May 6-7, 2018 Tupelo, Mississippi

82 degrees and sunny. 

When I looked out the window when I woke up I saw these deer. We into town the see the birthplace of Elvis. A water tower that says Presley eights, Hwy sign to the birthplace, sign in front-Museum, Chapel park, Elvis birthplace and a painted guitar out front with young Elvis and his parents and their house. 

Elvis was born in 1935 and lived in a 2 room house that his father Vernon built. There was this kitchen and a bedroom with a full bed. Elvis slept with his parents until he was 3, then they got a roll away for him.  They had an outhouse out back. John and I sitting on a porch swing on the front porch. Elvis may have sat here at one time. 

Elvis Presley's childhood church and a replica of the outhouse that was out back. Elvis probably sat in one of those too. His pastor taught him his first guitar lessons. A statue of Elvis at 13 years old. The family moved to Memphis when he was 13. He got his first guitar for a birthday present when he was 7. He had wanted a bb gun, but his mother thought those were too dangerous so they talked him into a guitar.

The Elvis Presley memorial chapel was built with donations from Elvis's fans and friends.Some of the pretty stained glass in the chapel.Welcome center.. Your birthplace  experience  starts here. An Elvis Mississippi licence plate seen in town. His family had a car similar to this one. Another painted guitar in front of the visitors center in town. We also learned we will be missing the Elvis festival in early June. 

This statue is titled the Becoming. Elvis as a youngster sat at the top of this hill and dreamed of being a big star and behind him is a statue of him as a big star.

Some historic markers, two from the Shake Rag community. They lived across the street from the black section of town. Elvis was influenced by the Gospel and Jazz he heard here in his childhood.  Photo of Elvis as a youth, The hardware store where he got his first guitar, and two more plaques about his music. The reflection pool is a nice peaceful spot where you can reflect on what it was like for Elvis to grow up here. 

Beautiful downtown historic Tupelo. I am touching the hand of Elvis. The statue was made from a photo of Elvis singing at the county fair when he came back to his hometown. 

Sunset at camp tonight was small, no big clouds. Ant hills all in a line. 

In the 80's, nice breeze, blue skies today. Beautiful. I spent much of it in my lawn chair finishing my book and basket.  I am going to have to remember to take photos of these when the sun is out, but they came out cut. Our backyard tonight. See my lawn chair in the back? John BBQd peppered steaks, roasted broccoli and perfect homemade whole wheat biscuits. Yummy. Thanks sweetie. 

Sunset tonight from the backyard du jour.