Introducing the Green Exchange: LBL Library

We want you to have a delightful stay at our cabin and we would like to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

From going on many vacations, I understand one of the joys you may look forward to is time to actually read a book.  However, even on vacation other activities may make it difficult to finish the book.  No worries at Lightning Bug Lodge because you can take the book home with you.  Just exchange it for one of your used books.

It will be fun to see how the collection evolves with travelers from around the country.  I've provided 50 books to begin the library.  Since this is a family friendly cabin, I've included both adult and childrens books.  Perhaps you find a new bedtime story as you gather near the fireplace.  At the end of the year, I'll show you the new list.  Here's the 50 books available in September 2010:

1) Nathans Fishing Trip
2) We're Going on a Nature Hunt

3) Alexander & the Wind Up Mouse

4) Wind in the Willows
5) Mysteries & Marvels of Nature
6) Day of the Dragon King
7) Busy Bear Goes to the Beach
8) Websters College Dictionary
9) Chasing Kangaroos
10) It Takes a Village
11) Three Cups of Tea
12) Chicken Soup for the Nature Lovers Soul
13) The Secret Language of Girlfriends
14) Miss American Pie
15) The Art of Possibility
16) Still Making Waves
17) At Large & At Small
18) The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
19) Away
20) The Wanderer
21) Finding Father Christmas
22) Barefoot
23) The Hornets Nest
24) Simple Abundance
25) Burning Bright
26) Creepy Crawly Creatures
27) Lady and the Tramp
28) Off to Sea
29) W is for Wind
30) The Michigan Count Book
31) Sunny Numbers
32) The Ancient World
33) Olivia Joules & the Overactive Imagination
34) Little House on the Prairie
35) Bravo Amelia Bedelia
36) A Bargain for Frances
37) Jingle Bells
38) Hour of the Olympics
39) Someone Like You
40) Common Phrases & Where They Come From
41) Angel Dogs with a Mission
42) Fetching Dylan
43) Lapham Rising
44) Pets in America
45) Abundance for Beginners
46) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
47) Poems and Rhymes
48) Teamwork in Tonka Town
49) Big Birds Guessing Game
50) Shapes Around Town

What book would you contribute to the library?   What kind of books would you like to see in the library?

1979 National Geographic Further Explains the Wonder

Melville Grosvenor wrote another article about the National Parks in National Geographic.  He further explains our attraction to the parks, "All the parks, whatever their specific names, have a common denominator.  They renew us in one way or another, re-create something deep within us."  It's more than just our fascination with plants, animals, and grand formations.  It's also about connecting to other people and creating memories.  Melville touches upon this wish too, "We all wonder, in the parks, and sometimes we grow closer to one another (I am not referring to the exasperating traffic congestion).  It happens when, assembeled near Old Faithful in Yellowstone, we marvel at the faithful miracle.  Grouped in dread fascination beneath El Capitan in Yosemite, we are linked more subtly."  I agree.  I remember viewing Old Faithful and El Capitan in awe and I remember the people standing with me too.  Tips for creating memories:                   1) Plan a special moment.  Why not set an alarm to watch a sunrise or sunset with your sweatheart?                                                           2) Don't plan every moment.  Make your vacation as long as possible and leave plenty of free time to discover an unexpected site or event together.  3) Bring your camera to capture a moment, but not every moment.  Glued behind a lens, you risk capturing the moment, but not experiencing it.                   4) Meet new people and get to know them well enough to become pen pals.  Written letters (or more likely emails) will remind you of the good times.

1966 National Geographic Predictions Came True

The National Geographic predicted increased traffic at the National Parks and the author, Melville Bell Grosvenor, President & Editor of National Geographic Society was right.  At the time of the issue, July 1966, he noted that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most visited of all national parks, welcoming 5 million people per year.  Now I've seen reports of 9 million people visiting per year, nearly double in less than 50 years. 

I think Melville also understood the growth drivers, "More and more of us are living in cities and suburbs...But a steel-and-concrete environment does not give the American people all the inspiration they need to stay happy and productive.  We also need sunshine, clean air, and natural beauty.  Thus paradoxically, the more we live in the cities, the more we turn outdoors."  Do you find that the more time you spend in the city, the more you crave getting into nature?

Want to get out in nature without spending most of your time in traffic?  Tips: 
1) Rent a place where you can retreat away from the chaotic strip (like Lightning Bug Lodge). 
2) Visit popular places like Great Smoky Mountain National Park's Cades Cove early in the morning to beat the crowds. 
3) Plan an activity that gets the family out of the car.  Perhaps a new type of transportation like horseback riding, tubing, skiing, or walking with llamas.  Llamas!?!?!  Yes, visit the Smoky Mountain Llama Trek website http://www.smokymountainllamatreks.com/
4) Avoid the Sunday early afternoon traffic home:  leave Sun. AM or stay another night and leave Mon.

The Journey to Shagbark Resort

Sometimes when we share a story, we find ourselves describing the journey with joy, not just the destination.  In a world of traffic in hurry, it can be a delight to slow down and smell the flowers.  You'll love the short scenic trip (less than 10 miles) from the bustling Pigeon Forge to the cabin.

Our neighbors along the road include an antique shop, wood craftsmen shops, barns, cows, and multiple white painted churches.  Here's a few of the mountain farm photos I took from the roadside.

Have you ever had a journey more memorable than the destination?  Share your story.

An Inspirational Fireflies Song by Owl City

Fireflies or lightning bugs, whatever you choose to call them, they light up the night.  They remind me of hot summer nights, chasing them, barefoot in the grass.  Looks like nature, childhood, and fireflies helped inspire a hit song and the song was one of my inspirations for the Lightning Bug Lodge name.  Here's the lyrics from Owl City:

"You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep

'Cause they'd fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude
But I would just stand and stare
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems

'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance

A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

Leave my door open just a crack
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
Why do I tire of counting sheep
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell

But I'll know where several are
If my dreams got real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams"

Okay, I admit to using a photo of fireworks instead of fireflies.  If you have any photos of fireflies that I can use on this blog, please send!

Which 2 places in the world can you find the Synchronous Fireflies?

An invitation to see the synchronous fireflies (or lightning bugs) would read something like this:

What:  A magical natural light show
Guest Stars:  Synchronous Lightning Bugs, 1 of 2,000 firefly species, less than 1% of fireflies
Who:  the first 800-900 people
Where:  Great Smoky Mountain National Park or Southeast Asia
When:  2 weeks in June, approx. June 6-14th, nightly show at approx. 9-9:30PM

Yes, the synchronous lightning bugs are only found in GSMNP (Elkmont campground as most well known location within the park) or Southeast Asia (specifically the rivers in Kampang Kuantan Malaysia).  For me, the GSMNP location in TN would be much closer and cheaper trip.

For many years the only known synchronous fireflies in the world were found in Malaysia.  It was within our lifetime that the lightning bugs were documented as being in the US too (1994).  In the early 1990's an Elkmont community resident & naturalist noticed the lightning bugs in Elkmont.  She convinced a professor at Georgia Southern University to visit. 

Are these lighning bugs exactly the same in 2 far apart places?  Although both flash in synchrony, the light pattern is different.  The Asian lightning bugs oscillate their flashing in a metronome like manner (on, off, on, off) in a regular sequence.  However, the Elmont fireflies flash in a series of about six blinks and then pause for awhile before starting again.  Why the difference, I'm not certain.  I think scientists have a lot more to learn about these newly found beetles.

If you accepted such invitation, here's the directions you would be given:

Where:  Park at the GSMNP Sugarland Visitors Center, ride the $1 Gatlinburg Trolley to the Elkmont campground.  Please note Elkmont entrance closes to cars 5PM to Midnight

When:  Trolleys begin at 6PM & end when full or 9PM (previous reports of being full at 7:30PM or earlier).  Trolley to site runs every 20-25 minutes.  Trolley returns up to 11PM.

What to bring:  Flashlights with red cellophane, lawn chairs & blankets, food & water in backpacks.  No alcohol or pets.  Please note there is no service at the site & only portable potties.