Thursday 1 December 2016

Sun shining....gorgeous day

Greenbrier, Arkansas

Weather Max 16 Min 1

What a beautiful day. This really is a lovely place and whilst the weather will only get colder, wetter and windier from here on...today was great. Spent the last couple of days just enjoying this idyllic spot.

Ang


Settle...there are 2 indoor loos :)








Down the tornado "fraidy hole"

"Paw" having a beer on the porch




Tuesday 29 November 2016

Lazy day in Arkansas


Greenbrier, Arkansas

Weather Max  17 Min 3

What a great night's sleep. Cool country air and no noise. Bliss.

We went to pick up Joey the dog who has been in the kennels while Kae & Ang have been Nebraska-ing. He is so cute and very very very very excited to be sprung from the slammer. He was pretty smelly after being incarcerated so a bath was in order.




Soggy Doggy



Soggier, Doggier
I smell beautiful
We went off to do some grocery shopping and it's strange when there are so many items you don't recognise. See picture below for case in point.

Turban squash - who'd a thought?
I did discover yet another vice and am now possibly addicted to Ice-cream Snickers. Speaking of Snickers - I also rediscovered an old vice from my last visit - Snickerdoodles. aaah!

We sat outside and enjoyed the gorgeous view while Ang cooked burgers on the grill and we rejoiced in our retired lives and not needing to know what time it is...never mind what day it is.




Jojo - Boss of the house

Monday 28 November 2016

Missouri to Arkansas


Clinton, Missouri
Greenbrier, Arkansas

Weather - cold and wet

Again an early start after a wonderful night's sleep in a big marshmallow of a bed at the Hampton Inn. Nasty weather was threatening so we wanted to get going early. The sky was overcast and dismal and there was an abundant quantity of road kill....all sorts of critters...including a skunk! and a few deer.







We saw an Amish horse and carriage but I wasn't quick enough to get a photo it. It was like this file photo and I wouldn't fancy riding in that on a cold wet day with heavy cross winds.



We stopped at Branson, Missouri for lunch and WOW!! What a town! A bit of Nashville...a bit of Vegas....a bit of Universal Studios...and every type of fast food or restaurant you could possibly think of. I love it. Might have to go for a revisit at some stage. Lots of pics!

Gorgeous
The main street is amazing

King Kong lives here too :)


A whole new meaning to a fork in the road

The Titanic...or at least half of it

Great Lunch at the Cracker Barrel


Say what?






We continued on as the weather 
deteriorated and became very foggy.



It was great to finally get to Kae and Ang's home again after 5 years. It's a beautiful log cabin home set on 6 acres of wonderful countryside. Three new additions since my last trip are a  back deck overlooking the pool, a  3 car garage and a tornado shelter.  




The tornado shelter - hoping we won't need that :(

The pool and the "crick"

The new back deck

One of my favourite things is sitting around the fire pit (if the rain stops) and the possibility of deer being spotted from the house. This is such a lovely place owned by wonderful  people and I do so love it here. Ang & Kae have certainly been looking after me....I've been spoilt rotten so far :)

Angelo isn't a man to be messed with as you can tell by his belt accessory. 


I'm looking forward to a relaxing time here enjoying the sights and the company.



Sunday 27 November 2016

Three States in One Day........******wipes sweat from brow******

Plattsmouth, Nebraska

"Somewhere", Iowa

and Clinton, Missouri


Weather - cold and soggy :)

I awoke in Plattsmouth, Nebraska at Steve and Amy and Lexi's house. So appreciative of their  kind hospitality ...even though I spied what I considered a GIANT possum on their verandah (apparently it was only a small one - NOT!) . 

Big little possum

I then shared a room with two Gerbils. They were very cute and fluffy and I christened them Chip and Dale. BUT.... They engaged  in renovations of their cage during the night hours. Or at least that's what I hope they were doing. Lexi....you need to tell them to get a room.


Chateau Steve and Amy


Toll bridge and out of Nebraska and into Iowa

Kae and Ang and I hit the road early with the aim to get to Clinton Missouri by midday-ish stopping at  the Cracker Barrel in St Joseph Missouri for breakfast. A nice feed and I was amazed at the giant Snicker's Bar and the giant Ferrero Rocher. A treat for another day ....or week.








We took off again and there seemed to be a lot of police on the road.........I guess monitoring all the traffic returning home after Thanksgiving. A few cars earned and extra holiday surprise by the look of it.

The route was fairly flat and bare - Aussies think of the Hay Plains.


Wild geese

We drove though Kansas City and got to Clinton in good time, just as the predicted rain started to fall and booked into our hotel. A very nice place  and I so looked forward to having a Gerbil free nap on the big comfy bed - I really do love them Lexi :) - but it was not to be. After managing to stay awake during the drive,  sleep eluded me.




At 6 pm we met up with D'Anna Jurgensmeyer. D'Anna was one of the original internet board members from a group we all belonged to about 15 years ago. We're scattered all over the world and D'Anna is the 6th member I have had the great pleasure to meet up with.  The board ceased to exist a few years back now but we have our own Facebook page and keep in touch still. It's very special to us all.


D'Anna Jurgensmeyer
Me, Kae and D'Anna
After dinner at a Mexican restaurant we said our goodbyes and weaved our weary way back to the hotel. I'm now in bed finishing this blog and a looking forward to  some heavy duty sleeping.