Winter 2014 vacation - chapter 2

Tuesday was a beautiful day for driving, cloudy and "no wind".  And if that wasn't enough, almost no cars on the highway, and speed limit posted at 75.  OK, there is actually more to be thankful for,  no rain. 

States for today's travels are:

Wednesday we left Kansas and traveled through Oklahoma and into Texas. 

But I'm ahead of myself, back to Tues.  

Kathy and Eric are a day ahead of us and said we probably would be driving into rain, so very pleasantly surprised, cloudy and dry. Just in case you are curious, people still pass me on the highway when I'm going the speed limit.. I'm hitting 78/79 and they are still flying by.  Kansas has the most boring state highway that we have traveled, and you know we have traveled a lot of them.  Flat, and boring, yet they have the nerve to make 35 south a tollway through their state. So far it has cost us $5.00 to be bored.  We are still in KS for a while on Wednesday.  

So I talked about our dinner stop in Wichita's Old Town.  Highly recommended by Kathy and also included on her blog.  Absolutely one of the best BBQ places we've ever been to.  Thanks Kath!!

I did not have the Bloody Mary that she posted, way tooooo much food.  I wanted to be hungry for the DELICIOUS Brisket.  But believe it or not the green beans were the best of all.  I thought it was a healthy choice until I saw all the bacon... Yummy flavor!!

Regular Bloody Mary

Tons of stuff Bloody Mary:

No doubt we are in Texas now..

We got to about 2 miles from Gary and Diana's house when our GPS took us right into a gas station parking lot and called it a highway.  We just sat there looking at each other and laughed.  Lots of road construction so understandable it is confused.  Called to say we are lost and get directions.  In this day of technology, we make the old fashion telephone call for directions..  

Arrived around 3:00 PM and after a visit we headed to Plano for dinner.  Very upscale area with tons with shops and restaurants where we met with their Wednesday dinner group.  Fun, good food, and thankfully an early night.  

Thursday we headed to Dallas to visit the George W Bush Library and Museum.  Very, very interesting day, spent with George and Laura.  

A piece of the tower from 9-11

An exact replica of the Oval Office 

A rose named after the First Lady

Many unusual gifts from leaders of other countries, such as this little guy.  There were cases and cases of gifts, but this stuffed lion was the weirdest one.  

From Dallas we went back to Frisco to have lunch.. Just when I think I've tasted the best BBQ in Texas we find a better one. 

We tried to eat light because we had dinner plans later. 

So far it was a perfect day, in the 70's and sunny.  HURRAY!!!  Back home to take a rest before Dinner.  What a treat, Our niece and nephew, Sherri and Sam, along withe both kids, Elizabeth and Anthony, with their fiancée's Laura and Corey are meeting us.  They found the coolest place in Louisville, TX called Tirrney's grill and tavern.  It was a house ( converted to a restaurant) once owned by a DR. who was often taken, blindfolded, to the hideout of Bonnie and Clyde for Medical attention.  And we know that is true because it says so on the front of the menu.  Most of us had their famous Potato Chip Chicken.  Yummy, but no picture.  Great family fun, group photo, and end of a wonderful visit..  Can't get the photo of the group until we unpack the computer in AZ, it was taken on my camera, not my phone.  

Perfect day!!!

 

Justin's return to MN

When your grandparents live in another state, summer visits become part of your childhood memories.  That's how it was for Justin.  We moved to Minnesota in 1997 when he was 3 years old, and when most young children wouldn't remember much from those early years, justin remembers it all.

So each year when he askes when are we going to MN, we begin planning.  Because of his very busy schedule it often becomes a very short visit.  We are leaving for our trip tomorrow.  (June 12)

Pick up: 1:15PM a stop at Starbucks and here we go

Crazy, miles and miles of construction on 290.  Good to see our toll money at work.  Two hours to the Wisconsin boarder, then first stop for lunch.  Our plan is to hit Sunsets in Woodbury at about 8 PM for a light meal before checking in to the Hilton Garden Inn, Oakdale, MN.  

Hello there Wisconsin, where else are there cow statues to greet you??  

Amusing myself on the highway!!  We lived in MN for 8 years, and in those years we drove to Illinois every month.  EVERY month, winter, spring, summer, and fall.  We encountered every type of weather you can imagine.  Rain, snow, ice, hail, once even outran a tornado.  Afterall we had a mission, our grandchildren were being born and it was what drove us.  Here are the numbers, 96 trips, 78,912 miles, and approximately $7,891 for gas.  Of course we killed one car, and one mini van along the way.

Bridge over the St Croix.  Connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Always great to come home again!!

What the heck?  First we drive to Sunsets for a light dinner before checking into the hotel, but it's closed.  Then we drive down to Champps and find this sign on the building.  Find out the corporation has gone bankrupt and it is still the same owner but they have to change their name, to "we don't have a name yet".  

Here's to our safe trip and night one in MN..  

Beautiful sunset, goodnight!!

Breakfast at the hotel and then heading out.  Red Wing, MN for the day.  

Ok, don't know why but Justin thinks this is a really funny name for a restaurant. 

Only in MN can we visit a casino with Justin.  It's the only state that an 18 year old can legally gamble, so being good grandparents we teach him a vice...  

Of course he loves it.  Winner buys dinner!!  

Downtown Red Wing for lunch.  Walleye sandwich, yum. 

After lunch we walked through town and into Levee Park where we had some fun with the joker.

Saturday morning we are scheduled for a 2 hour Segway ride in St Louis Park.  Just zipping past Mineapolis on the way.  

Forecast is 50% chance of rain, fingers crossed we will be in the 50% dry part of town..  NOT!! So if it's just raining we are adventurous and brought rain ponchos. It is lightly raining when we take off and I'm the only one to put on my rain gear.  15 minutes into the ride, already quite wet, the two macho guys want to stop and put on the rain protection. 

I'm chuckling while I watch this.  He's twisting and turning and pulling and tugging.  Finally he gets the poncho on and we proceed. We have a map and know where we want to go but, yup, we passed our turn and about 15 minutes down the trail we figure out we are a little lost.  So we begin backtracking and finally were headed in the right direction.  Our destination was the Lake of the Isles, one of a chain of lakes in and around the St Louis Park area.  

It is raining a bit harder now and as we begin our ride around we are commited.  It's a one way trail of 3 miles, no turning back now.  Wind and rain is picking up now and it was getting colder.  The rain was hitting our faces and our hands were really cold now, but we were giggling like kids.  I kept thinking what a spirit of adventure we have and how lucky we are to still be able to do things like this with our grand kids.  I'm wishing I had remembered fun times with my own grandparents, but they were all gone before I was born.  All of these thoughts are keeping me from the reality that we are caught in aweful weather and can't pick up speed because we are riding right into this fierce wind.  

This picture was taken before the monsoon hit.  Ha ha. Minneapolis skyline behind us.  Bet it's beautiful on a sunny day.  By the way, winds picked up as we rode and were said to have hit 70mph.  As the rain hit us it felt like pins sticking our faces.  As we look back we realize we should have been a little more freaked out.  Dahhhh!!

Sunday morning we went to 8:30 Mass at St Ambrose of Woodbury.  Ok, I just may have to say our favorite church of all.  And look who we found there.  

Vickie Staudt and her beautiful family.  She is a 3Mer and a minister at SA church. And of course a special friend. 

By the time we left the church there wasn't one person there but us and Father Tom who told us he will be staying in this parish for a while longer.  Great news I like him!! 

Off to The Mall of America. 

Not Camp Snoopy anymore. 😪

All Nickelodeon theme, with lots of new rides. Ninja Turtles, Dora, and my favorite addition,

Imagine, an entire Peeps Store.  And don't forget Spongebob!!

But this sign said it all!!

Last event was Pizza night with Patty, her grandson Jack, and their gang before calling it a night. ❤️❤️. Patty adopted us into their family years ago.  Thanks Patty, Scott, Tara, Dale, and Jack. 

Monday morning back over the St Croix River bridge into Wisconsin and home.  The weather could have been better, but the MN people never, ever disappoint us.. 

You can buy children anything in the world, but nothing will compare to the memories you make with them.  See you in August when we return for the Fair.  Hope to connect with many old friends at that time..

 

Iowa, May, 2014

Off we go to Iowa, land of corn and cows.  Our frequent trips are to check on aunt Alice, 83, who gets lonesome for some family.  Just a brief summery of her life.  Born the last child of 7 she married Elwin who took her on an adventure. He joined the Army and they moved several times in their lives.  She was pregnant twice but due to a fatal childhood disease both children died.  There was and still is a hole in her heart the size of the Grand Canyon.  Today all of her siblings, her husband, and everyone she was close to are gone, left are some nieces and nephews.  John is the son of her "favorite" sister and she feels close to him because he is so much like his mother..

More later, this time try to blog as I go.

4 hours into the trip and I'm really happy to have my IPad to keep me busy.  John and I have a deal, he drives the highways, and I drive around town.  It works great for us, and it is such a great day for the drive.  The sun is behind us so no squinting!!!  I have read our local newspaper, finished two crossword puzzles, read all of my e-mail, checked out Facebook to see what my friends were doing and read a chapter of a book that I purchased for my iPad months ago. Then finally, I've begun a new blog.  Who knew you could accomplish so much on I80 headed to Iowa?? 

5 hours into the trip and it is time for a stop at a casino.  One of our little guilty pleasures, and a chance to get out of the car.  John said he had a very itchy hand, and we all know that means you are going to get some money.  $160 will go into the "month in AZ" envelope.  Kathy, thank you for that idea.

Then off to check into our hotel.

Wow, look at that, if we missed our turn to Ames, we end up in Minnesota. We love both places!!

After checking into the hotel we are off to visit Aunt Alice.  Tonight we are meeting John's cousin David and his wife Linda for dinner.  David's father was Alice's older brother.  All those years that we spent in Iowa we didn't even know that David and his brother Dan existed.  All families have secrets, and some  never come to the surface, this was a well kept one.  After Alice's brother and his present wife passed away this cousin found Aunt Alice and began a very nice friendship.  Once when we were in town Alice arranged for a dinner with all of the cousins to get together and meet. The bond was instant, and with Linda and Dave we have made friends for life.  

After dinner we went back to Alice's house for cards with her friends.  There is always a game going on downstairs, and we don't dare admit to being tired.  It's a wonderful community she lives in and we feel good that they all watch out for one another.  

After a card game with 7 of the ladies we headed back to the hotel for the night.  We don't usually get back to the room until 10:30ish.  The ladies are real night owls compared to us.  Most of them claim they don't sleep at night so why rush off to bed? They are awesome gals and I hope to live in a place just like this someday.  Where they all look out for each other and still lead very active lives, but their families aren't left with the job of entertaining you because you are bored.  They NEVER get bored, ever.  Their homes are all 2 bedroom, 2 bath full apartments that they own, with a monthly fee for maintenance and even weekly cleaning service.  There is an attached garage for those with cars, and a dining room for community meals if they choose.  This dining room is then their activity room in the evenings.  

On Friday we plan to pick up flowers for all of the relatives graves.  Lots and lots of graves to visit in two different cemeteries. Alice likes to stand and talk about each family member as we go around so it can take awhile.  Every year she says the same thing, that this is probably the last year.  But every year she reorders all of the flowers again.  After Memorial Day is over one of her friends takes her out to pick up the pots and bring them back to be planted in their yard.  It's quite a ritual.  In this photo you see how the trunk of her car looks like a garden.  Johns brother arrived on Friday to help with the flower ceremony.  

Cryder is the family name, John's mom's side, and they seem to occupy at least 1/3 of the graves.  This was where she was born and raised until she moved to Illinois with his dad.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day for this loving project.  

Supper (their word for dinner) at a sports bar then back for another card game.  We taught Jim how to play "hand and Foot". 

Saturday we join another of John's cousins for a 60th Anniversary party where Aunt Alice and I have a wager, food or no food?  I say a nice buffet, she says cake and coffee!!  We ate a big breakfast just in case we don't get food later.  

Beautiful private club was the site of the 60th anniversary party, in West Des Moines.  It was an all appetizer buffet and cake, so I think I won the bet.  Aunt Alice said it wasn't a meal so she thinks she wins..  There were 40 attendees, but not many were relatives.  The host, John, who is the oldest son of the celebrating couple, said that John and I were their Rock Stars, because we came the farthest.  Two weeks before this event, Betty, (anniversary. Lady) had a very big scare with her heart.  I'm so glad she could attend her own party and we could help them celebrate.

Entrance and sign in book.

Betty on the right of her husband of 60 years, and Aunt Alice on the left.

From left, Johns brother Jim, John, Aunt Alice, and Walt, who is a cousin-in-law.  His wife was the sister of Ed, but she died several years ago.  Sadly the Cryders are slipping away ..

Sunday morning we attended St Thomas Aquinas, located on the Iowa state University campus.  

We also took some time to drive around and reminiss about the late 1980's when Dave was a student there.  It was a trip down memory lane.  

His dorm.  One of the hardest things I had to do was Drop him off and drive away.  That was 28 years ago!!!  

We had a very rainy drive home, but traffic was light and we are safe and sound in Orland Park.  Lots of things coming up with the grandchildren, so we are excited.  

Arizona 2014

After years of winter vacations in Florida our friends Darlene and Sonny convinced us to come for a visit to Arizona.  Sonny retired from Com Ed several years ago, they sold their house and moved to Sun City.  Why stay here struggling with the winter months, when you can bask in the sun year round.  From the beginning they told us there was a room in their house reserved for John and I.  So two years ago we decided to take them up on their offer and fly out for a visit.  Great decision!!!!



Our first year in AZ we hiked, ate, hiked, shopped, hiked and took our first Segway tour .  White tank mountain was the first hike experience, but was just an ant hill compared to the hiking trails in beautiful Sedona.  Standing at the top of Eagles Nest is like standing in heaven.  From day one we knew we loved it.  First year we stayed 7 days, second year 12 days and right now we are making
arrangements to rent a house for a month our next visit.

I tried to climb all the way to the top..  

There is something magical in Sedona, a fact that you have to experience to understand how true that statement is.  Our visit there in February was proof of that.  I am very fortunate to travel with friends who are planners and adventurers.  Ed and Helga found a 3hour Vortex jeep experience.  Our guide took us to the top of a mountain where we felt a powerful energy field.  Did I believe in this vortex field, I sure did.  Tingling in the ends of my fingers and hair standing  up on the back of my neck.  It was very powerful and something I look forward to going back to experiencing.

The hiking gang!!

We spent one day hiking completely around the base of this beautiful place!! 

Since Helga and I went to our first psychic reading last year, we were determined to go again this year.  Our first choice was a young man (about 12, not really, just looked young) who had absolutely no power, but I give him credit for being a great actor. We were believers that such a spiritual place like this must certainly draw some of the best physics in the country, so we vow to try again this year.  It turns out that Kathy and I find the talent this year, sorry Helga you missed out.  Kathy and I had great and very convincing readings, and the psysic said things that blew my mind as far as accutacy, and predictions for the future.  WOW...