"I'll Never Smoke Weed with Willie Again!"

For those of you who occasionally read my blog and vicariously share my adventures, hang on to your hats!  This old gal had an exciting weekend!  Our daughter, Amy, has been tested several times through the years.  When these tests occur, I'm once again assured that we have produced an amazing young woman who will sacrifice her own dignity for the sake of her parent(s).

For the past couple of years, I've gazed longingly at ads for Willie Nelson concerts and commented that I would like to go sometime.  Bubba said if he was ever close enough, he would take me.  (I think he meant if he came to our little town.)  One day Amy sent me a text that said, "Guess what.", I responded, "You're having a baby!" and then "You're getting a dog.".  Finally she said, "You and I are going to see Willie Nelson on September 25."  She said, "I'm taking you."  (That translates into "Not only am I buying your ticket, I'm buying a second one for me and I don't care a thing about going.")  That gesture all by itself translates into sacrificial love.  (I told you we did a good job.)

I think I should take a moment to express my Willie Nelson feelings.  Basically, I like a lot of his music.  I like his support of the American farmer.  I don't admire him for his use of marijuana, but honestly something has prolonged his life.  I admire the way he settled his issues with the IRS by working hard.  I do realize that I should have seen him twenty years ago if it was only about the music; however, he is an American icon and I wanted to see him before he came to the "Roll me up and smoke me when I die" part.

I had also decided that I wanted to make this trip to Atlanta by myself.  I think it is good for me.  I did it last year and enjoyed it.  I knew that it was not going to be much of a weekend for Bubba and we had just had a visit with Amelia two weeks prior to this.  So I travelled alone and made it there and back safely.  More about the rest of the weekend in another post.

We left home early enough Friday evening to locate the venue and had planned to eat dinner somewhere and come back.  When we got there, we found a really good parking place (free) close to the gate so we decided to just sit in the car and snack before going in.  We had wine in dixie cups, havarti cheese, crackers and chocolate coated almonds.  What a meal!  Anyone that knows me knows that I don't like the taste of wine; however, I have discovered that the second cup is much better than the first.  We ate and drank and talked about some of the characters we were seeing and hearing.  It was way more fun than going to a restaurant.

I was planning on wearing a hat to the concert.  I made a hatband out of a red bandana (like Willie's) for my hat and made one for Amy to wear.  I sent her pictures of the hats and she said that she was not going to wear that hat.  She was going to wear a ball cap.  I insisted that she put it on just long enough for a picture and she did....and she wore it all evening.  (It really looked cute on her!)

We had pretty good seats.  There was an opening band and then there was Jamey Johnson who sang some songs I had heard before, but he sang them all so slow.  Maybe that was his interpretation.  It didn't matter because Amy and I had more entertainment going on than we could handle anyway.

To Amy's right was an older (older than me) man and his wife.  To my left were four older (older than me) women.  But in front of all of us were six of the most obnoxious drunks I've ever seen in my life.  They stood in front of us for the opening act and we would have probably told an official if they hadn't sat down eventually, but watching them was very entertaining;I had never seen such in all my 66 years.

There were three men who looked to be in their 40's and their "dates" appeared to be in their 20's.  The head drunk looked like a young professional type.  He wore glasses and had curly hair which he must have loved because he constantly ran his fingers through his curls. (Maybe it was a new look for him.)  He was dressed in jeans with lots of rhinestones on the hip pockets, no belt, and a long sleeve denim shirt with more rhinestones on the back.  Each hip pocket contained a flask, the contents of which were soon consumed by the group.  In addition, they were drinking tall cans of beer and some mixed drinks from the concession stand.

The second in command looked the shorter version of an assistant warden I worked with at one time. The third man was a little plump with glasses and appeared to not be as involved in the drinking as the others yet he definitely had too much to drink to be the designated driver.

The girls were too young to be with these guys.  Two of them were pretty in a trashy sort of way and the third had on a ball cap and looked like the kind of person they interview on tv around here when a tornado passes through.

The leader drunk obviously thought he was pretty cute.  He would on occasion stand up, pull up his shirt, and shimmy around.  Sometimes he would pull his trashy girl up to dance with him.  He had his hands all over her, but he also seemed to enjoy hugging his buddies a lot also.  (What did that mean?)  Once he was hugging his buddy (the assistant warden type) and his buddy's date was feeling leader drunk's butt. The weather was cool and there was either a light or misty rain the whole times.  Most everyone had on rain ponchos or hooded rainwear except for the drunk performers in front of us.  (Would it be totally wrong to hope that they all came down with a bad cold or even the flu the next morning?"

I know for a fact that if Darryl or Bubba had been with us, they would have said something.  But you've got to admit that it makes for a better story than writing about Jamey Johnson's long slow songs.

Finally it was time for Willie.  His band got set up and out he came.  The crowd was excited.  (Me, too!)  And as he started to sing, I began to smell something.  I screwed up my nose and looked at Amy with a question in my eyes.  Could it be?  Yes it could.  The six in front of us had lit up a joint and were passing it back and forth.  And the group in back of us were doing the same thing.  And all across the amphitheater I could see the moving glow.  A friend on Facebook told me not to inhale, but I had to breathe, didn't I?  So this was a first for me.  I've had correctional officers tell me that when you walk into a dorm of inmates you can immediately distinguish the smell if it's there and now I know what they mean.

To use the word of a friend who had been to a Willie Nelson concert several years before, it was "lackluster".  Willie talked the lyrics more than he sang them.  His guitar playing was as good as any I've ever heard.  His sister's piano playing was great in a honky tonk kind of way.  He referred to her as his "baby sister", but I looked her up and she's 84!  She had someone help her to the piano.  When anyone had a solo instrumental part, I noticed that Willie was wiping sweat and drinking water.  On several of his songs, the lights would shine on the audience and we would sing them.  I did that and Amy just shook her head.  (I did that well after the second cup of wine had worn off, so it was just crazy me kicking in.)  I didn't notice that Willie forgot any of the lyrics.  He performed for about an hour.  It's kind of inspirational for those of us who are getting older.  If Willie and his sister can keep on keeping on, maybe I can too!  I just saw an ad for his New Year's Eve show somewhere so it doesn't look like he has plans to quit for a while yet.  I asked Amy her favorite song and she replied, "The last one!".

Afterwards we had waffles and bacon at a Waffle House on the way home.  It was 11:30!  Do you know that the week before I got married I had to be home by 10:00?  Needless to say, I slept so good that night.  It was an evening I'll never forget. 

In the words of my friend who hit the nail on the head:

"When I saw Willie, it was sorta lack-luster but I realized a geriatric guitar picker that still attempts to please is worthy of attendance. Farm-aid has to be draining but his dedication to the American farmer is commendable. You will enjoy the nostalgic experience w/Amy regardless of whether he brings down the house or not."

Amy, I had such a good time and you were a good sport about it all. I probably should remind you that Neil Diamond is already 74 and time could be running out on him. I hear he'll be doing concerts in Australia next year. What do you think?

A Hole in Our Hearts

There's a hole in our hearts with the passing of our dear friend and neighbor, Fletcher Patterson.  He died on Saturday morning, August 15.  His sons said that there was a beautiful reflection of the sun coming up from the lake lighting up his face.  They called us immediately and we went down to be with them.

Bubba had the opportunity to tell him that he was the best friend he had ever had and that he loved him.  I think he will always be glad he was able to tell him that.  I brought bites of food that I thought he might eat and fed it to him. He always told me he loved me when I left.  He had such a peace and I will never forget that.  Thankfully, he never required a lot of pain medication.

His grandson told of him repeating over and over, "O grave where is thy victory?"

He had a beautiful service. He would be/is pleased.  He planned it.  It was perfect.  

No Sting, No Victory

This week can go on record as one of the hardest in my life.  Our dearest friend, Fletcher, who I wrote about in my blog in February is lying in a hospital bed, in the den of his home looking out across the lake.  He is dying.  His body has become emaciated like those who were released from concentration camps after the war.  His skin is yellow and his hands are cold.  Disease is ravaging his body, but his beautiful, brilliant mind is still there healthy and whole.  He can quote scripture, poetry, and lines from his favorite hymns.  What a blessing it is to sit in his presence!  What a beautiful testimony he is to the love of God!

The older son, Pat, has cared for his dad daily for weeks now.  The younger son, Mike, relieved him on the weekends.  Now Pat has gone to be with his daughter for the birth of her second child.  Mike comes in at night and then goes to the hospital every day to be with his mom.  Bubba and I try to fill in the gaps so that they will both have someone they know with them.

Fletcher's wife, Jo, had a stroke Friday and has been in the hospital ever since.  She was left unable to verbally communicate, but she has improved almost daily.  She is scheduled to go to rehab, but they are going to allow her to come home for a visit with Fletcher.

The hospice nurse and I were talking last night.  He was telling me how different things are when it is a non-Christian facing death.  He said, "This man is ready.  He is not afraid."

"O death where is thy sting?  O grave where is thy victory?"

   1 Corinthians 15:15

49 Years and Counting.....

A lot was different in 1966.  Gas was 32 cents per gallon.  A new house could be bought for $14,200. (But who had that kind of money?)  First class stamps sold for 5 cents.  Lyndon Johnson was president and Ronald Reagan was elected governor in California.  Cigarettes were determined to be hazardous to your health.  The first Star Trek aired on television.  Pampers began marketing the first disposable diaper.  Troop strength in Viet Nam was increased to 389,000.  Mini skirts were in style for the first time.  Walt Disney died.   “These Boots Were Made for Walking”, “Wild Thing”, “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “The Sound of Silence” were all number one on the charts. 

Something else happened on August 4, 1966.  A 17 year old girl fresh out of high school married a very handsome young man who wore blue mohair sweaters, smelled really good, and treated her like a princess.  He had a good job and drove a 1965 Blue Corvette Sting Ray Convertible which didn’t hurt. (We soon found out we couldn’t afford the $95.00 per month payment.) 

Weddings were different back then.  There was a wedding cake, punch, nuts and mints.  That was it, at least around this area.  My dress was made by an oriental lady at the bridal shop from a picture I saw in a magazine.  It cost $100.  That was a lot of money back then.

We bought a small, two bedroom block house that cost us $45 per month.  Every year we paid the interest in a lump sum and it would be $300 - $400.  We had to really save to get that much money together.  One time we bought a small gas heater that cost $12 and paid on it weekly because we didn't have $12 to spare.  The house had no air conditioning.  We used a box fan that we moved from room to room with us.  The kitchen was so tiny.  I told Bubba one time that if I could just get a small metal cabinet for it that I would never ask for anything again.  I can't tell you how many times I've been reminded of that statement.

We were very happy even though we didn't have much materially.  We enjoyed fishing, riding around, visiting with family and friends....... I was a housewife which is what I always wanted to be.  

I know that I didn’t seek God’s guidance in a husband, but He was looking out for me anyway.  I thank Him every day for my wonderful husband and for the time we’ve had together.  Happy Anniversary, Bubba!  We’re at 49 years and counting……

Branson Vacation 2015 (continued)

Day Five - Misery

We left Branson at 8:00 this morning and stopped for the night in Hattiesburg, MS and we are both tired and a little grumpy.  We had about an hour driving through the Ozarks appreciating the scenery.  I was drinking my Diet Dr. Pepper and eating ginger snap cookies and all was well with my world.  Then things went south both literally and figuratively.

Everything turned flat and there was nothing pretty to view out the window.  The sun was shining in so bright I thought my leg would start smoking.  There were no rest areas.  The one that said welcome to Mississippi was just small and dirty.  The towns we passed through were small and we couldn't find a place to eat when we wanted to stop.  The roads were rough and bouncy.  We were on the road ten hours and we still have at least six to go if all goes well.  BUT we're in a very nice Hampton Inn tonight, ate supper at O'Charley's and it was fast and delicious.  Now it's time to relax and enjoy the wonderful air conditioning in this room.

I guess the ride is always more enjoyable when you're going to a place and you're looking forward to what's ahead.  I think we both enjoyed Branson.  Sure it is similar to a Pigeon Forge type place, but it has not reached that point yet as far as number of people so that in itself made it more enjoyable.  This is probably my last post about this trip unless something interesting happens on the rest of the way home.  At least I know we will have good rest areas on I-10 and since we have travelled that way many times, we know some good places to eat.  And the road is smoother.

I think we have both decided that we would not enjoy driving out west.  I can't imagine several days in a row like today just to get there.  We'll figure out something.  I think I would like to go back to Branson in cooler weather.  Who knows?  

"Not all who wander are lost." (J.R.R. Tolkein)

Branson Vacation 2015 (continued)

Day Four - A Perfect Day at College of the Ozarks

This morning I told Bubba not to eat much breakfast because today was going to be all about the food.  We had reservations at Dobyn's Dining Room at the College of the Ozarks.  I posted a link to the lunch menu hoping to get some help about what to choose.  I got the following text from Amy:

Sister-in-law Winifred let me down on this one.  Of course Amy wasn't a lot of help because she pretty much advised that we order one of almost everything.

Bubba poses by a college plaque at the entrance.

We arrived early and located the restaurant.  Then we followed a simple map to the fruit cake/jelly making kitchen located on campus and run by students.  The map was simple, but we still got lost.  

I'm sitting by a pool and waterfall at the entrance.
Loving my little purse!

We were shown around the kitchen by a student from Haiti.  We didn't actually see them mixing the cake but she opened one of the four ovens that were baking cakes they had mixed earlier.  They bake nearly 30,000 fruit cakes in a year from a recipe that has been used for 30 years.  They don't bake during November and December because they spend those two months shipping cakes all over the world.  They had samples and it was a delicious fruit cake.  They had jars of jam on the counter that they had made that morning - elderberry.  Students were in the process of packing fruit cakes that had cooled in tins.  I didn't even think about taking pictures there, duh.

The entrance to the restaurant/lodge is in the background.

We went back to the Keeter Center to enjoy the air conditioning for a few minutes before lunch.  There was a hall full of pictures of famous people who had visited the college for one purpose or another.  Among them was the first President Bush with Barbara, and the next President Bush with Laura, General Colin Powell and General Norman Schwarzkopf, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

I love what General Schwarzkopf said about leaders.

Lunch was all we expected and more.  We started with fried green tomatoes. Then our server, Alexis, brought some of their whole wheat rolls and whole wheat cranberry biscuits with butter and apple butter.  These are homemade by students using the flour from their own grist mill located on campus.  Bubba had the special of the day which was not on the menu.  It was slow cooked beef brisket in a raspberry/chipotle barbecue sauce served on a ciabatta roll and topped with provolone cheese and red onions with sweet potato fries on the side.  I ordered the chicken fajita salad.  Both meals were so good.  You would think that would be enough food, wouldn't you?

No way!  We were there for the full experience.  Our server recommended the chocolate cobbler with ice cream and it did not disappoint.  The two of us trying really hard could not eat it all.  The entire meal including a $10.00 tip for Alexis was $53.00.  I think that was very reasonable. This was really an elegant dining experience with an incredible view.  I can see why Trip Advisor says that it is the #1 restaurant in Branson.  If I could do it over again, I would eat all the bread.  I was afraid I was going to get full too quickly so I restrained myself.

Before

After

After lunch we went to the museum which is located on campus.  There are three floors of interesting things to look at from furniture to guns to stuffed animals to military uniforms.

This is the Beverly Hillbillies car.

Me with a big moose (obviously)

Me with a big bear!

On our walk to the museum, Bubba noticed an interesting building and we stopped for a look.  It was the Star Schoolhouse built in 1910.  It was set up with books and furnishings from when the school taught all grades in one classroom.  Can you imagine that today?

Bubba is looking through an old textbook.

The College of the Ozarks was well worth the trip to Branson even without the shows, etc.  I love the idea of students working for their education.  They graduate with a good work ethic and no debt.  You can't beat that.  We saw young people working in the flower beds, driving trucks loaded with construction materials, manning the visitor sites, working in the lodge.  I think it would be great if more colleges operated like this.

This is a $20 fruit cake, but it seemed like the thing to do.

,Right now we are back in our motel room and the thermostat says it is 69 degrees in here.  We both got showers and got into our comfy clothes and we are just chilling out.  Bubba swears that he is not going to eat another bite today, but it's 5:30 and I'm starting to feel a little hungry.  He's asleep so maybe he'll wake up just a little hungry.  If he doesn't, I have plenty of snacks packed so I know that we will be fine.

Don't we look like fun people?

Tomorrow we head toward home.  Tonight we have to choose another route.  We don't want to go back through Memphis and Birmingham so we will probably go towards Jackson, Mississippi.  We'll see how that goes.

Branson Vacation 2015 (continued)

Day Three - 102 Degrees

We slept until about 7:00 this morning after our late night with Shoji.  I relaxed with coffee and my computer while Bubba checked out the free breakfast.  He brought me back a couple of donuts to go with my coffee and they were actually very good.  After lazing around for a bit, we got dressed and punched the directions to Branson Landing in our navigation system.

Branson Landing is similar to shopping in Destin or at Pier Park on Panama City Beach.  The Bass Pro where Bubba wanted to go was at one end and Belks where I wanted to go was at the other.  Our destination for lunch, Famous Daves Barbecue, was in the middle. We started out with a light breeze that lasted for approximately ten minutes.  I used my phone to record our walking and by the time we were finished at Branson Landing, we had walked 4 1/4 miles.  The good news is that we (I) burned off some calories which I'm sure I will soon replace.

This is at Branson Landing.  Don't know why I'm standing by a gorilla.

At noon we watched the dancing fountains show which was the National Anthem with dancing water and flashes of fire.  It was impressive.

The fountain show is in the background.  You just can't see it.

The same friend who recommended Shoji and McFarlains Restaurant also recommended Famous Daves.  We were seated at a window and had a great view of everything happening on the lake.  There was a zipline that we watched and by the time we finished eating I was thinking I might want to try it, but did I say it was HOT?  We had ribs which were delicious.  I had mac and cheese for my side dish and it had corn and jalapeno peppers in it.  I loved it.  Of course there was a corn muffin with the meal that was very good.  Corn bread is a big deal here which is fine with me.

That's us!  We had a great view, just too much sun for a good picture.

We returned to the motel for a break and some cool air.  I returned to the gift shop to purchase our tickets for a show tonight.  After some consultation with the expert, I chose Pierce Arrow.  It is also in a theater within easy walking distance from our motel.  It doesn't start until 8:00.  Can you believe the late hours we're keeping?

I guess Pierce Arrow was a good show but it didn't measure up to Shoji.  They had an excellent comedian and a wide variety of music styles.  The bass singer has held  the record for the lowest bass note for a number of years.  My favorite song by the quartet was "Your First Day in Heaven".  I couldn't help but think of our beloved 90 year old neighbor and friend, Fletcher, who is declining rapidly in his battle with cancer.  Better days are ahead for him and I wish he could have heard this song.  He's a real people person and I know that he will be smiling and greeting all the saints who have gone before.

Tomorrow we are going to the College of the Ozarks.  According to all the reviews, there is a lot to see there.  I have reservations at their restaurant for 11:15.  It is ranked #1 in Branson on Trip Advisor. I've been looking at their lunch menu and already thinking about what I want to try.  What would you get?

Branson Vacation 2015 (continued)

Day Two - We're Here!

I'm happy to report that after driving through so much flat land, we came to some beautiful scenery with hills and valleys that were reminiscent of the Smokies.  No pictures because unlike the Smokies, there were no places to pull over and take any.

We arrived at our motel, Best Western Music Capital Inn, at about 2:00 and were able to check in.  I was reluctant to make a reservation here because of my motel phobia but I went by recommendations on Trip Advisor and wasn't steered wrong.  My thinking is that people are more likely to go online to write a negative comment that a positive one.  I can't say I like it better than the Fairfield Inn we stayed in the night before which was newer, but it feels clean and is in a great location.  The staff here are amazing so I am satisfied.

Tickets for the various shows for which Branson is famous were available in the gift shop.  They had a place set up so you could sit and select what you wanted.  The lady there was very helpful.  We chose to see Shoji Tabuchi on our first night.  She told us that he is considered to be the #1 show in Branson and I can see why.  His theater is directly across the street from our motel and it was worth seeing as an attraction itself.  The bathrooms have been featured on a tv show as the #1 most luxurious and they were indescribable.  Shoji is a very talented violinist/fiddle player and his show had something for all ages.  His daughter is part of the show and she is very talented as well.  It was amazing to learn that Shoji is 70 years old.  He certainly doesn't look it.  I was told that he does three shows a day during the peak season. What is truly amazing is that Bubba enjoyed the show as much as I did.  He has already asked what show we are going to see next.

We had supper at McFarlains, a restaurant nearby that was recommended by a friend.  It started with a big piece of cornbread with butter.  Bubba chose the liver and onions and I got the hamburger steak.  It was very good.

We were out until 10:00, but thankfully we just had to walk across the street to be back at our motel.  

Branson Vacation 2015

Day One - The Adventure Begins

An early start was suggested by Bubba for our first vacation to a new location in a long time.  We are headed for Branson, MO.  I've never been in Missouri or Arkansas so that will be a first for me.  I had trouble sleeping so 5:00 came faster than I would have liked.  

I drank my morning coffee while I got last minute packing done and got dressed.  We loaded the car and set out only to go a mile before we had to turn around.  The warning light was on indicating that we had a tire problem.  Bubba checked the pressure in the tires and aired up the one that was a little low.  However....the seed had been planted and it was several hours before he seemed to relax about the tire.

We drove until around 6:00 and ended up in Jonesboro, AR.  This was about three hours farther up the road than we had intended.  We didn't have a reservation, but had no problem finding a very nice Fairfield Inn for the night.  I have a phobia about motels.  I guess I've watched too many of the news reports showing the disgusting habits of cleaning staff in motels, even the more expensive ones.  This one is perfect.  I just hope the one I've reserved in Branson is this good, but I won't hold my breath.

Other than that I can only report that Arkansas is flat with a lot of soy bean fields.  We've already decided that we will go a different route home.  I went online to see what attractions we might like in Arkansas and found that there are none.  I'm certainly not interested in the Clinton Museum.

Branson is less than four hours away so we should get there in plenty of time to explore tomorrow.

Vote YES for Longer Summer Vacations

I don't know that anyone is putting longer summer vacations on their agenda, but if someone would do that, they would be my candidate.  The summer may seem long in terms of number of days of hot weather, but it is way too short when it comes to time available to spend with family.  Amy and Amelia will go back to school on August 6 and of course Amy has pre-planning "stuff" prior to that.  That means there isn't time for Amelia to come here for another beach camping trip.  There isn't time to meet up with Joe and Judy to spend time with cousin John.  There was just a few days for us to go up for a visit with them and then, bam, summer is over and it's back to school.

We went up on a Sunday in heavy traffic.  We left early so that we could avoid the crowds returning home from the local beaches, but eventually we ended up in the city traffic that is always in Atlanta. 

Atlanta Traffic - UGH!

Finally (PTL), we were there and as always Amelia greeted us with lots of hugs and kisses.  She was very eager to introduce us to her new puppy, "Billy".  Billy was very happy to meet us and was properly excited.  Amelia adores Billy.  Let it be known that I've now been kissed by lips that have kissed a dog.  I guess I'll accept that as long as Amelia is the carrier.

Darryl grilled steaks for supper and I'll admit that I ate every bite of the biggest one on the table.  It was so good and I love steak so much that I enjoyed every single bite.

Amelia wanted me to play video games with her.  We started out with Wii bowling and ended up playing a princess game that had many "worlds" and "chapters".  We played for a couple of hours and had barely finished one world before it was bedtime for Amelia.  I got to tuck her in after she read to me for a little while from a Junie B. Jones book.  Amelia told me that Barbara Park, the author of this series of books had died.  She said, "There will still be Junie B. Jones books, Nana, because I'm going to continue them for her.  I'm going to be an author when I grow up."

The next morning, Amelia and Amy left for a tennis lesson.  There is a teacher in their subdivision and this was a trial lesson to see if they wanted Amelia to continue with him.  Things went well and Amelia had fun so I'm assuming this will on her agenda for the coming school year.

In the meantime, Bubba had noticed oil under where our car was parked at their house so Bubba set out for the Hyundai dealership in Buford.  It turns out that when the local dealership changed our oil the week before they had used an "aftermarket" plug and no gasket.  Bubba immediately called them to complain.  I mean, when you get your car serviced at the dealer you expect to get Hyundai parts.  They have a lot of groveling to do before we're satisfied.  The service department in Buford was great.  They fixed the car in a timely manner and explained everything in detail to Bubba.

Jaemore Farms near Alto, GA, was next on the agenda after lunch.  We loaded up on fresh Georgia peaches, plums, tomatoes, squash, and boiled peanuts.  We enjoyed a cup of their homemade peach ice cream which is the best ever.  This place never disappoints us with the quality of their produce.  Then it was back home where Bubba stayed with Amelia and allowed Amy and me to go shopping for a while.

Yummy Peaches

Amelia introduced Bubba to the princess game and he played with her for another two hours.  Her directions to him were, "Follow me and do everything I tell you."  When we were ready to go home, Amy received a call from Bubba telling her that the puppy had pooped on the carpet.  Paw-Paw draws the line on cleaning up puppy poop!  Later on when I pressed Amelia to tell us who she loves best, Billy or Paw-Paw, she said, "That's easy.  Paw-Paw, because Billy pooped on the carpet!"

That evening we ate supper at a Mexican restaurant and returned home where I played the princess game with Amelia again until it was time to go to bed.  I tucked Amelia in, she said her prayers, and I was almost ready to leave her room when she reminded me that I hadn't sung Jesus Loves Me yet.  I sang to the best of my very limited vocal ability and Amelia said, "Nana, you may think you can't sing very well, but I think you sound beautiful." (She says the sweetest things, but I know that I am not a singer.)

Tuesday we met my cousin Vicky for lunch.  We caught up on family news and enjoyed a good meal.  Afterwards we made a few quick stops and we were home again.  Amelia and I continued on with the princess game.  We were approaching the end and Amelia was very excited about it because the golden dresses would be unlocked and our figures (princesses) would be able to wear them.  While Amelia and I played, Amy started putting together a feast for our supper that night.  Eventually Amy called Amelia to help her with a blackberry cobbler, because as Amelia said, "Have you heard that I want to bake something every day?"  Later she mixed up corn muffins that were the specialty at our house when she came for a visit.

Corn Muffins

Baked Creamed Corn with Jalapenos and Red Bell Peppers and
 Tomato Feta Salad

Grilled Pork Chops
Sorry no picture of the Blackberry Cobbler, but it was GOOD!

Right after supper Amelia and I went to play the last level of the princess game.  She was so excited she was shaking.  I asked her why and she explained that we still had to defeat the witch.  We did it and put on the golden dresses!  Yay!!
Amelia told her mom that the next day  she would show her around all the worlds we had opened. (I know Amy was excited about that.)

I know that this sounds like way too much time on a video game, but we had fun together and a lot of interesting conversation.  I know that Amelia is very much against anyone being mistreated by a bully.  I think she would befriend someone in that situation and try to make it better.  I don't remember how it came up, but I asked her if anything ever upset her.  She said yes, when she has to do chores.  Then she told me, "When I need to calm down because I'm mad at my mom for telling me to do chores, I just lie down on my bed and think of all the nice things about my mom and I feel better."    

Other sweet things were all the hugs and kisses she had for Paw-Paw.  One night he went to bed without saying good night.  Amelia scooped up Billy and headed for the bedroom so they could both give Paw-Paw a good night kiss.

The next day as we were saying our good byes, Amelia hugged me and thanked me for playing the princess game with her saying, "I've never been that far with a friend before."

Bubba actually let me drive for about an hour on the way home.  I think he might have gone to sleep with a proper pillow. This is a huge step for him.  He may finally admit that I'm a decent driver and quit holding the collision I had in his Corvette in 1966 against me.

Rocky Bayou State Park was HOT

Camping in the summer in Florida is HOT.  We met Joe and Judy at Rocky Bayou State Park  Niceville, FL in middle July for three nights of camping.  It had been a while since we camped with Joe and Judy at Lake Eufaula so it was good to see them and catch up on all the news.  When we made these reservations in the spring, we noted that it was supposed to be dark nights and Joe and Bubba were looking forward to floundering.  Joe brought his boat and they floundered for about two hours and called it quits.  They didn't even see a sign of a flounder in that amount of time.  There was some discussion about getting up in the middle of the night and trying again when the tide would be better but then they both decided that they were just too tired to do that.

Floundering Buddies

Judy and I discussed ahead of time what we were going to do for meals and we decided that we would have sandwiches and eat out.  We took nothing to grill because it was just too hot.  We had several meals out that were good and nobody had to get hot cooking.

One day we got in a 2.25 mile walk that was ..... hot.  I had sweat dripping off the tips of my ears, off my nose, and running down my back.  The good news is that I felt like I had really accomplished something.  I got a nice shower, washed my hair, and rested for about an hour before getting ready to go out to eat.

We all headed home on Thursday.  Judy had peas to pick (she hoped) and we needed to get ready to go to Atlanta for a visit.

Bubba and I are going to Branson, MO, soon but we will not be camping.  It has been years since we have done a vacation by car and stayed in motels.  Our last few trips have been to the mountains where we always rent a cabin.  I have watched so many things on tv where they expose the habits of housekeeping staff at motels that I really have a phobia about staying in a motel, but I have studied the reviews on Trip Adviser and I've got my fingers crossed that I've selected a really clean place to stay in Branson.  I'm thinking that anyone taking time to write positive comments must have really been pleased.  I usually want to "write a letter" when I have a bad experience but seldom take time to let an establishment know that I was pleased.

I think I'm going to take my computer with me and work on my blog every night.  If I wait a whole week, I'll probably forget something.  Stay tuned!

Welcome to the World, Baby Caroline

With only one picture on Facebook to tantalize me, I decided it was high time to visit the newest addition to the family, Caroline, who was born on June 30 to nephew Brandon and his wife, Lacey.  I really had to twist the arm of the new grandma, sister-in-law Winifred, to get her to accompany me.

Caroline is a beautiful baby, so cuddly and sweet.  We took turns holding her for a while.  I think this is one proud grandma.

Then Brandon took us on a tour of his latest venture which is farming.  He has cows, chickens, pigs, and rabbits and intends to produce meat more organic than what is available at the grocery store.  His knowledge of  farming history and techniques was impressive.  It was great to see someone his age both highly motivated and hard working at a new endeavor.

As we left, Brandon presented me with a dozen eggs fresh from the hen house.  I've told Amelia about our visit and she wants to go sometime.  I think she wants a chicken to sit on her shoulder.

The Sign Lied (Cotton Hill COE Campground)

    I'll get right to the point.  This is the sign that lied.

Visitors are not welcome at this campground.  If they were, it would be easier to find.  The sad thing is that we have been here before.  We had problems last time, but not this bad.  Last time the GPS said we had arrived when we were downtown in Fort Gaines, GA.  This time I was sure that we would remember how to get there once we got closer, plus I had my new Iphone guiding us. 

Following the instructions from the phone, we made several wrong turns in Fort Gaines that led us out into acres of farm land.  Early on it was obvious that we needed to turn around, but that is not always so easy when you're pulling a trailer.  We continued to follow the phone's instructions until eventually we ended up on a paved road that abruptly turned into a clay road.  AND there was no where to turn around.  We had to continue bumping along on that clay road.  (If it hadn't been so stressful, I would have taken pictures.)  We went miles down the middle of vast peanut fields.  Finally, we saw a farmer on a tractor chugging to the end of his rows and Bubba got out and flagged him down.  He assured Bubba that the clay road would end up soon at a paved road, but he had never heard of the Cotton Hill Campground. 

We turned west onto a paved road and Bubba kept telling me to call Joe so I did.  So immediately Joe was able to tell us that we needed to be going east.  Again there is no where to turn around.  Finally after several calls back and forth to Joe and with the old GPS and the phone, we made our way back to downtown Fort Gaines and pulled into a busy gas station.  No one in the middle of downtown Fort Gaines had ever heard of the Cotton Hill Campground.  Now if you were in a big city you would not be surprised to find people who haven't heard of a place you want to go, but (really) Fort Gaines??  Finally we saw a sign for George T. Bagby State Park and I remembered that Cotton Hill was on the same road.....and it was!  There were no signs for Cotton Hill until we were actually at the place to turn in.  Now does that sound like a place where visitors are welcome?  I think not.

Note to self:  Next time enter George T. Bagby State Park in the GPS and you will be on the right road.  Also, there should be a lot of peanuts in Georgia pretty soon.

Cotton Hill Campground is a nice place to camp.  Most of the sites are on the water, some closer than others.  A lot of sites have a steep incline that would make backing in a little more difficult. Every site has a sewer hook up and that is great.  That means that you can take nice long showers without worrying about filling up your holding tank.  Another good thing about the park is that it is in the middle of nowhere; that is also a bad thing.  We went into Eufaula twice while we were there.  Once we ate lunch and shopped a little and on Friday night we went to the seafood buffet that Joe had recommended.

One day we went to the Kolomoki Mounds State Park to see the Indian Mounds. 
This park also has a campground but it is really in the boonies.  I don't think I would ever want to camp there.  We watched a short video on the mounds and looked through their museum.  It was interesting, but sort of on a PBS level.  I had no idea that Indians lived in this area 350 to 750 AD.  One of the things I learned was that when the chief died, his two wives and five young men were killed to be buried with him.  No wonder the Indians are responsible for discovering so many of the flowers and herbs that can be used for medicinal purposes.  Those women probably wanted to make sure that their man lived as long as possible.  They definitely had incentive.

We spent a lot of time reading because it was so hot and raining part of the time.  We did two walks around the campground that kept us from feeling too useless.  We kept the air conditioner turned low and stayed covered up.  It was comfortable and relaxing.

We came home after four nights and were able to unload quickly.  We are getting better with the loading and unloading.  Our next trip will be to Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville, FL.  Joe and Judy are supposed to meet us there if their garden doesn't interfere.  It's going to be dark nights and it looks like there might be some floundering going on.  

Fishing, Pedicure, Doctor, Fried Shrimp, Fresh Tomatoes and a Funeral (My Week in Review)

Doesn't that title just make you wish you lived a life like mine?  It was actually a pretty good week.  My goal for the week was to mop and dust the whole house.  That didn't happen.  I just didn't have the energy to do housework, BUT miraculously I felt like doing the things listed above.

Monday we went fishing and it was HOT.  It was so hot that I kept dropping ice cubes down my shirt to cool off.  And we got up early (6:00) and for a long, long time the fish weren't biting.  In fact after over an hour Bubba had caught one nice bream and I caught one nice flip flop.  I was going to pull my Baby Ruth out from the food bag, open up a cold drink and enjoy a snack when the fish started biting.  That trick works every time.  They absolutely know when you are fixing to take a break and who can enjoy a Baby Ruth when you have worm gooey on your hands?  We ended up with 23 scale fish and two catfish.

Tuesday Bubba fried fish and I made potato salad.  We had more than we could eat even after we shared with our neighbors.  Of course, after eating a big lunch we had to take the afternoon off and rest.

A pedicure was on my agenda for Wednesday.  I left Bubba working in the yard and went to P.C. for my monthly treat.  I could have looked around and shopped all day except it was too HOT.  I can't believe that it is not even officially summer yet.

Since I was in need of a refill on a prescription, I had an appointment with the local doctor on Thursday.  I was there a full hour and a half before I saw him.  I told him that I had no energy.  He told me to lower my expectations.  They really aren't that high to start with.  All I want to do is mop and dust.  Then he suggested that I submit to a sleep study.  He said that not getting enough oxygen at night can make you wake up tired.  I told him I would, but I've about changed my mind.  For one thing, I don't think I can sleep knowing that there are people on the other side of the window waiting on me to do so.  Plus, even if I did have a problem I can't see myself putting on one of those CPAP things every night to sleep.  I'm still thinking on it, but I leaning toward not doing it.

After my doctor's appointment, Bubba and I went to Blountstown to eat the Thursday special at Parramore's Restaurant.  You get twelve fried shrimp, two sides, hush puppies, dessert, and tea for $8.00.  You can't beat that anywhere.  Afterwards we went up the road to Grand Ridge and bought a box of tomatoes.  It is just too HOT to pick them ourselves now.

Today we attended the funeral of an elderly man from our past.  Bubba grew up with his sons.  One was his best man at our wedding.  The other was our next door neighbor when we first got married.  It was good to see old friends again even though it was under sad circumstances.  A funeral always causes us to reflect on how fleeting life is and how we should make the most of it.

We will be camping again soon and we have a trip to Branson, Missouri, scheduled around our anniversary so we are looking forward to that.  If that goes well, who knows what might be next? 

Meanwhile, Amy and her family are enjoying Lake Tahoe, Nevada, with Darryl's family.  Amelia got to ride the trolley in San Francisco and they took a side trip through Yosemite National Park, which they loved.  I can't believe my seven year old granddaughter has traveled more than I have, but I'm going to try to catch up.

A Ray of Sunshine (Part Two, After Amy)

Monday was the first real day of Amy and Amelia both being with us.  Amy had requested fried chicken so that is what we fixed for lunch on Monday.  We had fried chicken, fresh corn, fresh peas, and fresh okra.  Amelia prepared her specialty, corn muffins, and we had peanut butter pie for dessert.  We ate a lot and then rested some and ate a little more.  We needed nourishment because we were going on the Pirate Cruise at Panama City Beach.

The Pirate Cruise exceeded all our expectations.  The crew assumed all responsibility for entertaining the children on board leaving the adults to enjoy the boat ride at sunset.  There were water pistol fights, sword fights, contests, dancing, face painting, dolphin sightings and sunken treasure.  This was well organized and so much fun that Amelia asked could we go again the next day.  The souvenirs and refreshments from the concession stand were reasonably priced and we were well pleased with the value we got for our money.

After two hours at sea we were all hungry so we stopped by Five Guys for a late supper.  Even Amelia was hungry and stated about her grilled cheese, "This is delicious!"  I will point out that Amy thought almost until time to go that this was a dinner cruise.  (I think this proves that she doesn't always listen when I'm telling her things.)

The next day we met some of our favorite relatives at Apalachee Restaurant in Bristol for lunch.  Aunt Winifred, Nieces Leigh and Lily, Lily's friend, and Winifred's mother, Ms. Catherine joined us for some fried chicken and fried fatback plus some good conversation.  (If you don't know what fatback is, then you must not be from the south.  Just know that fried fatback will not be on the diet for anyone watching their cholesterol.)  Following lunch, Amy and Amelia spent the afternoon visiting other relatives who live locally.

Winifred and her mother have a beautiful relationship.  Ms. Catherine is in her ninety's and Winifred is her primary caregiver.  Beyond that, Winifred enjoys being with her mother and asked if she could join us for lunch.  I think that is great that they are best of friends as well as mother and daughter.  We were delighted to see her again.  Amelia took to her right away giving her lots of hugs before we left.

Wednesday we had another girls' day and went out for Mexican food and a movie.  We went to see Tomorrowland which was not that great even if it did have George Clooney and Hugh Laurie in it.  If fact it was so blah that I think we all forgot about it by the time we left the theater.  We picked up ribs for supper on the way home.

Paw-Paw made his girl hot chocolate every morning she was with us.  When Amy offered to fix it for her, she refused saying that she wanted Paw-Paw to make it.  When Amy got up the mornings she was here, Amelia told her, "Will you ask Paw-Paw to make me some hot chocolate?  And will you ask him to bring it to me in bed?"  (And he did!)

Thursday as Amy and Amelia packed and readied themselves for the trip home, I fixed pancakes and bacon for Amelia one last time.  And as they drove away, the following song was playing in my head:

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

Wonder this time where she's gone
Wonder if she's gone to stay
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away

And I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know,
Hey, I oughtta leave young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away.