Wonderful Quotes

”The man who removes a mountain
begins by carrying away small stones.”
~ William Faulkner


Simple living is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation.
Rather, it is about living an examined life — one in which you have determined
what is important.


Epicuros: “We shall seek temperance and a simple life, real wealth and freedom consists in a minimum of needs.”

Creative thinking may mean simply the realization that there's no particular virtue in doing things the way they always have been done.
Rudolf Flesch

Wolf Creek Dam

I wanted to post some pictures of a natural arch located close to my home. It is located below this dam on the river. I thought I would post some about the Dam before hand. I live about 5 miles from this dam. It is currently being reconstructed because there is severe leakage.

In late January 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers placed the dam under a 'high risk' for failure designation, along with Center Hill Dam in Tennessee, both of which are two major dams upstream from Nashville, Tennessee. A new long-term solution has been proposed to solve, or control, the current seepage problem. A grout curtain and a new concrete diaphragm wall of greater dimensions will be constructed with newer technologies.[2] To reduce the current stresses on Wolf Creek Dam, and thus the risk, the Corps believes they should lower Lake Cumberland to 640 feet (195 m), 83 feet (25 m) lower than normal summer levels.[3] However, this will affect up to 200,000 area citizens' water supply and has also met resistance from marina owners, so the water level has remained at 40 feet (12 m) below its normal level. This lowered lake level is to be held for an indefinite amount of time and will be subject to frequent review.[2]. Wolf Creek Dam is also currently undergoing significant remediation measures to control the current seepage problem that has forced the high risk designation.

Phase one remedial work began in March 2006. Phase two, which includes grouting the dam's foundation, began in January 2007. Remediation is expected to be complete in 2014 and cost an estimated $309 million.[2] A risk-benefit analysis indicates that the benefit to cost ratio is 7 to 1.[1]

If Wolf Creek Dam fails, the estimated loss of life is 100 individuals and three billion dollars.[4]

In October 2007, warning sirens were installed in the Dam's surrounding counties[5][6], and Popular Mechanics cited Wolf Creek Dam as one of the top five disasters waiting to happen in the United States.[7]

Rock House Bottom Kentucky

This is the natural arch located below the Wolf Creek Dam in Kentucky.

Another stone erected at the sight of the natural arch. These people really believe in preserving the natural beauty of the sight.

Creelsboro Natural Bridge (more commonly referred to as Rock House or Rockhouse or Rockhouse Bottom) is a natural bridge in Western Russell County, Kentucky, USA (36°53'5.97"N 85°14'11.13"W). It is located near the town of Creelsboro, approximately seven miles from the Wolf Creek Dam and Lake Cumberland. Rockhouse is classified as a meander natural bridge because Jim Creek flows through it before merging into the Cumberland River. With a span of 104 feet, it is the seventh largest natural bridge in the USA.

Rockhouse strata is over 440 million years old (Upper Ordovician Period, Cumberland Formation, Silty Dolomite). Unlike most natural bridges it is made of dolostone rather than sandstone. First discovered in 1770 by a group of hunters, Rockhouse is a popular site for camping. It was designated a national landmark by the U.S. National Park Service in 1987.

Rock House Bottom

This is the history of the Arch. You can click on the picture to make it larger. But I will type what is on the stone.

Creelsboro Arch
Unpublicized and uncommercialized
300,000,000 years old
Danger falling rock and snake area
History of Area
Used by indians fishing and hunting
here in summer burying dead on top
Rediscovered by long hunters in 1792
Named the Rock House in 1812
when the settlers used it for
meeting and as picnic area
Chapel built from
natural materials
Canopy of heaven is the roof
The good earth is the floor
The void between heaven
and earth is the walls.

Rock House Bottom

The people that own the land where the natural arch is located bought the land to keep it from becoming commercialized. The established signs explaining the history of the land and how they felt about the land. They also used their land as a testament and witness of their faith.

This is hard to read. You can click on it to enlarge. But I will write what is on it.

Rock House Bottom Chapel

All Denominational
Dedicated to Jesus Christ
In memory of
John and Pearl Goff
Welcome sinners but beware
The devil blesses you with
Worldly goods and desires and
is stealing your soul
for the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life.
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Behold today is the day of salvation
Jesus is here with you now.
Accept him as your savior
and ask for faith and guidance
while you are here
Become a born again Christian
Courtesy of Thomas and Loren Goff

Rock House Bottom

This is a local natural landmark near my house. I will post a series of pictures and the history that goes along with it.The first three are just pictures of it. It is huge and is hard to grasp the size from the pictures. It is located several miles down the river from the Wolf Creek Dam. When we get a lot of rain the natural arch is sometimes full of water and cannot be entered on foot.

The fog is beautiful. It doesn't matter how hot and humid it is. When you get closer to the river it is about 20 degrees cooler.

Budapest at Night

Budapest is the capital of Hungary with a population of 1.8 million citizens, it is by far the largest city in the country. The twin cities of Buda and Pest, unified in 1873, face each other across the famous Danube River, linked by the graceful spans of several bridges. The “gateway to Eastern Europe”, Budapest is renowned as a warm-hearted city, with a rich artistic, architectural and cultural legacy, of which its citizens are justly proud. Incredible architecture and rich cultural heritage, Hungary’s capital deserves its reputation as the “Paris of Central Europe”. The picturesque setting on two sides of the Danube, the nine connecting bridges, and the villas and public buildings, make Budapest one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe. The city straddles a gentle curve in the Danube. It has broad avenues, leafy parks and elaborate bathhouses.

Jacob took a ride down the Danube River Saturday night. He emailed and said it was the most beautiful city he had ever seen.

Four Leaf Clover

The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally.[1] According to legend, each leaflet represents something: the first is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.

Found in my backyard.

Clouds over Europe

Pause for a moment for all the passengers of the France jet that went down over the Atlantic. Say a prayer for the families left grieving. My heart is so heavy for these people. My son will be flying back this month. Of course my thoughts are on his flight, especially after this unfortunate accident.

Thumper Cooling Out

Pictures from my Son in Czech Republic