UPDATE FROM OMAHA

We're having some difficulty trying to get pictures from the file to the blog on this computer, so we'll have to wait until we get back to the other one. So, we'll catch up when we get back to Branson, probably on Saturday. In the meantime, we hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

On Thursday, we drove down to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, one of my favorite towns. It amazes me how they can build on the side of mountains-even beautiful Victorian houses. The map looks like a maze! There are a couple of downtown streets with many interesting shops, but I think it's more fun driving around to see the old houses. Here are a few buildings.

This is the downtown hotel.

This hotel is up at the top of one of the hills-it used to be a cancer hospital years ago.

The Catholic church is tucked into the hillside below the hotel.

This is the view from the church to the side. It reminds me of the watercolor by Mary Ann Gloe of the church steeples in my old neighborhood in Decorah-I have it in the RV.

BREAKFAST WITH OLLIE

This morning we went to breakfast with Colonel Oliver North, and enjoyed his remarks about our "American Heroes", which is also the title of his new book. He talked about his many trips to Iraq, visiting the military, and told about their heroism and the good they've done. A perfect speaker for Veteran's Day!




Afterwards, he autographed his new books.

If you buy his book, he'll even talk to strange people!

Here's his bus.

PENNY GILLEY

Sunday evening we went to see Penny Gilley perform, and she was good. The pictures didn't turn out very well, but they give you an idea. This is the theater.

Here's the view from the top of the hill outside the theater.

Everything in town is decorated for Christmas.

CHURCH IN BRANSON

On Sunday morning, we went to Our Lady of the Lake, and again were amazed at the beautiful music. You probably can find great music in any church in town, with all the professional singers here. This parish is interesting because it consists of 400 families, yet has 3000 people at the weekend Masses. Everyone knows enough to get there early to get a parking place and a pew-before all the buses arrive. They built a new church to hold all the visitors, and the priest is pretty slick letting you know that, so you can contribute. He's so cool, you don't mind helping.

VETERAN'S WEEK IN BRANSON

When we checked in at the Holister Escapee's Park on Friday, the gal told us it was Veteran's week. (Hollister is a suburb of Branson, just across the river.) Anyway, we went and signed up yesterday, at the new convention center, in the new Hilton, by the fairly new shopping center called Branson Landing. (We were here two years ago, and already, they have new buildings.) They have free lunches every day, free tickets to many of the shows, sales in the stores, a parade, and exhibits for the Vets to enjoy. Your spouse gets in at reduced rates at all the activities. We have tickets to have breakfast with Ollie North on Tuesday morning, on Veteran's Day. Yesterday, we went to lunch in the tent, and about froze our hot dog buns! It was about 45 degrees and windy, and the sides of the tent kept blowing. I completely blew my efforts at Weight Watchers, even though I only took 5 potato chips and no cookies-but I was a "true patriot" for my husband's sake! You'll see how "classy" this event was-it even had entertainment while we ate. First there was a group of young people singing patriotic songs, and then Penny Gilley performed. She's logged 300,000 miles entertaining the troops. Good on her! So, Mulert had a good day-between a free lunch and Iowa beating Penn State! "What a country!" (I couldn't help that comment, since I'm in the same town as Yokov Smirnoff!)

FOUR STATES

Today we drove in four states! We started out in Tennessee, then Kentucky, about five minutes in Illinois, and ended up in Poplar Bluff, Missouri! On to Branson tomorrow. Hope the weather holds out until the end of November!

FORT DONELSON

Yesterday, we stopped overnight in Dover, TN, so we could spend the afternoon at the Fort Donelson National Park, another battle my great-grandfather was in. You should be able to tell by now, that Don is really in to this Civil War thing! He told me that he wished his great-grandfather would have fought in it. He can adopt mine! Anyway, the visitor's center has a movie and a museum.

It's a six mile drive through the battleground and around town. Here are some fortifications and a memorial.

The Union soldiers attacked on land, but also in ironclad boats on the Cumberland River. When the Confederates fired on them, the canon balls bounced off. By winning this battle, the Union soldiers were able to take over Nashville.

The surrender papers were signed at the Dover Hotel.

The tour ends at the National Cemetery.

NASHVILLE COUSINS

We stopped on our way back from Franklin, in Nashville, to visit my cousins, Dave and Peggy Sack at their beautiful condo. Peggy's grandfather and my grandfather were brothers. She was still working, so Dave took us on a super neat tour of the area, showing us huge houses, hospitals, the music area, etc. It was light enough for us to see, but not light enough to take pictures. So, I'm sorry I can't share what we saw with you, but we sure enjoyed it! If that wasn't enough, Dave then took us to a fantastic barbecue place! We were able to spend time with Peggy when she got home, and enjoyed our visit with both of them! Thanks again! (note to Marvin-Dave plays golf with Jimmy Buffets lead guitarist, Mac Mc Anally. I'm sure you know who he is.)

CARNTON CEMETERY

The family cared for the men for several months, but they were upset about the dead soldiers. It took them several months to bury the bodies seperately on part of their land. They spent years trying to find out who they were, and place markers with the information on their graves. They spent the rest of their lives caring for the cemetery. Mrs. Carnton kept a log in a book that's there, and the Historical Society has put the information on the internet and in the archives. The curator told us that people come all the time to find their relatives.

CARNTON PLANTATION

We toured the Carnton Plantation and gardens, and found the story of the family very interesting. The mansion was under siege, when Mrs. Carnton recognized an officer who she knew growing up in New Orleans. It saved her house and family, and they used their house as a hospital for all the men. During the battle, four Confederate generals were killed and laid to rest on their porch. Inside, the mansion was full of Dr.s doing surgery in all the rooms. After the immediate surgeries were done, the Dr.s left, and the family cared for hundreds of men. To this day, the floors are full of blood stains. They don't allow pictures inside.

UNION HOSPITAL

We went across the street to St. Paul's Episcopal Church because it was used as a hospital for the Union soldiers. It has beautiful Tiffany windows.

FRANKLIN ARCHIVES AND MUSEUM

We couldn't find the visitor's center, so we went in the museum. I thought I might get tossed out, when I told the lady that "we won" the Civil War. She immediately told me that nobody won! Don thought it was humorous. I couldn't help myself, the devil made me do it! She was very helpful and they have a nice museum.

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE

We took a little side trip to Franklin, because my great-grandfather was in the battle of Franklin during the Civil War. It's a neat little town with old Victorian houses and many, many restaurants downtown.

We ate a sandwich at this bakery/restaurant-it's a gold mine!

NASHVILLE'S FARMER MARKET

Only one of several buildings had booths open when we went, but we were still able to find some veggies at the farmer's market.

A GLIMPSE OF NASHVILLE,TN

We stayed in Goodlettsville, about 12 miles from downtown Nashville, but this is one thing we saw on the way in. I'm sure you can see that Green Bay was playing TN-if I had realized that, I would have used the zoom for all you Packer fans! Sorry about the results.

Looking at that photo, it looks like our tow car is ahead of us??? Anyway, here's a picture of the Capitol in the middle of the skyscrapers.

This is one small part of the Opryland Hotel-we've been there a couple times, so we didn't go in. This is called "a tease"-you'll have to go see it yourself. It's amazing, especially at Christmas time with 2 million lights inside!

We went to the Cathedral Mass at 6pm on Sunday and the church was full-it holds a thousand people. It's beautiful and so was the music-I guess you could expect that in Nashville.