Princess of the Plantation

Oh, yeah, I could live at Amelia Island Plantation. I had a beautiful room at the Amelia Inn -- and a balcony overlooking the ocean. I also had a great view of one of the golf courses -- there are three on the property.

Amelia Island Plantation occupies a good chunk of the south end of Amelia Island, Florida. The island, just off the east coast, is about as far north as you can get and still be in Florida. With a good stiff wind, you could spit on Georgia!

It was hot -- though it was hotter by five to ten degrees in Oklahoma -- but what it lacked in Fahrenheit, it made up in humidity! This misty, romantic shot isn't fog -- it's just a steamed up camera lens. Every time I walked outside, I became temporarily blind until I could wipe off my glasses!

One of the highlights of my trip was a Segway tour. Five of us -- and our guide and Segway-sitter Gary -- wound our way along some of the many paths and roads that ribbon through the Plantation.

When we'd gotten about as far as we could from our starting point, the clouds opened and dumped on us. I didn't plan on wearing see-through pants but that's what they were by the time we got back! Wet as I was, I'd do it again in a minute.

There are almost 2000 residences on the Plantation -- a number in several high-rise buildings but many free-standing houses tucked in the trees. Planners were way ahead of their time in considering the environment -- they preserved between 70 and 80 per cent of the tree canopy. I loved riding down this alley of live oaks dripping with Spanish moss.

I went to sleep at night with the sound of the ocean in my ears. What luxury. I felt like Cinderella at the ball. But now it's back to reality. Just pass me my pumpkin.

Who Is My Neighbor?

Excuse the detour from my usual travel adventures. First I have to beg forgiveness for 1. being judgmental (I KNOW I have logs in my eye!) and 2. for eavesdropping (which I do with great regularity.) Here's what I heard this morning at my favorite McDonald's.

On one side of the restaurant is a long bench serving three tables. I was sitting at the middle one, reading my library book and savoring my 7 point (Weight Watchers!) breakfast burrito. An older man and woman and their adult daughter sat down at the table to my left. When the father lifted the lid of his coffee, he discovered it was just hot water. He had asked the server to put hot water in his coffee. The employee had minimal English skills and obviously misunderstood. They checked the bill and discovered they had paid 53 cents for the hot water (the same price as a senior coffee). The father was incensed. The daughter went back to the counter and exchanged the water for the requested watered coffee.

Their conversation became more heated as they castigated "these people" who come here but don't speak the language and how they should be required to study English for a year. (For a digression -- yes, classes are available but they are frequently at inconvenient hours or locations for workers who take these kinds of jobs.)

The more they talked, the madder the father became. He announced his intention of going to the counter to complain again. After he left, the mother and daughter both talked about how they didn't want to be there to see it.

When he came back, the subject turned to their Bible study class. They were quite concerned about the proper sequence of creation -- Did God create Adam first, then Eve? Did God create Adam and Eve simultaneously? Did God create other people first but Adam was the first "special" one?

While they were talking, a Latino couple with a beautiful little girl sat down at the table on my right. They were speaking Spanish. The mother said something to the little girl and all three of them folded their hands as the mother said a prayer over their breakfast. Of course, I couldn't understand the words but it obviously was longer than the quickie God is great, God is good.

I know I am called on to love both the family on the left and the family on the right. But if I had to choose a neighbor to live next door -- well, buenos dias, neighbor.

Makin' a Food Baby

Warning: Do not read this if you are hungry! You've heard me gripe about the difficulty of sticking to my Weight Watchers points on trips. Here's why. In addition to great meals, we often have extra treats like the lovely noms prepared for us at the Nagle Warren Mansion. Above, relishes and barbecued bits of chicken. There was also a deadly good dip with tostadas and, below, cheeses and fruit!

Then dinner in the Capitol Grille in the historic Plains Hotel, built in 1911. I photographed this plate of London Broil (flank steak marinated for 3 days, grilled over an open flame and finished with a mushroom bordelaise sauce), garlic whipped potatoes and mixed veg before I split it with an obliging friend.

The next morning I had the first of several excellent breakfasts at the Nagle Warren Mansion. There was always juice, followed by a fresh fruit cup -- it varied from day to day but included fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and watermelon in some combination. One morning it was topped with whipped cream; always garnished with fresh mint from owner Jim Osterfoss's herb garden. The first morning I had a frittata with tomato, mozzarella, basil and bacon, Yukon Gold diced potatoes with saffron, bacon and fresh tomato wedges.

We toured the Terry Bison Ranch, which sits on the border of Wyoming and Colorado, before having a great bison burger for lunch.

Funny, I wasn't hungry at dinnertime, so even though we ate at the Little Bear Inn, noted for steaks, I had a cup of soup and a small salad. Good for me, right? But who could pass up Bear Balls for dessert -- vanilla ice cream rolled in crushed oreo cookies! Usually on press trips we get several different desserts and pass them around the table -- so I just had a few bites. Well, okay, I had half a ball -- but how much will power can any one foodie conjour up?

Breakfast on Friday was at the funky Luxury Diner. This part of the diner was an once an operating trolley car -- from 1896 to 1912. The diner has been in this spot since 1926. This was definitely a get-your-day-started-with-a-kick breakfast -- huevos rancheros topped with refried beans and chile verde, great salsa, and luxury potatoes (diced and pan-fried with onions and peppers).

Saturday's breakfast at the Mansion included orange French toast topped with orange sauce and dried cranberries.

That night was our last dinner together. We ate at Little America on the patio. It was crowded when we arrived but quickly thinned out as everyone else was going to the Brooks and Dunn concert at the rodeo grounds. We enjoyed dinner and the music of a guitar player. After dinner he announced, "We have someone here who is having a birthday." Ours was the only table occupied and I was the only one having a birthday (on Sunday). I had obviously not been shy about sharing the fact. Bless Darren Rudloff's heart (he's the CEO of the CVB), he had arranged for a beautiful cheesecake. I blew out the candles and then we all did as much damage as we could before sharing it with our servers! Happy Birthday to me!

Sunday morning I was up before everyone else -- I spent the week in Wyoming on CDT. It wasn't quite time for breakfast but Sandra McClelland, who fixes all those wonderful treats, offered to serve me early. She was making ham and smoked gouda cheese omelets and nicely made mine with just one egg -- my idea of trying to redeem myself. I loved the fresh chive garnish!

And Monday morning, it was back to Weight Watchers yogurt, 1/3 cup of granola and a topping of blueberries. It will take me 3 weeks to get back to what I weighed before I left home -- and then I leave for Florida! What a life!

Rodeo Queen

Cheyenne, Wyoming, was absolutely packed with queens this week -- before Frontier Days is over, they'll have rodeo queens from 30 or 40 states there. So, as the boss queen of the Edmond Redbud Queens Chapter of the Sweet Potato Queens of America, I was in the midst of a lot of royalty -- and they all had bigger tiaras! But I'll bet none of them had a more palatial place to stay than I did!

The Nagle Warren Mansion Bed and Breakfast is an 1888 beauty that once belonged to Wyoming Governor, then U.S. Senator, F.E. Warren -- who played host to his buddy Teddy Roosevelt in the home. You can see from the picture of the living room that it's as impressive inside as out. That fireplace, by the way, is cast brass -- very rare!

My bedroom was in the carriage house and I couldn't have asked for a more comfortable place to stay. This picture is of my favorite corner of the room. That window overlooks the garden -- and the window opens for that wonderful, fresh, Wyoming air.

All of the fireplaces in the mansion are antique. This is the one in my room.

I loved the old-fashioned tub -- with a great, modern showerhead. I'm not a bath person -- love showers -- but the little western duck almost tempted me.

I just got home this evening so I haven't uploaded all my photos yet. Just wait until you see the breakfasts here!

We Clicked!

I snapped this photo of Heather Smith and her daughter at the Discovery Museum in Chattanooga. When I got home, I sent her a copy. I just received a thank-you note and, guess what? Heather and her husband have a photography business in Chattanooga. She sent me their website -- http://www.richsmithphotography.com/ -- what beautiful photos! Having a wedding in Tennessee? Check this out!

Falls to Fall for

I've fallen in love with Ruby Falls. This super cave opened 80 years ago and doesn't look a day over 30 million years old. There are certainly older caves -- I've seen a number with huge stalactites, stalagmites and columns. These formations are not particularly impressive in Ruby Falls.

There are lots of soda straws and some nice drapery. Flowstone is common in the cave.

On a recent press trip to Chattanooga, we had the opportunity to see two different faces of the cave. One evening we took a lantern tour of the caverns -- seeing them more like discoverer Leo Lambert might have seen them. Our guide, Bill Weichert, loves geology and he told us several times that he prefers the lantern tours to the more conventional lighted tour we took the next day. But he knows the cave like the back of his hand. For me, not so much. I was too concerned about keeping the light on the path so I wouldn't slip or trip and I found later that I'd missed many features of the cave.

The next morning we took the traditional tour. Purists may disdain the colored lights but, frankly, I loved them. Especially when we arrived at the highlight of the tour -- Ruby Falls itself. We could hear the water before we could see it. Then, around a corner, there it was -- 145 feet from top to bottom. Dramatic lighting and majestic music blended, making it an absolutely magnificent experience. We only had seven minutes to admire it -- and I spent my time snapping as many photos as I could -- hoping one would come out. Next time I go, I want to just stand and soak it in.

This is one of the easiest caves to visit. Visitors take an elevator 260 feet down to the beginning of the cave trail. The path is practically level -- less than two dozen steps in the 4/5 mile route -- it's the mountain that gets higher. By the time you reach the falls, you're over 1000 feet below the surface. Ruby Falls is one of Chattanooga's oldest attractions and still one of the best.

Reuben, Reuben, I've Been Thinking.....

I'm an absolute sucker for a good Reuben sandwich and, as much as I wanted to try some of the innovative items on the Sproutz menu, I had to succumb to the call of corned beef. Sproutz makes their own corned beef and it was truly authentic.

I was really tempted by the Hyman Roth sandwich -- described on the menu as "a hefty schmear of chopped kosher chicken liver with red onion and chopped gherkins on rye toast." Looking at the menu, I thought I'd been transported to the East Coast or maybe Nate 'n Al's in Beverly Hills.

"Are you Jewish?" I asked owner Don Eller. "No," he answered, "but I've traveled around a lot."

He said he'd run the menu by a Jewish friend who told him he should take about 40 per cent of the items off. "My generation doesn't eat that way," he told Don, "and the older generation will just tell you you didn't make it right."

I'm not Jewish either, so what do I know? I know I enjoyed that Reuben.

There are lots of other great sounding items on the menu -- salads, sandwiches and wraps -- like the Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad sandwich, Lobster Roll and The Gunni wrap with hickory smoked turkey, jalapeno ranch spread, tomato, sprouts, avocado and cheddar cheese.

Check their website at http://www.sproutztulsa.com/ for info.

Calvin's Graduation

This whole last week has been all about Calvin. It started a week ago yesterday with the Baccalaureate service. Part of the service included each graduate's parents being asked to stand. The graduate's name was then read with its meaning and a special Bible verse. Then each student took a rose to his or her parents.

Afterwards there was a reception and lots of photos. Obviously this is Calvin with Jay and Carolyn and Cal with Jack and me.

On Monday Calvin left for the week on his senior trip to Florida. The kids went to DisneyWorld, Universal Studios and Daytona Beach. They got back on Sunday night -- in time for Monday night's graduation.

Before the graduation, there was a slide show of each student with three pictures. Here's Cal's baby photo and his current photo.

Then the students marched in and took their places in the front of the auditorium. Cal, being a W, was in the last row -- which was fortunate for photos.

Having been at OCS for 12 years, Calvin made many good friends. After receiving his diploma, he got a big hug from Headmaster Dallas Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell was a great mentor, taking personal interest in the students, and Cal admires him very much.

The tassel is moved!

'Shine On

Being one of those people who doesn't understand the attraction of NASCAR, I can't say I was thrilled to be going to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. It's in tiny Dawsonville, Georgia, about 45 minutes north of Atlanta. I love it that the building says "Georgia Racing Hall of Fame" and "Dawsonville City Hall."

I must admit I got a kick out of learning some of the history there. Seems this area was noted for moonshine -- both during prohibition, into the 1950s and, truth to tell, now. Back in the old days, moonshiners would make the run down curvy Highway 19 to Atlanta, sometimes several times down and back in one evening.

One of those entrepreneurs who was in business in a big way was Raymond Parks. Not only did he run shine, he hired other drivers to help. Parks would laugh about the "young uns" running 'shine on Saturday night. Parks would just get a couple of nicely dressed ladies to sit on the 'shine and he'd make his run on Sunday morning -- at a leisurely, Sunday-goin'-to-meetin' pace.

The drivers were pretty proud of their cars and would meet in a local field on Sunday afternoons and challenge one another. Believe it or not, these races were the roots of NASCAR. This shiny '39 Ford belonged to Raymond Parks' cousin, Lloyd Seay.

I still think watching cars go round and round is the noisy equivalent of watching paint dry -- but I appreciate the history. And for those who are fans -- you'll find lots of autos and racing memorabilia here. Do check it out.

Kansas City in the A.M.

For me, one of the highlights of the SATW meeting in Kansas City was participating in the Photo Shootout. We left the hotel before sunrise -- and I couldn't have found a greater group of people to get up early with. Bruce Meyer did a great job of picking photo spots. It was such fun to just shoot -- no hassling with notebooks or tape recorders -- forget the facts, just get the image. The shot at the top was one of my first -- definitely before the sun came up. The Power and Light District is Kansas City's newest arts and entertainment district but for me it was a trip down memory lane. The tall building is the Power and Light Building where my dad had an office for a number of years -- about half a century ago!

As the sun came up, we went to the Liberty Memorial -- now the site of the World War I Museum. When I was a kid we didn't have air conditioning and some summer evenings we'd drive up here. With the tall column and eternal flame and the veiled sphinxes, it was one of the most exotic places I could imagine. I still love it.

We stopped for breakfast at Succotash. It used to be in the City Market -- Jack and I ate there once several years ago. Now it's on Holmes near Hospital Hill. Funky is the only word for the decor while delicious is the only word for the food.

We ordered several different items and shared with one another. I think my choice was the absolute best -- Eggs and Crab Benedict with hash browns -- yum!

Beth Barden is the brilliant owner. The Rainbow Cake in the photo is a house specialty. Each layer is a different fruit flavor.

Our next stop was the City Market. I took the obligatory fruit and veg pics but I love this gnome who will never find a home in any article. He and a number of gnomey friends were hanging out in a seed and garden store in the market area. Here it comes; here it comes; wait for it -- THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE GNOME!

Barbecue 101

This was the title of the afternoon adventure Jack and I took during the Central States SATW conference in Kansas City. We hit four of the top-rated spots in less than five hours. Here are the results of my research. Keep in mind that barbecue is subjective -- my faves are my faves; you may or may not agree.

For me, it's all about the flavor and the sauce. For this reason, many folks' favorite, Arthur Bryant's, wasn't so high on my list. The place has the requisite ambiance -- none -- it couldn't be plainer. Visitors here aren't looking for frills.

We sampled brisket, turkey and ribs and the meats were all good. The brisket was wonderfully lean. It was the sauce that left me cold. It contains vinegar, paprika and other spices and has a bit of a grainy consistency. Other sauces are offered. White bread and pickles are on the table. Sides include potato salad, baked beans and French fries are about as fancy as it gets.

Calvin Trillin proclaimed Bryant's as "the single best restaurant in the world." Bryant's has a long history and is certainly is iconic in Kansas City barbecue history. I could happily eat there again -- it just wasn't my top pick.

Some of the writers in our group rated Oklahoma Joe's best. We were there about 4:00 on Saturday afternoon and there was a line out the door. So a lot of people must agree. Ambiance gets a bit of a kick -- this busy eatery shares space with a gas station! There's an obvious joke there, but I'll let you do it yourself.

With its roots in Stillwater, Oklahoma, I felt a pull of loyalty. And their pulled pork was wonderful -- they take credit for putting pulled pork on the K.C. barbecue map. Not that it was unknown before, but they set the bar. They serve it plain or Carolina style, topped with coleslaw. Servings are whopping.

We had a sampler plate. The fact that this was our last stop may have blunted our enthusiasm. I'm a ribs and brisket fan -- not so much burnt ends. I thought these ends were a bit rubbery. This eatery ranks #3 on my list.

There was a tie for first place and I could go either way on these. Gates Barbecue started over 60 years ago on Kansas City's east side. The third generation of the family is now involved and the business has grown to half-a-dozen locations across the metro area and their barbecue sauce is becoming widely available nationally.

Meat choices are extensive, including mutton ribs. Their barbecue beans are cooked in the pit, catching the drippings and flavor of the cooking meats. If you have any room, don't miss the yammer pie (sweet potato).

George Gates could sell snow to Eskimos. We asked what made barbecue different from place to place. His answer, "Personality." This 'cue had personality and then some. And we loved dining outside. Their sauces were great -- sweet/mild, extra hot, mild and original classic. And they're organized from bottom to top -- running their own College of Barbecue Knowledge which all their employees attend. This spot is a winner.

Jack Stack is what you get when barbecue goes uptown. This is another family business with a solid history in the food industry. Company presiden Case Dorman gave us a quick course in burnt ends and a tour of the kitchen.

Their menu is huge and offers some options -- salads, steaks, fish -- that the more traditional spots don't have. But their barbecue can hold its own with any of their competition. In addition to ribs, brisket and burnt ends, and other expected items, they also have crown roast of pork and rack of lamb.

The sides push Jack Stack into a spot of its own -- the beans are the best I ever ate. Like Gates, they're cooked in the pit and are well-laced with bits of burnt ends -- a ratio of 20 % meat to 80% beans and sauce. Don't pass on the cheesy corn bake -- totally nummy in the tummy! And the onions are all hand-cut and battered and breaded with secret ingredients. The barbecue sauce comes in original and spicy. I like a sauce with a touch of sweet and Jack Stack's sauce really hit the spot. There are four Jack Stack locations -- we ate at the Freight Yard, near the Union Station.

It's really a toss-up for me between Jack Stack and Gates -- but Bryant's and Oklahoma Joe are certainly good choices, too. My best recommendation -- try them all.