tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71474707366818567302024-03-12T22:06:16.375-05:00Let's Just Go SomewhereHi! We are Chuck & Melissa Gregory and we are on our full-timing journey. We have set up this blog so our friends and family can read about our adventures. We look forward to meeting lots of new friends along the way! Thanks for riding along with us! Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger622125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-10808333542402806562017-03-26T19:00:00.000-05:002017-03-29T22:28:01.761-05:00A Magnificent March in San AntonioMarch was filled with beautiful weather, lots of golf, and lots of fun. We took several golf lessons and practiced what we learned at the driving range. J.J., our instructor at Republic Golf, helped me a lot in getting my swing consistent. We still have a lot to learn but we both enjoy playing the game even more now. <br />
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We played in just about all of the Wednesday Scrambles and Chuck played with several others at The Quarry a couple of times. The Quarry is a beautiful golf course built in and around an old rock quarry. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck, Peter & Lynda Myshok, Warren, Roger, Larry & Terry</td></tr>
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The last "official" scramble was held on March 8th. BettyAnn and Lorne came out to take pictures of the different groups. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was on the team with Peter, Larry, Clari and Dennis.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck was on the team with Tim, Roger, John and Linda.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynda and Nancy decided to just whack each other. :)</td></tr>
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The annual Golf Banquet was held on March 9th. After a dinner of brisket and fixins' from The Big Bib BBQ, we listened while Warren presented the awards and prizes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doc (who is 92) and his wife Barb were awarded<br />
for all their years of participating in the scrambles.<br />
At 92, Doc is a really good golfer and can beat<br />
Chuck or me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynda Myshok was awarded most dedicated golfer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I was surprised with the award for the most improved golfer!</td></tr>
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We played as many games as we could during the rest of our stay playing as many as three games a week. I got a birdie at Alsatian! I was so excited and nervous! The hole was a Par 3 and I landed just a couple of feet from the hole on my drive. I nervously made the two foot put for a birdie! <br />
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We also played at Pleasanton the last week. Plesanton is an older course lined with huge beautiful oak trees which can make it a challenging course as well.<br />
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Besides now loving the game of golf, playing golf gave us a chance to meet friends and play golf with people we might not otherwise have met. We enjoyed it so much and are looking forward to playing a lot more golf next year!<br />
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We went to Boerne one day with Terry and Gloria when the weather was too unpredictable to play golf. We had a delicious lunch at a German restaurant and a relaxing afternoon strolling along the river.<br />
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On the last bike ride that I went on, we rode off to the newest section of the paved bike trails in San Antonio. The trail took us under where both I-35 and I-10 and followed along Apache Creek. <br />
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We got off the trail for a few blocks and rode to a coffee house that Lydia had told us about called Sabina's Coffee House.<br />
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While we were there, an artist was working on a modern art piece. <br />
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The finished product with his signature across the entire painting in red. <br />
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After we left the coffee house and began biking back, we rode by were a group of kids who were working on their own supervised art project along a wall.<br />
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As we headed back to the main Riverwalk bike trail, we could see the Tower off in the distance.<br />
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On one of the Saturdays in March, Dave and BetteAnn Radue who head up the bike rides had a biker's breakfast and prepared those delicious Guenther House waffles. :) It was a huge success! <br />
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The Lantz's had a couple of fish fries with the last one being the biggest of all. Tim cooked the fish, MaryAnn cooked her delicious french fries and everyone else brought a little of this and a little of that to contribute to the dinner. I borrowed Warren and Joslyn's deep fryer and made some hushpuppies which I think were a hit too. <br />
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As you can tell, no one goes hungry at Travelers World! :)<br />
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Chuck and I also went to the last steak night at the park. We had our pork steaks and they were so delicious. Afterwards, they had music and dancing and the girls had lots of fun! :)<br />
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Chuck and I also competed in the last corn hole competition. We made it to the second round! :)<br />
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I went on a girls night out downtown to see the musical "Beautiful" based on the life of singer-songwriter Carole King. We had a nice dinner at the Market on Houston before the play.<br />
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After dinner, we walked across the street to the Majestic Theater for the play. The theater is very old and is beautiful. The musical was great. We never realized how many songs Carole King had written or helped to write by providing the lyrics. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had great seats!</td></tr>
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The last week everyone was trying to get their last good-byes in. The Borrisons and the Seymours hosted a hamburger cookout. As you can tell by the below pictures, it was well attended. The burgers were delicious and we took some homemade ice cream which everyone seemed to like.<br />
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Ten of us went to the Tower for their Happy Hour appetizer specials one last time and then on the last Saturday in March, the Burlesons headed out. Everyone came out to say good-bye. :(<br />
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And on the last Sunday of the month, the Farnstroms and the Gregorys headed out. <br />
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Oh my goodness! What an magnificently wonderful three months we have had in San Antonio! We enjoyed being with old friends and we made so many new friends too! And we can't wait to see everyone next year! <br />
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BettyAnn and Kathy, thanks for all the wonderful pictures you took that I "borrowed" off of FB! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1San Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.5394974 -99.784521699999985 30.3087464 -97.2027347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-89343683559626141692017-03-02T20:00:00.000-06:002017-03-29T22:50:12.454-05:00An Interesting Day in AustinMarch began with our taking a day trip by train to Austin, Texas, with about 30 other friends from the campground. The day started early with our leaving San Antonio around 6:30 in the morning. <br />
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We had breakfast on the train with Terry and Gloria. <br />
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After arriving in Austin around 10 am, our little group consisting of Terry & Gloria, Rich & Kathy, Nancy, and us began walking to the river. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice view of the city.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorado River</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double-decker spiral walkway that<br />
takes you up to the bride.</td></tr>
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We crossed the bridge that took us over the Colorado River...<br />
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...and walked along a nice recreational trail along the river.<br />
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We had decided to walk to the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue. Stevie Ray was from Austin and a very good guitar player and blues musician -- one of Chuck's favorites. <br />
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Mine too! :)<br />
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We sat down for a few minutes to rest and talk about where we wanted to go next. <br />
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We decided to keep walking down the trail to check out the bat bridge. <br />
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We stopped at a Hilton Hotel to grab a cup of coffee at Starbucks and rest inside for a few minutes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool view straight up.</td></tr>
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We walked toward the bat bridge which is home to the largest colony of urban bats in North America and found a really big bat! :)<br />
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I walked into the Yeti Flagship Store to find out specifically where to go and a salesman told me that the bats are not here yet. They don't arrive for about another month. :( We didn't see any bats, but I found a BIG BEAR! Eeks! :)<br />
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We headed back across the river towards downtown Austin. <br />
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You could see the state capitol at the end of the street. <br />
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We continued walking around downtown heading toward 6th Street where all the music venues were located. <br />
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Some of the older buildings continued to stand right next to the new modern skyscrapers. <br />
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The motto for Austin is: Keep Austin Weird.<br />
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A nice saying but not particularly weird. <br />
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We walked down 6th Street and picked up some sunglasses for Chuck and a sun visor for Gloria and then went to the Museum of the Weird which was weird. It was a very small museum filled with what looked like artifacts from carnivals like a two-headed calf. By this time, we were all pretty hungry, so we decided to eat lunch at the Iron Cactus that had outdoor seating on the roof. We had a relaxing lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around 6th Street. We met up with the rest of the group from the campground at a pub and ended up playing the card game "Golf" for about an hour. We finished up the afternoon with the guys playing some pool and then headed back to the train station by cab. After a 3 hour delay at the train station, we headed back to San Antonio getting back home around 1 am. An interesting but long day in Austin. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Austin, TX, USA30.267153 -97.74306079999996729.828484 -98.388507799999971 30.705822 -97.097613799999962tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-71744659298311633522017-02-28T21:00:00.000-06:002017-03-29T22:52:54.269-05:00A Busy First Two Months in SAI took time off from keeping the blog up-to-date while we were in San Antonio so now I will try to get us caught up. The rest of January as well as all of our time in San Antonio was full of fun, friends, golf and good times. <br />
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Steve and Sally had not had much luck finding a good pizza place. On Wednesday (Jan 18), all the gang loaded up and we went to Big Lou's Pizza, home of the 52" pizza. None of us ordered the 52" monster, but we all enjoyed some delicious pizza. <br />
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The next day the gang took a trip to the cowboy town of Bandera, Texas. <br />
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Bandera is an old cowboy town with a lot of the old buildings.<br />
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We started our day off with a delicious lunch at Busbee's BBQ...<br />
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...and finished the rest of the afternoon walking around the town and doing a little shopping.<br />
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We also had a little ice cream. :)<br />
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On Sunday morning, a group of us went to my favorite breakfast place in San Antonio: The Guenther House. This gingerbread mansion was on display inside. It was amazing!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two story Christmas tree inside the<br />
gingerbread mansion.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n96xbvcv9Jg/WNrjz7dI_5I/AAAAAAAAnjA/7wRkNtZ8hJwlCF7geiYFzLyBbttFF3seQCPcB/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elf playing the piano inside.</td></tr>
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We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table for all nine of us but the wait was not bad because they provide you their house coffee free while you wait. Guenther House coffee is my favorite coffee of all coffees so this was a treat! As we decided what we wanted to eat, I talked Joslyn into trying their delicious cream waffles. I decided to try something different and save the cream waffle for another trip. Breakfast was delicious and we were all very full! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think Joslyn enjoyed her cream waffle. :)</td></tr>
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What a great morning with such great friends!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary, Terry<br />
June, Sally, Steve, Chuck<br />
Gloria, me and Joslyn</td></tr>
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That afternoon a group of us went to the nearby honky-tonk, Mr. T's Ice House, to watch the chicken poop bingo -- a highlight not to be missed in San Antonio. :)<br />
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On the next Tuesday bike ride, we rode to San Jose Mission and the Stinson Airport. <br />
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Cindy and John (Bonnie's sister and brother-in-law) were in San Antonio for a few days and we met them at The Alamo on Sunday, January 29. We walked around the Alamo and found out they had removed the state flags inside the Alamo while restoration was going on. These flags represented the volunteers that fought and died in the battle of the Alamo. We found out that there was talk that they might not put the flags back. Well, as a Tennessee volunteer (the state that lost more men than any at the battle of the Alamo), I told them (on a comment card) that I felt that many visitors would be disappointed if they removed the state flags permanently.<br />
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We walked around the grounds and watched the National Park movie about the Alamo which was very good. We also watched a live demonstration of a couple of "volunteers" using their muzzle loader guns like what would happen in a real battle. <br />
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After we left the Alamo, we walked across the street to the Menger Hotel which is another one of our favorite historic spots in San Antonio. We went in the "toy soldier" shop where they sold miniatures of soldiers from various battles across time including the battle of The Alamo.<br />
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We finished up our visit with a lupper at the Republic of Texas restaurant down on the Riverwalk. It was very delicious. A great afternoon with great friends!<br />
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On the last day of January, Terry & Gloria, Rich & Kathy, and Chuck and I rode downtown on the bus and enjoyed an afternoon of walking around the Riverwalk. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Theatre</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seating for the River Theater<br />
(across the river)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the hotel that was<br />
literally constructed room by room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dear friends: Gloria and Kathy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly Bros: Chuck and Rich</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly men: Terry & Chuck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful night on the Riverwalk</td></tr>
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January was filled with lots of fun and new friends too. We enjoyed spending time with Steve & Sally and Gary & June and look forward to seeing them next year too!<br />
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February started out funky with Chuck and I both coming down with the flu. Chuck's flu turned into bronchitis also. We were pretty much out of commission for the first couple of week of February. We missed the park Valentine dinner but got to see Terry & Gloria before they headed downtown for their Valentine date. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't they cute?</td></tr>
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We finally began playing golf again about the middle of February. One of the golf scrambles was on Joslyn's birthday and the golf club restaurant treated her to a free dessert. Yummy!<br />
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Over the third weekend in February, there was a lot of rain which caused some flooding in part of the park. Fortunately, none of the rigs were damaged. Just made life a little wet and inconvenient. <br />
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We finished up the month with a Mardi Gras parade. Our friends decorated their golf carts, bikes, cars and themselves as we walked, biked, rode or skated through the campground. Chuck and I rode on Nancy's golf cart.<br />
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Terry and Gloria rode with Joslyn.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kathy on her roller skates.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich on his bike.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LuAnn, Judy and BetteAnn</td></tr>
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A big thanks to BettyAnn Minthorn who took (and I borrowed) all these great pictures. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--rlFkxxNr30/WNrmqbcxxgI/AAAAAAAAnn8/pIOuQN57MhkC9JnKKuXnaLxaZKSACytIwCPcB/s1600/16864676_10207966503112459_1888704897899991403_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--rlFkxxNr30/WNrmqbcxxgI/AAAAAAAAnn8/pIOuQN57MhkC9JnKKuXnaLxaZKSACytIwCPcB/s320/16864676_10207966503112459_1888704897899991403_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful BettyAnn from whom I "borrowed" many of<br />the fantastic pictures for our blog. Thank you, BettyAnn!</td></tr>
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Despite the rain and our illness at the first of the month, February was a fun month too.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-53645284336221877732017-01-11T22:24:00.000-06:002017-01-13T22:50:45.635-06:00Bike Ride, Big Band & ScrambleOn Tuesday, we went on the group bike ride again but this time we were heading north on the Riverwalk toward San Antonio.<br />
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It was another perfect day for a bike ride.<br />
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We could not get over all the condos and apartments that have been built along the Riverwalk since the last time we rode bikes with Ken and Bonnie in April of 2015.<br />
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We rode into the King William District where there were a lot of the old houses...<br />
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...as well as some very modern ones.<br />
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We stopped at Madhatters Teahouse for a very delicious lunch. <br />
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And then headed back to the Riverwalk to ride back to the campground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4oUAGvk_11U/WHb2MIjysoI/AAAAAAAAnUI/57K3Uv7rWwsSLmJQ50O1cQWivKeh0ka3gCPcB/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4oUAGvk_11U/WHb2MIjysoI/AAAAAAAAnUI/57K3Uv7rWwsSLmJQ50O1cQWivKeh0ka3gCPcB/s320/IMG_1205.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The San Antonio Tower off in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kbjRjAwNN6s/WHb2MFn0IXI/AAAAAAAAnUI/oo9iihzhy9cX_1FOoW34PqJ8UhFCQvk7QCPcB/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kbjRjAwNN6s/WHb2MFn0IXI/AAAAAAAAnUI/oo9iihzhy9cX_1FOoW34PqJ8UhFCQvk7QCPcB/s320/IMG_1206.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old convent now converted to a restaurant.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXvFde13ssI/WHb2MPNXDyI/AAAAAAAAnUI/DuM8rgHWBzcD1mMZ_fVDLU7wCnv_nMvTACPcB/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXvFde13ssI/WHb2MPNXDyI/AAAAAAAAnUI/DuM8rgHWBzcD1mMZ_fVDLU7wCnv_nMvTACPcB/s320/IMG_1207.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old church building also now<br />
converted to a restaurant.</td></tr>
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We rode back past a lot of the new condos...<br />
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...and the old warehouse bins or silo-looking structures are still there. They just built the condos around them.<br />
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On Tuesday night, we went with 4 other couples to a big band concert at the Blue Star Brewery.<br />
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The band played a lot of old songs and they were very good but kind of loud for the size room in which they were playing. The below gentleman who works at Riverside Golf Course sung 3 songs with them and that was the best part!<br />
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On Wednesday, I played in my first golf scramble. We didn't win but we had a lot of fun -- like always! :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-79403234805628600142017-01-07T19:13:00.000-06:002017-01-13T22:48:06.371-06:00Day Trip to FredericksburgOn Saturday morning, Steve and Sally, who also live across the street from us, invited us to go to Fredericksburg for the day with them. We had never been and it was a place we had heard about and wanted to visit. <br />
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Fredericksburg, a community that was established in the mid-1800's by German immigrants, is located about 75 miles north of San Antonio. Because we were all hungry, we decided to eat lunch first at a German restaurant. The food was delicious. Chuck and I both had soup and shared stuffed cabbage rolls for lunch. And their bread rolls were amazing! Even better with lots of butter on top of them! :)<br />
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After we had sufficiently stuffed ourselves, we walked across the street to go to the National Museum of the Pacific World War. Admiral Chester Nimitz who was commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during World War II was born and raised in Fredericksburg. His grandfather's hotel is now the Admiral Nimitz Museum. <br />
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We walked through the Nimitz museum and then out to the courtyard where hundreds of memorial plaques were displayed recognizing soldiers and various battleships from the war. <br />
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The weather was unusually cold freezing this water fountain.<br />
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There was also a Japanese garden outside.<br />
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As we walked looking over the hundreds of plaques,<br />
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pictures like this one remind you that someone's son or husband or brother or dear friend, sacrificed their life along with thousands of others in World War II.<br />
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There was also a plaque of the U.S.S. Nashville...<br />
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and the U.S.S. Tennessee...<br />
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... along with plaques honoring many other battleships that were in World War II. Look at the old ship prop on display in the garden. Can you imagine how big the ship must have been?<br />
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There were several old BIG guns on display that would have been on the ships...<br />
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...as well as a torpedo chamber.<br />
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With the cold temperatures, we were glad to finally go inside the Museum of the Pacific War. As you walk through the museum, you follow a timeline beginning with when the U.S. first entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They have an old Japanese submarine on display that was beached on the other side of Oahu during the attack and whose torpedoes were never launched.<br />
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But as we all know from history, the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was extremely deadly killing over 2,400 including 68 civilians. Over 1,000 individuals were wounded. The biggest losses, of course, were to the U.S. Navy. Of the 2,400 killed, 2,008 were Navy. Four battleships were sunk, four battleships destroyed, 3 light cruisers damaged, 3 destroyers were sunk along with many planes that were destroyed or damaged. The first wave of attacks by the Japanese lasted only 40 minutes -- from 7:55 am to 8:35 am. Most of the damage occurred in that first surprise attack. There was a second wave of attacks at 8:54 damaging or destroying two other ships. A third wave that was scheduled to happen at 1 pm never occurred and the Japanese headed home. On December 8, the U.S. declared war on Japan and we entered World War II.<br />
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A door from the U.S.S. Arizona over which the Pearl Harbor Memorial is built in Hawaii is on display in the museum.<br />
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The black along the door is from the stains of leaking oil from the ship.<br />
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The museum continued the historical timeline of the war and numerous battles fought in the Pacific against Japan through to the end of the war. There were several displays of old planes, tanks and even an old Jeep.<br />
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We were in the museum for only a couple of hours but there was so much history there, a person could easily spend a couple of days there. It was a very interesting museum and much bigger than it appeared from the outside. We finished up our tour with pictures taken by the statue of Admiral Nimitz. <br />
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After leaving the museum, we drove a short distance down Main Street to get a quick look at Fredericksburg. <br />
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There are a lot of quaint shops and restaurants that would make it a nice place to visit again. :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Fredericksburg, TX 78624, USA30.2752011 -98.87198430000000830.1654886 -99.0333458 30.3849136 -98.71062280000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-48477831033137080602017-01-05T11:19:00.000-06:002017-01-11T22:02:44.546-06:00On to San Antonio and 2017We got away from Stone Mountain on Tuesday morning (Dec 27) a little after 6:30 am and had virtually no traffic issues. We saw two or three major traffic tie-ups in the oncoming lanes but we were lucky to have no problems at all. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck: the Driving Machine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the long Atchafalaya Bridge again.</td></tr>
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We drove 600+ miles and stayed at Frog City RV Park again in Duson, Louisiana. We got there about an hour before sunset and were even able to sit outside and relax before going inside to open the Gregory Hair Salon. :)<br />
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On Wednesday, we drove the rest of the way to Travelers World RV Resort in San Antonio and were backed into our site around 1:30. I helped Chuck get the motorhome rinsed off and dried and then we went to Wal-Mart and H-E-B for groceries. On Thursday, Chuck worked on replacing a defective part on our new toilet. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm...I always wondered what the toilet<br />
would look like in the middle of the bathroom. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Already putting that new headlamp to<br />
good use. </td></tr>
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On Saturday, we went to the New Year's Eve party and had a lot of fun like we always do. And then on Sunday, we set up the EZ-Up (patio awning) at the back of our site. <br />
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We ate our black-eyed peas on New Year's Day for good luck. :)<br />
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I wanted lights to put around the EZ-Up and we found some white Christmas lights on sale at Wal-mart. Two boxes for $2. And look how pretty they look!<br />
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We grilled pork steaks for dinner on the day after New Years not for good luck but just because they're good. :) The weather was so nice, we had dinner outside. <br />
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I found out that Dave and BettyAnn who live across the street from us have an organized bike rides every Tuesday. On Tuesday, Chuck and I and about 10 others rode their bikes south on the Riverwalk. <br />
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We stopped every couple of miles to see how everyone was doing. We stopped at these cool metal art along the trail called "Whispers."<br />
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There were some beautiful wildflowers along the trail too. Wildflowers in the winter! Awesome!<br />
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We rode as far south as the Mission San Juan...<br />
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...and then began heading back north.<br />
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Overall, we rode about 10 miles. We have not ridden our bikes in a long time and I wondered how we would do. Good news was we did great! Not too tired and my back did great. Chuck's knee was a little sore but his foot was o.k. <br />
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Chuck had fun playing in the weekly golf scramble on Wednesday and then on Thursday, we went for our first golf lessons under the Republic Golf Course's "Play Better Golf" program. Our instructor, J.J., is basically starting with the basics with us: gripping the golf club. And I think we both feel like it helped. Now, if we can just remember it! :)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0San Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.5394974 -99.784521699999985 30.3087464 -97.2027347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-74851917357027070182016-12-26T20:00:00.000-06:002017-01-04T16:19:44.500-06:00Christmas Weekend in Atlanta 2016After spending the night at my mom's on Thursday night, all three of us headed back to Atlanta for a busy Christmas weekend. Our first "event" of the Christmas weekend was bowling. None of the granddaughters had ever bowled before. Aren't they cute in their bowling shoes? :)<br />
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With friends Ellen and Garon and their two kids joining us, we had a total of 8 adults and 6 kids bowling. GiGi and little Dez (Ellen and Garon's son) were our spectators and co-partakers of some delicious french fries. :) The guys had one lane, the ladies another, and the kids the last lane. All the kids did great bowling.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery can bowl on one foot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmaline receives instruction from her dad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think Bell has bowling down pat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah does too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Ruby bowled in her sock feet!</td></tr>
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When we weren't bowling, we were snacking on french fries...<br />
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...or dancing in our fancy bowling shoes to the music. :)<br />
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After bowling and saying good-bye to Ellen, Garon and family, we headed to the Van Wyngardens for dinner, more games, and Christmas gift exchanges with the VWs. The kids opened their presents first. They are all becoming professional unwrappers. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being the Senior Professional Unwrapper, Bell<br />
shows the rest how it's done. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqqdg-KsXTU/WGMgb508PqI/AAAAAAAAnCM/7p8egyoZCqMRRoHWxS7oDmXmaLQ6kynlwCPcB/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqqdg-KsXTU/WGMgb508PqI/AAAAAAAAnCM/7p8egyoZCqMRRoHWxS7oDmXmaLQ6kynlwCPcB/s320/IMG_1838.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the new dresses but where are Hannah and Avery? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snow globe from GiGi!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dqJlTYtpjcw/WGMgb3ZIIZI/AAAAAAAAnCM/An-Y_kcxnfw37MdRpJNKDC5bhAjhoQGzwCPcB/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dqJlTYtpjcw/WGMgb3ZIIZI/AAAAAAAAnCM/An-Y_kcxnfw37MdRpJNKDC5bhAjhoQGzwCPcB/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think you will be able to find these<br />
brightly colored little girls in the snow (or rain).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NRPXEUIxpOo/WGMgb1J3HOI/AAAAAAAAnCM/A3SEoGSYdNs-UX9icvrIhNo7j9OZVv40ACPcB/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NRPXEUIxpOo/WGMgb1J3HOI/AAAAAAAAnCM/A3SEoGSYdNs-UX9icvrIhNo7j9OZVv40ACPcB/s320/IMG_1877.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby is showing her dad how to unwrap a present.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQgfJI5VEXE/WGMgb8NYgrI/AAAAAAAAnCM/pIPCxN2Dulc6Ima8jOhTXMZ73dlBFdj6ACPcB/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQgfJI5VEXE/WGMgb8NYgrI/AAAAAAAAnCM/pIPCxN2Dulc6Ima8jOhTXMZ73dlBFdj6ACPcB/s320/IMG_1194.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah and Avery with their new dolls!</td></tr>
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What about those hats and mittens? I bet you're wondering if I got all those mittens done. Well, I completed nine mittens and finished up the last one by Christmas day. All the little girls loved their new hats and mittens, except Ruby. <br />
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Ruby didn't want to wear her hat but she didn't want to take off her mittens! :)<br />
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Now that the gift opening was done, it's time to eat!<br />
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The girls played for a little while after supper but then it was time for bed. <br />
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After all the little girls were tucked into bed, it was time for the Christmas games to begin. Our first game was trying to see if we could move an Oreo cookie from our forehead to our mouth without using our hands in under a minute. (Click <a href="https://youtu.be/Tu4hX5Dl4po" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you are unable to open the video.)<br />
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One at a time all of us, including GiGi, tried moving an Oreo from our forehead to our mouth without using our hands but only one of us was successful: Chuck! We were all laughing so hard it's a wonder we didn't wake up the kids! <br />
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The next game Tafanie had lined up for us was the Jingle Bells in a Box game where we tried to guess how many bells were in 5 wrapped boxes and line them up from least to most without opening the boxes. Once again, Chuck was the winner here! O.K. He already beat the guys in bowling. Surely, there is one game we can beat him in!<br />
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The last game was it: The Breaking Ornaments with Jingle Bells game. Actually, the object of the game was to see how many ornaments you could knock off the end of the table by sliding 10 jingle bells, one at a time, at the ornaments. But we ended up breaking up a couple of ornaments too. (Click <a href="https://youtu.be/AVRr4PkAOyE" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you are unable to open the video below.)<br />
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Crystal was the winner of this game knocking all of the ornaments off the table in the shortest amount of time. After all that game-playing, we finished up the evening with some of GiGi's delicious strawberry cake! Wow! What a fun and busy Christmas Eve Eve with our daughters and their families and GiGi! :) We gave our hugs and said our good-bye's to the Tafanie, Cory, Bell, Emmaline and Ruby because they were heading out to Iowa on Christmas Day to be with Cory's family. <br />
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Christmas Eve was a little more relaxed. Grant cooked his delicious sausage ring for brunch at the Robinsons and I made chocolate gravy. We spent Christmas Eve playing with Avery and Hannah. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery trying on her mom's shoes. </td></tr>
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Chuck, Hannah and Avery did a Skittles experiment that he had scene on Facebook. (Click <a href="https://youtu.be/npLWr_ziwt8" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you are unable to open the below really cool video.)<br />
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The big kid, Chuck, has been wanting to try this with the girls ever since he saw it on Facebook but I think all of us kids thought it was pretty cool. <br />
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After going to the Christmas Eve services at their church, we came back for a delicious Christmas Eve dinner that Grant had prepared. It tasted as good (if not better) than it looked.<br />
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After dinner and baths, it was time for two little girls to go to bed! <br />
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On Christmas morning, the girls got to see what was in their stockings...<br />
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....before we all went to Waffle House for breakfast. The Busbys were there again in their green Christmas PJ's...<br />
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...and the Robinsons were there decked out in their red and white striped PJs.<br />
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After a delicious Waffle House breakfast that was treated by some nice green elves (thank you, Busbys!),<br />
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we headed back to Grant and Crystal's where the girls opened their Christmas gifts. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah loves her snowglobe from GiGi!<br />
All 5 granddaughters got beautiful snowglobes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those girls love their books!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Master Unwrappers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery loves her new umbrella!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hroOLrs8uUo/WGMgb4XSM3I/AAAAAAAAnCM/czu6cIMGVPcVKnjxq4IQYLtmrXV14ZdqQCPcB/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hroOLrs8uUo/WGMgb4XSM3I/AAAAAAAAnCM/czu6cIMGVPcVKnjxq4IQYLtmrXV14ZdqQCPcB/s320/IMG_1978.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A keyboard mat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MiMa had to try this out! </td></tr>
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By the time all the presents were opened, it was time to go to church. After church, we came back to Robinsons for a few minutes before Chuck, GiGi and I headed back north to take GiGi back home to Nashville. The traffic was not bad at all, and after saying our good-byes to my mom (GiGi), we turned around and headed back to Atlanta. The traffic was a little heavier but still not that bad but we learned a very important lesson on the way back. Most restaurants are closed on Christmas night so don't count on being able to stop and get something to eat. The only restaurants that were open were a few McDonalds and Waffle House, of course. All the McDonalds restaurants had very long lines both inside and out and we didn't really want Waffle House again since we just had it that morning. I had packed some snacks so that held us over until we got back to the motorhome at Stone Mountain.<br />
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On Monday morning, we got everything ready for heading out on Tuesday and then headed over to the Robinsons to spend the rest of our last day in Atlanta with them. Crystal and I played two new games the girls had received for Christmas with them: Uno and Connect Four. And while Hannah was down for a nap, Avery showed me some of her dance moves on the keyboard mat. :) Click <a href="https://youtu.be/a244YE9i5y8" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you are unable to open the video.<br />
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Pa also got in a much deserved nap after all that driving from the day before. <br />
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We had a delicious leftover Christmas dinner for dinner. It was as good as it was on Christmas! After we had given Avery and Hannah good night and good-bye kisses and hugs, they went to bed. Then, Crystal, Grant, Chuck and I played a couple of games of SkipBo. We said our good-byes to Crystal and Grant and then headed back to the motorhome to get a good night's rest before heading on to San Antonio.</div>
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All those granddaughters keep you busy but they and all of our family are so very precious to us. Getting to be with all of them is the best Christmas present of all! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-37655369936576215572016-12-22T21:08:00.000-06:002017-01-05T11:16:43.240-06:00The Days Before Christmas in Atlanta 2016We spent our first couple of days in Stone Mountain resting and trying to get over our colds or whatever it is that we had. With Chuck's foot still on the mend, we didn't go on our normal morning golf ball hunts either. The below picture of Stone Mountain was taken at dusk. Chuck was trying to get a picture of the Christmas tree of lights they put up at the top of the Stone Mountain every year but the lights blended into the sunlight. I thought the trees looked pretty cool though.<br />
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I also finished crocheting these hats for our granddaughters and then got started on some mittens. Hmmm. Five pair of mittens before Christmas and only 12 days to Christmas. I guess that means I need to make at least one mitten a day. <br />
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We went over to Crystal and Grant's on Tuesday night (Dec 13) for dinner. How do you like our little shepherdess granddaughters?<br />
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And their big black sheep!<br />
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On Thursday night, we went to Bell's Christmas program at her school. The kindergarten class sung a melody of nursery rhymes and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." The songs performed by all the classes were very good and the school had a nice reception after the program.<br />
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On Saturday night, Crystal and Grant had received some tickets to an Atlanta Hawks game from a friend and surprised us by taking us to the game. I had never been to a pro basketball game and Chuck had only been to one. <br />
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The halftime show had some guys doing all kinds of dunking tricks which was pretty cool. (Click <a href="https://youtu.be/PDqq05gfoOI" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you cannot open below video.)<br />
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It was a pretty close game but unfortunately the Hawks lost. We had a lot of fun though and really enjoyed the game. <br />
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On Monday before Christmas, we babysat Ruby while Tafanie took Bell and Emmaline to a children's play. We had lots of fun playing with Ruby,<br />
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giving her a little bit of a candy cane,<br />
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and reading books together. Ruby loves books! (Click <a href="https://youtu.be/eQpuVKZBk8A" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you cannot open below video.)<br />
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On Tuesday, we went to Emmaline's pre-school for her Christmas program. <br />
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As you can tell by her smile, Emmaline loves to sing! So do all the other children! (Click <a href="https://youtu.be/G4D-cRjKC-0" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you cannot open below video.)<br />
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On my birthday, Wednesday morning, I received a precious birthday greeting from Hannah. (Click <a href="https://youtu.be/xQa2vV3BEO0" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you cannot open video.)<br />
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While Tafanie was helping out at Bell's school with their Christmas party, we babysat Emmaline and Ruby. Pa, Emmaline and Ruby took a nap together. Or rather, I should say they pretended to take a nap together. :)<br />
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And then, on Wednesday night, we celebrated my birthday a little bit more by enjoying dinner with the Van Wyngardens and watching my favorite movie: <i>It's a Wonderful Life. </i><br />
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Emmaline, who also has a December birthday, had a birthday party on Thursday. Early Thursday morning, I met Crystal and Avery for breakfast at Waffle House and then I brought Avery back to the motorhome. First, Avery colored with some of Pa & MiMa's new crayons...<br />
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...and then she helped Pa with his foot exercises by holding back on the tension band. :)<br />
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We went over to the VW's house Thursday morning, to help Tafanie with the decorations and getting ready for Emmaline's party. By the time of the party, the house was decorated with lots of snowmen...<br />
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and so were Emmaline, Ruby and Bell.<br />
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Emmaline got one of her birthday presents before the party: a new bike!<br />
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Emmaline's birthday party began with coloring snowmen and getting your picture taken like a snowman. <br />
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Tafanie (the master gamer) also had a couple of cute games for them to play: Musical Snowflakes --<br />
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...and Pin the Nose on the Snowman. <br />
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After all the games and activities, the kids enjoyed pizza rolls and cookies and fresh melted snowman water. :) They also made snowmen out of marshmallows and pretzels. <br />
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The party ended with all the kids watching Emmaline's favorite movie: <i>Frosty the Snowman. </i><br />
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I think Emmaline and all the kids who came had a very fun snowman party! After the party, Chuck and I headed for Nashville to pick up my mom so we could all celebrate the Christmas weekend together. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-83392376493915031672016-12-11T09:47:00.000-06:002016-12-11T19:06:23.024-06:00Back to the Rainy Snowball DerbyI forgot to mention in my last post that while our family was all together in Nashville over Thanksgiving, Chuck, Crystal and Grant went to the last UT Vols football game of the season against the Vanderbilt Commodores. They met Scott, Mandy and Jack (all UT fans) and Donald & Anna and Karen & Kevin (all Vanderbilt fans) at Rotier's for a tailgate dinner before the game. The Volunteer fans had high hopes for winning their last game of the year and maybe getting to go to the Sugar Bowl.<br />
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While they were at the game, Avery, Hannah and I had fun playing Uno and dominos and coloring and watching videos on MiMa's iPhone at GiGi's condo. <br />
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Unfortunately, the Vols didn't play a very good game and the Commodores beat the Vols 45 to 34. Congratulations Vanderbilt Commodores! Hmmm....maybe that's why I forgot to mention this in my last post. :)<br />
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On Monday morning (November 28th), we hooked up the Honda to the motorhome and headed south for Pensacola, Florida. The winds were very strong and blowing straight in to us but Chuck managed just fine. We arrived at Pensacola RV Park mid afternoon and got set up quickly. Jerry and Pam were already there but Donald and Anna did not get there until Wednesday evening. <br />
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It was a very fun week as it always is when we are all together. We went out to eat every night getting our fill of Shrimp Basket, Sonny's Bar-b-cue, and Petrella's Pizza. <br />
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We only played cornhole one afternoon but we played cards every night the guys weren't at the races. <br />
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On Sunday, Donald, Anna, Chuck and I went to a new Mexican restaurant called El Paso's after church that morning. While we were on our way to the restaurant, Jerry and Pam called us and told us it was raining so hard at the campground that the sites were a solid sheet of water. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's one of our leveling blocks that floated<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is looking out the front of Jerry & Pam's RV.</td></tr>
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And, while we were at El Paso's the bottom fell out there too. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and waited until the rain slacked off before heading back to the campground. With all the rain, the Snowball race got postponed from 2 pm until 5 pm. Unfortunately, it started raining again and the race got postponed until Monday at 5 pm. <br />
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The rain continued off and on all day Monday so the race was postponed again until Tuesday at 5 pm. Jerry and Pam had to head back on Tuesday morning so they missed the race. After 4 inches of rain since Sunday, the skies finally cleared. Donald and Chuck went to the Snowball race Tuesday evening and said it was a good race with a full field of cars. <br />
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We said our good-byes to Donald and Anna early Wednesday morning and then headed south to Wildwood, Florida. We decided to go ahead and get the oil changed and annual engine maintenance work done on the motorhome at Alliance Coach. It's so much easier getting the work done when you can stay in your RV at the same facility over night. Alliance got the work completed on Thursday and then we headed out on Saturday.<br />
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Chuck and I had been fighting colds or some kind of upper respiratory infection for well over a week and it seemed we only got worse while we were in Wildwood. On Saturday, we decided to drive on to Stone Mountain even though we weren't supposed to get here until Tuesday. We thought we would give ourselves a few days to rest and get well before spending time with all those precious granddaughters over the next couple of weeks. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Pensacola, FL, USA30.42130899999999 -87.216914930.202262999999991 -87.5396384 30.640354999999989 -86.894191400000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-22418028568998756212016-11-27T16:19:00.000-06:002016-11-29T23:06:53.287-06:00Busy Six Weeks in NashvilleWe decided to just stay in Nashville for six weeks until after Thanksgiving rather than travel somewhere and come back. We had annual doctors' appointments lined up for the week before Thanksgiving plus we needed to leave the motorhome at Cullum & Maxey for a few days to get several things fixed on it. <br />
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We were looking forward to playing a lot of pickleball while we were in Nashville but the Monday after mama's birthday party, Chuck called me from the gym to tell me he hurt his left foot so badly that he could not walk on it. I scrambled around trying to find an orthopedic doctor for him to see as soon as possible and we were able to get an appointment with a doctor in Lebanon. After x-rays and examination, the doctor determined he had torn a tendon in his left foot and told him it would take about six weeks to heal. <br />
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He was so disappointed. He was looking forward to playing a lot of pickleball while we were in Nashville. But being the great guy that he is, he still went with me to pickleball and watched while I played. We have made some really nice friends at the gym in Mt. Juliet and they are such good pickleball players. On Halloween, Ed wore his Halloween costume. :)<br />
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Chuck also got to join me in physical therapy the last couple of weeks we were in Nashville. I had to go to physical therapy twice a week for lower back problems for six weeks (which was another reason for staying in Nashville). Chuck had physical therapy on his foot twice a week the last two weeks we were in Nashville. And my mom had meniscus surgery on her knee the Monday before Thanksgiving. I asked the physical therapists if they give group discounts! :) Fortunately, I think I can say that we are all getting better! :)<br />
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Nancy and Tim Lantz were traveling through Nashville while we were in town and we met them for dinner one night which was a lot of fun. Can't wait to see you in San Antonio!<br />
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Every Tuesday night is half-price fajitas at El Chicos in Goodlettsville and anyone who can come from Donald and Anna's gang meets there for dinner. We went almost every Tuesday night while we were in town. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brent thought he should dress up<br />
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Chuck and I would go back to Donald and Anna's after dinner and get a few card games in. Over the course of our six weeks in town, Donald and I beat Anna and Chuck the best 3 out of 5 games in SkipBo. I'm sure they are going to try to change that when we are in Pensacola next month! We also enjoyed getting together for dinner out on Friday nights and then card games afterwards. Those times are always filled with a lot of laughter and fun! <br />
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One Sunday when we went to church with my mom, my friend who had been my maid of honor in our wedding happened to be there. We hadn't seen each other in well over 35 years. <br />
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I don't think we've changed much. Do you? :)<br />
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Chuck and I drove down to Atlanta on the evening of November 17 and spent the night with Tafanie and Cory and their girls because we were going to Grandparents' Day at Bell's school on Friday morning, November 18. On Thursday night, MiMa got to read a couple of bedtime stories to Emmaline, Ruby and Bell. :)<br />
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On Friday morning, Pa, MiMa and Bell went to Bell's school and walked in to her school together.<br />
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Bell went on to class while all the grandparents were treated to a very delicious breakfast.<br />
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After breakfast, we were dismissed to our grandchildren's classes. The kindergarten class had some of their work displayed outside the class.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is what Bell thinks God looks like. :)</td></tr>
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In Bell's class, we went to different stations to see all the different things they are learning and how they are learning numbers, counting, letters, and reading.<br />
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After being in her class for about an hour, we were dismissed back to the auditorium where all the classes performed miniature plays, recited poems, or sang songs. Bell's class sang the song "Tomorrow" from Annie...<br />
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...and then recited a poem about grandparents. <br />
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If you are unable to open the video, click <a href="https://youtu.be/rpJa4aRyySI" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the song and <a href="https://youtu.be/kTryXscqJtw" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the poem.<br />
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After taking Bell back home, we headed back to Nashville because we were hoping we were going to get the motorhome back. We had taken it in the previous Monday and had been staying at my mom's. Unfortunately, it was not until the following Wednesday that we got the motorhome back but we think (hope) everything is fixed this time. <br />
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My mom went through her outpatient meniscus knee surgery without complications on the Monday before Thanksgiving and she is continuing to recover well. <br />
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Thanksgiving dinner was at Rick and Marla's this year and everyone brought their specialties which are always so delicious. <br />
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After everyone was stuffed from eating so much, the annual Thanksgiving games began. Rick started the games with all of us taking the UT Entrance Exam which Grant won getting all the answers correct. <br />
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Next, Tafanie had a series of games that kept us all laughing:<br />
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(Click <a href="https://youtu.be/FMne-M4IqLk" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you are unable to open the video.)<br />
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I tried the nut stacker contest too and I was able to get them all stacked. I was not the fastest but I got them all stacked. <br />
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Tafanie had decorations for us to wear for pictures:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely pilgrim and her turkey. :)</td></tr>
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Ruby kept GiGi company while she kept her leg propped up. </div>
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I couldn't resist those cute little toes so I told Ruby my version of the Little Piggies:</div>
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(Click <a href="https://youtu.be/pZKkaz782nk" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you are unable to open the video.)<br />
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Before everyone left, the Gregory cousins got a picture of all of them together. </div>
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Thanks, Rick and Marla, for opening your home for a fun and delicious Thanksgiving!</div>
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Tafanie and Cory and their girls stayed with my mom and Crystal and Grant and their girls stayed with us at the motorhome. We enjoyed being together and all the granddaughters had so much fun playing together. It was a great Thanksgiving weekend! <br />
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We have so many things to be thankful for and getting to be with all of ourfamily at Thanksgiving is right there at the top. We're also thankful that mama is healing nicely from her surgery and has graduated from a walker to a cane in less than a week! We are all so very blessed!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Nashville, TN, USA36.1626638 -86.78160159999998835.752564799999995 -87.427048599999992 36.5727628 -86.136154599999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-3204089883931814382016-10-22T06:57:00.000-05:002016-10-28T15:03:49.851-05:0080th Birthday Surprise!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My favorite movie of all time is <i>It's a Wonderful Life</i>. It's
based on the story of George Bailey who always wanted the most out of life but
at the same time blessed so many people without even realizing it. At a pivotal point in his life, he was given
the gift by his guardian angel of seeing what his life would have been like had
he never been born. After seeing that
gift, he realized how "rich" he really was and how so many people had
been touched and blessed by his presence in their lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think about my mom when I think of that movie. I think about how many hundreds and probably
thousands of lives she has touched and blessed with her life. She has blessed me and my family by being an
awesome mom, grandma and great-grandma. And,
over the years I have witnessed how she has touched and blessed the lives of so
many. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This past Saturday I was made aware once again of how many
lives she has blessed when nearly everyone Chuck and I invited came to her
surprise birthday party. It's hard to
pull off a surprise on my mom because she is such a planner. But I think Chuck and I succeeded when she walked
into a room filled with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, nieces,
nephews, and in-laws from near and far who came to celebrate her 80th birthday
and her wonderful life that has so blessed them too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with us. Below is a slideshow from the event so you
can enjoy it with us! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Click </span><a href="https://youtu.be/ixLOcyy-ZHg" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> if you are unable to open the above video. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the party, the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, all went back to mama's condo where her birthday party was extended into the night. Tafanie, Cory, Bell, Emmaline and Ruby spent the night with my mom while Crystal, Grant, Avery and Hannah spent the night with us. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My cousin, Diane, came back to mama's condo with us that evening too which was an extra treat because we had not seen Diane in years. With five grandchildren herself, I think Diane was accustomed to the craziness of five little girls running around and playing -- even walking around in her dress shoes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Sunday morning, we met at Cracker Barrel for a big breakfast before Tafanie and Crystal and their families had to head back home to Atlanta.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a busy but fun weekend. It was so great to see and visit with everyone who came to celebrate mama's birthday! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks again to everyone who came to the party and celebrated with us!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-34931499287754167412016-10-15T21:00:00.000-05:002016-10-19T08:09:40.170-05:00Busy Week in AtlantaAfter leaving Wanee, we headed north for Atlanta where we would begin our time in Atlanta with a weekend of babysitting Avery and Hannah while Crystal and Grant went to the Tennessee vs. Texas A&M game in College Station, Texas. <br />
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We began Friday morning, making muffins. I showed them how to lick the bowl! Such fun being a grandma! :)<br />
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Our next event of the day was a trip to Costco! We started with a lunch that cost less than $5 for all of us!<br />
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We from past experiences that a successful trip to Costco with two little girls begins with lunch and ends with the promise of ice cream. We also tried to get our grocery items fairly quickly! Chuck took Hannah and Avery around the store hugging big bears while I got our groceries.<br />
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The girls were great so they got their reward of ice cream after we were finished. <br />
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On Saturday morning, I asked them if they wanted to make chocolate chip pancakes and this was their response: <br />
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And this was our creation:<br />
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We stayed around the house most of the day playing and then making cupcakes.<br />
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And then late Saturday afternoon, I took Avery and Hannah to a birthday party for one of their friends. <br />
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This is who I came back with. :)<br />
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We had another busy day on Sunday of church and more playing and then mommy and daddy returned home Sunday afternoon after a very fun weekend in College Station. We all went to dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant and then Pa and MiMa went back home to Stone Mountain and rested. <br />
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On Tuesday evening, we went over to the Van Wyngardens and had a great time playing with Bell, Emmaline and Ruby. The girls entertained us with showing us what they have learned in ballet, spinning around in circles and then watching them try to keep standing up, and then playing charades. We were having so much fun playing charades, I forgot to take pictures! Rrrrrr. After the girls went to bed, we played a game of Quirkle with Cory and Tafanie. <br />
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Thursday was Avery's big day: her 4th birthday! She wanted to celebrate by going to Waffle House! The manager was so nice and made it a very special birthday dinner for Avery. Not only did she and Avery get Waffle House hats, Avery got a Waffle House pin!<br />
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The manager put money in the jukebox and let Avery pick out the songs. The only ones she knew to pick were Frozen and Happy Birthday. :)<br />
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Then the manager took Avery behind the counter so Avery could help her get her milk. <br />
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We had a delicious supper with all the girls having waffles and the guys having sandwiches. <br />
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And then the manager had one more surprise for Avery: two waffles with birthday candles that she could take home and have for breakfast the next morning. <br />
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The celebrations continued after we got back to their house with opening presents that included a sleeping bag, a bike and a little sleeveless jacket that I crocheted for her.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't go very well with pink striped PJs. :)</td></tr>
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On Friday evening, everyone came over to the camper for a cookout of hot dogs and s'mores. Cory, Emmaline, and Ruby really like our recliners! :)<br />
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Avery had a small birthday party on Saturday morning that her cousins and a couple of friends came to. They played,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell and Emmaline</td></tr>
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painted gourds and bowled with pumpkins,<br />
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had snacks,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blond and blue-eyed cousins: <br />
Hannah and Emmaline</td></tr>
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and then enjoyed birthday cupcakes.<br />
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Bell and Ruby pretended they were unicorns. <br />
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And Pa got them to be still for just a few minutes for a couple of pictures. <br />
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Bell took this selfie of us. <br />
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And then all the girls rode back in the VW van back to their house. Avery and Hannah were spending Saturday night with the VW's while Crystal and Grant went to a wedding. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a load of precious girls! </td></tr>
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I think Avery had a couple of very nice days of birthday celebrations! And we had fun too!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-26176157155885167822016-10-15T20:00:00.000-05:002016-10-19T08:18:38.569-05:00A New Campground and A Special CelebrationWe left Atlanta early Sunday morning and noticed that the leaves were really starting to change -- particularly up on Monteagle Mountain. It reminded us of our fun leaf-peeping travels with Ken and Bonnie last year from Canada all the way down to Florida. <br />
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We had decided to spend some extra time in Nashville in the fall this year but trying to get a campsite in Nashville for an extended period of time is becoming increasingly difficult. We normally stay at Jellystone but they close about 75% of that campground down October 1st because of the Dancing Lights exhibit and we could not get monthly sites at either KOA or Two Rivers. We had heard of a new campground being built on Percy Priest Lake and had visited it in the summer while it was still under construction. When I called them a couple of weeks ago, they had one monthly site left and we took it. </div>
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Our site is nothing special as far as views, but it is completely paved and level. </div>
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First time Chuck has had to parallel park into a site. Of course, he had no problem at all.<br />
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I walked around the campground after we got set up. Part of the campground is still under construction as they are putting in more sites and are adding a pool, but most of the sites are very nice...</div>
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...and have nice views...<br />
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...even at night under a full moon. <br />
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On Monday evening, we took my mom out to dinner to celebrate her 80th birthday and had a very nice meal at Cheddars. Because she mentioned she would like to see where we were camped, we came back to the motorhome and had a very nice evening chatting and visiting at the motorhome. We had a beautiful sunset too. </div>
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My mom sure doesn't look like she just turned 80! Wouldn't you agree? :)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-24258951956668346512016-10-05T21:00:00.000-05:002016-10-05T21:00:49.238-05:00Gutters and GolfWe left Benton, Arkansas, around 7:30 am on Friday, September 22nd, and began heading east toward Ashburn, Georgia, where we planned to spend about 10 days playing free golf! Woohoo!<br />
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The traffic was not too bad as we headed around Little Rock and we saw a beautiful sunrise as we crossed the Arkansas River.<br />
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We decided to only drive as far as Tunica, Mississippi, and stay at the Hollywood Casino RV Park because we knew that the park was paved and level and a good place to install the RV gutters on the motorhome that Chuck has been wanting to put on for a long time. <br />
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After getting checked into our site and getting plugged in, we covered up with sunscreen and got our wide brim hats and began working on installing the gutters on the motorhome. It was a very sunny and hot day to do the job, but we drank plenty of water and Gatorade and within about 3 1/2 hours we were done! Now, the water from the air conditioners drains into the gutters and off the back of the motorhome rather than on top of the slide-out awning toppers. Hopefully, this will extend the life of those awning toppers.<br />
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And, because we got all the hard work done on Friday, we were able to enjoy watching our UT Vols play the Florida Gators on Saturday. It was a nail-biter (as it always is when watching Tennessee football) but Tennessee pulled ahead in the second half and broke Florida's 11 year win streak with a 38-28 win over those Gators. We were SO EXCITED!!!! <br />
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On Sunday, we left Tunica around 8 am and began heading on I-22 across northern Mississippi and northern Alabama. We had not traveled this area previously and were surprised by all the hills in the northern part of both states. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hickory Flat, Mississppi</td></tr>
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We took a turn south once we reached I-65 and continued heading south until we reached Montgomery, Alabama, where we stayed overnight at The Woods RV Park in Montgomery. Chuck, the Driving Man, could have kept on driving but I wanted to stop because I knew we would not arrive at Ashburn until right at dusk and that we would be driving on unfamiliar roads.<br />
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On Monday morning, we left around 8 am heading east on I-85 before turning south on Hwy 80 and Hwy 280 to Ashburn, Georgia. Except for the stop-n-go traffic through Columbus, Georgia, most of the roads were very good four lane highway -- actually better than a lot of interstates we have traveled on.<br />
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We drove by lots of pecan tree groves that had old, big pecan trees,<br />
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medium-size pecan trees,<br />
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and little baby pecan trees.<br />
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Of course, we drove by lots of cotton fields and pine tree forests too. <br />
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We arrived at Wanee Lake Golf and RV Resort around noon. After having a quick lunch, Chuck washed the outside of the motorhome while I worked on cleaning the inside of the motorhome. The sites are o.k. and some have some leveling issues (like the site we are on) but we had beautiful sunrises nearly every morning...<br />
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...and all the free golf we wanted to play so long as we walked the course. The fairways and greens have improved dramatically since we were here in May because the new owner has really been working on fixing them up. It is a perfect place for beginners like us to play golf. We played nearly every day of the ten days we have been here at Wanee and have walked about 7 to 8 miles every day too! Walking is a lot more fun when you're playing golf along the way! :)<br />
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The weather was sunny and in the upper 80's every day. We would play nine holes in the morning, come in, eat lunch, rest for a couple of hours, and then go back out and play another nine holes in the evening. We lost a lot of balls but we found a lot of balls too! I found this cute little squirrel under a tree when I was looking for one of our balls. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope he didn't mistake my golf ball for a nut! :)</td></tr>
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We talked with the new owner, Tommy, and he told us that his dad managed the course when he was a kid. Back then (in the early '80s), it was a private club with several hundred members. There were golf cart sheds housing all the members' golf carts where the RV park is now. Of course, back then, there were a couple of factories in town and a lot more employment than the sole remaining peanut factory in Ashburn now. <div>
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On Saturday afternoon, we watched another nail-biter football game as the Tennessee Vols played the Georgia Bulldogs. And in case you haven't heard, our Tennessee Vols came back and won the game with a Hail-Mary pass to the endzone at the end of the game! I was screaming so loud that I probably scared some other squirrels out of their trees! :) <br /><div>
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On Sunday afternoon, we had to cut our game short because of a thunderstorm that rolled in. It was the only rain we experienced the entire time but it was a doozy. It rained hard and for a couple of hours. The next morning, the cut grass on the fairways looked like sand rolls on the beach. </div>
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It's been a very nice 10 days. I don't know that we improved our golf game much but we had a lot of fun playing! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Ashburn, GA 31714, USA31.7060134 -83.65322400000002331.6519829 -83.733905000000021 31.7600439 -83.572543000000024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-21290670581598877472016-09-22T21:00:00.000-05:002016-09-23T19:56:03.837-05:00Hot Springs, ArkansasOn Thursday, Warren and Joslyn took us to one of Arkansas' most famous destinations: Hot Springs. After speaking with the ladies at the Visitor's Center for a few minutes, we began walking up towards Bathhouse Row. <br />
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There are several points throughout downtown Hot Springs where people can fill jugs of water up directly from the hot springs in Hot Springs. :)<br />
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Not only was Hot Springs known for its bathhouses, it also had some "side" businesses of ill-repute like gambling and brothels. Maxine's was a famous brothel back in the 1950's and had some "high-class" clientele including both politicians and mobsters.<br />
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We continued walking up "Bathhouse Row". The buildings have been beautifully restored and a few of them still operate as bathhouses. <br />
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The first one we walked in was the Lamar.<br />
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The Lamar no longer operates as a bathhouse but has a nice little gift shop in front. I did find a nice big tub in the gift shop. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can somebody get my back?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you love my cap!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah...nothing like a soak in the tub. <br />
I may take a nap! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We walked by a few more bathhouses.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Buckstaff</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ozark</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Quapaw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Buckstaff and the Quapaw still operate as bathhouses where you can soak in the Hot Springs mineral water or have a massage or other type of spa treatment. The Ozark serves as an art museum now. <br />
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Our next stop was the Fordyce Bathhouse that now serves as the Visitor Center for Hot Springs National Park. <br />
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The Fordyce was open from 1915 to 1962 when it closed due to declining business. It remained vacant until it opened as the Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center in 1989. The bathhouse has been restored so you can see what it looked like when it was operational.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Behind all the doors are individual big tubs<br />
for soaking in the hot springs mineral water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stained-glass window above was beautiful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An individiual stall with the big tub.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3gtAXe7QFZk/V-SL_Qn-OSI/AAAAAAAAlw8/hQRxDHY8tEE_pMDJqHaINrlCbC-fpMEuwCPcB/s1600/P1070797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3gtAXe7QFZk/V-SL_Qn-OSI/AAAAAAAAlw8/hQRxDHY8tEE_pMDJqHaINrlCbC-fpMEuwCPcB/s320/P1070797.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saunas...not for me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtaAvl6Kvqw/V-SL_QFE8vI/AAAAAAAAlw8/SvX0HF8lNJcM6G0M0Q1pGMnVHGBbqm01gCPcB/s1600/P1070798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtaAvl6Kvqw/V-SL_QFE8vI/AAAAAAAAlw8/SvX0HF8lNJcM6G0M0Q1pGMnVHGBbqm01gCPcB/s320/P1070798.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this a shower or a car wash??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6bB_VRBaiwA/V-SL_bmhmhI/AAAAAAAAlw8/fnxzwBoolr8Kd3c9AJCBZSoG_UNg6E4cACPcB/s1600/P1070803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6bB_VRBaiwA/V-SL_bmhmhI/AAAAAAAAlw8/fnxzwBoolr8Kd3c9AJCBZSoG_UNg6E4cACPcB/s320/P1070803.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cooling Room where ladies<br />
rested and cooled off from the hot baths.</td></tr>
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We watched the film in the visitor center that provided information about how the hot springs originate. What was surprising to me is that the water did not stink. I fully expected the water to smell like sulfur as it did when we were near hot springs at Yellowstone. Hot Springs, Arkansas, is not in a volcanic region (like Yellowstone). Here, rainfall "percolates" down through the earth, as much as 8,000 feet deep. For every 300 feet the water "percolates," the temperature of the water increases 4 degrees. Eventually, the water meets faults and joints leading up to the lower west side of Hot Springs Mountain where it re-surfaces as hot springs.<br />
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What is really interesting is that in this the 100th year of the National Park Service, we learned that Hot Springs was the first U.S. "reservation" to protect a natural resource. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vd5Mjftrs7E/V-SL_QVskmI/AAAAAAAAlw8/FawzK9G_rDsVuWJJkMdN5uoyXcFRbH1LgCPcB/s1600/P1070808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vd5Mjftrs7E/V-SL_QVskmI/AAAAAAAAlw8/FawzK9G_rDsVuWJJkMdN5uoyXcFRbH1LgCPcB/s320/P1070808.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the sign says:<br />
"U.S. Hot Springs Reservation"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The year after Thomas Jefferson had purchased the Louisiana Territory (which included Arkansas), an expedition was sent out by President Jefferson in 1804 to explore these newly acquired springs. Soon after, more and more people began coming to soak in these hot waters and for its therapeutic and medicinal effects. In order to protect these natural springs, the federal government set aside four sections of land here in 1832 making it the first time the government set aside land to protect a natural resource. <br />
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After leaving the visitor center, we continued down Bathhouse Row stopping at Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery for some good ol' Arkansas ice cream called Yarnell's. Chuck and I shared the Whoo Pig Chewy which was delicious! <br />
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Next, we stopped at the Hot Water Cascade where you could actually see the hot springs coming out of the ground and cascading over the rocks. The water comes out of the ground at a piping 143 degrees! A little warm for a soak in the tub! The bathhouses cool the water to keep it at 104 degrees (like most hot tubs today). <br />
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Next, we walked across the street to the historic Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa.<br />
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While the original Arlington was built in 1875, after demolition of the original wooden structure and a fire of the next Arlington building, the current building opened New Year's Eve of 1924 and has been operational ever since. <br />
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Can you imagine some of the parties and balls the Arlington may have hosted over the years???<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O.K. kids. Stop running up and down the stairs!</td></tr>
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We finished our walking tour of Hot Springs along the Grand Promenade which is a beautiful brick walk on the hill behind the bathhouses. <br />
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We walked by another open hot spring where you can see the steam coming off the water. <br />
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Most of the 47 hot springs are capped off with these big green boxes to prevent contamination. <br />
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At the end of the Grand Promenade is the Army Navy Hospital that was built in the 1930s. <br />
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After returning to their truck, we rode a very windy road up Hot Springs Mountain and took the elevator up to the top of the tower...<br />
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,..where we could look out and see the green hills of Arkansas. <br />
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Of course, we had to get a selfie before leaving the tower. :)<br />
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Hot Springs also has a famous horse racetrack: Oaklawn. </div>
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The racing season at Oaklawn begins in January and ends in April before the Kentucky Derby in May. In fact, the latest Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, won the Arkansas Derby in April of 2015 before going on to win the Triple Crown: Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. </div>
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After all our touring around, we were ready to have a nice sit-down dinner. Warren and Joslyn took us to one of their favorite restaurants in Hot Springs: Steinhaus Keller. Chuck and I enjoyed our first-ever meal in a German restaurant and it was absolutely delicious. Chuck had a schnitzel with garlic mashed potatoes and I had cabbage rolls with brussel sprouts and a potato pancake. A perfect ending to a perfect day! </div>
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Thank you, Warren and Joslyn, for showing us around Arkansas and for all the fun and good eats during our visit! What a great time we had! Looking forward to seeing you in San Antonio this winter!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Hot Springs, AR, USA34.5037004 -93.05517950000000834.2943049 -93.377903 34.7130959 -92.732456000000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-30832376373207042382016-09-21T22:00:00.000-05:002016-09-23T19:45:07.917-05:00Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!On Monday, we planned to get together with Warren and Joslyn for a late lunch at their house. Joslyn's mother was going to join us and we were looking forward to meeting her. <br />
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We arrived at their house around 12:30 and took things we had brought for our lunch together straight to their kitchen. We came out of the kitchen, we had a big surprise! Terry and Gloria who we meet up with in San Antonio in the winter had drove in the night before! We were so surprised! <br />
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We couldn't believe it! Terry had just texted Chuck earlier that morning saying he wished they could be here with all of us. Those sneaky Farnstroms! :)<br />
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The Burlesons were pretty sneaky too!<br />
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Joslyn's mother, Miss Pauline, arrived a short time later. What a sweet and beautiful lady! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Like mother, like daughter" </td></tr>
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We had such a wonderful afternoon talking and visiting with everyone. And Warren's grilled chicken and Joslyn's mashed potato salad were DELICIOUS! <br />
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On Tuesday, all the guys went to play golf while all the girls including Miss Pauline went to a crocheting group that Joslyn and Miss Pauline go to every Tuesday. I'm just learning, but Miss Pauline, Joslyn and Gloria are extremely talented and have showed me some of their projects. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crafty Crocheters!</td></tr>
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At the crocheting group, I saw even more beautiful projects being worked on by such talented ladies. After crocheting, the four of us went to McAllister's for a delicious lunch and then Miss Pauline invited us to her house to see some of her other projects. She had beautiful blankets and afghans she had crocheted and then she showed us all of these intricate doilies and table scarves she had made years ago. They were so beautiful. And then, she surprised us, and told Gloria and me to pick one for ourselves! We were so surprised and so grateful to receive one of her beautiful doilies. I found the perfect spot for mine: on our "steering wheel" table in the motorhome.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't it beautiful!</td></tr>
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The third surprise came on Wednesday but this surprise we were a part of on the front end. Warren and Joslyn had invited two other friends from San Antonio who also live in the Little Rock area to join them for dinner at the Bonefish Grill. What Suzanne and Charlie didn't know was that Terry and Gloria and Chuck and Melissa were going to be there too!<br />
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We had a delicious dinner of Bang Bang Shrimp and lots and lots of laughs! It was such a fun evening!<br />
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Terry and Gloria had to return home to Oklahoma on Thursday morning so we said our good-byes to them Wednesday night. We can't wait to see you again for New Year's in San Antonio! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-71746833810128908072016-09-16T19:43:00.000-05:002016-09-16T20:29:25.858-05:00Arkansas...Here We ComeWe left Nashville on Monday morning and stopped over in Tunica for a couple of nights before heading on to Benton, Arkansas, to visit our friends, Warren and Joslyn. <br />
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Warren and Joslyn invited us to their house for dinner Wednesday night. It was so good to get to see them again and we enjoyed a delicious dinner of homemade tacos. Yummy! <br />
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On Thursday, we played golf at one of Warren's favorite golf courses in Hot Springs Village. It was very hot but we were having a fun time together. Unfortunately, it started raining after the first 9 holes so we had to call it quits. Probably was just as well because we were all pretty hot and getting pretty hungry. We had pizza at Molly O'Brien's which was near the golf course. When we eat pizza with Warren and Joslyn it really works out great. Warren and I prefer pepperoni pizza and Chuck and Joslyn like pizza with everything on it. The extra treat was on Thurday nights they have free dessert: a cone of soft serve ice cream! Sweet!<br />
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Today, Warren and Joslyn came and picked us up and we rode to the booming metropolis of Keo, Arkansas. Population: 256. <br />
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In the big city of Keo, is a restaurant called Cotham's located in what used to be an old country store built in 1912 called Cotham's Mercantile.<br />
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Based upon the appearance of the building, I began to wonder if it was safe to enter. :)<br />
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But the parking lot was full of customers so I figured it must be pretty safe. :) When we walked in the restaurant, it looked just about as old on the inside as it did on the outside. <br />
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We ordered what Cotham's is known for: their Hubcap Hamburger. All I can say is it was a good thing Chuck and I split the burger because it was the biggest hamburger I've ever seen.<br />
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It was delicious and the first time I ever needed to eat my hamburger with a fork!<br />
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Boy, was it good! After lunch, we rode further into the countryside...<br />
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...and were able to see where they were harvesting the rice fields.<br />
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This area of Arkansas was where his parents and grandparents had lived. Warren told us that his grandmother's name was Sallie T. Burleson. Guess what the T stood for: Tennessee. Isn't that cool? Sallie Tennessee Burleson. <br />
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We went to another small restaurant with the intention of trying some of their pies for dessert but most of their pies were gone. So, guess where we went? Back to Cotham's for some cobbler and Mississippi Mud cake. Joslyn suggested that she and I split the Mississippi Mud Cake. All I can say is it was a good thing we split!<br />
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We were in chocolate heaven!<br />
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It took awhile, but we worked our way through the "mud." :)<br />
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Joslyn, finally through in the towel. But not me!<br />
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I even threatened to lick the plate!<br />
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Okay, now I am as full as a tick. I don't think I'll eat anything the rest of the day. But, it sure was good! :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Benton, AR, USA34.5645371 -92.58682799999996934.459965100000005 -92.748189499999967 34.6691091 -92.42546649999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-42431130881370165452016-09-11T15:40:00.000-05:002016-09-13T17:26:58.306-05:00Grandparents Weekend in AtlantaA couple of weeks ago, Crystal invited us to come to Atlanta for the weekend. Friday was Grandparents Day at Hannah's daycare and they had tickets for us to go to the Atlanta Braves game on Sunday afternoon. The Braves were also supposed to be having some kind of activities for grandparents and grandchildren as well. <br />
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After we picked up the motorhome Thursday afternoon and got it set back up on the site at Jellystone, we headed south to Atlanta in the car arriving at Crystal and Grant's house around 11:30 pm. Bright and early Friday morning, we heard Hannah and Avery and got up to see them before they were heading off to daycare and pre-school. <br />
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We arrived at Hannah's day care around 9:30. As soon as we found her class, all the grandparents, teachers and kids headed outside on the playground. Hannah was so glad to see us! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah likes the slide...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and the swing!</td></tr>
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This little boy in Hannah's class adopted Chuck as his grandpa! :)<br />
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After playing on the playground for about 30 minutes, we all went back inside for story time and songs. <br />
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And then, the kids were encouraged to show their grandparents all the different things they get to do in their class every day like arts and crafts.<br />
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After playtime, the teachers distributed a hot lunch to all the students. All twelve students sit at little tables and serve themselves if they are able. They had a delicious lunch of broccoli, black beans, noodles, breadsticks and apples and they have hot lunches like this every day.<br />
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We were very impressed with all the teachers did for the kids and how everything seemed so organized. When the kids were laying down for naps, we said our good-byes to Hannah and then met her mom (Crystal) for lunch. After Crystal had got off work and picked up Hannah, we all picked up Avery from pre-school. Avery showed us all around her "new" school. <br />
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Later that evening, Tafanie, Cory, Bell, Emmaline and Ruby came over to Crystal and Grant's house and we all had dinner together. While the girls played (and they do play so very well together), we all visited for awhile before the VW's had to head back home.<br />
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Saturday morning at the Robinsons began with Mickey Mouse cartoons...<br />
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...and a delicious hot breakfast prepared by Grant. After breakfast, Grant, Chuck, Cory and a friend of theirs (Brandon) played golf at a nearby course. While the guys were playing golf, all the girls (big and little) went to a park. The park had a lot of nice playground equipment but the girls were most interested in playing in the man-made "creek."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah and Avery waited patiently<br />for their cousins to arrive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where's Avery? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There she is...still waiting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the girls got in the water as soon as the VW's arrived.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Ruby!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell and Emmaline had fun splashing each other.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby liked trying to catch the water<br />as it spilled over the tiny waterfalls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uuBsQTVqYZY/V9cplqwNyJI/AAAAAAAAlgQ/4fw-jlGXyD4KvSEwgtVi8y2ZBDvrpiqbQCPcB/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uuBsQTVqYZY/V9cplqwNyJI/AAAAAAAAlgQ/4fw-jlGXyD4KvSEwgtVi8y2ZBDvrpiqbQCPcB/s320/IMG_0293.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "big" kids did too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even MiMa took her shoes and socks off to wade in the "creek."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creek wading is over. <br />Time to dry our feet and go play<br />on the playground!</td></tr>
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I had such a wonderful time playing with all the little girls and getting to spend time with both of my "big" girls, Tafanie and Crystal. :)<br />
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Later that evening after supper back at the Robinsons, we watched the Battle of Bristol and were very happy that the Tennessee Vols won the battle! <br />
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On Sunday morning, we went to church with both families. We got to see Ruby in her new dress that we had given her for her birthday. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Am I a cutie, or what?" </td></tr>
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After church, we had a perfect opportunity to get some new pictures with all 5 granddaughters. Aren't they precious! <br />
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After giving our good-bye hugs to Tafanie & Cory and their girls, we headed back to Crystal & Grant's to get ready to go to the Braves game. We went with another couple from their church, Eric and Carrie and their two boys from whom Crystal and Grant had bought all our tickets. <br />
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We got there in time for a tribute to the 9-11 victims, a flyover, and the national anthem. <br />
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Our seats were just a few rows back from the outfield,<br />
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but the sun was a scorcher. <br />
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Since the stadium was not full, we moved up to find seats where we could be in the shade. <br />
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After the game, kids and grandparents could run the bases! We walked all the way around the stadium and found the back of the line (two flights up) for running the bases after the game. While we waited in line, Avery practiced her gymnastics! :)<br />
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The line finally started moving...<br />
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...and then we were finally on the field.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery practiced her climbing while we<br />waited to run the bases. </td></tr>
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After standing in line with what seemed like at least 1,000 kids and parents and grandparents,<br />
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the kids and grandparents got to run the bases.<br />
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This is the last year the Atlanta Braves will be playing at Turner Field. It's pretty cool that we got to run the bases with Avery and Hannah before the Braves no longer play there! <br />
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Wow! What a busy, fun Grandparents Weekend in Atlanta! We are so blessed! :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-70949865935226815932016-09-08T21:29:00.000-05:002016-09-12T22:38:37.571-05:00Busy Month Back In NashvilleIt has been a very busy month in Nashville. We have played pickleball A LOT! The gym at the Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet has two courts for indoor pickleball on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and we went just about every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. <br />
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Chuck played most Thursday nights too at the Hermitage Community Center and we played a couple of nights with Donald & Anna and Kevin & Karen. </div>
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We have met so many nice people and good pickleball players at the Mt. Juliet gym. We even went to watch several of them play in a pickleball tournament over Labor Day Weekend at Lipscomb University that had about 180 participants of all ages and from as far away as Ohio and Georgia. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan and Linda were some of the first to play.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R.J. is always ready!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruce and Colin won their first set...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...as did Linda and Nina.</td></tr>
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Chuck and I took one day and played golf at Riverside Golf Course but the course was in terrible shape. The grass in the fairways was tall...</div>
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...and the greens were very rough. <br />
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Chuck and I are not very good golfers and bad golf players on a bad golf course just don't mix. Not only did we lose balls in the rough, We lost balls in the fairways as well because the grass was so tall and deep, we couldn't see them. </div>
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We always have fun playing golf but we were both glad when we reached the 18th hole of this course! </div>
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The weather in Nashville was hot, hot, hot. We did have one Saturday where we got a lot of rain...</div>
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...which of course just made it humid, humid, humid. :)</div>
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We got to spend a lot of time with my mom which was really nice. We ate dinner together most nights and enjoyed watching the Summer Olympics and the Little League World Series together. We also got to visit my Uncle John & Aunt Milbrey who also live in Donelson and had a tasty breakfast at IHOP with my mom and my Uncle Clif. </div>
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On Labor Day, we went up to Donald and Anna's for a cookout where we enjoyed lots of good food,</div>
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fun,<br />
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and fellowship.<br />
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On the Tuesday after Labor Day, we took the motorhome in to Cullum & Maxey to get the two rear slide-out toppers replaced and the front passenger side slide-out seal replaced that had come loose. Yep, 2016 is definitely the year of getting things fixed on the motorhome. I guess we've been pretty lucky though! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-64180735918274628362016-09-02T11:00:00.000-05:002016-09-02T13:34:26.970-05:00Celebrating a 50th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you have followed our blog, you have read about some of our adventures and fun times with Chuck's uncle and aunt: Donald and Anna. Well, today is their 50th wedding anniversary! <br />
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They must have gotten married when they were five and four years old because they look way too young to have been married 50 years!!!!!<br />
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Their daughters, Renee and Erica, had a "sort-of" surprise party to celebrate the event a couple of weeks ago that we were so blessed to attend. The reason I say "sort-of" is because Donald and Anna knew that some type of party was happening but they didn't know where or who was going to be there until 30 minutes before the party began. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erica and Renee -- the sneaky sisters who planned such a fun event!</td></tr>
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The party had a "sock-hop" theme with some of the women coming dressed up in poodle skirts and some of the men in jeans, white t-shirts, and greased-back hair. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna and 3 of her nieces: Darlene, Sheila and Karen.<br />
Don't you love Sheila's poodle skirt? :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donald & Anna with Erica & Matt, Graham & Aubrey.<br />
How do you like Matt's and Graham's greased-back hair and<br />
Matt's pack of crayons (not cigarettes) wrapped in his shirt sleeve? :)</td></tr>
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They served up delicious Steak-n-Shake hamburgers, homemade milk shakes and REAL Coca-Cola Cokes in a bottle. </div>
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And they had a back drop and props where we could make funny pictures.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The happy couple!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another happy couple of 39 years! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donald & Anna with Renee & Brent, Rachel and Ryan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donald & Anna with Rick (Chuck's brother), Marla & Lauren</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marla, Lauren, Rick, me and Chuck</td></tr>
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Renee and Erica had a couple of fun activities like having Donald & Anna play the Newlywed Game! Erica asked them 5 questions separately and then when they were back together, they would have to answer what they thought the other one would answer. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had to think a bit. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They both guessed 3 out of 5 with an occasional "Don-ald" <br />thrown in when Donald didn't get an answer correct <br />that Anna thought he should. :) </td></tr>
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The highlight of the evening was a performance of "Just One Look" by Rachel, Renee and Erica (with a surprise appearance by little Aubrey). :) Turn your volume up! (If you have trouble opening the video, click <a href="https://youtu.be/qpRqB_OWMUk" target="_blank">HERE</a>).</div>
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It was a wonderful evening and one we wouldn't have missed for the world! </div>
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Happy 50th Anniversary, Donald and Anna! We love you!!!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Nashville, TN, USA36.1626638 -86.78160159999998835.752564799999995 -87.427048599999992 36.5727628 -86.136154599999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-42634734568854447832016-08-10T13:35:00.000-05:002016-08-18T15:03:32.833-05:00Heading South on I-81We left Streamside Golf & RV Park around 7:20 am on Monday, August 8th. Google Maps was showing the shorter distance home was to take I-90 West to Cleveland and then head south through Columbus, Cincinnati, and Louisville back to Nashville. But, we would have had $30 to $50 in tolls plus it would not have been as scenic. If you're going to be driving a lot anyways, why not drive the scenic route!<br />
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Plus, by taking I-81, we will be able to say we have traveled the entire distance of I-81 from the Canadian border to where it terminates in Tennessee at I-40. <br />
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We ran into just a little bit of traffic in Syracuse but not too bad...<br />
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...and then we were heading south through the mountains and valleys of New York State.<br />
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Uh-oh. Another small slowdown. Detour off of I-81 for a couple of miles due to a truck accident. <br />
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That's ok. It only delayed us about 20 minutes and gave us another opportunity to see some beautiful New York State scenery.<br />
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Soon enough, we were back on I-81 with more mountains and valleys and farms.<br />
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Good-bye New York! <br />
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Hello Pennsylvania!<br />
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Crossing the Susquehanna...again. I think the Indian meaning of Susquehanna must be snake because it seems like this river snakes all through Pennsylvania.<br />
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Now, that's something we don't see everyday. The reflection of our motorhome on the back of the truck in front of us. Hi Chuck and Melissa!<br />
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Traveling through the beautiful Pennsylvania mountains and valleys,<br />
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and the occasional work zone,<br />
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and, of course, across the Susquehanna River again as we go through Harrisburg, PA.<br />
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My last picture of Pennsylvania is one of what we saw a whole lot of in Pennsylvania...CORN.<br />
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Then, we crossed into Maryland.<br />
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We were only in Maryland for about 12 miles...<br />
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...before crossing the Potomac River...<br />
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...and entering West Virginia.<br />
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And we were only in West Virginia about 25 miles...<br />
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...before crossing into Virginia. We weren't officially welcomed to Virginia because I didn't see a sign so we welcomed ourselves. :)<br />
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We had stopped at a Flying J's just after crossing into Virginia to fill up with diesel because their fuel prices were so much cheaper than Pennsylvania. The Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia are beautiful too. Chuck and I remember driving this section of road when Tafanie and Cory lived in the D.C. area for a few years.<br />
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Other than his posterior getting a little sore, Chuck was feeling pretty good driving. We didn't stop for the evening until we reached Wytheville, Virginia. We stayed in a pull-through site at a nice KOA that was just a couple of miles off I-81. Chuck hit a new one day driving record in the motorhome today: 637 miles!<br />
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We were up and on our way Tuesday morning by a little after 8. It was a little cloudier today but the scenery was still pretty awesome.<br />
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In seemingly no time at all, we were being welcomed back into our home state of Tennessee.<br />
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And around Dandridge, Tennessee, we reached the end of I-81 where it terminates at I-40.<br />
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We had driven all 855 miles of I-81 traveling through six states from the Canadian border to Tennessee just since Sunday. Where to next, Chuck? Memphis is only 421 miles away. :)<br />
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Just kidding! We had decided to go back to Nashville when we were trying to figure out where to go next in New York State. Donald & Anna have a 50th anniversary party coming up that we didn't want to miss plus we have some more things to get fixed on the motorhome. Rrrrrrrr. We discovered when we were in Wytheville that the big seal that goes around the front passenger side slide-out has come loose. Plus, the rear slide-out awnings need to be replaced. So, we decided to just hang out in Nashville for about a month. Gives us more time with my mom too! :)<br />
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Before heading all the way back to Nashville though, we decided to stop at one of our favorite RV parks, Spring Lake RV Resort in Crossville. We stayed there Tuesday and Wednesday nights and even got a round of golf at River Run on Wednesday. We didn't play all that well but the course sure is pretty! (I wonder how many golfers say that??)<br />
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<span id="goog_793497710"></span><span id="goog_793497711"></span>On Thursday, August 11, we pulled into Nashville Jellystone where we were able to get a monthly site which saves us considerably over the normal $60-$80 per night rates of Jellystone or KOA. <br />
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In just a little over a month, we have traveled from Fall Creek Falls in Spencer, Tennessee, to Wildwood, Florida (to get the front a/c replaced) to Ormond Beach, Florida (to get the two front shades replaced, then back north through South Carolina, North Carolina,stopping to tour around Williamsburg, Virginia, play 3 full days of pickleball at Chesapeake Bay Thousand Trails in Gloucester, Virginia, spending 11 fun-filled and wonderful days with Ken and Bonnie at Hershey, touring around Watkins Glen, New York, and then the Thousand Islands area of New York, including a quick day trip to Tim Horton's in Canada and then back to Nashville. That's a little over 3,100 miles in just over a month! Crazy!!!<br />
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We're looking forward to a month of being with my mom and family, visiting some friends, and playing some pickleball and maybe even a round of golf or two. :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Nashville, TN, USA36.1626638 -86.78160159999998835.752564799999995 -87.427048599999992 36.5727628 -86.136154599999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-26846076221967815142016-08-07T10:00:00.000-05:002016-08-08T23:00:59.156-05:00Last Days at Streamside (and a trip to Canada)On Saturday, we played an early game of golf. It was probably one of Chuck's worst days of golf and one of my best days. For some reason, Chuck couldn't hit straight, and for some reason, I could. Crazy! <br />
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Later that afternoon, we went to a driving range that I found about 25 minutes away. We both got a extra large buckets of balls to practice and try to work on our drives and hitting all of our clubs. We felt a little better after leaving and decided to stop at a little Italian restaurant in Mexico, New York, for a 39th anniversary dinner! Yes, I said that right: an Italian restaurant in the town of Mexico, in the state of New York. <br />
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Our dinners were delicious! Chuck had spaghetti with meat sauce and I had baked ziti. It also came with delicious garlic knots. Anna, I know how much you love garlic knots and these were some of the best! Of course, our breath was not all that great when we left! :)<br />
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On Sunday morning, we decided to take a day trip to Canada. Why, you say? Well, it's only about 50 miles away, I wanted to be able to say we had driven ALL of I-81 (from the Canadian border all the way to where it dead-ends in I-40 in Tennessee), and the most important reason of all: TIM HORTON'S!!!!<br />
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We first discovered Tim Horton's our first year of full-timing when we traveled to Newfoundland. Tim Horton's seemed to be everywhere. And then last year, when we went with Ken and Bonnie to visit Ernie and Noela in Quebec, we stopped at Tim Horton's more than once! :) Needless to say, I am a big Tim Horton's fan!!<br />
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We headed out in the car around 8 am and before long we were crossing the first of those 1000 Island Bridges built way back in 1937:<br />
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Then, we came to Canadian customs where, when asked, Chuck tried to explain we were just coming to Canada because I wanted to go to Tim Horton's in Canada for coffee. I think she thought we were crazy.<br />
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I guess they decided it was o.k. to let a couple of crazy people from Tennessee into the country. :)<br />
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We drove by the 1000 Islands Tower...<br />
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...and over the rest of those 1000 Island Bridges...<br />
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...before driving west about 15 kilometers to Tim Hortons in Gananoque, Ontario! (When in Canada, you do as Canadians do -- use the metric system!) :)<br />
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We ordered my Tim Horton's coffee and a box of TimBits.<br />
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Oh Ken..... do you remember those delicious TimBits????<br />
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We couldn't decide which one to eat first! :)<br />
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Ah..... There's nothing like Timmy Horton's coffee. Especially when you have with a TimBit! <br />
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After we had finished our TimBits, I bought a bag of Tim Horton's coffee to take back. Interestingly enough, the bag is bigger in Canada because a 400 gram bag of coffee is bigger than a 1 pound bag of coffee. And the exchange rate is .76 Canadian to $1 American making a $8.99 bag of Tim Horton's coffee only cost me $6.83! <br />
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And...since we ate every single one of those TimBits...<br />
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...I ordered another small box of the blueberry TimBits (my favorite) to take home! I'm so bad!!! :)<br />
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We drove back via the Thousand Islands Parkway that followed the St. Lawrence River...<br />
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...and we were soon crossing those 1000 Island Bridges...<br />
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...and then beginning our trek down I-81...<br />
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...and waiting in line at Customs to cross back into the US.<br />
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In typical Gregory "waiting-in-line-and-always-being-in-the-slow-line" fashion, we were directed away from what ending up being the fast line, and then had to wait while they put up a pylon in our line for who knows what reason. When we finally got to the Customs Officer, the first thing she told us is that we can't take pictures of the border crossing and all the security cameras at the border crossing. She must have seen me taking a picture with my camera. She said we would have to delete the picture. So, I showed her the picture I had taken:<br />
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She soon realized that the security of our great United States of America was quite safe!!<br />
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She also didn't seem to believe that we went to Ontario just to go to Tim Horton's. She said, "You know, we have Tim Horton's in the States...even not too far from here." I said that I knew that but it wasn't the same as going to Tim Horton's in Canada!!!! Where they began! (FYI: in 2014 the Tim Horton's restaurants and franchises were bought out by Burger King. A very smart move by Burger King from my viewpoint!) I guess she realized we were just a couple of crazy but harmless rednecks from Tennessee and decided to let us back in. :)<br />
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So...we began our journey down I-81 across the last 1000 Islands Bridge...<br />
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...and by the New York State countryside where the corn doesn't grow quite as tall as it does in PA.<br />
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Later that afternoon, we decided to give those narrow fairways of Streamside Golf & RV Park one last chance. I played pretty horrible the first half and then on the 8th hole, I scored my first ever birdie!!!!! On a dog-leg left hole, I hit one of my best drives ever, then hit my #3 wood long and straight two times with the 3rd stroke ending up on the green within 5 feet of the hole. I knew if I could make the putt, it would be my first birdie! I was so nervous, but I made it! Yippee!! Of course, we won't talk about my score or how bad I was on the rest of the holes.<br />
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Below is the fairway on the 11th hole. This gives you an idea of how narrow the fairways are.<br />
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After seeing a lot of other golfers going back and forth across the fairways and into other fairways looking for their balls, we didn't feel quite so bad. <br />
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And besides, we have so much fun playing golf! We may not be any good but then you get a birdie or a par or a really good (or lucky) shot, that motivates you to just keep on trying, playing, improving, and best of all, HAVING FUN!!!! :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Streamside RV Park and Golf Course, 800 County Rte 28, Pulaski, NY 13142, USA43.5080343 -76.11101439999998817.9859998 -117.41960839999999 69.0300688 -34.802420399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-81441059880958207992016-08-05T20:00:00.000-05:002016-08-09T06:21:22.055-05:001000 Islands -- The American SideKen and Bonnie had told us about the 1000 Islands area and Boldt Castle which were only about an hour north of where we were staying. On Friday morning, we drove to Clayton, New York, which is located on the St. Lawrence River and went out on the Clayton Boat Tours "Two Nation / Boldt Castle" tour. Because I took so many pictures, I broke up the blog post into 3 posts. The American Side of the 1000 Islands, Boldt Castle, and the Canadian side of the 1000 Islands.<br />
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The 1000 Islands is actually a group of 1,864 islands located on the St. Lawrence River between the United States and Canada just northeast of where Lake Ontario begins running into the St. Lawrence River. <br />
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We left the dock at little after 10 am with a small group of only about 9 tourists plus Captain Chuck (that really was his name) and the tour guide (sorry, I can't remember his name).<br />
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A perfect day for a boat ride on the St. Lawrence River!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, I am not asleep -- unlike other sneaky pictures<br />
my husband has taken of me on boat rides. :)</td></tr>
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During the late 1800's and early 1900's, the area became a summer resort for the wealthy and several luxurious hotels were built on the islands like Emery Castle on Calumet Island in the picture below. <br />
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Most (if not all) of these luxurious hotels are gone now. According to our tour guide, several of them burned down and the owners didn't want the fires put out so they could collect the insurance money. <br />
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Below is what is on Calumet Island now:<br />
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We rode past the local post office which was also on an island. I wonder if the mailman delivers the mail by boat??? :)<br />
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Next, we rode by Rock Island Lighthouse,<br />
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This nice house had an island all to itself,<br />
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And then we rode by these summer cottages along the backside of Wellesley Island.<br />
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We rode under the American side of the 1000 Island bridges.<br />
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The 1000 Island Bridges are actually a series of 5 bridges that span parts of the St. Lawrence River connecting the American and Canadian sides of the river What is really amazing is that the entire 1000 Islands Bridge system only took 16 months to complete at a cost of $3 million in 1937. <br />
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It is absolutely amazing to me how many things we have seen during our 4 1/2 years of full-timing that were built during the Depression Era of the 1930's. And are still standing and functional!!<br />
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I was hoping we would see some of the big carrier ships like what we saw at the Soo Locks at Sault St. Marie, Michigan, last summer. The first big boat we saw was this very big "pirate-looking" sailing ship.<br />
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Apparently, the 1000 Island regions is still the summer home to a lot of wealthy individuals judging by the size of some of the mansions we rode by.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice house!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice yacht beside the nice house!</td></tr>
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How do you like the bear on top of this house!<br />
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When we were approaching Boldt Castle, we finally saw our first big cargo ship.<br />
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We passed by one more big "house" before landing at Boldt Castle: the yacht "house" for Boldt Castle. <br />
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Wow! If that's the "boat" house, can you imagine what the castle must look like? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-32935279283414039352016-08-05T18:30:00.000-05:002016-08-09T06:21:45.817-05:00Boldt Castle -- A Gift of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After docking at Heart Island, we disembarked, got our tickets for Boldt Castle, and began walking up to the castle.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The landscaping was beautiful!</td></tr>
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Boldt Castle was built by George Boldt who was general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City and the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. He built the home as a present to his wife, Louisa Boldt, but when his wife died in early 1904, all construction ceased on the property. For 73 years, the property was left abandoned to the weather and to vandals. In 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority bought the property and yacht house for one dollar with the agreement that all revenues obtained from the castle operation would be applied towards restoration. Nearly $15 million has been spent on improvements but the goal is not to finish the castle but to restore it to the state it was in when construction was halted<br />
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How romantic! Chuck said to me, "How about I give you Boldt Castle for an anniversary gift (our anniversary was the next day)." For an hour anyways! (That's how long we had before we had to get back on the boat!)<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwInr3Mi46U/V6VJidhQGOI/AAAAAAAAk5w/oCFzclYgY4ohGuxMbcbd3YYZROcDkmWkgCPcB/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwInr3Mi46U/V6VJidhQGOI/AAAAAAAAk5w/oCFzclYgY4ohGuxMbcbd3YYZROcDkmWkgCPcB/s320/IMG_0030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We began our tour of the castle on the first floor.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_CDsIOdPsS8/V6VJifOHmNI/AAAAAAAAk5w/jQ_ZKZORGLMypjkGAwztvopYW_9ORkAwgCPcB/s1600/P1070628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_CDsIOdPsS8/V6VJifOHmNI/AAAAAAAAk5w/jQ_ZKZORGLMypjkGAwztvopYW_9ORkAwgCPcB/s320/P1070628.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front parlor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lwuNvkSD7yk/V6VJieepupI/AAAAAAAAk5w/LewfSOqd4mo-F-klxQC8hryD0Gw0iZJDQCPcB/s1600/P1070629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lwuNvkSD7yk/V6VJieepupI/AAAAAAAAk5w/LewfSOqd4mo-F-klxQC8hryD0Gw0iZJDQCPcB/s320/P1070629.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The billiards room</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57A6ABNcnSE/V6VJiaEwcqI/AAAAAAAAk5w/iZ6bXuDj7CQ834YK7ArOHBw-Bxq2FKRsgCPcB/s1600/P1070630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57A6ABNcnSE/V6VJiaEwcqI/AAAAAAAAk5w/iZ6bXuDj7CQ834YK7ArOHBw-Bxq2FKRsgCPcB/s320/P1070630.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many outside porches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlTaUFRegrU/V6VJiVafPJI/AAAAAAAAk5w/So3qI_XBsTUShmw8Nzggeykvm431rK8eACPcB/s1600/P1070631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlTaUFRegrU/V6VJiVafPJI/AAAAAAAAk5w/So3qI_XBsTUShmw8Nzggeykvm431rK8eACPcB/s320/P1070631.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngUVRczNFys/V6VJiXkEFDI/AAAAAAAAk5w/Br6aF8NI2HgQ35BHVxxvgTpPP82g73YXwCPcB/s1600/P1070632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngUVRczNFys/V6VJiXkEFDI/AAAAAAAAk5w/Br6aF8NI2HgQ35BHVxxvgTpPP82g73YXwCPcB/s320/P1070632.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the window seats at the back of the dining room,</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GrNuVKzgWsc/V6VJiU34tEI/AAAAAAAAk5w/c-f9XAjSZFg38-6EKTc8B8aEkFB5KpmBwCPcB/s1600/P1070633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GrNuVKzgWsc/V6VJiU34tEI/AAAAAAAAk5w/c-f9XAjSZFg38-6EKTc8B8aEkFB5KpmBwCPcB/s320/P1070633.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The butler's pantry. Is that the butler I see? :)</td></tr>
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In several of the rooms, they had pictures of what the room looked like before the restoration. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EZ_rw1cT1OI/V6VJiREInvI/AAAAAAAAk5w/WxVKq5n2d5AUocDBCLINRvSMxsVWj-SZQCPcB/s1600/P1070635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EZ_rw1cT1OI/V6VJiREInvI/AAAAAAAAk5w/WxVKq5n2d5AUocDBCLINRvSMxsVWj-SZQCPcB/s320/P1070635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maid's Dining Room (before)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rMMr4Yaa-k/V6VJiYUDzvI/AAAAAAAAk5w/NRig_hO3Gk82-rZ-Q_yHCs9L1sBUTpWHQCPcB/s1600/P1070634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rMMr4Yaa-k/V6VJiYUDzvI/AAAAAAAAk5w/NRig_hO3Gk82-rZ-Q_yHCs9L1sBUTpWHQCPcB/s320/P1070634.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maid's Dining Room (now)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-izHdH8o7pSg/V6VJiaQ9MmI/AAAAAAAAk5w/Drf4p92Osl0C-3i0w_pgK0hYmHl-72rXACPcB/s1600/P1070637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-izHdH8o7pSg/V6VJiaQ9MmI/AAAAAAAAk5w/Drf4p92Osl0C-3i0w_pgK0hYmHl-72rXACPcB/s320/P1070637.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kitchen (before)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aqyT8XizJEc/V6VJiclgcCI/AAAAAAAAk5w/JcOh4IDgSukv1IQHmfpDlG7go2TKYqvzgCPcB/s1600/P1070636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aqyT8XizJEc/V6VJiclgcCI/AAAAAAAAk5w/JcOh4IDgSukv1IQHmfpDlG7go2TKYqvzgCPcB/s320/P1070636.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kitchen (now)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We next walked through the Servants' Dining Quarters. I'm sure the servants would have worked very hard but as nice as this dining room is, I think I would not have minded being a servant at Boldt Castle! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-552hrWoAg6E/V6VJiZvZWyI/AAAAAAAAk5w/fLsy32UWHMYtpjH0VqWGv20luqc7_I1JACPcB/s1600/P1070638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-552hrWoAg6E/V6VJiZvZWyI/AAAAAAAAk5w/fLsy32UWHMYtpjH0VqWGv20luqc7_I1JACPcB/s320/P1070638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next, we enter the ball room...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9NSZRb_Ugks/V6VJiTTnJYI/AAAAAAAAk5w/lxYYsoKt1E0dL-cUZk5yfUe4Ylh5Uz7cACPcB/s1600/P1070641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9NSZRb_Ugks/V6VJiTTnJYI/AAAAAAAAk5w/lxYYsoKt1E0dL-cUZk5yfUe4Ylh5Uz7cACPcB/s320/P1070641.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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...and then, the library. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZKo3nNiXYY/V6VJiW3biNI/AAAAAAAAk54/7apqbiGUjJsfvEZ-auGJJMHjNn29FHvQgCPcB/s1600/P1070644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZKo3nNiXYY/V6VJiW3biNI/AAAAAAAAk54/7apqbiGUjJsfvEZ-auGJJMHjNn29FHvQgCPcB/s320/P1070644.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Library (before)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvIh0LW32LI/V6VJiQ2WwAI/AAAAAAAAk5w/bFnjILSYZnIdz6zkEg51iuJX-RcGOaoUACPcB/s1600/P1070643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvIh0LW32LI/V6VJiQ2WwAI/AAAAAAAAk5w/bFnjILSYZnIdz6zkEg51iuJX-RcGOaoUACPcB/s320/P1070643.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Library (now)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KH1M29dGibs/V6VJiclPywI/AAAAAAAAk5w/aQSmzEcnjoAdG0us-9zAdfzX7IoAUfvTwCPcB/s1600/P1070645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KH1M29dGibs/V6VJiclPywI/AAAAAAAAk5w/aQSmzEcnjoAdG0us-9zAdfzX7IoAUfvTwCPcB/s320/P1070645.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a beautiful mantle!</td></tr>
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After touring the 1st floor rooms, we walked up the grand staircase to the 2nd floor bedrooms. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQzlkTRW0Gg/V6VJiSmqbII/AAAAAAAAk5w/kJk7OkGkCQ0Z7OBkCfob_ulyclcW4WjSQCPcB/s1600/P1070646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQzlkTRW0Gg/V6VJiSmqbII/AAAAAAAAk5w/kJk7OkGkCQ0Z7OBkCfob_ulyclcW4WjSQCPcB/s320/P1070646.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stained glass dome over the staircase.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccvWOm34SJM/V6VJiRKM-rI/AAAAAAAAk5w/S41wjBl1tZ8bI3WDL-Z9wo1n_N43yVyQgCPcB/s1600/P1070648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccvWOm34SJM/V6VJiRKM-rI/AAAAAAAAk5w/S41wjBl1tZ8bI3WDL-Z9wo1n_N43yVyQgCPcB/s320/P1070648.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Boldt's room.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IJuwYM2Ubfg/V6VJiZSj8DI/AAAAAAAAk5w/65zB-7nG_IcwXdFrIjMKMM6PPc-zeN_rACPcB/s1600/P1070651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IJuwYM2Ubfg/V6VJiZSj8DI/AAAAAAAAk5w/65zB-7nG_IcwXdFrIjMKMM6PPc-zeN_rACPcB/s320/P1070651.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louise Boldt's room.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGi7zvB2YXQ/V6VJiXjoRyI/AAAAAAAAk5w/MG-TsOU-56sVrd-LGsarZyfGzlY9x8rAgCPcB/s1600/P1070653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGi7zvB2YXQ/V6VJiXjoRyI/AAAAAAAAk5w/MG-TsOU-56sVrd-LGsarZyfGzlY9x8rAgCPcB/s320/P1070653.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bathroom -- no outhouse here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-elOHyKILUnU/V6VJiQ5rgVI/AAAAAAAAk5w/QIslM5KXzYMESEVxUpiXhi8DA9-BKqvhwCPcB/s1600/P1070654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-elOHyKILUnU/V6VJiQ5rgVI/AAAAAAAAk5w/QIslM5KXzYMESEVxUpiXhi8DA9-BKqvhwCPcB/s320/P1070654.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clover Boldt's room (their daughter)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3UNoeT6hzrE/V6VJiaVOCKI/AAAAAAAAk5w/8PiI_IR3JfQ6QJHYwoj6AfEOFv5ovg7SgCPcB/s1600/P1070656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3UNoeT6hzrE/V6VJiaVOCKI/AAAAAAAAk5w/8PiI_IR3JfQ6QJHYwoj6AfEOFv5ovg7SgCPcB/s320/P1070656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was all of the restored areas of the castle. We were able to continuing walking up to the other floors to explore them. None of these rooms had been finished. Instead, they were left in the state they were in when construction was halted in 1904.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NvV2evG4New/V6VJiYsNgPI/AAAAAAAAk5w/zBUwHRYU0RMaOUz8snpDwRrPSaosKf-UACPcB/s1600/P1070659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NvV2evG4New/V6VJiYsNgPI/AAAAAAAAk5w/zBUwHRYU0RMaOUz8snpDwRrPSaosKf-UACPcB/s320/P1070659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We could see the top of the dome from the 4th floor. While working on this post, I found out that this dome, the marble floor, and the grand staircase woodwork were not original but modern innovations.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PbLzmZXlyaA/V6VJiWWTZFI/AAAAAAAAk5w/9nky09p5hpEq9G46XwsPjk-0IqqcEsVeQCPcB/s1600/P1070669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PbLzmZXlyaA/V6VJiWWTZFI/AAAAAAAAk5w/9nky09p5hpEq9G46XwsPjk-0IqqcEsVeQCPcB/s320/P1070669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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From these upper floors, there were balconies where we could walk out to see the grounds and St. Lawrence River below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSlpDtfZrqM/V6VJiTb7ybI/AAAAAAAAk5w/Ky-QPyPAr5UbhEh8CBdGzgx9hl4kJjWYACPcB/s1600/P1070670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSlpDtfZrqM/V6VJiTb7ybI/AAAAAAAAk5w/Ky-QPyPAr5UbhEh8CBdGzgx9hl4kJjWYACPcB/s320/P1070670.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikDY4vhyW-s/V6VJiTJYchI/AAAAAAAAk5w/ISGyzIw8pyELKgskMFqZuy5QCjzZyoehQCPcB/s1600/P1070671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikDY4vhyW-s/V6VJiTJYchI/AAAAAAAAk5w/ISGyzIw8pyELKgskMFqZuy5QCjzZyoehQCPcB/s320/P1070671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cargo ship going out the St Lawrence River.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IvXNV68pPbg/V6VJicuKmPI/AAAAAAAAk5w/bqSeZA_UwTkNgze0cFCX47FXhiAY4h53gCPcB/s1600/P1070672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IvXNV68pPbg/V6VJicuKmPI/AAAAAAAAk5w/bqSeZA_UwTkNgze0cFCX47FXhiAY4h53gCPcB/s320/P1070672.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many castle towers.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HxoEzB5B5Dc/V6VJiXdiNFI/AAAAAAAAk5w/vtBi-SMn7oQ-jRDpYhNNQCjmUt8uGgcXACPcB/s1600/P1070673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HxoEzB5B5Dc/V6VJiXdiNFI/AAAAAAAAk5w/vtBi-SMn7oQ-jRDpYhNNQCjmUt8uGgcXACPcB/s320/P1070673.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, that's a statue of a big buck on top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After walking through the inside of the castle, we began exploring Heart Island and the other structures surrounding Boldt Castle like the "playhouse". The Boldts actually lived in the "playhouse" when visiting in the summer while the construction of Boldt Castle was ongoing. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowling alley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the river from inside.</td></tr>
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We also walked by the Entrance Tower,<br />
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and a gazebo,<br />
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before coming to the Power Station house. That's the nicest "power station" we have ever seen!<br />
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The landscaping and these statues were quite amazing too!<br />
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We quickly walked by the Deck Tower also.<br />
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Boldt Castle can be used for weddings and other events. Can you imagine having your wedding here? <br />
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Boldt Castle is beautiful and amazing in its design, location, and architecture.<br />
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And as we could tell by the scaffolding, restoration is still ongoing.<br />
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I'd say that Boldt Castle was a pretty nice anniversary present...even if it was just for an hour! :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Boldt Castle, Heart Island, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607, USA44.344541199999988 -75.9224821999999918.822506699999987 -117.23107619999999 69.866575699999984 -34.613888199999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147470736681856730.post-47509478319340921472016-08-05T14:00:00.000-05:002016-08-09T06:21:35.494-05:001000 Islands -- the Canadian SideAfter leaving Boldt Castle, Captain Chuck began driving the boat back to Clayton via the Canadian (Ontario) side of the St. Lawrence River. <br />
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We went by some Canadian summer homes...<br />
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...and the shortest bridge between the United States and Canada. :)<br />
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We went by some of the millionaire homes on the Canadian side. This home was owned by a gentleman who owns several car dealerships around Tucson, AZ.<br />
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And this is his great big speed boat that goes over 200 mph and reportedly has two Apache helicopter motors to "amp" up its speed!<br />
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This is his daughter's "little" cabin on the river. :)<br />
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Next, we went by this statue of St. Lawrence (from which the St. Lawrence River derives its name).<br />
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None of the big cargo ships come down the Canadian side any longer because a seaway was constructed on the American side. This dock is where these ships used to stop for fuel when they traveled the Canadian side.<br />
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We passed by some more Canadian summer homes -- both big...<br />
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...and not so big (but with its own island).<br />
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Then, we crossed under one of the five 1000 Island bridges on the Canadian side.<br />
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How cool would it be to have a campsite like this? VERY COOL!!!!<br />
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Because we had some extra time left on the tour, Captain Chuck carefully guided the boat into Pirate's Cove where St. Lawrence River pirates would hide out years ago.<br />
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Then, we came to a pass between two of the islands where the water flows backwards -- towards the Great Lakes rather than away from them to the Atlantic.<br />
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This is the smallest of the 1,864 Thousand Islands. <br />
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Then we saw two more of the five 1000 Island bridges.<br />
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Lastly, we passed through this very narrow channel where you could almost reach out and touch the trees. <br />
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On our way back to the Clayton boat dock, we found out the answer to what everyone wants to know: where did Thousand Island salad dressing come from? Many thought that the dressing was developed by George Boldt's chef and then put on the menu of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. However, our Clayton tour guide told us that it was created by a Clayton fisherman's wife, Sophia LaLonde, and used as a condiment to her husband's fish dinner. Then, actress May Irwin requested the recipe from Sophia after enjoying it who then gave it to George Boldt.<br />
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Whichever is the case, Thousand Island Salad Dressing DID originate in the 1000 Islands!<br />
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After, thanking Captain Chuck and disembarking from the boat, we stopped at Subway in Clayton for a quick lunch. Then, we headed out to Sacket's Harbor to check it out before heading home. We did not spend a lot of time there but found a famous War of 1812 battlefield...<br />
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...where a significant battle was won by the US against Great Britain (again) on the shores of the St. Lawrence River.<br />
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The best treasure we found in Sacket's Harbor was Perry's Ice Cream.<br />
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Happy day before our anniversary, Chuck! :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Thousand Islands Parkway, Mallorytown, ON K0E 1R0, Canada44.4069168 -75.91055140000003144.2254868 -76.233274900000026 44.5883468 -75.587827900000036