
When old man winter isn’t around

The wind chimes in the sun of the day
is serenaded by our feathered friends
Easter flowers begin to bloom
In different colors - a beautiful blend

The buttercups and daffodils are in a parade
Through the soft breeze of spring
There is the sign of the dogwood trees
Are bursting in colors as the robin sings

A shower of raindrops falling here and there
From the beautiful sky up above
The doors of the chapel are open wide
The bells will ring with the sound of young love

I like to drive the roads of East Tennessee, especially this time of the year. The flowers are blooming, the tree's are budding out, the land is being tilled up and readying for planting, and my view and outlook is re-newed and re-freshed after the drawn out days of winter. I shot a few photo's as I drove around this week and I thought I would use this venue to share them. They really are not valuable or even that note worthy but they caught my eye and came out through my lens.

Pigeon Forge eatery

The Partridge and The Pear

seating area

I had read about this restaurant in Pigeon Forge, it is at the incredible Christmas place area. It is of course all about Christmas. The decor, the names of the food are all related to Christmas. Of course the name of the restaurant its self is taken from 'The Twelve Day's of Christmas', which was a family tradition on Christmas Eve for many years.

I ate in the glass room which was very pretty, and peaceful. I was the only diner in that room. I got tickled because the sweet little waitress, named Christina, said I could just be as loud as I wanted, since I had the room to myself. (I wonder what would have happened if I had just started singing and making a joyful noise)

I tried the Christmas Eve Vegetable soup, and the Boxing Day turkey sandwich. The soup was really close to a thick stew, but the sandwich was very interesting in that it had cornbread dressing, turkey,a light cranberry sauce spread and lettuce, it was really a very nice treat and I would definitely eat it again.

It was not busy at lunch time, yeah for me, but that is one of the reason's I afforded myself the opportunity to go to the crazy madness that is known as the very un-peaceful side of the Smoky Mountains.

Let's be real people it is complete mayhem most of the time, and I can't handle the wild and crazy tourist that descend in a shopping, show going, and feeding frenzy vacation that the city father's just love. Of course they live elsewhere, and take their vacay's on a remote Island away from what use to be a quaint, charming, mountain village. I know...I do not have to go there...and believe me I really do not, if I can help it.

I really was tempted to sit on the Deer!

I prefer Townsend and the Cades Cove area. I have many fond memories of times spent there, tubing, picnicking, bicycling on a tandem bike ~with my Love~Curt,baby Amy on the back and big boy Chris riding his first two-wheeler on the eleven mile loop. Did we really accomplish that feat? You bet your sweet Bibby we did. Of course after that, we then started driving around the loop. We also rented a cabin on the river one year. Curt and myself, as well as Chris and Barbara(who was expecting Hunter-boy), who drove down from Virginia to join us for a week,as well as Amy, who was a camp councilor at Wesley Woods that summer, right up the road from the cabin. Mom and Dad drove up too from Clinton. It was a wonderful experience of family, sharing time together! I am ready to do it again. Now with the grand-babies!


Can you say Petit Fours Amy! The last old time bakery in Knoxville, Chapman highway.

Amy has had a great like of petit fours for as long as I can remember. Whenever she had done something that needed an at' a'girling, or if she needed a lift in spirits, the solution usually entailed Mama driving to the Village Bakery in South Knoxville to get some petit fours. This bakery has been in the same location as long as I can remember, and I am so glad to still be able to walk in and smell the sweetness, and see the evidence of early morning baking in the display case. Yum yum.

a favorite..this is the only one left in Knoxville..located on Chapman Highway

This Kay's is in the same shopping center as the bakery and it is my landmark to know how to turn in to the center. I don't know how many non southerners have ever had a fried bologna sandwich but it is pretty darn tasty when you are hungry and needing some comfort food. Try it on white bread, mayo, lettuce and a piece of curled up fried bologna, it helps to make a cut in the meat before frying.