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Miss Pingree, Nightlight I made at Pingree Retreat

Well, we are heading back to Texas after a relaxing trip thru Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas. We will be in Texas today. Can't wait to see our Buddy Joe who has been on vacation in Dallas with Jennifer and family. I really do miss him but probably he will not even remember me---she has three dogs of her own and he love to be there with them. I am sure he will be lonesome back with the old folks in Mineola!

We enjoyed our trip across Nebraska but it ended in Council Bluffs for the night as my back was killing me. Back problems are not for the faint of heart. We did meet some folks in the hot tub from Bella Vista, Ak. We enjoy meeting folks when we travel.

On to Des Moines to visit our great friend in Ankeny. Mike and Paul Wigg. It was a full house as they had their 6 grandkids there for the weekend, too. We also went to see my sister and hubby in their new "digs" , a 7th floor huge condo with all glass outside walls. The have a wonderful view and I told them to get us one just like it for what they paid and we would be back in Des Moines! I loved it. We had a very nice lunch with they and our niece and hubby. It was so good to see them.

Then we also stopped at our good friend, Connie's daughter, Amber's new "digs" in Clive, Ia.
What a beautiful home she and her hubby and sweet little daughter have. They should enjoy it for a long time. It was sooooo good to see them and Maddie has grown so much in the last year.

Hogback Bridge

Off to see our kids, Brian, Cathie, Emily and Ethan at their lake house in Panora, Ia. We were able to spend time with them and go to dinner on the lake. It is sooooo good to be with them and we had a great time. It was so late to go into Creston so we stayed at a small hotel in Casey, Iowa. Slept in and then we decided to go the the Bridges of Madison County. We have lived within 20 miles of the bridges for all our life in Iowa and had never been. We went to two, Hogback and Roseman (the one featured in the movie) but the torneau cover with filled with grit!!! You can bet that made the boss happy. Just to think they are hand made that many years ago----really neat to see. Lynn and I were glad we made the side trip and now he says he doesn't have to do that one again.

When we got to Creston we went to see and stay with Lynn's sis, Char. She has a beautiful, huge new house that we had not seen. What a wonderful home to retire in! She has it decorated so nice and I know she will enjoy every minute she is in it. We had a new mattress she had just bought that week and my back was better----thanks, Char!

Next we visited our very close friend, Connie and stayed with her two nights(longer than expected) as we went out to a antique shop near Creston and the day got away from us.
We bought the neatest little trunk and gas can. We got to eat at our favorite places, too.

Wednesday morning we were off to Texas thru the Ozarks. We got to Buffalo, Mo. and stayed there using the wonderful hot tub for my back. Slept in and then headed for Eureka Springs, via Branson. Hope to come back there this winter to see some shows. It rained on us hard for about an hour and the clouds parted and got beautiful We love Eureka Springs and spent about two hours there eating at our favorite BBQ and checking out the town. If you ever get a chance to go there, do, it's worth the trip. Puts you back into another time!

Me on the Roseman Bridge.

Amazing construction!

We came on down the road with a stop at Sam's in Rogers, Ak. Back to my real world almost.
Drove to Ft. Smith, Ak and stay our last night in a suite at the Hamption Inn. Livingroom with huge flat screen TV. Small kitchen and bedroom with another TV. Very nice.

Last night on the trip so decided to "live it up"!

Some good old Iowa Goldenrod!