Boss Hogg's BBQ Shack Pigeon Forge, TN

Woooo-eeee!!  Can you hear it now?  That sound of great satisfaction and excitement?  Yeah, well, if you go Boss Hogg's BBQ Shack in Pigeon Forge, TN,  you'll be squealing like that too.

They claim to be the best BBQ place in town and I have to say - I agree with them! 

They make their very own unique BBQ sauce that really puts that finishing touch on some excellently cooked meat.  (They also have it available for sale in bottles).

They offer chicken, brisket, and, of course, pork - that is grilled to perfection.  The meat is moist and not dried out like you get in some places.  (Yes, that is half of a chicken in that picture above - breast, wing, thigh, leg).

 (The brisket is what I had...soooooo good!)

The sides measure up to the rest of the meal, too.  Baked beans and loaded potato salad were our choices and, oh-my-goodness!! - they have the best baked beans ever!!!  There is a touch of something in them that just sets them apart from every other baked bean out there!  I'm telling you, I would go order just baked beans if I couldn't have anything else. 

I also really like the decor.  The tables and chairs are very sturdy and rustic; I love that style!!  It's not very roomy on the inside, but there are tables available on the deck outside and the weather is perfect for picnic style eating.

So next time you are in Pigeon Forge, or if you already live here, go check out Boss Hogg's.  It's located on Wear's Valley Rd (stoplight 3), about 2 miles down on the right.  (This is facing towards the parkway so it looks like it's on the left).

That's some good eatin' folks!  ;)


Until next time...


JenT

giveaway input

 If I can get enough traffic on this blog, I can host some giveaways.

I love giveaways!  I love to win and I love to give stuff away!

Now for your input - what kind of stuff do you like to win?

Until next time...

 JenT

Chicken Run

I've actually never seen the movie Chicken Run, but I thought it was a catchy title.

We have chickens.  A lot more than what I have here, but they were scattered hither and yon, and I didn't feel like chasing them down just for a mug shot.  We also have ducks.

These are the latest acquisitions.  We have had them for about an hour or two.  We bought them from a local place that sells a large variety of birds.  We bought eight chickens and three guineas.  The silver/gray birds are the guineas.

We had a small flock born about a month ago to one of our other chickens but through one mishap or another managed to lose them all.  *insert sad face*  This little bantam hen hatched two little chicks and this one survived.  Hopefully, it will continue to thrive. 

We have also just started getting eggs from our layers.  We have a few Golden Laced Wyandottes, several Americanas/Araucanas, and a couple of Rhode Island Reds.  Today we bought three white Rocks, one Rhode Island Red, a Barred Rock, a Black Rock, and two Silver Laced Wyandottes.  Hopefully they will produce well also.

And then of course the chicken helpers. :)


Until next time...

JenT

McKenzie Music

Ok, time to brag. :)

Our oldest has just recorded her first CD.

(At the recording studio with her younger sister)

You can order them on her website here.

At the bottom of her website is a link to her Facebook page also.  You can follow her there to keep up with the latest happenings.

 For a few years she has attended a local flute circle and entered the talent show at the local fairs.  In fact, she will be playing tonight.  She has also played at the local Native American Festivals and will be joining the Fall Festival in a small town nearby this year.

She has other pursuits, but that is all for now. :)

Until next time...

JenT

learning geography

Over the years my homeschooling method has went through a few changes.  I started with workbooks, stopped using certain ones, added textbooks, stopped using workbooks completely, went to unit studies, and that's about where we are.

My method leans more toward an unschooling atmosphere than a traditional style.  This year I decided we would learn geography as a unit study.  Since they are all at different levels in math and reading they need their own individual books for that.  But for geography we use this:

Along with this:

I really like how the geography book has different levels of activities for the kids.  I can teach them all at once, but they don't all have to do the same work.

The atlas is awesome!  It's colorful and each state has a two page layout with a map, historical figures highlighted, the state symbols, flag, coin, and a fun fact.  For example, did you know that one time a group of people decided an island was a hazard in a river in Maine and hitched a team of 200 oxen to it, to move it!!  Unsuccessfully of course.  lol   Also, over 70 million pounds of lobster are harvested each year in Maine.  Wow!!

So if you are thinking about teaching geography I highly recommend this book and atlas!  You can get the best price on Amazon, especially if you have prime (free shipping!).






Until next time...

JenT

roll call

 If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you will notice that I have not written much in the last couple of years or more.  I am going to correct that...meaning I plan to start posting more often. 

So what I would like to know is - is anyone still reading my blog?  lol

If you are would you please comment below?  Just a simple 'yes' will do.  Thanks!!

Until next time... JenT

Ben-Hur remade

 Most movies made years ago, those we consider classics (or very close to a classic), really shouldn't be remade.  I have absolutely refused to watch some of the remakes; Annie, The Sound of Music.  I really didn't want to watch Ben-Hur, but my hubby convinced me to go with him...or maybe he bribed me with a Sonic slush and .50 corn dogs.  Well, however he got me to the theater let me just say, I actually like this remake.  They did leave out a huge section, but they probably had to shorten it to accommodate movie rules or something like that.  I won't spoil it for anyone who has not seen it, but I will say it was worth the ticket price.  And I usually don't say that about just any movie.

Now of course if you have never seen the original Ben-Hur, it would behoove you to do so immediately.  You can find it on Amazon and if you follow the link below they will like me for it.  And I will like you for it. ;)
The top one is for watching directly from Amazon...the lower one is for ordering the DVD. 
So pop some popcorn, ice your favorite drink, and settle in for an epic movie!
You're welcome.





Until next time...


JenT

Without Warning by Lynette Eason

My book review of Lynette Eason's latest book, Without Warning of the Elite Guardians series.

I should know by now that I will NOT be disappointed with a book by Ms. Eason. I enjoy every book she writes! I am really looking forward to the third book in this series. I like her strong heroines and even stronger heroes. I like that these ladies are in an unusual career for women, even in this modern age. Although they are bodyguards they still maintain their feminine side. It is so refreshing to find an author who can convey that type of character. Their men are also strong masculine types without being neanderthals. :) So if you have never read a book by Lynette Eason pick up the first book in this series of Elite Guardians and get yourself hooked! I give this book a 5 star rating!!



Until next time... JenT

graduate number two

13 years ago we started down a path called "Homeschooling".  We were totally new at this.  We knew a few people that were starting at the same time, or had only been doing it for a few years.  We were completely in the dark.  Greenhorns.  Newbies.

Last year we graduated our oldest child.  She had no desire to get a college degree so we did not pursue that.  (I mentally sighed in relief - I did not want to tackle ACT scores, scholarship applications, etc.)

This year, we graduated our second child.  SHE wants to be a Radiologist.  Hmm...college forms here we come!  Thankfully, she is very motivated and initiative oriented.  She is filling out all the paperwork and I just have to provide some information sometimes.

And yes, they both graduated early.  That's one of the benefits of homeschooling.  They work at their own pace and that usually means faster than public school students.  Child number one graduated at 17, child number two graduated at 16. 

And I still have 11 more to go!!

Until next time...

JenT

Father's Day gift

My oldest daughter is saving money to record a cd of her playing the Native American flute.  She did a t-shirt campaign about a year ago, but now has another design to offer.  This time it's for those special people in our life...dads. 

With Father's Day just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get the dad in your life a t-shirt just for him. 

Just follow this link and get the t-shirt in the color you think would be right for him.  The colors offered are white, gray, and blue.  The t-shirt has an American flag on the back with the words "America's Greatest Dad 2016" underneath.

Get a great one-of-a-kind gift and help out a very talented young lady at the same time!

I've included a sample of her beautiful music below.  Enjoy!!

Until next time...

JenT

update

 Time has a way of getting away from you.  I post so seldom these days.  I vaguely remember some years ago when I posted every day, sometimes more than once a day.  Aww...those days are long gone.  A few years, and kiddos, later and my days are pretty full.

Aww...life.  It ebbs and flows like a river...sometimes calmly, peacefully flowing withing its pristine banks...sometimes raging and roaring tearing the banks away.  But - such is life.

 Now just a couple of pictures to update you.

Our family back in the winter.

And our latest addition, born Feb 23, 2016.

Hopefully we will take another family picture soon and I'll update again.

So we now have 7 boys and 6 girls.

God has truly blessed us.


Until next time...

JenT

The post in which I may or may not be kidding

What's is like living in the Smoky Mountains?  Well, at the foothills anyway.

Kind of cool...kind of hectic...somewhat irritating at times...but other times pretty nice.

If anyone else has ever spent any time of their life in a tourist town, you probably know what I mean.  When people find out you live in a tourist town they have questions; what's it like, do you have to battle traffic, do you get to go places free, what's a good show, what's a good place to eat, where is this place or that place.  Most of these I can answer pretty easily enough, but some I just can't.  I don't spend my days going to all the shows and attractions (though we have been to a few), and I don't know where everything is...I just don't.  I do know the back roads (you kind of have to if you live here and want to stay sane).  And I do know a few places that's good to eat (and those to avoid).  And yes, residents get discounts at certain places, and for a week every summer get to go to Dollywood for only $5.

But other than that, it's pretty much like any other small town - especially during the off season.  You get to know your librarians (whom I love by the way), your post office workers, your bankers, and the guy at the check-out at the local grocery store.

Then during tourist season you have to deal with, well, for lack of a better word - tourons.  They don't know how to drive, they can be very rude and obnoxious, and if not for the fact that they bring in the main business to keep the town alive, we all wish they would just go away. lol  Seriously, I have never seen so many people that make me suspect the validity of their drivers' license.  Blocking intersections, cutting you off, driving in the right lane with two other lanes are empty (sheep, people, sheep).  It's enough to make a person want to move.  Oh wait, I want to move anyway and not for those reasons (although they help).

So anyway, if you ever visit Pigeon Forge know that someone somewhere is wishing you would spend your money and go home...quickly.  I'm not saying it's me...but I'm not saying it's not either.

 Yes, the photos were a Flat Stanley project from one of my cousins last year.  They are the only pictures I have of some of the attractions here, since I don't go around taking tourist-y photos.



Until next time...

JenT

graduation time

The time has come. 

Our first graduate.


Until next time...

JenT

Dear Christian...

 Dear Christian, what sin were you committing before you got saved?

With all the hoopla over Josh Duggar, I decided to write a post to voice how I felt about it.

I in NO WAY whatsoever condone what he did.  He was wrong.  But he was wrong 12 years ago.  He said that after that incident he REPENTED, got saved, and changed his behavior.  Whoa - what?  He became a Christian?  He doesn't commit that sin anymore?  Then why the uproar?  Because he comes from a conservative, in-the-limelight family that liberals hate.

How many people do you suppose were waiting in anticipation for something to come to light?  Regardless of when it happened, I'm sure they were jumping up and down for joy.  Who cares what it was or when it was.  A Duggar messed up!!  God forbid any of our sins should be put out for the general public to see.  Oh wait, they wouldn't care because we're not on TV.  If the Duggars were not a famous family that the whole world sees, no one would have know and no one would have cared.  The people involved could have lived their lives without having to relive the whole thing all over again.

What's the saddest part about this whole thing?  That Christians are the very ones leading the pack to burn Josh Duggar at the stake.  I've seen and read so many comments from professing Christians that crucify him with their words.  The very people who should understand and should have experienced the same redemptive work in their own lives, are turning their backs on a brother in Christ and throwing him to the wolves.

Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

I think that kind of speaks for itself.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, no idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."  1 Corinthians 6:9-11


And that's all I'm going to say on the matter.


Until next time...


JenT

snack time

With 12 children you have to be organized to survive.

With 12 growing children you have to have snacks.

With 12 children sometimes the snacks disappear before some children get a chance to have their share.

From those circumstances we came up with this concept.

They get their own box and enough snacks to last a couple of weeks.  They get one snack a day (ideally) but if they run out before the allotted time is up - oh well.  They just have to do without until snack refill time. 

So far it has worked out.  They even came up with a snack swap since they do have their own preferences and tastes.  So far, so good.


Until next time...

JenT

My oldest's dream

I've shared a few times about our oldest playing the Native American flute.  She has been told by her mentor that she should make a CD.  She is raising money to do that.  In order to get the money, she needs to do some fundraisers.  One way she chose to do that is through Teespring.

http://teespring.com/helping-a-teen-realize-a-dream

Go to this link above and check out the t-shirts and hoodies that are available to order to help her get her CD made.


Until next time...

 JenT

update

Our latest family picture from October 2014

 I figured it was about time for an update.

I started walking at the community center last fall.  I'm up to 1 and 1/10 of a mile.  On the track it takes 10 laps to equal a mile.  I did 11 laps this week.  Next week I'll do 12.  I'm adding one lap per week until I get to 2 miles.  Then I will start walking faster.  I get passed by EVERYONE that walks. lol  I don't mind.  There are two sweet little older ladies that pass me about 5 or 6 times every morning.  They are amazing!  I hope I'm like them when I'm older.

I also started using the elliptical and the weight room.  I guess you could say I'm pretty serious about getting into shape.

Oh and this is all in addition to my karate class - that YES I'M STILL TAKING!!! Yay, me!! lol

My wonderful husband is with me on all of this.  Of course he and our oldest son have been lifting weights for much longer; I just joined them.

Hubby is still working hard to provide for all of us...I don't know how he does it.  I would be floundering about now I think.  I guess that's why I'm in the role I'm in right now.

Our oldest is starting her own Native American Flute circle today.  We've reserved the room at the library and are expecting quite a few people.  She's excited.

Second oldest is also going with us to the community center.  She was my walking partner until my husband started walking with me.  Now she will sometimes walk with us, or play basketball downstairs with our oldest son/third born.

And I've already mentioned what he is doing - going with us to the community center.  He also is looking forward to his birthday next month.  He has some friends (twins) that are having a birthday a few days before, and they are planning a joint party.

All the rest of the kiddos are growing...and growing...and growing. lol

The baby is only 8 months and already is getting a tooth.  That may not be surprising for some people, but my babies usually get their first tooth at around a year.  Our earliest so far was our baby right before this one.  She got her first tooth at 9 months.  The current baby is also starting to pull up on things.  So I'm wondering if he won't be walking earlier than the others too.  Yep, they all starting walking at around one also.  In fact, I believe a couple of them actually took their first step on their 1st birthday.

Well, that's about all for now.  Hopefully, I can remember to update more often.  Between normal life in a large family, plus homeschooling, plus outside activities, it gets a little hectic.

Until next time...

JenT

new phases of life

Ahh...new phases of life.

What is it about the age of 17 that makes you realize you have pretty much a full-grown adult on your hands.

16 was fun and we knew that she was growing up...but 17 is a whole new ballgame.

 

Not that we are trying to get rid of her anytime soon...she can live with us for another 10 years and that would be fine with us.



Until next time...


 JenT

Pampered Chef

I am having an online Pampered Chef party.   (My house is too small for a regular one). 

Anyone who has owned their products knows how great they are.  Here is your chance to get some more! :)

And if you haven't tried them - here is your chance to do so!! 

See?  Win-win!

This is also a great opportunity to get some Christmas gifts!  They have a few bundles that can save you some money and make someone in your life happy.

Please order by Saturday the 15th so I can get a stoneware baker. :)

Here is the link to my online party: http://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/ashleycate/guest-landing/8892752215195

Happy shopping!!




Until next time...


 JenT