Day 7 and 8

We got up early and on the road from Branson MO to Nashville TN.  This was longest drive during this road trip.  It might be getting monotonous but the scenery in these states was beautiful.  I think because California is so brown this time of year, to see green grass and green trees with lakes and rivers all around makes an impression. 

We drove past the St. Louis Gateway Arch.  This was a first time for both of us through St. Louis, Mo.  It was quick too.

Driving through Kentucky, we stopped at a truck stop to get gas and go to the bathroom.  We noticed there was a slot machine room in the establishment and John mentioned that maybe I should try out the machines while he puts gas in the car and uses the restroom.  If you know me, you know I lose at gambling and John wins.  I looked but I didn't play, so John came in and put $20.00 dollars in and cashed out $40.00 in 10 min.  That's how we roll.  I would have lost it in 5 min.  Free cheese sticks and diet coke for us.  Boom!

The best jackpot of all is arriving in Nashville at about the same time as the SC Harmons.  What a wonderful sight to see our babies and their babies.  We quickly went to our 2 bedroom condo and unpacked.  It is a nice complex with a pool and playground.  Kudos to our daughter-in-law, Angela. Great pick!  

Off to the Grand Ole Opry!  We didn't get to go in it, but we saw it

Grand Ole Opry

 from the outside.  It was having an event, so no tours until the next day.  We ended up going through the Opryland Resort and Convention Center Lobby and Atrium.  What a fun place.  Number one, it is inside but feels like you are outside. Number two, that makes it cool and not hot and humid.  We walked around for two hours, looking at the trees, little rivers and walking the bridges.  There was a National Sorority Convention going on, so we saw

thousands of sorority sisters walking around either in all white or red and white.  Looked like they were having fun.  There were many nice restaurants to choose from and lots of things to see.  I would recommend this little excursion for families with kids because it was free and entertaining.  We did do a lot of walking. 


Claim Jumper was the restaurant of choice our first night in Nashville.  It was good, and we got in with very little wait.  This is worth mentioning because trying to eat at a live music restaurant, with 8 of us, in Nashville without a reservation, on a Friday night was IMPOSSIBLE, so we thought we did well.

It is hot and humid, very hot and humid, uncomfortably hot and humid and we are eating too much food, way too much food. Good food though, but too much.  That is all I am going say about that. 

Next day, John got up and cooked us up some breakfast.  My cousin, Pam had given us a loaf of Strawberry Pecan bread and suggested we slice it and pan fry it in butter.  Oh my word, delicious, especially with a cup of coffee.  Oh yes and we had eggs and waffles too.

The guys took the kids to the pool while Angela and I made lunches for the day.  With our bathing suits on, sunscreen, food and drinks we headed to a music festival at a Nashville park, tour their Parthenon, and finish the day off at a Water Park.  I am tired again just writing about it.

The park is right in the middle of the city.  It is large and has a replica of the Parthenon in the middle of it.  History is that this was the site of the World's Fair in 1909.  There were many buildings and exhibits around the Parthenon, (exact replica), which are all gone now, but made into a park.  We found our spot

by the Musicians corner, and listened to up and comers in the music world.  Then we toured the Parthenon.  It was cool in there

and we spent time reading about the Greeks, Athena and they also had an art exhibit.  At the park there was also a Women's Suffrage statue and information.  With Jade, we got to talk about the importance of your vote and participation in your government. 

We arrived at the Water Park around 4:00 pm.  You might think that it is too late, but it is just right when you have 2 kids under 6.  The big kids would have loved to stay longer.  They weren't ready to go when it was time, but we were there 3 hours.  Grandm.......I mean the little ones were ready to go.  It was so

crowded that I was afraid we were going lose someone.  It did take the four of us to guard the stuff, follow the littles around and go with the big kids to the big slides.  I did ride

the waves the big kids for awhile.  All of John's kids love the water and they had a blast.  Check out the obstacle course on the lake.  Jade and Cole loved it. 

We ate dinner at Cook Out.  This is an eastern fast food place that is really inexpensive and good.  Hot dogs and hamburgers, fries and drinks, then back to the condo, baths and then to bed.  John and I......I mean the kids were wiped out.  Another great day of making memories.  

Day 5 and 6 Branson

Again, beautiful scenery and a blessed re-connection with family.  Branson, MO is only about a 40 minute drive from Harrison, AR.  It has so many things to do that we were not sure what to do first.  We finally made a decision to see the show Samson.  What a production!   The set was awesome, horses camels, dogs, birds and donkeys were used and when Samson brings down the temple it was epic.  

Next, we visited 
John's Great Uncle and Aunt, Dan and Pat Cooper.  Dan is John's Grandmothers's brother on his father's side. Uncle Dan reminds me of John's Dad so much.  His mannerisms, the things he says and how he says it makes me think of him.  Their daughter, Dana, her husband, Dan M, their son, Josh and their grandson, Danny Ray visited with us also.  They all live about 15 min. outside of Branson in a small town called Forsythe.  I remember Dan and Pat when we were a young couple. They were probably our age at the time or maybe younger.  What a great visit with some very sweet people. Stories of the past, along with catching up with our families now, made the time go way too fast.  We will be back.  Thanks Dan and Pat for your hospitality and hugs. 

Dukw- During wartime, used to transport troops and supplies.
They moved slow,  hence the saying, "like a sitting duck."

We had dinner one night at Cheeky Monkey. We thought it was a restaurant with music, turned out it was a bar with great, "bar eats" and music.  We shot pool, had an adult beverage, ate good food, and even danced.  

Two tourist like things we did that was fun was a Duck tour (military land and water vehicle) and tour the largest toy museum in the world. (so they say)  The Duck tour took up to the highest point in Branson then into the water at Table Rock Lake.  It was interesting and fun, and not too hot yet. 



We ended our time in Branson with Dolly's Stampede which is a dinner show, somewhat like Medieval Times with a western theme. The food and show were great and thanks to Josh McPherson, a cousin, who got us tickets.  This show was a great way to end our visit in Branson, Mo.  

On to Nashville, TN. to meet up with the kids and grand kids. 

Day 4 and 5 Family in Harrison AR

Aunt Barbra, Uncle James R. and Penny Pam and Paula and me.

Just to be fully transparent, John and I invited ourselves to Oklahoma and Arkansas We wanted to reconnect with family and our parents hometowns.  We kind of imposed ourselves on people we didn't know very well, but I must say we have the best families ever. They couldn't have made us feel more welcomed. Harrison, Arkansas is where my mother was born and spent some time growing up.  Most of her family on her Mother's side still lives in the area. My grandfather is also buried in Harrison. 
Below are pictures of the last two days with Aunt Barbara and Uncle James R., Pam and Bob, Paula and Chris, Penny and Jim and their kids, grand kids, great aunts and other cousins.  So wonderful to visit with family, listen to stories and take in the Harrison, Arkansas beauty.  The Harness/Edmonson family, were so much fun, generous with their time, fed us such good food and a bonus of getting to worship with them at their church.  What a treat. It is so cool that in just about any place we go, we have a church family.

Aunt Barbara and Uncle James R., their daughters and their husbands are so funny.  It have been long time since I have laughed that much.  We already miss them.  My cup is over-flowing. 

 We did take a cemetery tour. 

My Great-Grandfather and Grandmother Edmonson

Great Uncle Samuel Edmonson (Visited with Aunt Idllia)

Grandfather-Papa Lonnie

 Beautiful landscape.

and wildlife.  

Snapping Turtle

Moo

 Most important, family.

Edmonson sisters. Barbara, Martha and Bea. 

Day 3- Ponca City , Pawhuska and Bartlesville

It was time to move on and we were very sad, but excited to see more of Oklahoma and the Harmon family.  Ponca City is where Tim and Glenda Sue lived and raised their children.  There is a famous Pioneer Woman statue in the city, but I didn't get a picture. We visited the cemetery in Ponca and saw Ed and Haley Harmon headstone, John's great-grandparents.  

Pioneer Woman Set

Lodge

On to Bartlesville OK and as we are driving along and Glenda says, "Do you know of Ree Drummond?"  I said, "No."  She says, "You know the Pioneer Woman who has kitchenware at Walmart?"  "Oh yes, now I know who you are talking about."  "As far as you can see is Drummond property."  They raise cattle and take care of wild Mustangs." As we head into Pawhuska, she explained about the change in the town and the Mercantile, restaurant and how you can tour the Lodge where she films her show.  As I type this I am watching her show for the first time in our hotel room.  The lodge looks larger on TV than it is in real life.  I was standing right where she is standing.  They never show you the view that they have from the Lodge. It is beautiful  The "ranch hand"  said it is because of the lighting.  They black out the windows on that side of the lodge. 

View from the Drummond Lodge

We also visited the houses in Pawhuska, that John's Great Uncle Melvy, Glenda Sue's Dad lived when he was boy.  Also, Glenda shared that they lived there also for a time.  

Tim, Glenda and John

In Bartleville, we had a wonderful visit with Glenda's mom, Bonnie and her brother, Mike and his wife Jeanna.  Bonnie gave us a wooden carving that says HARMON.  We will cherish it.  It was very hard to leave, but we needed to be in Harrision, AR by the next day.   We had the best time with the Harmon/Scully Clan.  Their love just flows naturally.  They are so generous, funny and thoughtful.  Thank you Scullys and Harmons for a wonderful time.

Harmon/Edmonson Heritage Road Trip-Day 1 and Day 2

Last road trip we took was with my Mom and Dad back in 2011.  In a motor home, we traveled from Greenville, SC back home to Wilton, CA.  If you read the prior posts you can see what fun we had and the things we saw.  It was an awesome trip and the last one we would take with my mom who sadly passed away in 2012.  

So here we are on another road trip adventure and this time to reacquaint ourselves with loved ones we hadn't seen since we were kids, visit towns our parents grew up in, and just enjoy the company of family.  Of course, we are going to end up with the grand kids in South Carolina for some much needed  "spoiling of the grand kids" time."

First stop, Edmond, Oklahoma.  We flew into Tulsa, OK, picked up our rental car and headed towards Edmond.  This is where Glenda and Tim Scully, John's cousins live.  Glenda's Dad, Melvy Harmon and John's Grandfather, Johnie Harmon, were brothers.  John has great memories visiting them when he was a teen.  He talks about Melvy taking him fishing and being very funny.  

What a beautiful home and Glenda and Tim couldn't be nicer people.  We had supper and then took a tour of their home and Tim's shop.  He is a car guy and has some incredible old cars that he and his son Chris work on together.  

The next morning we sat out on their front porch and drank coffee, talked, talked, talked and talked some more.  Glenda made biscuits and gravy, bacon and eggs for breakfast.  John was in heaven with the biscuits and gravy.  

We took a trip to a town called Guthrie, which is known as the first capital of Oklahoma.  Story goes that whoever has the Oklahoma Seal is the capital of OK.  Guthrie had the Seal, but one night someone stole the Seal and took it to Oklahoma City.  Oklahoma City has been the capital city ever since.  John's Great Grandfather Ed Harmon was in Guthrie the night the Seal was stolen.  I am not sure of the implication, but the town is charming with some incredible architecture.

We ended day 2 with dinner at Cracker Barrel and homemade berry cobbler at the house.  There was a huge storm that came through with an F2 tornado warning and  it was loud and windy, but we didn't have to get into the storm cellar, but I knew where it was...just in case. 

Guthrie, OK

Guthrie, OK

Merry Christmas 2017

Two things:

1. Who is Luke Bryan? And..
2. John and I had our first date in October of 1977.  Actually 40 years ago this year. 

I am not a country music fan.  I don't hate it, but I have never listened to it, so when Cari (our daughter) went to a Luke Bryan concert, I said, "Who is Luke Bryan?"  She educated me on this country singer and played a song that John and I both looked at each other and said, "This is our song!"  

Therefore in honor of our 40th year of being a couple and the funny, caring, Godly, hard-working, wonderful husband, best Dad, and best Grandpa anyone could wish for:  

Fast. 

Merry Christmas, John.  God willing, we have 40 more.  

In case you are wondering, here is a list of what keeps us together:

1. God first in your life, your spouse second.
2. A sense of humor
3. A sense of humor
4. A sense of humor.
5. Forgive each other a lot.
6. Did I mention a sense of humor?
7. Have fun.