Funny how you go to some places thinking you’re just gonna hang out for a day of two on your way someplace REALLY cool and you get to talking with a local and BAM….you’re off to an unexpected delight!  The painted churches was one such surprise.     What I learned was that when the Czech and German immigrants came to Texas in the 1800’s, many settled in the central part and named their towns after the places they had left such as Schulenberg, near where these churches are and   “…in an effort to make their new churches feelRead More

  Newman’s castle      It all started with the bakery.  Michael Newman started up his now award-winning bakery over two decades ago.  It is nestled in the small town of Bellville.   You can find donuts, quiche, cinnamon buns, croissants, pigs in a blanket and even a full breakfast or hot lunch.  They open at 4:00 am 7 days a week!!!  I had a delicious breakfast there while I was waiting for the castle tour guide. That adorable Irish Wolfhound is the king’s castle dog! Just on the other side of the drawbridge This is Avalon! His cows haveRead More

   Sometimes there are towns that may not be as popular or well-known as some others.   But just like local ‘dives’ (restaurants), sometimes they are a delightfully pleasant surprise!  I found this to be true about Columbus.  Enjoy my “Surprises Gallery.” The dome atop the historic courthouse OMG…I can’t remember what this buildingis…geezy-peezy…but it’s one of the manyhistoric buildings and it’s pretty awesome looking…oh, my! Opera house The courthouse The courthouse…the wood in here wasgorgeous! Another view of the courthouse dome…it wasso beautiful! An amazing historic oak!!! If you zoom, you’ll see that a few branchesare so long andRead More

    It was an especially long day…345 miles…about 8 hours with stops and a 2 hour wait at Denny’s because of a serious accident on I10.  I finally arrived only to hear, “I’m sorry but I don’t have you registered and we are full.  It was 5:45 and dark!  I went out in the van and got my reservation book and it said…Gulf Coast RV Park…Beaumont, TX…$40.50 deposit on VISA!!!  She repeated that she had no record of my reservation and that they never take a deposit…you just pay when you get there. OK, THEN!  So, I sat inRead More

  IT’S MY BIRTHDAY DAY…January 17th!!!  Yippee!  I love birthdays..anybody’s birthday!!!  But especially mine..teehee!  And what a wonderful day it was!  It started out nice and slow and easy with quiet time, readings and lovely chanting music.  Then after brunch at the Cafe, we went bike riding around Abita Springs.  We made a pit stop at the Mystery House. After brunch, my “wanderer” went outside to  wait for me while I finished my tea. Here he is poking a huge ant house…gotta love it! This is where Bud’s new friend lives… He named her “Omelet”…how sweet… giving credit where creditRead More

  This is what I did… This is where I did it! WOW…how cool was this?! She turned several times in order to catch the wind just right for making bubbles! There goes another one! Our third day in town was great fun.  I ate my very first oyster on the half shell!  Not raw though…it was char-grilled and I got to chew it!  We saw humongous bubbles being created in the street…I was ecstatic!  There was more street music…only got one shot though.  Bud and I stopped in a shop filled with Mardi Gras masks and the colors andRead More

     Bud lives most of the time in his home in Chapel Hill, NC.  Fall and Spring he spends some time on his farm in WV, and summers he loves being with family and soaking in the beauty that surrounds his home in Michigan.  He went to Michigan the second week in January to visit his brothers and friends and then flew into New Orleans for 5 days so we could explore the city and hang out for my birthday, January 17th! Looks like we will be eating out…LOL Hey get out of my picture!!! The cottage at theRead More

   BRIGHT SPOT – Before I left for Louisiana, I spent a girls’ day with my beautiful ‘adopted mom’, Ruth.  She is Carl’s mother who I fell in love with at first meeting back in the Fall of 2015.  I had been sending her pictures of mine and Carl’s adventures when we were traveling together and now I am sending her pictures of my solo adventures.  She has a couple of small albums filled already.  It helps us stay connected.  We talk on the phone every couple of weeks, too.  She is absolutely delightful.  She is 84 years young withRead More

  It’s been great, but if I never see Spanish moss or an alligator again, I think Ill be okay!!!  LOL These are the final three campgrounds that I visited in Florida between Myakka and Louisiana. Aaaahhhh…piggies in the pool after along drive toBee’s RV Resort in Clermont This kid is only 11 years old and hasbeen playing drums with his familysince he was 6.  He was incredible!!! The mom, dad and younger brother…theywere all so sweet and very talented! Oh, my..such a Fashionista!!! LOL Lovely boat ride through HomosassaSprings Wildlife Center Very little wildlife out that day,beautiful nonetheless Friends, JohnRead More