After enjoying another breakfast with members of the tour group and sharing our plans for the day - we learned that we were all heading in the same direction later - to another Cardinals Game.  THis was an afternoon game so we would head out about lunch time.  They were going by way or the Arch - Gateway to the West.  I went to the top of this several years ago with April, Noah, and the kids (and during a thunderstorm).  I'm sure it was documented early in our Novice days! LOL

Keith had some work to do so I explored the strip mall just outside of the hotel, swam a couple of laps in the pool, and toured (should've been a small workout) the exercise room, all before getting ready to leave for the game.  To say I was a bit restless was an understatement!!

April took us to brother-in-law Jack's favorite burger place... This is for you Jack!! :-)

It turned out rather hot and humid during the game.  We had great seats but the sun was just to much for me - so I watched most of the game from the food court just inside.  April and the kids alternated watching from the seats and the court.  We shared a table with interesting people from all over.  The Cardinals have fans that travel quite far for their games!!  It wasn't a great day for them either as it was the only loss in the series with Arizona.

So our visit with April was at an end.  I spent the evening getting organized for the next leg of our journey across the USA!!  I love this country!!

St. Charles, MO

I started out my day having breakfact with a tour group from Oklahoma that was also staying at the Best Western.  They were a group of American Indians (I knew the Tribe but cannot drag it up from my memory) that get together every year and tour a different area of the US.  This year it was the St. Louis area.  We talked about all the different things there were to see there and the nice ladies also talked quite a bit about themselves.  I got a pretty good history lesson (which I thouroughly enjoyed) before they headed out to start their trip to the Cahokia Mounds across the river in Illinios and to Grants Farm.  Keith took me to both of those spots during different visits to the area.  I know they will have a great time - I know I could've spent a whole day in each place when we went! LOL

So, after this very long breakfast, April, Elizabeth, and Brennan arrived bearing all sorts of goodies for our day together!   We started out at the pool!

Then we went for a nice stroll down to Main Street in St. Charles.  The weather was quite wonderful.  Sun shone all day for us and a great breeze made it that much better!

Our lunch stop was at the Olde Millstream Inn which was in itself a really great place.  I'm so glad April suggested it.  The patio seating right next to the stream was great. The servers were wonderful.  The food (except for Brennan's overdone burger) was really good.  Brennan didn't say anything about the burger in time to do anything about it - but they apologized profusely and offered....

After the great lunch, we explored Main Street

And got our picture taken

before we took the St. Charles Trolley and headed  "back for the barn".  The driver dropped us as close tot he front door of the hotel as he possibly could!

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Day 2

Thankfully, there weren't any more issues - only the 1 trip down the 2 flights of stairs for Keith and 2 round trips for me... but . .  the elevator, true to the young man's word, was still out of order when we went down to breakfast.  So, Keith painfully transcended the staircases, again. 

I got this brainchild of an idea during breakfast... Since the irritated couple last night had a 1st floor room (I saw them head down the hall after our nice conversation) and were headed out on their long drive - early, early, early ~ to repeat their words ~ I could go request that we get their room after it was cleaned - and the elevator was fixed.

The nice lady at the desk was astounded about the elevator breaking down with us in it - no one seemed to realize we'd been in it when it stopped (no one checked, that I know of), was very apologetic about the leak, false alarm, and all the rest - and checked, looked, checked, and looked again at her bookings.  W planned to stay until Thursday - so I REALLY wanted to get Keith off of the 3rd floor and felt like I was being rather pushy... and she checked her computer some more, before asking if we'd requested a 1st floor room.  When told yes, it was requested both at booking (online) and again when checking in ~ but were told there were none available ~ she apologized profusely before offering us a room - that had not been booked the night before - so we didn't need to wait for cleaning or anything - EXCEPT - the elevator was still not working - and we had ALL THAT STUFF and no luggage cart!  She actually made several trips up and down those stairs HERSELF packing our stuff down them.  In just a jiffy or two, she had us ensconced in a 1st floor room.  Thankfully for others, the elevator was actually fixed that afternoon, and the leak and and alarm system was online shortly afterwards.  Me, the worry wart, was on a need-to-know quest with that stuff!

So, when April and Elizabeth came to pick us up for our CARDINALS Game, we weren't in the same room as when she and Brennan had left us in just the night before!! :-))  The desk called and let us know that we had our daughters looking for us... and we were so happy!!  So, ready, set, go... we are off!!

and what a crowd!!

that went totally nutso

when

after being behind since the 6th inning -

during the 9th inning

with 2 outs

the Cardinals came awake

AND WON THE GAME!!!

YAY!!!!

And we tiredly made our way back to our 1st floor room at the Best Western.

A good day was had by all!

~~

Except the lady with the sore legs from running

up and down those stairs so many times!! LOL

St. Louis - night 1

So, after attending Church with Mom B we got into the car and headed out towards Missouri and April's family.  We got about 1/2 way there and I saw a sign.  Then I saw another one and Keith said we could go see.  Way, way out of our way I found Santa's Candy Castle at Santa Claus, Illinios. 

Keith waited in the car while I went in and watched kids there make snow... indoor - no melt snow! - talk to Santa ~ and generally have a great time.  It was amazing - all of the 'stuff' for Christmas that was available!  But I contained myself, I only bought our 2010 donations to the Girls family's Christmas Tree decorations.  I loved the little birthstone angels!  Keith even helped out by calling for the one birth month that I couldn't remember (I thought I did pretty good - after all, there are a LOT of them!).  We got about another 100 miles down the road before I realized that I'd gotten one of the other months wrong - and it was too late to turn around. Wahhh!  So we continued on our way, determined to find a way to fix it - one way or another - and the another ended up with the fine folks at the Castle sending me the ornament that I was needing to replace.  Thank you for the assistance!  During our stay in St. Charles - we went and got an engraver - and I got the year and names engraved too... What a deal!!

After a few more hours with Rush, Kelly, and whoever else I talked too, we crossed the Mississippi into St. Louis!  It was a bit overcast and just as we hit the city - we even got a few raindrops but we soon left them behind to the warmth of St. Charles. 

We stayed at the Best Western Inn of St. Charles where we had a rather eventful 1st night!  As always, Keith requested a handicap room, or at least a room on the 1st floor since he and his legs have definate issues with going down stairs.  Well, we were given a room on the 3rd floor since the fellow at the desk said he had to 'hold' a first floor room (I'm not extremely clear on just what this issue was, except that I know there were empty 1st floor rooms and we didn't get one of them).  So we unload all the stuff in the crew cab of the pickup - since we would be there for several days.  And haul it up to the 3rd floor - definately thankful for the elevator!! ^-^   Along about dark or so I start hearing this noise.  Keith isn't the least bit concerned (right to sitting in the chair in his scivvies working on the laptop!) and says it's the fire alarm!!!!! Yikes~~ fire alarm ~ third floor ~ bad ankles ~ no elevator during a fire~~~ I grab my purse and I'm ready to be out of there~~ Keith still in his scivvies, still scrolling around on the internet, not the least bit interested ~~~~ The young guy desk clerk is running from room to room, checking to make sure all of his patrons were safely evacuated!  Not so!!!  Here we are!!  He was very exasberated when he said "The fire alarm is ringing!! You are SUPPOSED to go outside to the evacuation area!" to which I replied ~  I will, as soon as my husband puts some pants on.  LOL  So Keith finally finishes what he is doing and PUTS HIS PANTS ON and we go down the stairs. . . one step at a time - as is necessary for us to do - (which is why we ask for a 1st floor room to start with)  are we getting the picture???  I'm about to bounce off the wall - afraid of fire, yes I am....

So we get down the stairs, the fire trucks are there, the police are there, the other guests are sitting around the lobby - and I quipped to one of them " nice way to spend an evening" ~ only trying to be funny ~ and was told that they were glad they were only spending the 1 night there - as they didn't like being annoyed - ok - so that didn't go so well..... and the fireman shows up and says - ok folks, the rain caused a leak and the leak caused the alarm to go off - there would be something, something, something to make sure that everyone would be safe until it was fixed - anyhow, we could go back to our rooms....

So, we get into the elevator, get to the 2nd floor, and the elevator stops.  More alarms.  Can't get it to move.  Keith got the door open, we got out, and we walked up to our room on the 3rd floor, hoping that the something, something, something didn't happen - because I don't think Keith would've volunarily walked those stairs again....

Soooo, I need another box out of the vehicle that didn't get taken upstairs.  So I go out to the elevator.  There is an out-of-order sign on it - both on the 3rd and 1st floors (I didn't check any further),  I got the box from outside and stopped at the desk to inquire as to the status of FIXING the elevator and was told "probably a couple of days".   So this stinks!!!!  I then offer the fact that I certainly hoped that nothing 'happened' in the next "couple of days" - as we were on the 3rd floor and handicapped.  Not a good deal!

I have a funny story to tell

This is a sample of true to life events:

A few weeks ago I was in Lowe's in Vero Beach.  I went there to get a few things that I needed for the pantry setup and while I was there I was over looking for the door that Richard had seen a while before that and .... anyhow... on with the story.... So we'd been talking about the lack of insulation over the pantry area that we needed to keep cool - and I was looking at insulation - and asked the man there how much I would need... so to come forward some more... I put a roll of the stuff in my cart and asked who could get 4 more rolls for me. A young man was pointed out and called over.

So here is the crux of my story..... the young man sauntered over and said "what".  Taken back a bit - I told him I needed more rolls of the insulation.  He sauntered very slowly around the corner - I followed because he didn't acknowledge that he'd even heard me much less that he would honor the request.  In reality he was getting a cart, V e r y   s l o w l y.  He finally came back with the cart and loaded the request.  The I headed to the checkstand... and I waited for him to show up.  When he got there I said "having a long day? a bit tired?"  his reply - "no, I'm just a laid back guy".  another suprised startle for me!!!

So I pay and head out the door with my cart.  I come back in the door looking for the young man.  He is sitting over on a display... I commented to the cashier that he (the young man) didn't seem much interested in his work and the response was "I'll bet his parents are so PROUD" and I agreed.  I then asked the youn man if he was going to help me take the stuff to the pickup - he looked suprised... got up, wandered over, and started pushing the other cart toward the door.  We got outside the door, he asked where I was parked, said he'd wait there for me to pull over, "it's too hot out here and I don't like the sun". So, now exasperated, I get the pickup, unload my cart, pull over to him, and load that cart into the back, take the carts (both) back inside, come back out and say thank you to the young man that was so much help...  And people that WANT TO WORK don't have jobs...  wonder which corporate boss he is related to.

No wonder this country is going broke!

Charlestown

We arrived in Charlestown just after noon on Friday.  To our delight Mom and Melody were both home (Keith didn't tell them what day we would even get here) and Heather came by not long afterwards.  We went to a very late lunch at Keith's favorite Mexican Restaurant and then stopped by the Library to look at the historical exhibit for the Indiana Munitions Plant that is located here in Charlestown.  Keith's mom worked there twice, both times during wartimes.  She saw several friends there and it was fun watching her enjoy herself - and being a bit of a history person - I enjoyed watching the video and looking at the massive amount of memorabelia that has been collected by the Historical Society of Charlestown.

This weekend was Charlestowns Founders Day Celebration, with booths, rides, and even a parade! We saw them setting up as we went to the Restaurant yesterday. Then looked at the 97 degrees on the thermometer before deciding that we really weren't up to a visit. It worked out very well tho' as we had company almost as soon as we returned to the house.  Keith's youngest sister, Joy, and nephew, Tim, came by.  Then Heather went and got her new bundle of joy, Precious!  Here is Joy meeting Precious!

This morning was the Parade.  BUT, the temp at 8:30 am was 85 so Keith and I just napped a little longer.  Actually, we had heard that the forcast was for it to be even hotter today than yesterday, so we pretty well knew we weren't going to go and stand out there to watch it.  But then, if we had, we would've missed the next visitors.

Dolores and Kenny came up from Shelbyville and we got another photo.  I sure wish Joy could've been here for this photo event also.  Try as I might - I can't get all the siblings together for a family photo!  Maybe I'll get S'te to photoshop one for me!! :-}

So the next plan is to attend Church services with Mom B so she can again show off her baby boy (as she LOVES to introduce him as) once again.  And then to take off towards St. Charles to visit with April and the grandkids for a day or three.  Maybe take in a baseball game - go Cardinals!! (and I didn't bring my tshirt AGAIN!!) :-P

Perry Georgia

After lots of assistance by John, Jessie, and Mike A. we headed out about 10 am.  We actually had quite a nice drive up the Turnpike and then blended nicely onto I75.  Tom had fantastic directions - and we stopped several times to stretch our legs out. 

This was one of our first stops in Georgia.  The temperature on the thermostat in the pickup said 101 but the radio was announcing a heat index of plus 10-15 degrees.  It sure felt like it.  Here is Keith discussing the heat with a gentleman that was headed south toward Tampa.  We met many folks that were headed the opposite way we were! !

The rest area here was pretty and massivly green.  The groundskeeper said that was due to daily rains.  We only drove thru minimal rain - just a few drops and we were done.

Rush and I kept an ongoing scintilating conversation going for much of the trip.  I was able to stay connected to radio stations that were consecutive for many hours (much to Keith's chagrin) Hahaa.

At the Information Center area (I probably have the tags wrong) these huge trees have lots and lots of moss hanging. I tried to get Keith to take a photo of me with them - but it was still to hot out... He went inside, leaving the pickup running and the air on - and straight back out again.  I have to admit - IT WAS HOT!!

We stopped here at Perry, GA at the Holiday Inn, where we met some really nice folks.  They are having a conference for Comcast (hehee) so I listened a lot about the ways they figure things out.  And.... I heard about a building that burned down after a worker (the guy got paid to do this) put a splitter in a wall for an apartment and it wasn't tight (or something to that effect) and sparked.  So, what I got out of that is to make sure all my connections in my cable are always screwed all the way in.  Anyhow that was the big discussion of how Travelers Insurance was going to have to pay to rebuild this building because the tech did it.  My news for the day LOL

So.. Now we are still headed northward.. Maybe on to Lookout Mountain.  Keith says he is feeling a bit 'rocky' this morning . . . so we will see how he feels when we get close.  Hopefully he will feel like exploring - Other than that we are doing well and enjoying the trip!

A little insulation!

With the advent of the Pantry at the Crossings Community Church we found that we badly needed a bit of insulation above the rooms we converted.  I got Lowes to match me on the donation of 10 rolls of attic insulation - So here is ever-ready helper Mike getting started on the first few rolls. 

He managed to get about half of them installed while working alone.  He got to the point that he needed some help so had to stop.  Hopefully the rest will be installed there soon.  It sure can't hurt the power bill.

So far we managed to get weather stripping around all the outside doors, caulk the windows, and put the heat barrier film on all but the Sanctuary windows.  That with a bit more help with the insulation will be a great start in making our Church a bit more economical.  Then we can save our funds for the big projects :-)

Thanks for helping so much Mike -

I doubt that we could have done it all without you!

Busy, busy, busy

I finally found a set that I like for the dining room - and it fits here too!  It is really pretty with a hutch, china cabinet and table that came with a glass cut for the top!  I really am enjoying having another flat surface to stack stuff on!!

My pet project for the last month or so has been to organize and assist in the creation of the 90th Avenue Food Pantry for The Crossing.  Of course any 'pet project' of mine turns into one for Keith too! :)  Our CORE committee has worked hard in getting it all up and running!  We draw (purchase) food items that have been donated to the Treasure Coast Food Bank to distribute to those who are in need.  We opened on June 5 (S'te's birthday  ~ Happy Birthday girlie!) and served a very few - our second open day saw a great increase - and we are looking for an even greater increase in the weeks to come! 

The fellows at the food bank are wonderful! They loaded our pickup full of items for the Pantry - all with smiles! I am so glad that I was able to be a part of it. Makes my heart lift! After we go thru the fresh fruits and veggies - we always end up with some spoilage - nothing goes to waste! Here is a sample of the recepients of the spoilags - this was taken at the Rest Area between PSL and VB. Closer to home we have some goats that come running any time the hear the pickup coming. We were blessed with an overload of fresh corn and tomatoes during our last run! We distributed all but the spoilage - and the goats got that! Everyone and everything is being blessed by this project. Again, I am thankful that I've been involved with it.  We even have Youth that have been able to be blessed with assisting us on Saturdays.

The Crossing, Vero Campus, has been where we have been attending and doing whatever little bit we could to lend a hand. It has been great fun for me to have the chance to be useful again! I've been doing some of the nursery duty to get my 'baby fix' since we've not been doing the foster care gig. I miss my babies (sniff sniff) but the break has been nice too.   On a side note, The Crossing is now collecting items for a Rummage Sale to raise funds for some much needed building maintenance as well as a portion of the donations going to help fund the Pantry.  If you are one of my friends in this area and have 'stuff' to donate - give a call - I can get someone to come get the donation and give you a receipt for it!!  The Rummage Sale will be on July 10th, in the morning.  Come shop!! 

So, now to get ready for our vacation.  It is getting pretty hot and humid - Keith gave me a departure date.... Thank you LORD, for close neighbors that we can depend on to keep our home safe and sound while we are gone.  John and Jessie keep a real close eye - as they live next door - and Barb stops by every now and then to check on them... hehee!!

I've been working really hard on resisting the urge to spill all of my opinions on the Health Care garbage that went on and the media hysteria over the nasty oil well in the Gulf - and - so far - so good!  For another jpost anyway.

Hopefully I will have good posts of our travels this summer and pics of our growing Grandchildren!  Oh what beauties!!  And so grown up!

a couple more photos!

Thank you to all the Men and Women in Uniform, all the Military Spouses, and lastly but not leastly, all the Military Brats for the sacrifices; past, present, and future, that our Armed Forces have suffered. 

Thank you to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we Americans enjoy.

To Jeremy 38 years later.....

Happy Brithday Son
 I wish Heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again. I thought of you today but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories and a picture in a frame. Your memory is a keepsake, from which I'll never part.... God has you in his arms. I have you in my heart.
With love, Mom

As summer comes along

I have been employed by the Census.  Not a permanent position.  Not a demanding position.  Pretty much another way to waste time but this time I get PAID for it!! LOL  No, seriously, it has been fun to be doing something productive and so necessary.  Unfortunately, the job came just in time to really mess with our (my) summer plans.  So, instead of going to Brett and Maya's wedding in Utah, we sent a check and jellies and instead of going to stay in Oregon for the summer, the newly renovated house will be rented for a few years.  A disappointment (on both fronts) but in staying here for the summer, along with the job that I am actually getting paid for, I have gotten busy helping to set up and organize a 'food pantry' for the Crossing Community Church, where Keith and I attend.

The pantry organization is really going pretty quickly.  We are hoping to be opening for the first time on S'te's birthday... Happy Birthday sweetie!!

Staying busy is one way of staying sane... I think....
Dad's bithday flew by just a couple of days ago - Happy Birthday Dad - glad that your day was made all the better by getting released to go home! 

Soon (in 5 more days) it will be Jeremy's birthday again.  It is so hard to believe this would be his 38th! 
Jeremy, I miss you.  Even with all the good that God has blessed my life with - I miss you so much.  My heart is heavy and the memories of you bring a smile with the tears.  Someday you will lead us to you.  I only hope that day is not to terribly far away.

It seems just like yesterday that you were just a tiny baby, then the grinning toddler, growing into the happy and busy little boy with the infectios smile, and then the much to short  time we had you with us as a young man.  I look at the wonderful woman your sister has become - and I know in my heart you would have been a wonderful man if you'd had the opportunity.

An Update

This was what our little house looked like when we bought it.  That is Keith and Tim trying to figure out what we needed to do first.

This was after our first attempt at getting some sort of drainage syhstem going on.

The back door

and the brown garage is gone.  Boy was it ugly

Then our second try at fixing the drainage issue

Then the deck and shed came along

Then the patio we put in...

and now the new front!

and the new back ... hopefully all cleaned up real soon!

With the all new insides... sure looks nice.

A great tribute to D&R Traditional

thanks Del and Shawn!

Jellies

Last summer, while in Coos Bay, I got on a real creative kick.  I was absolutely loving my new kitchen, all of my new counter space, the full garden, the lucious fruits that I grew and others that I picked.

So I made a bumper crop of jams and jellies (among all the other STUFF).

My baby sister, Sharen, told me about some of the guests that will be traveling internationally to attend Brett and Maya's wedding and a few of the customs.  She was brainstorming a local delicacy to offer as token momentos (or something of that sort!) for a few of them.

So anyhow, I thougtht,

why not send some of this bumper crop of sugary sweets to offer up!

I know for a fact they are local to where Brett is local to!

So, the last time I was in Oregon, I boxed up a small (actually very small) sample of my homemade delights and mailed them off to Sharen, who...

put her talented mind and hand to..

decorating with gold lables

Wrapping so prettily

and making rather delightfully appealing, yummy looking gifts.

I hope they are enjoyed!

Dining Room Set

The dining room set that we brought out here 6 years ago succumbed to the difference in humidity several years ago - and I gave it away.  Up until now we've had the desk in the 'dining area' as we had bedrooms set up for the foster care we used to do.  Since we've quit doing the foster gig here in Florida - we made one of the bedrooms into a den/office type of thing and the dining room has been empty.

Which was ok -

Then when Sharen and Jack were here - Sharen and I decided to put the kitchen set in the dining room so we wouldn't have to sit all the way at the other end of the house.  And it worked really well.  In fact, I would rather sit in the dining room than in the eat-in kitchen area (I can see more LOL).  But, then I had this bare room in the kitchen....

So...

I got the card table and chairs out of the rv and set them up - for temp.  Uncomfortable, ugly (as only a card table can be), and inadequate but useful to fill a spot for awhile while I looked for something I liked.  Sharen and I did lots of shopping, looking, pricing, and discussing.  Did I want to put another table in there - or a conversation group?  Just what did I want to do with that space?  Well, for all of these months I've done nothing with it.

Our friends, John and Jessie are getting a new dining room set.  I LOVE the one she was selling.  Other than a few dings and nicks from being a hurricane survivor - it is beautiful!  So....

So, of course, the set that Sharen and I moved out to the dining room has been returned to it's rightful place in the morning room!!

And lastly but certainly not leastly,

See that bouquet on the table?

I received that a couple of days early.

Thank you my sweet Baby Girl!