Annual Growth

by carriesilverhornTravelPosted on Comments are Disabled

We measure children every year to see how tall they have gotten. We take photos on birthdays to show the progression of life and its milestones along the way. Likewise, I feel like it’s important to always look back on how far you have come rather than focus on what more you need to accomplish. I have been a full-time RVer now for almost 2 years come May 2023. Out of those beginnings sprung this very magazine. An outlet for wisdom, tips, community, and laughs. My journey also gave birth to one ebook and another book along the way. Inventions, projects, speaking engagements, and a true desire to help people travel solo. Some of you may know my origin story, but for those who don’t here is a recap. A tumor is what got me to realize that time was finite and that the different life that I had dreamed about needed to happen sooner rather than later. After my kids left home to spread their wings, I felt like it was finally time to spread mine. I quickly moved to southern Missouri to a tourist town to work as a graphic designer. I was not impressed. Not with the town, the people, the company I worked for…none of it. At that same time a friend of mine, of nearly 20 years, was going through a divorce. A messy one. We came to an agreement, and I moved to central Missouri to assist her with bills and to catch up on precious time we had missed. The arrangement soon showed its true colors and I realized that my presence there was more one-sided. Yet I stayed. I kept trying to reconnect to no avail. After finding my second tumor, I came home from my biopsy to find an eviction letter in my mailbox…from my friend! It was the final straw! I sold what I could, shoved the rest into storage, and bought a small camper out of someone’s backyard, and was gone. Gone to the Tetons in the great state of Wyoming for my very first workcamping gig. The amount of learning I had to do in that first year was astronomical. Not only did I have to learn how to tow and unhook and set up a camper, but I had to learn how to earn a living on the road. Learn, or rather unlearn how not to depend on the 9 to 5. Coming “home” took on an entirely different meaning.Most full-timers have gotten their feet wet a bit by becoming weekend warriors and taking long trips to try out this life before retirement. I did not have that luxury. Not the practice run. Not a steady income. Nothing. I just took off and never looked back. In doing so, I have had to learn the hard way, which in my case is the only way I truly learn. So what did I learn or even unlearn? I learned to remodel everything. From painting a full mural, not once, but twice on the outside and all the many projects inside. I had to learn and be mindful of weights, placement, balance and how to upcycle to the max!I learned that every week, month or even day that I said “I can’t do this” …I actually did it. Sometimes not well and most times I had to redo it…but I did it. Every busted knuckle and mismeasured board came with its own set of curse words and tears. And yet I bandaged the scraps and learned to measure more times than needed and got it fixed. That I don’t need a 9 to 5 job or a career. My identity is not tied up or held hostage by a profession any longer. Which gives me the freedom to create when I want and what I want. To not be dictated by some hierarchy but to be a part of something. Something worthwhile. I learned that life is so much better without Netflix and Hulu and your life measured in inches and dpi’s. Seeing the actual world, not just on a screen but smelling it, feeling the breeze, even so much as noticing the difference in the way water taste in various locations amazes me. In my travels, I have come to know that Wyoming is too cold for me. Beautiful in all her splendor but the wind there is like standing in front of an open freezer. I am never warm there. That the Grand Canyon has a smell. It smells like wet rocks and pine trees.I learned that I am NOT a dessert dweller! I have to have trees and water in my life and though I respect the beauty it holds; it is not for me. My happy place is near or on water. It’s where I learned to meditate for the first time. It’s what washes my day away and everything negative that has stuck with me from the day. Clean slate.I learned to hike and kayak. Being outdoors in nature is so healing for me. Kayaking allowed me to be free on the water and hiking gave me the exercise I desperately need without feeling like it was a chore. To trek to places I could not see. Down paths that opened up to magical views were so spectacular. I learned that I can live bigger, bolder, and brighter with less money, less effort, and way less stress. I have narrowed my expenses down to about $700 a month and I tend to not make much more than that. Just enough for what I need. If I need more, I make more. But nothing in excess. I learned the true meaning of gratefulness. Whether it’s having that first real shower after having to bath out of a cup of cold water for days, or that first blast of heat that comes from your heater after being without electricity and freezing at night. I have learned the true meaning of gratitude. Grateful for the next …

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Rocking and Rolling in Austin

by carriesilverhornTravelPosted on Comments are Disabled

Austin, Texas is known for a number of things, including: I decided to visit the Museum of Ice Cream while I was there. It is a very Willy Wonka child-like experience. Lots of fun. Very short experience and way overpriced. But any place I can get samples of ice cream and end off with a cocktail at an ice cream bar…is a good day! Austin, Texas is a great destination for a solo or group trip for women. Here are some ideas for things to do and places to stay in Austin: No matter what you choose to do, Austin is a welcoming and friendly city that is perfect for a women’s getaway.

Deep South Mansion

by carriesilverhornHistoric, TravelPosted on Comments are Disabled

The Bragg-Mitchell Mansion is a historic house located in Mobile, Alabama. Built in 1855, the mansion is an excellent example of antebellum architecture, with its grand columns and sweeping verandas. It was built by Judge John Bragg, a prominent lawyer and politician, and his wife, Eliza. The mansion was later purchased by Dr. Peter Mitchell, a renowned physician, and his wife, Caroline, who added many of the home’s distinctive features, including the elaborate ironwork and the formal gardens. One of the most striking features of the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion is its grand entrance, which features a sweeping staircase and a double parlor with intricate plasterwork and marble fireplaces. The home is adorned with beautiful chandeliers and antique furnishings, giving it a feeling of elegance and sophistication. The mansion’s grand ballroom is the perfect setting for events such as weddings and parties, and it has been used for many such occasions over the years. As a woman, it’s always exciting to discover a place with a rich history and beautiful architecture, and the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion in Mobile, Alabama is just that. This antebellum mansion is a true gem, with its grand columns and sweeping verandas. Antebellum History Antebellum refers to the period before the American Civil War (1861-1865). The term “antebellum” is derived from the Latin words “ante” (meaning “before”) and “bellum” (meaning “war”). In the United States, the antebellum period is often associated with the Old South and the plantation culture that existed in the southern states. During the antebellum period, the economy of the southern states was largely based on the production of cotton, tobacco, and other crops. Plantations were a common sight in the South, and they were typically large tracts of land that were worked by enslaved African Americans. Many plantation owners were wealthy and lived in grand mansions, which were often referred to as antebellum houses or plantation houses. These houses were typically built in the classical style, with grand columns and sweeping verandas, and were designed to evoke a sense of sophistication and elegance. The antebellum period was a time of great social and economic change in the United States. In the North, industrialization was on the rise, and many people were moving from rural areas to urban centers in search of work. In the South, however, the economy was largely based on agriculture, and many people lived and worked on plantations. The North and South were also divided politically, with the North being more supportive of abolition and the South being more supportive of slavery. The antebellum period came to an end with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. The war had a profound impact on the United States, and it marked the end of the plantation culture and the beginning of a new era in American history. Me, personally, I love the architecture and its beauty of it, but the history really upsets me and makes me sad. One of the first things that will catch your eye when you arrive at the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion is its grand entrance, complete with a sweeping staircase and a double parlor with intricate plasterwork and marble fireplaces. As you wander through the mansion, you’ll be struck by the beautiful chandeliers and antique furnishings that adorn the rooms, giving the entire space a feeling of elegance and sophistication. But the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion isn’t just a pretty face. It’s also home to a grand ballroom, which has played host to countless events over the years, including weddings and parties. If you’re in the market for a unique and beautiful venue for your own special occasion, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion might just be the perfect fit. In addition to the mansion’s interior, the exterior is equally as stunning. Surrounded by lush gardens and landscaped grounds, the mansion provides a beautiful setting for outdoor events. The gardens, which feature a variety of plants and flowers, including camellias, azaleas, and magnolias, are a true sight to behold. And if you’re a fan of outbuildings, you’ll be pleased to know that the mansion is home to a carriage house and stable, which have been beautifully restored and now serve as event spaces. If you’re in the Mobile area, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion is a must-see. It’s open to the public for tours, so you can explore the mansion’s beautiful rooms and gardens and learn about its rich history. And if you’re looking for a unique venue for your next special occasion, the mansion is available for rent. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience this beautiful and historic gem for yourself.

The Prince’s Cabin?

by carriesilverhornHistoric, TravelPosted on Comments are Disabled

Welcome Gypsy Souls! Let us travel back in time, to the days of early settlements, homesteads, and a race for religion and for the races. I visited the site of The Prince’s Cabin in Southeastern Washington on one of my trips. The Prince’s cabin is thought to be the oldest standing cabin in the state of Washington. It originally stood at a Cayuse wintering place just upstream of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman’s Presbyterian mission, two miles east of the Frenchtown Historic Site. Narcissa Whitman refers to its presence in a letter from January 1844, telling of the recent move by an immigrant family from the crowded mission building to “the Prince’s house up the river.” After the killing of the Whitmans in 1847, and during the ensuing war of 1855, the village site and the cabin were likely abandoned. In 1855, the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Umatilla Indian Tribes signed a treaty ceding more than 6.4 million acres of what is now northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington to the United States, including the Frenchtown area. Although the treaty was ratified by Congress in 1859, the last Cayuse were not forced off the land in this area until early 1861, when white settlers demanded their removal, threatening to hang hostages if they stayed. In the same year, Albert and Elizabeth Blanchard laid claim to the property where the cabin still stood. The Homestead Act of 1862 officially opened the land up for settlement, and the Blanchards filed their land patent in Vancouver, Washington in 1866. The land and cabin were acquired by the Smith family around 1888. While oral history indicates the cabin was moved from its original location “across water,” the first Government Land Office survey of the area in early 1860 notes a house on the precise spot where the cabin was located when Kriss and Robin Peterson purchased the property in 1990. It was Robin Peterson who recognized the cabin as a fur trade relic and began the process of researching its origins and construction. In 2013, his widow Kriss Peterson donated the cabin to the Frenchtown Historical Foundation, to be moved, restored, and interpreted at the historic site. The Cayuse name of the Prince was not recorded. “Prince” was often used in fur trade culture to refer to a headman or trading partner’s younger brother or son. The Prince was a younger brother of Hiyumtipin, headman at Pašx̣ápa (pronounced Pash-KA-pah), the Cayuse village just east of the Whitman Mission. It was Hiyumtipin who discovered the drowned body of young Alice Clarissa Whitman in the Walla Walla River in 1839. Hiyumtipin and the Prince were from the same extended family as Wilewmutkin (Old Joseph) and Wilewmutnin (Twisted Hair, who was Lewis and Clark’s Nez Perces Guide), as well as Young Chief (Tauitau), Looking Glass, Homlie, and others, all leaders in a regional indigenous political alliance. Around 1834, Looking Glass of the Nez Perces, Young Chief of the Cayuse, and the Prince became involved in a dispute with Pierre Chrysologue Pambrun of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) over prices for furs and horses. They allegedly seized Pambrun and interpreter Jean Toupin, threw blankets over them and beat them severely. In response to this incident, the HBC cut off trade with those involved, blacklisting all three leaders and their families. When the three men returned to the HBC to seek reconciliation, Pambrun used “gift diplomacy” to resolve the conflict. Gift diplomacy was the common practice of offering gifts (typically European-style homes) in exchange for goods, horses, or promises of good behavior. It is documented that Pambrun built a cabin for Young Chief in or before 1840. In fact, and in part because of the Prince’s involvement in this conflict, we believe Pambrun built at least two cabins: one for Young Chief on the Umatilla River, and one for the Prince at Pášx̣apa. It is not known if Looking Glass received a cabin. Although there is no official record linking the Prince’s cabin to Pambrun, his connection to its construction is apparent through these and other pieces of evidence. The 1844 letter by Narcissa Whitman referencing “the Prince’s house up the river,” attests to the location and ownership of the Prince’s cabin. In addition, as discussed later, the cabin itself exhibits structural characteristics typical of the 1830s, and a level of construction skill specific to French-Canadian artisans of the time. The Prince’s notoriety as a Cayuse leader waned in the years following the attack. During a council with Indian Agent Elijah White in 1843, the Prince is reported to have said: “Perhaps you will say it is out of place for me to speak, because I am not a great chief. Once I had influence, but now I have but little…yet, I am from honorable stock. Promises which have been made to me and my fathers have not been fulfilled…But it will not answer for me to speak, for my people do not consider me their chief.” Unfortunately, the Prince did not long enjoy the shelter of his cabin – he was slain by members of another tribe in about 1845, while en route to the buffalo country. At the same site where The Prince’s Cabin now rests, was a burial marker and memorial garden for many pioneers and natives that had been in that area. The dates go as far back to the 1870’s.