Unidentified Tree?

There is this really pretty tree next to Auntie Violet. I asked the volunteer at the office what it might be and she seemed surprised I asked and obviously had no idea. I've been looking through my books but...

I CANNOT find a match to these interesting leaves in the 528 pages of my Field Guide to Trees of North America. The only leaves with this shape and number of lobes that I can find have pointed, not rounded, lobes.

This morning, though, I noted this leaf which made me think that this could be an adaptation of the only tree that I found with this shape of leaf.

I now think it might be a tulip poplar... Liriodendron tulipfera. The book says those striations on the trunk turn into deeply furrowed bark as the tree ages.
Does anyone know any different? Or have a better notion?

We did run into the little town of Fountain this afternoon to mail the insurance payments. On the way we saw this smoke...

As we got closer, we realized it was not a fire, but a BBQ joint!

We ended up stopping and buying a side of ribs to take home for dinner tonight...

A second look at the pig by the road made us realize that it was also part of the smoking operation!

PS We did take the little lizard off of the lavender plant and leave him at Styx River RV Park. I thought about leaving him on the plant, but thought he might wander off of it into the Toad somewhere. That would not have been a good scenario...

Football and Ribs

Good grief, there's ANOTHER football game on TV! I'm not sure how many that makes today!  Even though I turned the clocks back last night, Forry woke up early (by the new time) and was already watching a game when I got out of bed.

I made chocolate and almond croissants for breakfast (frozen -- put them out to raise last night), waited until almost eleven, then took a couple over to Juni and Tom's to share with them.  Other then that, I mostly spent the day with my Kindle.  There have been so many free books on Facebook for the Kindle that I am well-stocked with many different genres.

Later in the afternoon Tom called and suggested that we go out for barbecue this evening. A quick check on UrbanSpoon revealed at least fifteen different BBQ places in the area without going downtown.  Tom had picked out a place called Calhoun's, a chain that they had eaten at before.

We had a bit of a debate about what everyone wanted and all decided on racks of baby back ribs.  Then the waitress told us they were all out! And out of pulled pork, our second choice, as well! ;-(

After a bit of whining on our parts, we finally decided on some chicken, catfish and shrimp.  Then the waitress came back and said that if we were willing to wait another fifteen minutes, they would have two racks out of the smoker. It was well worth the wait!  The ribs were great (and there was enough for ribs tomorrow for lunch). They also had corn pudding as a side that was delicious.

We just got back to Auntie Violet and sure enough, there's another football game on TV...