I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. (J.R.R.Tolkien, The Two Towers)

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force.

Marko Kloos "Why the Gun is Civilization"

Monday, August 21, 2006

Guest River Rally


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Friday, August 18, 2006

For CG

Standing l to r...F. McCoy(principal), B.J. Blevins, J. Price, D. Kern, L. Fleenor, R. Carico, and M. Vance?.
Seated l to r...Louella ? (librarian...can.t remember her last name), R. Hamn, C. Addington, R. Judd, E. Kilgore, ???, and F. Stapleton.

CG said "Gosh we're old".

H. Stallard said "Speak for yourself, I don't get old, I just grow older".

I just noticed that your 4th grade teacher isn't in this group. She's the one who got me in hot water with her innuendoes and just plain lies.

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Thursday, August 17, 2006

Virginia Kentucky Fair and Horse Show

I went to the animal fair,
The birds and the beasts were there,
The big baboon by the light of the moon
Was combing his auburn hair,
The monkey bumped the skunk,
And sat on the elephant's trunk;
The elephant sneezed and fell to his knees,
And that was the end of the monk,
The monk, the monk, the monk.



Normally I wouldn't give a quilt a first look much less a second one...but now when I see one I automatically think "Wonder what Madcapmum would think of this one?"

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Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Can you spot me my first year of teaching in 1968/69



Can you spot The Contrary Goddess in 1968/69?
Click on the picture for a better view.

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Friday, August 11, 2006

New HTML toy


Re: MCM Hippo video

I found it at http://video.google.com/ under the comedy section. Careful if you let the kids search there, some of the vids aren't for family viewing.

On some of them, you can send it to your blog. I did and have been playing around with the HTML code in the template to see if I can switch it out with another vid that I have on file.

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Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Dr. Marshall B. Taylor AKA The Red Fox




Dr. Marshall B. Taylor, a native of Scott county, was perhaps one of the strangest characters ever to live in Wise County.

He was at the same time, preacher, doctor, and U.S. Marshal. He always carried with him on his travels over the mountains a Winchester rifle and a long, brass-tipped telescope, and who became the “Red Fox” in John Fox, Jr’s Book, The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.

As a U.S. Marshal, in his quest for moonshiners he made enemies. One of these was Ira Mullins, a cripple, with whom he had had a law suit in Kentucky.

Having gotten wind that Ira Mullins had put a price of $300 on his head, Dr. Taylor beat him to a killing. On the morning of May 14, 1892 Ira Mullins, his wife, John Chappel, Wilson Mullins, and Greenberry Harris were all slain at the Killing Rock just south of Pound Gap.


Caught, tried, convicted, he was sentenced to be hanged on October 27, 1893.
At the doctors request he was allowed to wear an all white suit handmade by his wife. The gallows hood and bindings for his hands were also of white made by his wife. His final request was that he be allowed to partake of the sacrament and that his body be kept up for 3 days so that he could arise on the 3rd day.

Buried in the cemetery back of his house in Wise his grave remains unmarked to this day.

Condensed from the History of Wise County (Bicentennial edition) by Luther F. Addington.

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Monday, August 07, 2006

Top picks of places to see or things to do in Wise County

In no particular order...

High Knob /Jefferson National Forest

Sight seeing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, and hunting...



High Knob Observation Tower


High Knob Observation Tower, at an elevation of 4,162 feet, offers a spectacular panoramic view of the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia and North Carolina. The octagonal tower, built in a clearing atop the mountain, has a fieldstone base level and two wooden levels circled by observation decks. Mountain ranges in the distance are visible for miles. Two trails are marked with yellow paint at the tower entrance. A 1.3 mile trail leads to High Knob Lake at the Recreation Area. Or for the more adventuresome, a 19.2 mile trail leads Hanging Rock Recreational area on the Mountain Fork Trail.



High Knob Recreational Area


In Wise County, 7 miles S of Norton. 1 dbl./13 single sites, no hookups, waste disposal station, flush toilets, central water hydrants, 300' swimming beach on 4 acre cold water lake.

Benges Rock


Ancient Indian prayer site named after the last warrior of any consequence of the Cherokee Nation



Though their tactics were objectionable, Benge and the Chickamaugas were lashing out against a force that rendered them all but powerless. Their freedoms and possessions were gradually taken away so that didn’t even notice until it was too late. A violent uprising was all they had left after broken treaties and back room deals had stolen their livelihood.

Flag Rock Recreational Area

From the City of Norton, Flag Rock can be seen as a rock outcrop capped with an American Flag, thus the name "Flag Rock". The recreation site sits over 1,000 feet above the City's elevation of 2,350 ft. The site offers twenty-five acres of recreation area with spectacular views, hiking trails, a fishing area, playground equipment and 18 camping slots. Bath houses have hot and cold water. Two large shelters and several smaller ones are available for picnicking. There are over 50 picnic tables with grills. Primitive camping is also available. Tow large shelters are available by reservation only, for a fee of $40.00 per shelter. Camping sites with electricity are $12.00 per site, per night. Camping site without electricity are $10.00 per site, per night.






Guest River Gorge Trail





Red Fox Trail Pound, VA



Powel Valley Overlook







Southwest Virginia Museum Big Stone Gap, VA

Four-story mansion contains exhibits dealing with life in Southwestern Virginia during original coal boom of the 1890's; also Native Americans of the area and early pioneers.


Trail Of the Lonesome Pine Drama/June Tolliver House



Festivales and Rallies

Best Friend Festival - Norton - June
Clinch River Days - St. Paul - June
Coal/Railroad Days - Appalachia - August
Guest River Rally - Coeburn - Labor Day Weekend
Home Craft Days - Big Stone Gap - October
Pound Heritage Days - Pound - May
Wise County Famous Fall Fling - Wise - October

Virginia-Kentucky Fair and Horse Show

Wise County Fairgrounds Wise, VA 24293

Good old fashioned county fair with midway rides, food, live music, horse show, beauty contest, ATV and Motocross races and exhibit center. Event time may vary for each day.

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Thursday, August 03, 2006

Raccoons in the Corn

I've always wanted a coonskin cap. Think I'll get me one...or two.


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Bee Rock Tunnel In Appalachia

Click on title for information.
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