Old Friends, Snow, A Horse Named Buc And A Cat Named Gandalf

After witnessing my belongings safely stored away with Devries Storage in Port St. Lucie I hit the road. A good night sleep in Brunswick Ga. and a great meal at the Country Market ended that day’s travel. I arrived at Rich and Diana’s the next day, Tuesday Feb. 23 rd. R & D have a five acre farm of gently rolling hills set at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains which can be easily seen from just about every window of their home. Now those mountains are snow covered, but come spring I am told they are as green and beautiful as can be imagined. I was warmly welcomed and given a tour of the homestead and then shown to my private bedroom with adjoining bath and sitting room in the basement of their five bed room home. I was also introduced to their beautiful cat Gandalf and a very large black Clydesdale horse named Buc. Buc is considered a baby at six years old, but still carries a weight of 1800 pounds. Black Clydesdales are not that common, but Buc is not too concerned about that. He still keeps a gentle way and sweetness about him. I know that because he ate sliced carrots and apples from my hand with the politeness of an elegant gentleman.
The surrounding countryside in Limestone, Tennessee is quite beautiful and from what Rich tells me, very country and traditional. Most of the roads are named after many of the first settlers to the area and those same families still live on here in the mountains. Although you know you are truly in the country you are also not that far from Greeneville, Johnson City or Jonesborough, sizeable towns with all the modern niceties. Jonesborough is the oldest town in Tennessee and is full of little shops and historic signs stating the age of this park or that street. Most Tennesseans all know Jonesborough.
The area is rich with old barns, train stations, and in particular a great old bank with a date above its door starting 1920. It certainly reminded me of something you might see in an old cowboy movie.

I took off on my own, not worrying about getting lost thanks to my faithful GPS, looking for farms and the way of life of the areas inhabitants and to shoot some photographs. Working farms are still in existence here, but not as many as there once was. I guess that is true for most other parts of the country as well. The area is somewhat known for its Black Angus Beef. I did see quite a few. I also received some curious looks from a bull that was clearly annoyed at my looming over his fence taking pictures. He quickly gathered up his ladies and made it clear to me that I was not welcomed.. He stamped and snorted a few times, faked a charge and then took off with harem in tow. Oh well, I guess I just ain’t country enough for everyone.

Snow was forecasted and snow it did. Not all that much, so says Rich, but just enough to put a dusty cover on the areas farm houses, landscape and my Jeep. I just know he is wondering why he’s not back in Florida in his warm and cozy garage. I was wondering the same thing when Rich had me drive the ATV with trailer attached full of Bucs droppings and empty it in the back field. Rich seemed to adapt pretty well to the weather in the five years he has been here from Florida. For me, I am hoping it warms up fast! All in all I must say I have had a very wonderful visit with my most hospitable friends. I guess distance and time does not dilute a true friendship.

Enjoy some pictures of my visit. You can click on each to enlarge if you like. TC……….