Author Archives: smithposts

Closing out November

Posted on December 2, 2022 by smithposts

A few photos and notes to finish out November, December has arrived so very quickly. We celebrated our usual Thanksgiving, John in Huntsville with his family, Leslie’s husband, Mike with his family here in Knoxville and the three sisters, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aussie, Baking, Christmas, Family, Food, Katie, Life, PetLife, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Late November

Posted on November 20, 2022 by smithposts

As these late November mornings begin to unfold, a soft, blue light filters through the windows. The light, grey in hue, reflects against the darkness and barely luminates plants, books and other objects scattered about. Slowly daylight fills the room … Continue reading →

Posted in About Last Week, Fall, Life, PetLife, Regional Travel, RVing, Thoughts, Uncategorized, VanLife, Walking, Winter | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Norris Dam State Park-River Bluff Hike

Posted on November 14, 2022 by smithposts

The outside temperature had just reached 36°F when we climbed out of our cozy, warm car and began hiking. Brrrrrr! We were in Norris Dam State Park to take Katie on a hike, on the TVA River Bluff Trail. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Fall, Hiking, Outside, PetLife, Tennessee State Parks, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

November and Running

Posted on November 13, 2022 by smithposts

“There’s nothing like the sun as the year dies,Kind as can be, this world being made so,To stones and men and birds and beasts and flies,To all things that it touches except snow,Whether on mountainside or street of town.The south … Continue reading →

Posted in Fall, Knoxville, Life, Outside, Running, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Walking, Weekend | 2 Comments

A Good Week for Democracy

Posted on November 12, 2022 by smithposts

Last Wednesday, I arrived at the campground feeling exhausted and unwell. I was dismayed by the size of the campground and the number of oversized RVs. I felt like we had moved very far from the solitude of backpacking, and … Continue reading →

Posted in About Last Week, Alabama State Parks, Democracy, Life, Outside, RVing, Thoughts, Uncategorized, VanLife | 1 Comment

Tuesday Hiking-Snow Pocket Wilderness

Posted on November 8, 2022 by smithposts

Way back in early October, the 11th to be exact, we took a hike in the beautiful 2,259-acre Snow Pocket Wilderness. Located in Rhea County, Tennessee, this wilderness area was once logged and mined. The State of Tennessee now owns … Continue reading →

Posted in Fall, Hiking, Injury, Outside, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Grayson Highlands, VA -Vanlife #2

Posted on October 23, 2022 by smithposts

VanLife trip #2 (October 3-6) was a little more relaxed and certainly more enjoyable than the first trip. Our destination was Grayson Highlands State Park in western Virginia, a drive that was twice as long as trip #1 and included … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Outside, PetLife, RVing, Travel, Uncategorized, VA State Parks, VanLife | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Fall Colours Tour and the Opera

Posted on October 21, 2022 by smithposts

Life is happening faster than my posting can keep up. I have Vanlife #2 and a nice fall hike write-up waiting for a distracted me to finish. But this week, as I rehab my knee from a fall on the … Continue reading →

Posted in About Last Week, Fall, Family, Friends, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Life, Opera, Outside, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Hiking Middle Prong and Running

Posted on October 12, 2022 by smithposts

The house seems to be in a state of flux and clutter as we move from one camping trip to another, all the while executing our day to day lives. Fall is here. The hot, steamy, drowsy days of summer … Continue reading →

Posted in Fall, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking, Life, Outside, Running, Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Big South Fork – VanLife #1

Posted on September 28, 2022 by smithposts

Van trip #1, DONE! A “shakedown” as our next-door neighbor told us. He knows, he and his wife are becoming regular RVers. They purchased “Cousin Eddie’s” rig last year at what we have been told was a very favorable price … Continue reading →

Posted in Big South Fork, Outside, PetLife, RVing, Travel, Uncategorized, VanLife, Walking | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment