Hazen, Arkansas to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Visited Pawhuska today and a good Mexican lunch! Headed west tomorrow! :)

 Yesterday (Tuesday) we left Hazen, Arkansas about 0900. We had a good drive and worked our way to Bartlesville, Oklahoma pretty easily. WE got off 40 on what was stated as a toll road, but we never paid any toll. It took us nicely through Tulsa, Ok. 

We arrived at Motel 1 around 1500. I found this motel on Hotels.com but didn't want to book it as we weren't sure how crowded it would be and if we could get a 1st floor room. So, we paid an extra $10.00 a night but still, at $59 a night we were ok with that. We have a huge, remodeled room with a king bed, upscale bedding and everything new. We'll take it! 

We spent the evening relaxing and then had our chicken and salad that I had made at Bryan and Cheryl's before we left. 

Bryan bought Cheryl a new weed eater, Looks so cute

Love their little place in Arkansas!!

This morning we knew we were headed for Pawhuska to spend most of the day. We took our time and then went next door to have breakfast. A good, but not great one. Probably wouldn't go back, but out the door for $22.00 including tip. 

Then we headed out the 22 miles to Pawhuska. We stopped at the Frank Phillips park for a few minutes. Phillips founded the Phillips Petroleum Company in 1917 here in Bartlesville. 

The 940 is back where it belongs at the Bartlesville Depot
over 100 years old

I went inside the cab of the 940 

We parked in Pawhuska and then toured the town. Not our first time as we were here in 2015 when it was just a tiny, run down town. Ree and Ladd Drummond had just bought the building that would become The Mercantile. 

The girl in the car took us on old US 60 to Pawhuska. Obviously
this used to a business of some kind at one point.  

The corner building, which is now the Frontier Hotel

Brands fro different ranches in the area

Drummond Ranches

Looking at the Boarding House, Ree's Hotel. They have a 
Happy Hour out there in the afternoons for guests. Reservations
area booked way out! 

2nd story of the Mercantile. There's a bakery, we were looking 
for a cinnamon roll for coffee in the am. Only with maple icing.
Don't you think they could have cream cheese and maple?? 

This Pharmacy was on many episodes..their claim is a 
1950's soda fountain..

Not quite, but you're in cattle country! 

I had too! Russell and Seth! 💙

I loved watching her shows on Food Network and making some of her dishes over the years. Still do. We don't get Food Network anymore so I haven't see the shows in years. Loved watching her kids grow up on the ranch. 

We've been back several times through the years and watched the town grow and be revitalized. Last time was 2018 though. 2019 Ken had shoulder issues and then of course 2020 and forward was a bust. 

We definitely enjoyed today, but probably won't make this a destination anytime soon. There is growth, and it just doesn't seem as personal as it has been in the past. The prices in the Mercantile are up there and stuff you can find at any gift shop in my opinion. First time I walked out of there spending no dollars! 😱

We did buy a couple of little things at a vintage store, but not the sale of the day! LOL. 

We left there and headed to what was our favorite Mexican place for Linner. They no longer have wine (WHAT) but beer and a full bar! So I had a margarita with the meal. Food was still awesome and more than I could eat for sure! 

22 ounce Dos Equis and 18 ounce margarita. I'll take it LOL. 

YUM!

We left there and came back to the room to have happy hour and just relax. Tomorrow we move on. 

Christina and Eric are on a mini vacation...

Grandma Wendy bought baby Phoenix a pool. I think he
loves it! 

       Eric and Christina are in Berkley (of all places) to see Willie Nelson in concert 

                                                          tonight! 

Time to get this finished and enjoy the rest of the evening! Tomorrow we should be somewhere in Kansas if all goes as planned!        

Left Bryan's house for Cornersville, TN. A quick but wonderful visit with family! Hazen, Arkansas for the night, on to Oklahoma tomorrow!

 2nd post on 4/22. 

Saturday morning we left Bryan's about 0800. Hugs good bye and we were on the road!  

Cheryl's squash and taken over the day before we left! 

Bryan's new zero turn mower sure makes things easier!

Ken and Bryan solving the world's problems! 😃

Coming into Memphis! 

We hit highway 64 to avoid I40 for awhile. Coming into West Memphis we hit the freeway and crossed the bridge into Tennessee. 

This is one reason we hate I40! A little road work and this
is what you get! Their side was worse than ours, but ours
was bad!! 

Well, we've learned our lesson, we will never (and I always say "Never say Never") come into TN and drive I40 ever again! 

We got to Don and Dana's  place just after 1530. We visited a bit, they fed their bottle fed calves and then we they took us out  to dinner at a wonderful Mexican restaurant in town. Herradura Taco Cantina is the name. Well, there was too much excellent food! The plates filled the table with no room to spare! Prices were good too, considering it was dinner time. Would we go back? Every time we visit we will! The only bad thing? I didn't think to take pictures!! 

Aren't they adorable! ?

We visited some more and called it a late night on the back deck. Yes, it was cool but a beautiful night. 😀

Yesterday morning we got up and got the day going. We visited and visited! About 1130 our niece Jennifer and great niece Bella came to visit! It was great seeing them as it's been awhile. We haven't seen Dana for over four years either! 

Jennifer and the babies! 

Bella 💙

It was a great afternoon just visiting with everyone! Jennifer had to leave to get ready for her work week late afternoon. 

Dana made us an incredible dinner of baked ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and green beans. YUM!!! 

A Thanksgiving Dinner! YUM!

After dinner Don took us all for a ride to see the growth that's happening in Cornersville and around. New homes going up where they shouldn't be..too many people moving in. 😞 Hoping to keep TN a red state for sure! Don and Dana have 70 acres, so they should be good in their little corner of the world! 

Got back to the house and it was just too cold to sit out on the deck once again. We all got together and watched some TV. We had never seen "Curb your Enthusiasm". That's hilarious! It was a late night before going to bed LOL.

This morning (Monday) we left their place about 1015. Hugs all around and we were on the road! We didn't want to be in a hurry as we had no destination in mind, other than to get past Memphis. 

Yes, it was a little windy and cool!!! 

This time we took Highway 64 all the way across to Memphis. OH so much better! No pictures as I drove most of the way. I gave the car to Ken when we hit the freeway LOL. 

Tonight we are about 45 miles east of Little Rock in Hazen, Arkansas at a Super 8. Great price, 1st floor, car right outside the door and newly remodeled. We'll take it! 

Tomorrow our goal is Bartlesville, OK. Wednesday we hope to spend the day in Pawhuska, OK, Pioneer Woman's town. 😊 We haven't been since 2018 so I am looking forward to seeing the changes that have been made. Thursday we'll focus on heading home. I am looking forward to the next few days for sure. 😋😀

Last week we celebrated two birthdays! Our middle son, Eric turned 49 on the 19th. Grandson Adam turned 25 on the 21st. Adam's dad, Bryan will turn 51 on the 26th! How are my kids and grandkids so old!?? 😂😂

My cute little car in its' parking beautiful parking spot! Only cost us $238.00 in
gas to get to Bryan's house from home. 1999 miles! 💙

Erin, Adam's sweetie sent me this picture today. They went campingat Bishop, CA for Adam's bday. On the way home they had to stop at Walker Burger, a tradition. When Adam was small we went to Bishop for many years for Mule Days, Memorial Day weekend. It was tradition to stop here and get ice cream. The tradition lives on many years later 💖

Time to get this posted and finish Happy Hour with the hubby! Have a great evening! 💙

Heber Springs Arkansas! A trip to Greers Ferry, just enjoying time with family!

 April 11th  we left Branson MO and headed for Heber Springs where our son Bryan and wife Cheryl settled last August.  We had a beautiful drive through the Ozarks and landed at Bryan and Cheryl's about 1300. We ended up having a later lunch and just visiting with them. 

One of the reasons we're here. Ken got the hearth done and
                the basic fireplace in. We have to find the kit and 
rest of the parts for when we're back in September/October. 

Cheryl made an awesome sheet pan chicken and veggies for dinner. YUM. 

All the days run together honestly. I Know Bryan barbecued an awesome tri tip one night and we had cauliflower pizza one night. I made cabbage lasagna and that lasted two nights with a caesar salad. Every night was delicious food! 

Bryan's place 

Planning for where the firepit will go! 

Chery's garden on the day we got there! 

                                             They've got six chickens

Cheryl and I went to the thrift store in town, but i ended up with nothing. They have a beautiful nursery just down the road from them. Got a few plants for her.

We went to Lowe's in Searcy, Arkansas to pick out bricks for the fireplace. Got what they needed to get the job started. We took two cars just because. Cheryl and I went to TJ Maxx just for fun. 

We did make a trip to the local liquor store, as Cleburne County is dry, so we had to go to the next county to pick up some beer and wine. You do what you have to do 😁 Bryan bought us sweatshirts from our favorite Arkansas liquor store 😀

We did go to the Aarow Cafe one morning (Saturday I think) I had a great brunch with a chicken sandwich. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered. 

Yesterday we took a ride around some of the town roads and ended up near Greers Ferry Lake. Beautiful. 

Today we decided we were going to brunch at Bentley's Restaurant on Greeers Ferry Lake. It was awesome, we all enjoyed it! It is a dry county, so no alcohol was served. The iced tea was awesome though! 

We took the long way home and it was beautiful! After we got back to Bryan's, Ken and I headed for Walmart once again, to pick up stuff I can cook tomorrow to start getting us home again. 

We are heading to Ken's brother's home in TN Saturday morning. We don't have long to stay, but figure a little is better none at all :)

Tomorrow is a cooking day for me, to get ready for us to start heading home. We'll be back end of September or beginning of October to finish the install. Hopefully Adam and Erin can come near the same time! 

Bentley's Restaurant. Great food! 

Bryan playing out there with Raider! 

Ok, this had a place of deja vu. Night before I had a dream that Ken
drove into the water somewhere and my car and us went under.  Ken and
Bryan thought this would be the way home rather than listening to the girl in the car. Sign said "Road ends, water
1000 feet" UH..heebie jeebies!! 

I posted this post last week and then realized it needed some tweaking. Didn't get to it until today. The days jar fly by. 

At this point we've left Bryan's and gone to TN to spend a couple of days with Don and Dana. Now we are headed home and are in Hazen, Arkansas for the night. Will be posting a new blog shortly 😁

Happy Hour with the Hubby!  Have a great night!!