Pure Michigan

Saturday we packed up our things, thanked Dan for his hospitality, and headed north to visit the girls and their families.  Kara had everyone over for a tenderloin, cooked perfectly by Bill, dinner.  CeCe was a little standoffish for a bit but soon was crawling over both of us.  She has learned Lolly and Pops and who is who!  I fell asleep on the couch and she said "Lolly nite nite."

We attended Mass Sunday at our old parish that we left in 1996.  I spoke to six friends who were still there and I knew 10 people on the sick list!  Compared to the 6600 families at St. Anthony where I still know no one after 20 years, it was a delight.  I was so involved in our two churches both in Michigan and Florida, that the huge congregation here in Texas was an adjustment. I was so involved and knew everyone at both churches.

We went to Yates Cider Mill after church and bought cider and doughnuts then met up with the rest of the gang at Rochester park and 8 adults got worn out trying to keep up with a 2 year old.  

Kelly had everyone over for dinner.  They are just finishing up redecorating their LR and DR,  redid the whole kitchen and are getting ready to start on their master bath.  All the driving and visiting caught up with us so we went right to bed when we returned home.

On Monday, Ted drove me, Kara, Kelly and Cece to Frankenmuth to take some Christmas photos at Bronner’s Christmas store.  And boy was it crowded.  She wasn’t much into it though.  She wanted to run around and touch everything.  

We tried to eat at Bavarian Inn but the wait was 45 minutes and CeCe was hungry so we went to their bar called Michigan on Main and ate, but not their family style chicken dinner.  CeCe is a good eater and eats most anything you put in front of her.

We were up early Tuesday to take off in time to meet my sister’s daughter Cindy and her husband Tim.  They have the house at Elk Lake in KY that we visit and we were to meet them in Florence, KY for a late lunch.  We made it by 1:30.  They had some executor questions and I helped them by adding info where I could.  They bought lunch because we bought it last time at the Elk Creek Winery last August!  We took off for a few more hours of driving before dark and stopped in Shepherdsville, KY.  

Wednesday was brutal. We were on the road by 7:00 am and did not stop until it was dark.  We intended to stay in Texarkana and ended up in Atlanta, TX.  I drove the whole state of KY going up but just Memphis to Texarkana coming home.  I played "chicken" with a dozen semis and a guy in a black pick up the whole way!  We did find a great Italian restaurant in that small town and were asleep before 10.  

We had a much shorter day on Thursday but again started very early.  We had to make a stop in Livingston at the widow of Ted’s friend.  She had all his components and 5 reloaders she wanted to sell.  Ted had contacted his fellow shooters and bought several hundred dollars of stuff for all of them and arranged for a dealer to go there on Monday and buy everything that was left.  When we arrived home she called to say she found another tote filled with primers she had missed.  So he is going back to get some before the dealer comes.

We tried to stop at Cracker Barrel to eat breakfast though it was noon and there was a 45 minute wait.  So we drove on to IHOP where it was full but we were seated and served quickly.  On the way out 

I saw the sign about a free meal for Veterans and then realized why both restaurants were so busy.  It was Veterans Day! 

I had one more favor to do as soon as we got home.  Our neighbors are gone and the person getting their mail could not get in.  They asked me to change the battery in the garage door opener.  I did that first thing and told them it was good to go!  

It is good to be home!  Ten days and 3,000 miles!  

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Road Trip

We received the dreaded call around 4:30 on Sunday.  My sister’s husband had passed away.  We are all devastated and the additional heartache is for Karen who has Alzheimer’s and he was her caregiver.  They had just been moved to an assisted living facility in Batesville, IN to be close to several of their children but he was immediately put in hospice care.  He died within 6 days.  He was a wonderful husband and father plus friend and neighbor.  He taught the young men in his family how to do so many things and they all use these talents today to create beautiful homes and trappings.  He was an avid fisherman so I hope he has a big lake up in heaven to fish all he wants.  

We had to do some juggling to clear our calendar so we could start out Tuesday morning for our two day drive.  With all the flights being canceled and rental cars so hard to come by, we chose to just drive and we are staying with Ted’s brother Dan.  My brother Kim has all the building lots left on Dan’s street and there is a porta potty in the work area.  Good thing, because Dan was not home from golfing and Ted needed to use the facility.  He came out and told me to tell Kim thanks!  

It was a long haul, with an awful stay at an OYO motel, but we arrived safe and sound.  The three of us went out for Mexican in an area being gentrified by developers, one of whom is my brother.  On Thursday we went to lunch with a brother apiece and spent a long time talking about the old neighborhood, schools and sports.  That evening we spent time with my family preparing a church hall for a post burial reception.  

In Memory of Ronald L Woulms

 

Married 2/7/1959 

Daughter Cindy’s family 

60th wedding anniversary 

Summer 2021 Sanibel Island FL

At “the lake.”  Elk Lake, Owenton KY

The great grands!  Missing is Jayla born 8/2021

A life well spent!  

Still on Standby

First, my apologies to John and Sherida for completely passing up writing about our last Friday trip to Deep Roots Winery.  What a fun time we had catching up!  Beautiful venue, very good food truck.  I am not much of a wine drinker but I did ok with it.  The acoustics inside the barn are not good.  If we go again, I would sit out on the porch or around the fire.

Ted left on Sunday bright and early.  He was picking up Tal to drive to San Antonio, Tom would join them later on in the week.  He has had a great time with his best buddy here in Texas.  A lot of the Ohio gang came and they all met up too.  The one thing we always do when the girls are along is go to the Cowboy Bar in Bandera for a cook your own steak night and a dance band.  Just loads of fun!  But alas, no ladies, no two stepping this time.

I asked Ted if he saw my friend that bit me last year.  He said no but shocked the group with my story!  He will be home Thursday afternoon.  

Monday afternoon I played cards and it wasn’t one hand held me back, it was three.  Since a round is six games, I spiraled downward half the time!  I had really lousy cards and no jokers!  But it is always a pleasure to play with these ladies and this week was no exception.

Forum produced our Vintage Clothes fashion show on Tuesday for a new women’s group being formed at the country club.  They chose a teal suede cowgirl outfit for me, along with purple and beige ones for two other ladies.  The three of us represented Houston’s rodeo.  There are some cute and some gorgeous outfits and the show is always well received.  Priscilla took my costume back to the office so that saved me a trip on Wednesday.  

That morning I had my 6 month regular check up to have my prescriptions refilled.  We have been seeing Dr. C since the day we moved here in August of 2001.  I had an awful cold and with so much I had to do with our furniture arriving that I went to the Village Center in our strip mall.  Dr. C. took care of me and when he opened his own office, we followed him.  

Last April he brought up my weight gain of 2 lbs.!  I had just returned from Mission TX after 3 months and really didn’t know exactly what that number was.  Then this summer I came home and knew I really needed to get serious.  He was delighted I had lost but he didn’t say how much, best I can figure based on my scale I have 5-6 lbs. back to my WW goal that I reached in August of 2018.  I guess that’s not bad after 3.5 years.  He called the next day and said not one number on any of my blood tests was off.  I am good for six more months.  

Thursday I was talking to my Indiana relatives a lot.  My sister who has Alzheimer’s and her husband were moved to Assisted Living.  However, he was put in Hospice the next day.  I am not sure just what is going to happen to her living arrangement.  I think she will probably need Memory Care and not an apartment.  Everything has spiraled down so quickly that they are sort of in shock.  I think next week they will get a better handle on what happens next and then what to expect after that.  It such a sad time for us all.  

I talked to my sister in law in Connecticut and she rallied from her fall but they had sent her from her independent living to the hospital to a rehab place and now they have to assess where will be best when she is ready to be moved again.  All of this is dreadfully hard on everyone.

My oldest daughter has been coordinating her mother in law’s cancer treatments and she is now in an assisted living facility.  I have not heard how she is faring with her third round of chemo.

I will tell you this … the scariest thing is to look at your phone in the morning.

We went to church and out to eat.  Ohio State beat Penn State so all was good in Mudville!   Ted is still in second place in his class at Nationals but there have been shooters since he left on Thursday and continued through Friday, Saturday and will finish up Sunday.  We hope his score holds!   

So Much Fun!

It was a delight to stay home on Thursday!  How quickly disliking having things to do versus having nothing to do occurs. Hard to reach a happy median. I was able to do the laundry and get things in order. 

The Friday morning "meeting in the park" was so refreshing.  We had the pavilion on the water. Our social committee did not disappoint with coffee, cider, water, breakfast burritos, cookies and cupcakes!  It was a long meeting because so much ground needed to be covered. 

I saw so many friends I have made over the last 10 years. There was a tribute to our cancer survivors because apparently there is an All Cancers month (actually February they said) so we were honoring our ladies the first chance we were all together.  Certainly a group you don’t want to belong to but an amazing show of resilience and grace.

L

In the afternoon I had an appointment for my mammogram.  I am 6 months late due to covid and traveling.  I did wear my bracelet I was given at the meeting.  By the time I got home I had an additional green band saying I was checked in at the hospital front door for covid,  accompanied by my info bracelet given at check in.  I am now down to GYN, PCP and eye doctor to see before we take off again.

We attended Mass Saturday evening and ended up at Appleby’s for dinner.  Let’s just let it at "now we know why they had parking and tables available, unlike most of the others".  

I took Sunday off!  I did just what I had to and spent the rest of the day catching up with family, we have a couple very delicate medical situations going on and decisions will need to be made.  Conditions are so fluid that plans are hard to make.  There is not much I can do from here except pray and stand ready to help where and when I can.  

Monday was nail day.  I had two excellent operators and they both did a fine job.  We are set for third covid shots Wednesday and haircuts on Thursday. 

We received our booster shot so we are caught up and I hope everyone is happy  I immediately ordered passport covers with a side for your vaccine card.  I admit traveling was my main reason for taking the shot.  With family spread all over the country I need to be able to travel however necessary to get places in a short period of time. It hasn’t come to that yet but I am prepared if it does.  

Haircuts were taken care of so we are ready for the weekend and whatever it brings.

Saturday was a work day at the gun club for Ted, laundry for me.  It poured rain as we drove to church but stopped before we got there.  Ted chose Black Bear diner for dinner.  

CeCe participated in the Trunk or Treat at Morgan’s high school where she was in charge of the Japanese Club trunk.  

 

Ted headed to San Antonio this morning to participate in Sporting Clay National Championships.  He is attending with Tom and Tal.  Brother Dan and Sue did not come from Ohio this year due to medical procedures he thought were going to happen but were moved to December.   

And time marches on.  

The Hurrier I Go the Behinder I Get.

After a quiet week between birthdays, things picked up.  We chose to eat at home after church on Saturday because a whole week of eating was staring me in the face.  We were humbled by the amount of cards and good wishes we received for our birthdays  

Sunday we went to Perry’s with Irene and John.  We had a very nice dinner and such good company. Monday I had a breather from eating out but on Tuesday I had lunch while playing cards with about 25-30 ladies. I went from first to last over one hand!   

That evening we had more cards for couples along with dinner at the country club.  I am not crazy about their food and they didn’t disappoint me.  I should be like Ted and just get a burger!  Again, I went from first to last with one hand.  Maddening!

Our errand for Wednesday was to drive the motorhome to Holiday World in Willis to have the fabric of our slider topper replaced.  It was stretched from wind and was bowing so it holds water instead of it running off.  When I bring in that long slide after a rain, the water runs down on Ted in the driver’s seat.  It should be ready by Friday  

I attended Continental Breakfast on Thursday.  It is a breakfast buffet held at Newcomers members’ homes and is a great time to visit without an agenda. I saw so many friends I have had little contact with over the last 1.5 years due to the  pandemic.  Being gone 6 months out of the year doesn’t help either.  There was a good crowd, nice food and a beautiful house to drool over.

Just to be sure I don’t waste away, Friday was a CWJF Sustainer lunch.  There were about 15 of us, three of whom I served in Forum with through my “work” years.  The leader of the Sustainers is a wonderful lady I only met through this group previously and the others I will get to know better.  It was a delight!  I came away so pumped about their future plans and was so glad I went.

I thought we were going to pick up the coach but when they removed the topper fabric they said the rubber seals around the slide need to be replaced.  So they will have it ready on Monday, we hope (!). They are keeping it indoors and plugged in for the duration.  We had to spend $3000 to replace a smaller slide floor on our last 5th wheel so better safe than sorry!  

I wonder if Casa Medina misses us yet.  We have been there once or twice in the past 7 months.  Saturday we went to Joe’s Italian.  We did not renew our community theater tickets so our visits to Joe’s aren’t happening.  I brought enough home for Sunday lunch.

Monday I ventured to a new restaurant to play Rummicube.  I had played it twice last year in Mission but I sat at the training table and we all did pretty well.  Most of it came back to me so I had a bit of an advantage.  We did not keep score so nobody won.  

Our motorhome was ready Tuesday morning so I was up, showered, dressed and on my way to Willis.  Everything appeared ok so we closed it up and brought it home, but not not before Ted topped off the fuel we used between Carthage and home in August.  Thank you, DC, for these skyrocketing fuel prices.  Lots of under $400,000 earners affected by this non-tax.  Don’t get me started on food!  Inflation is a tax that affects everyone.

By 10:45 I was at a restaurant ready to play cards, and I won.  I think it is only the third time I have ever won at this game called 3-13!  Fun game!  

Not to waste any time sleeping on Wednesday morning, I had to be at the Hand Me Up Shop to be picked up by Priscilla.  We were on our way to the Forum offices to be assigned our vintage clothing fashion show garments.  She will be a flapper in a red fringed dress and I will represent the Houston rodeo in a teal suede ensemble. What you wear depends on what fits!  Those size 2, 4, 6 and go wanting.  The girls who fit in them usually have to wear two different outfits.  I have the cowboy boots and hat, turquoise jewelry and silver belt to finish out my “look.”  She asked me if I wanted to be Barbara Bush until we looked and it was 16W!  Uh … I don’t think that would work!  

I have a free day tomorrow.  Friday our Forum general meeting will be outside at a park in deference to covid.  Then in the afternoon is my “six month late” mammogram.  Once I get through that I am down to GYN, PCP, and eye doctor.  It takes us all Fall to get all the appointments in we have to do.  

CeCe celebrated her second birthday a week late due to Aunt Kara’s family being under the weather.  

 ‘

When Is This All Going To Be Over?

I am so tired of this vaccine crap!  We waited until we came home the end of March to get our first shot because of the craziness in the Rio Grande Valley with 60,000 added to the already high numbers of seniors.  No way was I getting up at 4 am to get in line at 6 am to wait for shots to start at 8 am!  Our first attempt at home wasn’t a lot better so we aborted and tried a different way.  That worked, so by mid April we had both shots.  

At the cardiologist we both got outstanding test results from nuclear stress tests, heart ultrasounds, and leg ultrasounds on me.  We are apparently in great shape in the heart department and all it entails. And our numbers were good and just about the same.  She called us twins.  I asked about a covid booster and was told it had to be 28 days after any other vaccine.  So we stopped at Sam’s and got our flu shot.  We figured that gives us another four weeks for the idiots running the country to make up their mind about its necessity.  The pharmacist said just because we will be 76 and 77 in the next two weeks is no reason alone to need a booster shot.  So now what?  Who to believe?  I guess our PCP will be the tie breaker next month!

We attended a ceremony that neither of us have experienced in our more than a dozen parishes we have belonged to.  Our new pastor was installed with a bit of fanfare Saturday night.  There were vicars, priests, deacons, seminarians, cantors and readers crowding the altar.  It did cause Mass to run 1.5 hours long but it was very moving to welcome Fr. Jesse.  We will miss Fr. Tom but life goes on.  

We chose Saltgrass for dinner because Ted had a $25 birthday reward on our account.  Add in two gift cards and our two steak dinners, a Long Island ice tea and Coke was $1.16!  We had good food, a delightful waiter and a nice celebration a bit early for Ted’s big day!  

The next Saturday night we broke tradition for the second Saturday in a row and ate at Russo’s pizza.  Food was good, the volume level was outrageous!  It was a group of girl soccer players and their coaches and parents I guess. It was not loud, it was screaming!  The waitress apologized, I watched 10 people walk out without ordering and a couple chose to eat outside to get away from the noise.  We left at 7:30 and the waitress said they had been there since 5!  I know team sports is a good teaching tool for youngsters.  I wonder if “how to act in public” could be added.

We had no special plans to celebrate Ted’s 77th birthday so I invited John and Vivienne for dinner on Sunday.  John is a shooting buddy who has spent time in the valley too.  Ted grilled boneless butterfly pork chops that I bought in Shipshawana IN at Yoder’s meats.  The chops were awesome.  The beef roast I made recently was excellent too.  Since we will pick up our new chairs in IN as we head to MI next summer I will keep my freezer fairly empty so I can stock up.  

I get my temporary filling in the root canal removed tomorrow and replaced with a permanent filling.  Now I have another $2000 tooth!  Yippee!  

My birthday is next Monday and this is my gift, a new bed ensemble.  It is a Waterford set and I had no idea they did bed clothes!.  

This past weekend was also Homecoming for Morgan.   How did my sweet baby get so grown up?

She had her Senior Photo Shoot too and now we have 150 shots to go through to get down to 20!  I chose my favorites and came up with 18.  Many shots were repeated several times so I just chose the one in that group I liked best.  I tried to be discerning to be helpful and not muddy the waters with too many choices.  

Our baby CeCe will turn 2 the day I turn 76!  She has outgrown her car seat we bought for her shower gift (along with a second base and a stroller), so we ordered a new one that takes into account her height and weight.  It will arrive there in MI in time for her Cider Mill birthday outing.  

“I'm very comfortable with what I do, but it just seems like yesterday that I just started, at 19, and it's been like a whirlwind ever since. I've gotten to travel all over the world and meet all kinds of people and do all kinds of great things, so it's, like, surreal. It just lets you know how time flies, especially when you're having fun. It seems like time keeps going by faster as I get older.”

Mekhi Phifer

 

Getting Back In the Groove

We went to church Saturday as usual and then to Cracker Barrel where we ran into the "we are understaffed" problem.  Our food took forever.  Ted had to ask twice for his soup that finally came lukewarm.  When the people who came after us got served very quickly we asked to have our food checked on.  She reported they were very busy in the back but it would be out shortly.  When she brought it she informed me she had to bring me the second piece of fish!  Who cooks one piece of fish at a time?

Sunday was the Newcomers Annual Social and I attended.  You had the opportunity to visit with friends, meet new ones and pursue interests for the coming year.  I signed up for some groups - mah jong, Shanghai, 3-13, movie group, day trippers, etc.  I didn’t have my calendar with me so I may not be able to attend all I expressed interest in.  

I kept my endodontist appointment when an earlier one came available.  Sure enough, I need a root canal but I have to wait two weeks.  But now it doesn’t hurt!  When she put those frozen cotton balls on different spots I yelped in the appropriate spots.  I guess I should be glad the pain stopped since I have to wait so long to have it taken care of.

I didn’t do anything much but continued cleaning closets and getting my grocery list ready for our company.  They arrived on Saturday, too late for them to eat with us after church.  They ate at a restaurant before coming to our house.  

I had made a tray of lasagna and invited John and Irene for dinner on Sunday.  Monday she had us and another couple for Labor Day.  Carol started her doctor appointments and we all went to the country club for dinner and cards on Tuesday.  Best part was minimal cooking.

Our company was busy all week getting all their doctor appointments in.  They were also keeping in touch with the Alabama real estate market.  It wasn’t said but I would think "sofa surfing" has gotten old.  They have been visiting their family in four different locations while taking short trips to other cities in Alabama where they stayed in motels.  Two and a half months is a long time doing that.  

I just kept things moving at home.  We seemed to be very busy but I don’t recall doing anything special.  Thursday we had to attend a funeral at noon.  When we returned at 1:30 they were all excited with two houses they had found.  We had dinner and they spent a lot of time researching and emailing.

Friday they decided to leave because her Friday appointment had been moved to a zoom next week.  They could make their way to Mississippi for overnight and get to these two houses early Saturday.  We all are staying tuned.

We went to church but came home to eat the remaining lasagna we had put in the freezer.  It tasted even better the second time.  I put my feet up Sunday.

We had baseline heart tests on Monday, set up last June before we left for the summer.  Ted had a nuclear stress test and heart ultrasound.  I had both of these plus an ultrasound on both my legs.  We were there close to four hours.  We go back Monday for our results and any medication adjustments they think are necessary.  

I played 3-13 on Tuesday.  Hurricane Nicholas barely skirted our area so there was no reason to cancel!  I came in second for a change.  Tomorrow is my root canal.  Not much to write about.  

I survived my root canal!  An hour and a half of my mouth held wide open with a wire frame.  I came home, took Tylenol, put an ice slush bag on my pillow and went to sleep.  I felt better when I woke up.  This morning it still hurts so I guess I will take more Tylenol.  I have to make an appointment with my dentist to have the temporary filling replaced with a permanent one with in two weeks.  Yuck!  

This hasn’t been an exciting blog to read so I will share a few photos.

Our Lady of the Angels Chapel being added to our church campus.

I sent this to the Rogers kids entitling it The Blues Brothers!   

This isnour newest family member Kayla Jo.  Congratulations Amy and Landon. Landon was the recipient of Ted’s Ping golf clubs he hadn’t used since his back surgery 15 years ago. I used Ship Sticks and it worked great!  Picked up at our door and delivered to theirs in Indiana for under $75. 

Time to Pay the Piper

Sunday Ted worked a shooting event as a puller/caller.  He pocket dialed me and I could hear the shots and his call of "two dead."  So I just hung up.  I had agreed to play cards Monday so I had plenty impetus to get things done.  When we returned Saturday everything was put away so on Sunday I had the refrigerator things to put away and a few loads of laundry.  I stripped the bed on our last morning so that and what was in the hamper needed attention.  By Monday I was in good shape.

I subbed in a Shanghai group in the afternoon after a busy morning going to the doctor where I paid the bill that had arrived, made Ted an appointment for next week, and picked up my last blood test results to take to the cardiologist in a few weeks.  Then I took my watch to get a new battery at Batteries Plus where we have free batteries for life for registered watches.  Then I took my cocktail ring to the jeweler to have a small diamond replaced.  It is a marquis shaped ring and this is the smallest diamond on one of the two points.  The replacement cost is minimal but all the prongs that need to be reworked on both my rings is substantial!  She said I was lucky to have lost the smallest diamind and not either of my large diamonds.  

Our card game was enjoyable.  It was so nice to be out and about with friends.  Most everyone had bad hands and the scores were so high (you want to be low)!  But it is $2.30 at most you can lose so it is all in fun.  

A trip to the dentist was called for as I had pain return on my upper right side.  I had it checked 6 months ago but the tooth was sound.  It stopped bothering me and I didn’t think about it until last weekend.  I was seen right away but he said pretty much the same thing.  I was directed to an endodondist in case a root canal is needed.  I have a crown which is hiding what may be wrong.  So I have to wait 10 days drinking from a straw and eating on one side of my mouth.  Always something!

I have been cleaning out closets and tossing some extraneous stuff we have gathered in 56 years.  I did the linen closets, bathroom cabinets and bedroom closets.  It looks better but we still have lots that can go!

Home Sweet Home

We left Cincinnati Tuesday morning and drove to Marion, IL.  We chose a new way home due to I-75 construction and the I-40 bridge over the Mississippi at Memphis was closed when we initially made our plans and reservations.  The bridge opened a few days before we left but we let the reservations stand.  It was a nice, new to us, park and we would stay there again.

We gained an hour so left about 8 on Wednesday morning with a destination of Little Rock to another new to us park.  We have driven the Little Rock to Memphis route a zillion times but always used the bypass to the east so never went past it to the north to stay at the county Riverfront RV park.  Due to covid they telephoned very good driving instructions and our reservation pact was outside of the office.  It is all concrete pads with a ribbon of gravel on either side.  The only grass is along the river but it had the biggest sites we have ever parked in.  There was room for 4 cars plus our motorhome in a pull thru spot.  Easiest parking ever!

There were 6 bridges visible from the bench at the river.  One was a foot bridge you could take from the park to the Clinton Library.  However, it would be a good, long walk.  We passed!  Because we didn’t want to unhook the car we ate in the motorhome each night.  

Next stop was Carthage TX RV park.  Our windshield got hit with something that flew off a truck that had no tarp over its contents.  We arrived early enough to try to get someone to come fix the window but we had no luck.  Safelite had no appts. clear out to October 10!  I just stopped looking then.  We wanted to get the ding fixed before it spread.  We had a $2700 claim last year from a shattered window unit and I sure didn’t want another one.  I went on Yelp and created a request for when we arrived home at the park near our home.  I got an immediate response and an appt. was set for 5 pm.  Sure enough he and his son arrived on time, explained that it was a pretty big “ding” so their primary intent was to keep it from spreading.  They did a good job and we were happy.  

We had been loading our pantry items, clothes, meds, etc. to take home before they arrived.  We had time to put some away, minimizing the “mess” at home.  What we didn’t expect was all 5 smoke alarms to be chirping! There were no 9 volt batteries in my basket so Ted went out bought a  4 pack.  Problem was, we needed 5.  So back out he went for another pack.  The noise was deafening at times.  They are all located in the small hallway and bedrooms.  We could hardly determine which was chirping when.  I was sure glad when they all quieted down.  

We slept at home and headed back to the campground in the morning.  Ted was going to finish washing the front of the motorhome while I emptied the refrigerator and cleaned it.  Pretty soon we were putting it away until the next time.  

I continued working at home, Ted took both cars to the car wash and we finally made it to Mass at 5 followed by dinner at the Mexican restaurant without Terry and Carol.  While we were gone, they sold their house and headed to Alabama to look for a new home.  So far, nothing!  

Our Week in Cincinnati

Tuesday I went to have my nails done since they had grown so long.  Then we just hung out until it was time to go meet up with some school friends of mine.  There were about a dozen friends who met for dinner and much reminiscing and catching up occurred over the next 3+ hours. We didn’t take any photos though!  Donna and Cookie, my two kindergarten 1950 friends were there.  Hard to realize we have been friends for 71 years!  Karen who sat next to me in training at P&G in 1963 came too.  That’s a pretty long friendship also.  She followed us to the campground afterwards to see the motorhome because it was on her way home.  She stayed for a nice visit which we all enjoyed.  I love friends that can just pick up where you left off last time you were together.

Wednesday was family night for Ted.  After scores of my relatives and friends, we went to his brother Kevin’s house, and what a beauty it is.  His wife Barb has the eye, the talent and the energy to make everything she does turn out so beautifully.  Her decorating, gardening, cooking!  I don’t think she has the number of any handymen, painters, lawn guys, caterers, etc.  She gets the job done herself!  I now have some seeds to plant at home!  Please Lord don’t make me tell her I failed at growing something!   

It was Mexican night complete with Margaritas!  We always have such a good time with his siblings and this evening was no exception.  We were delighted to hear his priest cousin Fr. Terry (who said our 40th anniversary Mass 16 years ago and baptized granddaughter Morgan 17 years ago) was coming in from Chicago to officiate at a wedding in Louisville!  Which brings me to the next evening!

We were due at Mahoney’s Pub at 6 pm to visit with Fr, Terry!  There we found brothers Dan and Kevin, sister Kathy and Mike, cousins Jay, Jim, Kevin, cousin Julie (and spouse) and nephew Sam (plus date).  The party was on!  To add to the festivities the Reds were playing and winning and the awesome Field of Dreams game was playing too.  Five hours and two Angry Orchard Talls later we headed home.  I had ordered a quesadilla but Ted held out for White Castle on the way home!  What a serendipitous evening!

Friday found us heading to Elk Lake in Owenton KY to see all the construction going on at niece Cindy’and Tim’s lake house, their permanent home for the time being.  It is a tremendously big addition but will be awesome when it is finished.  We eventually took a boat ride to see the changes around the lake.  There is lots of tearing down and starting over on lakefront lots.  Climbing prices have hit vacation homes too!  Their son Ronny arrived in late afternoon because he was fishing with Tim the next morning in a tournament.  The 5 of us went to Elk Creek Winery for dinner.  I had made a cobbler for dessert but to avoid going back to their house afterwards we took it to the restaurant and no one there seemed to care!  We took paper plates, held on to our forks and we ate the whole thing.  Bad weather appeared to be moving in so I just took my empty dish home from the restaurant.

Saturday we relaxed while doing laundry and then went to church.  We had dinner before heading to the casino in Lawrenceburg, IN.  We are by no means gamblers but we each took $50 to play.  I miss pulling the handle on slot machines, hearing the clank of coins into the tray, and carrying a tub of coins around.  Pushing a button repeatedly just isn’t fulfilling.  Not to mention there are no penny, nickel, dime or quarter machines!  They may say they are but the lowest bet I saw was 30 cents!  I like to change my amount and/or number of lines for variety but even that 30 cent machine jumps to 60, 90, $1.20,  $1.50 and so on.  Another new thing for me was the "side bet."  I noticed my money going down more than I thought it should.  Upon further investigation I saw a square with dice that were thrown each time you bet (for an additional sum).  It paid out according to a table.  You had to push Turn Off Side Bet each time!  Eventually I went to find Ted who had doubled his money on the poker machine.  So we left with $103 and called it a night.  

As we approached our car, a car pulled in next to us driven by my good friend Donna.  What are those odds?  So we had an opportunity to say goodbye once again.  

Ted went shooting on Sunday morning.  When he returned my cousin Jim and Sharon arrived to see the motorhome and to go to an early dinner.  We had a great visit with them and discussed their plans for our reunion in 2023.  A place in West Virginia looks very promising.  

Our last day was spent pulling outside shades off the windows, emptying tanks and meeting another good friend, Marilyn, and her sister.  They are both widows now but Marilyn and her husband Jim were great camping friends when we lived in Cincinnati.  Both of them are having difficulty walking now but made it in and out of the motorhome.  We had such a great visit before having lunch and continuing on at the restaurant.  We have seen so many friends and relatives this trip!

We leave in the morning heading to Marion, IL as our first overnight.  

Happy Birthday, Harry Potter

Canterbury Village in Oxford, MI was having a Harry Potter event and everyone wanted to go so we agreed to go along.  The kids all wore their HP robes and carried their wands.  

There were other photo ops too.  I don’t know the characters so you are on your own there.  

Imagine the Renaissance Festival with muggles and witches but no wenches!  Other photos of the day.

We decided to do the scavenger hunt but if you didn’t know all there is to know about HP, you would be lost like me.  I could help in determining what store the clue was in but they had to tell me what we were looking for.  Some were rather small and some were well hidden.  We got down to the last two when we decided to leave because Ted and I were going to church at 4.  On the way out we found one of the two where I thought it would be and Kristin had figured out the other.  But we just went on.

After church we all went back to Kara’s for pizza.  We said our goodbyes, which is always hard, and returned to the campground.

We left around 9 o’clock Sunday morning and arrived in Shipshewana around 1:30.  Eileen and Tom were there already.  We decided to go to Walmart, a rite of passage when changing campgrounds.  When we bought the tenderloin, we also received about 2# of ground trimmings from when they dressed it, what awesome burgers it made!  An ear of corn for Ted and broccoli salad for me with the last pieces of chocolate eclair cake to finish off our meal.  Yum!

We got caught up on their  trip to Cincinnati, their washer repair and their visit to Decatur to get some part for their motorhome.  We shared our reunion and family pictures with them, called it a night, came in and eventually went to bed.

The days at Shipshewana all run together now, a week later.  We did go to Newmar in Nappanee to get two things from Newmar.  We stopped in Middlebury at Das Essenhaus to 1) get Irene coffee 

and 2) to have lunch. The food was better than Lancaster but still not as good as Frankenmuth.  We visited Lambright Custom Chairs because I want to replace our recliners in the motorhome,  I don’t care for the dark brown and find the separate footrests cumbersome and in the way.  We took 100s of samples home, chose one and then went back and ordered two recliners.  They will make them next spring for us to pick up next June.

There is a flea market on Tuesday and we spent time there one of those days.  We bought only a few bungee cords, some dishcloths, and a few other small things that were so important I can’t remember what they are.  We stopped at a thrift store for my constant search for planters for a friend.  She propagates violets and transplants them into small planters as gifts for hospital patients.  She prefers Madonna ones but this time I found “blessings.”  

We left Thursday morning for Medina, OH to attend the Ohio Sporting Clay Championships.  Ted was joining his TX friend, Tal, and my brother Dan in the competition and Tal was inducted into the Ohio Hall of Fame.  Ted won a gun bag as a door prize.

Tom and Eileen went to Canton Football Hall of Fame and loved it.  They left for SC the next morning.  We took Sue and Dan to dinner for their 33rd anniversary.  Saturday was a big dinner celebration for the whole group.  It was very good for such a large crowd.  Ted won a door prize, a new gun bag.  Tal and Cindy were so appreciative of our making the effort to attend.  We wouldn’t have missed it for anything. 

Ted finished shooting Sunday after church.  I just stayed home and did something’s around the motorhome and read a book.  We did our outside chores so we had little to do Monday morning.

We left at 9 on the dot and pulled into our Cincinnati campground at 1:30.  The roads are no better in Ohio than any where else!  We are settled, have had dinner and ready to meet up with family and friends!

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