Saturday, November 1, 2014

Siblings visit

We joined Ginnie's two sisters and brother in Branson for a couple of nights and took in a show, plus did some shopping.   After that we came home to Bella Vista where a jigsaw puzzle was partially pieced together, and we did some tourist things, like visiting Crystal Bridges and driving over to Eureka Springs to see Turpentine Creek Animal Refuge at feeding time.  TCAR cares for big cats, lions and tigers and also has some bears.  Pictures follow with captions to explain what was happening when the shutter tripped:

Here are dead wasps from the screened porch at the condo.  Wasps made sitting out "adventurous" to say the least.

The Oakridge Boys.  I'm a fan now.


 Here we are puzzling.



\Cool art at Crystal Bridges




Knitting?  


Bone in chicken, crunch crunch


Memorial chapel in Bella Vista, great place for weddings

Banana waffles with orange sauce.  a real breakfast treat.  Thank you Ginnie

Monday, October 6, 2014

Fall trip to Kansas and beyond

I'm writing this from home following the completion of our trip.   We first went to Salina towing the camper behind us, but stayed at Scott's house.  On our last trip we got our basement bedroom squared away and have a little sitting area outside the bedroom.  It's in the basement, but it's comfortable and affords us an escape from the high energy boys whose sleeping schedules are not comprehensible.  Alex' birthday was approaching and we remember last year when the attention just was too much for him.  He seems to be doing better, always happy, but still not interactive as one would hope.  His little brother has some issues, and it appears he is going in to a pre school program where he can get some individual help.  Madeline of course, is and always has been our wonder child, so full of confidence,  and fearless.  She is a year away from beginning college, and plans to become a teacher.  She will do well whatever she choses.  Terrific young lady.



Adrian pretty much murdered three ears of corn, Alex not so much.  Cake followed, and Adrian wanted to blow out the candles even though it's Alex' birthday.  He ended up with a piece of cake with one candle in it, which was relit many many times.



Here's Bill tutoring Madeline with her Physics homework.  Bill has done a wonderful job fully engaging in Madeline's education.   We got to experience pulled pork which Bill prepared.  He's been taking lessons on barbecuing and he does a great job.  His pork was as tender as any I've eaten anywhere.  Good stuff











After a week in Salina, we needed a break from the high energy 3 and seven year old, and found the perfect relief in joining our Aliner Group at Lake Melvern.  Pics follow:
Cutting up apples for applesauce

Getting ready to eat




We won Cowchips!
Following the Aliner LOKAT rally at Lake Malvern, we joined three other couples for several nights at Mt. Nebo State Park in Arkansas.  We had rim sites overlooking Lake Dardanelle, the towns of Dardanelle and Russelllville Arkansas.  What a great relaxing time we had.

A few of the group gabbing

Early morning before sunrise

Sunset

Our Aliner

Our neighbors and hosts


Following our time at Mt Nebo, Ginnie and I travelled alone to Maumelle Campground just on the outskirts of Little Rock, AR.  We spent four nights there, taking in Bill Clinton's Library, riding bikes and relaxing and decompressing from all the activity of the past two weeks.


A Childe Hassam that hung in the Oval Office

Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Clinton Library





The Two Rivers Bridge and my well travelled bike




Ginnie humoring me


That about raps it up for this time











Monday, June 16, 2014

Mountie Weekend

This past weekend was Ginnie's class reunion of the '64 Graduates from Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas.  Ginnie has been anticipating this for many months, with daily emails flying back and forth, hearing from old chums, each writing personal stories to be incorporated in a Memories Book, learning of losses, children, grand children, tragedies overcome and much more.   This is Ginnie's story to tell, not mine.  I was just an observer, along for the ride, so I'll let the pictures tell the story:






The "Chapel" at the Mount

Private chapel for the Sisters

Dedicating Wangari's Statue

Agatha






Susie's "Nuns shadow"