Hanging Out in Nashville

Friday Shawn and I both took the day off work to have an extended holiday weekend.  We planned a day trip to Nashville, Tennessee to eat at the Rodizio Grill, walk around the Opryland Hotel, maybe walk around downtown Nashville some, and then walk across the pedestrian bridge.

Our morning started off with breakfast at Dee's Diner in Owensboro.  It was good, but nothing spectacular.  I'd definitely go back if friends wanted to go, but probably not something I would crave. Shawn and I both had omelets and hash browns, I had a biscuit and gravy, and then Shawn got a peanut butter pancake.

Our first stop in Nashville was the Opryland Hotel.  I forgot how big that place is.  I feel like we walked around forever, yet I know we missed some areas of it.  

After we left the hotel, we headed downtown to have an early dinner at the Rodizio Grill.  The Rodizio is a Brazilian restaurant and they have such amazing food, and a really neat dining experience.

The other Brazilian restaurants we have been to have a little card on the table - one side is read and the other side is green.  In this particular restaurant, they have this wooden block.  It's given to you on red while you eat your salad and when you are ready to have your meat, you turn the block to green and the gauchos come around with all kinds of rotisserie meats on skewers and carves your serving at your table.  When you want them to stop coming by, you turn the block to red. Ready for some more then turn the block back to green and the gauchos starting coming to your table again.  And when you are tapped out, or finished, just lay the block on it's side and your server knows you are done!  

Your meal starts off with cheese bread, polenta, and friend plantains.  Then you head to the salad bar and fill your plate with all of the delicious salads they offer.  My fave was the cucumber salad and the BLT salad.  

This particular restaurant also has a hot bar with mashed potatoes, beans and rice, and some other hots foods from their Americano BBQ fest they were having through Labor Day.

We filled out plates up with our hot foods, headed back to the table and turned the block to green!

Everything we had was delicious, but my absolute favorite was the pineapple!  Yummy!!!

This is the menu of everything you get and a description of all the different types of meats.

And when you are completely stuffed and want to take a nap in your seat, you tap out and lay the block on its side.  HAHA!

After we ate, we walked around downtown for a few minutes, and then drove around some.

Another thing I had planned for us to do while in Nashville was to walk across their pedestrian bridge, however on this particular day it was closed for a private event.  Boo!!  Note to self - check the bridge schedule when planning your next trip to Nashville!

Road Trip With the Robinson's

Sunday morning I headed out with the Robinson's on a road trip to Spring Mill Park in Mitchell, Indiana to have a picnic lunch, go swimming, and explore the park.  I had the middle row of the highlander to myself, and these two loud, crazies were right behind me :/

We stopped and got some drinks and snacks on the way up and then stopped at KFC for some fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, slaw, and biscuits for our picnic lunch.  

After lunch we headed to the pool that's inside the park.  It was a nice big pool, and even though it was busy, you never felt crowded.  What I did feel was cold water!  Brr!  I like my pool water to feel like bath water, not ice water!  

After swimming, the girls and Heather and Bowen played a little volleyball.  Me?  I sat at the car and then walked around looking for those hummingbirds to take pictures of.  I must of been looking down at something else cause when I looked up, I saw Heather laying on the ground and everyone was  gathered around her.  Below you can see her grass burn wound!  Sorry I missed the fall down and didn't get any pictures to document!  LOL!!

After the volleyball game, we drove to the parking lot near the village and got out and explored some.  The girls enjoyed walking in the creek water and I enjoyed taking their pictures...

...that is I enjoyed taking their picture until this happened across my path.  I let out a scream and a fat girl took off running!  Blah!  Gag!  Ugh!  Nothing creeps me out more than a snake.  Ugh!  I'm shuddering just thinking about it.  Ugh!  Of course once the initial shock and scare were over, I had to run back and take a quick picture of it before hightailing it out of there again!

After we left the park, we headed towards home but not before making a dozen more stops (ice cream, gas, cheap donuts, pizza, smores ingredients...haha!!), and one of them being at the West Baden Springs Resort.  Heather said the last time they were there, the resort was building a little trolley car and tracks that went around the property.  We stopped to see it and then took a ride on it.  The ride was complimentary and actually took you from the West Baden Springs Hotel to the French Lick Hotel and back.  A little something fun to do.  

Hanging around the grounds of the hotel were ALOT of deer.  I think I counted about 8 or 10 on one side of the road, and about 14 more on the other side of the road!  I heard someone say that just stay there on the property and visit.  

The ride home was definitely not as relaxing as the ride up there.  These two were in the back seat singing very loudly the entire way home.  Oh my poor head!  Haha!!  

I'm thankful for good friends and good memories!  Until our next road trip adventure...

RIP Ruthetta Minton & Ed Minton

Within the last year, my best friend Misty has had to bury her grandma and her grandpa.  Ruth's funeral was in January and her grandpa Ed passed away just last week.  Both Ed and Ruth were such nice people.  I've known them every since I've known Misty, but hadn't seen them in quite a few years.  It saddens me that I never went to visit them in the last part of their life.  

I have such fond memories of them!  Some of my favorites were the vacations to Florida and staying with them in their golf course condo, Sunday nights at the bingo hall with Ruth and Misty and Hazel, Ruthetta's laugh, and always getting her Christmas card first and trying to get mine mailed so she would get mine first!  

Ruth Minton (1938 - 2015)

Ruth A. (Glaser) Minton passed away Friday January 23, 2015. She was born in Evansville on May 27, 1938 to the late Linus and Hilda (Goldbach) Glaser.

Ruth formally worked for George Koch and Sons, and later owned and operated a beauty shop in her home.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Shelia Eckerly; son, Gary Minton; sisters, Norma Schutz, Evelyn Kercher; infant sister, Mary Theresa and brothers, Malcolm and Darryl Glaser.

She is survived by her husband Edward Minton; son, Daniel Minton (Mary), of Ft. Myers, FL; grandchildren, Misty Harris, Micah, Brian, Tim and Danielle Minton; 7 great grandchildren; brothers, James Glaser (Mary), and Dennis Glaser (Shirley); daughter-in-law, Hazel Minton and nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Wednesday January 28, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ziemer Funeral Home Central Chapel, 626 N First Ave., Evansville, IN 47710. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. Entombment will be at St. Joseph Mausoleum.

Edward Minton, 86, of Evansville passed away Monday August 10, 2015 at Pine Haven Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was born November 1, 1928 in Taylor Mines, KY to the late Clyde and Addie (Ford) Minton.

Edward served in the military during the end of WWII as a Navy Seaman First Class, and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He received an honorable discharge in 1948 and was a member of the American Legion. He worked until he retired in Evansville for Chrysler Motor and George Koch & Sons. He was active in the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #20 and served for a time as their president. Edward was a passionate golfer who's proudest accomplishment was winning the Helfrich Hills Club Championship in 1975. He also enjoyed and pursued many other sports including baseball, bowling, and volleyball. He enjoyed game hunting, horse race handicapping, coin collecting and treasure hunting with his metal detector.

Edward was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Minton; son, Gary Minton; parents and brothers, Clifford, James and Wilber.

He is survived by his son, Danny Minton, wife Mary; grandchildren, Misty Harris, Micah, Brian, Timothy and Danielle Minton; seven great grandchildren; daughter in law, Hazel Minton, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Thursday August 13, 2015 at Ziemer Funeral Home Central Chapel, 626 N First Ave., Evansville, IN 47710.

Funeral service will being at 1:00 pm Thursday at the funeral home with Chaplin Tom Hubachek officiating.

Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery where the Retired Veteran Memorial Club will conduct graveside services.