Let's get this show on the Road

 Thursday morning (10/27) we finally got on the road around 8:45. A tad later than I had planned. No names mentioned. Had no troubles on the road. Pamela drove the first half of the way.

Our first stop was 7 1/2 hours down the road in Pawhuska, OK.

We had to stop at the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond's Mercantile for a little shopping and an early dinner. 

I ordered the chicken quesadilla's and Pamela got the chicken pot pie. They were tasty but the flavors were off for us but it's okay we'll come back again one day and try something else on the menu.  

We left here for the last leg of our trip.  I will say the maps took us on an interesting route.  It took us on Hwy 99 into Sedan and a closed road and no way around. Not Siri, Not google and not even Waze. I finally went into a convenience store and asked how do I get around the closed road. I was told to turn right out of the parking lot and go until the road ends and turn right and I'll catch 99 again. Oh and they did mention the road will become a dirt road before I hit the highway.  We made it. We made it to the hotel in St Joseph at 11:40pm and in the room by 12:05am. We fell into bed and slept soundly. Did I mention that the Hwy was 2 lanes and filled with deers. We only had to avoid 3 groups that wanted to play chicken. Pamela started going what is that? What is that? LOL It was a cow eating by the road. Hopefully she did't step out in front of a car and at one point I was breaking and Pamela was going, Where's the deer, where is it? LOL It wasn't a deer it was an Owl. A big one!. He flew straight at the windshield. I'm sure his tail feathers slid across the top of my windshield. Yep our last hour and a half was an adventure. But made it safely.

Friday (12/28) Since we had some time before the rehearsal and everyone else arrived I convinced Pamela to go to Missouri Star Quilt Co. in Hamilton, MO. It' s an hour away. We had to drop off a package to the post office and look what Pamela saw directly across the street from the post office in Hamilton. Of course she had to go.

And of course she ordered a flight for a tasting.  I took a sip of one of them. The Apple Pie Cobbler. So yummy. 

And I got my wish to go to some of the shops of Missouri Star Quilt Co. The stores line both sides of the streets. 

        

I was very good. I didn't buy everything in sight. I spent less than $60. And for those of you who know me, you know that is really good. I'd already spent money while at retreat at the beginning of the month for my current quilting projects. I was just there see all the pretty fabric and fun quilting tools.  And be able tosay I went to Missouri Star.  Pamela had me stop in front of the Sewing Machine Museum for a photo. 

This is on the wall to the retreat center. I tried to catch Jenny Doan in town so I could have her autograph my book she wrote about her life.   She had left town before we could get there. Dang it. I'm pretty sure she was on her way to Houston for the International Quilt show.   (Sure enough I saw Jenny post pictures of her at the quilt show the other night.)

That evening we went to watch the rehearsal and have dinner. My brother-in-law Kevin cooked up some tasty tri tip. My sister Jerri Lynn made cheesy potatoes and the grooms mother made some macaroni, corn and cheese, and green beans. Dessert was cheese cake made by my sister. 

This is the outside area where the actual ceremony will take place Saturday evening. It was a beautiful setting but it did get chilly out there and Saturday is supposed to be even cooler.

Timber Creek was a beautiful setting with the trees changing colors. Looking back at the venue where we'll be after the rehearsal and the ceremony. 

  

Saturday (10/29)

This handsome young man is my great nephew Beckett. He's my oldest nephew Jeremiah and Melissa's boy. They have a daughter Maren and one in the oven.

Of course you know me and Pamela.

This is my nephew Tyler with Pamela. Next is his son Tate another great nephew and my great niece Maren. This was the first time these two cousins had ever met and they were in-separate able. They were sooo cute. 

The wedding party made their entrance. Some more unique than others.  These are my great nephews and niece.  Good looking crew if you ask me.  Carson the oldest, Beckett to his right, the little blonde is Preston and Maren in the lead.        

And here comes a bridesmaid on a unicycle and my nephew Josiah on a tractor. Red tractors are the best says my family. LOL  

This is my nephew Jeremiah and his wife. They are expecting their 3rd bundle of joy. Jeremiah is the oldest brother to Josiah on the tractor above. LOL

And here comes the happy couple. Mr. and Mrs John Kelsall.

These are two had to take an Outlaw picture. They're missing my husband David. Kevin is the proud Papa and Cresia is my sister in law. These two along with David got into trouble together at the previous weddings.  They did David proud even if he was missing. LOL

Got a picture with my nephew Josiah. He's not a little boy anymore. He's an avid soccer player for his high school.   Tate and Maren danced all night. Like I said they were in-separate able. Then I was finally able to catch my little sister long enough to get a picture with her and Cresia.

This is Preston another great nephew. He belongs to my nephew Zachariah and niece Bailey Jo.  He recently had a baby brother named Parker.  Here's Daddy Zachariah (nephew) with his little sister, my niece Emily.  He actually officiated the wedding. He baptized her and now he married her off.

   

They lighted big long sparklers to make a path for the bride and groom to walk through.

Here's just a few more pictures before the evening was over.

Pretty little Maren

        

Photo booth time

Back row nephew Jeremiah, Pamela, sister Barbara, nephew Tyler   middle row Me and Cresia                     front row  great nephew Beckett, great niece Maren, and great nephew Tate

Party over and time to head back to Texas.

Sunday (10/30) We got up and headed back to Texas but we had to make a quick stop for lunch and pick up some wine in Kansas City @ Cooper's Hawk Winery. But not until we got coffee.

Pamela bought lunch. A fried Haddock sandwich. I ate the fish and left the break. LOL

She got her wine and we hit I35 to home. We made it as far as Denton before stopping. We got up Monday (10/31) and drove our last 3 hours home.  I was exhausted and she was ready to go home too.

It was good to be home with David and Bruno. 💓

That's it for the entire month of October.  I was home for a total of 13 out of 31 days.

Until next post...Never be a prisoner of your past. It was just a lesson not a life sentence...

Life: Country, Bruno, Mom & Love

 October has been a whirlwind month. I've barely been home. I was gone a week for the quilt retreat and came home for 5 days and then gone again. 

Bruno has become quite the farm dog. He loves to go out into the pasture with Jerry and the cows but he knows to keep his distance from the cows and the horns. He went out with David to feed the critters some cow crack.  Cow Crack are cubes that the cows go crazy for. So does Jerry.

Bruno also enjoys golf cart and car rides. Every time he  hears David or I jingle keys he's ready to bust out the door.  He's a total mess. David has spoiled him.  LOL

He likes to run beside the cart too. It's a game. Or rest in the seat so he won't miss a ride. 

I got home from quilt retreat on Thursday the 13th and on the 15th we went to the Calvert Sip and Stroll with the other Kennedy's, John and Kelli. There was like 8-9 shops that had wine and/or other adult beverage tastings. We got to go into buildings that normally aren't open during this event. That was fun.

Our first stop was to check in at a venue that we didn't know existed. It had two areas inside for wine tastings and one outside on the patio. While I wasn't really drinking I got my tasting, took a sip and then poured the rest into David's glass. I basically paid for the commemorative glass. This building is used for weddings, receptions, or parties of all kinds. Pretty cool inside.

Kennedy's times 4

I'm always catching Kelli with food but this time it's with a coffee martini.

Our favorite stop was the shops after the coffee martini's. They had wine and then there was a drink with whiskey, cranberry simple syrup that the shop owner made plus something else that was really really good. I got my one sip and it went to my head quickly. I for sure only took my sip here. LOL

My knee actually did good walking the 8+ blocks we did but it did get tired in the end. I was glad to sit down.

We ended the evening at the Cast Iron Bistro for dinner. They weren't prepared for the crowd. They were running around like ants trying to keep up with folks and food. Food was great as always. Kelli and I love going here for lunch when we can.

Check out Ferdinand's new bling.  Crazy bull stepped into the water drain and it got stuck on his hoof. Didn't seem to bug him.   David finally got it off.

Sitting out on the porch one evening David goes... "What is that across the road in Dendy and Jamie's yard?"  I started to laugh and said it is a huge skeleton.  This skeleton is across our pasture, the road and their pasture.  I zoomed in the skeletont looks closer than it really is. LOL Love it!  Our neighbor Jamie has pumpkins and bones at their front gate.  They love Halloween. The next picture shows how far it is but he shows up in the dark.  

Earlier in the month Joe asked if I'd come stay with Mom while he went to Arkansas to his brother's memorial service. Told him yes but I had to be home Wednesday the 26th so I could make a doctor's appointment and pack for my trip to Missouri. We worked out the details and I told him I'd be there on Wednesday the 19th after my dentist appointment and he said he'd be home by the Tuesday the 25th. 

Mom's dementia is in full bloom. This time she had no clue who I was and even after reminding her she didn't remember.  It's hard seeing her like this. There was little sleep going on those 6 nights. She spent a lot of time walking the hallway and calling out for her mom or dad. I tried multiple techniques to keep her busy during the day but she couldn't follow directions very well but I tried.  On my first night there Joe told me that Q and Mom were not the best of friends but Q seemed to gravitate to Mom while I was there.  She seemed fine unless he got rowdy. 

  He was very loveable when he was asleep. LOL  He and I got to be buddies and he behaved.

Mom managed to lock herself in the bathroom around midnight my last night there. I couldn't get her to unlock the door and I couldn't do anything from my side so I called the sheriff's office for help explaining the situation. By the time I drove down to unlock the gate for the sheriff to get in and we got back into the house Mom had pulled the door open. When I checked the door the knob was still locked. I might have tried to beat the knob off so maybe it was loose enough she could finally just pull it open. No clue, just relieved she was out. I thanked the deputy for coming. 

Joe was a day late getting home so I had an hour to get to my appointment an 1 1/4 hour away. I might have sped a bit but I got to my appointment and got my oil changed, all before heading home.  

So I was only home for a short time. Basically home at 5pm and out the next morning. David and I passed in the night. Pamela and I are off to St. Joseph, Missouri for my niece's wedding. My one night home ended in a beautiful sunset.

My Tiny Dancer is all grown up and getting married. I used to write about my Tiny Dancer all the time as she danced her way through life and now she's starting a new chapter

To be continued...

Until next blog post.....Families are like quilts, stitched together one piece at a time.