Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery

Wow! So hard to believe it's mid-October already. The picture at left is from last fall (10-8-10). There is a bit more color now all around! The fall colors are pre-peak at this time, but with the rain, it might knock off some of the foliage. However, there should still be plenty of color for the next few weeks - but always dependent on the wind and other weather. You can get a sneak peak through the Sunset Marina webcam at Dale Hollow Lake. Nature lovers, I wanted to share a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the great outdoors. Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery on Lake Cumberland offers a wide variety of programs throughout the year. They still have a few sessions this year. Check out their event calendar at this link. Very informative and great for families and educators! You can also access thier webcam through their site - www.fws.gov/wolfcreek. Happy Autumn! Get out and enjoy nature today!

Summer's Bounty 2011

I recently had an experience that I can’t help but share. Our friend, Ilaeka Villa of Grandview Mountain Cottages in Grandview, TN, invited us over for a delightful experience. Ilaeka and her dad (Papa Phil) delight in growing their own fresh produce and have a beautiful organic flower and vegetable garden on their property. It was time for blueberry picking! Terry, Grant, Blake and I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon picking the delicious and beautiful fruit. Family time is vital and it is important to share these experiences with our children. They learn so much about where their food comes from and the importance of choosing quality fruits and vegetables. You can’t beat fresh produce that is truly fresh. When you pick it yourself, you know exactly where it came from and when it was picked. You don’t loose quality due to premature picking and shipping for miles (or at least if you have miles to drive – you are in charge and can care for it more tenderly). Don’t wait until fall to get out and visit the region to enjoy the fall produce. Take the time now to find a local farm stand or other such source of the freshest produce you can find on the Cumberland Plateau. Sweet corn is ready and other produce is in abundance as well – homegrown tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, green beans, squash, cucumbers, and more!

Guests at the cottages are often fortunate to be able to share in the bounty with the bed and breakfast option or through their farmhouse catering service. Ilaeka and Papa Phil also delight in preserving their produce and even offer some of it for sale to guests through their “Porch Store”. Why not give them a call today and make plans to spend the night? You might just get a chance to visit the garden as well. 423-365-4412 or visit them on the web at www.grandviewmountaincottages.com. Tell them that “Annie” sent you!

Spring is HERE!

Spring! Even the word sounds invigorating. After the winter of 2010-11, I expect everyone is thrilled to see the new foliage burst forth. The native Redbud trees have been so vibrant and the dogwoods are still very beautiful. It is such a feast for the eyes as the hills wake up from their winter nap! HIS Majesty gloriously shines all around us. The Burckhard family loves to hike and we couldn’t wait for spring. We relish our opportunities to get out and explore the vast “wilderness” all around us. Our winter hikes are especially enjoyable. We pack a picnic lunch and sometimes stop at the little grocery stores near the parks for a few extras then head out on our explorations. Sometimes we see new plants that we haven’t seen before or in a while. Sometimes we spot a new bird or other animal. Other times we uncover recent history of the area. Often, we bring friends and/or family along to share our day. Anyway it goes; we count our blessings and enjoy God’s creations – including each other. There are many great hikes in the area. Fall Creek Falls State Park, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Burgess Falls State Natural Area, and the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area are just a few over our family favorites, plus the drives to these locations are also superb. Make plans now to get out and about to enjoy the season! Happy Trails! For more great stories on hikes in and around the areas, visit http://www.VisitTheCumberlandPlateau.com and click on the area that interests you most (also check the archived copies of the guides) and take a look at the guide to the area. Not all have stories of our hikes, but several do.