19 You Must Be Kidding

 Not quite sure how this happened. 

My first grand boy is solid grown (I think my computer has had it with my love of pictures. I can't get his latest picture to load). 

Well, finally had to choose pics from a few months ago. 

Happy 19th birthday Bean. 

All the evidence is there- beard, car, full time job and on and on. 

What hasn't changed, he still loves my tea and I'm still as smitten with him as ever I was. 

I enjoyed fixing supper for him last evening. 

Earlier in the day I enjoyed my last Front Porch Friday.  I've loved all the time I've spent with my people and friends this summer. My joy. 

I have my biggest class ever this year. I believe this year will keep me more prayerful than ever. 

Renaissance Fair, Eminence KY

 Forever it seems, I've wanted to check out a Renaissance Fair. Well, there happens to be one in Eminence, KY and Ol' Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, who love such things, invited me. 

It was a fun day. 

My new battery charger for my camera didn't come until today, so these are phone pics that have to come the computer via e-mail, so they aren't the best. You sadly can't really see my freshly harvested sage crown. 

It was bigger than I expected and busier. It lasts at this location for six weekends and my guess is the last weekend and best weather brought on the crowds. They were not prepared. You can't bring in food or drinks and lines were twenty to forty minutes long, just to get a drink.  Food and drink were expensive, and not really anything special.   

They did have turkey legs, which was interesting. I looked everywhere for a turkey this past week.  This was anniversary of Phil's Mom passing and I've never known anyone who loved turkey legs like her, so I planned to make it as a remembrance. No turkeys. Then a whama jama turkey one at the fair. So I bought Phil one and the deed was accomplished all the same.  

There were vendors of all things Middle Ages. 

They had a couple of sections that were primarily for the littles. 

They have stages throughout with mud fights, jousting, archery, sword fighting, drama,  and music. My favorite was the pirate duo.  There are demos of glass blowing, blacksmithing, etc. 

And oh my, the colorful characters were endless. 

It was a lovely way to spend a blue sky Saturday. 

Sweet friend girls who love music and create their happy  moments. 

This picture right here captures this girl's love of life. 

And ever I'm grateful for new experiences and safe returns home. I used to not think about that much, doing big events close by, but with all the crazy in the world, I am a "Thank you Lord to be home safe and sound," kinda of girl these days. 

Flowers and Fairies

 Our last playdate was full of fairy fun.  The fairy children made beautiful centerpieces. Rae, Aunt Tish and I snipped flowers galore and I picked up all kinds of different vases for them to use. 

Stress balls were created from the ever entertaining Orbeez of all colors and sizes and shapes. 

We all had a talent show. We had drumming fairies, fairy poets, singing fairies, fairy comedians and well, of course, magic fairies. Each one a star in my book. 

Another summer of Playdate finished already.  My Playdates are so big. 

Home

 The road home from St. Louis was easy. If you are looking for me, you'll have to search in the weeds where I'll be trying to unearth my plants.  Thank you for prayers and encouragement.  I just don't have any words to describe it. Grateful. 

64 E Louisville

 How many times I've seen that sign, but this is the first time since June 21st.  We are settled into our 15th and last hotel on this really unbelievable adventure. 

We were on the road for 12 hours today. Our first experience with a toll road. We didn't go through a toll booth to get on, but you would routinely have to stop and pay then show your receipt when you exited. They would hand your $1.75 back, and then you'd pay it again at the next booth. We stopped at a pecan place. I had no idea they grew pecans in Oklahoma. We took a little turn off in Carthage MO to the Precious Moments Chapel. Really quite a little place out in the middle of nowhere again.  The artist really wanted to share his faith as well as his talent. It was, well, precious.  While we were sitting in the chapel, a guy got up and proposed to his girlfriend- sweet. Andrea videoed it.

Next to the Precious Moments grounds was a building of the same type, but housed a restaurant called Taste of Italy. Somehow we couldn't reconcile the Precious Moments  (middle of nowhere) chapel and grounds with a taste of Italy. But, we were hungry, and decided to check it out.  It was a big room, with plain tables, plain everything.  Oh my, it was delicious. The waitress was from Columbia and so sweet. Then the chef came out and we found out he is from New York and rents the middle of nowhere building from the Precious Moments people.  Next, in walks the couple who got engaged in the chapel. I went over and asked if they'd like us to send them the video and they seemed tickled. We took pictures with the chef and waitress, just making ourselves right at home. 

Yesterday, at Elk City, we met a friendly fellow from Fulton, Ky. I happen to know someone from Fulton KY and her brother happened to have once been married to his wife's sister. 

We stopped at place that billed itself as The World's Largest Gift Shop. It was big, my goodness, overwhelming.  Beside it was a huge candy store.  It seemed that buying my playdaters some unusual candy was a good idea. 

We sang Amarillo by Morning as we left Amarillo, How Great Thou Art in the little village church in Elk City, Grandma's Song by Gail Davies (about Oklahoma) as we exited into Missouri.  We've sang across about 16 states and almost 7000 miles.  So now I'll sing a song about this experience to the tune of the Johnny Appleseed Song. 

Oh the Lord's been good to me, 

and so I thank the Lord, 

for giving me the things I need

Traveling safe and a friend with me,

Oh the Lord's been good to me. 

True that. 

Route 66

 We took a few turns to visit some old Route 66 sites and it was fun to see those old service stations I actually remember. I am old.  There was a cool one in Shamrock, along with Loretta's Gift Shop that had every imaginable type of thing. And all the people at those places were so sweet. Next we stopped in Elk City that had many little buildings grouped together, like a little village with all kinds of cool things through the years of Route 66 in addition to an informative movie about it. 

We ate supper at The Whiskey Cake in Oklahoma City that was right up my alley. A garden growing outside, microgreens inside and using local food.  It was so wonderful to eat wood fired vegetables and chicken. That was our favorite meal of the trip.  

Tomorrow will be a long travel day to St. Louis. I'm getting a little saddle sore, but have managed this much better than I feared I might on this adventure.   Andrea and I are still laughing our head's off at our Lucy and Ethel antics. 

And unlike last night this room is cool. So here's to a good night's sleep and safe travels.  Thank the Lord for so very many blessings. 

Amarillo, TX

 We spent last night in Amarillo.  About the only interesting thing we ran across was a small, but beautiful botanical garden. Sadly, my battery died in my camera and the charger was lost somewhere along the way. Today we will head to Oklahoma.  It was breezy and in the 80's here and blue cloudless skies. Hopefully we come across some Route 66 memorabilia today.

As always, appreciate your prayers and the ones already answered as we head back to Indiana.

Route 66

 This last leg of our journey will follow Route 66. The drive from Mesa Verde was more mountains and more desert.  We could see Chimney Rock in the distance. 

Decided to get a little closer.

There we found some wild horses.

We saw a sign for the Four Corners Monument and decided to visit. It is smack in the middle of nowhere.

It is an interesting place, apparently on Navajo land. Surrounding the spot where you stand in four states are these little stalls where Native American artisans sell there wares. 

And there I am standing where the four corners of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet. 

Then we had to drive out of nowhere and that took a very long time. Almost to Albuquerque there were mountains beside us, in front of us and behind us and one reservation after another and lots of desert. 

At last we arrived in Albuquerque.  We unloaded are stuff and headed to Old Town. We ate at a little dark and low cafe that was in one of the first adobe buildings built here.  

Cactus everywhere and 100 degrees. 

Albuquerque is a big place.  A lady in one of the shops said this is lots hotter weather than normal. 

My hat is off to people who travel for a living. I so love having a much clearer picture of our topography and such beauty, but all of it is so spread out and far.  I am astounded how well I've managed all these mountain passes and so grateful for doing so safely. Thank the Lord. Thank you for continued prayers. Next up- Amarillo, TX. 

And More

 Today we went a different route to Mesa Verde, Hwy 70.  It is called a scenic byway and we quickly discovered why. Though another desert area, the views were just unreal. Utah's pull-offs are also where you will find  tiny, smelly restrooms,  but the artistic surround makes the pitiful potty fade to the background.  Honestly, you would go around one curve and it looked like Zion, then another and it looked like Bryce.

Devil's Canyon

I'm actually hiding in this one.  I loved this cool tree.

We finally, after many  long hours, arrived at Mesa Verde. The drive up to the Mesa was umm, a bit unnerving. Up to above 8000 ft and the biggest, broadest view of the valley below we have seen  In my wildest dreams I simply cannot grasp how this was accomplished, period, much less with the technology of the time. 

So many wild flowers on our journey. Lots of lupine, thistle, salvia, sage and some I don't know at all.

A cute retro motel that has a different theme for each room. 

Dinner. 

Happy 4th of July everyone and God bless.