50 States in 50 Years Nos. 12-9

No. 12 Minnesota with a side trip to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
No. 11 North Dakota
No. 10 Iowa
No.  9 Nebraska

I added these state to my list on a trip to Minnesota in 1970. I could find very few pictures from 1970 and this trip. 

We started in Arkansas, went through Kansas and made a stop in Omaha for a few days. One day we spent at the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters. To be honest I do not remember how they looked in 1970. All I remember is going into a building and signing a guest book. Then, we ventured over to Lincoln one day and took pictures at the Capitol Building. I took them from the top of the building. That was before my fear of heights had kicked in big time. I wouldn't be able to do that now. Note: Nebraska is very windy.

On the road again with one stop in Sioux City, Iowa, to fix a flat tire and on to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. There were several sides trips from this base. One trip was to Itasca State Park in Bimidji where I waded across the Mississippi River.  It is at the headwaters of the river. Next, we took a quick trip over the border to Fargo, North Dakota.

I was a little further inland as I remember.
I didn't have to walk far, but I did have to
walk across the rocks.

The highlight side trip was to Winnipeg. 
We spent the night and did a little shopping.
I still have the ring I bought as a souvenir.










This trip was almost at the beginning of my '50-State Odyssey'. Who knew at that time that I would be able to say I have been in and out or to all 50 states. Glad we thought to go to Fargo.

THEN AND NOW-THE LIFE OF A TREE

I have been keeping a photo record of a Jane Magnolia tree that we got when we moved into our house in Little Rock twenty-five years ago. We moved to another town six years ago. We go check on it from time to time when we are back in town. It is still growing and putting on its spectacular Spring show.

February 2009

March 2010

March 2018

Coming Out of Retirement

Okay, my friends are right. I have failed at 'Retirement'. I am working harder than I ever did in the 'Real' world. The 8am-5pm five days a week world was a piece of cake. 

My Heritage Quilt
Double Wedding Ring
Hand-pieced/Hand-quilted

When I retired in 2005, I had a bucket-list of things I wanted to do that I didn't have time to do when I 'worked'. The problem is that there are too many things on the list. In order to get them done I have to change my mind set. Therefore, I am no longer retired. I am working as always, but my hours vary from day to day. However, I am working not retiring. My work is different. I volunteer at the library, quilt, paint, sell stuff on Etsy, blog, and read. The only way I can get it all done is to work at it.

Garvan Woodland Gardens
Hot Springs, Arkansas

We even take vacations from retirement. 
Sometimes it's a day-trip. 

Crystal Bridge Museum of American Art
Bentonville, Arkansas

Sometimes it's a longer trip to visit family or enjoy each others company.  














I already feel better. I spent today checking things off my list and still had time to read, watch a little (very little) TV, exercise, and nap.

National Quilting Day and St. Patrick's Day 2018

March 17, 2918

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

and

National Quilting Day

Here are a few of mine!

Holly-Wall Hanging

Morning Glory-Wall Hanging

Purple Mountains Majesty-Wall Hanging

Heritage Quilt-Double Wedding Ring
Hand Pieced and Hand Quilted

Rescued Everything Vintage
Wall Hanging

AN EVENING WITH GENTRI

Last night we went to a Community Concert Association concert. It was the last one of the 2017-2018 Season. It was one of the best. 

'Gentri, The Gentlemen Trio' did not disappoint. They were accompanied by Stephen Nelson and a 5-String Quartet from the Arkansas Symphony from Little Rock. Stephen Nelson was one of the highlights. He should have top billing for his performance. For one number, the audience was asked for the name of a current hit song and a classic movie song. They chose 'Wind Beneath My Wings' and 'Dr. Zhivago'. Mr. Nelson combined the two pieces for a new movie: 'Dr. Zhivago Beneath My Wings'. The result was amazing.

The other highlight of the night was a movie of the their original composition, 'Home'. They provided the sound while the movie below played on a large screen behind them. It is about the death of a loved husband who has passed to the other side. He was still able to write a letter to his beloved wife, whom he had to leave behind for a while.

It brought tears to my eyes. (I wasn't prepared. Luckily, Chuck has a handkerchief.)

DAY TRIPPIN' THROUGH DAFFODILS

We decided this year to get out of 'Dodge'* every once and a while. This weekend was the '25th Annual Daffodil Festival' in Camden, Arkansas, USA. It is about two hours from us. We could get there; look at the daffodils; and be back home before dark. We had planned to get there by noon and eat at the Postmasters Grill, but it didn't open until 5pm. Plan B: walk around until we found a place and menu we liked. 

                                                                 

Just off Main Street we found 

What's Cookin'. Delicious hamburger! for me and a fish po-boy for Chuck. I picked best! 

The owner of the restaurant was a collector of everything Grapette.

I grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, drinking Grapette, a grape drink bottled in Camden. Grapette's headquarters is now located in Malvern, Arkansas.

Now it was time to find the daffodils. That was easier said than done. The daffodil locations were a few miles out of town. As 'Amanda' (another story) at the Information Center said, "They're in the country." ...and they were. We could have taken a shuttle, but we prefer to be in control of our time. We elected to drive to only one venue, Grace Hill. 

Koi Pond

Daffodils in back of Koi Pond

There were a lot of daffodils as we drove in. Those had been planted long before the house was built. In the back there were plantings of different varieties that will spread over the years. Grace Hill was completed in 1992 and is a copy of the George Wythe house in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, circa 1750. 

Time to head home to my own tribute to the daffodil. 

It was nice day and we are already planning our next day trip.

*Hot Springs Village

(another story) We got to visiting with Amanda and found we knew some of the same people in Camden. Also, they were practically our neighbors in Little Rock before they moved to Camden. I also started talking to another lady and found out that we had worked at the same bank in Little Rock many years ago. Proves again-It's a small world. 

THOUGHT FOR THURSDAY

What you say to a friend or an acquaintance or even someone in passing could remain in their minds for the rest of their life. It could even remain in yours. I have many words running through my mind. Some have been said to me and some I have said. I would like to erase some that have been said to me and I regret some I have said.

"It will only take a few seconds." Said to me when I wasn't feeling too well physically. I cannot get rid of them. I spend a lot of seconds doing things that add up to minutes and hours that I could have been doing something more meaningful. Usually, more meaningful things take more than a few seconds.

"Can't never did do anything!" My Dad said that to me and it impacted my life for the better. Thanks, Dad!

I could go on and on, but these are just a couple of examples. There are too many running around in my head. 

"Be Kind with Your Words."