On the wall in Mom’s workshop hangs a rod and reel that has been around as long as I can remember. Recently, we were in her workshop when I said, “Your rod and reel need to be dusted.” Then she told me a story that I found to be hilarious.
A little family background: Mom was the third of four children, all born four years apart, and the only girl. She has told many tales about the ordeals she suffered through growing up as the only sister. Such episodes include her older brothers nailing bottle caps on trees and telling their friends that their little sister could outshoot any of them. They would bet money on that fact, then threaten Mom she had better outshoot the boys.
Mom’s Rod and Reel Story
Back in the late 1950s, my little brother, Thomas, was around age 11, and I was age 15. We wanted a fishing rod and reel. We did not have enough money to buy two. Mr. Weatherby, the owner of the local general store and our parents’ friend, said he would sell us one on a payment plan, and we could share it.
So, we went in together on weekly payments with the stipulation that we were not to tell our parents that he offered the payment plan. We decided on a burgundy South Bend reel and a green fiberglass rod.
Thomas did not read the paper that came with the rod and reel, but I, being an avid reader, did. The rod came with an offer for a free engraved metal end plate. I sent in the paperwork. Soon, I received a metal plate and attached it to the rod.
We went fishing together for several weeks before Thomas noticed my name – and my name only – on the end plate. When he did, he got very mad. We fought for several days over it. So, we decided I would pay him the other half of the cost, then the rod and reel would be all mine.
I used my school lunch and babysitting money to pay Thomas the other half. I don’t recall if I ever paid him all of it. But I still have the rod and reel!
I’ve always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis. I never imagined it would be possible right here in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. It is a wonderful surprise! I tried to get a few photos, but so many new builds in our area have caused quite a bit of light pollution. The Light Pollution Map shows we are in a fairly heavily light polluted area.
Lights interfere with astronomical viewing as well as confuse insects, birds, and other animals. Also, leaving lights on around your house does not deter burglars, it only helps them see. Please consider reducing the use of lighting for the well-being of all. And thank you for doing so!
The city of Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, like many other small towns in America, is unique with a distinct personality. I have spent many years photographing places and things around town that catch my eye. Many of these places no longer exist. Some are disappearing as I type this article due to fast-paced growth in our small town. Obviously, many other people have noticed how dreamy our little city is!
One of my favorite projects is to alter my Soddy-Daisy photos to give them a dreamy, fantasy look. Some folks may even find them to be eerie. However, these photos have been some of my best-selling work. I call the project my Somewhere In Soddy-Daisy series. These photos are one reason this online magazine came into being. I hope you enjoy seeing them when I occasionally post one.
I gave this altered photo the title Sometimes Dead Is Better, a line from the movie Pet Cemetery. At least, I think it’s a pet cemetery.
If you are considering giving your child a rabbit for Easter, there is much you need to know beforehand. Bunnies require diligent care and daily attention from a person who is well-educated about them and committed to their care. They should not be lightly considered as a pet. Bunnies are the cutest little creatures. But, they will bite the &#!% out of you! I mean, have you ever seen the drawings of rabbits in medieval manuscripts, for God’s sake?!?
Smithfield Decretals, c. 1300, British Library, London, UK. Detail.Killer rabbits in medieval manuscripts: Decretals of Gregory IX, ca. 1300-1340, Ms. Royal 10 E IV, British Museum, London, UK. Detail.
In November 2019, my then college student adopted a lionhead rabbit, thinking it could live in the dorm becasue a roommate had one. Turns out, you need papers from a therapist saying you need a support animal to keep one in the dorm. Guess who got to care for the bunny until school was out five months later!
Of course, I became attached the rabbit, and she to me. So, she is now my bunny. Her name is Sepia, because she is the color of a sepiatone photo. (I wanted to name her Hasenpfeffer, but Rainn would not allow it.) She weighs a little over 3 pounds. She can be the sweetest little bunny one minute, then the hatefulest critter you ever met the next.
If you have any idea of getting a pet rabbit, please read below carefully.
Rabbits live 8 to 12 years.
Owning a bunny is a long-term commitment. Too many people buy them on a whim at Eastertime, then after the new wears off, the animals end up discarded into the outdoors or taken to animal shelters. (See statistics below)
Rabbits are social creatures.
Rabbits are the healthiest when they become an integral part of the family, meaning they should be allowed to be in your house just like cats and dogs. This requires bunny-proofing any area where the sweet critter roams. Rabbits should be house-trained to use a litter pan if they free-roam.
Rabbits are nervous creatures.
Because rabbits are prey animals, they always think something is after them. Loud noise, activities, and other pets can upset them or even cause them to have heart attacks. This is also why they need to be indoors. I have a friend who tried to bathe a bunny, which caused the bunny to have a heart attack. BTW, bunnies do not need baths and always smell good.
Rabbits do not like to be picked up without warning, and they will scratch and hurt someone out of self-defense (especially those who attempt to lift the bunny incorrectly).
Rabbits are fragile.
Bunnies can easily be hurt. Rabbit bones can break, and their limbs can become dislocated if they are dropped, held too tightly, or jerked around. They also have fragile respiratory systems, so they cannot live in basements or drafty places. Lysol and other smelly sprays are not healthy for them either.
Rabbits need to be neutered or spayed.
As with all pets, neutering and spaying is a must. This will require an exotic pet veterinarian, as will their annual checkup.
Rabbits are expensive.
Even if you adopt a bunny, they are costly. You will need a large cage where they can nest and eat hay. Water and food bowls, toys, and wood. Rabbits’ teeth continually grow, so they have to eat wood to keep them worn down. This may include your furniture if you do not pay attention while letting them roam around the hose. They also love rubber, which tastes sweet to them.
Litter has to be paper pellets, which are not cheap. Cat litter has dust which rabbits fragile respiratory system cannot handle.
Plus, food. Please see the special diet below.
Rabbits like to chew.
Because rabbit teeth continually grow, they continuously chew. And they will chew on anything! Wood is what they need to keep their teeth worn down. They can’t have just any wood because certain types are harmful or even deadly to a rabbit. So, you must research and obtain wood for your bunny to be healthy. If not, they WILL eat your furniture and baseboards. And, IF you provide wood, they will STILL eat your furniture if you don’t pay attention!
Rubber tastes sweet, to rabbits anyway. They will nibble on anything rubber. Think of your device cords! Recently, I saw a post on Instagram where a dude showed a graveyard box of his device cords as he was adding a chewed one into the box while his bunny looked on. Another posts said, “Tell me you have a bunny without telling me you have a bunny.” Someone commented a photo of a tv remote just like the ours in the gallery below.
Rabbits have special diets.
Rabbits are herbivores (plant eaters) and are considered grazers, because they eat continuously. My little critter gets Oxbow hay pellets morning and evening, a tiny piece of fruit every couple days, two cups of greens (ones approved for bunny consumption), plus a green fresh-cut haystack the size of her body EACH DAY. Hay is 80% of their diet. My little queen bunny costs $40 to $50 a month! You can supplement dandelions, clover, and fresh grass for lettuce sometimes during spring and summer. This amount also includes litter.
Per the House Rabbit Society and the Humane Society of the U.S. rabbits rank 3rd behind dogs and cats that are surrendered. Rabbits can live to between 8–10 years if well cared for, however, 80% of rabbits purchased at Easter either die or are abandoned within the first year. *Patch staff, Beth Dalbey. March 30. 21.’
Sepia in the pot of what used to be my tree, but she has claimed.Sepia relaxing on the bathroom rug. Just one of the places she spread hay around.Sepia was traumatized after a day of roofer on our house.“Why are you blaming me for poop balls in the floor?!? I’m quite sure it was Rainn.”Sepia will always growl to let you know she is not in the mood to be handled. If you ignore her wishes she WILL let you know she means it.
Kilauea Lighthouse on a rainy day. Just like Soddy-Daisy, there are blue holes!
Recently, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to go to Kauai, Hawaii. Known as the Garden Island, it is rich with lush vegetation and colorful flora. While exploring the island, I noticed some similarities between Kauai and Soddy-Daisy. I thought I’d share some of them.
On the first day, the weather caused flash flooding on the island, so I drove around the backroads to see how the locals lived. There were roadside and farm stands with hand-painted signs. Quaint, small churches were a common site.
There are state and other parks every few miles! So, hiking trails are all around the island, showcasing mountain gorges, blue-green water, beautiful trees, waterfalls, creeks, and caves. I even ran into hunters on a trail who were hunting deer with their coon dog and searching for another missing dog.
Just like Soddy-Daisy, Kauai is breathtakingly beautiful. It is disheartening that junk is on the side of the roads in both places. I’ll never understand why people trash nature.
Unlike Soddy-Daisy, the temperatures were 75° for the highs the week before Christmas. These photos are only the ones which remind me of Soddy-Daisy. The beaches and gaint waves are mezmerizing and deserve their own story.
Wailua River.
Foggy mountain ridges of Sleeping Giant. ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls is in this location to the left.
Waipo’o Falls, Waimea Canyon.
Limahuli Stream at Limahuli Garden and Preserve.
Maniniholo Cave entrance on Ha’ena Beach, northern Kauai.
Wai`oli Hui`ia Church near Hanalei Beach and an Episcopal church near the lighthouse.
Deer hunters with one of theirs dogs. Some gorgeous trees I saw along the trail. And, of course, chickens. We call them fighting cocks in Soddy-Daisy.
Jazzy Fresh Eggs 4 Sale and Slow Da Fuck Down made me feel right at home.
A couple of scenes that made me feel like I was still in Soddy-Daisy because I see this nearly everywhere in our town.
Introducing Somewhere in Soddy-Daisy Magazine. Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee is the cultural center of the universe. Located just north of Chattanooga, it has the beauty of the mountains, creeks, and lakes. The Cumberland Trail borders the edge of the most popular nature park. There are mom-and pop-businesses. But what really makes this place unique are the residents.
Our goal is to highlight our fascinating neighbors, their collections, hobbies, and quirks. We will tell their stories with photos and articles. We will also feature places, arts, and other subjects of interest we come across.
In the future we will be adding a community section, occasionally having contests, and other fun.
We invite you to come back often and/or follow our Facebook page, Somewhere in Soddy-Daisy, where you will be alerted to new articles.
P.S. You will neversee a pop-up on this site. They are against our religion!
Black & white feature photo above: Rocky Raccoon and Ann Jackson at the Chattanooga News Free Press modeling for an article on hunting season opening in 1988. Photograph by John Rawlston
Rocky Raccoon and Ann Jackson in 1988. Photograph by Barbara Perry.
I was a teen when I took my first photos. Even then, I was intrigued by old structures. With my parents 110 Kodak Pocket Instamatic camera in hand, loaded with Kodachrome film, I set out to document places in Soddy-Daisy that had caught my attention. Looking through photos I’ve taken since the late 1970s demonstrates I have always had an eye for our small towns consequential and quirky places and people. I’ve never seen another photo of the Victorian farmhouse my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Biggs, lived in. It was on lake and I still remember the wallpaper of an outdoor scene in the front entryway.
I was told the house was built by Colonel William Clift. I was told it was not Colonel Clift’s house. I have no idea. But, I have three photos of it! And, Colonel Clift is buried in the cemetery very near the property.
Recently, I have scanned some of my old photos and digitally altered them to create dreamlike images. (There will be an article on those later). I have also referenced my photos to create paintings. The first paintings, executed in high school, were of the above mentioned Victorian farmhouse and another farmhouse in Soddy near the train tracks. The Victorian farmhouse was demolished in the mid 1990s and a large, brick house was built in its place. In the mid 1980s there was an article in the Chattanooga News-Free newspaper when the other 100 year old farmhouse burned to the ground.
Side note: In 2010 manufacturing of Kodachrome film ceased. When people discovered the last place to get their film developed would run out of the chemicals soon, things got crazy for that small family business. Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas, became the last processor in the world of Kodachrome. Rolls of film arrived from six continents!
Prints of any images on this website are available for purchase. Please email with inquiries.
The Biggs House. Watercolor painting by Ann Jackson, 1980.
One-hundred year old farmhouse that was on Cox Lane in Soddy. Photograph by Ann Jackson, 1979.
Since our area has a prediction for snow this evening, which is a rare occurrence, we are sharing some photos taken after the March 1993 Storm of the Century. Paul Barys was the only local weatherman to predict more than a small amount of snow for our area. He predicted a 20-inch snowfall five days in advance.
Wayne Maxwell, originally from Sale Creek, was living at Spanish Villa apartments on 58 Highway. He cooked big pots of stew on his kerosene heater for his elderly neighbors, who all said they would not have made it without him.
After the first couple days, Mom and I put our freezer contents on the deck in the snow. Then we proceeded to cook on our kerosene heater. We ate good! It’s kind of hibachi style, cooking one thing at a time.
All photos were taken in Soddy-Daisy, except one at the Hixson Conoco (now Mapco) at Highway 153 and Gadd Road. Approximately five days after the storm, the photo shows people standing in line to purchase kerosence. Power was still out in many areas around Chattanooga. 99¢ for regular gasoline!
Apologies for the quality of these photos. They are phone photos of 35mm photos.
Photographs by Ann Jackson
The slue at the entrance of Rivergate Bay subdivision after the blizzard of 1993.
Snow drift against a house on Tadpole Lane after the 1993 blizzard.
The long line at Conoco on Highway 153 a few days after the 1993 blizzard.
99¢ for a gallon of regular gasoline!
A couple days after the storm snow was up to the knees of some people. It’s measured 23 inches at Hixson Pike and Yaphank Bridge.
