excerpted from the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Island Home Park written by Ann Bennett of the Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission "The Island Home Park neighborhood was named for the model farm and second home of Perez Dickinson, a Massachusetts-born merchant, banker and educator prominent in Knoxville and Knox County, who owned the land from 1875 to approximately 1899. Mr. Dickinson, who maintained a large, elegant home in downtown Knoxville as his primary residence, used his "Island Home" as a summer cottage, a guest residence, and an agricultural and horticultural center. Mr. Dickinson's house, although extensively modified from its original Italianate design, still exists on the grounds of the Tennessee School for the Deaf located at the ea... 08/08/2010

In addition to the Robins in our backyard another sure sign that spring is here is the beginning of Knoxville’s annual Dogwood Arts Festival now beginning it’s 49th year. Best described as a month long celebration of spring, the annual Dogwood Arts Festival offers plenty of excitement and things to do for everyone with dance, film, literary arts, music, theater and visual arts. This are my two dogwood trees in the front yard with neighbor's redbuds in the background. According to the Festival website the Dogwood Arts Festival is "a celebration of the region’s natural beauty as well as its rich cultural and artistic offerings in all their vast varieties." One of my favorite things to do is tour the many "Dogwood Trails" which are typically residential areas of the city rich in Dogwood bl... 04/02/2009

If you still have Thanksgiving turkey left over here's a few quick and easy recipes to deliciously get rid of it. One of my favorites I fixed last night. Grilled Turkey Rubens, serves 2 4 slices rye bread 1/2 cup sauerkraut 2 slices of Swiss cheese 1,000 island dressing turkey Butter or apply spread to outside of rye bread, place one slice butter side down in skillet. layer on some turkey, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing. Butter other side of bread and place on top with butter side facing up. Grilled until toasted on one side, turn over and toast other side. Enjoy, grilled turkey Reubens are delicious especially with a crisp pickle and some chips.   Crunchy Turkey Salad, serves 2 coarsely chop cooked turkey, from 1/2 cup to 1 cup Mix in a coarsely chopped tart app... 11/30/2008

One huge recreational attraction in the greater Knoxville Tennessee area is our network of beautiful lakes.Can you think of a better spot to relax and watch the world drift by?Within a 30 minute drive or less in any direction is one of the 7 lakes that surround Knoxville. The Tennessee River actually has its headwaters about 2 miles east of downtown where the Holston and French Broad Rivers merge. The Tennessee River and Fort Loudon Lake flow through the downtown area.Just a few miles south and west are Tellico & Watts Bar Lakes.North is Melton Hill & Norris Lakes.East lies Cherokee & Douglas. You can put your boat in the water in Knoxville and navigate via the Tennessee River to the Tenenssee-Tombigbee Waterway, Tombigbee River, Mobile River, and sail into the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile ... 11/10/2007