The Other Falls /  by Dave Hileman

This shot is back at Frozen Head State Park for the second waterfall we hiked to that beautiful spring day. This one, Emory Gap Falls, was appropriately found at the end of Emory Gap Trail. It was a bit of a disappointment. It was touted at twice the size of the first falls, and it was if the whole cascade was included but the first drop was similar with less water than Debord Falls and to even reach it you had to scramble up a rock face that seemed to have no path. The hike was pretty but the falls less than advertised. Still, I would go again on another day with more water flowing over the rock face, well, even better.

Flag Day /  by Dave Hileman

Oh, say can you see,
By the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
Thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there.
O, say, does that
Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave?

Portrait Project #30 & 31 /  by Dave Hileman

I am a bit embarrassed with this couple because I have forgotten their names. I really need to make notes! But what I do recall is that she lives in Memphis and was in Knoxville for a film project and on the way back to western Tennessee they stopped at the Cumberland Mountain State Park where Jill and I were on a hike around a lake. We were standing on a large flat rock just looking at the scenery and they arrived. We chatted a bit, learned some of their story and they posed for a quick photo. I will do better on the names and stories. Or at least try to do better.

Driving the Tennessee Cumberland Plateau /  by Dave Hileman

Getting off the interstate in this region of the country is rewarding for the scenery and the old Americana you will discover. This sign is from the Pure Oil and Gas Company that operated from 1895 originating in Butler Pennsylvania. They began gas stations in the late 1920’s and soon used the motto “Be Sure With Pure.” Operations ended in about 1960 when they were bought out and most stations closed or converted to Union 76. So this sign, Ricks was not open, would be at least 60 years old.

Frozen Head State Park /  by Dave Hileman

About an hour drive Northwest of Knoxville, Tennessee, in the Cumberland Mountains. is Frozen Head State Park. It is named for the dew that often freezes across the peaks, several over 3000 feet, in the region. The park is rustic and the forest full of lush growth and streams. Jill and I had a lovely picnic and then hiked a trail to two falls, this is the first, Debord Falls on the Panther Branch Trail. It was a nice day, warm but not hot and still lots of wildflowers along the trail. This is but one of lots of options at the park.

Garden Week Six - Children's Garden at Winterthur /  by Dave Hileman

What a delightful place this must be for young children or for old men, ahem, who still think a bit like a child. The Children's Garden is full of secret little spaces, toadstools to sit on, a nest to climb in, swings, and bridges. But the centerpiece is a wonderful, imaginative stone cottage with all sorts of play activities, tiny nooks, gnome-sized doors, and high thrones to rule from. All surrounded by enough plants to make the "hundred acre wood" come alive in the minds of A. A. Milne's generations of readers. If you have a child of elementary age, this is a place where real imagination is unfettered. And not a mouse in sight.

May I pour?

Garden Week Five - Not Planned! /  by Dave Hileman

Actually the one that was planned will occur tomorrow. I got home after a long slog of a drive very tired and by the time I got to this project thunderstorms started popping up all around - So enjoy these four flowers from the spectacular gardens.

Garden Week Four - The Proposal /  by Dave Hileman

At the top of the stairs in the photo I shared yesterday leading from the pool, you turn right, across a portion of the house and then down a bit to a balcony overlooking small ponds, water courses, ferns and flowers under a canopy of huge trees - just a beautiful spot of complete serenity. We stopped here and Jill said, “Isn’t this just beautiful?” Well, that was my cue for in my camera bag -clutched all day tightly to my side, was an engagement ring. I took the ring case from the bag and while on my knee asked this amazing woman if she would marry me. She said yes and we both shared a few tears of joy over what God has done in our lives. After a few minutes I went to the front entrance and asked one of the staff to come and take a photo. She was happy to do so. We found ourselves surrounded by flowers and beauty but all I could see was Jill. We celebrated at a lovely restaurant in Kennett Square, named Portobello. After our scrumptious meal, a desert arrived from Carin and Evan (Jill’s daughter and son-in-law) as a delicious surprise. Wedding plans are well underway for a small wedding to take place in Knoxville, Tennessee in early August.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8 NLT

A partial view from “our” balcony

Garden Week Three - The House /  by Dave Hileman

Let me start with this excerpt from the web site:

Winterthur Museum is filled with historic and decorative objects collected and arranged according to the aesthetic principles of its visionary, Henry Francis du Pont. A passionate collector throughout his life, he transformed his family home into a showplace for objects made and used for centuries, then opened it as a museum to share America’s diverse stories with the public. The collection of more than 90,000 objects includes items ranging from the streamlined, functional furniture produced by the Shakers to opulent masterworks of 18th-century craftsmanship.

The rooms we were able to visit on the 4th and 5th floors of the house were just beautiful and the objects were exquisite. Flowers adorned every room with artful displays and vases of cut flowers. There are several tours you can take that include more of the museum/ home than we saw on our first visit but with your admission comes a tour of two floors either five and six or five and four. The guides were well informed and anxious to answer our questions about the objects. This 175 room home turned museum is cleverly built to obscure the home’s enormous size, 9 floors and nearly 100,000 square feet but the placement of the trees and gardens are such that the most imposing aspect is the beautiful partial views you have framed by trees, lawn and gardens. Remarkable.

Front of the house - the entryway is out of the photo well to the left.

A glimpse of the house from the pool. You would go up about 40 steps to reach the “back” door. It leads to my favorite spot, be sure and tune in tomorrow for that view!

This is all authentic colonial era furnishings, fabrics, and even the walls and fireplaces were saved from old homes originally located in one of the first 13 states.

Music room

Garden Week Two - The Quarry (4 photos) /  by Dave Hileman

Winterthur is a large property of more than a thousand acres. There are vast fields, woodlands, gardens, ponds, and paths to wander and as you do you discover small gems like the quarry. Here the old rock of the quarry walls seep water into the bottom where they mingle with two streams. The ledges create spots for moss, ferns, small shrubs, and flowering trees. A stone bridge crosses the edge of the quarry and the whole area is a tiny spot among the forests and fields. It is not much bigger than the main house dinning room. Yet what a magical spot. Ringed with trees and richly blanketed in a profusion of colors that bloom in succession across the seasons. You could sit on the rocks by the flowers and see more and more as you allowed your eyes to pick out details and sense the sweet fragrance mingling in the air. No photo captures the experience of being there.

Garden Week - One /  by Dave Hileman

Welcome to Two Lane Touring’s first ever Garden Week. We are focused (another brilliant pun at no additional charge) on the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library located Winterthur, DE, a bit north of Wilmington, Delaware. This area is a very pretty part of the country. Winterthur has a house you can tour consisting of 175 rooms, a smaller cottage of about 55 - much of that house is a gift shop, miles of hiking and walking trails in a stunning natural setting. Simply one of the more beautiful places you can ever visit. The lilacs were found in two areas, one was nearly finished blooming then on our second time at the gardens, (you cannot see all of this is a day, or two) we came across a section full of lilacs with glorious, abundant blooms. This is among Jill’s favorite flowers and she was delighted to have found so many and enjoyed being surrounded by these flowering gems.

Cades Cove /  by Dave Hileman

Cades Cove is found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is a loop road of about 11 miles that is often bumper to bumper with traffic. You can spot bear, deer, turkey and more as well as several original buildings, so lots to see. In mid-winter the crowds are fewer and the scenery just as pretty. Especially on this warm winter day.

Playing for Change (or Bills!) /  by Dave Hileman

This street musician was found outside the Farmers Market in Lancaster, PA. He not only kept up a tune on his fiddle, but had a percussion section operated with his feet and he sang. Pretty adapt at all of them, fun to listen to him.

Portrait Project #29 /  by Dave Hileman

This is Alan. He was at the turn-around point on his Sunday ride into the Virginia countryside. I caught up to him in the parking lot of an art gallery in Sperryville, VA. His Harley, that he said was nothing special, was gleaming in the afternoon sun. Pleasant fellow, appreciate his kindness allowing me to take his photo.