When I was still a child, I thought my dad was bigger than life! He could do anything in my eyes. I really didn’t consider that he might have some limitations.

When I was around ten years old, my sister, who was about seven years of age, climbed a very tall pine tree. This pine tree stood in our backyard to the right side of our then two-story house. The tree must have been around 20 feet tall. I’m guessing my sister must have climbed twelve to thirteen feet up that pine tree because she climbed higher than the top of our house.

I am by admission not a morning person, but I love sunrises. I have seen a few and found them all beautiful.

A few mornings ago, I was sitting in my customary place on the left side of the loveseat. I was eating my morning snack and drinking the coffee that would refresh me for another day at work. I looked out the living room window at the lilac bush which was being bathed by the first rays of the day’s sunlight. Strangely, it seemed as if in the sunlight that some of the leaves were brown, as if they were dying.

I never saw a carnival or circus in the years we lived on the farm. Oh, they were around but I never had the opportunity to check one out. All I knew about a circus was what I saw in the movies or on the newsreels. They usually came to town by train and paraded the entire company, elephants and all, down main street. What a wonderful publicity promotion. The calliope would be blaring out circus music like you hear on a merry-go-round. It looked like the life to have, going from city to city. What fun that would be, especially in America during World War II.

The average American diet includes one of three meats, either beef, pork, or chicken. I always thought we ate more beef than anything, but chicken has of late given beef a run for its money. And if you look at it on a global scale, it turns out that beef is not always “what’s for dinner”.

I like almost any sweet pie. This is not a sweet pie. It's a ripe tomato pie, a great luncheon dish. Or you could take it to a potluck. It will be a big hit there. Be sure to take copies of the recipe. You certainly will be asked for it.

Every tomato pie I have seen in the past had slices of ripe tomatoes arranged in a pastry crust. This one does, too, but they are used as a garnish. Very pretty. It is a delicious tomato pie. With fresh tomatoes in season, this will be a treat.

On Wednesday, August 14, the new Maynardville business FirstBank invited guests, customers and fellow businesses to a Ribbon Cutting and Open House with refreshments, door prizes, and promotional products. Many guests stopped in for a meet and greet with the new business, its employees, and stakeholders.

In many cases, children who have been sexually or physically abused must visit several agencies at multiple locations in order to get the support they need. Children’s Centers were created to assist in providing a safe haven for then youths. They provide a place where the children can, instead of visiting multiple agencies, come to one location where specially trained professionals collaborate to facilitate a child friendly environment where the child knows he or she will be safe.

The pantry is empty and the refrigerator is bare, time to shop for groceries. As you drive to your favorite grocery store, you know the routine. Enter the store, grab a buggy, and browse aisles upon aisles of products. After your cart is full and all items are checked off your list, you will head for the front to pay, hoping of course, to find the shortest and fastest checkout.

Union County Business & Professional Association held its regular Member Meeting on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, at Hardee's in Maynardville. President Martin Shafer called the meeting to order and quickly dispensed with the routine business of the minutes and treasurer's report. The treasurer's report was presented by Gail Corum and as of July 31, 2019, the balance was $5,543.24.

Big Ridge State Park’s 35th Annual Music Festival was held on August 16, 2019 from 4pm-9:30 pm.

If you ask me, Big Ridge State Park is an excellent place to host a Bluegrass Music Festival. It lies somewhere between Rocky Top and the Great Smoky Mountains inside of Union County, Tennessee.