Smiln across the miles

No updates? Hey, Carla! Hey, TC! Did your 2-car convoy make it to St. Louis?

I wanna know how you people got her to eat?? LOL Apparently she had been munching on pop tarts before she arrived! She didn't have anything here but a cup of gourmet Kool Aid. :)

Oh, Carla, it is so great seeing all these pics & DGers that you are getting to meet. It reminds me of when you were here a few weeks ago. Good for you!!! You go girl!! Have a safe trip.

and gourmet Kool Aid is.......???? :)

That is when your kids can't make two packs of the same kind and have to mix two flavors and you never know what the heck is in the pitcher. LOL I think it was strawberry lemonade that day. ;)

Hey kids! I lOVE that flavor!! LOL Jo

good one!! definitely gourmet!!!

LOL Well it's hot and they are going through beverages like crazy. They get bored......one can only drink so much water, juice, sun tea, lemonade and kool-aid, then everything you remember from science class kicks in. hahaha Carla was here on a *mild* day. LOL

Hmmm. Makes me glad that my kids do not like koolaid.

I'm home safe and sound - tired, but happy to be in familiar surroundings.

TC and I had a great time visiting with Kimberly, Howie, Cathy and Bob. What laughs we all had. Their gardens were also delightful, but it seems that we spent much more time talking and laughing late, late into the night. Gracious, but Kimberly and Howie are night owls. We spent Friday night at lotusblossom's (Cathy and Bob's) house, which is adorable.

On Saturday, we made it into IN, but stopped at Cloverdale RV park as it began to rain HARD. We nearly drowned that night. My tent was drier than TC's and his even had a tarp over it. (Girls rule and boys drool) I'm sure he'll post photos.

On Sunday, we drove the rest of the way to St. Louis and camped at my folks place. They have 10 acres and we stayed in a field close to the creek. It was delightful. We ate my Dad's smoked pulled pork and watched fireworks. Again, I'm sure TC will post photos. His camera is practically an appendage.


This message was edited Jul 5, 2004 9:21 PM

I'm glad you are home saffely! I know you had a GREAT time. Jo

Now y'all will understand why we don't usually answer our phone until around 11am. ;)

Glad you made it home safely, if not dryly!

I haven't been a member very long, and I know I don't know all of you very well yet, but thoroughly enjoyed this thread.

GW, it was nice to see a picture of you. Until now I've only seen your feet and a hammock. lol

I'm so glad you had a good time, smilin, and that your home safely.

Welcome Home Smilin!!!

I've enjoyed following along on your trip, I hope to oneday be able to do this....It sounds as if you & everyone involved had a great time...

Looking forward to more pics :-)

Hugs Carol

Funny looking goat at rosiesplace.

This message was edited Jul 6, 2004 10:34 AM

Carla, I'm so glad to have been able to follow along on your roadtrip - how fun for you!!! (And I'm very glad you made it home safe and sound!)

What a marvelous time I had gettin to see everyone!

I even took time to make a bouquet for gw and Howie, my DD helped out with makin it the night before I left.

TC...

Here I am "bubblin" across the miles.

TC...

LOL at the bubble picture! That bouquet was so pretty. He used astilbe in it, something I'd never thought of, and put hosta leaves in for greenery. It was very artful.

Here's a photo of Lou's (dispatcher1) back yard (only part of it). Her husband put in a pond, then decided he wanted a stream, too. It was beautiful and SO relaxing to listen to.

Here's a picture of the male peacock at EvaMae's (leaflady). This poor fellow didn't like the female peacock that was bought for him, so they had to get rid of her, but he's more than willing to fluff his feathers for any passing female duck or chicken. It's the funniest thing to watch.

Carla, I am so glad you made it home safe :) (((( hugs )))) and a special purr from Lisi-cat. I still don't know how you did that????

What can I say? I just have some kind of animal magnetism, I guess. :) My mother used to say "you attract all kinds", but I don't think she meant that to be a postive statement. :) It's good to see you on-line again. You have been missed.

Looks like you had a great trip. Glad you are home safe.

I was so impressed with smiln's campin abilities y'all!

As an example, I offered no assistance in helpin her set up her tent. She didn't need my help and it was plain to see!

TC...

Set up complete...

TC...

Was this picture taken before or after I threw my shoe at you? You may not have offered assistance, but you sure gave me a hard time about it.

I do believe it's time to post a pic or two of smiln's hosta garden at her mom and dad's place.

Bob and Mary were two of the most hospitable folks I've ever met. Bob even gave me a lesson on soldering. And Mary makes gravy that is second only to my mother's. And I've ate a lot of gravy!

It's unfortunate that I did not ask them to pose for my camera with Carla and Carla's wonderfully funny and witty sister Debra. Believe me when I say that Carla's family is beautiful, inside and out. It was a joy getting to meet them!

Here's a few shots of a special place...

~TC


Edited to add a comment about the above post...

It was taken before, I think...

This message was edited Jul 7, 2004 10:10 AM

Another view...

This section was created by Bob. It's his rock garden. He told me folks can leave special rocks there if they'd like. Each pile of rocks here has a little story associated with its depositor.

I think Carla told me that the idea for the rock garden sprang from either Kaley or Bethany's collection of "indoor" rocks.
I think Debra's kids also had a collection of them that needed a new home.

I think it a great idea and my kids would love it if I made them a special rock garden.

My hats off to you Bob, you're a great dad and grandad!

~TC



This message was edited Jul 7, 2004 10:12 AM

Our campsite at Bob and Mary's place...

I reckon I'll post this photo just to show y'all that I know there are many more uses for an old tire besides makin a tire planter outta one.

Carla, I had such a wonderful time visiting with you and I thank you so much for putting up with me. You're one very special lady and your DH is a very lucky man.

~TC

Great time and beautiful hosta bed!!! How much work those steps must have been, but so worth it. What a tranquil stroll that would be.

Thanks for sharing the pics, TC!

You're very welcome Brenda. I'm still sorting throught about a hundred photos!

TC...

Well we're all awaitin'!!! I took over 200 pics on our trip last week to FL. I haven't even begun to go through them. Probably a winter project for me. My mom is bugging the heck out of me to get some of them too.

I love going to my parents' place. They have 10 acres of sheer natural beauty. You even have to drive over a one lane bridge off of the main road just to get to it.

The rock collecting actually started with my Dad. We'd been studying the Old Testement at church. Samuel set up a stone to declare that God had been with them thus far in their battles (in 1 Samuel 7). My Dad decided that we ought to set up our own Ebenezer, but for us, it's more a testement to God's goodness and His creation. Any time one of us goes to someplace special, we can bring back a rock to honor God and place it among the other stones.

This thread goes back a long ways, but also has a photo of the Ebenezer (without so many leaves). :)

http://davesgarden.com/t/317515/