Spahr's Restaurant in Des Allemans on Hwy 90 has been rebuilt after a fire. Fried Food and Desserts are some of the best on the planet. It was a former Exxon Station in the old days. I can remember eating Catfish Piquant there with Jimmie and the total bill was $15. A little higher in price these days, the food is none the less great and the prices reasonable. My uncle Dan Ray, a friend of the owner, used to hunt out back for ducks. Today, there are still alligators there. I didn't see the rope where they used to tie chickens for the alligators to jump up and eat. My Aunt Jenny and cousin Peggy ate with me at Spahr's.

New Orleans is a place where they live to eat. We love the Werlein Salad with Flash Fried Oysters at the Palace Cafe. Named for the location of a former Music Store on Canal Street, the Palace Cafe is a wonderful place to eat. One of the men waiting on us told us his story of the bleak days when our country would not rescue them and he wandered the neutral ground searching for an exit. Dickie Brennan has his restaurant back, he only needs customers. You won't be disapointed.

NOLA is Emeril's second restaurant. I think it is his best. One of the best meals of my life was here. The tasting menu is tremendous. We ate here with friends and it was as good as usual.

On a recent visit to New Orleans, we were glad to see our former Lakeview House has been rebuilt. Over half of the homes on this 14th Ave Street had been removed. It was good to see this wonderful home back in good condition. Many are still suffering in New Orleans. Government has failed the wonderful fun-loving people of New Orleans.

My Pop and Mother Phillips

Last year when my uncle Edgar Swint died, our family gathered around the toomstone of our grandparents. My Pop Phillips worked for the Southern Railroad for over 40 years as did my dad. When my grandfather died, the grandsons were pallbearers. During the service, a train came by the funeral home. As the train passed, all in attendance heard the train come by and go into the distance. It was a fitting end for a railroad man. I can still hear that train and remember the faint sound as the service continued. Our family had many happy times at our grandparents house. We learned to fish, catch rabbits, play basketball, and roam the woods near Rome, GA. My Grandmother used to fry rabbit and chicken for breakfast and make her famous cathead biscuits.

This is the Chapel at "The Cove" a Billy Graham Retreat near Asheville. Ruth and Billy oversaw the building of this simple but elagant church. It was thought that the Graham's would be buried there. However, with the building of the new Billy Graham Headquarters in Charlotte, they will be buried there. Jimmie and I visited and perhaps one of the more moving experiences was praying in the prayer room where Ruth and Billy have often prayed. It is just under the steeple. Billy Graham has influence my life. He spoke when 0ur High School in Clinton, TN was blown up in the 50's by the Klan. Clinton was one of the first schools in the South to be intergrated. These events played on the minds of those who lived there, me included.

Looking Glass Falls

Many waterfalls like this are all over Western North Carolina. Looking Glass Falls is just below the Blue Ridge Parkway on Hwy 276 on the way to Brevard.

Two Brothers

We have always enjoyed the mountains. We were raised in Clinton, Tennessee just over the mountains from Asheville. We attended Ridgecrest Assembly during the Summer. Dan later taught there when he worked for the Baptist Sunday School Board. I now live in Asheville. We are seen in front of the Grove Park Inn, one of the best hotels in this nation.

Biltmore Entrance

This is the entrance to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC during the holidays. The whole town of Biltmore Village outlines their roofs during this time. Biltmore Estate provides our guests a view of how the times were during the early 1900's in Asheville as Vanderbilt built Biltmore. Asheville has become a destination for tourists with arts, restaurants and the mountains. Two outstanding hotels, one at Biltmore and The Grove Park Inn, are among the best in the world. Many famous people have stayed at each. The Grove Park Inn has the World Famous Gingerbread House competition each year at Christmas.