I'm Home!

And I had the most amazing time with Chad, Tara and Kiley. The time for us to bond again, and spend quality time together will never be forgotten. I can't wait to return and do some more site seeing. There is so much to do and see in and around Des Moines, and seeing it with my little family makes it even more fun! I will post pictures as soon as Ken helps me find the right usb port to plug in so I can get them downloaded!

Wendy's Whimsy's

My sister Wendy has started her own blog! Titled Wendy's Whimsy's , please go over and say hi! In her post, she is looking for ideas for hankies. So if you have some, please share, Wendy loves hankies. She also does amazing cards, makes her own paper, is a scrapbooker, works with clay, and loves to work in her flower garden alongside her husband, which pretty much fills her whole back yard. Very talented, I know as she gets going on her blog you will see some great pictures, along with fun posts. so pop on over and welcome her, she would so much love to here from you!

Here's to Mental Health!

The love story of Ralph and Edna...
Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental Hospital.
One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool. Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.
He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse, Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news she said, ' Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.
The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'
Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?'

Brass Armadillo

I went back with the girls last night, and bought a set of vintage hankies with the most beautiful embroidery and tatting, a vintage doily, and a beautiful porcelain candy dish. Today we're cleaning and packing for the trip home tomorrow. I have had the most wonderful time with my little family, and the one on one with Tara, Kiley and Chad has been such a treat for me, as it was the first time in many years. I can't wait to come back in the fall, it's been great!

Cream Puffs

At the urging of Tara and Kiley, I made cream puffs with home made vanilla custard filling. What a treat! I allowed myself a small one, and am envious I can't eat more. The recipe I found on the internet was wonderful. Tonight is southern goulash, Chad's favorite, with the puffs for dessert.
I'm taking back a bunch of bottles tonight, then going back to the Brass Armadillo for a little something to take home. I'm thinking one of the beautiful cup and saucers, and an antique lace hanky I saw. Either that or one of the childrens paintings from the 40's in the style that I just love. I saw so many there.
Then tomorrow it's pack for the trip home on Thursday. Then I can post some of my favorite pictures from this trip, and look forward to my return in the fall.

Sunday Family Time

I really wish I could post pictures! (I really wish I could type with these nails!) For some reason I just can't get my computer to work.We had the most fun today, went to downtown Des Moines to go to a place called Valley Junction. We couldn't find it even with the gps that kept saying we were there, so we went over to the capital building and the surrounding area and got amazing photos. The sun was shining, the weather was perfect. Afterward we went to the Golden Armadillo Antiques. Wow! What a great place! I saw so many things I would love and know next time to bring more money! Chad, Tara, Kiley and I just had the best time. Then we went to dinner at the girls favorite restaurant, Legends. Great food, and the best home made onion rings I've ever had.Yesterday, we cooked a full course Chinese dinner at Chad's request. We started with Jade Soup, then egg rolls, fried rice with stirfry over top, fried eight pieces, and teriyaki chicken wings. Dinner started at 5, and we finished the last course at almost 11! We waited in between some entrees for our food to settle. I'll post the recipes soon, mmmmm!

Iowa 2

Well I'm having a lot of fun here in Iowa, my little family keeps me quite entertained. What senses of humor! Yesterday I took advantage of my pamper day to go have my hair done and my nails. I went to this little place that was recommended for my manicure, and couldn't understand the tech at all!! I just found myself agreeing with her, she was talking about these two jars, one with a pink powder and one with white. She kept leaning toward the pink by all I could tell, and I just agreed like an idiot! An hour and a half later, I was done and went up to pay. The guy said what beautiful "porcelains" I had and asked for 51.00! I couldn't believe it! That's the last time I agree without knowing what I'm agreeing to! They are beautiful, I wish I could post a picture but I can't here for some reason. Needless to say, by the time I had finished with the hair and nails, I have no money left to shop! We're going to ride to a little town that has some antique shops, second hand, and scrapbook store tomorrow just for fun, but what a drag I can't buy anything. I know when I come back in the fall to bring more money!