Monday Madness

Welcome back loyal readers. Did you see that Survivor Finale last night? JT- you gotta love him! I still wish Brandon had won. Coach is still an idiot. I liked Sierra last night, too. Well now, let's get on with our little contest. Don't forget you're voting for where YOU want to go because you're coming to Taste of USA right? Right?

Freedom Bracket:
Ohio or Tennessee, oh, where will it be?

Independence Bracket:
Georgia or South Carolina, will it be here or there?

Liberty Bracket:
Kansas or Oklahoma, as long as you come to party with us, I don't care!

Vote Over There----->>>>

Write your own poem in the comment section and be entered into a drawing for something from Hobby Lobby... it's kind of like door #1 or door #2 but it's a whole store for me to choose from... I kind of know what I have in mind but I'm not sure if it's there so, you'll just have to wait and see!

Pick Your States Not Your Nose!

Ha! Ha! I crack me up. Friday! Friday! Yay!

5th day of voting and after today you don't have to come back until Monday when Round 1 will continue. But let's focus on today.

Vote 3 times over there --------->>>>

Freedom: Ohio vs. Maryland
Tera and Treye are in Ohio, right? Hmmm.... Can Maryland crab cakes take over Tera and Treye in Ohio? We shall see.

VOTE OVER THERE---->

Independence: Georgia vs. Vermont The peach battles maple syrup! I know, let's pour some maple syrup on grilled peaches! Did I just make that recipe up?

VOTE OVER THERE------>

Liberty: Massachusetts vs. Kansas The home of the Boston Tea party battles the largest ball of string... sing it loud, sing it proud- where do you want to go?

VOTE OVER THERE-----> cha-cha-cha... I'll give you a recap tomorrow. Isn't it liberating to be silly. Go ahead. Try it!

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Did you hear the echo in here?

It's been a quiet week at Taste of USA and my friend, Angie, is leaving for vacation tomorrow so I know she won't be logging in. Or, if she does, I'll be surprised. So, it's just our very own Katie moving to Virginia- the state for lovers!

Out of this weeks states, I have been skiing in Colorado, to a ranch barbecue in Oklahoma and to see a boy in Virginia but I wasn't supposed to be there so mom, I have never been to Virginia. (She'll never read that because she doesn't know how to use the computer.)

All Passengers from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Montana & Virginia report to your appointed decks immediately to tell us what makes your state the Taste of USA!

Up next week: Kentucky, Washington, Oregon, Nebraska & Connecticut

We're Not in Kansas Anymore, Toto.

Oh, yes we are!

Welcome to the Sunflower State!

Also known as the Jayhawk State, the Wheat State, and the Midway State. Kansas grows more wheat than any other state. Yum, I can smell the hot fresh baked bread now! Known as the Midway State because in Lebanon, Kansas in the middle of a hog field, there's a marker that marks the geographical center of the lower contiguous 48 states.

When I saw the words, "Quirky Kansas" I knew I had to check it out. And what did I find there but a couple of things that Claudia would love. Like the largest Giant Van Gogh replica! It's a replica of one of his sunflower paintings. It stands 24' x 32'! And, the world's largest ball of twine! I feel like we're in the movie Michael with John Travolta! The ball of twine has a 40' foot circumference and weighs about nine tons. Now that's big!



This September marks the 33rd Annual Huff-N-Puff Hot Air Balloon Rally on Lake Shawnee in Topeka. Topeka is the capital of Kansas. The Combat Air Museum looked like a place my boys would like to go! With 32 aircraft's dating back to WWI to present day.

Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas and they have the 12th Annual Amelia Earhart Festival coming up July 18th & 19th. They'll have all the usual festival events with aerobatic performances and a fireworks show after dark. It looks like good ole home fun!

And when we're done there, we can head over to Dodge City to celebrate Dodge City Days. It's a ten day festival with everything cowboy. Rodeos, barbecue, gunfights and the Boots, Beer and Bikini's Beach Party.... okay, not all things cowboy... well, you're supposed to wear your boots! Well, anyway, we can pretend to be Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok and shoot up the OK corral!

Of course, we can always head over to Kansas City (not on the Missouri side) and have some of their famous barbecue! I think I'm still on the Kansas side but who knows! We can go and gobble up some ribs at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ- it sounds and looks delicious! Don't let the fact that it's in a gas station scare you... uhm.... I'm a little scared.



The last stop I have for you on our Kansas tour today is Wilson Lake. My maiden name is Wilson. So, when my mom went on her trip a couple of weeks ago, she got to pose by the sign where she is obviously claiming it as her own. Wilson Lake has everything to meet our camping, boating, fishing, hiking and hunting needs. It back to nature!

There's just a little taste from me. What's your favorite part of Kansas?

Fun facts for the State of Kansas are:
The state animal is the Bison.

The state flower is the wild native sunflower.

The state bird is the multi western meadow lark.

All Jayhawkers meet on the sunflower deck on Friday, June 27th to tell us what makes Kansas the Taste of USA!