Natchez Trace Parkway Arches Bridge

One of the outstanding features of the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Arches bridge, located just a few miles south of the northern terminus near Franklin, Tennessee. It is 155 feet high and spans 1648 feet across TN Highway 96 and Birdsong Hollow. It is said to be the nation's first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge.

I clearly remember when it was completed in 1994; we were so excited that we could go almost all the way to Vanderbilt with little traffic on the Trace. The speed limit on the Trace is 55 or less, unlike the alternate route of I65N where people generally drive anywhere from 80-130 mph.

We were crossing the bridge going south here after driving to the northern end and turning back. I love it when I'm not driving, and can make photos out the car window.

We left the Trace, heading to Franklin on Tennessee 96. The rest of the photos were made just before we got on 96.

It was breathtakingly beautiful. I have been here in the spring, when the roadsides are decked out with redbuds and dogwoods, and it is difficult to decide which I like best. Either one is worth the drive!

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Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures. We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything. Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.

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Out of the Dirt: Bragg-ing

Like every reader, I have my favorite writers. There have been so many that have stirred my emotions and made me a part of their world, and I'm thankful for that. The one is love the best, the one I cherish , is Rick Bragg. Yesterday, Rick was in our area. We were privileged to see a newly released documentary about his life called Out of the Dirt . Afterwards, he talked to us about family and roots. His first book, All over but the Shoutin' , was recommended to me years ago. Very early in the book, I was thinking, "Who is this? He is writing about me, about my family." I have never actually met anyone in the book, but they are all my neighbors and kinfolks. His other books are just as well-written. In his book, Writing for the Soul , Christian author Jerry Jenkins had this to say about Rick Bragg: I read other writers and strive to be like them. I read others, like Rick Bragg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist, and simply surrender, knowing I will ...

Faith, Folklore, and Friends

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