There Goes Connie

Pond Spring – Joe Wheeler Home – Upcoming Events and More

08/24/2015 By: CCPearsoncomment

As I mentioned in my last post, I highly recommend that you plan to visit Pond Spring, the home of Fightin’ Joe Wheeler, as soon as you have an opportunity. Perhaps you’ll consider one or more of these special events on their calendar.

1) On Saturday, September 12, 2015, there will be a Joe Wheeler Birthday Celebration on the grounds. During that day, samples of General Joe’s favorite cake will be served, an authentic Civil War cannon will be fired every hour, and quilts and other arts and crafts will be on display. This occasion is held annually on the Saturday after Labor Day.

2) During the Christmas season, Pond Spring will be decorated for the holidays with live greenery, and musicians will perform on the porch to greet guests.

3) On the last Saturday in March every year, Miss Annie’s Heirloom Plant Sale takes place. There are boxwoods on the property that are a hundred years old. “Baby” boxwoods, as well as other plants similar to those found on the grounds, can be purchased and planted in your own yard.

As my husband and I wandered around Lawrence County before taking a tour of Pond Spring, we found a couple of places that you might enjoy, several for eating and one for shopping.

The Ranch House on Hwy. 20 in Town Creek is the first place I’ve ever seen that had fried green tomatoes listed as a side item on their breakfast menu. Why, thank you. Don’t mind if I do. Steve chose the Pancake Breakfast. The restaurant had a 95 health rating, and we ate for less than $20. Pretty good in my book. And, before getting back in your car, you might want to peruse Tinker’s Nursery next door. We particularly liked their whimsical yard art.

For lunch or dinner in Moulton, a popular choice is Western Sirloin Steakhouse on Hwy. 157.

About 7 or 8 miles past Pond Spring, you will find Dot’s Soulfood Diner. Sadly, it is not open on Saturdays, and I’m pretty sure it’s closed on Sundays, too, but if you go for lunch on weekdays, you’re in for a treat.

Not too far away, you can also find Caddo Cafeteria in Trinity, an awesome place to eat EVERY DAY EXCEPT SATURDAY.

We were hopeful of finding lots of cute shops in downtown Moulton, but we were very disappointed. However, we did find one a few blocks away at 14001 Court St. called The Gift Room. The owner is a very friendly, attractive lady named Anne, and her shop has a lot of fun items for giving, decorating or wearing.

Here are the treasures that I decided I “needed” to take home with me.

I hope you will enjoy discovering some very nice people and places in Lawrence County. Since the closing of Champion Paper recently, the area has gone through some hard times. Your visit and $business$ could give them a boost.

Pond Spring, the Home of Fightin’ Joe Wheeler, a Fascinating North Alabama Treasure

08/19/2015 By: CCPearson3 Comments

My Silver Fox and I found ourselves with a free day to explore and learn recently, so we set our sights for Lawrence County (the source of his Pearson roots) and the beautifully restored home of General Joe Wheeler near Courtland, AL. My own paternal grandfather was named Joe Wheeler Collier. We live on the Wheeler Lake portion of the Tennessee River, within a few miles of Joe Wheeler State Park. My father was even the principal of Wheeler Elementary School when I was born. We had to cross Wheeler Dam to reach our destination (12280 AL Hwy 20, Hillsboro, AL 35643). It was past time to find out what we could about this heroic man and his remarkable family.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and thorough knowledge of Site Director, Kara Long, the tour she gave us of the home and the many, many facts and stories she shared just whetted our appetites to continue reading and to anticipating a return visit. This well-preserved building is filled with family furniture, artifacts, clothing, books and portraits. Visitors are not allowed to take photographs inside, but you will want to see it in person anyway. So much significant history happened on those grounds and in those rooms.

According to the website, the home is open Wednesday – Saturday from 9:00-4:00 and on Sundays from 1:00-5:00. It is closed on Monday, Tuesday and for state holidays. Tours begin on the wide front porch every hour on the hour, except noon when Kara says she “takes time to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

According to our capable narrator, Fightin’ Joe was in more than 300 Civil War battles, was wounded 3 times, and had 16 horses shot out from under him!!! His diminutive size may have been a contributing factor to his survival. He was only 5′ 5″ tall and never weighed more than 125 pounds. He married Daniella Sherrod in 1866 — AFTER the Civil War — and they moved initially to New Orleans. But her father owned a lot of land in Alabama and built Pond Spring as an incentive to lure the couple to Alabama. They accepted his offer and eventually had seven children in that location. Their daughter Annie was the last family member to live in the home and was responsible for bequeathing the buildings and all of their contents to the State of Alabama for historical preservation.

Since you have come to know me as the Queen of Questions, you won’t be surprised that I asked our guide if the current controversy about the Confederate flag had had any ill effects on this site. She very ably explained that it had not. The Confederate flag never flew over this home or in front of it. Joe Wheeler represented Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1882-1898. And in fact, at the age of 61, when General Joe heard about the sinking of the Maine in 1898, he was the first person to offer his services to President McKinley in case of a war between the U.S. and Spain. He was commissioned a major general of volunteers in the U.S. Army and went on to become a much-heralded star in the Spanish-American War. By 1900, he was back in Washington, thinking he’d go back to Congress, but instead President McKinley appointed him a brigadier general in the Regular Army and gave him a command post in Chicago. General Joe Wheeler is the only former Confederate general who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Many historians feel that his efforts to promote reconciliation between the North and the South may have been his greatest legacy. I enjoyed learning that Joe Wheeler was not just a Southern hero, but much more, he was an American hero.

This very tall monument is located in the family cemetery on the Pond Spring property and adorns the grave of Daniella Wheeler. An identical monument is on General Wheeler’s grave at Arlington and is the tallest marker there. AFTER it was erected, the Arlington Committee quickly enacted a policy specifying future heights and widths of monuments. They were afraid the competition would get out of hand. A smart move on their part.

In my next post, I will share with you about three special events coming soon at Pond Spring. I hope you will make your plans to visit. For school groups, by the way, this field trip is a real bargain — only $2.00 per student and the teacher and bus driver are free. What a deal!

October 2-3, 2015 – FIDDLERS” in Athens, AL — 10 Restaurant Suggestions AFTER You’ve Tried All the Vendors

08/17/2015 By: CCPearsoncomment

The biggest weekend on the calendar for folks in and around Athens, AL is coming up very soon. October 2-3, 2015 – the campus of Athens State University will play host to The Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention. It is an event with music, crafts, competitions, and plenty of food vendors. (One quick note. The Athens Grease Festival previously scheduled for September 26, 2015 has been postponed to June of 2016 because of construction projects going on in downtown Athens).

Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure the food vendors at Fiddlers will have some delicious items for sale. But, let’s say that you and your family decide to come to town a day early or spend the night afterwards before driving home. Athens has its share of chain restaurants, to be sure, but what if you’d like to “eat where the locals eat.” Maybe you want to try restaurants and eateries that are uniquely Athenian. If so, here are some recommendations (in no particular order):

1) LuVici’s at 105 N. Jefferson St. very near the square and adjacent to U.G.White’s General Mercantile (a very interesting place to browse). No, it is not pronounced “loo-vee-chee’s.” This is not an Italian restaurant. This is “loo-vy-see’s,” and it’s all about Southern cooking.

2) Casa Blanca*. If you’re in the mood for Mexican food, Casa Blanca has two locations – on the square and on Highway 72.

3) Village Pizza*. On the square. Delicious.

4) Wildwood Deli. A few steps off the square on Market St. Small place. Good food. I hear they even serve Gigi’s Cupcakes. Yum!!!

5) Drucilla’s — 2 blocks from the college or 2 blocks from the square on North Marion St. An easy walk. Beautiful vintage charm mixed with tantalizing smells and tastes.

6) Dub’s Burgers on S. Jefferson St. A long-time Athens tradition. You can’t really say you have visited Athens until you’ve tried a Dub’s Burger.

7) Catfish Cabin*, right where S. Clinton St. runs into Highway 72. Unlimited hushpuppies. Oh my!

8) Hickory Barn Bar-B-Que* — on Hwy. 72 W a few miles out of town. Some of the best smoked chicken you will ever eat.

9) 306 Barbecue* — on Hwy. 72 E, also a few miles out of town going toward Madison. Very popular with the locals. A surprisingly wide menu.

10) Clark’s Restaurant* — located right behind Cracker Barrel, within sight of Hwy. 72 E. Great catfish and comfort foods.

Is your mouth watering? Have you marked your calendars for October 2-3? I’m sure I’ve left out some good places. Athens folks, be sure to chime in with additional suggestions. Let’s put it this way. If you leave Athens hungry, it will be YOUR OWN FAULT. 🙂

Get your hotel booked NOW. Google “hotels in Athens, AL” and you’ll find quite a few choices, most are located near Exit 351, off of I-65. Better yet, look up a long-lost relative or friend and hint politely for the use of their guest room. Athens folks can be mighty friendly when you give them a chance.

Oh, and one more thing. If you’re going to be in town on a Sunday morning, I’d love to invite you to my church, First Baptist. It is located right beside the Athens State University campus, at the corner of Hobbs and Clinton Streets. We have a new pastor, Dr. Joel Carwile. I believe you’ll enjoy him and the music (consider this a blatant commercial for the choir, of which I am a proud member). The service begins at 10:30 a.m. We’ll get you out in time to head to one of these nice restaurants. The ones marked with an asterisk are open on Sundays.

See you soon in my hometown.

A Dream-Come-True Night in Thornbury Castle

08/12/2015 By: CCPearsoncomment

Today you will get to enjoy a Guest Post from my good friend, Ali Propst. She, along with her husband, daughter, and their friends, recently went to England for vacation and to attend a match at Wimbledon. Along the way, they spent the night in a gorgeous castle. I invited her to give us more information and her own personal insights. Thank you, Ali. Be sure to click on the pictures to be able to enjoy all of the details.

Have you ever dreamed of being a princess or prince? Well, I got to live out that dream at Thornbury Castle just outside of Bristol, England. The castle began in 1511, as a home for the Duke of Buckingham. However, after his unfortunate beheading by Henry VIII, it was confiscated. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn spent a ten-day portion of their honeymoon at Thornbury.

Upon arriving in London at Heathrow we purchased a ticket and rode the bus to Bristol, England. It was about a three-hour journey from Heathrow. From the Bristol bus depot, we got in a taxi and rode the additional 20 minutes to the castle. The town of Thornbury is a beautiful, quiet and quaint village. Colorful window boxes and very small streets lead you right to the beautiful castle grounds. The castle takes up about 15 acres, and I felt my blood pressure immediately drop as we entered the beautiful estate.

The castle went unoccupied and was in ruins until the 1850’s, when a family made it their home. Today it serves as a hotel and restaurant for all to enjoy. There is croquet offered on the lawn, archery lessons, and a full service spa.

Some things to know – children over 10 are allowed at the castle. My daughter Mary-Peyton was as amazed by it as the adults and was eager to explore the grounds and discuss the history of the castle. We booked through expedia.com, but you can also book directly through the castle website www.thornburycastle.co.uk. Both websites offered the same rates for the rooms and allow you to pay now or pay upon arrival.

We had our first Royal Afternoon Tea at Thornbury. It was a treat to have our first tea in this amazing property. It was also a way we could test the food for a much less expensive “trial run”. We loved the sugary treats!

After reviewing the dinner menu we decided not to eat dinner at the castle. Within walking distance there are cute restaurants offering fish & chips, pizza, fresh vegetables, or anything you might imagine. The bar menu included much more recognizable foods for us good ‘ole Southern folks, but exploring the town was fun too! If you are wanting the full adventure and have unlimited funds, they do offer a special dinner in the dungeon! However, a minimum bill of around $1000 US comes with that! When you check in, they will help you map out lunch, dinner and breakfast options for your group.

Dress for meals was smart casual. We did not feel a need to “dress up” at any point in our stay here. For breakfast we even observed people in blue jeans. So, unless you are celebrating something special – there is no need to dress in a certain way even though you’re in a castle.

Our entire family loved the experience of being here on this lovely property. There is a nice walking city tour that is available, and we did a part of that when we arrived. (Maps are available at check in). I can’t imagine someone not enjoying this beautiful place. I believe it is a hidden treasure of England!

The castle only has 26 bedchambers, so it does require some planning to make sure you can get a reservation. We booked three months in advance, and they only had two rooms available at that time. Rates will vary based on time of year, but expect to pay about $550-700/night for this adventure (for the suite). I will tell you it is worth the expense for a night to be taken back in time and to imagine what it would be like to live like a royal. The bathrooms are exquisite and hard to resist taking a plunge in the enormous bathtub. (Not your standard European bathroom!!!)

This was our bedroom. It was a suite with a dining area, seating area and enormous closet and bathroom.

Anything I would change? If I had to do it over again (and we have already started planning our return visit), I would spend the extra $100 and get the best room in the castle. Our room was divine – but for just a little bit more we could’ve been in the Tower Suite looking out over the town. The staff was more than gracious with our every need. It does require some patience to make the journey, but how often do we get to live out a fantasy of being a princess?!

Well, Ali, you have certainly convinced ME! Thornbury Castle is now on my Bucket List!

No Checked Bags — A Case for Ditching the Suitcase

08/10/2015 By: CCPearson1 Comment

If you’re going on a trip where you will handle luggage only upon arrival and departure and you have many different functions to attend requiring a variety of outfits, then sure, go ahead and take a big ol’ suitcase. But, if you are planning a trip for “seeing” rather than for “being seen,” then may I recommend that you do yourself a favor, pare down the amount you want to lug around, and travel much lighter and more simply.

Steve and I recently spent 16 days in Italy with some dear friends. We planned the trip ourselves and made a pact to each travel with only carry-ons. After all, we knew we’d be on planes, trains, buses, shuttles, subways, taxis and even on foot. Less stuff would help tremendously.

Here is a “before” picture when I was planning my strategy and determining what had to go with me to Italy.

Here is my bag after I got everything rolled and placed inside.

And this is how everything looked before heading to the airport. (Remember that you are also allowed one “personal item.”) My husband had a rolling backpack. I had this, and we had all we needed for the entire 16 days. Yes, we wore several items multiple times. But, after all, who would know that, except for our friends. We looked at their clothes over and over, and they did us the same favor. It worked.

Here are some thoughts to help you decide:

1) Start with the right bag. Make sure it fits the size requirements of 22″ x 14″ x 9″ for going into overhead bins. Handles and wheels are important, too. Go to places like Mountain High Outfitters and study the options. Or, if you’re prissy like I am, then you might want to splurge on something cute. My friend and I had matching Brighton bags and loved them.

2) Pack what you actually need and roll, roll, roll your clothes. 99% of hotels have irons and ironing boards to take care of the wrinkles. Chico’s has a line of clothes that are great for travel and simply will NOT wrinkle. You can also find great items through websites such as TravelSmith. Go ahead and admit it. You know you can wear that favorite pair of jeans several times before you have to wash them. And, may I just insert a plug here for disposable underwear? Yes. That’s what I said. They are soft, lightweight. Wear them once and toss them. As the trip goes along, you gain extra room in your bag. Check out Onderwear. If nothing else, it will make for interesting conversation. 🙂

3) You will save baggage fees. I understand that Southwest Airlines still doesn’t charge for checked bags, but most airlines do.

4) You avoid the possibility of lost luggage.

5) You are able to make a quick exit at the airport and maybe get to shuttles, car rental kiosks, or taxis ahead of the crowd.

6) It’s much easier to switch flights if you find an earlier or more convenient one, plus you can volunteer to get “bumped” and earn a free flight for the future without having to worry about not seeing your checked bag for days to come.

7) Having a fully-packed carry-on prevents you from buying useless souvenirs. If you find items during your trip that you can’t live without, just pay to have them shipped home. That’s what I did with some beautiful pottery in Florence, and it arrived in much better condition than it would have otherwise.

8) You don’t have to tip porters.

9) You don’t have to get to the airport as early.

10) You do have to plan carefully with your toiletries. Liquids, gels, creams, pastes, aerosols, etc. must be in 3-oz. containers or smaller and should be packed for added protection into quart-size ziploc bags. Just read the airlines’ guidelines. If you’ll need more than 3 ounces of an item, take 2 or 3 containers of that size.

Would you believe there is actually a whole website dedicated to this very subject. Check out www.onebag.com “The Art and Science of Travelling Light.” I suspect you will be convinced to give this whole “less is better” travel method a try.

Suggestions for Grandparents — Kid-Friendly Places in the North Alabama area

08/05/2015 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Yes, from what I hear, Disney World is a fabulous place to take children and is, in fact, a dream destination for many grandparents and their grandchildren. If you have a manageable number of grandchildren and plenty of money, then, by all means ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!!! But, what if you have TWELVE grandchildren?? That changes the scenario exponentially, don’t you think? Or, let’s say that you have a long weekend or a week with multiple grandchildren coming to visit and no parents to help. THEN, what are your options for entertainment in the North Alabama area?

My Silver Fox and I have hosted a Cousins Camp for our (potty-trained) grandchildren the past 8 years. The first year we only had 2 grands and spent a few days in Gatlinburg, just experimenting with this whole Cousins Camp idea. The 2nd year we bought a travel trailer and took 3 grands to the beach. The next year we sold the camper and were building a house, so we spent a week with 5 grands in a cabin at Joe Wheeler. The next two years we hosted 7 grands, followed by two more years with 9 grands, and just a week ago, we were up to 10 grands for a week. All of those numbers have a great impact on what you can/should do and what you cannot/should not try to do. The following is a list of places and activities that have made it to our Clipboard of Fun in the past three years. I am including websites, when available, for those who want to do additional research.

1. River City Lanes in Decatur — The kids (ages 4-14) LOVE bowling, and I believe it will become a Cousins Camp tradition. Last year we unwittingly made a group reservation and paid way too much. This year we learned about a summer bowling promotion where you can sign up and only pay for renting the shoes. All 10 of the kids bowled 2 games for under $40. A bargain in our opinion.

2. Regal Cinemas and their Summer Movie Express. Hurray! All 12 of us for only $12. Yes! We have taken advantage of this great deal for several years now. There are usually good deals on popcorn and drinks, too.

3. Funland Mini-Golf, 401 14th St. S.E., Decatur, AL, 35601. We tried this for the very first time this year, and I suspect it, too, will become a tradition.

4. Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival. Read about it here. This is a hit with many grandparents and grandchildren, but truthfully, we just have too many kids at too many ages/stages and not enough grown-up hands for this particular activity. However, I do recommend it.

5. Hartselle Aquatic Center. Hartselle opened their beautiful new facility last year, and it is wonderful. We especially appreciate the trained lifeguard staff. There’s a large kiddie pool area, water slides, a diving board, a snack bar, and plenty of places for adults to “relax and watch.”

6. Spring Valley Beach. This place is located about an hour south of Huntsville, so it’s quite a trek from Athens. We went there 2 different summers and thoroughly enjoyed it.

7. Nashville Shores. About a 2-hour drive from Athens. The main reason to consider this place would be in conjunction with other Nashville or Franklin places that you want to visit. It’s nice and has plenty of different components, but probably not worth the long drive unless you are already heading in that direction. Consider the ages of your grands and whether you have enough watchful eyes available.

8. Aquarium Restaurant at Opry Mills in Nashville. This would be a fun place to eat IF you are going to Nashville. It has a kid-friendly menu and the aquarium is HUGE.

9. Birmingham Zoo. Again, this is a pretty good drive away, and, of course, there is also a nice zoo in Nashville. Both are well-maintained. Just consider the needs and interests of the children involved when you are deciding about the investment of time getting there and back.

10. Harmony Park Safari, Huntsville, AL. This place is a LOT of fun. It is a drive-through type of zoo. The animals roam free, and they come right up to your car/van as you very slowly drive the trails. Each carload is given several cups of appropriate feed, and the animals will eat it right out of the children’s hands. Quite a thrill. Bathrooms there are very primitive — just a word of caution.

11. Cook’s Pest Control Museum in Decatur, AL. It’s FREE!!! It is also very well-done. Cook’s is in the process of building a large new museum that will open in 2017. We will certainly want to include it in our Clipboard of Fun for that year. Our grands liked it a lot.

12. Alabama Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL. Our crowd loved this! Consider including an IMAX movie if you go. There are plenty of interactive games and a few rides for all ages. The price is pretty steep, but the Center does offer a Grandparents Discount, plus you can obtain 20% discount coupons from the Huntsville Convention and Visitors Center if you plan ahead.

13. A wagon ride through the Amish community in Eldridge, TN. My husband and I wanted to expose our grandchildren to another culture and way of life this year, and Eldridge, TN is only about an hour’s drive from our house. As preparation, I read to them a children’s book by Beverly Lewis called Just Plain Fancy, and we talked about what they would be seeing and some of the Amish customs and beliefs. We bought baked goods and vegetables from the Amish people at several of the homes where we stopped, and I believe it made an impression on our grandchildren. At least, it made them think. You might want to look back at a post I wrote about this place several weeks ago.

14. Do your grandchildren enjoy art and painting? Why not make arrangements with either The Broken Brush in downtown Athens or Coffee and Canvas on Hwy 72 in Rogersville? Both places offer group sessions and provide all of the materials.

Now, where are some kid-friendly places to take your grands to EAT? Well, that’s a post for another day. 🙂 The point is that God has blessed us with these wonderful young people in our lives. Let’s make the most of the times when it’s still “cool” for them to be with their grandparents. Amen?

Pasadena Takeaways

08/03/2015 By: CCPearson2 Comments

(Written immediately after returning from the BCS Championship Football game — January 2014. Why not? The 2015 season kicks off exactly 31 days from today! Here’s a little nostalgia to get us fired up.)

It felt right to touch down yesterday afternoon in the Land of Cotton, the Land of Sweet Tea, the land of the familiar, but it was also enriching to have once-again added layers of never-befores and fresh vistas to my life.

When our beloved Auburn football team accomplished the unbelievable feat of going from a 3-9 season in 2012 to beating Georgia, Alabama, Missouri and being chosen to play for the National BCS Championship in 2013, we decided to go with them to Pasadena and cheer them on in person. I’m so glad we did. Florida State IS the #1 team for this year, but Auburn was a very close #2. Our boys played hard and “did us proud.” The Auburn fans clad in orange and blue outnumbered the garnet and gold crowd by at least 60% to 40%. Our band looked great. Aubie was fun. Our game stats were admirable. We ALMOST won. And, so far, no embarrassing YouTube videos have surfaced portraying our fans in a bad light. Whew. Big relief.

Since I continue to think like a teacher, I think in terms of lessons — the ones learned, the ones to be taught, and the ones to be reviewed and confirmed. Here are my lessons/take-aways from the trip to Pasadena:

1) Weather conditions anywhere in the US can and will impact a LOT of airports. You are unlikely to make it through an entire travel itinerary without at least one glitch, delay or hassle of some kind. SAFETY, however, is something you don’t ever want to be compromised in any way. Amen? Leaving Huntsville last Saturday, we had to have something akin to a jumper cable to jump-start one of our engines. What in the world??? Then, we arrived in Denver amid a LOT of snow and had to walk several yards through said snow, slipping and sliding in shoes that had not planned to be in such conditions. There was a long delay at our next departure gate, so we were transferred to another gate where we waited another hour. We arrived in Los Angeles a couple of hours after our scheduled time. Oh well. Nothing urgent was missed, besides dinner. 🙁

Our return flights on Wednesday were on-time. However, the first leg required a wake-up call at 3:30 a.m. in order to make the 6 a.m. flight. And, when we got to Denver, we knew we had a tight connection. Where were our seats? On the back row of the plane. Do you know how long it takes to get from the 40th row to the cockpit? When we finally made it to Gate 22, our connecting flight to Huntsville was already boarding at Gate 79. Silver Fox and his fluffy bride were bookin’ it down Terminal B! We were the last ones to board before the door was closed. Whew! So, no breakfast. No lunch. Not even any pretzels. Cracker Barrel tasted mighty good when we finally got home.

2) Amazingly, planes can now have DirecTV, but still don’t have food or leg-room. Go figure. One of these days, I’m going to have enough air miles built up to fly First Class, and boy, am I going to enjoy it!

3) Airport hotels are convenient to . . . . the AIRPORT — but not much else. It WAS nice to arrive late at night and have a free shuttle to the Marriott LAX in just a few minutes. And, it was VERY convenient to have shuttles running 24 hours a day so that someone friendly and helpful was available at 4:15 a.m. I’m sure that shuttle alone saved us a bundle of cash. The next morning, AFTER paying 50 bucks for the breakfast buffet at the hotel, we discovered that a Denny’s and a Burger King were only a couple of blocks away. Guess what we did the other mornings?

We had already booked a city bus tour (downtown LA, Hollywood, Olveda Dr., etc.) and a bus to and from the Rose Bowl, but otherwise, we were looking at expensive taxis or car rentals to go anywhere or do anything.

4) Don’t be afraid to use public transportation. Large cities generally have good, logical, workable, reasonably-priced systems in place and fully-functioning. On the morning after the big game, we were considering 1) renting a car, which would have been at least $100, or 2) taking taxis,which might have run as much as $200. With the help of the Guest Services desk and a handy-dandy map, we opted for the city buses and spent a whopping $3. Yes. We did shell out some dollars for our tickets to the BCS Championship Game, and we did blow our 2014 travel budget on the airline tickets to California, but, hey, we’re not known for wasting money needlessly. Am I hearing rousing “Amens!” from those who know my husband well??

Just as a side note, if anyone should ask me whether I prefer Los Angeles or New York City, hands down I’d say NYC!! Even though “the weather outside is frightful” there this time of year, NYC has an energy and a vibe that I absolutely love. The sunny skies and warm temperatures in LA, and most definitely as we approached game time, were blissful for January, though, I’ll have to admit. There’s no perfect place to live, however. Alabama has to contend with extreme temperatures and tornadoes, but Southern California is experiencing a drought right now (3 inches of rain in the past YEAR), they have lots of forest fires, and earthquakes are a constant possibility. I’ll take Alabama.

5) Attending a major sporting event is NOT for the weak, the frugal, or the faint-hearted. Mercy! We enjoyed the Rose Bowl setting a lot and had great seats, BUT there was a LOT of walking, the concession stand prices were HIGH, and we STOOD for every play, only sitting during time-outs and for half-time. This stadium was built a LONG time ago, thus there were few restrooms. We’d been warned in advance to be sure to “use it before you go in.” It was good advice. 🙂

6) Great fans and proud traditions are a part of other football programs BESIDES Auburn. Those Florida State folks had a fantastic- looking horse (where WAS our eagle, anyway?), a fun (intimidating) ritual with their spear, their chant drove us slightly crazy (MUCH worse than Mississippi State’s cowbells), and they have the world’s largest marching band. But, don’t ever doubt it. Auburn fans were loud and proud. We were all just so glad to be there. We made quick friends with perfect strangers wearing the right colors. And, by George, we are LOYAL!!! We left the stadium yelling “It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger” and meant it to the depths of our hearts.

7) The tiniest increment of time can make a HUGE difference. It was a case of ONE SECOND in the Iron Bowl (sorry, Bama friends). Then, last Monday night Steve looked at me after Auburn’s last score and said, “79 seconds. We’ve got to hold them for 79 seconds.” Before the game, my prediction had been that whoever had the ball last would win, and I was almost right. Think about how short 1 minute and 19 seconds is when you’re going about your daily routine. It seems so insignificant. But, also think about how much damage or good can be done with that much time. Words. A person’s reputation or a relationship can be destroyed in less than 79 seconds. On the other hand, a person’s future can be changed forever and for good in a short period, too. How about “I love you. Will you marry me?” or “I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.” A few seconds. All the difference. A lesson from the 2013 Auburn football season? Every play, every second matters, and never give up! I suspect our grandchildren will hear those words from us for years to come.

Loveless Cafe in Nashville, TN — Where the Food Royals Eat

07/29/2015 By: CCPearsoncomment

There are hundreds of reasons to go to Nashville and all of its surrounding communities — entertainment, shopping, sight-seeing galore. But, even if you can’t think of a thing to do or buy or see, you might still want to work in a visit to the Loveless Cafe for breakfast, lunch, or dinner sometime soon.

I did my homework before my Silver Fox and I visited recently — which meant that I studied the website, double-checked directions, took note of suggestions (including one to arrive after 2:00 p.m. to avoid a long wait), eagerly perused posted recipes, and stared hungrily at the menu. You might enjoy doing the same thing. Only beware. We arrived at 2:00 p.m. on a Friday, and the wait was still over an hour. This is a VERY popular place.

The cafe itself is relatively small, which helps to explain the wait times.

But, there are other places connected to the cafe to check out while you wait.

I would have to compare the menu at Loveless to that of Cracker Barrel, only cranked up another notch. And, be prepared to spend a little more money for your meal. I’m not sure why they decided to serve alcohol, but it is available if you want it.

Fried chicken is a specialty, but I didn’t want to go TOO FAR off of the Health Wagon, so I opted for a veggie plate with fried green tomatoes being my splurge. It was very tasty.

Silver Fox chose the veggie omelet. I’m not sure why he waited so long in line just to order an omelet, but the point is that their ARE healthy options if you choose to take them.

The Loveless Cafe served its first batch of fried chicken and biscuits in 1951. According to the paper placemats on each table: “Today the Loveless Cafe serves more than 450,000 guests a year and makes up to 7,000 biscuits a day — still using Annie Loveless’s original recipe!”

When you walk into the lobby of the Loveless Cafe, you will be impressed by the floor to ceiling photos of celebrities who have visited this iconic Nashville cafe. I wanted to know more. After being served in a friendly, timely and helpful way, I asked our cute waitress Katie: “Who are the most famous people you have ever served since you started working here?” She thought for a moment and then said (rather modestly, I thought): “I’ve seen quite a few celebrities, such as Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney, but the ones I remember waiting on personally were Al Gore, Paula Deen and Martha Stewart.” I don’t know about you, but Paula Deen and Martha Stewart rank among the Food Royals in my book. The moral of this story? If Loveless Cafe is good enough for them, then it’s probably good enough for the rest of us.

Fayetteville, TN — Around the Square

07/27/2015 By: CCPearson6 Comments

Fayetteville, TN would very much like to be “a great place to spend the day shopping and eating.” From our visit to this town, I’d say that they are very close to reaching their goal. The merchants are trying their best to get folks to give them a try. For sure, if you are shopping for antiques or fabric, then you will certainly scratch those itches. Sir’s Fabric is a large place with a wide enough selection that it warrants having customers drive in from miles around.

Antique stores located on Main Street include:

Magnolia Mall Antiques

Sissy’s Antiques and Interiors

Flashback Antique Mall

West Side Antiques

Fayetteville Antique and Craft Mall

Those could keep a shopaholic humming for several happy hours. But, what about LUNCH?? A very important element for hosting shoppers who STAY contented.

We wandered into a place called Honey’s “Home of the Original Slawburger.” A slawburger? Honey’s, as we learned, even hosted a Slawburger Festival this past April. There was a big turnout, so it is expected to become an annual event. Mark your calendars. 🙂 This year’s winner consumed 11 slawburgers in 10 minutes and won $200.00. I hope that was enough to cover the antacids for the days afterward. 🙂 Honey’s has a diner atmosphere with lots of stools at the counter and 6 booths in the front section. It used to house several billiard tables, but those have been removed.

I would call it a first cousin to Dub’s in Athens, AL or Penn’s in Decatur, AL On the day we visited, my Silver Fox ordered a B. Chegg (bacon cheeseburger with egg), and I had the Delta Dawn. Small, relatively inexpensive, but NOT in the healthy eating category.

Other lunch choices within a few steps are O’Houlihan’s and Cahoot’s. Just peruse their menus and then let me know if you try one and have a good experience.

From my perspective, I’d love to see the “powers that be” find someone to open a tea room on the square, a place that ladies could oooh and ahhh over. Some great chicken salad, a scrumptious quiche, strawberry pretzel salad and fruit tea might make all the difference. Do I hear any “Amens” from my readers?

The best bet for a clean restroom on the square (for now) is inside the Lincoln County Courthouse.

The Lincoln Theater located on the square boasts that it “is now all-digital” and had two currently running movies. ??? Not exactly something to back up traffic but still a pretty good step of progress to boost the number of folks coming downtown.

There were two ladies’ shops that looked intriguing — Beautiful Me and Pretty Discoveries — but I had mercy on my Silver Fox and walked right past.

So, here you have my thoughts about Fayetteville. To get there, take Exit 14 off I-65 and drive 20 miles east. You just might find exactly what you’re looking for and become a big fan of slawburgers in the process. 😉

Coatepeque, Guatemala — Typical Foods

07/22/2015 By: CCPearsoncomment

Scrambled eggs, fried plantains (a large, sturdy type of banana), refried black beans, a small piece of fresh, white cheese, and a tortilla. This is what the hotel served for dinner, the “plato tipico” or typical meal/plate. Be sure to click on these three pictures to see the foods more clearly.

Two fried eggs, fried plantains, refried black beans, a small piece of white cheese, some salsa, a piece of bologna-like meat. The tortillas were in a bowl at the top of the picture. This is what the hotel served for a typical breakfast. In reality, the only difference between breakfast and dinner was how you wanted your eggs cooked. That simplifies things quite a bit, doesn’t it? Imagine how short our grocery lists would be if we served the same things for breakfast and dinner. . . and maybe even lunch 🙂

This is called paches. It consists of chicken and potatoes that have been steamed/baked inside a banana leaf. This was my first time to try this dish, and I can assure you it was quite tasty.

Never fear. We did eat other things at lunch time — usually hamburgers with “no lechuga, no tomate” (no lettuce and no tomatoes — you can’t risk raw vegetables when you have a gringo stomach). Of course, we stuck to bottled water or canned/bottled drinks, too.

One of our many funny times came when fellow traveler Joe Teal, Steve, our van driver Edwin and I went to a place called Pollo Campero. It is a popular chain in Guatemala and had the cleanest restroom I found during the whole week. The waiter told us that they were having a 2 for 1 special on pizzas that night (yay, we can save some money), so Edwin asked how long it would take to cook them (since we had to be at the church pretty quickly). He came back and said we couldn’t have pizza because the ovens weren’t turned on. ???????

So then, Joe said he’d have the 3 chicken strips meal, and the waiter said, “Nobody orders the 3-strip meal.” ????? So Joe said, “Can I order the 4-strip meal?” And the waiter said, “Sure.” ???????

Obviously, something was lost in the translation. 🙂

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