Liberty!

 

 

Each July for the last 35 years, the Friends of Sycamore Shoals have entertained audiences and kept history alive with the performance of "Liberty!: The Saga of Sycamore Shoals." From their website: "Tennessee's official outdoor drama is presented against the backdrop of Fort Watauga. See the Revolution as told by the Overmountain Men: colonists who defied British law and settled on Cherokee lands. These settlers formed an independent government, made treaties with the Cherokee, defended their homes, and fought a British army at the epic battle of King's Mountain." Local wedding photographer Michael Kaal and I set out to capture the event, taking 'behind the scenes' photos as well as many of the performance itself. Watch the video above to see our work. I was struck by the dedication and professionalism of the volunteer cast and crew. Their passion for our region's history and for liberty is infectious. It was great to see so many young people take part in the production of this kind.  Thanks to everyone involved!

 

amusements

The finest amusements are the most pointless ones.

--Jacques Chardonne (1884-1968) French writer--

Fun at the Appalachian Fair in Gray, TN.

sorrow and delight

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
--Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) Lebanese American writer and philosopher

I'm really glad that I have lots and lots of photos of Duke to remind me of all the good times and adventures we had. And rather than bore you with a new photo of Duke each day for the next several months, I thought I'd share some of my favorites today. He was a beautiful, smart, fun dog, and a wonderful companion. My thanks to everyone who sent emails or left comments giving me words of encouragement and support. I'm also grateful to my friend Lee, who also put together a slideshow which you can see here.

Carter Mansion

Maybe not a mansion by today's standards...but when it was built by John Carter and his son, Landon between 1775 and 1780, this was the only frame house in what would become the State of Tennessee. The house was built near the Watauga River on 640 acres bought from the Cherokee Indians. Eventually Carter County would be named in honor of Landon and the county seat of Elizabethton named in honor of Landon's wife, Elizabeth. The house today is in incredible shape with its original over-mantle paintings and detailed hand carvings and decorations throughout the home. It's open for tours during the summer months and on special occasions throughout the year. Click Here to visit the website. Pictured above is interpreter Chad Bogart posing in the snow. Below are some photos taken yesterday afternoon and evening at "Christmas at the Carter Mansion." The candlelit tour of the house featured costumed interpreters, Christmas music, crafts and refreshments. I loved the opportunity to talk with the volunteers, to hear their stories, and to take photos by candlelight!

Directions: The Carter Mansion is located on the Broad Street Extension, near the downtown area of Elizabethton, TN. Click here for a map.

Revealing Character

Sports do not build character. They reveal it.
--Heywood Broun (1888-1939) American Journalist

From the emails and comments I receive, I know that most tune in to see nature photos - and that's usually what I have to offer. But I hope you'll indulge my sharing some more shots from the NAIA National Track and Field Championships at ETSU. It really is a wonderful thing that athletes from all over the country come to Johnson City for this event. I spent all afternoon out there taking photos -- and in the slideshow above are some that I think reveal the competition, the contestants and their character.

[click any photo above to see larger images]

Old Christmas at Fort Watauga

At Sycamore Shoals this weekend there is a reenactment of "Old Christmas" at Fort Watauga. In addition reenacting old Christmas traditions, there are crafts and demonstrations of military skirmishes and drills. Click here for today's schedule. To purchase prints of any of the photos you see, go to http://www.markwpeacock.com/ (clicking on "gallery" and then "area events")

Last Day of the Fair

Begun in 1926, the Appalachian Fair in Gray, TN is one of the most popular summer events in the Tri-Cities.