Running The Sahara: Charlie Engle

Jodie and I enjoyed an evening out without the kids! Back Row Film Series kicked off with the first film for this summer:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

RUNNING THE SAHARA

Where: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River Street

What: Narrated and executive produced by Academy Award winner Matt Damon and directed by Academy Award winner James Moll, Running the Sahara is a powerful and inspirational documentary that chronicles an attempt by three ultra marathoners to run across the entire length of Africa's Sahara Desert in 80 days. Tackling not only the elements, but also unimaginable physical and emotional obstacles, Charlie Engle, Kevin Lin and Ray Zahab undertake a grueling test of will and a chance to accomplish something that no known person has ever achieved.

Time: 6:45 PM: Reception / 7:30 PM: Film screening and Q&A with Charlie Engle

Cost: $25 per person (includes reception and DVD gift bag)

Additional Sponsors: Chattem and Trail Steaks

Buy tickets

A portion of the proceeds will benefit H20 Africa and Rodale Institute.

Jodie and I left ready to go see the world! Ask us more about the movie and our dreams.

Come for a movie premiere at our house.

Picnic at Red Clay - Cavin Hills B-Day - Segway Fun

Red Clay Picnic

Sadie & Mantha

Samantha Spears

Bryden Spears: Hitting One Armed!

Naomi

More Pictures: MobileMe Gallery - Red Clay Picnic

Cavin Hills Third Birthday

The kids Played in the Creek

More Pictures: MobileMe Gallery - Cavin's Third Birthday

Segway Fun

More Pictures: MobileMe Gallery - Segway Fun

Swafford's Ice Cream De Jour

Recipe:

1-2 Pint(s) Half & Half

1-2 Pint(s) Whipping Cream

1-2 Cup(s) Sugar

1.5 tablespoons vanilla

1 Can

Eagle® Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 Pint Strawberry Yogurt

1 Gallon Mayfield Whole Milk

1 Punnet Strawberries

1-2 bananas

1 box rock salt

1-3 bags ice depending on size

Add half & half, whipping cream, sugar, vanilla, sweeten condensed milk, and yogurt into a blinder and mix. Add strawberries & smashed bananas to mixture and continue blinding until strawberries are smallish in size. Place mixture in ice cream barrel with milk to fill line. Refrigerate until time comes to make ice cream.

Hints:

-Adding yogurt to the mix helps make the ice cream smoother. We use vanilla most of the time.

-Devolve sugar by letting the mixture stand before making

-Many recipes add eggs however we don't like the egg flavor or the chance of salmonella

-Basic recipe: whipping cream, 2 cups sugar, vanilla, sweeten condensed milk, and milk

-After stopping the making process pull the agitator out and replace the lid. Pack barrel with ice and salt. Let sit for a few minutes as ice cream will harden.

Ride of Silence

Chattanooga Bicycle Club organized our ride today.

I was not able to ride however Ride of Silence is a wonderful cause I want to support. After being runoff the road and knowing people hit by cars this cause is vivid in my mind. My bad dreams of a car clipping me on my bike hunt me from time to time.

Uncle Corbin Visits

Corbin Came to Visit Me This Weekend!

Daddy & Jacks

Jackson 3 Months

Jacks - Chris - Corbin

Picnicking at Red Clay Park

Seth Stephen Maggs is here!

Congratulation to Jim and Jed they had a baby boy:

Seth Stephen Maggs

7lb 6oz Born

18/May/09 @ 1335

Length 51.4cm

Best to you three! We are looking to seeing the pictures.

Naming the Driveway

Dear Friends and family, May 13, 2009

Well the county has decided that they need GPS coordinates on all of our streets and houses. A month ago they discovered our 900' gravel driveway did not have a name. Therefore they, decided "our gravel drive" must have a name.

They sent a form for us to submit our top three choices for our street name or in 30 days they would name it "ENGLAND WAY". A website was included so we could search all the street names in the county and not submit a name already used.

We looked at the site and found a SWAFFORD STREET and SWAFFORD LANE. We really didn't have the time to chose a name. It's not a baby. We had a hard enough time choosing our boys names. We don't even name our dogs to well. The dog we had the longest was named "Pup". It's just a dirt drive! We get mail. We get bills. The Jehovah's Witness find us all the time! Why does it need to be named?

SO they want us to name our street? Okay so we did. We suggested SWAFFORD TRAIL, SWAFFORD WAY and some other version I can't remember and submitted the form. OUT-OF-SITE and OUT-OF-MIND, right?

Well today we have a new letter stating they have decided that they will only use a word ONCE on a street name. So even though SWAFFORD TRAIL does not exist anywhere else in the county, we cannot use SWAFFORD because that name has been used on previous streets.

Now I pulled out the first letter and found that I had followed directions, BUT now they have decided they don't want to allow for any mix-ups with street identification. Might I remind you that UPS, FED-X, DSL and the Postal Service find us on a regular basis. The Girl Scouts, and every needy organization can find us to make donations, but the county is worried they will not be able to find us in an emergency. Just let one of those kids ride the fire truck that sells candy. The kids know where to finds SWAFFORD'S drive!

So I have 10 more days or my drive will be called will be called ENGLAND WAY! I try to be positive in these times but, "Why" does the county need to spend all that money finding and naming dirt roads and trails? And if they are going to do it, WHY ENGLAND WAY? We live in Apison, Tennessee, USA!!!!!! I don't think we had to run the British out back in the 1700's. I could see "Granny Squirrel Drive (a real name up the road), White Oak Circle, or Summer Breeze Drive. BUT ENGLAND WAY????? This is crazy.

So we need your help. If you have a good name for our road (I am serious) please reply to this email with your top choice (please limit it to three). We will spend the weekend going through the names and hopefully come up with a suitable name this time that is used no where else in the county. Be creative. You know our Outdoor lifestyle. If you have been here you know we have some woods and a field. We love our bird and butterflies. There are lots of Wood Thrush in the woods and a resident Red-Shouldered Hawk that has nested behind our house for 25 years.

Give it a try, We want an original name the county will remember. And a name that will catch their attention next time thy try to find us without the help of the local folk. Thanks for your suggestion in advance,

Carl & Beverly

Update: May 16, 2009

The time is up. This has truly been a fun activity. We had a 100+ suggestions! Here is the top ten that we received. Now this list will be taken to the family council, the top three chosen and submitted to the County. Yes, we will let you know which name THE COUNTY accepts.

Thank you for taking time to submit your suggestions. It's good to know that we have so many friends who came to rescue in a time of need.

Carl & Beverly

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Top Ten

1. Droffaws Drive (Swafford spelled backwards and the name of Dad’s museum)

2. Old Buzzard Rd

3. Carlsgood Rd. (but I would prefer the alliterative "Carlsgood Court")

4. Raptor (Way)

5. Discovery Trail

6. Satyr Way

7. Catbird Alley (changed from street)

8. Pile-O-Rocks Trail (we actually have a huge pile of rocks at the drive)

9. Butterfly Lane (or Boulevard)

10. Thrush Song Lane

The Best Kind of Friends!

Jacob - Eric - James - Sadie

Playing Full Out!

Little Man

Sadie has talked about the Smiths visiting all day and nearly fell to-bits when she thought she was going to miss ya.

Eric you're the d'man from field trip father to softball coach and story reader. We appreciate your love for your kids and other's kids and they cherish your time.

Thanks for joining us for dinner and we looking forward to our next gathering.

Papa & Oma Visit!

"Daddy, Caro-line is coming to see me!"

Sadie has had a wonderful time play, being read to, and generally enjoying her visitors. Garry & Caroline aka Papa & Oma have been with us for the past week. Their quick visit has come to an end to soon. We are looking forward to the next visit during fall break if not sooner.

Happy Birthday Caroline. We know how much the girls are looking forward to your visiting them in Whistler. Enjoy your time in the beautiful Canadian hot spring.

Laurel Snow Pocket Wilderness

Sadie ran and ran. We have got to get her out in the woods more often.

"Papa Catch Me"

Little Man Gets Some Attention

"My Blue Swing"

"Gotch-ya"

Afternoon Tea: Sadie liked the bicies, the tea not so much.

"Read it Again"

"I love you Papa!" -Jacks

Breathless Agony Bike Race

Corbin & Julie are awesome! They conquered Onyx Summit.

Today was our big bike race. It was over 12000 vertical feet of climbing and 114 miles long. We made the top in unofficial time as a little under 7 hours. By the time we had rest stops and made it back the car it was a 10 hour and 20 min experience. Heck yah it was awesome! (and now i will pass out for the night)

Breathless Agony Bike Ride Home Page

We made it!!!
Lots of enthusiasm in the beginning of the race.


At rest stop 1 tanking up on food

Lots of enthusiasm at the end of race!

Just a Swinging!

I'm hiding daddy!

"You can't see me."

Good times on the swing.