From the outbreak of the Civil War, both sides had attempted to assert control over the “border states”. In Missouri, which had already been the scene of conflict between pro- and anti-slavery militias during the Bleeding Kansas period, there was a small skirmish near Wilson’s Creek before Union General Samuel Curtis was able to lead … More Pea Ridge Civil War Battlefield

I’m somewhere near Fayetteville AR. This is just a side trip to see a couple of things before I head down to Texas for the winter, so I’ll only be here a couple days.    

This is a very nice wildlife center just a short distance from my Walmart. Since it finally stopped raining again, I finally got to visit. Some photos. Visitors Center Display of native species Keeled Green Snake A youngling Spiny Softshell Turtle Outside are several miles of walking paths A hostile Canada Goose. “None shall pass!” … More Lichterman Nature Center

So, the news says the coppers in Miami have towed away a van used by the dumbfuck who has been mailing pipe bombs to people he didn’t like. Let’s hope he wasn’t living in it—we don’t need “publicity” like that. Regardless of what political opinion one holds, I hope we can ALL agree that anyone … More Hooo Boy ………

Elvis may be everywhere, but Graceland, in Memphis TN, is where he lived. Originally built in 1939 by a local doctor, the estate was bought by Elvis Presley in 1957 at the height of his fame. He lived here until his death in 1977. Today, the estate is open for tours. Some photos. ​The mansion … More Graceland

The Pink Palace Science and History Museum in Memphis has a nice display of artifacts. Some photos from a visit: The Museum Inside the Museum A Leeuwenhoek microscope. I didn’t realize they were so small. Fossil slab from a bone bed in Tennessee Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Human evolution. It takes some guts to display this in … More Pink Palace Museum

[NOTE: I’ve blogged all these “how-to” posts before, but am gonna re-run them on occasion, since folks may have missed them, and many of them have been updated or expanded since they were first posted.] There are two basic types of people who live in a camper van: those who have, by unfortunate circumstances, been … More Why I Live in a Van

During the Civil War, the Burkles, an immigrant family from Germany, operated a livestock yard from a farmhouse on Second Street in Memphis. According to family lore, it became a stop along the “Underground railroad” that smuggled escaped slaves from the South to freedom in Canada. The house is now a museum. The tour includes the … More Underground Railroad Slave Museum

Although the Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest had been defeated and wounded at Tupelo, his cavalry unit was still a danger to the Federals, operating in the Union Army’s rear areas and raiding supply centers, railroad stations and isolated garrisons. A month after his unsuccessful battle at Tupelo, Forrest planned another daring raid against the … More The Civil War Battle(s) of Memphis

Alas, the weather here in Memphis has gotten pretty crappy (in two days it dropped from “sunny low 90s” to “drizzly low 50s”). But a nice afternoon at the zoo always makes me feel better.  🙂 Some photos. ​Since it’s in “Memphis”, it’s no wonder the zoo has an Egyptian theme ​Bonobo with a puzzle: … More Memphis Zoo