On April 4th, Papa found a tick on his leg while he was taking a shower. Yesterday he had went walking around in Uncle Eddie`s junk yard and he thinks thats where he probably got the tick. Gross!! Today Nana, Sheryll and I rode the trolley around Harrison for two hours. The trolley had wooden benches for us to sit on...boy was my back side aching after two hours.
On our last day in Arkansas (April 5th), we took Grandma on a road trip. After picking her up, Papa wanted to stop by the Country Mart and pick up some fried catfish. He bought 2 pounds (that's a lot of catfish). We drove to Lampe, Missouri and visited the Dogwood Nature Canyon Park. Nana & Grandma rode a tram through the park while Papa & I walked (we walked 4 miles). The park is owned and has been developed by Johnny Morris (founder of the Bass Pro Shops). It covers about 10,000 acres in the Ozark Mountains (the park is in Missouri & Arkansas). There are many things to do and see in the park such as hiking, fishing, biking, horseback riding, wildlife tram tours, private jeep tours, segway tours and camping (cabins). While riding in the tram, Nana & Grandma saw buffalo, long horn steers, and elk. We all got to feed some trout. I enjoyed walking with Papa while he pointed out the flowers, plants, and trees that we saw through the park. On our ride back to Grandma`s house, she was telling us some funny preacher stories. She told us about one of the preachers that got into a yellow jacket nest and he told the congregation "I got glory in my soul and hell in my britches". Nana, Papa & I laughed a lot.
April 6th, We spent about 14 hours driving from Harrison, Arkansas to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and did not do a lot of sight-seeing. We did stop for dinner at McDonalds and Papa got a couple Deluxe Angus burgers then we stopped at the Tennessee Visitor Center & Rest Area (notice the cute couple in the rocking chairs).
We spent the whole day (April 7th) at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I enjoyed seeing the little church, Dolly`s Chasing Rainbows museum and the replica of the little (two rooms) cabin that Dolly grew up in with her nine brothers and sisters. We also had fun riding the steam train, listening to the Kingdom Heirs singing, and eating at the 50`s Café (yummy cheesy fries and veggie burgers). The park is huge and Papa & I did a lot of walking.
Today (April 8th) we left Pigeon Forge to go visit Lenoir City, Tennessee. Nana wanted to see where her Grandma Harriet (Hattie) grew up. On our way out of Pigeon Forge, we drove through Sieverville which had a lot weird and interesting buildings to see (Wonderworks, Titanic, etc.). When we got to Lenoir City, we stopped by the museum but it was closed so we went over to the library across the street. Nana asked if she would be able to find the address to her Grandma`s old place and any family history records (marriage certificate). The librarian told her that we would have to go to the next city over (Loudon) to be able find that information. So we went to the Loudon Public Library which was less than ten miles away from Lenoir City. The librarian at that library found Grandma`s marriage certificate and made a copy for us. Then I found the Lee family book which had almost 300 pages of family history. It also had the address of where Grandma grew up in Lenoir City. Nana decided to get a copy of the book. So after waiting quite awhile and paying the librarian $82, we left with a bit of family history and were heading back to Lenoir City to see Grandma`s house. The house was very beautiful and was actually in the Lenoir City`s historic district. Today has been a great day to remember and I loved reading the first page of the Lee book which starts with a verse: Deuteronomy 32:7 "Remember the days of old. Consider the years of many generations; ask thy father and he will show thee; thy elders and they will tell thee."
