NSRA Car Show Louisville, Kentucky

We left at 7:00 this morning - pulling the trailer with our car - Frank driving his car and Donnie and Gail Powell driving their car.  
Missing Leslie - everything was more fun with her - she amazed us with her ability to really enjoy life when she was so very sick.  She made everything better for us.  I know it must be extremely hard for Frank.

A good trip - rained the last hour.  We really like coming to this car show because they have sites for Motorhomes - really nice to stay there and not have to fight the traffic.

This is such a huge place with over 12,000 cars registered for the show.  Don't think we saw all of them?  Thursday we all had dinner at Joe's Crab Shack on the river - we were there last year with Leslie.  The food was not as good this year.

Friday - we spent the day at the car show - Gail and I took a bus trip to a small town for shopping - not a very interesting trip.  We drove across the river to Indiana and had dinner at Buckhead - we were disappointed in the ribs - guess that's not their specialty.  We drove around Old Town - very interesting - magnificent old houses and churches.

Saturday - I spent the day in the Motorhome - just relaxing - didn't feel so great so it was nice to have a quiet day.  We went out to dinner across the river again - nice evening.

We left at 8:00 AM.  Frank's car had a minor problem - had to make a short stop.  We were ahead of them when they called to let us know they stopped.  We lost phone reception - not unusual in the mountains - so somehow they got in front of us while we were waiting on them!  We backtracked looking for them - what a day!
But we all got home safely - just a long trip - home about 6:00.

Good to go - Good to come home.

NSRA - Street Rod Nationals South Plus - Knoxville, Tennessee

On the road Thursday morning at 7:30 - white truck pulling big trailer hauling our '48 Chevy.  Frank following us in his beautiful blue '57 Chevy.  Cloudy day but no rain.  These guys do not like rain on their cars.  We ate breakfast at Bob Evans in Hickory - that was Leslie's favorite breakfast spot.  I still haven't written about Leslie's death - haven't been able to yet.  We all miss her so much - we share so many good memories of her.  The blue '57 Chevy will always be Leslie's car.
We are staying at the same Hampton Inn East that we stayed in last year - really nice - they have freshly baked cookies in the lobby every evening. 

We had dinner at Puleo's Grille in Strawberry Plains.  We ate dinner there last year and it was just as good this year - exceptional service and food.  Leslie always knew where the good food could be found.

Friday I decided to spend the day doing as I pleased while the guys were at the car show.  I spent most of the day lost in Knoxville - even with a GPS!  Dinner at Aubrey's with the guys and several hundred other Car Show people.  Great food - and of course cookies for dessert.

Saturday we all spent the day at the Car Show at Chilhowee Park - a beautiful park.  This is one of our favorite car shows.  The weather was perfect all weekend.  We all agreed that we had to go back to Puleo's for dinner - it is our favorite place in the Knoxville area.

Ken enjoyed driving our '48 Chevy (Neal) all the way home Sunday while Frank's 

'57 Chevy rode in our trailer.  The reason why is not good -  the '57 decided not to run - not at all - wouldn't even start.  It has a Corvette LS3 motor so Frank decided it would be best to get it home and find a knowledgeable mechanic to check it out.  Hopefully it is something minor.

Good time with good friends - sharing memories and making new ones. 

A Few Days on the Carolina Coast

Anyone know what these fields of yellow blossoms are?

The Clam Chowder Festival at Carolina Beach was really fun - music, beautiful weather and delicious clam chowder to sample.  Just a nice relaxing afternoon.  We drove from there through Georgetown and on toward Charleston.  We drove through 

Isle of Palms because we had not been there - just another pretty beach town.  I keep looking for those small beach towns from the past.  Tell me if you know of some.

When we are in the area we always go to Calabash - a little shopping and dinner in one of the many seafood restaurants.  

Charleston was beautiful with all the spring flowers and trees.  We found a parking space for Elsewhere on the street!  and enjoyed walking for a couple of hours.  There were three outdoor weddings taking place - two in Battery Park. 

Charleston Tea Plantation

Patriots Point is always a great place if you're patriotic or interested in military history.  

The drive to Wadmalaw Island was nice - like a step back in time.  The Charleston Tea Plantation is really interesting - we took the trolley tour.  It is the only place in the country where tea is commercially grown.  Met some nice people from England who insisted I should try milk in my tea - I did - don't think I like it.

Charleston Tea Plantation

I really wanted to go to Firefly Distillery - they make Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka - Southerners really like their sweet tea.  We were in the area on Monday and they were closed.  My two Seestahs and I were there a couple of years ago - a fun place to visit even if you don't buy their Vodka.

Life is good.

These were in our yard when we got home.

  

Dawsonville Moonshine Festival & Car Show

Sittin' in the shade

"Neal" - our '48 Chevy parked at The Pool Room in Dawsonville

Moonshine Jugs as Trophies! 

We recently spent several days in Dawsonville Georgia at the Moonshine Festival and Car Show. 

Friendliest people you can imagine! This little town knows how to put on a festival. 

City Hall, a race car museum and a moonshine still ALL in the same building! 

"Neal" (our '48 Chevy won  a trophy - the trophy is a pottery moonshine jug! 

All kinds of vendors - great southern food.
Beautiful weather.

This town loves Bill Elliott - Awesome Bill from Dawsonville.    

Really nice to have space to stay in our motorhome at the car show. Great time spent with wonderful friends in an amazing town.

Shades of the Past Rod Run - Pigeon Forge

Thursday morning, September 4 - on the way to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to the Shades of the Past Rod Run.  Driving Elsewhere (motorhome) but not taking a car this time.  We love Pigeon Forge - been there many, many times.  We found a great RV Campground - Foothills RV Park - very nice, extremely clean.  Yep, that is Elsewhere sitting up on the hilltop.

We rode the Trolley - enjoying all the cars lining the street and in the parking lots and the people sitting in lawn chairs watching the cars go by.  Amazing to see that many cars and people.

Friday - spent the day at the Car Show - really good show and lots of vendors.  Hot - but I did manage to find a shade tree.  Had I been the judge this Black 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible would have been the winner.  So beautifully restored and not like all the others - guess I just like something different.  Who is the dude with the cowboy hat??

I really, really like this 56 Ford - wouldn't it be fun to just drive this one everywhere?

My brother #3 arrived Friday night about 8:30 - he had a few choice words about the traffic!  He and Ken spent all day Saturday at the Car Show - I spent most of the day riding the Trolleys around town looking at the cars and people.  Pigeon Forge has grown so much in the past few years.

We went to Shoney's for dinner - really good ribs.  And best of all Brother #3 bought a whole Shoney's strawberry pie to go.  We had a late night dessert before he decided to drive home about 9:30 PM!  He didn't take the pie but I had to promise to bring it home on Sunday.

Drove through Gatlinburg and on through the mountains and home.  A very, very good trip indeed.

Good to go - good to get home.  Where to next? 

Storm At Sea Quilt

AngelinaMaria, this picture is for you!  Thanks for liking my quilt enough to request a larger picture.

It was my first and so far only Storm at Sea quilt.  A little challenging but lots of fun to make. I spent more time rearranging it on my design wall than in making it!  There are so many possibilities.  This picture was made before it was quilted - Gina quilted it on a long arm quilting machine - did a beautiful job.  

One Memory Quilt for One Mom Remembering Her Special Angel

I recently finished making a memory quilt for a wonderful Mom whose beautiful little girl is no longer here with us.  I felt honored to be trusted with Kaylee's clothes and pictures to make the quilt.
It was emotional for me - just looking at that beautiful face - and knowing I cannot even imagine the pain of losing my child.  I did not have the privilege of knowing this beautiful little girl - but I feel like I know her now.  Her mom loves the quilt - I hope it brings here some comfort.  Just seeing her when I gave her the quilt was priceless.