Text by Tammie

  Atlanta, Illinois, was among stops for a recent Mother Road Moves newsletter . While there, we happened by the Paul Bunyon [sic] giant that holds a hot dog in a bun. We stopped for lunch at the Country-Aire Restaurant, home of delicious pie and Lumi, The Pie Lady giant that celebrates the owner’s wife’s pie-making skills. Of course, I took home a piece of delicious pecan pie. But can we also talk about the pork tenderloin sandwich I ate on-site? Scrumptious!

  The Macoupin County “Cannonball” Jail’s entrance faced U.S. Route 66. Route 66 in Carlinville, Illinois, was used for transporting illegal beverages in the 1920s. Leading to some people being incarcerated at the jail right on that same Route 66. Perfect. https://motherroadmoves.substack.com/p/cannonball-jail-kept-inmates-on-route  

  A museum dedicated to large, molded fiberglass sculptures known as “Muffler Men’’ is a tourist attraction in Atlanta, Illinois, that features “Big Friends.” The American Giants Museum, located at the corner of Vine and Arch streets on Historic Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois, has several “giants,” including a giant sculpture of a Texaco Man.   The Texaco Man was part of a 1960s Texaco advertising campaign letting customers know that he gives “Big Friend Service.”   More about him and other giants are profiled in the newest Mother Road Moves newsletter. https://motherroadmoves.substack.com/p/big-friend-on-route-66

In the past few months, I've been working on a new adventure -- traveling Old Route 66 to unravel the persons, places, things and more that still exist on the historic route for the benefit of Route 66 fans and seekers. U.S. Route 66, known as "The Main Street of America," connected Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, from 1926 to 1985, when it was officially decommissioned. It's become a symbol of American freedom and adventure. That adventure turns 100 in 2026. And my weekly newsletter on the platform Substack will help document the persons, places, things and more that make life interesting. The latest newsletter profiles the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois. You're welcome to check it out: https://motherroadmoves.substack.com/p/big-friend-on-route-66 The general URL is  motherroadmoves.substack.com Here's to more adventures.

Winter Storm Blair 2025 hit us in central Illinois. We had 8-10 inches of snow. My husband and I shoveled snow off our long driveway in half-hour intervals for 4 hours total, but we got it done :) 

  Tulips are said to represent enduring love and devotion. I put the pot of tulips my husband gave me on Valentine’s Day on the bay window in our family room. Its backdrop? A backyard of freshly fallen snow. Snow can symbolize “purity of heart.” Enduring love and devotion comes from a pure heart? Yes.