Random Collection of Pictures May 2026

The month of May will be a two-parter with one blog on blogger and one blog on WordPress. First random collections on blogger.

G and I visited downtown Ringgold GA to eat at Aunt Effie's home cookin cafe. We walked around the corner to take a picture with the Dolly Parton mural in the background. Dolly married in Ringgold. There will be more pictures of Ringgold in part two when grand-dog Pixel came down to visit.

Alright - three maps I collected. First are counties that have less than 10 percent evangelicals per capital population. Found it interesting that a metro area like Chicago - Cook County is not but a neighboring county, McHenry County, is. Also three counties in Kansas were a surprise considering the red hue of politics: Ness, Hodgeman, and Russell counties. Notice the lack of purple counties in the Southeast - a lot of evangelicals here.

And another religion-based map. A lot of Baptists in Tennessee, a mix of Catholic and Methodists in Kansas. I believe both are accurate depictions.

Next map - I love to look at geology maps. Interesting that Tennessee has Coastal Plain in the west and Interior Low Plateaus in the middle.

Speaking of geology - I read a book that stated that nowhere in the United States than in Kansas that what is beneath the soil is seen above the ground in almost every town. A fair statement. A cool tour of Catholic churches built from limestone found beneath the ground in Kansas.

During Mother's Day weekend, Beorn stayed at the kennel for us to leave town. The kennel gave us a cute card made during the visit.

I remembered my Dad who passed away 10 years ago in May by reposting this 2016 blog post on Facebook.

Our favorite Italian restaurant, Stevarinos, for some reason decided to close. Had some good times there.

Now for a few flashbacks courtesy of Facebook memories. So cool that a memory of Dad popped up during this month. Re-plumbing the kitchen and building yard fence - so thankful for my talented Dad - love him forever.

A strong tornado hit the town of Trenton, GA hard 15 years ago. We drove there a few days afterwards for our daughter to take her SATs for college entrance. Back in the days where you had to drive a long ways to take college entrance exams.

All of the traveling I did during the month of May 2014 was just absolutely crazy! Not sure how I did it.

A big hooray in the saga of moving the office to a new temporary location. Very pleased that the office is now located back in Nashville.

I haven't crossed over it yet but there is a new bridge on campus completing the pond walk around.

A painting of the Wernli fishbowl - a place of gatherings, conversations, amusement and a whole lot of growing up by one naïve college undergraduate Dwight Hunter. The building may be gone but the memories and lessons learned are not.

I'm not an obsessed at railfanning, but I do enjoy finding unique rail way locations. Imagine the amount of work it took for this cut.

Random Collection of Pictures April 2026

April 2026: two conventions, two presentations. The busiest month for academic library marketing. The month of April is usually an annual whirl of the many things in my work and volunteer life.

It was interesting to read the 90 years ago column in the newspaper about a great-uncle, W.H. Burton, and the Drotts family.

A picture of the Webster store (in new Webster). I still have memories of visiting the store, driving past the store for 4-H meetings, and the smell inside the store.

I'm a big fan converting abandoned railways to trails. This one, Flint Hills Trail, received national recognition.

Another unusual map discovery -- the number of Waffle Houses by state.

The first convention in April was the Tennessee PTA convention held in Memphis. I presented about 501c3 nonprofits (PTAs) and election/civics activities that can be legally performed. 

And two Facebook memories from previous TN PTA conventions held in April. 

The next convention was the Tennessee Library Association held in Knoxville. I presented on marketing library activities.

A nephew graduated - congrats Dill!

Stark black and white pictures of two Ellis County Catholic churches. I was able to visit one again, St. Fidelis, in September 2026.

Cherry blossoms in Chicago!

A prescribed burn pictured at Quivira wetlands (Kansas).

At my local bar wearing a western shirt and my Red Clay Cherokee t-shirt.

Someone's incredible storm picture near a Kansas ranch gate.

Random Collection of Pictures March 2026

March brought birthdays, local trips up Raccoon Mountain and Lookout Mountain, and a 10 minute drive across the Georgia state line into the national military battlefield. I also gathered a few interesting snippets of information along the way. And presented at a Paralegal Education Conference!

Family history pics! G's great-grandmother.

And a great-grandfather from my side.

US Highway 40 was originally signed as North 40 and South 40. Then North 40 was signed as US Highway 24 and South 40 became just 40.

The Stockton newspaper has a columnist, Leo Oliva, who wrote a column that I already knew (me being a student of history) about Nicodemus and railroad denial.

The old town of Webster picture. I wonder if this is how the Burtons saw it back in the day with their farm land so close to the town.

I heard about Madalyn Murray received some land near Stockton but never had the full inside scoop until now.

I really liked the two months I lived in Republic. For Dad anyways, the first time living full-time within a city limits.

Five minute trips to Lookout Mountain and Raccoon Mountain.

Birthdays for Pops and David!

My awesome display for March and women's history.

Kansas beauty - I'm in love.

I recognized this road immediately from Thornburg. I should. I ran two miles every morning at 5 AM before school (except for sloppy mud or blizzards).

My promo board for my presentation! It went great and had a large audience!