Gypsy & The Navigator

Magnolia Time

A trip to Waco would not be complete without spending time at the Silo's and Magnolia Market. 

When we were in Waco in April of 2015 we had just left the Dr. Pepper Museum and I spotted the Silo's and took this picture of them in all their rusted glory.  Just a few months later Magnolia Market opened and  with Chip and Joanna's vision the Silo's are still in their rusted glory but their neighborhood has definitely changed. 

In October of 2015 Magnolia Market at the Silo's opened. 

Walt and I have both been fans of the HGTV show Fixer Upper so it was fun to see in person what we have seen on TV. It looks even more impressive in person.

Magnolia Market covers 2 and 1/2 acres and has something for everyone.

Magnolia has Joanna's trademark black and white palette.
 

Quite different from the original Magnolia Market, her tiny retail store off of Bosque Boulevard. 

 Magnolia Market was a grain barn in its former life.  The Market covers 4000 square feet on the first floor and Magnolia offices are above.  The remainder of the 12,000 feet is covered and is used to host once a month trade days with antique dealers from all over setting up.

We wandered through the inside.  Or should I say we just got in line and shuffled through the crowd.  

Just like the outside the inside is a beautifully executed renovation.

Yes, it is all about Joanna's taste and sensibility.  From the crowds I'd say her taste and sensibility is a winner.

Chip does have a small inconspicuous corner of the main showroom displaying his hats, flashlights and shirts.  

The store displays are mainly filled with home-design accent and gift items.   Despite the crowds everything is kept neat as a pin.  There are many friendly employees willing to help if needed.  Lots of shiplap to be seen. 

 

The architectural finishes and designs include industrial shelving and raw wood.  Everything is well thought-out. 

Now there is no furniture displayed but I understand that will be coming in the future.

Lines are long for check out but they move fast and the employees are so cordial.  They seem to love their jobs.  I read that the Chip and Joanna businesses employ 500 Wacoans.  While they say they are transforming Waco one house at a time they really have made a huge impact on the economy of Waco.  Tourism is way up with people from all over coming to the Silos and that has brought new life to Waco.  Walt went to a barber in downtown Waco and the barber told him it has even increased his business.  Husbands following their wives to Waco for a "Fixer Upper" fix often stop in for a haircut.  Just like Walt did. 

Next to the silos there is a large green field (with artificial turf) that kids and parents were playing or laying around on.  

Everything was decorated perfectly in the fall theme.

Several food trucks set up for when those hunger pangs hit.  Whether you want a burger, a sandwich, a salad, tacos, crepes, BBQ, hot dogs, a gourmet grilled cheese, coffee, juice, or a pizza it is there. 

Every rusty bit has been saved and decorated around.

Typical...........no line at the mens.  Black doors, Black-and-white tile floors, white subway-tile walls even in the bathrooms.

I loved the garden area.  The beds were filled with seasonal produce and flowers.

The Garden is tucked in the far corner of the property but it's not to be missed.

Magnolia Seed & Supply little shop sells gardening tools, flower-growing kits for the children, fairy garden supplies, and unique containers to plant in. 

Every garden should have a cute little shed like this.

There is everything you didn't know you needed for your yard including this little greenhouse.  I wonder if they sell the plans for it. 

Attention to every detail in Chip and Joanna's vision to bring people together for more than just shopping. 

There are undisclosed plans for these two 120 foot silos.

Last but not least was our visit to the Silos Baking Company.

Right on the front corner of the property and done up in Joanna's signature black and white.

An adjacent pavered courtyard is a perfect place to enjoy the bakery treat.

We were by this corner multiple times on our stay and the line for the bakery was always long.

And on and on goes the line. Look closely and you can see Walt making his way to the end of the line.  Surprisingly the line moves quite quickly.  The bakery staff passes out menus to as you are waiting in line for your review and a form to place your order. Not long after you make your selections you are inside the bakery.

Lots of white subway tile, dark metal accents, open beams and open shelves and both dark and light wood.  Everything is displayed beautifully and the aroma is wonderful.

 The stars of the place are the baked goods.   Cupcakes, muffins, cookies, cinnamon rolls all tried and true per Joanna's recipes. We were told they sell 4000 cupcakes every day they are open.

Everything we had was delicious and those Silo Cookies are huge.  

The next time you are near Waco be sure you are standing in line at The Silos Baking Co. or Magnolia Market at the Silos.  It's an experience you won't regret.  (Unless you are a certified Grinch)  I for one will be sad when "Fixer Upper" ends this season.  

The Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast is not in Waco.  It is in McGregor......about 20 miles from Waco.  We drove out one afternoon for a photo and it really is lovely.   We had a good time on Magnolia time.

 

 

It Is Waco Y'All

I think I heard a YeeHaw coming from Walt when we entered Texas.  He is so happy to be back in the west.  A week in Waco and the heart of Texas is perfect.  Staying at I-35 RV Park is just what we need.  Free cooked to order breakfast every morning, internet so good I could fall asleep to streamed movies every night and close to all the things we want to visit. 

The west has cowboys.

The west has longhorns.

The west has all of Walt's favorite things.

These beautiful  “Branding the Brazos” sculptures are near the Suspension Bridge and the Riverwalk near downtown Waco. It’s one of the largest sculpture projects in the state, the creation of 74-year-old Texas sculptor Robert Summers, and one of the most-photographed sites in Waco.  It took over 8 years for the 25 longhorns and 3 cowboys to be completed. 

 The sculptures depict the cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail as they come to cross the Brazos River.

The historic Suspension Bridge across the Brazos River was completed in 1870.Before that no bridges spanned the eight hundred miles of river flowing through Central Texas, forcing cattle drivers moving up the Chisholm Trail to find shallow fording areas. The bridge brought the Texas section of the Chisholm Trail straight through Waco.  At the time of its completion, it was the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi. The bridge was built with cable supplied by the John Roebling Co., who built the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

 Following the bridge’s completion, a toll was charged for each person and each head of cattle.  Five cents per head. The bridge collected enough in tolls in the first year of operation to completely pay off its mortgage.In 1889 the toll charge was eliminated after the city of Waco bought the bridge. 

The bridge continued to carry vehicular traffic until 1971.  Today the bridge is pedestrian only as part of the Riverwalk Trail.

 

Lots of history on this bridge.  

Nice views of the Brazos River.

Lots of Muscovy ducks in the water.  We see them at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve too.

 

The cattle drive statues are a grand display of realistic beauty.

A drive out into the country brought us to Lake Waco.  Lake Waco is a reservoir and artificial lake which serves a variety of functions for the city of Waco.  Though the lake’s primary purpose is to provide a reliable water source for Waco, it also serves as a center of recreational activity.

Lovely homes with lake views.  I don't think they are candidates for Fixer Upper.

Kim's 50's Diner had these cute kid-sized pedal cars on their roof.

Next up MAGNOLIA.

 

We Rolled On To Little Rock

The wheels hit the road leaving the gorgeous Meeman-Shelby forest and heading to Little Rock, Arkansas.

Checking into Downtown Riverside Park this is the view from GypsyII.  The Arkansas River and The Presidential Bridge are right there. 

It is a small city owned full hook up park in North Little Rock looking across the river to the Little Rock skyline.  It's all about location location location.

The trails started right out of the RV Park.  Harper's Loop is a bike path so we headed out across the bridge on the River Trail.

The Clinton Presidential Bridge was previously a railroad bridge and has now been turned into a ramped pedestrian pathway.

The River Trail runs along both the north and south banks of the Arkansas River.

Bill Clark Wetland Park is 13 acres of land along the Arkansas River as you cross over the bridge into Little Rock.

One of the most prominent features of the Little Rock skyline has always been the "six bridges" over the Arkansas River.

The Clinton Presidential Center was designed to look like a bridge in reference to that skyline. 

The five-story building with a 68,698-square-foot overall floor plan is the most expensive Presidential Library, with all funding coming from 112,000 private donations.  The entire project cost $165 million with an additional $11.5 million of land given by the city of Little Rock.

 Even though the day for our walk was gray and dreary there was no lack of colors in the trees. 

Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas so a visit to the Capitol was on the schedule.

Construction of the building took 16 years, from 1899 to 1915.

The Capitol was built on the site of the state penitentiary and prisoners helped construct the building.

The exterior of the Capitol is made of limestone, which was quarried in Batesville, Arkansas. Architects George Mann and Cass Gilbert designed it as a replica of the U.S. Capitol.

 

The capitol building stands 230 feet tall featuring a circular central drum tower that is capped with a dome and cupola. The cupola is covered in gold leaf. 

So much for security.  We were at the closest door to where we were parked reading the sign that told us to go to another door and a young man who worked in the Senate was coming in and said  "I'll get you in."   Yes, he did.....we were supposed to go through security but he let us bypass.  We must have looked honest......well maybe just harmless.

One of the first things you notice on the first floor is the lighted stained-glass rendering of the Great Seal of Arkansas.

The interior is faced with marble. 

Suspended from the domed ceiling far above is a two-ton chandelier, twelve feet in diameter and eighteen in height.

Zoomed into the detail way up there. The intricate chandelier is assembled using thousands of brass, copper, zinc, iron and glass parts. 

Visiting this Capitol is like peeling a sweet onion.

Every layer seems to get better.

In the Governor's Reception Room limestone mantels and figured marble inserts surround ornamental fireplaces. 

 

Marble marble everywhere.  

The Grand Staircase entry way to the House Chamber. 

The Senate President’s marble desk is original.

Lighting was bad but I loved this 1200 pound chandelier in the Senate Chamber.  The draperies in the dome were installed to improve the room’s acoustical properties.

In 1914, stained glass replaced the original crystal glass of the skylight in order to reduce the sun’s glare.

A matching Grand Staircase leads to the House of Representatives.

The columns and pilasters in the House chamber are finished in scagliola, a technique which uses a mix of gypsum plaster, glue, pigments and marble dust applied over a base surface to simulate the look of marble.  I guess there isn't real marble marble everywhere.

 The gilded capitals top the columns and glow in the room.

The chandelier matches the one in the Senate but this one is bigger.  It weighs 2000 pounds. 
 

Again stained glass has replaced the clear glass to reduce glare.

The marble on the floors and walls came from Vermont.

Another one of those working Capitol's.  I love them.

It was a nice day admiring the majestic halls of the Capitol of Arkansas.

The grounds have many Magnolia trees.  Love the smell of their creamy blossoms in the spring.

We found our way out to the Big Dam Bridge. It spans the Arkansas River and Murray Lock and Dam between Little Rock and North Little Rock.  At 4,226 feet in length it is the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America that has never been used by trains or motor vehicles. 

Every night we were treated to a light show on the Presidential Bridge.

While we enjoyed our visit to Little Rock this is what our kitty thinks of all the places we go.  He does like it when we stay places where birds and squirrels provide him some entertainment but city RV parks........boring for him. 

A Few Days In Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

When Walt was in the Navy he was stationed at a base in Millington, Tennessee.  Millington is about 20 miles from Memphis.  

While we were in Nashville Walt was told about Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park that is near Millington.  He was told about how beautiful it was and they were right.  What they did not tell us is how hard the campground was to find.  The GPS can take you to the park but there are no signs directing you to the campground and the park covers 13,467 acres.  A call to the office told us to keep on going..........going........going.  We made it!

The park borders the Mississippi River.  It is several miles from the campground.

After setting up we took a drive to the river.  The road winds underneath towering hardwood trees and massive vines.

This is Bald Cypress Tupelo Swamp.  We met a gentleman who does a radio show on outdoor adventures.  He is a certified Survivor Instructor and got lost in this swamp.  There are no trails to follow and no cell service.  Luckily he was only lost for 14 hours but says he hasn't been able to live it down. 

There is a 3,000-plus acre refuge that is where they say 100 species of birds can be found.

There is boat access to the Mighty Mississippi.  The river was quiet this day.  No boats, no barges, no fishermen.

 

A nice way to start our visit to the area.

The next morning we drove by the base where Walt was stationed.

A pass by the gate.  I am sure Walt and Frosty went in and out of that gate many times in their year there.

Walt says the barracks were new when they were there.  He found the dilapidated street that he remembered as being the main business area.  Now the area is miles and miles of strip centers, fast food places, car lots and the like.  

Then it was off to Germantown.  Walt's phone was haunted.  It would type on it's own, place calls on its own, and frequently it balked at being turned on so it was time to find an Apple Store.  

You can't help but love the Apple Store.  Full of the latest and greatest and lots of people to watch.  While I am very technologically challenged it gave my ego a bit of a boost while waiting for the Apple genius to fix Walt's phone I could listen to people waiting for help that were even worse off than me.  Not long and the gremlins have been banished and his phone is back to normal.  Great service and no charge!

The Apple employees recommended the Stoney River restaurant for lunch.  It was a little upscale for us in our jeans but they didn't seem to care and the food was very good. 

Then we did a Memphis drive through.  My first impression was..........Memphis is scary.  Walt says it really was back in the 60's and much of it was off limits for them in the Navy.

No, we didn't go to Graceland.  For all you Elvis fans out there I am not disrespecting Elvis.  I was a fan of his music and I loved his hokey movies.  But, I find the less I know about musicians, movie stars, and athletes personal lives the more I can continue to enjoy their talent.  Once I know too much about them it colors my opinion of their skill.  

The scary continued and I was glad I hadn't planned any particular visits in Memphis.

There is a pretty skyline along the Mississippi.

The widely recognized Hernando de Soto Bridge is generally know as the M Bridge.  It crosses the Mississippi between Memphis and West Memphis in Arkansas.

Lots of University of Memphis Tigers about town.

The tigers continue in living color.

Beale Street was crowded.  I suppose we might regret not taking the time to go and listen to some blues.  

The Memphis Pyramid was originally built in 1991 as a sports and entertainment venue.  It has not been used in that way since 2004 and now it houses a Bass Pro Shop complete with hotel, restaurant, bowling alley and a saltwater aquarium.  That sounds like it would have been worth a stop too.

The rest of our time in the area was spent in this enchanted forest.

The forest is covered with large oaks, American beech, hickory and sweet gum.

What a perfect time of year to be here.

The same fellow who told us about getting lost in the swamp suggested we go to the Shelby Forest General Store for their steak night. It fell on the last night we were there.  Family owned and full of interesting "stuff."  Live music and the friendliest folks. Moving on in the morning.

 

 

 

 

This Is As Close To Greece As We Will Ever Get

Nashville is home to an exact copy of the Parthenon.  Yes, just like the one in Greece.

It is a full-scale replica located in Centennial Park in Nashville.

It was designed by Confederate veteran William Crawford Smith and built in 1897 as part of the  Tennessee Centennial Exposition. 

Today the Parthenon functions as an art museum.

It is massive and we were awestruck.  The Parthenon in Nashville faces east just like the original in Greece.

Nashville's nickname the "Athens of the South", influenced the choice of the building as the centerpiece of the 1897 Centennial Exposition.

Originally built of plaster, wood, and brick, the Parthenon was not intended to be permanent.  

 The cost of demolishing the structure combined with its popularity with residents and visitors alike resulted in it being left standing after the Exposition.  It was then rebuilt on the same foundations, in concrete, in a project that started in 1920. The exterior was completed in 1925 and the interior in 1931.  The Parthenon got a full makeover in 2002 with a much needed cleaning and restoration of the exterior.

 The original Parthenon was completed in 438 BC although decoration of the building continued until 432 BC.  The Nashville building restored the aspects of the original Parthenon that were lost or damaged.  The original Parthenon was built out of Pentelic Marble and the Nashville Parthenon is created from brick, stone, structural reinforced concrete, and cast concrete aggregate.  

There are no photos allowed in the lower level art gallery.  If there were photos allowed they would be beautiful.  The permanent collection is a group of 63 paintings by 19th- and 20th-century American artists donated by James M. Cowan.  Mr. Cowan was a wealthy art collector that had visited the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and when he heard that the Parthenon was being reconstructed as a permanent structure he decided to donate some of his collection to be permanently displayed there.  The paintings are varied and the primary theme is impressionism.  They are stunning paintings and framed elaborately.  The inner portion of the gallery is a rotating show.  The artist displayed while we were there was Camille Engel.  She is a Nashville native and a realist oil painter.  Her paintings are vibrant and feel 3-D.  We enjoyed viewing all this art in such a stunning venue.

Moving upstairs there are no restrictions on photos.  Huge columns continue on the inside.

 

A sign at the Nashville Parthenon reads: 

“These bronze doors weigh 7.5 tons each.  They are 7 feet wide, 24 feet high, and 1 foot thick.  They are considered to be the largest matching set of bronze doors in the world.  The doors are balanced on steel hinges with ball bearing collars at the top and bottom so they move easily.  In contrast, the doors of the ancient Parthenon were probably made of wood, covered with bronze plate, thus needing the semi-circular track in the floor to bear part of the load.  These doors do not use the track."

Alan LeQuire's 1990 re-creation of the Athena Parthenos statue is the focus of the upper chamber of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece.  The Parthenon in Greece is an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.  

The statue is designed as a replica of what the it would have looked like in ancient Greece, in all her golden glory.  It is highly colored as the original would have been.   Athena stands 42 feet tall.

A 6-foot-4-inch statue of the goddess Nike is in her hand. 

Her spear was created out of a McDonald's flag pole.

Those are the biggest toes I have ever seen.

She is covered in 8 pounds of gold leaf.

A golden snake stands protected between the goddess and her shield.   

Not much is known of the original ancient gold and ivory sculpture, because it was lost by 400 AD. The creator of the original Athena was Pheidias, who finished it in 438 BC. The statue appeared on city coins of the second and first centuries BC.

 The Athena statue is in the east room and the west room is called the Treasury Room.  In the original Parthenon this room housed the treasure of Athens and the Delian League.

In the Treasury Room you can read about Greek Mythology and the meaning of the sculptures on the pediments of the Parthenon.  The story of this pediment (the east) goes this way.  According to Greek mythology Zeus gave birth to Athena after a terrible headache prompted him to summon Hephaestus’ (the god of fire and the forge) assistance. To alleviate the pain he ordered Hephaestus to strike him with his forging hammer, and when he did, Zeus’ head split open and out popped the goddess Athena in full armor.   That must have been some headache.

What a great way to bring our visit to Nashville to a close. 

There Is More To See In Nashville

In 2017, Nashville's economy was deemed the third fastest growing in the nation, and also was named the "hottest housing market in the US" by Freddie Mac realtors.  

The Gaylord Opryland area is bustling.

I didn't get a decent picture of the current Grand Ole Opry building.  It was crowded and streets were blocked off.  The wind was blowing and it was cold so I just gave up and took a picture of this sign.  This was the first day of weather on this trip that we could consider cold and luckily it only lasted the one day.

Nashville is home to Vanderbilt University.  Vanderbilt is ranked as one of the best universities in the United States and the world by several rankings. Additionally, in 2017 Vanderbilt was ranked the 10th most innovative in the world.

The U.S. Custom House built in 1882 housed federal courts, customs, and the post office. Today it houses offices.

Exterior architectural details include lancet windows and a deep inset triple-arched entrance.  I do like that Gothic architecture.

 The day was bright and warm.  Perfect for our downtown walking tour.  A bit about my new favorite building.  It is a 33 story skyscraper completed in 1994.  It is currently the tallest building in Tennessee at 617 feet.  It has been called one of the 12 most original office buildings in the world.  No superstition here.  It has a 13th floor occupied by a law firm.  There was no idea that the building would resemble Batman.  The top of the building was supposed to look like a long ago telephone sitting in its cradle. At a cost of $94 million the building came in $6 million under budget and five months ahead of schedule.

The Broadway and 2nd Avenue area has entertainment venues, night clubs and an assortment of restaurants. 

They love Elvis here. 

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So many bright neon signs. 

Every bar or restaurant has music and the doors and windows are open for it to be enjoyed on the street.

If you want boots or western clothes there are plenty of places to shop here.

The Bridgestone Arena is home to the Nashville Predators hockey team.  They call is Smashville.

Street entertainment here and there.  We never really figured out what this guy was doing.  

We had a nice dinner at Merchant's Restaurant.

The Merchants building has quite a history and has been many different businesses.  At one time it was a hotel and because it was so close to the Ryman Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Porter Waggoner, Little Jimmy Dickens and Roy Acuff are just a few of the country music stars that stayed at Merchants. 

Nashville isn't just about country music.  It is home to the Nashville Symphony that performs here at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.  

I am sure that the fun was just beginning on Broadway for most visitors as we headed back to GypsyII.
 

One of the perks of staying at the Grand Ole RV Park is there is live music every night.  It was Halloween week so there were a few costumed performers.

This cute girl, sang, played instruments and tap danced.  Music, music everywhere.

 

Nashville........The Music City

The roadside trees were showing colors and the start of bare limbs as we continued our westward trek.

We made it to Grand Ole RV Park & Resort in Nashville, TN.  We hadn't called early enough for a reservation so we were put into an overflow spot.  It had electric and water so we were fine.  Actually it was great.  We were right next to the office and clubhouse so the internet was lightning fast.

Here we are in Nashville.  It truly is Music City.  Everywhere you go there is music playing.

We arrived fairly early and set up went fast so we couldn't resist a trip into downtown.

Walt had been told by one of the camp hosts that it wasn't a good night to go into downtown Nashville.  But, that didn't stop him.

It was the night of the Kenny Rogers Farewell Tour at the Bridgestone in downtown Nashville.  The list of stars being there was filled with all the big names and the show ended with a final performance of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.  It was a sellout and the streets were crowded and the music was everywhere.

We later saw on the news clips from the show and it looked like it was quite a night. We met a couple the next night that had attended to the tune of $600.  But, they will have a lifetime memory.

 

We continued our drive around Nashville as the daylight faded excited to see more.

The Tennessee Titans Football Stadium has prime real estate downtown along the Cumberland River. 

 A first sighting on my new favorite building.  The AT&T Building is known to locals as the Batman Building.  See the resemblance?  More on this building to come.  Back to the RV Park for a good nights rest so we can discover more of Nashville.

The next morning it was back into downtown with a particular place in mind.

Nashville is the Capital of Tennessee so we wanted to visit the Capitol Building.

The cupola has been removed for restoration so the exterior of the building was not very appealing. It is one of 12 State Capitol's that does not have a dome.

 The State Capitol Building is located on the highest point in the city of Nashville, on a hill once known as Cedar Knob. 

 The cornerstone for the building was laid on July 4, 1845, and construction finished in 1859. 

This is the Supreme Court Chamber.  Both the exterior and interior of the building is constructed out of limestone.

It is one of the oldest working capitol buildings still in use and there were people busy in the offices.

Much of its ornamentation is on the ceiling.

The Capital Library features the original decorative cast iron spiral staircase.  It reminded me of my favorite State Library in the Iowa Capitol.

The chandelier from the 1850's, in the Senate Chamber, highlights cotton, corn and tobacco, the state’s three cash crops. 

The House of Representatives Chamber is pretty majestic.

 The Governor's Office was my favorite.  Beautiful wood work, pretty murals and a staff busy at work.

This mural is said to depict Andrew Jackson's racehorse named Truxton. 

Tennessee is proud of their citizen, Andrew Jackson.  A General in the Army,  a representative, a senator, a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court prior to being elected the 7th President of the United States.

Pretty proud of Davy Crockett too.  I will admit "Davy Davy Crockett King of the wild frontier"  was playing through my head for the rest of the Capitol visit. 

 

The plow, sheaf of wheat,  and cotton stalk are symbols of Tennessee agriculture, and the riverboat represents the importance of river traffic to commerce in the state. 

Long break it seems.  We were here in October and apparently they had not met since September.  Hmmmmm.

We had parked on the top level of the parking garage so we got a birds eye view of some of the surrounding downtown area.  The round building is the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.

New towering buildings cluster around an old church.

There are so many trees ablaze with color.  Nice day in Nashville.  Now on to a fun night in Nashville.

This is the back side of the Bridgestone where the Kenny Rogers Farewell was the night before.  We knew we wanted to go to a show while we were in Nashville and had decided that we probably wanted to go to the Ryman Auditorium since it was the home of the Grand Ole Opry until 1974.

On the way I got a night time view of my new favorite building.

Our RV Park offers tickets and a bus shuttle to and from the Ryman.  No driving and no searching for parking.  Sounds good to us.  Sign us up.

In the foyer is this sculpture of Ray Acuff and Minnie Pearl long time Grand Ole Opry performers.  I didn't want to bring my camera so all the photos for the night are on my phone and I haven't mastered good pics there so apology in advance.

The Ryman Auditorium is the former home of the Grand Ole Opry and before that it was the Union Gospel Tabernacle.

Luckily we were there early that left me some time to wander around and take in the architecture.  It was built in 1892 and then the balcony was added in 1897.

The Grand Ole Opry was first broadcast from the Ryman on June 5, 1943, and originated there every week for nearly 31 years thereafter. Every show sold out, and hundreds were often turned away.  It seats 2,362.

Seating is in gently curved church pews. Experts say the Ryman’s acoustics are among the finest in the world, second only to the Mormon Tabernacle, surpassing even Carnegie Hall.  

The show was just what we wanted.  Opry Country Classics filled with those time-honored songs we knew all the words too.  Hosted by Bill Cody long time announcer.  First up was Wade Hayes.  Lots of sing along classics.

A few numbers by the Gatlin Brothers.

Several numbers from TG Sheppard but I liked it best when he brought his wife, Kelly Lang, on and they sang a couple duets.

When T Graham Brown came on the two ladies in cowboy hats that were staying at our RV Park too made it clear he was their favorite and they loved his jacket.

The spotlight artist was Crystal Gayle.  Complete with that hair that touches the stage as she sings.  She sang her hits.....Talkin' In Your Sleep, When I Dream, and Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.   We were so fortunate to enjoy this show and have such a great night. 

 

 

Knoxville Has A Lot To Offer

After our pleasant week in Max Meadows, VA we continued on toward Knoxville, TN.

The morning started out foggy shrouding the landscape with moisture.  

By the time we checked into Southlake RV Park in Knoxville the sun was back blazing in the sky.

The lake was right behind GypsyII.

This RV Park was built for the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair. 

The lady that checked us in said that they are finally working toward doing some upgrades since none had been done since it was built.  But the buildings that needed a lot of improvement couldn't detract from the pretty scenery. 

Our first exploration in Knoxville was to the Ijams Nature Center.  The Nature Center was developed by Harry Ijams, Knoxville’s leading bird expert, and Alice Yoe Ijams, “First Lady of Knoxville Garden Clubs”.

The Nature Center is a 300-acre urban greenspace that is bordered by the Tennessee River. 

This peaceful sanctuary is only minutes from downtown Knoxville.

We chose to take the River Boardwalk Trail.  There are over 16 miles of trails in the park that connect to over 50 miles of trails in Knoxville's Urban Wilderness.

The Boardwalk is attached to the rocks that line the river.

When the builder (Don Niday) began the construction he had to rappel down the cliff to secure the metal support braces that attach the structure to the rock. 

There are caves along the cliff.  One in particular made me smile.  In 1918 a woman named Maude Moore fatally shot an attacker named Roy Harth.  Fearing the worst Maude hid in the larger cave until she decided to surrender to authorities.  In 1921 a jury found her not guilty.  The jury decided she acted in self defense because Harth had a reputation for "lecherousness" .  There seems to be a lot of that "lecherousness" going on today. 

Well done Knoxville.

 

When I first saw the house high on the hill across the water I thought "what a beautiful place."  Upon closer inspection the roof has fallen in and the windows are broken out.  Proof that first impressions are not always right.

What could possibly be better than a walk on a sunny fall day with leaves crackling underfoot?

Some parts of the trails have rock hewn steps alongside mossy walls. 

Navitat Knoxville's tree-based adventure park at Ijams Nature Center is part zip line and part challenging segments.  I wonder if I would have tried it 50 years ago.

A perfect nature filled day.

Another nice place to visit in Knoxville is The World's Fair Park.

Knoxville hosted the World's Fair in 1982 and became one of the most popular world's fairs in U.S. history with 11 million visitors.  Sad that there hasn't been one in the U.S. since 1984.  We went to the one in Spokane Washington in 1974.  

The parks most notable feature is the Sunsphere that was built for the World's fair.

The Sunsphere is a 266-foot steel truss structure topped with a gold-colored glass sphere.

The tower's window glass panels are layered in 24-karat gold dust and cut to seven different shapes.

We rode the elevator up to the observation deck.  During the World's Fair it cost $2 to go up.......now it is free.  You get a 360 degree view of Knoxville.  The color of the glass made my photos look as if we were underwater. 

One of my favorite authors Cormac McCarthy is from Knoxville.  I love how his writing style is sparse and direct. While most of his novels are on the dark side it doesn't seem to me that Knoxville would have inspired that.  We find it an uplifting place.

There was a dog training class going on in the park.  We found a bench and watched awhile.

This guy was our favorite.  He was so responsive to his master and boy could he catch a frisbee. 

We were only in Knoxville for a couple days and no matter how long you stay somewhere you can't see or do it all so sometimes choosing is hard but I think we made good choices being out in nature in Knoxville.

Now for my rant! KUDZU......I HATE KUDZU.  The climbing, coiling, and trailing perennial vines cover trees and bushes in the southeast and now has gone as far north as Illinois.  It grows so rapidly that it kills the trees and shrubs by heavy shading.  Kudzu was introduced from Japan into the United States at the Japanese pavilion in the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.  The brown marmorated stink bug hitched a ride into the U.S. from Japan too.  I HATE STINK BUGS TOO.   GypsyII was covered with them while we were in Florida, NY and we found them as we continued on down the east coast.  They have become stowaways in GypsyII and our kitty is a great stink bug pointer.  He alerts us with his hunting sound and that's the end of another stink bug.  Yes, they do stink.  Poor Walt......he has to make frequent garbage runs when one is annihilated.   I guess if these are my two traveling complaints I am doing pretty good.

No complaint here. Nice way for our visit to Knoxville to end.

 
 

On To Rural Virginia

While we are so thankful for all we have gotten to see and learn in the busy, crowded, huge east coast cities we have visited I think there was a bit of a sigh of relief as we got on the road to smaller town America.  

After a few days of brooding skies it was nice to see blue again.

The Shenandoah Valley was eye candy and it seemed in no time we were at our destination.

Here we are at Fort Chiswell RV Park in Max Meadows, VA.

Our initial plan was to stay 3 days........we liked it so much we stayed a week.

It was peaceful and quiet.   The scenery was beautiful.  The weather was perfect.  Best of all there were plenty of back roads to explore.

 

One of those back roads took us to Foster Falls.  Foster Falls was the center of the iron furnace and forge business in the New River Valley.  The Foster Falls Hotel was built along the rail line and for 25 years the hotel was the social center of the community. After changes in technology and depletion of natural resources curtailed the furnace and forge business the hotel became an industrial school for women.  Then it became an orphanage and today it is undergoing restoration to become a bed and breakfast. 

The area around Foster Falls is full of farms with lots of old barns.

Remembering our visit to the Dubuque Shot Tower it was fun to find the Jackson Ferry Shot Tower. This one was built in 1790 almost 60 years before the one in Dubuque.  Today this one is a centerpiece of the New River Trail State Park. 

Another back road took us by the Blue Ridge Parkway and on to Mount Airy, NC.

 

True to their reputation the Blue Ridge Mountains are blue.

Most of you know Mt Airy as Mayberry.  Mt Airy is the hometown of Andy Griffith and the inspiration for the Andy Griffith TV Show.  It is still a small town with a population of just over 10,000.   Tourists can go for rides in the police car.

The town plays up on the Mayberry connection and thousands of visitors come each year.  

We had lunch at Down Home and a tour bus full of older than us folks gave us a little entertainment. 

A stop at a farmers market garnered fresh apple cider and more.

Lots of scenes of country life full of grazing cattle.  So peaceful.

These folks are serious about decorating for Halloween. 

The New River meanders through the countryside with fall colored trees edging its banks.

There are stately old homes and vineyards in the area.

A week well spent relaxing in rural Virginia driving slowly, taking deep breaths of fresh air, and enjoying the scenery.  Life is good!

 

 

We Have Touched The Ground And Breathed The Air In All 50 States

It was a dark and dreary day as we embarked on a mission.

Leaving Lorton, VA we headed north and east through Alexandria, passing by Annapolis and here we are crossing Chesapeake Bay. 

Car window views of small, waterfront towns with lots of seafood restaurants.

A reason to celebrate!  We have been to all 50 states (and Washington, DC) with the crossing into Delaware.  It had to be a destination state.  It was not an "on the way" state. 

Some visits to states have been extensive, others short but we have touched ground, breathed the air and at least had a meal in each state.

We always try to go to local restaurants and we always meet people and visit with them.  There are wonderful people in all the states we have visited and we enjoy their stories.

In Delaware we had scrumptious sea food and received congratulations on our accomplishment.  

The return trip was still under cloudy skies and gave me time to think about our 50 state visits.  It has taken us 52 years to do it and since we started full time RVing 4 years ago we have been able to revisit many of the states and fill in those we had not yet been to. 

Many people have the 50 state goal and each have different criteria to meet.  Some just have to snap a picture at the state line, some volunteer in each state, some have to visit a National Park or Monument, and others just have to pass through.  

Depending upon where your home state is some states are easier to visit than others.  Being from the west the northeast portion of the U.S. has eluded us for years.  This year our goal was to get in those final few states. Along with seeing so much of this great country, meeting new people, reconnecting with old friends, and visiting friends along the way the goal was accomplished.  We are often asked what has been our favorite and there is no concrete answer to that. Some places stand out just by the feeling we had while we were there, some stand out for their beauty, and some stand out for the experiences we had while there.  Getting there has been the best adventure.

We ended our day by a stop at Costco in Washington DC.  Interesting inner city experience.  You have to park in a for pay parking area.....Costco does validate.  Once inside.....just another Costco.

With the 50 state goal completed it is time to start our slow trek south and west.

George Washington's Mount Vernon

We wanted to go to Mount Vernon and it was not very far from our RV Park.

We had no idea how much there was to see and learn about.  We thought it would be a brief visit but we spent most of a full day.

The estate is situated on the banks of the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia near Alexandria,  across from Prince George's County, Maryland.

The Washington family had owned land in the area since the time of Washington's great-grandfather in 1674.  The cupola is topped with a Dove of Peace.

At 11,028 square feet with two and a half stories and a full cellar, the Mansion dwarfed the majority of dwelling houses in late 18th-century Virginia.

Even with all that square footage the kitchen and wash house are in separate buildings.  This building is the kitchen and was separated from the mansion by a Colonnade.  

The exterior of the mansion is rusticated to look like stone but is actually yellow pine siding.  Rustication is a technique designed to make a wooden house appear to be constructed from stone by beveling the edges of the siding boards to resemble individual blocks of stone. The siding was then painted and sand was thrown onto the wet paint, creating a rough stone-like texture.

 

Allowing the public to see the estate is not an innovation, but part of a 200-year-old tradition started by George Washington himself. In 1794 he wrote: "I have no objection to any sober or orderly person's gratifying their curiosity in viewing the buildings, and gardens about Mount Vernon."

Some of the trees on the estate were planted by George Washington.  He thought of himself first as a farmer. He made it his life's work to improve agriculture in America.

The two-story porch facing the Potomac River is one of the Mansion’s most iconic architectural features and was designed by Washington.  Such a pretty view over to Maryland.

No photographs are allowed in the house. The mansion has been fully restored by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, independent of the US government, with no tax dollars expended to support the 500-acre estate, its educational programs or activities.  There were two rooms that stood out for me.  The dining room is painted a striking verdigris-green.  Washington believed the color to be “grateful to the eye" and less likely than other colors to fade; an overcoat of glaze further intensified the color.  He also had installed an elaborately decorated plaster ceiling and plaster ornaments above the fireplace.  The other was a second floor guest bedroom that is called the Blue Room.  It is layered with blue textiles and wallpaper with the most comfy looking feather bed.

This is the kitchen that is in a separate outbuilding.  This reduced the danger of fire to the mansion and distanced the Washington's and their many guests from the kitchen's smoke, heat and noise.  The Washington's entertained extensively having hosted 677 guests in 1798.

This is the paint cellar.  Keeping the Mansion and outbuildings painted was a continual process.  Paint was an expensive commodity at that time and it came in powder form and then mixed with linseed oil just before using.  One slave, Tom Davis, was the one usually called upon to keep the buildings and roofs painted.

What a job it must have been to paint the steep roofs on the Mansion and this barn. 

 What can this funny little structure be?  It is the Dung Repository.  A place to compost animal manure and organic materials for fertilizer. George Washington was a progressive thinking farmer.  I love his comment about it in a letter to George William Fairfax in 1785.  "When I speak of a knowing Farmer,  I mean one who understands the best course of crops...and above all, Midas like, one who can convert everything he touches into manure, as the first transmutation toward Gold." 

 

The picture perfect orchards are still producing.

George Washington oversaw all aspects of the landscape at Mount Vernon. He extensively redesigned the grounds surrounding his home, adopting the less formal, more naturalistic style of an 18th century English garden.  

George Washington was continually improving his plantation and wanted to share his knowledge.  In a letter in 1786 he wrote:

“I shall always be happy to give and receive communications on improvement in farming and the various branches of agriculture. This in my opinion, an object of infinite importance to the country. I consider it to be the proper source of American wealth and happiness.”

He kept detailed records and luckily much of his correspondence has been kept so much is known about his life.

 

George Washington died at Mount Vernon on December 14, 1799. His last will outlined his desire to be buried at home at Mount Vernon.  Initially he was put into this family burial vault.

Also in his will made he provisions for a new brick tomb to be constructed after his death.  In 1831, Washington’s body was transferred to the new tomb, along with the remains of Martha Washington (who died May 22, 1802) and other family members. 

A very nice memorial at the Slave burial ground at Mount Vernon.  Despite Washington being a slave owner for over 56 years he apparently struggled with the institution of slavery.  He freed his slaves in his will.  There are differing opinions of how he treated the slaves at Mount Vernon.  Some say he was kind to them, others say that he treated them severely.  Even his written records differ in how he recommended their treatment. 

Animals of all kinds played important roles in George Washington's life and the economy of Mount Vernon.  He had large flocks of sheep, herds of cattle, mules, horses, hogs, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks and he even kept deer as an entertainment for his guests. 

A pleasant and educational day well spent.

A Show Of Respect At Arlington Cemetery

We were able to change buses and take the tour into Arlington Cemetery.

The feelings of sympathy and appreciation seem to flood over us as we passed by so many graves of those who have given their service and lives for our freedom.

Arlington National Cemetery is a United States military cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The national cemetery was established during the Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, which had been the estate of the family of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna (Custis) Lee (a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington).

Although the first military burial at Arlington National Cemetery didn’t occur until 1864, the burial ground holds the remains of those who fought in every war since the Revolution. In 1892, soldiers killed in the Revolutionary War were reinterred from a Georgetown cemetery, and casualties from the War of 1812 have been reburied at Arlington as well.

There are more than 400,000 buried at Arlington.

On average Arlington Cemetery oversees 30 burials 6 days a week.

One had just concluded as we were there.

I really debated on whether I should include this photo or not.  I didn't want to intrude on their heartbreak but it emphasized to me the feeling that I felt there and I wanted to remember it. I am sure amid their sorrow is pride for their hero buried there. 
 

The Memorial Amphitheater has hosted state funerals and Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. Ceremonies are also held for Easter.  The amphitheater seats 1,500 people.

We were fortunate to have arrived at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in time for the changing of the guard.  The guard is changed every half-hour during daylight in the summer, and every hour during daylight in the winter and every two hours at night (when the cemetery is closed to the public), regardless of weather conditions.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels. Sentinels, all volunteers, are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), headquartered at Fort Myer, Va.

All of the guards are volunteers.  I knew that but what I didn't know is that the lone sentinel sharply dressed in formal Army attire shows no rank. Since it is not known who the Unknowns are therefore their ranks are not known and it would be inappropriate for the Unknowns to be guarded by someone who outranks them.   

Everything the guards do is a series of 21, which alludes to the 21-gun salute.

The Sentinel does not execute an about face, rather they stop on the 21st step, then turn and face the Tomb for 21 seconds. They then turn to face back down the mat, change the weapon to the outside shoulder, mentally count off 21 seconds, then step off for another 21 step walk down the mat. They face the Tomb at each end of the 21 step walk for 21 seconds. The Sentinel then repeats this over and over until the Guard Change ceremony begins.

We were asked to stand and remain silent during the ceremony. 

The inspection ceremony is a precise white glove examination of the rifle and the new sentinel.  

Once the inspection is complete the relief commander and the relieving sentinel meet the retiring sentinel at the center of the matted path in front of the Tomb. All three salute the Unknown who have been symbolically given the Medal of Honor.

The ceremony is an impressive and solemn event.  It made me feel humble but so proud of the military and all those who have served. 

A beautiful place with so many stories.  A final resting place from Presidents to servicemen from all U.S. wars to former slaves. If you have a chance to visit this place of hallowed ground I would highly recommend it. I feel privileged to have been there.
 

On a less somber note it was my birthday and by sheer luck we found an authentic family run Mexican restaurant in Alexandria,VA for dinner.  Great food and a fun final visit with Frosty and Ginger before they flew back home.   Walt will be missing Frosty in the shotgun seat.  

Washington DC Tour

An early morning drive to Chantilly complete with Chantilly Lace by Walt was to pick up Ginger and Frosty to drive to the Metro Station.  A very sensible decision had been made.  We would ride the Metro into the city and take a tour.  No more driving!

The Metro attendant gave us more to laugh at.  Being new to their system we had questions........he answered them all but admonished Ginger to NOT get off when the doors opened.  I am still not sure what he really meant.  Were we to just stay on and never get off just like the MTA in Boston?  Would we never return? 

Disobeying the Do Not Get Off instructions we proceeded to meet our Trolley Tour.  We all breathed a sigh of relief to let someone else do the driving.  

I love tours because you get little known facts.  I had no idea there were canals in Washington DC.  This lockkeeper's house is being restored and moved so another part of Washington DC's history can be kept.  In the mid-1800s, canals crossed Washington and ran alongside the Mall, carrying boats filled with cargo and people between the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. A lockkeeper and his family of 13 children lived in the small stone house at Constitution Avenue and 17th Street between 1835 and 1855. He collected tolls and operated the lock of the Washington City Canal.  Nationwide, canal traffic declined by the 1850s with the rise of railroads. In 1855, the lockkeeper was no longer needed and the canal became neglected and polluted. The city filled in the canal 1872.  The lockkeeper's house was abandoned in 1855, and squatters lived in it for many years. For a short time, the Park Police kept prisoners in the house. 

Nice to get a view of the other side of the White House.  Much calmer here.  

Every building is adorned with sculptures.  This is on the Interstate Commerce Commission Building.  Notice no one had her put on clothes unlike the Roman Soldiers at Union Station.

The National Archives Building holds the originals of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

This is the Federal Trade Commission building. I like its commanding Classic Revival style. 

The International Spy Museum.  Could we learn James Bond secrets here?   Yes, the current exhibition is:

EXQUISITELY EVIL: 50 YEARS OF BOND VILLAINS

We drove by where on the evening of April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor and Confederate sympathizer, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln here at Ford's Theatre.

This is the Old Post Office.  Built in 1899 it was the main post office until 1914.  It has gone through many renovations since then but in 2016 opened as a Trump International Hotel.

Rooms start at $420 a night but for the deluxe suites can go up to $4480.....location, location, location 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 

This statue by Michael Lantz is called "Man Controlling Trade."  The sculptor explained, "Trade is an enormous thing. But man, by his intelligence, controls the horses."

We got many different views of the Capitol Building.

There it is.....atop Capitol Hill.  Luckily the view from outside is lovely because what is done on the inside is not always pretty.

The building was originally completed in 1800 and has been expanded and expanded.

The massive dome was constructed between 1855 and 1866.  

Both the east and west entrances are referred to as fronts.

I thought I remembered the tour guide saying that the Capitol originally was also used for Sunday church services.  I checked and church was held in the Capitol until 1857.  

The British partially burned the Capitol in 1814 during the War of 1812.

There are rumors that an underground tunnel connects the Capitol to the White House.  Will we ever know?

An architecturally impressive building.  So happy to see it.

Ha Ha Ha.  Frosty and Walt are still using maps trying to figure out these streets.

 

I liked the statues on the Supreme Court Building.  She is Contemplation of Justice.  A book of laws supports her left arm and a figure of blindfolded Justice is in her right hand. 

He is Authority of Law.  In his left hand he holds the tablet of laws, backed by the sheathed sword, symbolic of enforcement through law.

The U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory greenhouse is massive. 

The front is a one-story limestone structure with 11 lofty arches inspired by the seventeen-century orangery at Versailles near Paris.   Perfection. 

The magnificent Washington Monument is visible almost everywhere in the area.

The Washington Monument was built between 1848 & 1884 as a tribute to George Washington's military leadership.  The reason it took so long to build was because of a lack of funds, political turmoil, and uncertainty of the survival of the United States.  There is a difference of color at the 150 foot level because the delay in building made it necessary to get the marble from a different quarry.

A drive by the Jefferson Memorial only gave an outside view.  We didn't get to see Jefferson's statue or the inscriptions of his writings.  

We really got to see a lot of Washington DC on the tour and it was nice to let Walt sit back and enjoy. A special part of the day will be coming up in the next post. 

 

Washington Union Station

It has been a long time since I have laughed as hard as I did while we were trying to find the parking garage for Washington's Union Station.  We had spent the morning at Ginger and Frosty's hotel visiting and catching up on news and memories and thought Union Station would be a good place to have lunch, browse the shops and view the building.

I am sure that Frosty and Ginger were not expecting the tour of Washington DC that they got.

The information online says the entrance to the parking garage is off H Street.

H Street...........how hard could that be to find?  

 Yes, we found H Street pretty quickly and drove to the number where the garage was supposed to be.  No parking garage there and continuing down H Street it came to a dead end.  Plus, we knew we were a long ways from where Union Station is.  Let's just head to the Station. How do we do that? Frosty has the maps.....they don't make sense.  One way streets, traffic, traffic, traffic. Frosty kept saying he was so glad Walt was driving.  And our hysterical laughter probably got in the way.

Yes, we used the GPS.  She was as confused as we were.  Finally we found Union Station and Ginger saw the Parking Garage and excitedly pointed the way. No, you can't enter it right by the station.  But, now we knew we were close so around the corner we went and Eureka........... H Street and entry into the Parking Garage.  Now, the confession. The next day our tour bus driver told us our confusion was justified.  Washington DC is laid out in a circle and all the streets are in quadrants.....NW SW NE SE etc and the same named streets in one quadrant do not always continue into the other quadrant. We saw parts of Washington DC that I am sure that most tourists never see and shared lots of laughs for a great memory. 

 Once into the building it was worth the time it took to get here. Washington's Union Station is a major train station, transportation hub, and tourist destination.  It also serves the commuter rail service, the Washington Metro and bus lines.  Union Station is one of the busiest rail facilities and shopping destinations in the United States, and is visited by over 40 million people a year.  

The station opened in 1907.  The architect, Daniel Burnham, was inspired by grandiose architectural styles. 

The exterior was influenced by classical elements such as the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

He treated the entrance to the terminal as a triumphal arch that was a tradition at the time. 

There are six massive statues sculpted by Louis St. Gaudens. St. Gaudens fashioned the six statues to represent Fire, Electricity, Freedom, Imagination, Agriculture and Mechanics. 

There are three female and three male gods that are representing the aspects of railroading.  The complete work is titled "The Progress of Railroading."

The great vaulted spaces of the interior were influenced by the Roman Baths.

As you can see in the previous interior photos there are statues of 46 Roman Legionnaires perched high overlooking the entrances and exits.  They were sculpted by St. Gaudens as well. At lunch we were at a restaurant on the second floor and had a birds eye view of them and they raised our curiosity.  We asked our waitress about them and she had no clue.  Hmmm.  So later Frosty asked about them.  Since the interior was influenced by the Roman Baths the Roman soldiers were a natural.  They originally were naked but the railroad officials thought they would offend the female passengers going through the station.  So, St. Gaudens was asked to hide their nakedness with shields.  No, you can't get at a right angle and see anything under the shields.  Yes, we tried.  More laughter!

Our day finished off at Bonefish Grill for a day before my birthday dinner as a treat from Frosty and Ginger.  

How fortunate we are that this special couple came to meet us.  We have had such a great time and luckily there is more to come.