First I should tell you that all parties mentioned in this entry are friends, having met here on our Inaugural weekend. Now they plan their camping trips to Deep Valley together

Susan S. of Algood, Tn. Was declared the First Place Winner (out of one contestant) In the “Best Use of Non-Road Kill Natural Foods.” This clever lady found a recently deceased mole. She artistically laid it on a white plate and covered it with Barbeque sauce. The sauce dripped Elegantly down the sides of the mole and Susan had swirled the ends of the sauce on the plate. Ala: Food Network- Gourmet Dining.

She then gave it to another camper, a rather large man commonly called Bear.

Susan presented the plate with the billing of “Here is a Fancy, Nutrious

dessert made just for you. “

A very long repulsive look was all that her gift received from the recipient.

For Presentation, Susan received at A.

For creativity, she received A+

For number of laughs provided to the waiting audience, she got A++++++

“The Atlantis of Dale HollowLake”

DHL possesses a gem in historian and well-published author, Darren Shell.  Darren , along with Randall Slayton, a scuba diver and Marcus Mitchell produced a DVD documentary “Journey to Old Willow Grove: The Atlantis of Dale Hollow Lake.”

This area of Tennessee was populated and towns incorporated starting in the 1790’s. The story goes that in 1942 the town of Willow Grove was bought by the Army Corp. of Engineers. They bought out the local residents, who moved to higher ground or further away.  The Corp. tore down homes and buildings, then flooded the area, thus creating DHL. But memories of the town still remain underwater and aerial photos show remains such as the foundation of the Old Willow Grove School. Many former residents and their descendants still assemble annually for a reunion. The U.S. Army Corp. had blasted the school’s concrete steps with dynamite but the foundation and remaining concrete portions are still visible at the bottom of the lake. This structure and others appear to be much closer to the surface than they really are due to the clarity of the lake. DHL is said to have some of the clearest waters in the SE U.S.

It took Darren, Randall and Marcus in excess of six months to research, film (underwater) and produce the DVD. You can learn more at www.DaleHollowGravedigger.com

Sometime, I will share with you a local story or two about the creation of Dale Hollow Lake.

I am often asked questions about the large numbers of frogs, especially at night when so many come out of hiding. More than once the question has been “Why there are so many ?” I am adding a new response to my repertoire. I grow them. Right along with the annual flowers. Sound plausible?  Sound silly ?  Just Checkout my photographic evidence. Or you might enjoy some real information on a few of the varieties we have.

American Toad Bufo americanus

American toads are 2 – 3.5 inches long. Their coloration varies from shades of gray or brown to brick red. They have some spotting on the chest, and only 1 – 2 warts per dark spot. They are active mostly at night.Voice: A long, high pitched trill lasting 6-30 seconds.

Fowler’s Toad Bufo fowleri

Fowler’s toads are 2-3 inches long. Their coloration varies from shades of gray or brown to brick red. They have 3 or more warts per spot and are active mostly at night.Voice: A nasal “WAAAAAAH” lasting 1 – 4 seconds.

Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad Gastrophryne carolinensis

Eastern narrow-mouthed toads are 1 – 1.25 inches long. They are triangular in appearance with a fold of skin just behind the eyes. They may be gray, brown, or reddish in color with dark markings on the back. They are found statewide, usually under rocks and logs or underground in burrows. Voice: Sounds like the bleat of a lamb, lasting 1/4 – 4 seconds.

Gray Treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis

Treefrogs are 1.25 – 2 inches long. Their coloration is highly variable but usually gray or green with irregular markings on the back. They are characterized by a white spot under the eye, warty skin, and yellow-orange on the thigh.  They are found habitats with small trees or shrubs throughout Tennessee. Voice: A short, fast trill.

Southeastern Chorus Frog

Southeastern chorus frogs are 0.75 – 1.5 inches long. Their coloration varies from pale gray to dark brown. They have a white line on the upper lip, and a dark line extending from the snout through the eye and ending at the groin.They are in moist hardwood forests, or swampy bottom lands. Voice: A series of rapid clicks. But minus a Southern accent

Mountain Chorus Frog Pseudacris brachyphona

These frogs are 1 – 1.25 inches long. They are brown, gray, or olive with a dark triangle between the eyes and have two stripes in the form of reverse parenthesis on the back. They are common in the upland woods of hills and mountains of the Cumberland Plateau, Cumberland Mountains,

Voice: A series of fast, low- pitched clicks, “REEK-raaack.”

Cricket Frog Acris crepitans

Northern cricket frogs are 0.5 – 1.5 inches long. Their coloration varies, but they all have a dark triangle between the eyes, the skin is warty, and there is a dark ragged stripe on the thigh. They are found statewide near shallow water and slow moving streams where cover is abundant. Voice: A series clicks that begin slowly, speed up, and slow down again.

If you like frogs, Ask to see FRED when you stop by the office.

The American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus) is the only Eagle unique to North America .In 1967 eagles were officially declared an Endangered Species. This declaration preceded the inception of the better known Endangered Species Act of 1973.. In 1987, the Army Corp. of Engineers received a proposal submitted by Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville Dept. of Biology (Author : O.R. Jordan) for the reinstatement of the Eagle to DHL.

The proposal identified in detail how Dale Hollow Lake was suitable as a potential site due to its proximity to other reservoirs which were likely to offer suitable eagle nesting habitat. The proposal noted that Dale Hollow provided a sufficient food supply to support a successful project. Since the inception of the program Dale Hollow Lake has become a popular wintering area for the Bald Eagle, These beautiful birds can generally be observed from December to March. During the summer season, they generally avoid humans.

Until you have seen one for yourself, it is difficult to appreciate how majestic this bird really is. The wing span impresses most viewers. The regal tilt of their heads justifies to many the bird’s status as an national emblem.

Our Trout Farm stream is an early on feeder for DHL. Although you can not directly access the Lake from here, the lose proximity makes it quite easy for the Eagles to “drop-in” for a Fresh trout dinner.

For the campers this week from Illinois, this was a first sighting. Forgive my lack of photographic talent, but I tried to catch one in pictures to share with you.

I am an advocate of Recycle & Reuse. When the remnants of the old pool were excavated, the tiles that lined some edge spots were tossed away. The site of that tossing was a steep hill. Over the past two years, debris and Mother Nature had covered the tiles. When I noticed them, I decided to Recycle. I tied one end of a rope to my waist, the other to a picnic table and shimmied down the hill. More like slid on my butt, but shimmied makes it sound like I was somewhat in control of the descent. And it saves my false sense of minimal dignity. An old Chlorine bucket for collection, a few trips back up the hill and I was ready. After cleaning the tiles as well as could be done, I laid them out and pondered.

“Brain Storm”, or more accurately “Brain Drizzle”- Under the new back deck, I had decided to put up a Flowering Vine wall to block the view of the storage area. To define the narrow beds for the plants, I could make a divider with the tiles. I cemented tiles to left over cement board from the second floor construction and WA-LA! A Border that I am calling Campground Garden Art.

Unfortunately, there are very few commodities recycled in this area, but every bit helps. And the tiles will squash the weeds underneath. In theory anyways

Congratulations to America on the election of President Obama.

After a colder than normal winter, the weather is teasing us with hints of Spring. Trees are starting to bud. Daffodils and crocus are peeking out of the gardens. It has been a busy winter. We are diligently working on the second floor of the office building. It always goes slower than desired when you are doing the work yourself but progress is being made. Last season left us with numerous memories worthy of reminiscence. The twin teens who out fished all of the men in their group. The children who came afraid of the water then left in tears because the parents were taking them out of the pool. The groups who had reunions. The screams of delight when the little tykes caught trout. And the salivating of adults when their trout came out of the water as they anticipated that nights dinner.

There has been more water gifted to this area by Mother Nature this spring. After a few years of drought, this is very welcomed. It has been years since the water coming out of the mountain was substantial enough to go over the restraining wall Today we are heading to the woods along the hiking trails with saws in hand. Each spring the trails and their immediate banks need to be cleared of branches, leaf piles & fallen trees. When Gully-Washer rains come in the spring, they often carve large grooves in the trails that need to be filled in for safety’s sake.