Time with Bryan and Cheryl, on to TN and a little time with Don, Dana and Jennifer, back to Bryan's and now Branson, MO. Special gifts

 

A special gift from Bryan and Cheryl 💙
Their neighbor Mike used to make and sell these. 
Bryan had him make this for us 💗 More gifts too. 
We are spoiled! 

Mike sent this over to us earlier in the week! Yes, he made 
this too! 💅

We spent Friday October 4th at the Welcome Center in Arkansas. Took our time getting ready and got to Bryan's house early afternoon on Saturday. Just enjoyed our afternoon and evening chatting and doing a lot of front porch sitting! Cheryl made an amazing dinner that's our favorite so that was great! 

The girls are always looking for treats! 

When they bought last year the house was all white, Cheryl
painted and Bryan made the shutters! 

Raider, he's such a sweetie! 

Cheryl's plants are just flourishing!! 

Sunday was another day of relaxing. Enjoyed the warmth and some more front porch sitting, along with our Champagne Sunday 🥂🍾 We did go see my sister Wendy's house. She probably won't be there until August but it was nice to see in person. It's adorable and I hope she'll be happy there! Very glad it's in the same town as Bryan and Cheryl! 

Monday was a day of work for Ken and Bryan until about 1530 and then Happy Hour. The stove pipe was coming along. 

Tuesday, Cheryl and I ran to the local consignment store that I really like. Didn't spend much but got some nice wine glasses for fall. 4 for $5.00 sold. 

When we got back Ken was on the roof of the porch cutting the hole in for the stove pipe! Bottom line, at the end of the day the wood stove and piping was done. Looks great, can't wait for them to have a fire! 

Cheryl handing Ken some tools he needed 

The stove pipe is finished! 

Finished on the inside! 

Thursday morning we left Bryan's and headed for Ken's brother Don's  house in Tennessee. We left Saturday morning after a great time. Friday we  were able to visit with our niece Jennifer and see the home she bought a few years ago. 

So much food and sooo delicious! 

Jennifer's truck Bo! Eric named it. RAM BO..lol. 

Her back deck...

From left, Jenn's daughter Bella, her friend Sadie, Jennifer,
Uncle Ken and her dad Don 💙

Jenn has the best front porch!! 

Don and Dana have 70 beautiful acres in Middle Tennessee

All too soon it was time to say goodbye on Saturday. we stopped in Forrest City, Arkansas about 1600 and had a great early dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Got back to Bryan's about 1830. 

This plate was huge! Leftovers for dinner tonight! 

Sunday of course was Champagne Sunday which Ken and I enjoyed. We made cauliflower pizza in the Mansion and it turned out awesome! The oven does a great job! 

Ken had oysters and olives, I had turkey lunch meat and 
green chiles so yum! 

Cheers!! 

This morning after breakfast we said our goodbyes and plan on seeing them again in April of 2025. Hopefully we'll be moving my sister out on that visit! 

We had about a 150 mile drive today to Branson, Missouri where we're at Ozark Country Campground. It's a Passport America camp and it's really nice! We're here for 2 nights. There are several PA campgrounds, but this is the only one that allows campers for October. Would definitely stay here again! 

We got set up and then took a drive into town. Busy place and of course touristy. Tomorrow we'll head for the historic district and play tourist. 

There she is! 💗

Downtown Branson 

Russell and Lori left for San Diego this morning. Grandson Jacob comes back from a 9 month deployment soon! I know they are excited for that to happen as we all are! I know Allissa is so excited to start their life together!  We're hoping to watch it on the San Diego webcam! 💗 So PROUD of you Jacob! 

Well, it's time to wrap this up. Have a great evening! 🍺🍷

Happy 47th birthday Bryan...Home again..Gardening..A package for Jacob..

Saturday morning we got out of here near 0700 and headed over the hill to our oldest son, Bryan's house. After a quick stop at Walmart for a few things we had a beautiful drive down Highway 50 and arrived just before 1100. It was a beautiful day already, time for shorts. 

We visited a bit, had a quick lunch and then Ken and Bryan went to work on the fencing.  It wasn't easy unrolling and working from the top down the hill, but they got that done.  Some of the fencing at the top of the hill was damaged by a few trees falling on it awhile ago, so Ken was going to work on that on Sunday. 

The fencing needed to be rolled at an angle..down..

Bryan barbecued some chicken thighs for dinner and then we enjoyed each other's company.  

Sunday was Bryan's 47th Birthday! Another beautiful day in Georgetown, CA.  Adam wanted pancakes so I was able to cook up some pancakes and bacon for him.  After Ken's breakfast he got started on the repair of the top fence. 

Happy Birthday Bryan! 

Near Hope Valley, CA!

Bryan has been off work as he's waiting for hernia repair surgery. Because of the "virus" everything has been postponed.  We have heard they are opening up surgeries now for heart valves and tumors. In our opinion those types of surgeries never should have been postponed anyway!  When you have nurses changing light bulbs or being furloughed there should be surgeries being done. Enough of that rant, hopefully they'll get to his hernia soon.  As a mom it hurts to see him in pain no matter how old he is!  💟

You probably can't see..but there is fencing all the way across..

Not bad for a 68 year old guy!!

Bryan requested enchiladas and coleslaw for his birthday dinner so I worked on that in the Mansion.  How nice to have all that space! Cheryl made him a delicious lemon cake with lemon frosting. 😋

After dinner we sat out in the garage area and visited.  Adam got home around 2100 from working at the pizza place in town.  He joined us. Eventually Ken went to bed and the 3 of us stayed up til around midnight. I told the story of Bryan being born and Bryan told the story of Adam being born. Adam enjoyed hearing them. 

Monday morning it was time to head home.  Adam came for breakfast more pancakes, bacon and eggs. You know that made this grandma happy! 

We got loaded up and headed home.  A quick stop at Raley's to pick up prescriptions that were ready and then a stop for a late lunch.  I emptied the fridge when we got home, but the rest can wait.  

We enjoyed Happy Hour out front and enjoyed the warmth and the quiet.  I had made extra enchiladas in case Eric came up to Bryan's but he was working on his own fencing and didn't make it.  Ken and I had those enchiladas for dinner..(sorry Eric)  LOL...  

I had a not so good sleeping night, a lot of tossing and turning. Oh well, got us an early start as it's garden planting day. 

I sent Jacob a package on Friday. Texted with him last night and it's at the base already. Hope he enjoys it.  He had his first test on Friday and passed. Next text on aviation weather is Wednesday. Lots of studying for our Sailor! ** Jacob texted today that he got the package :) ..Seth wanted me to wait until he gets to Camp Pendleton  as he should be there soon! 

Jacob's package..he got today ..

Have a great day everyone! Supposed to be 87 degrees here today! Well, this didn't get posted this morning so I am now catching up..

That's a spaghetti squash in the back..had a talk with my
daddy( in heaven) before we finished this garden  :)
He used to have the best garden ever!! 

We've got 6 tomatoes on one side, 6 pear tomatoes on the other and
cabbage and chili's in the middle..we will see..:)

Thanks Russell for the pots!

3 out of 4 were Mother's Day pots from Russell.. :) 

Happy Hour!

Good night from Yerington, NV!

Have a great night! 

Wreaths Across America, Eric's house, visiting Bryan, cleaning and baking day!

We had a nice drive Saturday to Dixon, CA and getting off the freeway it was really backed up from the cemetery.  They had us enter at the area we usually leave from..hmmm. Parked us quite a ways from the usual area.  The volunteer who parked us apologized for us being parked so far out and then he said "We've got way too many people".  More people than we've ever seen.  Nice there's so many patriotic Americans!  This probably will be our last year of being there on Wreaths Across America, but we'll go visit during the Christmas season after the wreaths are laid.  It's so gorgeous. Even here at the smaller National Cemetery in Fernley, NV they said they had way too many people also.  When Daddy and Mom were buried there in 2010 there were only 8,000 graves. Now there's over 35,000! 

People! 

Flags at half staff in honor of George H W Bush..

So many volunteers...

We've seen this Marine every year..in hearing his story we
figure him to be at least 85 years old.

So cool! 

The plate..meaning he loves America!

Niece Tasha and her mom Wendy..

Jesse, diane and Ken 

Starting the placing of the wreath..

the wreath but needs to be adjusted..

My momma...

It's always very emotional for my sisters and me going to visit mom and daddy.  Diane, my sister in law, grew up with us and it's emotional for her as well.  She is actually the one who came up with the epitaph on Daddy's headstone :) Her son, Jesse was with my mom until he graduated high school, so he loved them both. 

Ken, Jesse and Diane

My Daddy...

My mom loved pigs..so Tasha brought one out..

Diane

Amazing how fast the wreaths are placed

Boxes and boxes of wreaths..

Beautiful wreaths..

Our nephew Michael...

Love the way it looks with all the wreaths...

Heading out..

Afterwards we parted ways and headed back towards Eric's house.  On the way up we stopped at Edelweiss Restaurant in Auburn and had lunch.  When we lived in Colfax we were there most every weekend for breakfast. Good as ever! 

We got to Eric's in the afternoon and enjoyed visiting with them.  They planned on fajitas for dinner and OH they were awesome.  Afterwards I was helping with the dishes and Ken said Eric had started a fire outside.  OH Boy!  Ken, Eric and I had a great time with the fire and a prolonged Happy Hour! haha. Seth visited a while and so did Mason. It was 0115 when we went to bed. 

Sunday morning we were awake about 0700.  Had our coffees and computing and then checked inside the house.  We got ourselves ready and then I went to make breakfast for the boys.  I had brought breakfast burritos which got ate and then I made pancakes because the boys like them. 

We said our goodbyes and then headed for Bryan's and got there about 1000.  Had a nice, but short visit with Bryan, Cheryl and Adam.  Exchanged presents and off we went. We headed out and drove up highway 50.  Stopped for gas near Polluck Pines and Ken discovered a nail in the left rear tire..so we pulled over to a parking lot and he changed it pretty quickly.  

A nice drive to Minden so we stopped about 1330 and had lunch at CVI. No Carmen on the weekends but still good. I always have the Five Alarm Burger but with a turkey patty and no bun and I ate 4 fries.  Figure that's not too bad. No dinner for either of us last night. :) 

We got home and saw Karen and John had a fire going, so we ended up over there for a bit. work night for John so we left about 1830. It was an early night with me falling asleep on the couch.  Made it to bed fairly early. We were both tired after that late night with Eric. 

Monday morning found me awake before 0400.  I waited until 0500 or so to start the coffee.  Visiting with friends online.  After we got going, Ken took the tire to Carson City and I cleaned the house.  Then it was time to get started on some baking and making some munchies to take to Ken's mom's house tomorrow.  It's her 91st birthday so we're heading back over the hill for the night.  WE'll be home Wednesday after a stop at Walmart to do some shopping for Christmas cooking. Wow time flies.  Looking forward to some down time in Parker, AZ right after Christmas. 

Ham, turkey, cheese wreath for Grandma's tomorrow..

Ken's banana bread

3 ingredient chocolate chip cookies for my sweet tooth..

Out of the oven..yummy...

Have a good night!!