Field Trip: Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary

Sounds weird, right?

This year, my friends Amy and Diane and I decided that we were going to do a Tennessee Explorations class with our boys, who are juniors and seniors. We gave the boys the task of finding places in Tennessee that they want to visit.

Their first choice: Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. They didn't have to think twice about that one.

A couple of years ago, the boys chanced by the closed-down penitentiary on a Boy Scout camping trip. They begged Randy, who is the Scoutmaster, to let them "explore" (AKA: trespass), but of course he refused (with some reluctance, if I know my husband). :)

Imagine how thrilled they were to learn that Brushy Mountain opened for tours a couple of months ago! As Duncan said on the ride over, "This is a dream come true."

Ah, teenage boys.

I have to admit: it was a fascinating and sobering field trip. It's just been open six weeks or so, and I suspect that in a couple of years, it will lose a lot of its rough, raw quality that makes it feel so authentic and, well, alarming. Creepy. Sad. We visited on a Monday afternoon, and there were only about 25 other people there; however, the tour guide said that it is absolutely packed on weekends.

Right now, you can just wander around almost everywhere on the compound, although a few places are off limits.

"The Hole"

The documentary in the museum is fantastic, but best of all, a former prison guard showed up and invited us to join him for a free tour. He was amazing. He took us through the compound and told all kinds of stories, pointed out where murders occurred and how prisoners escaped, and just gave life to the men who lived and worked here for decades. He related how the guards treated the prisoners with respect and dignity, regardless of what they did on the outside. It was really amazing. While we were fortunate to be there on a weekday and happened upon a free tour, I would definitely pay for one. Former inmates also give some tours.

This tour is not for everyone. It was, after all, a maximum security prison. We commented that we could feel a heaviness around us, sense a sadness and even the cold chill of evil. I think young kids would have nightmares—or at least I would have. This made me think of the "Scared Straight" movie from the late 1970s. While the boys enjoyed a sense of exploration and adventure, they also felt the danger and hopelessness that is pervasive even now at the prison.

It was not our most cheerful fall field trip ever, but it really was an enlightening experience!

Linked up with the Homeschool Blog Link-up and  Weekly Wrap-Up

Wedding Prep: Engagement Party, Venue Shopping, and YES to the Dress!

A little over a month since our daughter's engagement and we are full swing into wedding planning! Laurel and Hunter had plans to come to Knoxville for the Florida vs. Tennessee game, so we thought that was the perfect time to throw a little engagement party.

(Florida won. Or rather, Florida slaughtered Tennessee.)

What a fun party! We had loads of flowers, food, friends, family, and sangria. I am usually the Queen of Photos, but somehow I failed to get many of the actual party! For these  "He asked... She said Yes" and the photo collage below, I wrapped our regular dining room photo frames in brown paper and got the pictures made from Shutterfly with one of their get 250 pictures free deals. The photos are just secured with mini-clips and twine, with ivy from our yard as an accent. (See, Randy? English ivy is good for something!)







Roses and rose petals are from my father's yard. He loved contributing to the party.

 Sorry for the crooked picture below, but it makes me laugh. This was another freebie from Shutterfly. I didn't realize how huge a 16 X 20 photo is! I secured this on a chalkboard with clothespins and twine and then added a string of mini-lights, which you can't see in the photo. This was on the drink table.

I made a huge vat of sangria, and Hunter and Laurel came up with their own version of Moscow mules. 

Since I didn't get many pictures at the actual party, Laurel and Hunter posed for me the next day. They are such good sports!

 Bonus: Hunter's parents were able to fly up from Florida for the engagement party! We packed a lot into a little over 24 hours: three venues, a picnic on the river, brunch, and an engagement party!

Lunching between venue appointments

Since then, they have decided on a venue! It's actually not one of these, though. They visited another one that Randy and I had already seen, and after much deliberation, they chose that one!

And Laurel asked her first bridesmaid—or rather her matron of honor. Bess has been Laurel's partner in crime since they were 4 and 5 years old (they share a birthday, one year apart).  Laurel was Bess's maid of honor, and Bess will be Laurel's almost exactly two years later!

And, last but certainly not least, we went wedding dress shopping last weekend! Bess's mom, my dear friend Caroline, and I drove over to Nashville (where the girls go to college) for an incredibly fun (and exhausting) weekend of shopping. Laurel had made two appointments at dress boutiques. So much fun! It's all happening so fast. I'm watching my little girl try on gown after gown, refusing to think about these two little girls playing dress up not so many years ago....

The first boutique had lovely dresses and yielded one potential candidate. We were all a little overwhelmed and needed some time to process, though, sowe had a fabulous dinner and got a good night's sleep. The next morning we hit Fabulous Frocks bright and early.

 
She tried on several dresses and then tried on one particular one again....and I could see it in her eyes. She saw herself walking down the aisle in this one beautiful dress. And....she found her frock! I'm not sure any of us were expecting to actually find the dress. We had tentative plans to shop here in Knoxville over fall break with a few of her bridesmaids, but when you know, you know!
 
 
 
 

 

What a whirlwind week! Party, venue, and dress chosen in less than 10 days....I'm not sure what's next, but I'm soaking it all in and looking forward to these next several months!