PRAIRIE GROVE BATTLE RE-ENACTMENT

 There is a big "battle"  scheduled for the first weekend in December, that represents one of the major events, for the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial.  This photograph shows the location of the battle, which is on the grounds of the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.  Prairie Grove is located in the northwest corner of Arkansas, and can be the beginning of a Civil War Heritage Tour that could include other near-by sites, such as the Headquarters House Museum-Fayetteville, the Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery, Fayetteville National Cemetery, Cane Hill Cemetery,  Cane Hill Battlefield, and Pea Ridge Battlefield.

 Many students in Arkansas are learning about the Civil War, that ravaged our country between the years of 1861 - 1865.  Besides classroom activities, students can visit the actual battlefield locations in Arkansas, as outlined in the  "Passport" (shown in photo) provided by the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission  ( www.arkansascivilwar150.com )

 At each location listed in the Passport, one can use the rubber stamp available  there, to get their Passport "stamped" as proof of their visit.  Those who are able to get all the locations stamped during the four year time period between 2011 - 2015, and mail it in to the commission, will be awarded a special prize for their efforts.

 At the December 1-2 re-enactment scheduled in Prairie Grove, the re-enactors will have on either blue uniforms (representing the Union army) or gray uniforms (representing the Confederate army).  My grandkids are shown here with a handsome young man, who is a re-enactor for the Union Army.

The place to start your visit to the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is in the Hindman Hall Museum and Visitor's Center.  (Confederate General Thomas Hindman's army  fought Union columns under James G. Blunt and Francis Herron.) This photo of my grandkids was taken on our last visit to this northwest Arkansas location, where you can see Civil War canons, and enjoy the interactive exhibits in the museum.  There is also a small gift shop in the complex, which is where my grandson purchased his souvenir, gray Confederate hat, that he is wearing.

 Tours are also available of the historic Borden House, shown in this photo.  On the weekend of December 1-2, there will be living history demonstrations, including battle demonstrations at 1 PM each day.  Volunteers will set up Union, Confederate, and civilian camps, as well as military drills, cooking demonstrations, spinning, and lace-making demonstrations.

 In addition to a one-mile walking trail around the park, there is a six-mile driving route the visitor can take.  The December 1-2, 2012, events will have as many as 1,000 re-enactors.  In the actual battle that occurred on December 7, 1862, there were 22,000 soldiers, and 2,700 casualties.  Even though the Civil War was a very sad time in our nation's history, we are obligated to know our history, so that we will not repeat the same mistakes.  Hopefully, by studying our heritage, and seeing where mistakes were made, we will be better able to do as we are admonished in 1 Peter 3:8 to do: "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."  If you would like to learn more about the Prairie Grove Battle Re-enactment, just log on to www.arkansasstateparks.com and plan a trip that will give you a greater appreciation for the fact that our country has survived as THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in the 150 years since the Civil War.  That is enough to give you miles of smiles!  Tricia
 

CHICAGO SHOPPING EXPEDITION

 Since the Friday after Thanksgiving ( aka "Black Friday") is often the biggest shopping day of the year for many retail stores, you can assume that the most famous shopping area in Chicago, The Magnificent Mile, will be booming on that day!

 You probably won't need a banner on a street light telling you that you have reached The Magnificent Mile, but it is reassuring for first-time visitors to learn that they have reached the appropriate section of the glass, steel, and concrete canyon, that carries that name.

 It seems that a business located on The Magnificent Mile carries extra clout, and you can earn an "honorary" Magnificent Mile address similar to the way a famous person earns an "honorary" degree from a university!

 The AAA guidebook says that even if you hate shopping, and only set foot in a store when absolutely necessary, you owe it to yourself to stroll along the famous section of Michigan Avenue.  There are numerous blue-shirted city information specialists who like nothing better than to answer your questions about downtown Chicago.

 The Old Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station are best known for being among the lucky few structures to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  The castle-like structure, with its 154 foot tower, is a great symbol of Chicago.  There is a small park next to the old tower where you can take a break, people watch, and catch a carriage ride around the downtown area. 

 The stunning architecture of famous buildings like the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower, both located on Michigan Avenue at the bridge over the Chicago River, can be the landmark you use for the start of your "urban hike".

 You will come across the classy store of Tiffany and Company (bring your own breakfast, however, as biscuits and gravy are not a part of their merchandise!)

 Opened in 1983, Neiman-Marcus is described as one of the "jewels" of The Magnificent Mile.

 There are various museums in the area, and I have found that the gift shops of museums often have beautiful, hand-crafted items not found in the large department stores.

 Since I am a popcorn lover, I was probably more excited about finding the store location of Chicago's famous "Garrett" Popcorn Store, than I was a Saks Fifth Avenue!

 Crate and Barret has their flagship store along the Magnificent Mile, and it is a multilevel shopping complex with everything one needs for furnishing the places where you live and work.  Also, since they specialize in all things related to cooking, there are frequent culinary demonstrations going on in their store.

 A store that fascinated me was the All Saints Spitafield's Department Store.  Since I have my grandmother's old treadle sewing machine in my living room at home, I was blown away by their display of hundreds of antique sewing machines lining their entry wall!  I found out that the company was only started in the 1990's, and is a British fashion retailer that also has stores in certain large U.S. cities, such as Chicago.

 I have had the opportunity to tour the Hershey's complex in Hershey, Pennsylvania, so I was eager to see what their Chicago store would be like.

 Just like the factory tour that kids can take in Hershey, Pennsylvania, kids can also "manufacture" a bucket of chocolates in the Chicago store.

 One way the Bloomingdale's Home Store gets you to visit their store, even though it is a few blocks off of the Magnificent Mile, is to see the way that the historic building that used to be a Shriner's Temple, has been converted into retail space.

 It also helps that you will pass two Chicago landmark restaurants, Pizzeria Uno, as well as Pizzeria Due.

 I like visiting grocery stores in big cities, so I was glad to see there was a Trader Joe's near the Bloomingdale's Home Store.  One of the culinary demonstrations I attended in Chicago had used an ingredient I was unfamiliar with---creme fraiche---so I wanted to see what it looked like on the grocery shelf.

 The malls in downtown Chicago go vertical instead of horizontal, and I was intrigued by the artsy way the decorators have filled these spaces with unusual art pieces, such as this one at The Shops at Northbridge.

 There is a candy store in the North Bridge complex that has made decorating with candy into a true art form!

 Seeing these candy-coated shoes, brought to my mind the Romans 10:15 verse that says "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."  If your feet are eager to stroll the streets of Chicago during this holiday season, just log on to www.TheMagnificentMile.com to start planning your expedition.  Whether you are buying, or just "window-shopping", this area will give you MILES OF MAGNIFICENT SMILES!  Tricia

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE EXPEDITION

 One of the most beautiful areas I have ever visited (not including the lovely Ozark Mountains where I live), is the Columbia River Gorge, between the states of Oregon and Washington, in the Pacific Northwest.  It is not surprising that the area has been designated by the Department of the Interior as a National Scenic Area.  I took this photograph from the Women's Forum State Park, near Portland, Oregon.  The dome-roofed building seen on the distant bluff on the right, is called the Vista House at Crown Point State Scenic View Point.  The Vista House (which was built soon after the scenic highway was dedicated in 1916) gives the visitor a 30-mile panoramic view of the Columbia River Gorge, from 733 feet above sea level.   It is truly a majestic experience, and there is no charge to visit the Vista House! 

 There are 11 waterfalls along the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway.  The highest waterfall along the drive is 620-foot-tall Moltnomah Falls, shown in this photograph.  There is a (free!)  Interpretive Center at the base of the falls, that has displays of the biology, geology and history of the area.  Also located at the base, is a historic and picturesque restaurant, which gives you great views of the waterfall, as you dine.  On one of my visits to dine there, it happened to be my birthday, and celebrating life in such a gorgeous location, made it a memorable birthday, indeed.

 The Columbia River Gorge intersects with parts of the Historic Oregon Trail, with appropriate historical markers placed along the route, such as this one.  My husband and I actually climbed to the top of Beacon Rock, mentioned in the marker, and seen in the distant horizon of this photograph.  Although it is quite steep, no technical climbing equipment was needed for our ascent, as steps were constructed decades ago, to provide access to the summit of this strategic location along the river. 

 The section of the Columbia River shown in this photograph serves as the boundary line between northern Oregon(left side)  and southern Washington (right side).

 The bridge shown in this photograph is located in the town of Cascade Locks, Oregon.  If you walk across this bridge, you can say, "I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail between Oregon and Washington" because the bridge is the "the link" that connects those two sections  of the 2,650 mile pedestrian "path" between Mexico and Canada, that has been designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.   Of course, I had to do that, and now have the hiking medallion on my walking stick as "proof"!!

 I took the Columbia Gorge Stern wheeler cruise on my last visit, and was able to observe examples of age-old fishing techniques, still being practiced.  However, such practices are not allowed for the general public.  Rather, there are various treaties that allow Native Americans to fish in waters, that are off limits to non-Native Americans.

 The snow-covered mountain shown in this photograph, is Mt. Hood.  Even though the photo was taken in June, there is still considerable snow that has not melted. 

 Long before I was ever able to visit this area in person, I had seen a television program about this being the "mecca" for wind surfing; so I was delighted to see so many windsurfers out enjoying their sport, on my last visit to the section of the Columbia River Gorge, that is near the town of Hood River, Oregon.

 There is such a prevalence of windsurfers here, that they have formed the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association, with a very helpful website, located at www.gorgewindsurfing.org .

 In addition to windsurfing, one can still enjoy good "old-fashioned sailing", with rentals and instruction available from www.hoodriverwaterplay.com  .   Years ago, I took a two-day sailing certification course from the Annapolis Sailing School ( www.annapolissailing.com ).  Alas, however, my little Annapolis Sailing Certificate was not sufficient for my brother-in-law to trust me alone at the helm of his 42-foot sail boat Cirrus, on our sailing adventures along the New England coast area! 

 With the cold waters from snow melt running into the Columbia River Gorge, it is not surprising that all the participants were wearing full wetsuits, even on a hot day in June!

 This photograph shows a "long shot" of a kite boarder, with his kite seen hundreds of feet above him, near the mountaintop.

 As with windsurfers, the town of Hood River is also a mecca for kite boarding. ( But, lest you think that you have to be a "macho man" to find activities of interest in Hood River, you will see by going to www.hoodriver.org there are NUMEROUS shops, restaurants, orchards, and wineries to keep you entertained, without having to put on a wet suit! )

 Since the kite boarder is actually "flying" at some points of his/her experience, it is not unusual for a kite boarder to start in Oregon, but end up a few minutes later in Washington!

 Because kite boarding involves a greater degree of risk, there are actually strict rules that govern where kite boarders can practice their sport.  These rules, as well as numerous other types of helpful information, can be found at www.NWKite.com  .

 An ever-present risk for kite boarders is that the lines connecting YOUR harness to you, get crossed with the lines of ANOTHER kite boarder, or structure, such as a bridge.  This photograph illustrates just such a mishap.

 However, while spending the day watching the kite boarders, and listening to them talk about the experience afterwards, it was clear that this sport was what put the "wind in their sails", when it came to adrenalin-seeking activities.  They craved the feel of the wind tugging them upward, followed by the rush of skipping across the water.

Seeing the many ways that the rivers of the Columbia Gorge area provide recreation, happiness, entertainment, irrigation, transportation, and livelihood, I was reminded of John 7:37 that says "If a person believes in me, Rivers of Living Water will flow out of his heart."   Now THAT is a river that will sustain you FOREVER, and give you MILES OF SMILES!  Tricia

"BREAKING DAWN" ON FORKS EXPEDITION

 It was just "breaking dawn",  when I crossed the famous Narrows Bridge that would connect me to the mysterious Olympic Peninsula area of  northwest Washington State.  (Civil engineer history buffs may recall this is the location of the famous "Galloping Gertie" bridge that was destroyed by "evil forces", i.e., laws of physics, several decades ago).

 Although I had read that there were wonderful parks and hiking areas beneath the bridge, along the shore line, I had to forgo exploring them, in order to meet my goal of circumnavigating the entire Olympic Peninsula in just one day.

 I had to settle for using the telephoto lens of my camera, rather than my feet, to give me some photographs of the area known as Gig Harbor.  Maybe on my next visit, I can take the Gig Harbor boat tours offered by my friends at Destiny Harbor Tours  ( www.DestinyMarine.com )

  As I mentioned, it was just "Breaking Dawn" when I started this expedition, so the Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitor Center was still "asleep".  However, some displays and visitor literature were outside, and available to folks at times when the building was closed.

 Circumnavigating the Olympic Peninsula via U.S. Highway 101 will take you through the (now-famous) town of Forks, Washington.

 Even if you have not been an avid reader of the Twilight series of books, or a viewer of the Twilight movie series, once you are in downtown Forks, you begin to see that they are making the most of their newly-found intrigue.  The Native to Twilight store carried handmade and local items that support and represent the talented First Nations artists of the area.  Twilight fans will recall that Jacob relates First Nations Quileute legends to Bella early in the series.

 The silhouettes represented on this "Dazzled by Twilight" storefront are instantly recognizes as Bella in the center, Jacob on the left, and Edward on the right.   It was along this main thoroughfare in Forks, that I  drove under a banner stretched above the highway proclaiming "Stephenie Meyer Day".  I made a note to google that name later and found out that Stephenie Meyer, a devout Mormon, is the author of the Twilight Saga.  As a result, September 13 has been dubbed "Twilight Day" in her honor, in recognition of the September 13 birthday of Bella, the series heroine.

 And what's a scary campfire story about vampires and werewolves, if you have no wood to fuel the fire all night long, to scare away those wild creatures hidden in the darkness??  Twilight Firewood concession has solved this problem!

 Long before Forks was famous as the setting for the Twilight Saga, its main "claim to fame" was the Forks Timber Museum.

 The grounds of the museum have picnic tables, and gigantic logs that are reminders of the ancient forests that surround the little community of fewer than 4,000 residents.

 Since I had been driving for quite a distance, I was on the lookout for a restroom when I went through Forks.  This structure on the grounds of the Timber Museum caught my eye as a possible "out house".  Closer examination, however, revealed it was made from a single, hollowed out tree trunk!  It was there as another reminder of the logging history of the area.

 Still on the hunt for a restroom, I pulled into a health care facility, knowing they could be of assistance in this area.  In all my years of working in the health care field in Arkansas, I had never seen a toilet like the toilet at this place.  It had more options on it than I had time to try out or read, so I just took a photograph of it for further study!  I learned later that the physician in the Twilight Saga (who has a mysterious history as a kind of "vegetarian" vampire) is said to have worked at this health care facility.  So maybe his influence can account for the somewhat complicated-looking toilet!

 I saw this same group of women walking together at several different locations along my Olympic Peninsula expedition, and it is a reminder to say to any male readers of this blog, that the Forks Chamber of Commerce has recognized their draw to the female tourist, by incorporating a link on their website ( www.forkswa.com ) that is to help the male companions of these female Twilight series fans, find activities to do while their significant others are busy touring locations mentioned in the saga's books and movies!  In fact, it was a road trip to Forks, Washington, that my female cousins took a few years back, that was the first I had ever heard of the little town of Forks!

Part of the popularity of the Twilight Series is the lure of forbidden romance in the relationships that its heroine Bella encounters.  When I saw this couple silhouetted on the beach, I was reminded of the Twilight figures I had seen silhouetted on the storefront in Forks, and imagined it was Bella and Edward----or is that Jacob??!!

 Upon returning to my home in the Bible Belt, I came across this Multnomah  publication at a local Christian book store.  Since I had just been in Forks, I picked it up.  The back cover states that Touched by a Vampire investigates the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective, and that it is written for Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and youth workers. The overview of the series that it provided was very helpful to me, since I had not read the books.  Also, the discussion guide it included for small group use, raised some interesting questions.  It started me thinking:  Maybe the evil, blood sucking vampires could represent rampant greed, affluence, and consumerism!  It also made me recall one of my First Place 4 Health ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verses from Ephesians 6:12-13 that says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you  may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."    So before you go out into this dark world, remember to put on the full armor of God, as well as the "amour" of God!  That way, you will be able to have "miles of smiles" on whatever expedition you take!  Tricia