OY GEVALT ELVIS!

We are heading east from KC and our next stop is Memphis, TN. We found another COE Campground, the Dub Patton COE. A pretty site we had almost to ourselves. We were close to Lake Arktabula...Memphis is a busy place and we mainly wanted to visit Graceland and eat BBQ...not a lot of culture on our minds. (sorry).

 

Our campsite

 

 

Neither Paul nor I were big fans of Elvis...but we still wanted to visit Graceland and after our visit we became fans...we really enjoyed the time we spent there.

 

Elvis was an industry...above are just some of the memorabilia sold to his fans.

A lovely home, but no mansion...

 

More memorabilia

 

 

gold records and albums

 

some of his costumes and posters from Las Vegas and movies

 

The tour included an audio guide which was very informative.

 

 

Elvis' grave

 

 

I got a kick out of these trash bins....

"thank you, thank you very much"....

He was one of a kind

Tally ho,

Cathy

Early May in KC

We decided to visit KC on a whim...so close, just felt we needed to touch base. May Day found us back at Lake Jacomo once again! I needed a hair cut! Wanted to visit the KC Zoo, and maybe catch a Royals game. Two out of three were accomplished. The weather was beyond crazy...warm and sunny for the zoo...

 

 

My folks joined us, a perfect day for the zoo, actually, it was too warm!

 

This is my sister, the polar bear!

Two days later we had this...

 

SNOW ON MAY2

 

 

Way tooooooo cold, had to break out the gloves and scarves, which we put away several months ago. One thing we have learned along the way...the weather changes, sometimes quite dramatically. Be prepared! Glad I was a girl scout 😊.

 

 

 

While we were visiting, in KC, my dear cousin-in-law Rob Glover passed away. We were able to attend the funeral and give our love to his wife, my cousin, Tina. Sad times.

But, we still had a wonderful visit and agreed we made a good decision.

 

Next stop, Memphis via a couple of nights at Walmart...

Tally ho,

Cathy

 

Happy Mother's Day from Pickwick Dam

I am all out of order...but this post is real time. For once!
 Pickwick Dam TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) campground is very close to the Shiloh Civil War battlefield which we intend to visit today. Paul has two relatives who fought here with the Army of Ohio. Both William and his nephew Absalom Lafferty were captured at the battle. Both survived the Civil war. We will see "the Hornet's nest" and hear all about the generals who commanded and the tactics and such...it is beautiful country around here...the weather is cool, but sunny, so we should have a very enjoyable day...probably not very busy 'cuz most moms will be out to lunch somewhere!
Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mother, Phyllis Mimran Arrington. And to all you Moms:

 

 

huzzah!!!

Ok...I didn't want this post to have no photo...the above is of an amazing cheese fritter I enjoyed while eating some delicious Memphis BBQ....
Tally ho,
Cathy

HOT SPRINGS TONIGHT!

Ever see a car with that written on the windows? Along with...JUST MARRIED??? Now I know they were headed for Hot Springs, Arkansas!!! We were there too....Staying at a COE facility on Lake Ouachita.

 

While we were here Paul fished

 

 

And we had a lovely site for MiniPearl

 

We also explored Hot Springs...the smallest National Park! I have pix to share, later...still on the camera as I didn't take the tablet...

I know I am posting this out of order, but look at the leaves on the trees...see how they are pretty much out? Well, notice the trees when I show photos from KC...looks like winter!

Lots more to share...

Another time....

Tally ho!

Cathy

KC...again

We had a lovely time in Hot Springs Arkansas and were destined for Memphis when it hit me...hey you are pretty close to KC and your folks...why not take a turn north and spend a little more time visiting. Life is too short, need to hug my mother! And Paul, being the nice guy he is, agreed...So we left Hot Springs and drove to Rogers, AR and Beaver lake COE campground.

 

This is Crystal Bridges museum of American Art. We were told not to miss this place and I am so glad we were able to visit!

 

 

 

A beautiful museum...inside and out! All works of art are by American artists and the place is huge with many galleries and mediums. We only saw a bit, we will return...I am sure.

 

 

We had an excellent lunch in this gorgeous room...

 

 

Above is my yummy chicken salad

 

 

Paul got red beans and rice

 

After lunch, we headed over to the Pea Ridge Battlefield National Monument. An important Civil War battle fought here to determine the status of the state of Missouri. The South lost the battle...and Missouri too.

 

 

 

 

Paul knows a lot about Civil War history...so these visits to battlefields are always a treat for him and I always learn too!

After Pea Ridge we headed to Monte Ne just a bit down the road for fried chicken. Both of us had been here before...I have been several times while in the area for the craft sales in October...Paul went last year with our brother in law Neil. We loved...really loved their fried chicken...

Oh, the anticipation!

 

First...the bean soup!

 

We ate it all up!

 

Here's dinner...

 

 

Now it is history....like Pea Ridge!

Well, here's the bad news...it wasn't as good...don't know why???

Oh well, it was still a great, busy wonderful day...

On to KC

Tally ho,

Cathy

Anatomy of a post

For those of you who might be curious as to just how I "do" this blogging I thought I would let you in on the process. No secrets here...First, I have never been at a loss for words ahem, just ask my folks. So visiting is second nature to me and that's how I approach writing. Second, as a teen, I thought I might write a book. As I matured I realized just how difficult and demanding a calling that would be and I felt talentless in the face of genius such as Harper Lee, Margaret Mitchell and Louisa May Alcott...hard ...no impossible acts to follow....so I became a reader instead. This blog is a bit of an effort to write, but please friends, do not confuse this attempt, I do not even try to deliver great thoughts. If I entertain, even just a bit, then I am well pleased. I have nothing profound to say...and you can quote me!
Third...I get my inspiration from the photos we take...they shape my posts.
Fourth...I don't try to share every little detail. There are some very good blogs out there that delve into the nitty gritty of life on the road. I just hope to share some of the fun and pleasure we enjoy while traveling.
Fifth...I won't lie...sometimes we get frustrated but that never lasts long and we keep amazed at just how fortunate we are and have been.  It does not take much to entertain us and our expectations are modest...we have been completely satisfied with our journey so far.
Sixth...we look forward to every day.
Seventh...we don't plan on doing something big every day, that would be too demanding, expensive and exhausting! People share good tips on spots to camp, sites to see and places to eat we love those. We have met so many fine folks along the way!
Now...I have rambled on, may have bored you, sorry....I will leave with a photo.

  

 

Tally ho,

Cathy

REMEMBER ME???

Let's see...I have been AWOL.....sorry peeps. Not a single post yet for April...and we have been on the move...east, back towards NC for granddaughter's graduation in June (hi Jazmine!).
Spent time back tracking towards Rice and the Casita factory to get a bit of warranty work done. We stayed a few days in San Antonio again,

While in San Antonio we weathered a huge storm...pretty scary, but MiniPearl held her own!

 

 

Leaving San Antonio behind we headed towards Rice...we stayed at a Corp of Engineer's park on Lake Bardwell just outside of Ennis, TX...THE BLUE BONNET CAPITAL OF TEXAS!!!  Again, my camera does not do justice to the beauty...

 

Fiona has her eyes on a big black bird who is no dummy...she is on a short leash 😊!

Had the wonderful opportunity to meet up once again with friends Marla and Brian. Always a good time! And hope we see them again this summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we are at the Corp of Engineer's park outside Hot Springs, Arkansas...

It is a beautiful spot, Paul has been able to fish almost every day.

 

 

No bites...but still having fun...

 

 

Fiona keeps watch

 

We enjoyed a relaxing time here in Hot Springs. The weather was, for the most part, warm and sunny. Since we are not "on vacation " we don't feel the need to go DO something all the time. I have read two books, Paul is finishing his Institutes of the Christian Religion...a huge tome written by John Calvin...my books are kind of semi-cozy mysteries....Mr. Churchill's Secretary, and oh, I forgot the name...by the same author a Maggie Hope mystery....all WW II era and very entertaining...not any where near as deep as Paul's reading 😊

We leave here on Sunday morning traveling to Rogers, ARKANSAS and yet another COE. At $7 a night for water and electric we cannot complain and they are all so pretty too. While in Rogers we hope to eat fried chicken and visit the Walmart art museum which is new and quite amazing, so I have been told....

Tally ho,

Cathy