A Jeanne in the Kitchen

We did so much in one day that I just had to break it up some. Our adventures continue. I will show you some of the fun sights we saw later, but I felt it was important to highlight the beautiful, heartfelt tributes to all the brave men, women, and service animals who fought to protect us, especially with America’s 250th birthday being celebrated this week.

Branson had a lot of tributes to the military and to veterans, which we both really appreciated. Both mine and Larry’s dad fought in WWII. Larry’s dad was in the Navy and my dad fought in the Australian Army, then continued for the rest of his life in the Merchant Marines, doing military sealift commands during times of war for both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. They were both just kids yet they bravely fought for our freedoms. Branson did a great job honoring all our veterans. This Memorial Garden is full of love, honoring all the brave men, women and service animals.

These were not part of the gardens, but were still in honor of the brave.

Thank you to all who served, sacrificed and made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. We are forever in your debt.

I have lots more to share. Don’t go anywhere. Stay tuned. ‘Til next time.

We were only in Branson for just 1 full day (just like the rest of our trip. We didn’t stay in any one place for too long.) But we sure can pack a lot into one day. 🙂

Our hotel did not provide breakfast, so we went to a local Bob Evans restaurant for breakfast. I had never been to a Bob Evans restaurant before, but they are similar to a Cracker Barrel. They have good food, and a lot of it, with a little store in the front. Our breakfasts were both so big that we boxed them up and they were breakfast for the next day too.

After a good, hearty breakfast, we had another show to go to. We had two shows, one in the morning and one in the evening. Our first show was a Simon & Garfunkel music/comedy show. They were very good and very entertaining.

Because we bought tickets for three shows, we got a bonus coupon for another free activity. Because we love animals so much, we choose the Wild World. We are used to our Wild Animal Sanctuary here at home, where the animals all have large pens that resemble their wild habitats, but Branson did a good job with the space they had. You could tell all the animals were well loved and well cared for, and the animals loved their handlers too, which speaks volumes.

There were a bunch of different animals, all with their own personalities. The first things we saw were a pair of dancing red macaws. They were having so much fun bebopping along.

And even though we were literally in the middle of the country, and completely landlocked, we still found sharks, rays and sea turtles. 🙂

I guess we will always find a way to connect with the sea no matter where we are. We are always still diving, even if only in our hearts and dreams (though we will be diving for real again in September). I am SOOOOO glad we don’t have to dive in this!

We saw many other animals too; animals we don’t see too often.

Usually we only see kangaroos and wallabies when we are down under.

This wolf loved her human and vice versa.

We even got attacked by dinosaurs. 🙂

This is only part of our very full day of adventures, but it is a good spot to stop for an intermission. Don’t go anywhere. I still have a lot more to share. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride. ‘Til next time.

When we eat out, we do our best to not eat at chains, or at least not in chains we have here at home. And we rarely eat out when at home. We eat out mostly when we travel, and we like to try the local cuisines and dine where the locals dine. Before going to our show in Branson, we found a place close to our hotel and went there. It was called Dockside Pub & Cafe.

Dockside had a wide and varied menu, but there was definitely a nautical them going on. We both ordered something “fishy” since we hadn’t eaten any seafood on this trip.

Our meal was delivered to us by both our server Nicky and a robot. I don’t quite get the reason why, but it is what it is.

I ordered catfish with a crawfish etoufee. It was delicious. I was hungry for some good catfish.

Larry went with fish & chips, also very good.

Our server Nicky was excellent. We definitely had service with a big smile. They were having some kind of a contest for the servers, and she asked us to participate. We took a picture or her and wrote a review to submit. Good luck Nicky. We hope you win. 🙂

After dinner we went to see Reza, the illusionist. He was FANTASTIC! I have NO idea how he did some of the things he did.

After the magic, it was time to call it a day. We had another full day in Branson coming up.

Let there always be a little magic in your days. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride. Have a great day and make everyday great. ‘Til next time.

Once again we got an early start, knowing we had a lot of states to cover before getting to Branson, MO in time to pick up our tickets to our first show. In order to get to Branson, we left Alabama, went through Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas before crossing into Missouri. Once again, we just had either short stops or stopped just long enough in each state to take pictures proving we were there.

Almost immediately after crossing the Mississippi border, we got hit with a massive rain storm. Fortunately, it only lasted for about 20 or 30 minutes, but it was still a challenge to drive through. Mississippi was a new state for Larry.

By the time we got to the visitor’s center though, the rain had stopped, and once again the skies were blue.

Next state, next stop, Tennessee.

We stopped at the Shelby Park in Tennessee. It was a beautiful big state park with lakes, biking and walking trails, picnic areas, and bison. We were going a different route, so we came through a different part of Tennessee than we saw earlier in our trip.

We saw lots of herons again.

At first the bison were hiding, but we did a loop around the park and then they came out to say hi.

We only had a short time to visit with the bison. We still had a lot more driving and states ahead. Next stop, Arkansas. We had another river crossing.

Arkansas was another new state for both of us.

A green heron

In Arkansas, we stopped at a little tribute to the mountain homes and to the hill people. These are replicas of actual homes and the way of life for many people.

We got to Branson in plenty of time. We were able to get our tickets, check in to our hotel and grab a bite to eat before our show.

I loved all the tributes to the brave men and women who have fought to defend our beautiful country. Thank you to all who served and especially to those who sacrificed.

It was a long travel day, and we still had to eat and go to our show. I will leave it here for now. Stay tuned. There is more fun adventures coming your way.

Have a great day and make everyday great. Life is short. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride. ‘Til next time.

After our delicious lunch, with stunning views, Eating Our Way Through The South – Part 4 – Three Sixty Grille 360, we still had more things to see and do while in Muscle Shoals and the surrounding areas. We continued our musical journey by going to The Alabama Music Hall of Fame, located at 101 Glenn Boulevard SW, in Fort Payne. It highlights and features country and music artists specifically from Alabama. I had no idea there were so many famous musicians from the state of Alabama. It is the state’s premier country and roots music museum. It features artifacts from over 1,000 artists, including Hank Williams and Tammy Wynette, alongside exhibits on the legendary Muscle Shoals sound.

Once again, we were in for a lot of musical history once we walked through these doors. Music is taken very seriously in these parts.

The stars definitely fell on Alabama. This wall, as well as the wall of portraits of the Alabama stars, is very impressive.

I love the music from all of these stars, but my favorite is Tommy Shaw, front man and guitar virtuoso from one of my all time favorite bands, STYX. Everyone featured in the museum though has made many great contributions to the world of music.

Who doesn’t love the “unforgettable” velvety voice of Nat King Cole?

The Band Alabama donated a whole tour bus to the museum. Life on the road was not nearly as glamourous as we are led to believe.

This was their home on the road, with each band member having just a bunk to call their own.

After touring the Alabama Hall of Fame, we went back to Blackberry Homestead for more visits with Bruce and Julia before leaving Muscle Shoals and making our trek back home. We thoroughly enjoyed all of our adventures in Muscle Shoals, and especially the time we spent with Bruce and Julia. Many thanks to both of you for your hospitality and all the fun times, but more importantly for your friendship. 🙂 We love you lots.

Life is full of adventures. Live live to the fullest and take as many adventures as you can while you can. Make as many memories as you can along the way too. ‘Til next time.

We took a break from our sightseeing tour to experience Goin’ South – Part 7 – More Muscle Shoals, to dine at Three Sixty Grille 360, a rotating restaurant with magnificent views of Muscle Shoals. We saw the restaurant from across the river first before dining there.

360 Grille is a unique lunch and dinner restaurant overlooking the majestic Tennessee River in Alabama’s only revolving restaurant. What began as a fine-dining, dinner-only restaurant has evolved into a lunch-and-dinner destination with priceless views and extraordinary food. [The] Florence AL restaurant is located over 300 feet above the city. [They] provide a sophisticated atmosphere with genuinely warm hospitality, perfect for special celebrations, meals with clients, or simply catching up with friends. [Their] head chef has created a memorable culinary experience that pairs perfectly with the unique view [they] offer of the Shoals area.

There were more beautiful trees that had captured my attention all through pour southern travels. I finally got a chance to see them up close. Julia told me it is a mimosa tree.

We had to take the elevator to get to the restaurant. There were more musical tributes in the lobby. This time, it was The Rolling Stones who were featured.

Once inside the restaurant, these were the stunning views we saw. They were different views of the areas we had just seen, from a totally different perspective.

Three Sixty Grille 360 dry ages its own meats too.

We sat in the rotating part of the restaurant.

The only downside about going at the time we did is that it is the in between times for service, and during these times, restaurants reduce their staff to a bare minimum. Our server was very nice and helpful, but she was also the only server on duty at the time, and she was hustling. I know these times all too well from many years of personal experience with them.

When our food arrived, it was delicious, and worth the wait. Fresh homemade naan bread and salted butter were set out for us to enjoy while our meals were being prepared. They change the types of bread they offer daily.

Then our lunch arrived. We all ordered something different and got to experience many delicious menu offerings.

Bruce ordered the duck confit benedict.

Julia ordered a crab sandwich.

Larry ordered a steak sandwich on focaccia.

The corn and crab chowder and strawberry chicken salad both called out to me. Once again, my eyes were way bigger than my stomach and Larry ended up eating a good portion of mine too. As usual, I ate too much of the delicious bread first. 🙂

Everything was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our whole dining experience.

As everything was rotating, this big magnum of champagne came our way. I was tempted to open it up, but I resisted the temptation. I was good. 🙂

Then the kitchen rotated its way to us as well, giving me a peak behind the scenes.

Once again, we had very full, very satisfied tummies.

Three Sixty Grill 360 is located at 10 Hightower Place, Florence, AL, USA 35630. Reservations are not required for lunch, but are highly recommended for dinner. Their hours of operation are DINNER: DAILY, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM 
LUNCH: WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM. You can reach them by phone at  (256) 246-3660 or online at  Discover.theShoals@renshoals.com.

After a fantastic lunch, with a gorgeous view, or views in this case, we were ready to resume our explorations once again. Our next stop was The Alabama Country Music Hall of Fame.

Stay tuned. There is plenty more coming your way once again. Have a great day and make everyday great. it’s always better with good friends, good food and good music too. ‘Til next time.

We met at Julia and Bruce’s Blackberry Homestead for a delicious breakfast made by Julia, featuring some berries grown in their garden. After breakfast, the four off us were off once again. Bruce and Julia were going to show us the sights of Muscle Shoals. As I mentioned earlier, Muscle Shoals is a very musical town Goin’ South – Part 6 – Muscle Shoals, Musical Magic. There are musical influences all around.

We passed this musical tribute on the way to Blackberry Homestead. We had no idea that this statue is one of three until Bruce and Julia started taking us all around.

We started our tour of Muscle Shoals by walking around the river and the dam, by the falls. It was so beautiful with so many birds to see.

There were loads of Cormorants, Pelicans and Blue Herons.

And quite a few cardinals too.

From the dam and falls, we went to the old railroad bridge. That was just as beautiful.

We saw more herons and a few osprey.

I caught this one in her nest.

Another osprey flying to another nest.

Walking back, I spotted a friendly little chipmunk who was posing for pictures.

And our tour of Muscle Shoals continued. We saw the other two musical statues. There was supposed to be a fourth one too, but there was a big scandal and the money disappeared before it was made.

Our next stops were the marina district and visitor’s center, right next to each other. Bruce and Julia graciously allowed me to indulge in my photo breaks too. They both know their plants and trees, and named them off for me. Julia told me the name of this beautiful flowering tree is a crepe myrtle.

The visitor’s center and park. The guide was a lovely lady who really knew her stuff. She told us about all kinds of things and was very helpful.

After learning a lot of new things from the visitor’s center, we strolled down around the marina, that was just across the street.

I love all the nautical flags. They remind me of my daddy.

We saw more Herons too.

It was now about 2:00 PM, and we all really wanted to dine at the revolving restaurant. We went in between lunch and dinner on purpose, for a couple of reasons, but mainly because we weren’t dressed or prepared for a more formal meal at dinner and thought a late lunch was best. I will continue our tour of Muscle Shoal after our lunch break, and will focus on Sphere 360* next.

Stay tuned. I have lots more to share. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. And they are even better when shared with good friends. ‘Til next time.

BBQ is synonymous with the south. We were in the deep south and needed some authentic southern BBQ. Bruce knew just where to take us too. He took us to his and Julia’s favorite BBQ place, Mitchell’s Smoked Meats, in Muscle Shoals.

Mitchell’s Smoked Meats is a local gem known for flavorful options and friendly service. The owner and staff are very welcoming and make customers feel valued. The smoked brisket is flavorful and tender, and the chopped brisket is a must-try. The half chicken plate is excellent, accompanied by generous sides like turnip greens and white beans. The smoked turkey legs and pulled pork are very good, while the ribs fall off the bone. The brisket is extremely tender, and the peach cobbler tastes just like homemade. Customers praise the quality of the smoked meats and sides, and say the service is friendly, fast, and relaxed. The interior is clean, and every bite receives high praise. Many appreciate paying a little more for great service and quality, especially since they prefer supporting small businesses over larger establishments. This restaurant is a favorite for those seeking delicious barbecue and a welcoming atmosphere, making it one of the best in town.

This is Chamayne. She knows all about service with a smile and she took great care of us.

We all ordered our BBQed favorites and while we waited for it to arrive, Mitchell himself came out to greet us.

Then Mitchell took Larry around the back to show off his smoker and smokehouse, where all his meats are smoked to perfection. The building behind the smoker is the smokehouse.

Our food arrived shortly after. It was every bit as good as Bruce (and Mitchell) promised.

Once again, Julia and I ordered the same dish. We both went for the brisket.

And once again, the boys ordered something different. Bruce ordered the short ribs.

Larry ordered the pulled pork plate.

Everything was definitely “finger lickin’ good ” too. This is truly delicious southern hospitality. 🙂

Mitchell’s is located at 2800 S Wilson Dam Rd, Muscle Shoals. You can call and order ahead, place an order for smoked meats, (256) 814-1400, or you can just walk in. Either way, your taste buds will be in for treat. 🙂

I’ve said it many times, good food shared with good friends is what life is all about. It doesn’t get much better than that. Live life to the fullest, and share it with good friends. Have a great day and make everyday great. ‘Til next time.

After leaving The Hermitage Goin’ South – Part 5 – The Hermitage, we continued heading south, with our final destination being Muscle Shoals. We were heading to Blackberry Homestead, Bruce and Julia’s home, but first, we stopped to tour the FAME Recording Studios.

There is so much musical history housed within these “hallowed” walls. The stories these walls could tell if only they could talk. I was completely mesmerized! Anybody who is ANYONE in the music industry has recorded there, or at least in one or more of the other recording studios in Muscle Shoals, but the FAME Studios is where it all began. All musicians, producers, songwriters, and anyone else connected to music are welcomed, from novices to seasoned pros, representing all genres of music. And sometimes, people like Robert Plant just pop in for a look around and to say hi. Steven Tyler calls FAME home.

FAME Music was established in 1959 in Florence, Alabama, and has gone on to be the heartbeat of the Muscle Shoals Sound with entities including FAME Publishing, FAME Recording Studios, FAME Records and Muscle Shoals Records. FAME moved to Muscle Shoals in 1961. FAME has worked in the studio with some of the greatest artists in rock music history. Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Lou Rawls, Otis Redding, Candi Staton, Clarence Carter, the Osmonds, Jerry Reed, Alabama, Mac Davis, the Gatlin Brothers, Bobbie Gentry and many others.  More recently, FAME has recorded projects for The Gregg Allman Band, Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, Ann Wilson, Third Day, The Turnpike Troubadours, Michael McDonald, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Aloe Blacc, Chord Overstreet, Keb Mo, John Paul White, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Matisyahu, Band of Horses, Drive by Truckers, Bettye Lavette, Cyril Neville, the Civil Wars, Anderson East and Jamey Johnson to name a few. In the last 60-plus years, FAME has been involved in recording or publishing records that have sold over 400 million copies worldwide.

Step inside the birthplace of the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound and experience over 65 years of music history. During this approximately one-hour guided tour, guests will explore FAME’s historic Studios A and B, hear the stories behind some of the world’s most iconic recordings, and learn how artists such as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Otis Redding, Duane Allman, and many others helped shape American music right here in Muscle Shoals. As a working recording studio and a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, FAME offers visitors a unique opportunity to stand where music history was made—and continues to be made today.

The VIP Backstage Tour includes the Standard Tour plus extra Backstage experiences. The Backstage Tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at selected areas of the studios not available on Standard tours. The Backstage Experience takes you behind the velvet rope, including FAME’s Publishing Office, Rick Hall’s personal office, exhibits showcasing FAME’s multiple awards, such as Gold Records and Song-of-the-Year awards, exhibits focused on instruments played in historic sessions, including the legendary Aretha Franklin sessions, and instruments from Rick Hall’s personal collection.

The four of us took the VIP tour of the studios and got the full scoop on all the musical magic that took, and still takes place at the studios. I have plenty to say, but the music and accolades speak volumes on their own.

The musical genius behind the magic was the legendary Rick Hall.

This barber’s chair alone could tell you stories that would knock your socks off.

Our guide Chase was a wealth of information and shared many fun stories too. He was great.

After the VIP treatment, the rest of the tour continued and more people joined in. Then we got to see the actual recording studios, where all the magic happened and still happens today. There are two recording studios, Studio A and Studio B. Each studio has its own vibe and personality. The artists who record there all have their own preferences on which studio to use, for their own reasons.

FAME’s legendary Studio A and Studio B offer cutting-edge facilities for hit-makers, chart-toppers, and emerging talent at almost any budget. Melding the best of vintage and twenty-first century recording equipment and techniques, our studios are the perfect spaces for producing the exact sound you’re looking to put out into the world.

The sound booth where music mixed with magic becomes reality.

We had a special treat at the end of the tour too. There just happened to be a band that was recording as we were there, AND the lady there with the band is Melody Trucks, the daughter of Allman Brother’s Band’s drummer. She is also a solo artist as well. It’s not a good picture, but sometimes, that’s all you get.

If you are a musician or even just a music lover, this is a MUST SEE place to add to your bucket list of things to do and places to go! I can’t speak for Julia, Bruce or Larry, but for me, this was an AWESOME experience. One thing you probably don’t know about me is that I LOVE music; music of ALL kinds too.

The FAME Studios are located at 603 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661. You can 256-381-0801 or you contact them online at info@famestudios.com.

Add music to all your days and have a great day. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride, and all the music along the way. ‘Til next time.

*** I just have an addendum to make. I just heard back from FAME co-owner and president Rodney Hall. I am SO honored, that not only did he like my post, but that he took the time to respond as well. Mr. Hall is who corrected my information about Melody Trucks. Thank you Mr. Hall. You totally made my day.

I am taking a slight detour from my postings of our fabulous Southern travels to take part in the Heritage challenge for the word of the day challenge, thrown out by Carol Anne at Therapy Bits at http://therapybits.com/. It’s about my heritage, and what makes me … ME. 🙂

As you know, my dad was from Melbourne, Australia. My mother was from Port Arthur, Texas. I grew up in Southern California, and now I call Colorado home. But who am I really? My heritage has roots from all over Northern and Western Europe. I, like many Americans, am a hodge-podge of many different backgrounds, cultures and countries.

My dad was from Australia, but his people came from Scotland and Wales. I mean his last name was Jones, the MOST popular surname in Wales, at least back then.

My mother was primarily of English, Scottish, Irish and French heritage. The English, Irish and Scottish were from my grandfather, and the French and English were from my grandmother.

But I am even more complicated and diverse than that. I was actually adopted by my parents as a tiny baby. We never really knew anything about my birth parents, and I never had any desire to learn about them either. My parents were my parents. PERIOD. However, that being said, they wanted to adopt a baby that would blend in with them and their heritages, so they did ask for my DNA and background. It turns out, I am from all of their backgrounds and so much more as well. I am, Dutch, German, French, Scandinavian, English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh, but I am AMERICAN through and through. I have the blood of poets, musicians, intellectuals, working people, sailors, warriors and Vikings running through my veins. No wonder I am such a jumbled mess. I am literally and figuratively all over the place. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Be proud of who you are, no matter what. Celebrate YOU everyday. ‘Til next time.