I CAN'T BELIEVE THE LAST TIME I POSTED WAS A WEEK AGO!

Here it is Sunday already.  This cold has got me by the you know what.  And I have rods in my neck. You would think all that titanium in my back and neck would do something special for me.  Like ward off a cold but nooooooooo.  I get to suffer with all the rest of you germ infested people.  I even have plursey in my back.  Woe is me.  I forget, I trudge on as if I am we'll.  oh we'll, that is what you get for playing the game.  I am a hero.
I know Mac and family are at his Dad's at Lake Traverse and I wish the weather was nicer for them.  John and Andrew are here and the weather could be better for them too, Jim and the boys have been out looking for walleyes, have caught a lot but not a lot of keepers.
Saturday was a day of rest.  I did nothing but make chili.  John brought some wonderful venison burger that I used.
Friday I was at church from 8 to 3:15, people I need more rummage.  We want the sale to be a success, we need rummage.  I sound like a broken record.
Thursday I was only at the church from 11:30 to 4pm.  I drove back from Skye's in Mounds View in the morning.  We started watching Jango that morning, what a stupid movie.
On Wednesday we were busy busy busy, we did my hair, low lights, deep conditioning, got rid of at least a pound of unwanted facial hair.  My goodness, everyone should have a waxing pot just to toucher yourself with.  I then went to see Dr. Feelgood and he did a biopsy on my nose.  If you are going to have cancer on your face, why the tip of my nose.  Face it - he cut off my nose to spite my face.  When I got back I had such a surprise, Angie came over to get her hair done.  It was so wonderful to see her.  She looks so good and it is such a treat to see her.  She looks wonderful, we are busy planning Alexis and Ryan's 40th birthday party.  We went over to Mac and Laura's for pizza and a fire.  It was so much fun.  I have to figure out how to put that picture on my blog.  I am so limited because I just don't know what I am doing.
I came down on Tuesday but first I worked the funeral at church.  It was a small affair.  I made bars and sandwiches.  We are back to Monday.  I took a few fliers around to different places around town.

MONDAY MORNING

Well another week has passed.   Am amazed at how much I just want to lay low with this cold.  It sure has been a long time since I have had one, I was beginning to think I would never have one again.  A cold really knocks you out.
We went to church yesterday and I made all the announcements about the Rummage sale.   I have the six letters posted to the Radio and TV stations and two to Newspapers.  I am going to Minneapolis this Tuesday and Wednesday for a biopsy on my nose.  Something is growing on it and I just hope it's not another person.  
I will get a chance to see both Mac and Skye.  I really don't think I can fit in a visit with Alexis.  I would like to talk her into a visit up here.  I live a long way away and the kids are so busy.  I know I am running a slight fever, can't wait till that is over with.
Little Otto got his bath yesterday.    He looks  beautiful

IT'S SATURDAY AND I AM SO TIRED

I cannot believe how tired you can get from just sitting.  We arrived home on Wednesday night at 5:45pm.  We had been on the road since 5am.  Oh my aching back and Jim is having some real issues with a Rotater cuff.  I haven't walked since I got home.  Just too tired.  We got home on Wednesday night and I went to bed Thursday night at 7pm.  What a drag I am.  I did go to craft's on Thursday morning.  Loretta, Audrey and June were there.  Small group.  It was fun to see them.  We are now having it at the church.  Nice and cosy and right when you walk in the Narthex Door.
I am gearing up for the rummage sale.  I finished the first 6 letters to TV and Radio stations that do community advertising for free.  Now just a few more letters to write.  I need more ink in my printer. I was running out before our trip and we did go to Grand Rapids yesterday but I forgot the package at home so of course I didn't get all the colors of ink I needed.  I will be going back today.  It's not a big deal but just stupid to have to be going back again because I forgot the empty ink cartridges at home.
I went over to June and Gordy's, our neighbors across the street yesterday afternoon.  I hadn't seen Gordy since I returned and he is the sweetest man and of course I love June.  She is so easy to be around.  Linda their daughter, by the way she handled our mail when we were gone and forwarded on to us what was needed.  She is in Cloquet for a few days, she is a florist by trade and was helping out her step-son in their business.  Lots of proms and Mother's Day. 
I left my office in kind of a mess so I need to get busy and re-arrange it so I can make some sense out of it.  We have a funeral on Tuesday, the son of one of our potential members, only 48 or so.  Don't know the details but I guess it will be a big one.  I will make a loaf of bread into meat and cheese sandwiches and a large pan of brownies.  The funeral is at 11am and I will go down to Minneapolis and see the kids after.  Mac said we should maybe go out to Lord Fletcher's for dinner.  That would be fun.  It is snowing this morning and by Tuesday it should be 90 degrees.

 

Here is proof, I took this at 5:30 am this morning, it is pretty isn't it.  I don't think I will put the flowers that I brought home outside just yet.  Might be a little harsh for them.  We talked to the neighbors when we got back about the bear.  We have had one hanging around here for at least 3 years.  What a nuisance he has become.  Can't put any sunflower seeds out for the birds.  He will just come and destroy the containers or whatever you put them in.  It is a harsh spring for the bears.  Not much to eat but they must go through that every year.  Still it makes you feel sorry for them.  Well I had best get at it, so much to do, I have my laundry caught up but so much to put away.  Having fun sure is a lot of work!

 

 

 

WE ARE DRIVING THE LAST 12 HOURS OF OUR TRIP

We stayed in Effingham last night and went out to dinner with Norm Kitley and his friend Judy.  Judy has been a widow for the past year and since she was married 43 years it is really hard to leave the past behind.  I simply don't know how you do it.  I certainly have friends that have gone through loosing a spouse, Nancy, Janet, Darlene, Sharon and I am sure many more.  It happens to all of us at one time or another but some adjust better than others.  I just don't think Judy is ready yet to let go.
Norm picked us up at our campground and we all went out to dinner at some place in Effingham.  It was an OK dinner and the best part was we went back to the campground and had a campfire.  We had been carrying wood around since St. Augustine.  I know, a long time.  It was the perfect place for a campfire, a very nice campground and inexpensive compared to what we have been spending.  LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!
You know we had such good meals in Naples it's hard to cone down from that.  The meals in Nashville were OK.  So many of them were a choice of 4 items because of the size of our group.

I wish you could see the flowering Crab Apple trees along the way, they are so beautiful.

LEAVING NASHVILLE

Well believe it or not we are heading for home.  We will hit one more Army buddy.  Norm Kitley.  We stopped to see him around March 9th but he was just diagnosed with Shingles so we passed.
One night on the road after that.
We are already talking about the next reunion and it will be a cruise.
We're to start, what I can tell you is everything seems to revolve around food.
We arrived Friday afternoon about 2:30pm and we all went to the Wild Horse Saloon.  There must have been at least 24 of us. The place was jumping, live entertainment, lots of line dancing.  We had two couples that joined in.  it was fun to watch.  Two of the guys that came were divorced.  I couldn't believe all the different career's they have and some still working.  Some as old as 75.  I am not far behind, hard to believe I know.  Parking downtown Nashville is a trick.  I don't think they have ever heard of parking ramps.  I never saw any.  On Saturday we went to lunch with two of the guys to Logan's with Dave Beedy and Dave Mulbury.  Two extremes, Dave Beedy drives a Mercedy's Coup and owns a couple of airplanes and has been retired for 30 years.  Not bad.  Dave Mulbury has had a rough time of it, a successful processing serving business and private investigation business and he lost the processing serving part of his livelihood in the divorce.  Really nice guy.  We spent some time with the kids and met for cocktail hour at 4pm at the Hyatt Place and then off to dinner downtown again this time at
The 417 Union Club, we had a private room  upstairs.  The parking is so bad in downtown Nashville it cost us $25.00 to park for dinner.  By this time we had 18-19 guys and 16-17 wives.  Fun night, did I add by the way it started raining Friday and didn't stop till Monday morning about 10:30.  No campfire for PJ and there was a lovely patio at our campsite.
Sunday morning we couldn't make church because we had to be at The General Jackson a Riverboat. We had  least 33 of us there for luncheon and show.

The show was terrific and I will have to add pictures and information about that later.  I am blogging In the car on my iPad, I need to grab the flier out of the camper.  It was one heck of a show, we even bought 3 CD's of two of the entertainers, and have been listening to them, we also had a group picture that I took a picture of, will add it later.  Notice how everything is later.
We were on the boat about 3 hours and lunch was really good.
Sunday night we went to The Santa Fe Steak House and had a private room also.  The guys brought their pictures from their days in Korea.  We had a very nice time but do you see a pattern here. FOOD!
Monday brought a very early wake up call, my iPhone went off at 4am.  Never did get back to sleep.  Jim left to pick up Earl Murphy to go bass fishing at some reservoir at 6am.  I was going to go with Donna over to the Opre Land Hotel but the 6 guys cancelled their golf date because of the rain so we had to cancel our date.   I stayed home with the dogs at the campground and relaxed.  It was fine.
We met up with the group again at Macaronie Grille for dinner Monday night dinner and had a wonderful, buy this time everyone is getting to know everyone quite well.  We said our goodbye's and during dinner it was pouring rain, what's with the constant rain.  Is it Spring or what.
I know we also went on a tour of The Grand Old Opre Backstage but for the life of me I can't figure out when we fit that in.  That really was fun and I have lots of pictures.  I will add later.

ANDERSONVILLE PRISON or CAMP SUMTER

Andersonville National Historic Site1864-1865
We spent 5 hours here and could have spent more time but that was enough.  To think almost 13,000 died out of more than 45,000 Union prisoner's.  What I didn't realize was that this is not only one of the largest Confederate prisons established during the Civil War but is a memorial to all American prisoners of war for all wars.  In the National Prisoner of War Museum which is dedicated to the men and women of this country who suffered captivity there are 9 thematic halls with exhibits honoring American prisoners of war from all conflicts. 
We watched two 25 minute movies.  One was Echoes of Captivity and listening to the stories by former POW's almost tore you apart.  So many said the most difficult time for them was when they could hear other prisoner's being beaten and some beaten to death and being powerless to do anything about it.  The other movie was Voices from Andersonville, hearing the facts of the deplorable conditions at the camp.  I like so many people never give this kind of stuff much thought and thank goodness we have these places we can go to reflect.
The prison was 26 1/2 acres on completion with a 15 foot high stockade wall around and about 19 feet inside the wall was the "deadline" and if prisoners crossed the deadline they would be shot on the spot.  There are so many things I could speak of regarding the camp conditions but I just can't, there is a quote from on of the prisoners, a Sgt. David Kennedy of the 9th Ohio Cavalry wrote in his diary: July 9th 1864 "Wuld that I was an artist & had the material to paint this camp & all its horors or the tongue of some eloquent Statesman and had the privleage of expresing my mind to our hon. rulers at Washington.  I should gloery to describe this hell on Earth where it takes 7 of its ocupiants to make a Shadow."
Now I will add pictures tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY WE ARE ON THE ROAD TO CARTER COUNTRY

We rose at 5am and were on the road by 6am and got to Americus GA around two I think.  A good day of traveling, almost 500 miles and 70 miles an hour 90 percent of the way so only 8 hours on the road.  That is about my limit I think.  You just get so sore in all your parts from sitting and poor Jim's left leg.  It seems to plague him sometimes. 
We are in Carter Country!
We wanted to do everything Carter we could.  We drove to Plains, GA.  Saw the boyhood farm where Jimmy grew up about 3 miles out of town.  The Lebanon Cemetery where their family plot is at.  We took pictures of so many things around Plains, Billy Carter's gas station, their church, their peanut warehouse.  I have pictures of some homes in Plains that are so pretty and typical of Southern homes here.  The old high school is not the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and we watch a wonderful 25 minute movie on his life.  It is a charming place.

 

Just a sample of the beautiful purple flowers along the road.  There were scads of them.

 

I love this picture.  We were passing a truck towing the longest poll I have ever seen and I wanted to get a picture of it.  Hard to do of course traveling at 70 miles an hour so I took a picture of it in my rear view mirror.  Was dumb but I had fun.

 

I had seen some cotton as we were driving along and mentioned how Dottie would love to have pictures of it.  I need to find out where he took these pictures and cut some for her.  I didn't even know he took them.

 

COTTON!

This is taken at the Plains Visitor Center.

 

Also at the Visitor Center.  Don't we make a lovely couple.  Hummmmmmmmmmm PJ Carter, First Lady.   How does that sound.  I know, silly.

 

At the Museum, Jim is sitting at a replica of The President's desk.  It is the Resolute desk.  It was made from the timbers of HMS RESOLUTE, an abandoned British ship discovered by an American vessel and returned to the Queen of England as a token of friendship and goodwill.  When the ship was retired, Queen Victoria Commissioned the desk from William Evenden, Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham, England, and presented to President Rutherford Hays in 1880.  Every president since Hayes, except Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford has used the Resolute desk, although some chose to use it in their private study in the Residence.  The desk was made famous in part by a photograph of John Kennedy at work while his son, John Jr., peeked out the front through the keyhole panel. I wish I would have taken a picture of the front of the desk.  It is really quite beautiful.  The panels were added in the front of the desk by President Roosevelt because he didn't want anyone to see his leg braces.

 

These portraits are the official White House portraits.

 

President Carter.

 

 

The Carter's in Plains, their home is here and was built in early 60ies.  It is the only home they have ever owned and they live there today.  He teaches Sunday School a couple times a month at their Baptist Church here in Plains.

 

The church they belong to and have all his life.

 

Their Church.

 

This is outside a store in Plains.

 

I only have pictures of two churches but there were several in town, all Protestant of course.  That is all they had.  I don't think they knew what a Catholic was.

 

Just a pretty house.

Below this sign was the peanut store and Carter Warehouse.  We purchased Honey, Jelly, Salsa, all made in Plains.  Got a coffee cup and a cosy.  We sampled peanuts and had fun spending money on stuff.

 

Billy Carter's Gas Station.

 

When Jimmy Carter ran for President they needed a headquarters and the depot was the only empty store in town so it became their headquarters.

 

Another view of the depot.

 

 

Just another house in town.  They all seem to have huge porches.

 

 

Another House.

 

 

Another House.

We were on our way to the Cemetery and Jim spotted the flowers that are along the road.  He just had to take pictures. 

 

They are so beautiful.

Little Makons having her picture taken in the flowers.

The Carter Plot at the Lebanon Cemetery,

I can't remember the significance of this house but I know there was one.  It might be a part of the Boyhood Farm.

 

This is how Otto likes to travel.  Not a care, Hair blowing in the wind.  Just too cute for words.

Downtown Plains - again.

 Now this was in Americus GA.  It was just a beautiful hotel.  We had dinner downtown at a place call The Station.  I want you to know we had a heck of a time finding it.  It was on a main street but to us very well hidden.  We asked at least 4 people and finally hit pay dirt with the 4th person.  We had a very nice dinner there last night.  I had a very nice glass of  Malbec in honor of Larry our neighbor at Lake Crystal.  Had best get going.  The rain has stopped for the time being and I had yet to shower.  We will have a great day, rain or no rain.