Over the hills to Grandmother's House

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Bonjour! My name is Haiven Brooke Wells. I am 11.9 years old and next month, I'll be in 6th grade. I am spending a couple of weeks with my Mamaw Jacque. I like to write stories so I am blogging for her today.

Mamaw says that "I" am the rose in HER garden! She also told me that I should ALWAYS take time to stop and smell a rose every chance I get. Sounds silly to me but they do smell pretty good!

My Mamaw says that I am HER VS Model. I always laugh and then "strike a few poses" for her. Anything for my Mamaw 'cause she LOVES me and I love her.

I've been learning alot about life on a farm. I want to be a Veterinarian some day. I didn't know that cows liked to eat apples! My cousin Kaleb has spoiled "Mama cow" and when I come outside, she heads toward the fence and begs me for apples! My Papaw helps me feed her because I am kinda scared--she is so big and her mouth is always full of slobber. OMG..Mamaw told me that a cows tongue feels like SANDPAPER and that some people like to cook them and eat them!

One day we went to Duck Park in downtown Sweetwater, TN. I enjoyed feeding all the ducks. When you take time to smell the roses it makes you have a pretty fun day!

It has rained almost every day since I've been here. I spend alot of time sitting around and waiting for it to stop because then, I get to go swimming.

One day, Mamaw let me go out and play in the rain. She always lets me have fun but mostly, I think she just likes taking photos of me.



My Papaw had his birthday on Sunday. Me and Mamaw surprised him with a Red Velvet cake--and old fashioned vanilla MAYFIELD ice cream. That's HIS favorite! Mamaw said Papaw is getting old but she is getting younger. That must be true because she let me polish her toenails with silver glitter nail polish! She kinda ROCKS!

Uh, oh...."YES Grandma...VS models DO eat cake and ice cream"!!

My cousin Kaleb told me that I had to go to the Titanic museum. He was right--that iceberg and 28 degree water was AWESOME! I felt really sad when I found out how many people died because there weren't enough life boats. Me and Mamaw placed a rose petal in the memorial that will be placed in the exact location of the ship wreck on April 12, 2012. This is a special ROSE PETAL tribute to honor all the people that lost their lives in the tragedy.

It finally stopped raining long enough for me to enjoy some fun time at the pool. My Mamaw said that it looked like I was "walking on the water" in this picture. I am sure that she THINKS I do!

One day, we went to the Amish community and got some corn, tomatoes, and peaches. Everything sure tasted good after Mamaw cleaned it. She said that corn has silk but I never saw any! We also took a trip down to the Sweetwater Flea Market but I soon got tired of walking--THAT place is huge.

Don't tell my Papaw but one day when me and Mamaw went shopping, we ate at HIS favorite Chinese restaurant. I ate alot of Sushi. Me and my daddy love Sushi but every time I asked Mamaw to taste of it, she made an ugly face. I reminded her about smelling the roses but she never would try any!

My Mamaw has way too much laundry to catch up on and is way behind on her normal housework routine, but she says that she has plenty of time to do that after I go home. I think she thinks that pretty soon I will be too "grown up" to play with her but she is wrong.

I always have fun with her!!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. WE love having company!

Au revoir!

SOS

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

John "Jack" Phillips, Senior Wireless Operator--Crew member TITANIC

a.k.a. Kaleb Wells

......I was off duty when the iceberg struck our great ship. Being summoned to my station around 12:14 a.m. April 12, 1912, by Captain Smith, alongside my partner, Harold Bride, we frantically began tapping out both CQD and SOS distress messages to all ships at sea. Captain Smith finally released us from duty when the rising water invaded the wireless room. At that point "it was every man for himself". I lost my life at the young age of 25, but my heroic efforts saved over 900 people. ...

If you are in the area of Pigeon Forge, TN, the TITANIC Museum is a must see! Boarding year round between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company!

Au Revoir,

www.TitanicAttraction.com

At what cost is Freedom?

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Kaleb Wells and 1863 Civil War Soldier REenactor, Jonathan Shields

Tennessee Valley Railroad

We traveled into Northwest Georgia on Saturday via vintage rail/train from Chattanooga, TN to historic Chickamaunga, GA. We rode through the 1858 era Missionary Ridge Tunnel which is almost 1000 feet long. It was dug by pick and shovel and black powder explosive, as dynamite had not been perfected at that time. It took two years to complete, which was said to be a great accomplishment! We also learned that parts of the movie, Water for Elephants, was filmed at that location.

Through our attentive ears and teary eyes, we learned in great detail from Jonathan's "first person account" about the great Civil War battle that took place there in 1863. Over 34,000--not just Confederate or Union--but AMERICAN soldiers lost their lives in only 2 days!

"Chickamauga National Military Park was transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service in 1933 and, while close to 1,400 monuments would be built to mark the battlefield contributions of the Union and Confederate veterans from the states represented in the battle, not one has ever been erected to mark the contributions of the Tennesseans who fought and died at Chickamauga.

Unlike other Tennessee National Military Parks, there is no National Cemetery on the Park’s grounds. All of the soldiers left on the battlefield, with one exception, were buried in other locations.

Before it became a park, the forests of Chickamauga remained untouched, but not for any environmental or historical reason. The gunfire that raged on the battlefield was like a steel curtain that tore into every tree on the site. The bullets embedded in the trees make cutting them dangerous. Lumber mills in the region never accept any timber from the site of the battle".

Chickamauga National Military Park is open daily and offers a variety of activities.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers various group and charter trips

http://www.battleofchickamauga.net/history.html
http://www.tvrail.com