Melrose Place, Natchez

Nov 13 (Thursday) 2008 Natchez
The weather was improving, cloudy, some sunny periods and warm. We all drove about 30 miles to Natchez; the scenery is-farms and run down houses mostly. Natchez has lots of antebellum homes and I really enjoyed driving around and looking at them. Some were quite run down but lots were in good condition. I did a tour of one called Melrose Place while the others waited in the car (they did not want to see the house). Ches has lost so much weight he lost his wedding ring so we went back to the restaurant and then Melrose, fortunately there was hardly anyone there and he found it in the bathroom trash can.

Large fan used for air conditioning, and worked by slaves (usually children) pulling a rope

Melrose Place
The McMurran family bought 133 acres of land and over 8 years built the mansion, which was finished in 1849. They lived there until 1865. The Davis family then purchased Melrose and they and their decedents lived there for 110 years. The family bought the house furnished and maintained it well, and then sold it furnished to Callon’s who lived there until 1990 when it was sold to the National Park Service. Because it was sold furnished and only 3 families owned it there are most of the original furnishings and lots of documented history.
There are still lots of land so it is impressive to look at the house surrounded by green lawn and a pond with cypress growing in it. There are most of the original out building, slave cabins, barn, carriage house, laundry, and kitchen.

Slave cabins

This was never a working plantation and had only about 25 slaves

Pine Bluff, Arkansas & St. Joseph, Louisiana

Nov 9 Pine Bluff, Arkansas

We decided to leave one day early and because it was so cold in Branson. We drove about 200 hundred miles to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. A nice drive looking at the trees in different colors, weather was a little warmer. We parked atWalmart so Dot, Floyd and Ches could watch the for the bull riding finals.

Nov 10 St. Joseph. Louisiana

We drove another couple of hundred miles to Shiloh Lake Bruin RV Resort. It is very run down and dumpy. We decided to only stay 4 days instead of 6. It was sunny and I went for a walk and looked at beautiful houses with huge lots along the lake. When we tried to set up the satellite dish there was a problem with one of the parts and ches could not put it back together and made it work by using vise grip to hold the satellite dish in place.

View of lake from the motorhome window

Nov 11 St. Joseph
It was pouring rain most of the day and at night, it rained so hard you could not hear the TV, It was not very cold though. We talked to some men fishing and they had a pick up truck full of fish, said they were catfish and buffalo fish. They were very large fish and they caught them in nets. Had a relaxing day.

Nov 12
It was still cloudy and dull, but just a bit of rain. We all drove 30 miles and went to a casino. The area is mostly farms and run down houses, a lot of them just shacks. There were a few nice homes. There was nothing much in the town but 3 casinos. Gambled for a while at 2 different casinos, we did not win but Dot won $50.

Silver Dollar City

Ches and I went to a place called Silver Dollar City, it is a lot like Knot’s Berry Farm used to be. There was a great play “A Christmas Carorl” which was excellent, great scenery and some special effects.

We listened to some Cajun Christmas songs and went on some rides that were like the ones at Disneyland where you ride and see things. The best part was the lights, there are one million lights. There were lights on all the buildings and trees. We watched the parade, which had several floats were all done in lights like the electric parade at Disneyland. There was a huge tree that changed colors and patterns of colors with music Christmas carols. We also went on a train ride where you could see all the lights. The only unfortunate part was that the day was so cold.

Twelve Irish Tenors, Andy Williams, and The Spirit of Christmas

Nov 6 (Thursday) Branson
It was still warm and sunny. We went to 3 shows with Dot and floyd, it was a busy day. I think we have all heard had enough Christmas songs for awhile.

The Twelve Irish Tenors
They put on a great show, starting with Irish songs. When they introduced themselves some were from Ireland, but a lot just had Irish background. They moved around a lot while they were singing and it was very well choreographed.

Andy Williams
Andy is really getting up there, in his eighties, but very spry. His voice is still excellent. There were several other acts that were very good. One act where a woman was coveredwith various things, like a cloak, a cover, etc. for a few seconds and came out in a different costume, she did this several times and the man changed from a black tuxedo and black shoes to a white one suit and shoes.

The Spirit of Christmas
This was a musical, variety show. The show was quite good with beautiful costumes and nice scenery. Three of the Osmond brothers were in the show, they were okay, but not that great. They showed a slide show and they were so cute when they wer little. It was similar to a show you would get on a cruise ship.

Osmond Brothers

Dixie Stampede-Oakridge Boys

Nov 5 (Wed) Branson
It was warm and sunny again. We met with our other with friends Linda and Jerry. Dot, Floyd, Ches and I went to 2 shows.

Linda and Jerry

Dixie Stampede
The show started out well with horses ridden and pulling carriages, an ice skating ring lowered from the ceiling, and angel, and the first acts were good with the nativity scene including camels. The meal was mediocre and the rest of the show was pitiful, mostly getting audience participation to do races. The pig races were funny.

Pig race

Oakridge Boys
The Oakridge Boys put on a really good show even though they are getting up they in years. Part of the show was Christmas but some were their regular songs. The one has such a deep voice it is hard to believe.