The "I" States

John and I have traveled west through Indiana, Illinois, and now Iowa. The "I" states are aligned east to west in Mid America. The characteristics they share are flatness, greenness, corniness and friendly folks. We enjoyed our stay in Springfield,Illinois visiting the Abraham Lincoln sights. We particularly enjoyed the Presidential Library and Museum with its state-of-the art theaters. The "special effects" of the theater program had us jumping out of our seats a couple of times! We even saw Lincoln's ghost. Touring the home of Abraham and Mary Lincoln in Springfield was another highlight, really taking us back to the reality of everyday life at that time. You can't help but marvel at the hardships and struggles the early Americans endured. So grateful that we live in this age of convenience, ease and health care.

The tragic story of the Lincoln Family is heart breaking.

The Lincoln Family home in Springfield is in Illinois's only National Park.

Home is where you hang your hat

Westward Bound

Indianapolis, Indiana is home to the joint campus of Indiana University and Purdue University in Indianapolis. That is now the abode of my wonderful nephew and his amazing wife and their precious little daughter. What a delight is was for John and I to visit them there! Indianapolis is also significant to us because we have finally made the turn to the West! Lewis is now heading out of Indiana, into Illinois and across South Dakota. John and I can only marvel at the variety and beauty of landscapes we have traversed thus far. Although the contents of the strip malls remain fairly constant...McDonalds, Arbys, Dollar General.... the views of the countryside from the cockpit of Lewis are ever changing. Middle America is flush with neon green this April. The tiny fresh corn sprouts have turned the corn fields into a soft lush carpet. Spring is all around us...a bounty of birds, plants, trees, animals soaking up the warmth and enjoying the renewal of life.

Boma and her 5 month old grand niece

Nashville Cats

The Nashville country music scene has got John and I stomping our feet and yee-hawing with the fans after attending three concert in three days. Highlights include attending the Grand Ole Opry Country Classics concert at Ryman Hall in downtown Nashville. That was our first experience with live radio theater. Then couldn't miss the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. And the grand finale was last night's concert at the Grand Ole Opry with Josh Turner, Trace Adkins, and Keith Urban. We are star-struck and hung over this morning from too much country!

The Hall of Fame Rotunda showing member's plaques.


Elvis Presley's Gold Piano


Struck Star evening...Trace Adkins, Keith Urban and Josh Turner

Spring in the Smokies

John and I had an eventful day touring Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. Spring wildflowers abound and the bears have come out of hibernation hungry. We were up close (about 12 feet) to a big black bear that was tearing apart a rotting log to enjoy a snack of yellow jacket larvae. Black bears in this park also eat a lot of squaw root which is a parasite on oak roots. They also frequently climb trees to eat the blossoms and then nap. The former favorite food and staple of these bears, the chestnut, is no longer available as virtually all American chestnut trees were killed by an Asiatic fungus that swept through the Appalachians in the 1930's. Kinda like us humanoids loosing all our coffee or chocolate. Likely to make ya very cranky!!

It is such a thrill to see the first signs of spring. The tender green of new leaves on the forest trees is like cool water across the eyes. The blooms of the wild dogwood against the leafy greenness with the occasional giant magnolia blossom popping out are proof of Spring's progress. And wildflowers! Yes!
Giant Magnolia Blossom


Cades Cove


Mountain Music Banjo Player

Hiatus

Easter brought me back on a flight from Charleston, South Carolina to San Jose, California to be with family. A break in our RV adventure but a precious time with family. Shared the Easter weekend with my awesome sister, Booga, and her sweet daughter, Katie as well as my beautiful daughters, Grace and Emily, and Em's finacee Mel. Also included was Katie's boyfriend Kent, but with six strong women and one teenage boyfriend, the estrogen ruled.
Star attraction, as always, was my grand daughter, Aspen, who experienced her first Easter egg hunt. This provided much joy and entertainment for the family.
Easter Day included beach walks, egg hunt, dinner of delicious crab cakes, arugula salad and home made mac&cheese, followed by a campfire on the patio under the Big Dipper. Life is sweet.

Girls just wanna have fun!


Pure Entertainment! All eyes on Aspen.


Ending a Great Day!

Living It Up

Leoci's Trattoria...almost Italy
http://www.leocis.com/

Since we have finally left the swamps with their gators, mosquitoes,and chiggers behind, we are now ready to Live It Up in the big cities of Savannah Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina.
In Savannah,we did a trolley tour to view this wonderful city of 22 live oak tree draped squares surrounded by gorgeous homes and beautiful buildings. The river front on the Cooper River, now totally touristy, originally was renown for its cotton and slave trade. Drinks at the Rocks on the River Bar on the roof of the Bohemian Hotel, followed by dinner at a local (as yet undiscovered) Italian restaurant, Leoci's.
(Much gratitude to the bar waiter who put us "in the know" about Lecio's!)

Rocks on the River Bar atop the Bohemian Hotel, Savannah, Georgia


We scored big time at the rooftop Pavilion Bar in Charleston, South Carolina. Outdoor dining is so wonderful here with evenings in the high 70's with a hint of a breeze.

Amazing ambience at the Pavilion Bar atop the Market Pavilion Hotel in Charleston,SC


Too much fun and drink and food!

The Okefenokee Swamp of Georgia

Captain Bo

If you like alligators, mosquitoes and ticks, you will love the Okefenokee Swamp as it has all three of those critters in super abundance! Bo and I survived yet another alligator infested swamp, but this time "in style" as we rented our own lil run-about boat with motor. Captain Bo steered the boat while First Mate Sara kept watch for gators which were under every lily pad, it seemed. Our daring adventure on the water was rewarded by seeing the Pileated Woodpecker, the most magnificent of the peckers. Even better was a new bird discovered for our life list, the sweet and lovely Northern Parula.

Watch Out Captain, Gator Dead Ahead!!!



Sunset on the Swamp


Pileated Woodpecker (I would rename it the Imperial Woodpecker)