The whirlwind tour, 2010

Hubs and I just got home from a 2 week vacation, traveling through 7 states - meeting so many great folks and seeing some wonderful spots along the way.

I'll be sharing some pictures with you of our grand time

over the course of the next few days.

The first stop took us to Greenville, SC to visit a girl who I consider to be as close to my daughter. Michelle and I met when she was 11 years old - and we formed an instant bond. That bond is even stronger today, and she is now married with a baby of her own.

This is the home of Ross and Michelle, with their baby daughter Ella and other "baby", Gus.

Here are a few shots of their beautiful home ...

I couldn't pick my favorite spot if I tried!

Ross is a very talented and gifted artist and their home is adorned
with many of his works. It's amazing!

Sweet Ella and me - taken through a mirror by hubs ♥

On Thursday morning, Ross and Michelle took us to the Coffee Underground - after having breakfast there, I can see why this is one of their favorite hangouts!

This was in the ladies powder room at the Coffee Underground... just had to get a picture of the artisan's metal works!

Downtown Greenville, SC ... loved it! I must return soon :)

On main street in Greenville - there is a story about the Mice on Main... they are hidden all along the street and you must try to find them!

From downtown Greenville, we headed over to the zoo - and hitched a ride on the bear.

We only had 1 1/2 days with our dear sweet adopted family - and I do hope we get to return next summer for a longer visit. One day just isn't enough!

Whose Line...

I have been spending a bit of time lately reminiscing back a few years to the days of a great stand up comedy program that was on each week called "WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY"

Mercy, this was funny stuff!! Ryan and Collin always had me in stitches but when Drew Carey would laugh so uncontrollably, it was contagious!!!

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=whose+line+is+it+&FORM=VDRE&qpvt=whose+line+is+it+#

Crab Cake Anyone?

These photos were taken at a wedding in North Carolina .

Get ready for this: It's a wedding cake!

The crabs, corn, and even the container of Old Bay Seasoning are made of white chocolate.

The sand is crushed graham crackers and vanilla wafers.

The mallets are fondant, a confection used for decorating.

The entire $700 cake is edible! Crab Cake is not always what you think!

Our Arkansas Getaway, take 2....

As I mentioned in an earlier post, hubs and I headed to Arkansas last weekend and got to spend some time with folks near and dear to our heart. In addition to lunch with our "son", we spent a couple of days hanging with my sweet ebay sister, Pam of Goldiloo Woodworks and her hubs and their friends! We had so much fun together and laughed till our sides were splitting. We were treated to a tour of the area and all the sights that Hardy Arkansas had to offer - but I tell ya, just spending the time with Pam and Chuck was like a soothing balm to my soul.

We loved our time together and hit it off right away. I wasn't quite ready to come home until I thought about how much we missed our cats - but we look forward to another weekend getaway with our great Arkansas friends!

It was beautiful country and we had such a fabulous time - so I will just let the photos tell the story for you ....

Meeting my Pammie and Marsha, her best friend since 1st grade.

We had such fun!!!

For dinner, we went to Biggers Bed and Breakfast - located up on top of a huge valley with a gorgeous view. The food was fantastic and we only got in trouble about 4 or 5 times with the Principal. Me and Pam tried to sneak upstairs to have a look around and she came running after us like we were fugitives. Man, she was a hard nose.... *giggle*

Marsha's finance', Ken - what a nice guy...

he even hammed it up with his frou frou drink! lol

What a great sport for the camera :)

Little Miss Goldie ♥

she is quite camera shy !

Biscuit lounging on his "veranda"

this is where Pammie logs all of her working hours - and I'm here to tell you, they have a beautiful set up !

Even comes with a swing for relaxing with the honey and the pooches ♥

Sweet Biscuit bounding off the porch

Chuck has restored this awesome tractor. He's mighty proud of it and rightly so!

Swinging with Lucy in the garage ... I could have stayed there all day!

I call this one "God's Natural Patio Furnture"

In case there was ever a doubt which one you should go in, the good folks of Arkansas remove all doubts.... :)

Yes... Chuck drove over this one lane slap of cement with rushing water on both sides.... in their HUGE TAHOE!!!

A park in Thayer Mo - more of Pammie's old stompin grounds!

We headed to Mammoth Springs - which brought a nice relaxing walk about the area filled with cool clear water and an awesome waterfall.

How can you mend a broken heart?

After losing his parents, this 3 year old orangutan was so depressed he wouldn't eat and didn't respond to any medical treatments. The veterinarians thought he would surely die from sadness.

They are together 24 hours a day in all their activities.
They live in Northern California where swimming is their favorite past time, although Roscoe (the orangutan) is a little afraid of the water and needs his friend's help to swim.
Together they have discovered the joy and laughter in life and the value of friendship.
They have found more than a friendly shoulder to lean on.
Long Live Friendship!!!!!!!
I don't know......some say life is too short, others say it is too long, but I know that nothing that we do makes
sense if we don't touch the hearts of others.......while it lasts!

The zoo keepers found an old sick dog on the grounds in the park at the zoo where the orangutan lived and took the dog to the animal treatment center.

The dog arrived at the same time the orangutan was there being treated.
The 2 lost souls met and have been inseparable ever since. The orangutan found a new reason to live and each always tries his best
to be a good companion to his new found friend.

They are together 24 hours a day in all their activities.

They live in Northern California where swimming is their favorite past time, although Roscoe (the orangutan) is a little afraid of the water and needs his friend's help to swim.

Together they have discovered the joy and laughter in life and the value of friendship.

They have found more than a friendly shoulder to lean on.

Long Live Friendship!

Some say life is too short - others say it is too long.

I know that nothing that we do makes sense

if we don't touch the hearts of others while it lasts!

A holiday getaway

Our 4th of July getaway began with a stopover in Springfield MO for lunch with the Fuller's. George Wayne is the son we never had - he moved next door to us when he was just going into the 8th grade, and he quickly became a regular at our dinner table and a constant in our hearts.

We are so proud of GW and the man he has grown into. His love and dedication to our country touches my heart. He and his wife just had a baby boy on April 10th, and we wanted to take the time to meet and get to know baby Edmund. Of course, time with GW's daughter Eliza is always a blessing, as is the sweet fellowship with GW and Ona.

We were so happy to meet the handsome new addition to George's family - and our time together (altho short lived) was sweet fellowship.

We love you all so much!