Happy Birthday, America!

 

There hasn’t been much happening in our world lately that would be considered travel blog material.

Just normal everyday living.  Doing a few chores for an elderly aunt and uncle, cutting grass, picking and putting up Summer’s bounty, etc.  We have been doing a little car shopping for Wanda.  We haven’t been real pleased with her vehicle from day one, and might be working on a change.

We managed a road trip to Baton Rouge last Saturday for the day.  Made our first visit to a Trader Joe’s.  A neat little store with lots of stuff designed to part you with your money.  No, we didn’t leave with a any “Two (or Four) Buck Chuck.”

As for the holiday itself, we’ll be close to home.  Our little lane is proudly displaying the Colors of Independence.  The neighbors are hosting the annual Fourth of July picnic, and the flags are flying.  There will be the normal burgers and hotdogs, along with slow cooked brisket and pork.  Watermelons, and homemade ice cream.  Red velvet cake, and blueberry pies. It’s amazing the food that appears at a Southern get-to-gather.

Though I would like to be posting this blog from someplace like Idaho or Montana, there are benefits to being home for the Fourth……..jc

Why Go Home??

 

Why not stay here?

That’s a question we were asked numerous times the last week or so of our last journey. When we would mention that we were from Mississippi, and headed toward home, folks would frown, and ask why.  Of all times to be away from the hot, humid, South; the months of July and August are the best.  So, why go home?

There were a number of reasons we needed to return home for a period of time.  Routine doctor’s and dentist’s visits.  Just a part of getting older and trying to keep everything in working order.  Wanting to see the family was also a part of it.  Two months without seeing the daughters, sil’s, and of course the grand daughter is really stretching it for  Wanda.  And, I have to admit that I’m also glad to see their smiling faces. 

Another benefit of coming home became more apparent today.  I have a good friend that plants a large garden each year.  The past couple of years I’ve contributed a little seed and fertilizer, along with a few plants to the effort.  I guess you could call us sharecroppers.

I stopped by this morning and collected some of the bounty.

 

Tomatoes, and squash.

Snap beans, and a couple cucumbers.

And, of course, fresh corn.

Needless to say, supper tonight was one of the best in months. Wanda outdid herself.  All those vegetables, with a pone of hot cornbread from a black iron skillet.  I’m even looking forward to the leftovers, tomorrow.jc

47 Days, 5700 Miles!

 

The open road.  For me, there is nothing more entertaining than turning onto a new blue highway, looking off into the distance, and wondering what’s over that hill or down in that valley.  It’s not cheap entertainment, when you think about it, but I don’t figure you can put a price on memories.

That’s what we did the most of on this last journey.  Make more memories.  With no agenda of places to be other than the Utah gathering, we just sort of drifted around the Four Corners area of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

We found ourselves on US Hwy. 160 numerous times.  It wasn’t planned, but we traveled it both directions through different parts of four states.  We made loops, and returned to areas we had visited weeks before.  Just drifting.

Stopped for three nights in Mountain View, AR; visiting with friends from home.  The last five evenings on the road happened to be spent near a dam or some other body of water.  Wasn’t planned, just happened.  Arrived home on Tuesday, the 17th.

We had been thinking about fresh seafood as we neared home.  It didn’t take much encouragement from the kids for all of us to head to Louisiana on Wednesday. Time for some fresh char-grilled oysters.

Slowly getting back into the swing of things at home.  Fighting mosquito’s, horse flies, and fire ants.  The heavy rains of the last six weeks have created a bumper crop of all three.  Trimmed the muscadine vines this morning.  They’re loaded with green fruit, so another battle with the critters is looming in the future. 

So, as for now, it’s life as usual. The next trip may be for a weekend, week, or month(s).  We’ll just have to see what develops.

Thanks for all the comments during our time on the road.  It’s always encouraging to know there’s someone out there interested in my drivel……jc