The Sojourn has ended

My sojourn came to an abrupt end when I walked in the door of 9853! The kitchen sink won't drain and the dishwasher is broken - thus a messy kitchen. I forgot to put "water the plants" on my list of things to do while I was gone - thus - dead plants. A few light bulbs through out the house need to be replaced but other than that I guess all is well here. It was just a little, tiny bit depressing. This morning there is no coffee but I am making some tea - this is a real downer - I have an entire house to clean, grocery shopping to do and then mail to organize and here I sit blogging.....but I have to finish the blog - just in case anyone is reading this.....

We left Aunt Mary's bright and late Sunday morning - our destination - Central City Cafe in Huntington, West Virginia. It's another place off of the TV show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. We were both excited to try out another one of the featured cafes - unfortunately it was Sunday and the cafe was closed - so we found a fantastic Mexican place and ate a nice dinner there. We decided to forge on and try to get to Lexington Kentucky before calling it a day. I drove - Mike slept. Before I knew it Lexington was but a memory. I was in the groove, cruising through the night listening to music. Mike woke up and said "If we are going to stop at Bardstown tomorrow we don't need to go all the way to Louisville" I said "Oh" He looked at the map and we got off the highway at 9:00 at night and entered into horse country! Too bad it was dark because the places we passed looked way cool. Hilly roads with what appeared to be rock fences surrounding the properties. Big houses, really big and lots of them had these elaborate lights on the roof. Really fancy lights - I commented on them and Mike said they were the horse barns! He said these horse people have lots of money and make lots of money off their horses so they take good care of them. If you have to be an animal pick being a horse in Kentucky! I will be going back there in the day light. Long story short we got all turned around in the back country but the GPS lady saved the day once again and we arrived in Bardstown at about 11:00pm. Got a hotel room

Mike outside the hotel room.

just in time to see the end of the Emmy's and then crashed. Upon awakening we headed out to the Abbey of Gethsemani. Years ago Mike used to go on retreats there and he wanted to show me the place. It is 2000 acres of beauty! We walked around a little bit and decided that we would both come back someday for some reflective thought. Next we went in to one of the cutest little towns I've ever been in - Bardstown! Which, by the way is the Bourbon capital of the world! We didn't have time to visit any of the distilleries so on my way back to the cafe in Huntington I'll be stopping Bardstown for a few distillery tours. Anyway we had lunch in Bardstown at a cute, old fashioned lunch counter - remember those???

Mike at the lunch counter -

notice my Black Cow on the counter

yummy.....

We ended our stay in Bardstown doing a little shop hopping on Main Street - then it was on the road again. Mike said he thought there was one more cute town to see in Indiana if we had time. I said "You don't have to be in court until 9am tomorrow - we have plenty of time!" So off we went and ended up in another one of the cutest towns I've ever been to! I'm telling you - forget Europe - I'm discovering America! Anyway this town is called New Harmony, Indiana - it's only 2 hours from St Louis......do I hear the words Road Trip????? Anyone? Anyone? I purchased a calendar from New Harmony that lists all of their events this year. I plan on going to at least one of them. While we were at Aunt Mary's we rented the movie Julie & Julia. In one of the scenes Julia Child and her husband are at dinner. They are talking and she says "I really need to find something do to - a way to spend my time." He smiled at her and replied "What do you like to do?" She looked down at her plate and looked up at him and said "Eat!!!" A light went on in my head and I thought "Hey - that's what I like to do." So my new adventure is going to be going to as many places from the TV show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives that I can. I'll do a write up and let people know if it's as good as Guy tells us it is on his show! Then I'll purchase a T-Shirt, take my picture in it and post it to my blog. What do you think? Is is a go? Will anyone want to read it? Will anyone join me at one of the diners, drive-ins or dives?

Sadly my trip has come to an end - I'm back in my kitchen where this whole adventure began. Now I have a house to clean, clothes to wash and a plumber to find. But - one last picture - of me in front of a cute, darling little store in Bardstown.....

Happy Traveling....

Even if it's only down the street

Do it was Gusto!!

(or just take Gus for a go!)

Sitting at My Old Starbuck's in Fairfax, VA

And it all comes full circle - here I am back in Virginia in my good, old reliable Starbucks with the free Wi-Fi. My trip here has been interesting to say the least. Of course, this being a Clark trip it has been a cluster! Mike called me at the Bluff saying that his flight from Charlotte, NC to Savannah was cancelled and he would try and catch the next available flight to Savannah. This was on Tuesday and we were going to leave for Virginia on Weds anyway so I said "Just stay in Charlotte and I'll pick you up at the airport." I checked the map and it looked like about a three and half hour drive. Well...SIX hours later I finally arrived at the airport! I ran into a freak snow storm that started right near Charleston, SC and didn't let up. It was dark, snowing, cars off the road in ditches, snow plows out, snowing, snowing, snowing and here I am in the thick of it. I have to admit I seriously wondered what in the hotel I was doing, but I forged on to the end. I picked up Mike and we headed straight to a Pet Friendly Hotel (an extra $20 for a dog....bummer). Anyway all was well. On Weds as we were heading for Fairfax and I told Mike about a diner that I had seen on the tv show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in Richmond, VA. I asked him if he would like to stop there - being the game sport that he is he said "Yes". Thank God for the talking GPS lady because she led us right to Dot's Back Inn.

We loved it! At that point we decided to spend the night in Fredricksberg because I told Mary we would arrive on Thursday and I didn't want to call her at 7:00 at night and blah, blah, blah. So another night on the road was fine with both us. We arrived at Mary's on Thursday and have been "visitin'" ever since. We are leaving tomorrow to head home. The journey will be coming to an end. But I have a feeling that since I'm traveling with Mike there will be one last post! Who knows where we will stop on the way home! What Diner, Drive-In or Dive can we find between here at St. Louis???

Miss Scarlet assuming her favorite position

Dear, Sweet Aunt Mary's farm house.

Mike and Mary in her kitchen

Mike drinking coffee in a cute little coffee shop

in Fredricksberg, VA

And a good time was had by all....

Caipirinha's compliments of Maggie

Prior to leaving St Louis Maggie gave me a bottle of Cachaca Ypioca (Brazilian Rum) with strict instructions to make Caipirinha's (or as us South-siders call them - Brazilian Margarita's) for my new friends that I would make in Georgia. So one night I invited Jimmy, Lin and Paula to my cute, little cottage and served them this wonderful potent treat. They loved them! Thank you sweet Maggie for a night of wicked fun. (Joyce, Caroline, Peggy?)

Paula enjoying her Caipirina

(pronounced kay-peer-reen-ya)

Lin & Jimmy enjoying there's

Notice Jimmy in my Pink Snuggie

Poor Fella - he said he was freezing

in my house! (sound familiar anyone?)

Time to Leave the Bluff

It is with great sadness that I announce I'm leaving the Bluff tomorrow. Tonight at 9:30 my oldest brother, Mike will be joining me. Tomorrow we will leave here and go to Virginia to visit sweet Aunt Mary. It will be a short visit - only until Monday and then it's home again, home again, jiggdy jig. This has been quite an experience, and my life is fuller and richer and fatter and drunker because of it. It was fun meeting new people, seeing and living in a totally different part of the country. Here are a few additional photos I hope you will enjoy -

The pretty little baby all curled up...

Lin had a huge jump up last Friday night

probably around 25 people. This is a

pic of TC, Paula & Bob.

Then my camera ran out of juice and I didn't

get anymore pics of this great party....bummer

Bob & TC in front of an 800 year old live oak

at the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation.

I love hanging out with the brothers -

they make my outfits look cute!

This is a picture of Greg and his wife Becky,

the owner of the Boat Shed

Two really good, nice people

Downtown Darien - this is the park

down by the river

The Shrimpin' boats dock at the Darien

dock after a hard days work.

This Church is right up the road from me

Peg and I stopped in to get some pictures

Cute little thing - isn't it?

Sister preaching her first sermon

And that is all I have to say about Shellman Bluff....

Forest Gump

A Pictorial Tour of Jekyll Island

Bob and I went to Jekyll Island while TC & Taylor went to a

Skate Park in Jacksonville. After driving around the island and

having lunch we decided to take a tram tour. This picture

is after the tour while we were leaving the "Big Hotel".

In the beginning Jekyll Island was a place where the millionaires

built their summer homes. They would come down with their

servants for the summer. As time went on some of the servants

remained on the island year round. Above is a picture of one of the

mansions that have been restored. Sadly there are no remains

of the servants quarters.

Another restored house

A typical sign is front of restored houses

There is still an active croquet league in existence today. As is

customary when playing the game the participant must wear an

all white attire. Here on the island they take their croquet very,

very seriously. This picture is on the front lawn of the Big Hotel.

Bob enjoying a few minutes in the court yard.

There is a nice little fountain next to the table.

This is a view from what they call the

Millionaires Hallway of the hotel.

The day would not be complete without a picture

of the bar.

This is the formal dining in the hotel

A sidewalk leading up to one of the homes. Notice

the flowers in bloom along the walkway - at the

end of February! Imagine what this place must

look like in summer....

This is a picture of the Rockefeller's summer home.

The big front porch faces the ocean with a beautiful

view of the sunset. In all these homes they have kitchens

that were never used. All of the meals were prepared

up at the hotel and brought over to the house or

on a day/evening with no company the families

would take their meals at the hotel.

Cars were not allowed on the island. The reason

for going there was to get away from the

hustle and bustle. So people began using these

battery operated two seaters as a way to

get around. This one is in the Rockefeller's driveway.

Another look at the croquet players

enjoying their game on a sunny

winter day. Ah! the life of the

rich and famous.

The good Colonel is missing

Today the Darien news reported that the good Colonel Fallopius Curmudgeon Douglas has gone missing from the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation. http://www.glynncounty.com/History_and_Lore/Hofwyl_Broadfield_Plantation/

Immediately Bob, TC and I went to the plantation to see if it was true and I am sad to report that it is! His portrait once prominently displayed in the theatre has vanished. Locals are reporting a suspicious car from Missouri hovering around the plantation all day yesterday. You know who you are - please return this priceless portrait.

The "Brothers" have arrived

Look very, very carefully at the picture above -

had a good enough look? Move on down to the next picture....

That would be TC outside of the building - again look long and hard....

Do you recognize these fellas?

Almost the same folks ....

OK - what do you think that was? Read on

The boys and I had a full day in Savannah - well more like a half day but nevertheless we enjoyed seeing the town. On our way home the boys insisted we stop at a place they found yesterday called The Old School Diner. The pictures above are of that restaurant. Puffin n' Stuffin' was the smoking section of the restaurant. The gentlemen of color in the picture is the Chef himself! A wonderful, nice, funny, enchanting man. This place is unbelievable to say the least. The parking lot is carpeted - I'm not kidding. I wish I had a picture of the parking lot! The chef is from New York and opened up the place in 2005. Today we arrived right when it opened and the Chef saw us in the parking lot and he insisted on giving us the full tour. Why oh why didn't I take some pictures of the inside? The place is a house and he has a number of rooms set up for eating but he uses real furniture like you use in your house. Each room is different and everywhere - everywhere are pictures of the patrons. Chef is very proud of the fact that Ben Afflect has eaten has his establishment. The latest celebrity to frequent place is the football player from the Blind Side. On the outside the fence is made of old pallets. It looks like someone dropped a bomb and then instead of cleaning up they just called it a restaurant. Anyway the boys were very intrigued by this place and wanted me to see it. While on the way to the restaurant we saw about 30 fires on the side of the road. Bob said "We need to call someone about this" I said "It's a controlled burn" Bob said, "controlled burn? how come no one is here watching it? You better at least call Lin and have her call the someone." So I called Lin, she agreed with me but said she call the fire in just in case. While we were "visiting" the Old School sure enough we heard sirens. On our way home again Bob says "Don't you think we should stop and help?" I said "Look, I'm sure you have to have some kind of training before you go out and start fighting forest fires." Bob said "Bullshit. There are fires everywhere and they need help. Tim, pull over." So course it was the Clark Boys to the rescue. They just got out of the car, asked a man if he wanted help, grabbed shovels and started putting out the fire. The pictures below are of the boys fighting their first fire.

One of the fire trucks

Bob helping the other fire fighters - oh I forgot to

mention this is a volunteer fire department.

Bob helping with the hoses

TC & Taylor after they have finished saving lives

Well....saving the marsh land

Look closely and you will see TC & Taylor

working among the flames

Bob performing bravely for the cause

A picture of our brave men along with one of

the real trained boys who by the way is

named Sam Clark and he owns Clark Construction.

And that my good friends is a typical day on the Bluff.

p.s. on a side note - "The Brothers" are wearing me out! They are up at

6AM rockin' and ready to go, go, go. I've been on the Bluff

for six weeks now and I'm out of touch with the world.