Florence, Italy --- Tuscany at Last!

It started as a gentle longing and grew over time, my desire to see Italy. Originally it was simple. My mission was to eat my way through Italy. But time can affect many things and after dreaming about this trip for some years, it worked its magic on this as well. Yes, I still want to eat my way through Italy but I also want to drown my vision in the vinyards and countryside that can only be Tuscany. I want to hear the conversations in Italian and most of all I want to see the old, not quite elderly, couples walking down the street hand in hand proud to be sharing their life and love. 

This year I finally made that dream come true. I spent seventeen glorious days in and around Tuscany; some on my own and eleven with the Sierra Club hiking from village to village. While on my own I found an inexpensive room in Florence. It wasn't in the downtown tourist section, so I got lots of walking in, but it was where the Italians live and that was worth everything.

At first I felt a bit guilty, yes, I know, that is very unusual for me, but I had no desire to visit a museum nor art gallery nor churches. My senses were saturated by the streets, the shops, the doors, the balconies, the sky everything but those two indoor very touristy activities. Before long I settled in and began to enjoy whatever it was I wanted to do. And...I have to say, I was very happy with all my choices.

I did arrange a few tours before I left home through a website called Viator; it was a great way to fill my days and I highly recommend any of the four tours that I did while there. So, here you see I am all smiles and enjoying my first Gelato. It was the first tour I was to take and it was a 2.5 hour biking tour of Florence. I am quite experienced when it comes to biking and I thought this would be  a great way to see the 'sites' and generally get the lay of the land. It did all that but be warned, the foot traffic in Florence is dense along with the cars, taxies and buses. It took all of my biking skill not to hit anything or to be hit by something. If you want to do this, do so with caution.

In case you think I may be exaggerating, this is a shot of the Ponte Vecchio, the historical bridge over the Arno River, and yes it is this crowded and yes I actually did bike through the crowd.

In Tuscany the wild boar is held in high esteem; by that I mean folks really enjoy eating it.

After my adventurous bike tour, I went back to an area that we rode through to grab my first of many delicious Italian meals. It was an outside cafe in an area that pulsed with life and enjoyment. So I leisurely enjoyed my feast of prosciutto with tomatoes and string mozzarella, wine, bread and olives.

Then they brought grilled pork and oven roasted potatoes

I had the gelato before dinner, so I skipped dessert.
But for the eyes, I had to get a shot of a typical street in Florence...or anywhere in Tuscany actually.

Delta Rivers Nature Center, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

My three day camping trip to Cane Creek State Park was cut short by some severe thunderstorms. In my younger days that might have upset me, but I had learned to always have an alternate plan b or c in my back pocket for those times when the planned schedule doesn't work out quite the way I planned.

On this trip I knew I would be passing through Pine Bluff as well as Little Rock and so, I picked some interesting places to see just in case I found myself moseying  through either of these cities. My first stop was the Delta Rivers Nature Center .  While I thought this would be one of those 'usual' nature centers, I found it to be beyond very enjoyable.  It has a nice little nature trail that loops around the property and while strolling I came eyeball to eyeball with a very tame looking deer.  She paused just long enough for me to take her picture and then high-tailed it..literally and figuratively. Since we have all seen deer before, I opted not to post the shot.

After the trail I went inside to see what they had to offer and the first thing I found was this really neat film about the delta region taken from an airplane.  What made it really special was that the seating area was built to create the feeling that the audience was actually sitting in a prop-propeller airplane and viewing the film from above.  Pretty neat.  Not 3D, but still pretty cool!

Of course they had the expected snakes...this one I think is a timber rattlesnake, big enough to make me pay attention.

OK, here is the part that I thought was the absolute best.  Just outside the nature center building but still under a roof, was this aquarium.  Not your regular sea aquarium, but one of the native species of fish that can be found here in Arkansas.  Sadly, I did not write down all the names of the unusual fish but I will include the photos I got anyway.  This alone is worth the trip to see this nature center. There were fish here that I had never seen before and I was just mesmerised by some of them.

This catfish was posing for me I think...how could I pass up a shot like that?

After being rained out at Cane Creek, driving to Pine Bluff and enjoying the nature center by the time I got to Little Rock it was time for lunch.  So I also searched for a few places that I might get a meal before I made the trip and it just so happened that I got to The Pantry just as they were opening for the day. This is a cozy little place that would be great for either lunch or dinner.  Their food is all specially prepared...I saw that they had goulash and spaetzle and decided to give it a try.  It was BEYOND fabulous!  They also had some brats and sausages on the menu under an item called street fare...so I got a brat, and a sausage sandwich to go....knowing they too would be delicious (I wasn't wrong)  AND because I was on a roll..I also got an apple strudel to go with creme angliase.  Oh boy, I was eating pretty darn good for quite a while!

It is hard to make goulash look as good as it tastes...but I gave it a try anyway! If you are in the neighborhood, stop by, you will not be disappointed.

Cane Creek State Park...Finally

The original plan was to stop here and enjoy the 15 miles of single track biking trails back in 2010 when I was returning from my Habitat for Humanity trip to Lafayette, Louisiana, but since that episode ended in my fracturing a vertebra I had to opt for plan B and return home to recuperate. Well, now I am back and ready to take on the trails both single track and the kayak trail in the lake.

I picked a really good time to visit mid-spring when it wasn't buggy nor too hot. This is my first attempt at single track riding since both the accident resulting in back injury and my bout with lung cancer...but never one to give up, here I am giving it all I got.
Maybe I tried too soon. Maybe I should have waited until the day after I arrived. It did take 7 hours to get here, then there was the tent setting up etc.
Anyway, I thought I would try with the short trail first and then on another day to the 15 miler and enjoy the three suspended bridges. But that was not to be. I mixed up the trails and tried the 15 miler first...only doing about 4 when I absolutely had to turn back. It was too much for me, could've been the heat, or the humidity (or the humility!) but whatever, after several rests I made it back to the car and decided it is too soon for this sort of thing.
And...I never got to see the suspended bridges, so I guess I will have to make another trip once I am a little stronger.

The second day I tried the kayak trail through the swamps and all around the lake and that was a much better experience for me. What a lovely experience, I practically had the lake to myself...except of course for the beavers, turtles, osprey and multitudes of fish that I scared away! This was one kayak experience that I didn't want to end.

...And I can't let my followers down without a food picture! I brought along some pre-cooked and frozen meals to enjoy in the wilderness.  Here is a little chicken curry which was delightful on my second day here.

What would a camping trip be without a couple of hot dogs and beans? This was dinner the first night and it was incredibly enjoyable!

The third day surprised me with significant rain, so I had to leave sooner than I had planned.
I can't wait to get back here when I am a little stronger and try that 15 mile single track around the lake.  Those suspended bridges are calling me!

Jim Stafford--Hard Luck Diner and More!

Last month I hoodwinked my friend into joining me for a day trip to Branson to see the infamous Jim Stafford Show. I waited until the weather was perfect, since it is a pretty long drive and seized the moment! Along the way we watched as the countryside turned green. Really, I still believe it was MORE green on the way back than it was on the way there...but then that's just me.

Our first stop was the Hard Luck Diner and by judging the size of the meal one gets here, its no wonder they call it that.  I don't see how they make a profit on these burgers. See for yourself

I especially like the 'action shot'. notice the enthusiasm with which Judy is getting ready to squirt the mustard! In case the food is not enough to entice you, all the wait staff entertain the customers with song and show in-between the serving and all that.  It really was a fun lunch.

Here is Jim himself doing a fantastic banjo piece. There was so much to enjoy here I hardly know where to start. If you are looking for some good clean fun, this is the place. Hands down.

Then, after the show as I was walking to the car, I looked up and saw this.

Heavy Metal High Rise - - - Go Carts Extraordinaire!!! I begged Judy to join me in trying them out but she flatly refused. Gee, what kind of a friend would do that? I guess one that wants to live to be a ripe old age.

Ah well, I still enjoyed it from afar. Maybe next time! Ha!

A Bunch of Little Projects

Even a new house eventually needs work. I have skipped along for seven years now and haven't done diddly squat around here, and it was starting to show. The gate on my perimeter fence is all but falling apart, wind blows in through my front door, I REALLY need to get a platform built to put my TV on so I can slide the DVD player underneath and it sure would be nice to have knobs and handles on my kitchen cabinets. I am not complaining. I was just making a list and wondering if there is anyone out there who might want to fix these things.

I happened to be looking at the back section of the newspaper and noticed in the services section several handymen listed and figured, my list is long enough, I will call one of these guys. To my utter surprise the fellow I called stopped by the same day and made the rounds with me for all my projects wants. He seemed ok with the gate repair, the new storm door was right up his alley, but when we got to the "build me a wood platform for the TV" he sort of commented under his breath that I could probably find one already built. The knobs and handles for the kitchen cabinets got the response "I guess it IS kind of hard to drill a straight and level hole". (for the record it is NOT...it IS hard to to measure and get every one perfectly centered and placed). And with that he left saying he would get back to me.

About three days later, when I had already been summoned for jury duty I got a voicemail from him saying I could go and  order the storm door from Ace Hardware. Not know which one exactly, I called and asked for the specifics. His return voicemail said Lowes would have what I wanted and that they could likely do the job for less than the $200 installation fee he would charge. Fine.

I went to Lowes and found a nice door and sure enough, they will do the job for $150, works for me. While I was there I got all the knobs and handles for my kitchen cabinets and drawers, in anticipation of his showing up soon to handle all the other projects. I was pleasantly expectant. I just love getting this stuff done.

Days passed,  jury duty finally ended, and I still hadn't heard from him, but I wasn't too disappointed, since one of the two biggest projects was already in the works. I know this stuff takes time. Then I realized that weeks had passed, and it was pretty obvious that I wasn't going to see the repairman, and I pretty much left to my own resources. OK. Fine.

But what am I going to do with all this kitchen hardware now? In a moment brilliance (for me) I sat down and searched for how to install hardware and found several videos. Pretty good as far as it went, but I was looking for how to get these things installed, so they were all even...I am a Libra you know, anything less than perfect could be the death of me! So, I was thinking about making some sort of template, but all the drawers were sized just a little differently and my poor brain could not handle that. Still basking in the moment of brilliance, I searched for templates and Lo and Behold! I'll bet you didn't know they actually sell them at Lowes for about $3 each; one for drawers and one for doors! Empowered, I head out to Lowes and got my set of templates and the rest, as they say, is history! Knobs and handles installed, and I think you know, you are listening to one happy camper.

The installation of my new storm door is set for two days, and I still have the TV platform issue to resolve. So, off I go again, searching for TV stands and sure enough I find a beautiful one! Very sturdy, very, just what I need, so I order it. In the meanwhile I am really wondering how I am going to lift the TV to get he stand under it all by myself. Since my illness I have the strength of sissy-girl! Well, I figure if the stars and planets aligned enough for me to find the right platform, then they will provide a solution as well. 

The stand arrives the morning of the day the storm door is going to be installed, and all I have to do is assemble it. Easier said than done, but I managed and it truly is a thing of beauty. I even had time to paint the triangle above the fireplace that had been so abused over the years; the surface was mostly white from the plaster. I tidied that up and knew there was no way I could possibly lift the TV alone. But, my plan was to get everything in place and hope that the door installer would take pity on me and help with it. Sure enough he did! All the projects are done!

Oh, yeah, all except the one that started this whole thing: the fence gate. I am still on the hunt for that solution, and I know it is out there, somewhere, just waiting for me to find it. And that grout around my kitchen counter? You are next! I already have grout and the sponge, your days are numbered!

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

In December I went to Oklahoma City for a short visit and while there I toured the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.  I had originally planned the visit just to fill in a little extra time that I had while visiting the City, but the visit turned out to be down right enjoyable. Now a compliment like that from someone who knows absolutely nothing about rodeos or cowboys ranks pretty high up on the list!  There truly is something there for every taste, even if you think you have 'none' you will find yourself surprised at how you enjoy this place.

They have a museum movie which is very nicely done and gives some highlights of things you can spend a little more time with in the museum.  In the far end of the entry you will find a stunning sculpture of 'The End of the Trail'

 
It marks the end of the Trail of Tears.  The exodus of the Native Americans to Oklahoma.

There are several exhibition wings with various items on display.  For example, one wing shows saddles; so many saddles that it boggles the mind.  There are working saddles, parade saddles, ornate saddles and many others from foreign countries and  different cultures.  If you thought you knew about saddles before you walked in; you would be blown away at the variety and workmanship.

Out of one exhibit and into another and you will find yourself looking at horseshoes.  Never could I have imagined that there were so many different kinds and shapes.  Then it is on to ropes, stirrups and lassos; it just goes on and on.  Each area is more interesting than the last.

I wandered down a cowboy hall of fame, sure that I knew no one there...then I saw a very nice bronze statue of Ronald Reagan, so I guess I do know more than Roy Rogers!  Just off to the left was a small circa 1900 Western cattle town aptly named Prosperity Junction...it was like stepping into a time warp.  You really got the feeling that you were visiting a real cattle town;  it was so nicely done.

A little further down the hallway and I found myself in a rodeo exhibition ring complete with bucking broncos, clowns and cowboys everywhere you looked. There was quite a history on display and one could learn a lot here. 

There was also a Native American Gallery, Western Performers Gallery, Joe Grandee Museum of the Frontier West and so much more.

I only spent two and a half hours there but I could have easily spent four or five hours and really learned a lot about this fascinating part of our history.  As a matter of fact, next time I am in Oklahoma City, I will definitely plan another trip.  Because it was winter, I did not get to see any of the beautiful gardens and grounds of the museum.

I did get to see a temporary exhibit of National Geographic Photographs that showed some nostalgic western scenes.  There was no warning not to take photos so here are some of the highlights of that exhibit

 A starry night out in Utah somewhere...

Here is how you hitch a horse to a parking meter...

Wicked, Fox Theater, St Louis, MO

While I was in Seattle I noticed that Wicked was playing there. It was impossible for me to get a ticket for less than $175 so I decided to pass on seeing the show. But wouldn't you know that it opened in St Louis in mid December through mid January and I was able to snag some tickets for $75 each. My cousin, her friend and I went to the show and a good time was had by all. I saw it first in New York about eight years ago and was ready to see it again. It was just as good the second time around.

I really liked the restored Fox Theater in St Louis. It reminded me so much of NYCs Radio City Music Hall, though on a decidedly smaller scale. One day I will have to make it back to St Louis on a Saturday morning so I can take one of the theater tours and hear all about the restoration and the history of this fine theater.

Both of the shots were taken in the entry area of the theater using my Iphone.  Had I known photos were allowed I would've brought my good camera.  Better luck next time!