winter has arrived here in enfield over night!!!!!! we had heard that there was to be a storm arriving but mostly in the western part of NY but low and behold you all know that some times the weatherman is not always right...we got up to around 4-5 inches and the white heavy stuff...as we look out our window and checking outside we have lost a couple of branches on our apple tree and it was full of blossoms so we have no idea if we will get any kind of apples only time will tell...we will just leave it in mother nature hands... schools are closed in the area it is the kind of snow that will melt quickly so then it might get flooded... glad we got back when we did...in jan when we left we had nice sunny skies NO SNOW and some great weather...so i guess the snow lasted till we got back...guess it is time to enjoy winter hahaha p

to around 4-5 inches

WINTER PROJECTS

this is what i do to keep me busy while riding ...it keeps me busy so i am not a back seat driver hahahahahaha...and that makes lar happy that i am not telling him what to do and which way to turn etc... ahhaha

...

HOME AT LAST

we are finally back in ithaca..arrived yesterday afternoon around 3 or so...good thing we got back when we did cause now in the forecast here in a big storm on it's way...or at least to jamestown wehre we had been visiting lar's mom...they are expecting 12-18 inches of the white stuff...we had thoguht about turning around and going back south but didn't....it is good to be hiome but i also must say it also feels like we have never been away... we have a big list of projects we want to get done this summer when ever that arrives...sounds like it was here while we were away as most everyone has told us how nice it was in march and lawns got mowed etc...now that is something thatis on our list of things to do..as a matter of fact lar is checking out the lawn mower this afternoon... so all's well on the home front. we both have to say this has been a good winter away...

ANOTHER NP

on monday we left cincinniti heading toward another national park this one is hope well culture where there are some indian mounds...we left in some very heavy rain and high winds so our mileage dropped to the lowest it has been so far on this trip...way down to 10.5 and i guess we put the blame on bucking the high winds...the park was again interesting but what made it more so than just the mounds was that in 1917 during WW1 the grounds were made into a training center for the soldiers...in came 5,000 carpentures and in a week or less had the whole base up and running..(almost like a habitat blitz)....they trained over 1 1/2 milion soldiers over the time frame...they also used on criminals so the area now has 2 really big prison very near by..you can look across the street from the park to see one..we also were given a new national park map which has 395 parks marked on it..some we do not have on the old map we've had forever..now there are more parks i can drag larry to visit and get a stamp and junior ranger badge at ..(oh he dosen't mind )

when they were building the barracks one of the developers said to be careful as not to disturb the mounds and made them only take the top half off of some of them to keep the botom where most of the artifacts were buried...


after we headed to zanesville, ohio where we found a campground for the night..

today finds us outside pittsburgh at lar's brother jake and sal...here for a couple of days possible some sightseeing before heading on to falconer..

WM TAFT

today sunday was spent with a leisurely breakfast then a ride into cincinniti to go visit former president wm taft birthplace...and also to get another stamp..watched the movie --then took a tour of his house..we also picked up the junior ranger booklet and filled that out so now we have another badge to go with our collection..

then we decided to take a ride around town as it was sunday and the streets hopefully wouldn't be a s busy like a week day..we have decided that we sure aren't city people just give us the country...and wide opened spaces..just not used to driving in all the traffic..

tomorrow heading to another national park hopewell culture and it is our understanding that there are indian mounds around the place...so it ought to be interesting...

we are kinda in more of a heading home direction..first s stop near pittsburgh to visit jake and sal (brother) then to jamestown to visit lar's mom-sister-brother..before finally really heading to ithaca...right now we think we may be home in a week but only time will tell...you just never know what we might stop and see along the way..

life is good..

LOUISVILLE

we left louisville this morning maybe a wee bit earlier than we wanted to as we were finishing breakfast we heard thunder in the background so we thought we ought to bring in the slides and prepare to leave...so out we went to get the rig ready for travel and as we were doing that is started to rain....we were done and it started to downpour hard so we thought time to get on the road do we did....a hurried up good-bye and thank-yous we were on the road...and yes it did rain and hard most of the way...it let up a wee bit but not much..and it rained hard most of the way --ti stopped a wee bit when we arriverd at the next camp ground and believe it or not as soon as we got set up it started rainingaggain hard with thunder so we were glad we stopped when we did...now to veg out.....

so now we are outside Cincinnati and tomorrow the plan is to go into the city and go to the WM taft hational park..and get another stamp...then from here not sure right now which way we will head...have a couple of different options of what we want to see and do...

sure is lots of stuff to see and do here in the good old USA....

LOUISVILLE

today after breakfast we needed to make a trip to costco and cash our rebate check in--because when you get your check you have to cash it in the store,,(must be cause they want you to spend it there ahahha) and we did...

back to unload all the goods and get on the road to todays adventure..

off we went to indiana which is just over the ohio river from kentucky cause doug had a special place he wanted us to go to and would NOT tell us where we were going or what we were gong to do..he said it was a museum and it was "free" which we said oh we like free...now where did he take us but an old fashioned candy store...where we watched them make a special order for the conference center in louisville it was green apple hard candies..this store has been on the history channel--marvel miracles (or miracles marvel or something like that)...anyway it is sure an old fashioned store...so the free turned into buying some of there wares and we must say it is worth it cause the candy sure are good...

then off to nursery hidden hill which is tucked away on a hill so therefore the name of hidden hill...it has several trails of sculpture things and plants along the trails..we just wonder how some people come up with some ideas to make these strange looking things the just look so cute on the trails...i know i have only included one the bathtub with the flower shower head but there are many more...the owner of the place is an author and has written several books included double jeopory which was made into a movie...we met the man and he sure is down to earth spent alot of time talking to him..he also writes for the local paper in louisville his name is bob hill......

so again we had an very eventful day...

LAST DAY-BARDSTOWN

wedsenday was our last day in bardstown with roy and carol..so we spent it going back in history...off we went to the abe lincoln birthday place and boyhood home which are national parks so guess what i got a stamp....we walked on ground that abe walked on as a young boy which was kinda exciting to know that he was at one time here..then we found a museum in town that we spent a couple of hrs at learning more..did you know that abe is the only president that has gotten a patent and it was a tool to help unload ships...

then back to bardstown cause "queen" carol was getting thirsty..we needed to go back to a distillery to take the longer tour which we didn't have time to do earlier...so off we went on the tour..learn some more different facts on making bourbon...

now we've got to dercided whose woods we want to set up a still in ...there's or ours...hahahaahah...we think more people visit our woods especially during hunting season than theirs so it will probally be there's...now to get the equipment and supplies and set up camp ahhahahahahaha...

done with the distilleries..

we moved on the louisville and roy and carol moved on the the kentucky horse park (we've been there) and decided to go visit with doug and iris...in

TUESDAY'S ADVENTURE

today we started the adventure around 10 am...that's about the time we were up and ready to go out..started the day at barfton's distillery and of course we took the tour..must informative..heard about how much the barns were worth and with them full how much more...and can you believe that the federal taxes them on the full warehouses and also when they bottle they are taxed an each andevery bottle...to the tune of around 2 1/2 million a day yep i said day...wonder why the government is in the red...no need as they tax all the distilleries here in kentucky i f they invested the tax money right we should be in the red beig time...wonder who runs the governemnt....we could buy a full barrrel and hv=ave it bottle with our own label for 5,000 a barrel...now lar thinks we ought to do this ahahahhaah...wishful thinking....

then it was time for lunch back to the campground for a quick lunch then the walking tour of bardstown..

the have a map of all the very old houses and their history here in bardstown ..the pamphlet tells a wqee bit about each house on the map...it took us all afternoon to make the tour as there were a couple of museum included and of course we had to go in and see what there was to see....it was a private collection of one of the master bourbon makers...lots of empty bottles and displays...

then roy has been wanting a local beer so back to the talbot tavern for a "bourbon barrel ale" i even had one and i must say it was very good...one i could drink more of but only one was enough for today...very light and had a cirtus taste best beer i've had in a long while...

then it was time to put lar and roy in shackles for a wee bit of the afternoon..

back to the campground and deciding what to do tomorrow before we part ways...

on thursday

roy and carol are heading to the kentucky hourse park and we are heading to louisville to visit doug and iris...

MONDAY'S ADVENTURE

today was museum day...we went to five of them..started with the civil war museum where we spent several hrs...the boys spent more time carol andi went outside after awhile of it..but i will say there was lots of interesting stuff in it and was good but for me after so long looking at war stuff gets a tad boring...

then we went to lu at a tavern and roy was highly disappointed cause her wanted a tap beer called bourbon barrel ale but guess what their tap wasn't working well and wouldn't sell us any so it was water instead..he is now in withdrawal ahhahaha...

after lunch we went to the military and womens museum and spent a couple more hrs there after which we headed to the old bardstown town where there were several log houses ...the iron shop--grain-etc....

then it was off to the native american indian museum...

so taday was sure a museum day with lots of interesting stuff...we saw and read..

tomorrow we may do the walking tour of bardstown or go to abe lincoln birth place not sure tonight...it might depend on the weather and of course how we feel...

we sure didn't know that there was a mcuh to see and do here when we stopped here..other that the burbon trail...much more than that...

so we are seeing lots and doing some interesting things ..now the mmost important thing is to remember it all aahahahahhahaha...

happy spring to all...how i must say i just tried to chek and read this message but to correct my spelling seems to be a difficult thing to do at least for me...nch

EASTER SUNDAY

we we nt to church last night so we didn't go this morning...no easter egg hunts where we were so we aren't sure where the easter bunny was hiding..no matter thou...

so we all had a relaxing morning and decided to go on our days adventure about 11am as where we wer egoing the tours didn't start till noon..

off we went to four roses as our first stop..a vdery interesting tour..four roses used to be owned by seagrams but now is oe=wed by a japanese compnany...they make a buordon that you can only buy in japan...a good tour then of course the tastings..

then on to wild turkey...which we all say was the best tour so far..maybe it was the tour guide but it was fun and interesting...wild turkey is something we always serve thanksgiving in the barn so weknow what hat taste likes...but we found the tour interesting and informative....we did not talk about cooking a turkey in a garbage can along with the wild turkey...

back to the campground and easter dinner...chicken and potato salad along with tossed salad...then we topped if of with a shot of wild turkey honey...a special blend...so a good day was had by all...

tomorrow we have a couple of different things we are thinking of doing and right nownot sure what it might be..

more later

YESTERDAY'S PICTURES

the pictures are of a statue of jim beam---the mash cooking--and of course the sampling....

can you believe that stored in the barn are enough barrels of bourdon to give every person who lives in the state of kentucky a barrel...but of course you know that the will never happed...and they would have left over barrels.....

in each barn there are between 20,000 and 24,000 each hold 55 gallons of the stuff....we figure that each barn is worth many millions of the green stuff...

interesting places to visit..

so go find some easter eggs...

GUESS WHERE WE'VE BEEN

today we spent the day touring the distilleries...we only went to 3 of them...maker's mark--jim beam--and heaven hill...so we learn all about how to make bourbon...three different ways all using corn-rye-wheat-barley-etc....

each one there was tasting and there was only a wee bit that was poured into each glass so we never got tipsy and even got a nice piece of chocolates....

the temps have warmed up a bit since yesterday and this morning...

happy easter to all...

BRANSON

we have finallhy made it to branson ...a lovely drive from loittle rock to branson..we saw very little tornado damage along the way till we got into the center of town then we began to see damage...several small motels--restaurants--business done in and also the wal-mart in town the garden part of the stote was damaged but the store is now up and running...most of the big theatres were NOT damaged so they were ok...due to the fact of the economy and the tornados the business has slacked off some in branson as we were told by the campground host where we stayed..

now it is time to decide which shows we wanted to see..of course we had gone on line to see about where was the best place to get "CHEAP" tickets ahahhahaha...so off we went to a place we thought was going to be the best...we went in and talked to darryl and told him which shows we wanted he came up with a money figure and told us to get them cheaper we would have to sit in on a vacation thing...'QUEEN CAROL' said NO you adveritised that you wer the cheapest and that there was no where that it said we had to sit in on anything so there fore we ought to be that price...with alot of figureing and talking we did make out better....NO WAY did any of us want to sit in on anything...so QUEEN CAROL came thru...

we went to the chinese acrobats--the hughes brother a family show where all the family entertained probally over 40-50 of them all very talented...then we did a paddleboat dinner/show cruise--then a variety show...so we have been very busy doing shows ...maybe we could have stayed longer andone more shows but i think we all had enough...(maybe not cause the temps sure have changed from high 80"s to 60)...

last night we stayed at a sam's club in paducha, ky whcih i now know is the 'QUILTING CAPITAL OF THE STATES".....oh well most of you know that i am not a "QUILTER" so i guess maybe next time ahhahahah

WE WANT TO WIDSH YOU ALL A HAPPY EASTER...AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL

I GOOFED

the two pictures of lar were the goof i only ment to put one of them on it...it is of lar sigining the map at the military museum...it was veitnam day with a parade-speaches-dinner --etc...they wanted all those who served in the viet nma era to mark on a map where they had served...

the other is of our paper work...

LITTLE ROCK BASE

we stayed at a fam camp in little rock....roy is retired army so he can stay on military bases in their fam camps and can bring in forneds which he did...we of course had to sign in which we did on wed and had all the paper work we needed to get back and forth on the base...

so on sat i did laundry to get caught up on..and then we were going to go to the jacksonville military museum...so it was time to go to the museum and roy was driving and we needed our paprer work..of couse we both knew right where it was in the truck...right.... no can find the paper work so lar went on a search...and he came out with a ball of paper and guess waht it was our paper work which had been washed...oh my now what do we do...so we left the base then when we came back in i had to go confess that i had washed the paper work...the guy just smiled andsaid oh we can isssue more..so i told him i wasn't going to do any more laundry..we all kinda laughed about it...glad it wasn't any big deal okr we might still be on the base and not aboe to leave it....so all's well with us...

OK HERE'S ANOTHER DAY

ok here' what we did on another day we went back into little rock and went to the state capital again most interesting...after which we went to lunch/dinner at the flying fish whcih was one of bill clinton favorite places to eat when he was in town and of course we had catfish...mmmm good...then off to the old state capital ...then it was time to go to the PEABODY HOTEL to watch the ducks march out of the pool and donw the red carpet to the elevator to be taken upo to their penthouse...kinda cute heard the story on how it all started ..of scourse lar was ready to shoot them but he didn't have a gun.....

SECOND DAY IN LR

THE SECOND DAY WE SPENT DOING SOME MORE oops.....history stuff..like go to the high school where the riots happened in 1957 which some of us remember...we visit the national park and lar and i got another junior ranger badge but also learn more about the riots.....not that this time in our history was the best it still is something that happened in our life time...

LITTLE ROCK

it has been awhile since i have posted but we have been busy,,,met up with our friends roy and carol in little rock, ar...we spent one day doing the clinton thing like going to the library and taking a tour ...lar atands by his limo...in part of the museum there is a basball exhibit and it in it had the world series trophy..also some fancy glass work worth way over 1 mil......it was interesting but bith lar and i said we enjoyed the bush library better just becasue it seemed more homeie...