http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/index.htmlrose archivesenthebroiledstew@stewardsweb.netCopyright 2009 rose2009-04-21T09:27:08-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:27:29 -0500thebroiledstew@stewardsweb.netNone2009-04-21T09:27:08-05:00http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/rosearchives/files/3b3aa1e1a6dcd3cf1c7946662c6e91e8-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/rosearchives/files/3b3aa1e1a6dcd3cf1c7946662c6e91e8-3.html#unique-entry-id-3You come up to a fork in the road and the inevitable question arises. I hit one of those forks only I didn’t realize just how much the road I chose curved so differently from the path I was previously on.

These archives are about what happens when you take the road less traveled. When you actually take the time to stop and smell the roses.

Science, nature, history, world culture, and art are my passions. These archives contain my own unique perspective on these topics.
]]>thebroiledstew@stewardsweb.netNone2009-05-03T09:26:23-05:00http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/rosearchives/files/fa53141d41e30e33e621313040d66101-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/rosearchives/files/fa53141d41e30e33e621313040d66101-2.html#unique-entry-id-2With the approach of warm weather, everyone starts making plans on how to pass those hot summer days. The kids will be out of school for summer vacation and it’s just too pretty outside to spend the day inside. Now is the time when most parents start making reservations at resort hotels, booking vacations, and trying to plan so many activities that they need and itinerary just to remember everything. Fortunately for me, I’m not one of those parents and my children don’t require long drives to some overpriced amusement park that is halfway across the country. I say vacation at home! Support the local wildlife and throw a backyard BBQ - complete with sprinklers and water balloons and pictures!

Tennessee has a lot of tourist attractions. I try to avoid them during the peak times and go during the week or when they have discounted days. Though to most people nothing beats spending the day riding thrill rides of splashing in a giant water park, we like to take the paths less traveled. Stew, the girls, and I prefer the simpler things in life, like spending the day at a local park. We’ve found several that are within a twenty minute drive and there are probably a few more yet to be discovered. The girls love feeding bread to the ducks and squirrels. Sometimes we’ll pack a lunch and make it a picnic. They meet all kinds of other kids and have a new best friend every five or ten minutes.

We have also discovered the joy of sidewalk chalk. One never knows what kind of art will appear on the driveway. Passing neighbors and visiting guests are all quite entertained with the drawings, doodles, and self portraits. Not to mention there is virtually no clean up. Just wait until it rains and a whole new canvas appears right before their eyes. When the rain spoils their fun, we go to the library and check out a couple of movies or books. The great thing about the library is they have a very large selection of family-oriented movies. Everything from National Geographic to Disney, and it’s free. At the end of the day, the girls make good use of the “treasures” they found during our outdoor excursions. Whether it be nuts, rocks, feathers, or strangely shaped sticks, nothing escapes the imagination - or future project - of a child.]]>thebroiledstew@stewardsweb.netNone2009-07-12T09:25:19-05:00http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/rosearchives/files/c5e9d6e4b171aa252f95dada8039f76d-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/rosearchives/files/c5e9d6e4b171aa252f95dada8039f76d-1.html#unique-entry-id-1Late one evening around dusk my dog, Sparkles, started barking. It wasn’t that unusual for her to bark as some of the people that live down the street tend to ignore the leash law and let their dogs roam all over the neighborhood. I go out on the deck because her barking has intensified. I had expected to see a couple of other dogs rummaging for food. Imagine my surprise to see four deer emerge from the bushy tree-line that borders my property.]]>thebroiledstew@stewardsweb.netNone2009-07-14T08:55:56-05:00http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/rosearchives/files/5aab6adfcd60fd9e77efbdb4f085a20b-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://thebroiledstew.stewardsweb.net/rosearchives/files/5aab6adfcd60fd9e77efbdb4f085a20b-0.html#unique-entry-id-0Once again my life changes. I have come to the realization that change is a good thing. It forces us to make decisions, to adapt, to learn and to grow in every way possible. At least that is the way it is for me.]]>