HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA VISITING FRIENDS AND FAMILY

September 25th, Friday - While Pearl and I went to the grocery stores, Gary went off looking for something to do and saw signs for a James Dean Car Show in Fairmount, Indiana. It did not take him more than a minute to decide where he was going! James Dean grew up in Fairmount.

Saturday, September 26th, began as a full busy day and very cloudy. No rain in the forecast though. Off to pick up the birthday cake.  Then Tina, Audrey's niece, arrived after her trip to Berne shopping, showing off her great finds!! She is quite the green thumb and not afraid to work!! Gary helped her unload them from her van.

Then we took a tour of the back yard which has changed a lot since we were last here.  She and her neighbors cut down a number of trees and she cleaned out a lot of brush.  This is the result.

   

Had to get back up the street to Pearl's.  We had to be ready for the Family Picnic and birthday celebrations.  My nephew and his wife were first to arrive, so they spent some time picking up and shelling hickory nuts.

Paul Jr. and Angie

After others arrived it did not take long to get the food out. And Gary manned the grill.

Gary

Paul Jr and David, brothers , both with September birthdays.
Audrey's nephews.

Cousin, Jeanne and husband, Norbert.
Pearl, Paul, Angie, David, Tina and Gary.

We missed some other family members close-by who could not make it this year!!  Hope that you can join us the next time.  We were so-o-o glad that Jeanne and Norbert joined us after their return from a vacation in California and Hawaii.  We all had so much to reminisce about.  It makes us want to make that trip also!!  We have so much more travels on our plate.  Hope that we get it all done.

Sunday, was up and off to church. So glad to see everyone there!! Some of those were cousins.

This hornet's nest was in the side yard of the church and I just had to take a picture.  The bees were definitely awake and busy.  I think that their construction is so intricate and beautiful!!

Our afternoon was lunch of left overs and sitting out in the back yard all afternoon, waiting for our youngest son, Ben, to arrive from Chippewa PA.

He stayed the night and then went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel with us before heading on to Minnesota for his new job. I think that we got left with the job of packing and storing his stuff back home in the apartment.  He only has one week off to find an apartment before reporting for work. Guess that is what moms and dads are still around for!! Not sure when we will see him next.  Maybe not until next summer when we travel through Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Pearl has such nice windows to watch the back yard which is wooded and then backed by a golf course.

Many finch among the other birds,
but they are so fast that it was
difficult to catch them with the camera.

Momma and baby deer just before the tree line,
but I missed Momma and only got the tail end of baby
leaving Pearl's yard.

This is a lovely location!! And with Tina just down the street it is even better.  Has been a relaxing stop here really.  We will move on to Columbus Ohio area tomorrow. We have more visiting to do.

MEETING UP WITH FLORIDA RVing FRIENDS in INDIANA

Good morning!
Have been visiting since arriving here. Wednesday, September 23rd.
On Thursday we drove over to Marion to connect with RVing friends, Katherine and Ted, who we met in Bushnell, FL in our early full timing days the first year out. They are no longer driving the motorhome that long a distance because of Ted's health.
It was a wonderful four hour visit catching up on people and common interests. Katherine wanted us to stay for dinner, but we knew that my sister would be cooking also. Thank you Katherine for the invite.

Katherine fixing tea.
What an awesome kitchen, but I am spoiled.
I would hate to have to keep it clean!

Ted and Gary catching up.

Saying goodbye for this visit.
We will return.

They have such a lovely country home and grounds.  I just had to take pictures of a few cute things about.

A little girl that I would love to have a place for!

This plant all around in front of the little girl was sure unique!! I forget what Katherine said it was called.

Katherine mowed under this tree many times before she noticed the hornet's nest. She laughs about it now.

Ted and Katherine, thank you for a wonderful time and so glad that we could make your day.  I would imagine that it is difficult to leave a lifestyle behind. I will pass your greetings on to the others that we lived by in Bushnell.  We will be seeing Louis and Don in Ohio when we get there.
Take care and God Bless.

MOVING ON TO INDIANA NEXT

Our last Sunday at Olive Baptist in Pensacola.  It sure feels like home to us now!!  Our group of friends are great and they share the needs and concerns of everyone.  We had a different teacher each Sunday with Ruth teaching the last Sunday.  Pearl, you should remember her.

And the lighting in the sanctuary was good and I realized that it would make a good picture, but all I had was my phone with me.  Not bad.  Their choir is so good, and we do like the new director. The orchestra is a bit loud though.

After church we met for lunch at Texas Roadhouse for one last dinner out with some of the classmates. And it was Lana's birthday.
Lana, we trust that you will have many more!!  The gals and guys sat at different tables as it makes for more personal conversation too.

Teresa, Audrey, Joann, Lana, Emily and Henrietta

David, Howard, Bob, Dennis, Jim and Gary

Jim and Henrietta will be returning to the mission field in New Guinea, probably in May.  They work on Bible translations.  We wish you well on your trip back and for the rest of your stay in the states.

Monday, September 21st, we began the day at 6 am, leaving at 7 for the Chev. garage for a tune-up and oil change on the motorhome before we were to park it for storage for three months.  They also bled the brakes and put new fluid in.  So all set to take it to Holt.
By 1 pm we had eaten a light lunch in the motorhome and protected everything from the sun and moved on north.  We stopped for the night at Clanton, just south of Birmingham.  On Tuesday we got through the rest of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, stopping for the night in Clarksville, IN.

We lived on Preston Hwy on the south side of  Louisville
in 1970 and early 1971.

Downtown Louisville where Victor was born
December 1970 at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Ready to cross the Ohio River going into Indiana
from Louisville.

Traffic was sure nasty with trucks going north on I-65 in the morning.  Very stressful! So we cut cross country and took state routes. A much more relaxing drive! We arrived at my sister, Pearl's about noon on Wednesday.
Old home week!!  Lots of visiting and I sat out and watched her plant her fall mums.

She loves her gardening, if she stays home long enough!

I also sorted through her books left over from her garage sale for ones that I want to take to read. I will have enough reading material for the next year for sure. Think that will keep me from buying? Probably not!!  Now the question is, will they fit in the car. I am sure they will after we leave stuff in Ohio for Christmas and storage.The problem will just be getting from Indiana to Columbus and Youngstown.
Today we are planning on going to visit a couple in Marion, IN who we first met at our RV park in Bushnell FL.  They have had to quit the long distance traveling because of his health.  So we won't be parking next to them when in Bushnell anymore. We will miss them there.
And Pearl is preparing food for the family picnic to take place here at her house on Saturday.
Take care now and hope that you are still enjoying summer weather even though the season has officially changed. Will be in Ohio in a week.

LAST WEEK IN PENSACOLA, WINDING DOWN

I had lunch Wednesday, September 16th, with the ladies from our class at Olive Baptist, at Egg and I.  Great lunch and wonderful visit!!

Carolyn, Ruth, Gail, Henrietta, Lana, Audrey
Joann, Diane, Nikki, Emily, Lydia and Teresa

Diane- thought I might copy your haircut.
Hope you do not mind!!
Of course, it won't look as good on me,
but that is okay.  I just have to have a no-muss do.

We are packing up more as Gary dug the luggage out from 'under the floor storage', along with the blankets to take with us. Getting down to the wire, and the last with most effort is cleaning out the fridge and freezer so it will dry and do laundry. Have to prepare for three months to keep us happy.

Thursday dawned very overcast, but decided to go to the beach anyway!!  There isn't supposed to be rain here today anyway.

Think the clouds and dark are going over toward the north.
 Yeh!!

Dunes here are not nearly as high as NC, thank goodness!!
I'd never make it across.

Awesome!!  Love the power of the ocean!!  God's power!!

There were several surfers out there, but difficult to zoom
and still get the waves.

Isn't zoom wonderful?

Ah-h-h, here comes a big one!!

Clouds are disappearing somewhat!!  Sun is out for sure!!

After a couple hours we decided that it was time to get some lunch.  What to get??? We don't want left overs because we have some more eating out before we leave and the fridge must be empty.

Delicious!!  We will remember to go back here.  They have two more locations in Mississippi. We enjoyed looking out over the marina behind it.  There was an ELKS right next door, but no space for RV's to stay overnight. Bob and Bill thought I would let you know..

Friday, suitcases full after two loads of laundry this morning.  Gary had breakfast with the men from our Class at Olive.  They went to Scenic Cafe' 90 in Pensacola

Men from our Class at Olive Baptist in Pensacola.
Sorry, a few were not in the pictures.
Of course, one has to be taking pictures, right?

And we both went to meet with our Ohio friend. Karen, at OarHouse for lunch.  Had a great visit!! Pictures aren't as good as with the camera.  Had to use my phone. Of course, sun behind us does not help either.

Gary, Karen and Audrey
Karen, we look forward to seeing you again in January!!

Interesting scenery.

Two days to finish and get the car packed.  It is more of an effort for us as we are taking our hobbies along with us to tide us over three months when not gadding about. And some stuff to put in storage, maybe that will lighten our load in the motorhome when we move on in January.  TAKE CARE AND SEE YOU SOON.