Saying "Good-bye" to Robards Mansion

The last couple of months have been a whirlwind!  Shortly after my appendectomy, my parents house sold in Hannibal, Missouri - something we had been praying for for a long long time!  In short order, Hubby and I found them a new home, not far from where we live, then packed up Maggie the Traveling Dog and headed to Hannibal to move them out of Robards Mansion Bed and Breakfast.

 

We encountered a little snow and ice but, personally, didn't have any problems on our way to and from Missouri.  We did pass a massive semi-truck pileup near Amarillo though.

 

We arrived the week of Thanksgiving and they were having unseasonably warm weather in north Missouri - at that time!

 

Mom and Dad sold the furniture with the bed and breakfast so we were able to rent a U-Haul trailer to move their personal possessions.  It was warm enough then to load the trailer in our shirt selves.

 

My sister's family came from Iowa to help and we couldn't have done it without them.  Plus, we got to have Thanksgiving with them too.

 

I loved spending time with my sister, Penni, and my niece, Kimme.

 

Soon, it was time to say "good-bye" to Missouri.  Three long days later we said "hello" to Arizona.

 

Since then, we've been trying to get Mom and Dad settled into their new home.  We also enjoyed Christmas with four generations of family this year.

 

With eleven of us, we had to move all the gifts out to the lanai.

 

Oh, and did I mention that Mom and Dad finally got to meet their newest great-grandson, Caleb?

 

This has been a busy, but truly blessed New Year!  What new adventures await us in 2014?!

 

 



Junk in the Trunk Vintage Marketplace

One week ago today I had an appendectomy but now I'm on the fast road to recovery.  In fact, I'm feeling so good I attended Junk in the Trunk with my daughters, Dawn and Gayle.

 

Dawn and I attended last year and found some real treasures.

 

We were surprised at the crowds that came this year!  We couldn't even get inside some of the booths because of all the fellow vintage shoppers.

 

Gayle and Dawn found some real treasures.  I just wish I had remembered to take pictures of them!

 

Dawn found a perfect little table for her living room in this booth.

 

We went in together for this set of three shutters.  Gayle found the idea on Pinterest of using a shutter to display Christmas cards.

 

Unfortunately, I can't show you what else I purchased.  They're Christmas presents!

 



Bearizona at Williams, Arizona

After our camping trip to Dead Horse Ranch State Park, we left for a cabin in Munds Park with our youngest daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons.

 

However, this was NOT to be a relaxing weekend.  We had plans!

 

We played "peek-a-boo" with our youngest grandson Caleb during walks around the neighborhood.

 

Soon, we loaded up and headed for Williams, about a45 minute drive away from the cabin.

 

Bearizona is the best place in the state to see Arizona wildlife in a natural setting as you drive your own vehicle through the park.

 

You can see wild burros.........

 

.....American bison.....

 

........mountain goats......

 

.........white buffalo (not albinos) ........

 

and Desert Bighorn sheep.

 

When you enter the wolf enclosure you have to roll up your windows!

 

These wolves are quite used to cars driving through their territory.

 

Keep those windows up when driving through the bear enclosure too!

 

Signs tell you to keep moving if a bear approaches your car looking for a handout.

 

Seeing all the animals made us hungry so we stopped for a quick lunch before boarding a windowless bus for a drive back through the animal park.

 

Caleb enjoyed his unrestrained view of the animals and Jason enjoyed taking photos without having a window in the way.

 

Back at the entrance, you could enjoy a "Birds of Prey" show or walk around and see some of the smaller animals.

 

Caleb and Joshua enjoyed the petting area.

 

It was a beautiful fall day at Bearizona! 

 

 

 

 



"Camp Papa" at Dead Horse Ranch State Park

We have been making the most of our time with the grandsons while we're home in Arizona.  Hubby has been wanting to teach our oldest grandson, Jacob, to fish.  (An odd desire, since Hubby really isn't a fisherman himself.)  Jacob just happened to have "fall break" so we packed up the 5th wheel and headed north to Dead Horse Ranch State Park.

 

Traveling dog, Maggie, enjoyed the company in the back seat of the truck.

 

We stretched our legs with a hike after we set up camp.

 

Early the next morning (after a hearty breakfast, of course) Hubby started the fishing lesson.

 

They tried several different fishing spots.

 

And, at last, success!

 

Then - another one!

 

Flushed with success, Jacob kept at it.

 

After a picnic lunch we headed back to camp where we spent the rest of the day hiking and playing games.

 

The next morning, the lesson continued and Jacob became pretty good at casting.

 

However, all was quiet around the fishing lagoons.  None of the other fishermen were catching anything either.

 

Jacob finally decided to amuse himself with watching an otter swimming nearby and feeding the small fish near the shore while Hubby tried to catch his own fish.

 

All in all, "Camp Papa" was a great success and a good time was had by all.  By the way - the score was:  Jacob:  2 fish, Papa: 0.

 

 



Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona

The last week has been a whirlwind of activities - centered around family.  A week ago our son-in-law, Mike, called to invite us to join him, and our grandson Jacob, for a Diamondbacks game at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.

 

The field has been here for 15 years but this was our first visit!

 

Jacob never passes up a photo opportunity.

 

It was a nice evening so we got to see the roof open up.

 

It really didn't take very long at all!

 

There was a little pre-game entertainment with "Bob" the bobcat, the Diamondbacks mascot.

 

It wasn't long before the teams took the field.  The Diamondbacks were playing the Washington Nationals that night.

 

No one got a run until the 5th inning, but the Nationals finally won the game 2 to 0.  I'm sorry the Diamondbacks didn't win the night I was there but I finally got to see the ballpark!