Girl Power

Sometimes, you just have to teach your girls how to use power tools.

Chloe using the power sander

Essie's turn

And other times, a more primitive tool gets the job done.

Happy Easter

AJ gets his first real tie

Introducing: Opal

Back in the beginning of February, we had to put our beloved Springer Spaniel Caesar to sleep.  He was over 12 years old and age had caught up with him.  He came to us as a fat little puppy only a few months old but time had caught up with him and his body was giving out.  Last week, a friend who knew we had lost Caesar tagged me in a post of Facebook about a bulldog that was found running the streets of Alabama. The dog was rescued by a good Samaritan who got her hooked up with Dames for Danes, an organization that rescues Great Danes, but also advocates for other dogs.  Dames is located in Tennessee and since we were driving home from North Carolina, through Tennessee, I of course thought it was a sign from the Heavens that this was to be our next dog.  Matt took a little more convincing but he knew I have always wanted a bulldog.  We worked out the details and met up with one of Dames' volunteers who brought her to Knoxville.  

Our first meeting

We are not sure of Opal's story, but the Vet believes she is 3 years old and has definitely had a few litters of puppies.  We're guessing she was used as a breeder dog. She is generally in good health though (a rarity among bulldogs) and has a super sweet temperament.

She quickly made herself at home with the kids

Opal loves to ride in the car and watch traffic.

She was worn out after such a big day!

A bulldog's temperament is much different than a Springer's-that's for sure!

This is what Opal does a lot...sleep.

She also snores like a trucker, which is usually endearing but had made television viewing a lot more difficult.

She also tends to get her way.  The bulldog is definitely a correctly named breed but she's so cute that it's hard to deny her what she wants. 

Spring Break Trip Day Three: Clingman's Dome

After spending Tuesday night in Cherokee, North Carolina, we headed into the Great Smoky Mountains on our way back home to Kentucky.

 

Stopping along the drive for beautiful scenery and a quick family picture

Clingman's Dome is the highest point in the Smokies - 6,643 feet.

It was still pretty chilly up on the mountain, as seen in the leftover snow piles.  April 1st is the first day the road to Clingman's Dome is open.

View along the way up to the top

Lookout tower at the top of Clingman's Dome

Family photo from the lookout tower

One last pile of rocks to climb before heading home!

Spring Break Trip Day Two: DuPont Forest

On Day Two of our Spring Break trip to North Carolina, we headed down to the DuPont Forest to view some of the the spectacular waterfalls there.  It could not have been a more beautiful day.

Hooker Falls

This waterfall was featured in an exciting scene of Last of the Mohicans where a canoe goes over the falls.

Heading up the stream to see some more waterfalls

Triple Falls

This falls is the scene of one of the great lines from Last of the Mohicans;

Heyward:  "There's a war going on in the east.  How is it you are going west?"

Hawkeye: "Well, you face north, and then real sudden-like turn left."

Climbing higher up the falls

  

Essie

Chloe

High Falls

This scene from Last of the Mohicans was filmed along the left side of High Falls

Chloe enjoying the spray

AJ attempts a dam

AJ shows off his balancing skills with a stick on his head.

Heading back across the river to the van

On our way from DuPont Forest over to Cherokee, we stopped beside the road to view Looking Glass Waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest.

Essie