My brother and his wife are more outdoorsy folks, as are we, so the rest of the weekend was spent hiking and exploring various state parks. Our first stop was Burgess Falls State Park in Sparta, Tennessee, which we visited a couple years ago. We hiked about half a mile and then came to this lookout point.
A short while later, we found the main waterfall. If you look closely, you’ll see a few people standing on the rocks at the base. It’s a long way down!
We were able to hike down a short trail to the top of the falls. (I almost passed out when Mr. Handsome approached the edge and got down on his belly to look over, but it made for a good photo-op.)
There were a number of other people there, all trying to figure out how the few individuals had made it down to the base. There are stairs, but they have been closed since the last time we were here, due to damage by extreme flooding. We never did figure it out…
Our last stop was Cummins Falls State Park in Cookeville, one of my favorite places in Middle Tennessee. We have visited several times since we moved to the area. (Remember my Waterfalls and Exterminators post from last summer?)
The first time we came, there were very few people at the falls, but word has gotten out, and now it’s always crowded. (It’s a very unique attraction, so I’m not surprised why it has become so popular.) The best way to describe it is a free, natural water park, and although the hike down to the falls is steep, folks of all ages make the trek because it’s such a neat place. Someday soon, I would love for Mr. Handsome to make a painting of the falls!
That last picture looks like a really fun place! Did you all go in the water?
Thanks for sharing:)
We did! It was a bit cold, but you get used to it pretty quickly. Climbing up the rocks and jumping off into the water is a blast.
Ellie
I like to look at waterfalls. Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? I've been their 3 times. I would like to go back, next time go around Christmas, when its festival lights everywhere. Nice that your brother and his wife came in. Do you and your brother look alike?….Jane
I went to Niagara as a young child, but all we did was get out of the car and take a picture. Would love to see more of it. I'm sure Christmastime would be beautiful!
People say that my brother and I look alike, and he does have similar colored hair. 🙂
Ellie
Thanks for sharing these photos.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
My pleasure! 🙂
Ellie
Time with family is the best!! Seems like y'all had a good time. The pictures are very beautiful. Would love to see pictures of your brother and his wife if they are ok with you sharing them with your readers.
It was a blast! I definitely recommend both those waterfalls if you ever make it to TN.
I'll have to ask their permission to post a picture of them. 🙂
Ellie
Is that person with their arms held up and spread your Mr Handsome? (I think I recognize his legs!)
Yep, that's him! LOL
Ellie
It looks like the trolls' swimming spot, from a colouring book I had as a kid. That was my favorite picture to colour. I am sure Mr H. would enjoy to do a picture of this. And I would like to see it too!
Haha, it does kind of look like a setting out of a storybook!
Ellie
That water doesn't look too clean… :/ I'm leery of any body of water not tested and chlorinated. Shigella, anyone?
It looks like it's become a popular spot, so I wonder about all those people in the water. Maybe the water is kept "refreshed" by the waterfall? I hope it doesn't stagnate. That's a recipe for water-borne illness. From backpacking experience, I know you can't trust water these days the way you might have 100 or 200 years ago.
That's definitely a good thing to be concerned about. At this particular spot, hundreds of gallons per minute of water flow into the pond from the top of the waterfall, and the pond leads to a small river, so it's a pretty safe spot. 🙂
Ellie
You studied English in college, right? Ever use a dictionary? Then look up the meaning of the word "neat" and then scroll back through your posts to see how often you have used that word correctly in a sentence. Seriously, I have never lived in an English speaking country but the level of language misuse is just too high.
I have lived in a foreign country for 5 years after studying the language with a native linguist. I can assure you that words take on a variety of meanings within a culture which a dictionary often doesn't express; those nuances are understood when "living" the language. Spanish, for example, has words that line up to dictionary definitions in one part of Latin America, but when used in other nations, the words are not so benign. English is certainly a difficult language to learn as a second language. Congratulations on your endeavors to add this tool to your repetoire. Let me encourage you to add "everyday" language as is spoken in our country to your vocabulary. It will definitely be an asset to communicating & building relationships.
It's not a misuse. It's called a colloquialism. That's a cousin to slang or jargon. It's the informal use of a word in conversation.
We know exactly what Ellie means by "neat," and it's not meant to mean "tidy." In the 1950's, really amazing things could be "neat-o." "Neat-o, Daddy-o!"
I know it's hard to understand the colloquialisms of languages that are not your native ones. I've had 6 years of French and 2 years of Spanish and I couldn't even begin to use their informal or slang words and phrases properly. If Ellie needs anything, maybe it's a thesaurus to help her come up with some alternatives to "neat." But those might include "cool," whose usage could be equally confusing to someone.
This reply is not from Ellie. But I just have to thank this commenter for reminding me to pick my battles. I agree life requires a lot of disciplines. I do not want to invest my efforts in useless projects either!
Oxford English Dictionary: neat (adjective) definition #4 "North American informal" very good; excellent – 'it was really neat seeing the city'
So Ellie is using this word according to the dictionary. The OED is a trusted source.
Kitty you are simply rude. I suggest you find a more uplifting positive way to speak to others. How sad your life must be. Ellie is way to gracious and classy to even respond to your rediculous comment,so I will do it for her.
No, I wouldn't go so far as to call her rude (which in itself isn't so polite to do). Kitty might not understand all the nuances of the English language the way a native English speaking person would. Maybe she learned something from this post? I thought it was interesting that the Oxford dictionary includes that meaning as a definition. And I haven't heard a colloquialism explained since high school English class. Thanks to all who responded to set the record straight.
I see Mr Handsome!
It was like finding Waldo 😂
Haha! I was wondering if anyone was going to find him!
Ellie
I see him too! In the last picture on the right side with his hands up in the air!
Your husband goes shirtless in public when swimming, so do you wear a regular bathing suit, or do you follow the Duggar modesty rules and stay covered up from neck to knees? Most people in your picture look like they do in any scene from the pool or the beach or a lake.
I have my own standards. It can take some time, but I am always able to find cute, appropriate bathing suits at stores like Kohls and JC Penney. 🙂
Have a blessed day.
Ellie
why would she follow duggar standards for bathing suit? i am a Christain woman and wear a bathing suit! u dont need to be in overalls because u r a Christain! 1 piece is fine. barbra b.
So nice!! Will have to check these places out.