Creative Memories

Creative Memories
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

July11 and 12




July 11
July 11, 2010

I forgot to start with a very funny story about Karen and her purse.
Since some of us have been known to bring 2 big suitcases on a trip, Jean gave specific direction on what we could bring. She even suggested a packing list.

Jean had told us that we could bring a medium suitcase and a purse. Karen showed up with a red suitcase and a black duffle bag. When she put it in the car she assured us she was putting in her suitcase and her purse. It took us a few seconds to realize the size of her purse. When she tried to put it in the back of the car, she was told that her purse had to go with her in the back seat. We all laughed and as we traveled along her purse had lots of snacks and reading material.

This morning we left Little Rock for Vicksburg.
We headed south via Pine Bluff. We drove through many small towns. Every yard had a least 1 Crepe Myrtle bush, well they really are a tree down here. They are trimmed up to look like a tree and I saw some taller than a house.

Southeastern Arkansas is an agricultural area. We observed cotton in bloom. The girls saw rice growing

Since we are driving we stopped to refill our cooler with soda and bottled water. What a savings to have your own.

We crossed into Louisiana near Tallulah, LA then across the Mississippi River to Vicksburg.
We tried to go to the buffet at the Amerastar but we were too late. We had lunch and then headed to the Vicksburg National Military Park. We spent the next several hours at the Museum and taking the audio tour of the park. If you are a history buff especially of the Civil War you would enjoy this place.

Tomorrow it is off to Natchez, Baton Rouge ending the day at Madewood Plantation.



July 12

Today we left Vicksburg and drove to Natchez.
The drive was through agricultural lands.

In Natchez, we visited the visitors center which very informative.

There we also visited the world’s largest octagon House called Longwood.
It was 6 stories tall, floor 1 offices, floor 2 family rooms, floor 3&4 bedrooms, 5 game area, and 6 a solarium with windows. Only the first room was ever finished.
It has been started by a cotton planter just before the Civil War.
He had all the furnishings order and they were confiscated by the North and sold to help the War effort.

He died and the house was never finished. His wife and 8 kids lived in the basement.

It had 9 rooms and because the house was built in a dry moat the basement had windows. It was a very unique house with an unusual story.

We crossed over into Louisiana, and we discovered sugarcane growing everywhere,

We arrived at Madewood Plantation about 4. We were greeted and shown around the first floor.

It has 21 rooms on 2 floors. It is truly unbelievable. The ceilings are 12 foot high. It was all furnished with period furnishings. You were free to wonder around the house and grounds.

Our 2 rooms opened out on to the Galley (front porch). We had wake- up coffee there this morning.
We relaxed and got dressed for dinner. Wine and cheese were served at 6 in the library, with dinner at 6:30 in the main dining room. The food was very tasty. We ate by candlelight and was served .

We did some more looking around before we returned to our rooms. There was no TV so the girls turned in by 8:30 and I read until 10.

We had morning coffee on the Galley and a delicious full breakfast at 8:30. Surprisingly the girls ate the cheesey grits.

We said our goodbyes and were gone by 9:30. We were headed to New Orleans.

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