It's Independence Day!

Today, in the Independence Bracket we have heavy hitters, Virginia and Ohio! The 10th and 17th states respectively to enter the Union.

Let's check the map! Would Virginia's destination be Richmond? Many moons ago, I spent the weekend in Norfolk. Maybe there. What about Ohio? Tera and Treye, where are you? Are we coming to you this year? It's the three C's. Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati- which is actually in Kentucky! Too confusing.

Okay, and I need that big mouth bass from Fancy Flours over here! All four states that have entered the semi-finals have the same state bird... the cardinal. I don't know, but something is fishy!

Vote! Over there------->>>>

The quiet before the storm...

Happy Friday everyone. Here's where we stand. There will be no voting today. We will resume our semi-final round next Tuesday with voting for one bracket only.

Tuesday will be the Freedom Bracket:
Kentucky will duke it out with yesterdays winner Illinois.

Wednesday will be the Independence Bracket:
Virginia will battle it out with yesterdays winner Ohio.

Thursday will be the Liberty Bracket:
Indiana- state de la Cassie- goes up against New York.

The winners of the above competitions are our winners of each bracket. Taste of USA will be decided on Friday between those three states! Got it? Good!

Now go have a great Memorial Day weekend with your peeps!

Round 3 and Oopsie!

Today will be a little different in the Independence and Liberty Brackets because of two things. 1) Louisiana and Virginia tied on May 15th and the winner of those two is supposed to go up against Alabama. 2) Because someone (me) wasn't paying attention and typed Tennessee instead of Indiana. You would rather go to Tennessee than West Virginia but they weren't even in the same bracket. Yes, that was a heavy sigh you heard.

So today in both the Independence and Liberty Brackets you will be deciding between three states. Make it count.

Round Three!

Freedom Bracket: Would rather go to Kentucky or California?

Independence Bracket: Choose between Alabama, Louisiana and Virginia.

Liberty Bracket: Will it be Texas, West Virginia or Indiana?

Vote over there---->>>>>

Peggy and Robin actually read the Monday post and entered a poem for a drawing and Peggy you won! I'm off to Hobby Lobby to find my magical item. I hope it's still there but if it's not there's lots of other magic that I can choose.

Good Times

That's what I've been having and that's what we'll be having at Taste of USA 2009! Where do YOU want to go?

Today's contestants are:
Freedom Bracket:
Lousiana or Virginia

Independence Bracket:
Michigan or California

Liberty Bracket:
West Virginia or Tennessee

I'd write more but boy am I tired from having all these.... GOOD TIMES!

Where Do You Want to Go? Hmmm?

We're blogging over at Highlowaha! Come join us. Don't forget you're voting for where you are willing to go to meet us for our fun-filled day!

Vote 3 times. Over there----------->

Freedom: Oregon vs. Virginia
Independence: Idaho vs. California
Liberty: South Dakota vs. Indiana
Vote over there------------------------>

Hey, I'm not doing ALL the work. Of those six states where do you think the most viable and fun place would be to go. Disneyland. I'm just saying, Claudia!

Voting will last until approximately 6:00am CST or until I change it in the morning.

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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

Big Skies & Lovers

I am all of the sudden in love with Montana (one winter will cure that, I'm sure) but I've spent exactly 30 seconds looking at the pictures and reading the greeting from the Governor and it just looks so laid back and homey. A place you can put roots down, do your job and live a relaxing life.
Take a look for yourself!

My lovely and talented Aunt Cynthia so graciously sent me these photos of when they were at Yellowstone this summer... I guess I didn't realize that part of Yellowstone was in Montana.

So, where are we going to in Montana? How about Glacier National Park?

Or we could trek across the state and discover The Montana Dinosaur Trail.

There's always a Montana Dude Ranch Vacation. Yee-haw, City Slickers!

And we can hang out with tons of cowboys and horses at one of the many rodeos that are held throughout the summer.

I bet Maureen could find some purple boots in Montana!

Fun facts for Montana are

the state animal is the Grizzly Bear,

the state flower is the Bitteroot,

and the state butterfly is the Morning Cloak.

Lots to see, lots to do! Stay with me as we hop over to Virginia!

And if I fell in love with Montana, the Virginia site says,

"Live Passionately, Virginia is for Lovers!"

Virginia was the first permanent English settlement so you can imagine how steeped in history it is. If I'm not mistaken we have visited another state that claimed to be the Mother of Presidents... but Virginia is claiming it, too! Presidents from Virginia are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Thomas Woodrow Wilson. whew!

Let's start in Jamestown, where it all began!

Then, let's cover two of my favorite things by experiencing a Beach Music Getaway!

I took the Passionality Quiz at the Virginia site and it hit me dead on!

I'm a Small Town Hound but maybe you're an Adrenaline Junkie or an Appetizer Ninja (I may fit this category, too!) or even a Creative Cat!

The quiz results offers great suggestions featuring the things you like. Go take the quiz and discover Virginia! And if you don't like your results, pick one of the other passionalities to step out of your box and discover something new!

Fun facts for Virginia are

the state bird is the cardinal, the state flower is the dogwood and the state dog is the American foxhound.

On Friday, June 27th

All Montanans are to meet on the sky deck and

all Virginians meet on the passion deck

to tell us what makes Montana and Virginia the

Taste of USA!!!

Lord knows someone needs to tell us more than I have today!