Ms. Honey's Tennessee Adventure

I am turning the blog over to Ms. Honey for a few entries. She stated part of my Birthday present she would do a few articles on her great adventure to Tennessee.

Hi, it’s me, Ms. Honey, on the morning of Sunday, October 14; I was picked up at home for a great adventure, a trip with Tony, Keith, Rosie and Molly to visit my extended family in Clarksville, Tennessee. We had been invited to be house guest in their beautiful new home, none other than Larry and Paul.

They had asked me to visit for three weeks and I thought that might be too long for them to put up with me. They insisted it was not an issue. So Tony and Keith asked me to drive up with them to visit my adopted boys. I graciously accepted as I had never seen that part of the country, especially in the fall. Unfortunately, Keith and Tony could only stay for 4 nights since Keith had to be back to work the following Monday.

The road trip was very nice with the changing of seasons from all green to the most spectacular colors of fall. Rosie and Molly were great company for me during the long drive. We stayed overnight in GA and were up the next morning for a great breakfast then back on the road again. We arrived about 2:30 pm Monday at Orchard Hills Drive in Clarksville to Paul and Larry’s beautiful home. Larry had the outside decorated for fall and Halloween.

We were greeted by my two dear friends of whom I’ve missed dearly. Right then I thought 3 weeks would not be long enough! We were served by Paul our Chef for the day a wonderful meal. Our accommodations were”Five Star” . I had my own lovely room especially decorated for Ms. Honey, private bath complete with a crown over the commode. I knew then I would be treated like a Queen.  How true that was and this was just the beginning.

Tuesday morning, we were off to Nashville to sight see and enjoy the beautiful fall day. We had dinner at the Catfish House which was great. Wednesday was warm enough to sit on the beautiful deck overlooking the colorful woods in my bikini. Okay, so I forgot the bikini... Later in the day we toured Clarksville which is a lovely city and out to the property that Larry and Paul own out in Palmyra TN.

Thursday, it was off to Lambert’s Restaurant in Sikeston, Missouri. It was a great 3 hour ride and well worth the trip to this renowned Roll Tossing Epicurean delight. So much to see and eat. This place has been featured on the Travel channel and other TV shows as the countries pig-out place. It was an experience I won’t forget. We stopped at a place called Boom land on the way home and did a little tourist shopping.

Friday was cold, so much for the “bikini” weather. Dinner was at O’Charley’s and then off to an outdoor concert in historical downtown Clarksville. Lots going on here.  I started wearing layered clothing.

On Saturday, it was off for a beautiful ride to Lake Barkley in Kentucky. We went Antique Shopping in lovely little town of Cadiz, Kentucky the Ham town.  Then a great country buffet at the Lake Barkley Lodge with a window table overlooking the lake.

We made it back home for a respite then it was off to Tiny Town Bingo for a night of gaming. Larry was a winner brining home $250.    Sunday we stayed around Clarksville and the boys did their weekend shopping and took me to another great antique place called Aunt Lucille’s. Sunday reminded me of my weekends with the boys when they were in Florida. I called it schmoozing with my boys.

This was just the first week and I have two more to go.  More to come from your “Old Southern Belle” Ms. Honey.

 

 

Celebrating Dad’s Birthday

Dad came over for a 4 day weekend today, to celebrate his birthday with us in Tennessee.  Sister had told him she was coming to Missouri for his birthday. He told her he had decided to come here to be with all of us. Of course, Paul and I told him, we knew the real reason for his decision was the fact here he will be fed and pampered.  If Sister visited him it would be take out and diners all weekend. He got a good laugh out of that reasoning but he did not deny it either.

After his arrival today, Paul took him to his first stop during every visit, the local Library to pick up his weekend supply of books. It is always a reading marathon when Dad visits. He can read on average 5 novels during a weekend.  He will have read at least one book by the time this gets posted. (Make that two novels)

Tonight, we will take him out for a light dinner then go harass Umpire Richards for a couple of hours. (That was the plan before the games were called due to wet fields, so Sister and our Friend Kris met us for Chinese). We have to keep Dad up past 7 p.m. or he will have the household up by 3 a. m.  Saturday, Paul will make him his favorite breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy. We will show him the progress on the new house and again describe his future Dad Suite. Although, we all know getting him to finally move and retire will take an act of God.

We will stop by Sister’s place for a while then head back to the little house on the bluff to relax. I plan to make my mouth watering, fall off the bone baby back ribs for Saturday dinner. Paul will make his famous baked beans and homemade Cole slaw. 

Sunday, for his birthday, Paul will make Dad a great breakfast. We will relax, read and watch Storage Wars, Swamp People and Storage Hunters. Sister will be over so better throw in some Olympics to that mix as well.  We plan to take him out to the New Catfish House so Dad can have “all you can eat catfish”.

Then it will be back to the little house on the bluff for a great home-made banana pudding, one of Dad’s favorite desserts.

Yes, it will be a nice quiet weekend pampering the old man and celebrating his 74^th Birthday.   Happy Birthday, Pop...

Till next time. LB

National Catfish Day

It's a day to enjoy some tasty, fried catfish. Or, enjoy catfish cooked to your favorite recipe......yummy.

You should have no doubt what to do today. Enjoy a plateful of catfish, cooked anyway you want. Chances are, you will eat farm raised catfish, which supplies the vast majority of catfish to the U.S. market. But, wouldn't it be much more fun to fish in the morning, and catch the catfish you will eat?

There was nothing like fresh Catfish on the weekends for the family cookouts. As a teenager, Catfish Farms became very popular and it was a fun weekend activity to sit along the pond banks and catching your limit. For me there is nothing like catfish when it comes to a fish dinner.

My Mom and I could sit down and eat nothing but fish till we were both so stuffed, it hurt to move. The first time Paul saw Mom and me sit down to eat Catfish, I think we scared him. He was amazed at how we ate no side dishes but kept asking for more fish to be delivered to us both.

The Origin of National Catfish Day: Yes, today is truely a National day!

On June 25, 1987, President Ronald Reagan began a presidential proclamation with the words "More and more Americans are discovering a uniquely American food delicacy — farm-raised catfish."

Proclamation 5672 -- National Catfish Day, 1987

June 25, 1987

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

More and more Americans are discovering a uniquely American food delicacy -- farm-raised catfish. In 1986, catfish comprised the third highest volume of finned fish consumed in the United States. Ninety-nine percent of all these catfish were farm-raised. Between 1975 and 1985, production of farm-raised catfish increased by 1200 percent. Most observers expect that production will continue to increase in 1987. Production costs of catfish farming, which have averaged only 65 cents per pound over the past 8 years, have resulted in a stable income for growers and an economical food product for consumers. The accompanying growth of the catfish processing industry also has created thousands of permanent jobs.

Farm-raised catfish have come a long way from their bottom-feeding ancestors. The catfish that are available today, fresh or frozen in markets nationwide, are products of state-of-the-art methods of aquaculture. They thrive in clean freshwater ponds on many American farms, where they are surface-fed soybean meal, corn, fish meal, vitamins, and minerals. Farm-raised catfish not only furnish American consumers with a tasty delicacy but also provide a nutritious, low-calorie source of protein that is also low in cholesterol.

In recognition of the value of farm-raised catfish, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 178, has designated June 25, 1987, as ``National Catfish Day'' and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in its observance.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 25, 1987, as National Catfish Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eleventh.

Ronald Reagan

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:13 p.m., June 25, 1987]