Deep in Florence

Friday, August 6
12 miles

If it's Friday, it must be Florence. We wake up and wonder again "where are we today?" When we notice a cat in the bed, we realize we spent the night last night in Florence at Mary's house. Having her cat, Baby Girl, sleep with us has reminded me how much I enjoy having a kitty around. Maybe someday. . .



I find Mary in the kitchen and join her for coffee and conversation. She has some good stories to tell and I love listening to her genuine Alabama accent. The kids and Rich soon join us and we make a plan for the day.

The HUB of Mary's house

Rich and I have decided that since it doesn't appear to be oppresively hot/humid we would like to play some golf at a nearby course. The kids have a movie they have been wanting to see so they can drop us off. Mary is going to run some errands and meet us back at the house later for Happy Hour and then dinner out.

The Blackberry Trail golf course is relatively new and we have no trouble walking on. It is beautiful and green. Lots of trees and rough remind us that we are NOT in Arizona. Rich even manages to find a blackberry bush and I pick and eat a few berries - can't do that at home!

Sooo green and THICK grass!

We end up inviting a single that is following us to join our twosome. It turns out that his wife and wife's brother both graduated from the same high school as Rich (Bradshaw in Florence) around the same time as Rich. Small world.

No - he is not searching for his ball; he is looking for blackberry bushes!

Score!

Fore!

We have an ok round even though it is a bit frustrating due to the thick grass even in the fairways. When we are through Janel and John pick us up to head home.

The kitchen table once again is the center of activity. Mary drags out some very old Jr. League cookbooks that are fascinating. The recipes are truly gems. If Rich ever brings home a squirrel, I will know where to find how to cook it.

After a happy hour with a new Chardonnay (Yellow Tail "no oak") we head out to dinner at Crocodile Ed's. They specialize in seafood so we start with 1/2 dozen oysters (great!) and alligator bites. Janel and I end up with whole fish (baby seabass and baby snapper). They are clearly the best thing on the menu. All meals were good and we had a fun time eatin' and chattin.'



Tomorrow is a travel day so we turn in soon after arrival at home. No internet means no blogging, and we are secretly happy for the break. . .

Traveling South

Thursday August 5
About 300 miles

Leisurely awakening this morning (nothing new). We decided we had plenty of time to head south today. Chuck and Alice prepared a final morning menu for us, including over-easy eggs, sausage links and patties, 'hard' gravy, and fresh biscuits prepared with loving care by John. The hard gravy was especially solid this morning, and we wondered what it would be like deep-fried.

There was barely room in the SUV for our stuff, but we compacted it into place, then bid our goodbyes in the driveway. None of us were ready to leave Evansville, and yet we had places to go and people to see. Bye (wave)!

Down US41, then a stop in Henderson. Sort of a nostalgic stop for us, because Linda and I always used to stop there for gas on our way back to Ole Miss.

East on 60, through the town proper of Henderson and then other small towns in Kentucky, eventually reaching Morganfield. We turned south and followed some pretty back roads all the way to the Land Between the Lakes. Past Barkley Dam, then a nice drive south into the park/wilderness, discussing some of the finer points of navigation as we went.

About 20 miles down we turned into the Elk & Bison Prairie area, proceeded through a gate, then through another electric gate that resembled something from the Jurassic Park movie, with big signs that instructed us to stay inside our car. For a mile or so, we craned our necks but saw nothing, then finally spotted one elk far away in some branches.

Bison at Land Between the Lakes

Cresting a hill we spotted another elk with huge antlers. Just further along was a herd of buffalo congregated around the road and a small pond. Ta-tonka! A big male was standing on the road surface, sort of guarding all the cows and calves. Always amazing to me to think that these animals once dominated North American prairie lands.

We soon left LBL and enjoyed a pretty winding route further south and into Tennessee, generally following TN13. Somewhere around where we crossed I-24, the lightening and thunder started up in earnest, and then the skies opened up on us. The NWS would have called it a severe thunderstorm, but we thought it was pretty neat and it cooled the temperatures down plenty.

The severity of the rain not quite captured in this picture

We stopped at Mickey-P's a couple of times, to P of course, but for other miscellaneous items. Mom liked to confound them with an order for iced cappuccino, non-fat milk, light sugar, slow brewed, from the western coast of Ecuador, shaken not stirred. Otherwise we kept moving, and called Mary to give an arrival time. We hit the Alabama line around 6pm, and soon rolled in to Florence down Chisolm Road, a pretty direction from which to enter town.

Mickey P's

Now get my cappuccino right...

Past my old high school (nostalgic pangs...), then to Mary's house. Wonderful to see Mary again after a few years, and she is looked just marvellous. We all gathered in the living room to catch up, reacquaint, and share a late happy hour. We then enjoyed an excellent barbecue dinner, complete with slaw and potato salad. We especially liked the beans with white corn and kidney beans.

Mary was ready for us with a delicious barbecue dinner

But first a couple glasses of bourbon

After dinner John and Dad went outside in the rain and captured yet more interesting sounds of crickets, rain, thunder, and a legion of tree frogs with his Zoom, to be cataloged for video soundtrack use. In the living room, we all chatted more, finished off some chardonnay wine, and played with Baby Girl.

John made an initial attempt at repairing Mary's broken internet connection, reconnecting and resetting hardware, eventually ending up online and on the phone with AT&T to gain access to her DSL service. Neither AT&T remedy panned out so we postponed the effort until tomorrow morning. Just before bed we caught a few scenes from Kill Bill Vol. 1 on TNT (highly censored) then Pulp Fiction on AMC (ditto).

Heavansville

Wednesday, August 4
0 miles (yeah!)

Another blissful day in Evansville. Alan calls it "Heavansville" and I readily agree. The activity in the house starts to murmer and folks gather in alcoves with coffee, laptops, newspapers or just to chat. Preparations for breakfast begin (in the upstairs kitchen).

cooks in the upstairs kitchen

We decided the other evening that there are not too many houses where when asking a question concerning the whereabouts of something ("where is the milk?" "where is the salt?" etc) and the answer is "in the kitchen" that you must then ask "WHICH kitchen???" The pattern appears to be that breakfast is mostly prepared in the upstairs kitchen along with breads and cakes, etc. Dinner is mostly prepared in the downstairs kitchen unless it is cooked outside on the Big Green Egg. There are some exceptions. Both kitchens have fully stocked pantrys, refrigerator/freezer, plenty of dishes/glasses/cutlery. The upstairs kitchen has no dishwasher . . . Naturally, when there were 2 parents and 3 kids living in the house there was only one kitchen (and one bathroom). Now that the house is only occupied by 2 people there are 2 full kitchens (3 refrigerator/freezers and one stand-alone freezer) and 3 bathrooms. This is simply added here to give you an idea of the Weisling lifestyle. Draw your own conclusions.

This morning Rich plays sous-chef to Chuck's expert breakfast prep. Blueberry pancakes made with Alice's home-grown blueberries and home-made blueberry syrup are the stars. Janel remarks that she has never even liked blueberry pancakes before this. They are remarkable.

Alan, Johnny and Janel are hungry

a lovely sight - Rich, Johnny, Janel washing dishes

The day continues on with many discussions concerning the oppressive heat that has blanketed Evansville. It is around 100 degrees and probably 99.9% humidity - horrific. Even I won't consider playing golf today. So we stay inside content to sit, chat and play. The pinball game even gets a much-needed workout. No high scores were recorded and Rich's previous record stands.

some of the men-folk

tryin' to beat his old record

Johnny managed to set up his lair in the basement

Clabber cards were eventually brought out and Alan consents to play even though he claims he has forgotten how. For those of you unfamiliar with Clabber - it is strictly an Evansville card game that is played fast and furious. Don't even try to learn it - it is almost impossible if you weren't born here. Somehow Rich has managed to pick it up over the years. It is brutal and the trash-talking is almost as entertaining as the cards. Rich and Janel make a solid win over Linda/Alan and Alice/Chuck.

looks like a nice, friendly game (don't be fooled)

Janel takes a hint from the master

Meanwhile, supper is cooking both on the Big Green Egg and the huge smoker outdoors. Silver Queen sweet corn was purchased this morning from Mayes Market and several well-rubbed slabs of babyback ribs are getting happy in the smoker.

Alice demonstrates corn buttering technique

Dinner is awesome as usual. Mom and Dad (Chuck and Alice, Mama and Papa - whatever you call them) have made all the meals with flourish. The planning must have started months ago. I don't know how they do it. We are so happy to have had this special time with our whole family and really appreciate all their efforts (seen and unseen). We are going to hate for the LoveBoat to dock.

WOW! Ribs, Corn and world famous macaroni (not enough pineapple) salad

After dinner the cards are brough out again. Alan/Linda take on Rich/Janel. Rich introduces a technique previously unseen in Clabber circles - the "fake no-lead." Alan falls prey and susequently re-nigs to the chagrin of his partner (me). However in the end Alan/Linda reign supreme. (well, maybe not - but it is my blog and that is how I choose to see it. In actuality Janel had 200 Jacks and blew us out of the water).

trying to play an old favorite card game

"coup fourre!"

We must leave "Heavansville" tomorrow and sleep while dreaming of what might be for breakfast in the morning.

Zippo Miles.

The days in Evansville are always nostalgic and awesome.


No more then 5 minutes after my awakening I am greeted by poached eggs, english muffins and multiple mighty maters. Seems like good things do come to those who wait heh heh heh.


Oh, apparently this happened in that good time. Maybe I should work on that... naw. Still, pretty impressive.

Things start to heat up after breakfast.


Couple hours later...



Ah well there was one of these wonderful, miraculous things in between. Our daily excitement came a little late, in the form of this furry creature:


Her presence (along with her eccentric caretakers, Miss Fruit and I don't know you) provided a modicum of entertainment in our evening activities. I stealthly sneak into the labratory in hopes of some sneak peeks at dinner.

Dad tried to look as if he belongs in the kitchen but I caught the truth.

Our fun with Fruit is without limits but of course have to shoo them all away when the dinner-bell rings.


One blury photo just for dad. Porkchops, mashed taters, greens and of course:


mighty maters. Looks complete.



How bout one more blur city for dad. After dinner we set out to the airport to pick up Alan. This may be the only time I've taken two cars to pick up one person.

We all eagerly await his arrival.

And there he is! We all hug as the family is complete.


Hungry after the long trip. It didn't have enough pineapple.


Had to prepare some brownies for hungry and sleepy family. These things must happen. That is all.

Evansville, IN

It doesn't matter how early you rise from slumber; in Evansville, a fresh pot of coffee is always awaiting your cup. High school yearbooks from days of old make for ideal morning browsing.


Come hell or high water, the Official Weisling Menu du Semaine reigns supreme. Handmade Amish-style country sausages sizzle their way through stress.

A mess of eggs is soft-scrambled with care, not crisis.

Southern grits bathed in butter and toasty bagels awaiting cream cheese and black raspberry jam round out the gorgeous morning spread. Beautiful breakfast presentation must run in the family; Earlham Sunday mornings were never quite complete until the final perfect batch of pancakes.

Immediately after eating, it is time to prepare to eat again (we have our priorities in order). Le Menu dictates: braciole. Giada's version is a good starting point, necessarily modified to fit the extra-creative palate for bonus points.

Chef and Sous-Chef concoct two distinct fillings for the thinly pounded flank steak, each robust with several cheeses and fresh parsley. One is blended with prociutto and black pepper; the other gladly mixes with anchovy paste.

Each is then rolled into a trussed-up cylinder of steak and then throroughly browned. The final pass is a soak in pre-prepared Grandpa's Fantastic Tomato Sauce, and the two beauties are popped in the oven at very low heat for the remainder of the afternoon. They make the entire downstairs reek.

Golf happens for two of us. The wiser bunch kicks it at Westlake Drive, munching picture-perfect cherries and sharing travel plots.

A jaunt around the loop occurs. John captures a few choice sound clips. We further augment the collection back at the house through a few good rounds on the pinball machine.

Janet arrives! She is dressed to the nines in a fabulous flowy red frock, which she is quickly ushered out of and into shorts for Casual Cocktail Time. The golfers return and are similarly thirsty. We chatter. Cooking is imminent.

The whole gang scoots into the downstairs kitchen and into braciole domain. It takes four hands to move the twin beautiful beasties to a cutting board.

This is better than Christmas!

The braciole falls apart much more than anticipated, probably due to a combination of acidity levels and extended cooking time. However, the stringy texture of the flank steak pairs perfectly with the curly bed of egg noodles, and the caramelized vegetables on the side provide a foil of sweetness.

The tomato season has been taxing this year, making a decent Indiana mater somewhat of a rare find. Luckily, Janet has hauled over a giant cooler full of Eric's garden lovelies from Illinois. It is a veritable feast.

The night wraps up with "just one hand" of Clabber, in which I get clobbered. It reminds me very strongly of the Galician card game Tute, although the point system is distinct.