Another Mess

Mary at Mary's Writing Nook asked if anyone wanted to play five words . I thought it would be fun and asked for five. The first word she gave me was TENNESSEE. This photo is one from the hill of a foggy morning sunrise. Tennessee has some of the best scenery from the flat farm lands in the west to the rolling hills in middle Tennessee then on to the mountains in east Tennessee. Our state touches eight states, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. We have the mighty Mississippi river bordering the west side of the state and the Smoky Mountains on the east side of the state.

Tennessee's cultivated state flower is the Iris and the wildflower is the Passion Flower. The state tree is the Tulip Poplar with the Bicentennial Tree the Yellow wood. Tennessee's slogan is "Tennessee-America at Its Best." Our state's bird is the Mockingbird and our Insect is the Ladybug. I am sure most have heard Tennessee's song, The Tennessee Waltz, and if you watch college football especially the SEC you will hear the song "Rocky Top" played during the University of Tennessee's football games. Our nickname is the Volunteer State and UT has shorten it to The Vols.

Tennessee was one of the states that saw too many conflicts during the War Between the State or as some call it The Civil War and others The Great Conflict. We have battlefields and cemeteries which shows the vase number who were victims of greed. It was fought under the mask of slavery, state rights but rest assured it was nothing but Economics. Just like the war we are fighting now. Sorry got off track, Back to Tennessee. General Nathan Bedford Forest was one of the best cavalrymen of the War. He started the Ku Klux Klan but as most do not know he resigned as he did not approve of their tactics. Tennessee also has one of World War I famous hero's from Pall Mall Tennessee. Alvin C. York single handily captured 132 German soldiers and killed 25. Tennessee is loaded with historical people and places. We provided America with 3 Presidents, (7Th Andrew Jackson -come see The Hermitage: 11Th James K. Polk home in Columbia and 17Th Andrew Johnson who was VP under Lincoln and upon Lincoln's death became President) and one VP, Albert Gore Jr. under President Clinton. We also have Pulitzer Prise winner Alex Haley home and museum in Henning. There is lots more but alas, I need to move on.

Center Hill Lake at sunset. Tennessee has lots of lakes and rivers to fish and ski or just lazily float along on. In Tennessee waters if you are lucky you can catch a large mouth bass or a channel catfish which have been designated as our states fish. Along the banks or on my bird feeder at night you can catch a glimpse of the Tennessee animal, the raccoon.

Downtown Nashville or as some would say Music City. We are known for the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium. Our most famous Blonde lady is not only known for her songs but for family entertainment at Dollywood and for her charity of giving books to children. Dolly Parton has been one of country musics most loved internationally. Then in Memphis you know him by one name. ELVIS. Nuf said and if you do not know Elvis all I can say is "Bless your Heart."

During the Centennial, The Parthenon was build as we are know as the "Athens of the South."
There is so much more to Tennessee than just country music and twang. We are the proud to have the Fisk Jubilee Singers and a new Opera House. Not to mention all the talented artist and sculptures.

Tennessee is also known as a very GREEN state. We are blessed with all four seasons of the year and during February in Grand Junction at the Ames Plantation the National Field Trial Championship for bird dogs is held. In Shelbyville each fall the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration is held and in the spring we have the Iroquois Steeplechase.

The Kitty Justice is I am proud to be born an American but blessed by God to be a Tennessean. (KJ is a native Tennessean and if you are a transplant, I am sure you got here as soon as you could) Hooah only 4 words to go.

There are lots of different roads to travel when you get to Tennessee.Be sure to put Tennessee on your Bucket List.