Family in Minnesota

Hi All, sorry that I have not kept you posted on our whereabouts but it was a busy month in Minnesota with all of our family!!!! We arrived in Minnesota on June 1st to cloudy rainy weather! In fact I think that it was one of the wettest June's on record! Oh well, we had a good time anyway! On June 9th my mother turned 86, so to celebrate, my two sisters, Kathleen and Claudia took Mother out to lunch. It did not rain during lunch so we were able to sit outside. Mother was happy to be with some of her children. While there I wanted to get all my brothers (3) and sisters(2) together with Mom. It had been a long time since we had all been together, seems like someone is always missing. Busy lives we all seem to have...... On Saturday, June 19th we did manage to all be together. Mom was in heaven to have all her children together. Left to right... Chip, Claudia, Mike, Mom, Kathleen, Candy and Chris. The weather did cooperate and we managed to have a partly sunny afternoon.

Great grandson Michael (5 1/2) found a toad out in the yard and was showing it to his sister, Abby (4). They were having a good time with all the Aunts and
Uncles they do not see very often. I don't think that the toad was having as much fun as Michael and Abby. Every time that Michael and Abby touched the toad and came in the house, their mother, my daughter Angela, made them wash their hands.... well Michael got very tired of this and thought that instead of him washing his hands with the sanitizer that he would put the sanitizer on the toad.... makes perfect sense to a 5 year old! Anyway, the poor toad did not survive....
Although Mother has 15 Grand children and 4 Great grandchildren not all of them were able to be there. Those that were able to make it had a good time laughing and telling stories of old.
That is all for this report, more to follow later, until then, have a great summer!


Candy and Johnny

June, Tenn and Minn

The photo on the left is of the Cumberland River that flows through downtown Nashville, TN. Looking at the river now, quiet and contained in its bank, you could never believe that such a peaceful river could cause such havoc on a city! However in early June, the river did just that. Nashville had over 13inches of rain in one day and the river banks could not hold all that water so it spread right through Nashville. A major portion of the downtown area was flooded, many of the restaurants along the river and the stadium where the Tennessee Titans play football were completely under water. The Grand Ole Opry Hotel and surrounding areas were also flooded out. The water has receded and the people of Tennessee are getting things back to normal. The downtown area is mostly reopened and the mud cleaned out. The Grand Ole Opry area was still in the process of being dried out and the mud removed. John and I did go to see the Grand Ole Opry Show on Saturday night.
The Opry was once again relocated downtown to the Ryman Auditorium where it had been for nearly 31 years before relocating to the new location.
The Ryman Auditorium was originally built as a religious meeting house that was built in 1892 by a riverboat shipping magnate Capt. Thomas Ryman. The original church benches are still in auditorium today. We were forewarned so that it was not a surprise at how hard the benches would be during the show.

Did any of you realize that the Opry is a live radio show? What began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925 is today a live-entertainment phenomenon. Dedicated to honoring country music's rich history and dynamic present, the Grand Ole Opry showcases a mix of country legends and the contemporary chart-topper who have followed in their footsteps. The Opry, an American icon and Nashville, Tennessee's number one attraction, is world-famous for creating one of a kind entertainment experiences for audiences of all ages. It was interesting to watch the acts and then hear the announcer go into the commercials. The evening that we were there we saw "little" Jimmy Dickens (he has been with the Opry for many years) and Bill Anderson among others.


We left Tennessee and headed north to Minnesota to see family and friends. The baby is the newest addition to the Badger clan, Emery Badger daughter of Keeth and Kristy Badger. She is nine months old and such a cute little thing, and so good....
The next photo is of daughter Angela and granddaughter Abby, age 4, having just turned four in May. Below

that is a photo of Abby with her brother Michael (age 5 1/2) (he tells me all the time about the half year!) They were having a picnic lunch out on the patio. We will be here in Minnesota until the beginning of July and then will be heading west once again.
Until then, hope everyone has a wonderful summer. We will keep you posted on our adventures. Remember that we love to hear from you also....

Love, Candy and Johnny

May 29, 2010 Franklin, Tennessee

We left Manchester, Tennessee on Thursday, May 27 and headed to nearby Nashville. On Friday we decided to do some sightseeing in the area. We found ourselves south of Nashville in the town of Franklin, TN.

Our first stop was the McGavock Confederate Cemetery.

Late on the afternoon of November 30, 1864, part of the last great battle of the Civil War unfolded across a rolling stretch of John McGavock's bluegrass pasture. After the battle that day, the Union Army withdrew into Nashville. Casualties of over 8,000 Union and
Confederate soldiers lay upon the field. In pursuit of the withdrawing Union forces, Confederate General John Bell Hood left a burial detail in Franklin for two days. Confederate soldiers were buried near the Carter House breastworks with the graves arranged in plots according to the states from which the soldiers came. As winter wore on, many of the headboards were fading or were used for firewood by the poor. Seeing the great need, 1866 John McGlovck and his family donated two acres of land adjoining the family graveyard, to be used for a final resting place for the soldiers. This is the nation's largest private Confederate cemetery. The dead were re interred here in order by states. In 1890, the wooden markers, which were inscribed with the names of the men. their companies and regiments, when known were replaced with stone markers. Burial records were preserved by Col. McGavock's wife, the former Carrie Winder. She and her husband maintained the cemetery for the balance of their lives.
There are 1496 Confederate Soldiers buried here.


From the McGavock Cemetery we headed to the Arrington Vineyards to taste a little wine. Arrington was founded in 2005 by country music artist Kix Brooks ( of Brooks & Dunn).
They currently offer 14 different varieties of award winning wine. We found that many of their wines come from grapes grown in California, although they do grow some grapes here in
Tennessee. The wine made from these grapes are for a sweet desert wine. The wine we tasted was pretty good and made for an enjoyable afternoon. During the weekends the host a very popular "Music in the Vines".

From the winery we headed to the Stones River National Battlefield. See more about that stop below.

Candy and Johnny

Stones River Battlefield

The Stones River National Battlefield is located in Murfreesboro, TN.

A fierce battle took place here between December 31, 1862 and January 2, 1863. More than 81,000 soldiers grappled in the fields and cedar glades along Stone's River, and 23,000 became casualties in one of the bloodiest battles fought in the western theater. Bragg's Confederates withdrew after the battle, allowing Rosecrans and the Union Army to control Middle Tennessee. The battle set the stage for the Union advance to Chattanooga. With the battlefield left in the hands of the Federal army, engineers constructed Fortress Rosecrans, a large earthen supply depot and one of the most extensive field fortifications in Tennessee. Stone's River has been ranked among the most endangered battlefield sites in the nation. The scene today differs little from that of 1862. The railroad and turnpike are still in the same place, and the fields are still planted between cedar thickest.


Stone's River National Battlefield encompasses only a small part of the original battlefield. The major points of interest are on a self guided auto tour. Each stop is identified by a numbered marker. Short trails and exhibits explain the events at each site. In the visitors center they have an excellent exhibit along with a short video about the battlefield,

Another very interesting place to visit here in Tennessee.

Love to all,

Candy and Johnny

Tennessee

After our stop South Carolina we headed to Tennessee, Our first stop was in Townsend, TN at the Big Meadow Camp Ground. In the heart of the Smokey Mountains. The campground is along a peaceful little river that we walk along in the mornings. The walk is so beautiful. Along the way we cross over the swinging bridge. It was a restful two days.


On Tuesday, May 25, we headed to Manchester, TN, thin the heartland of Tennessee. There have been a few scattered rain showers around during the day, however all in all the weather is very nice!

On Wednesday we went out to see the local sights.... we began with the Jack Daniel's Old Time Distillery. The distillery, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is the oldest registered distillery in the nation. It was
established by Jasper "Jack" Daniel in 1866 as part of the Reconstruction era's rebuilding of battered middle Tennessee. The distillery is internationally known for its charcoal mellowing process, a traditional leaching process that "was handed down by slaves who made whiskey in the hills," according to a 1972 article in the "Tennessee Historical Quarterly. " In the hills above the town, you will see many metal-clad warehouses, where the distilled whiskey is stored while it ages. Our tour guide, Chris showed us first hand the special process Mr. Jack Daniel perfected back in 1866. It is here where they make every drop of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. The tour lasted one hour and was very interesting! Although they make Jack Daniel's in Moore County, it can not be sold in the County as it is considered a "dry" County in Tennessee. Even after taking the tour they can not even offer a tasting.... very disappointing . Oh well.....

From Jack Daniel's Distillery we headed over to Cascade Hollow, the home of the George Dickel Distillery. For as large as the Jack Daniel's distillery is George Dickel is that small. Jack Daniel's has over 500 employees and George Dickel only has 28 employees. George Dickel is also considered a Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey. George Dickel spells the whisky with out the "e". He said that if it was good enough for scotch whisky, it was good enough for him! Once again the distillery is located in a "dry" county so no tasting!!!

Although both Jack Daniel's and George Dickel are both Tennessee sour mash, there are small differences in the way they are made If you are ever in the area I strongly suggest you tour both distillery's, you won't be disappointed.
There are several more photos in the blog below...

Tomorrow we are off to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opre!!! More on that later,.. until then.

Candy and Johnny

Distillery's in Tennessee

Here are some more photos from our tours, the top two are from Jack Daniel's and the bottom two are from George Dickel.

Cowpens National Park

Friday,May 21, 2010, John was off to Freightliner School for a second day so I decided to do some sight seeing in the area of Gaffney, South Carolina. The weather was overcast with the threat of rain, but off I headed to see the Cowpens National Battlefield.

Opened to the public in 1978, Cowpens National Battlefield encompasses 843 acres and protects the site of a crucial American victory over the British in 1781. This Revolutionary War site is located 3 miles east of Chessnee, South Carolina on Highway 11 - the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway.


On a cold morning, January 17, 1781, American General Daniel Morgan led his army of tough Continentals and backwoods militia to a brilliant victory over Banastre Tarleton's large force of British regulars. When he marched his army onto this field the previous afternoon, Morgan was trying to elude a British trap. That morning, as his men cooked breakfast in camp on Thicketty Creek, scouts brought news that Tarleton had crossed the Pacolet River, 12 miles south, and was coming fast. Morgan broke camp and ordered his soldiers down the road. Their destination: the Cow Pens, a frontier pasturing ground on the road to a ford across the Broad River six miles to the northwest.

Tarelton and his British Legion were known for their brutality in cutting down unarmed or fleeing soldiers. Tarelton himself was widely hated in South Carolina after his troops butchered Col. Abraham Buford's surrendered Continentals at Waxhaws in May 1780.

General Daniel Morgan knew that Tarleton's force outnumbered his own. To even the odds, he sent for militia units from South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. These were men of great courage and experience, but that they were no match for British battle tactics. The militia's strength lay in their prowess with their rifle, a weapon of far greater range and, in their hands, deadlier and more accurate then the British muskets.

The battle was over in less than an hour. British losses were staggering: 110 killed, 229 wounded, and 600 captured or missing. Also captured with the British were a number of slaves. Morgan's losses were 24 killed and 104 wounded.


The movie The Patriot with Mel Gibson was based on this battle of the Revolutionary War.

It was a very interesting place to visit and one more National Park that I can add to the list of places that I have been to.


Off to Townsend, Tenn. for a few days and then working our way to Minnesota for the month of June.

That is all for now.

On the road..... Candy and Johnny