Hanging out with the kids

Drove up to Indianapolis to spend the day. Went to the Lilly Museum of Art for a few hours. Toured the historic home on the site.

Was decorated to the hilt for Christmas.

The gardens and grounds look like they would be beautiful if it were not winter.

We didn't have time to see everything but saw some contemporary stuff

Including a traveling exhibition by Japanese artist, Kusama who does these amazing installations with mirrors and repeated design. She calls them "Infinity Rooms" and they are interesting. Will and I are the only ones in the room except for Museum staff person, with a few polkadotted pumpkins and we just repeated ourselves with the mirrors until it looked infinite. Each party is allowed 45 second in the room and then you get out and let the next in line enter.

Went to a "family style" restaurant for dinner called The Iron Skillet. Each one ordered the main meat of choice and then all the sides came served up in dishes to pass. We were hungry for fried chicken and it was really good. 

Checked into a hotel for the night as we needed to be up early to catch our 6:30am flight back to Tucson. We actually took the hotel shuttle and left Steph and Reynard to sleep in a bit and then have a leisurely drive back to Bloomington. I think we both got to our respective homes about the same time. Needless to say it was a great time with them. Love 'em to death.

Thanksgiving with Steph and Reynard

Will is peeling potatoes to help Steph get ready for Thanksgiving dinner.  She is doing the turkey.

Enjoyed dinner at Dionne's home--Reynard's sister's--with friends.

Gosh, Did we dodge a bullet!!  Seems the whole country is experiencing travel/weather problems and we are here in southern Indiana enjoying another great day. Did rain here overnight and think it might be a bit windy today but think the front has past through and rest of week forcasts just fine. Watching the news with pictures of snow especially in Minnesota (where we just left!) and airports experiencing major delays at busiest time of year.

  In fact we drove out to Brown County State Park yesterday morning to get out for a little "outdoors" and hiked around and it was really beautiful morning.

Birding was surprisingly good. Could actually find the birds because of the lack of leaves on the trees.

Traveling from Iowa to Indiana

Comfy accomodations at Less and Helene's. Amazing hosts, lovely sister. We are making plans to return in May during Tulip Festival, we even secured an RV spot nearby!

Time to be on our way-- this time, to Indiana. Ki on

Driving through farm country all the way. One turns to the other and says, "This is really fun!". It's winter, and all brown (thank goodness no snow) but still beautiful in the bright autumn sun.

And the Iowa sunset was not too shabby either.  We stopped at a recommended Drury Inn near Coralville, Iowa for the night that served a free light supper which was just perfect for us. 

Now up early and driving the rest of the way to Bloomington, Indiana and Steph and Reynard's house. Nice sunrise also

Cousins, cousins aunts and uncles in Orange City, Iowa

Sharing a meal, getting to know distant and close relatives, just loving each other. So cool.

our neice--Grandma Pam and Morgan

David with Hunter and Mattie

"Aunty" Rachel" with Mattie

Allie and Morgan

More be old friends

Marla, Ellen, me and Marlene__the old 8th Street gang

Marlene and daughter Deanna

Larry and Marlene

Rick and Sandy--we share a wedding anniversary date.

Early morning coffee --watching it snow!!

Just a dusting of snow--enough to say we don't want any more!!

Road Trip

Waiting to pick up rental car in Minneapolis airport after flying in from Tucson today. You notice we brought winter coats because November means winter here. First stop on road trip to Indiana was Dewain and Linda's in Minnesota

The whole Goff family showed up to greet us. 

Stopped to see Lyle and Marlene and surprised to see daughters Sherry and Julie both home for a visit. Julie lives in Woodbury but Sherry is here from Canada. Lovely.

And a tearful afternoon with Tess.

Cornerstone Show

I submitted a few things to the "Cornerstone Art Exhibit" held about twice a year at Cornerstone Hospital and was accepted.  It was just hung this weekend and this morning I got a call that one of my pieces sold! How fun is that!! So I dashed over this afternoon to bring another piece to replace the one that sold--the first day.

Waiting to be hung. . .

It's up! "Summer," "Fall," "Winter"

Sculptural Relief Tiles

"Four Horses"

"My Backyard"

It really is the backyard view from my favorite spot on patio.