6:55 am

An exceptionally warm Dec. morning, I was in bare feet on the bluff taking this photo of sunrise alpenglow on the ridge and fog in Lost Cove.  

From my deck...

There were 3 pileated woodpeckers in my tree this morning.

Birthday hike

Nancy turned 60 today.
We celebrated with an impromptu hike ... the 2 1/2+ hour hike took us from KA Point to Morgan Steep ... and them some.  Probably about 8 miles.  Pretty hard to do for me after a long track workout and a sore ankle.

I asked John yesterday if he wanted to hike today.

He said no.

Favorite tree

Nancy and John on the bluff

My furniture-making bent

I got a load of heavy oak barn wood from my  neighbor, Hans.  This stuff is old... at least 150 years, judging by the 19th c. vintage square nails in it.  There were 4"x 6"s, 2"x 8"s, and a 1" x 14".

I made 3 end tables, a long table/bench, a king bed frame, and the most labor intensive thing - a solid oak cutting board/kitchen island.   The kitchen island was a serious project I could not have done without Joe Smith's joiner and wood clamps.   I laminated four 2x8s together to make the surface.  I ripped the 4x6s in half to make super stout 4x3 legs.   This wood is so hard, I broke 3 lag bolts assembling it.  After sanding, I finished it with food grade mineral oil.

The big 1"x14"x12' made four tables.   Even though the table tops are sanded silky smooth, you can see the sawmill blade marks and an interesting green color.  

The king bed is actually situated the long way against the wall, so it is extra wide.  I fashioned smooth wide arms on both sides with sanded pine so it looks like a giant chair.  I left verticle wood on each side so I can add an integrated bookcase on each if I want to.

The view from this bed is tremendous, no need for a headboard.  The fireplace at the foot of the bed is idyllic.

I think this rustic barn wood funiture fits my Sewanee house perfectly.   Now, I can give my hands a rest and play some guitar.

I love maps

I've been wanting to order a custom topo map from MyTopo.com and was looking at this preview.  Here's a small piece of it.   Cool to see my house on it's promontory point on the map - easy to see why the Feasters picked this spot.

What a view.  Thomas, my insurance agent was just here for some photos, he was awestruck.  He stood on the bluff for a few minutes in silence.


What's in a name?

A friend was alway saying my place of residence was appropriately named since he thinks I "live the life of Riley"... and in Murfreesboro, I live on "Riley Rd."

Here in Sewanee, I live at the head of Champion Cove.

UPDATE:

Living in the trees ... fog still thick on the bluff at 10am.  Can't see Stapleton's ridge.  Plants are enjoying some moist weather.   Well, off to the track...

Mom and Dad visit Sewanee

Mom and Dad liked my new place in Sewanee.  We enjoyed a wonderful sunset on their last night here.

Mom brought me my first Sewanee Xmas tree and Dad treated us to some nice meals.  We enjoyed hanging by the fire and reading the history of my house in the collected letters and photos of the Feasters loaned to me by Patti Posen.  We also enjoyed touring Sewanee and hanging with the Princes.  I think my parents like it here and will want to return.

Dad agrees, photos of this view can't prepare you for how grandiose it truly is.  Dad also agrees, a hot tub on the deck is essential!  My parents unceremoniously fled town at 2:15 am Sunday morning to escape holiday traffic.  (Dad's sleep disorder comes in handy!)

Sunday afternoon, bliss on the bluff

After a long hard workout on the Sewanee track (6x800), I returned to the bluff.

Sitting in my Adirondack chair, it was so peaceful and quiet, warm with a light breeze. Not a cloud in the sky.

I hear the pileated woodpecker, hawks, and the rushing waterfalls down below in the gorge. So quiet I can hear the crinkling sound of amber leaves as they blow off the trees and float through the air down the bluff below.

By sunset, guitar and tea.

UPDATED: Two more diverse bluff views below, from an everchanging sky - Nov 12.

3 of my photos were showcased in Nashville Arts Magazine this month.

Falls and moon

After a nice hike today with Andrew and Nancy, we were joined by Lynn to watch the sunset at my place.   The fall and winter sun sets exactly in the center of my bluff view.  It's awesome every time... so, sunsets here on the bluff have become a ritual.   After the sunset, I enjoyed the setting the crescent moon.

The awesomeness of Earth and sky.

Moonset

Bridal veil falls

Sewanee social, meetings, odd events

I was happy to volunteer on Friday for Sally and Christi to play at the local Arts Council potluck dinner and meeting ... held in a nondescript building behind the water plant in Tracy City... as Sally put it, a situation that could elicit 'culture shock.'  But, no ... it wasn't bad, not exactly the perfect first impression for Sarah of the mountain.   But... after Julia's fish tacos, a campus tour, a visit with the Princes, and a nice fire back on the bluff... it was a wonderful evening.   Our Saturday morning hike, coffee with Pete at the Blue Chair, and tour of the Rung's cool new construction, capped off a nice visit.

Joe, Geoff, Andrew, Clayton, Sally, Nancy

After Sarah left to attend a function with her daughter, I had a few hours to sit and relax before my party ... then it happened.  I felt my house move.  WTF was that?   A wind gust?  No, it was definitely a freakin' earthquake!!   Sure enough, after checking the USGS list, at 12:08pm, there was a 4.3 earthquake centered in the KY mountains.  Wow.  If I hadn't been sitting still, quietly relaxing in my new loveseat futon/chaise lounge, I probably would not have even noticed.  It was really weird.

At my party, I was happy to meet Dick and Ann Posen whose mom lived in this house.  They had photos of the construction of this place ('72) and interesting stories.  Vic, Andrew, and Joe came up from the 'Boro, and Sally, Maggie, Geoff, John, Nancy, Clayton, and Linda came by.

I had no idea of the connection that was about to be made.

Andrew Lytle Nelson, long time friend of the Princes, is a first cousin of the famed Sewanee writer/professor, Andrew Nelson Lytle.   When I introduced Geoff Roehm casually as "the coffin maker," it didn't quite click with Andrew.  Then, John explained that Geoff was the maker of Andrew Lytle's casket, an episode memorialized in Sullivan's highly acclaimed book Pulphead.  Andrew stood up and hugged Geoff.  It was a great moment.

We all watched the sunset.  Sally said, "thanks for buying us a house on the bluff, Bill."

Hangin' on the bluff...

A nice place to wake up

The view from my bed, on Election Day morning... 7:30 am.  
I love the fireplace at the foot of my bed.

The land beneath

 If there is anything wild or rare in this area, it's in Champion Cove.

I made my first venture down the bluff from my place in Sewanee this weekend.  It required an extension ladder to scale the initial bluff.  Once I got down there, I realized that this was true wilderness.  No trails, no sign of humanity whatsoever...  and some very steep rugged hiking.  This is not a place for old men (or women).  One has to be very sure-footed and in top physical condition to hike down and back up this bluff.   Next time, I'll take water!

I followed the Laurel Branch creek down where it joined a second creek.  The second creek had a waterfall and an awesome rock overhang 3' high that went behind the falls - a stunning natural feature probably few have seen.   Where the creeks joined, they formed another waterfall that fell into a sink and disappeared.   There was a huge old growth oak at that spot.  I continued down until I reached the flat part of the cove.  

I started back up and got to the rock wall and walked left.   I was disoriented and followed some deer paths I hadn't seen before.  I finally came to the top and saw an unfamiliar road.   I checked a sign and found that I had wandered out at Myers Point, near the Stapleton land.   I had no idea where I was so I  flagged down the next car who was Sarah, a professor at UTC.  She drove me to Maggie's house and Maggie drove me home.   It was probably less than a mile to my house as the crow flies... but a staggering 4 to 5 miles by road.

That evening, we watched one helluva sunset.

the magic hour

Just before sunset, when the trees catch that golden fire light...

Looking out over the Champion Cove Land Trust, there is not ever a single light at night to be seen in that great valley. The full moon this weekend was spectacular. Tales of mountain lions around here are a buzz. If there ever were any around here, they'd be down there, in that wilderness.

Just doing a little work on the deck in this photo, and now, just finished. It's as solid as rock. Thanks to Evan for helping with the verticle pillar replacement. A 6x6x16 is the single biggest and heaviest piece of lumber you can buy from Home Depot, it must weigh about 180 lbs. Hard to handle. 

I love how my tree hangs over and shades my deck.   Feels like a treehouse.  I love the Sewanee stone dodecagon, like a stout little castle.   I love the big windows and sliding glass doors facing the bluff, and the two fireplaces upstairs, and downstairs in the bedroom.

Still astonished at the view from my bed every morning... and every sunset. 

A slice of heaven

Morning view from my house

John says it has 'a tree house feel' ...

an observatory of earth and sky, a dream, a spiritual place.

A southwest view at a promontory point.

This is the view from my new cottage on the mountain in Sewanee, TN.

I'm going to fill this valley with the gentle sounds of guitar music.

First Sunset

After a storm

... more to come.

Porch rehearsal...

Rehearsing the Piazzolla with Andrea on my porch...

TN Guitar Music

Just learned this piece 2 days ago.   Will play it faster when I live with it for a while....

Yee Haw!

About time this TN guitarist learned some down home TN guitar music...

Tennessee Guitar Festival 2012

Great music and good times.

 Congrats to the TN Guitar Competition winners and all those who attended.

First Prize, $1500 - Max Zuckerman  

Second Prize, $750 - Jeremy Collins 

Third Prize, $500 - Antoniy Kakamakov  

Fourth Prize, $300 - Edgar Ivan Resendiz

 Awesome performances by Jorge Caballero, Carlos Castilla, and Ben Bolt. The competition level was extremely high. Jorge gave an incredible masterclass to 5 performers lasting almost 5 hours, without a break. Jorge's concert was spectacular. Many said that it was the best they'd ever seen. He played the Mussorgsky "Pictures at an Exposition." I remember seeing the America premier of that transcription by Yamashita 28 yrs ago in Toronto. Jorge's was even better.

 We partied til 3 am... paella!

Desert Flowers - Red Rock Canyon, NV

A surprising variety of desert flowers blooming in Red Rock Canyon, NV.

Iska and I documented the plethora of colors on our desert walk.

Out West

Enjoying the higher elevations...

Iska and I at Mt. Charleston, NV.

Iska and I at Red Rock Canyon.




Hiking, dinner at the Bellagio, Cirque du Soliel ... a nice visit with Mom and Dad in Vegas.

Oh glorious spring ...

Spring has sprung early...

Just 2 full weeks of school to go. After 2 weeks of 80º weather, warm pool, and lots of outdoor time, a little cooler weather is coming next week. Our last frost was March 4, more than a month early. I'm sure we're in the clear, no chance of a frost, and soon my tomatoes will be planted.

Love this time of year.

Spring in the Cumberland

10 mile hike in the gorgeous Collins Gulf was a great way to spend a perfect day.

One of the rockiest and challenging hikes in Savage Gulf, I joined Iska, John and Nancy for this moderately strenuous hike. This hike had a lot of vertical... including a 700' climb out of the gorge at the end of the hike.

The wildflowers were spectacular. We hiked to Schwoon Spring where we encountered a yellow canebrake timber rattlesnake on the trail. The dog ran right by it, didn't even see it. I picked it up with a stick and flung it off the trail. I'm sorry I forgot to get a photo of it.

Feet were a little tired but all is well. Ready to get back on the track tomorrow, but I will probably wait til Monday evening so I have the day to recover.

The day ended with a sober reminder about walking near cliff edges. A brother of a friend of mine fell 50' to his death off a bluff in Sewanee yesterday.