We finally got around to making our gingerbread house. (This snowman gave up his smoking habit shortly after this photo was taken.)
We visited the grave of Cancetto Farmica, a carny mummy who was on display for 61 years after his death and the grave of Violet and Daisy Hilton, conjoined twins who worked as entertainers and grocery store clerks.
We found the "Devil's Tramping Ground," although I entered the GPS coordinates incorrectly the first time and we ended up in a family subdivision (Devil's Tramping Grounds Acres, Steve called it) before we found the correct location. Steve found an amazing, empty potato chip bag there that featured an inspiring story about being bold on the back.
We ate at Ye Old Country Kitchen's $5 buffet and it was surprisingly delicious. We also tried the Penguin, a Charlotte institution.
And we saw North Carolina's strawberry building.
And Steve visited his first Piggly Wiggly, filling him with such joy that we're driving to the closest one to us in Tennessee, half an hour away, today.
11 comments:
anyone out 'n' about chasing down Carny Mummies really should drop in on the Riply's HQ in Gaitlinburg, bein' so close 'n' all.
MarmDad
and what exactly is the fascination with Piggly Wiggly? Just curious.
We walked PAST Ripley's in Gatlinburg, but we didn't go in.
Piggly Wiggly-
1. Mr. Pig is a remarkable PR man
2. All the employees called him 'sir'
3. They sold local butter
4. There were all kinds of southern specialty foods (including the Cheerwine, a NC soda pop, he purchased)
5. It's a small store but it had everything a person could want. Not a superstore, but a super store.
A Piggly Wiggly, will wonders ever cease. Actually there was one in Portland ME that we once occasioned to enter but Steve was traveling on the inside seat, if you get my drift so didn't get to see much. Looks like you folks are making the best of your time together. I can't wait to try my gravy mix on some biscuits made from our new recipe book. If only I had some Jimmy Dean sausage to go with.
Tracking down carny people must be real interesting.
I agree with MarmDad on the Ripley's museum but it would have taken quite some time to not only see but to get the visions out of your mind so you can sleep.
KWB
Are you doing GPS? I've been wanting to get into that ever since reading "North of Beautiful."
On the topic of freak shows and carny adventures ... I recently learned that my 2nd great grandfather probably visited "Castan's Panopticum" while a missionary in Berlin (circa 1878-80). The Panopticum drew thousands. Wax museum stuff, shrunken heads, you name it, monsters of various shapes and sizes. I love the notion of having BEEN to a Panopticum, Not actually being there. But it's a great word and one need to HAVE BEEN, just so you can exit the Panopticum and say, "Well, now I've seen it all!" Please see it all in Tennessee before you leave.
Marmot Dad
I am surprized no one has mentioned this, but what's with Steve's toque? He looks a little silly.
I love the GPS. Except one time, in Centralia Washington, we thought we were headed for lunch at a cute, independent bread shop and ended up in a trailer park. We ate at Arby's.
I saw your wedding announcement today! I really like it. YAY!
KWB--Oooh, enjoy your biscuits and gravy!
Heidi--Steve has a GPS. It makes life so much easier (although it doesn't realize that the interstate close to my house was changed recently).
Meg--He always wears that hat that way. He really wanted one with a pom pom on top.
E--Yeah, that's the problem. It's really, really fantastic. Until it's not.
Ann-Marie--Yay! I'm glad you like it (certain members of the older generation did not). Yours is on its way!
Marmot Dad--I almost forgot to respond to you. We saw as much as we possibly could but, as far as I know, we have no panopticum. We did visit Ruby Falls yesterday, but Steve got sick so we had to cut the good times short.
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