“Well, if truth is the first casualty of war, I guess sobriety is second. I bet Hannibal crossed the Alps on pink elephants.” Captain Hawkeye Pierce, “The More I See You,” season four, episode 22
Chickadee Thursday
Yesterday we visited The Pink Elephant Antique Mall on Historic Route 66 in Livingston, IL, where we did a little shopping, saw a Muffler Man, and had a cold treat!
M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–7/8/26
“Heroism in battle must be rewarded or else people will behave the way they really feel.” Major Frank Burns, “Smilin’ Jack,” season four, episode 21
Granite City Muffler Men
Granite City, IL, is quite the hotbed of Route 66 Muffler Men!
Rusty is a “sentinel of the working class.” He represents all the immigrants that worked the gritty, blue-collar jobs at the steel mill, the railroad, and the river.
Earl stands guard at O’Brien Tire & Auto, the oldest auto repair shop in America:
And this conductor, cleverly placed next to a playground shaped like a train, is so new, I don’t even know what his name is!
We even found Abe Lincoln in the style of the Muffler Man!
Rumor has it there’s at least one more new statue in Granite City…a firefighter. I don’t know if he’s the final one, or if there will be other giants ready to celebrate the Route 66 Centennial…they’re a cool piece of mid-century road trip history!
M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–7/7/26
“My mother always said…’wear clean underwear in case you get run over by a tank and have to go to the hospital.'” Captain Hawkeye Pierce, “The Novocaine Mutiny,” season four, episode 20
Tasty Tuesday–Dining Down the Mother Road (At Home)–Part Six
You’ve already seen our Route 66-inspired Fourth of July dinner, but there’s more…this has been a busy week for recipes from The Mother Road!
I have a really good chili recipe that we all love, but that didn’t stop me from making “Goldenlight Cafe Chili” like they serve at the Goldenlight Cafe in Amarillo, TX, according to the recipe in The Route 66 Cookbook. It was a decent recipe, but everyone here decided (before they even tried it) that they like my chili better…they just can’t comprehend chili without beans! It was a pretty easy recipe, though, which was nice!
To go with the chili I made “Green Chile Grit Cakes” like they serve the Classen Grill in Oklahoma City. This might be my favorite recipe I’ve made from this cookbook so far…they were so good!!!
For dessert I made “Bobby’s Egg Custard Pie” like they serve at Mama Jo’s Pies & Sweets off in Vega, TX. With the sprinkling of nutmeg on the top, it kind of reminded me of eggnog, which I love!
Next up was “The Vernon–The Ultimate Route 66 Burger” like they serve at the College Street Cafe in Springfield, MO. I scandalized my family because it was served on Texas toast, but in the end, they agreed that with the combination of American and nacho cheese, plus pickled jalapeños, this was the best burger so far this summer!
For dessert I made one of my favorites, a “French Silk Pie” like they serve at the Country Dove Gift & Tea Room in Elk City, OK. It was very similar to the recipe I usually make…smooth and rich and delicious!
We’ve had quite a few Route 66 dinners at this point, but I still have several left on my to-do list, including another burger!
M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–7/6/26
“Burns, some men are born to greatness… others have garbage thrust upon them.” Colonel Sherman Potter, “Some 38th Parallels,” season four, episode 19
The Gemini Giant
Very few of the “Muffler Men” located along Route 66 are as iconic as the “Gemini Giant” in Wilmington, IL.
The 28-foot-tall statue was originally placed at “The Launching Pad Drive-In,” a Wilmington restaurant inspired by the space program, in 1966.
The restaurant closed after over four decades in business, but in 2024, the Gemini Giant was re-dedicated in his current location, as a landmark reminder of days gone by
The paint job is very sparkly, and glitters in the sun!
This is another cool piece of Route 66 history!
Mani Monday
This week’s mani is one of my all-time favorites! I used Holo Taco’s “Acid Drip,” the most gorgeous, sparkly shade of chartreuse I’ve ever seen, topped with the fun and summery “Picnic Party Taco.” I love how bright and lively it is!
M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–7/5/26
“Under my framed picture of Senator McCarthy he wrote in big letters: ‘Know Your Enema.'” Major Frank Burns about Captain Hawkeye Pierce, “The Novocaine Mutiny,” season four, episode 20