USA Trip

Just before we left for our holiday in the US we saw this beautiful rainbow in Ireland. It was more spectacular than this picture shows, but you get the idea! We were in Tesco car park and had only my camera.
HOLIDAY TO USA

ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA - OCT. 21-NOV. 2, 2008
After a very long day of traveling (but no misadventures), we arrived at XNA. Jane was there to pick us up - and we were surprised that Mary, Ed, and Karen S. were also there waving little American flags - a great reception. We had a good first visit with Jane on the way home - some slight detours for sightseeing and talking! We spent the first day touring around Siloam Springs and also working with Bill to get his car ready for us to borrow for a few days. We ate lunch in the pretty new sidewalk cafe in downtown Siloam, looked at the new stores, and generally enjoyed being there again. That afternoon, in torrential rains (the only rainy time of our trip) we met Mary and had a tour of Allen Elementary, which opened after we left. That evening, I went to the end of choir practice and then they had a little party for me - what a great treat. It was wonderful to see them all again and to be so welcomed - Bob invited me to sing with them, which I did on Sunday!




On Thursday we drove to McAlester. We had lunch with John Tua at the Van Buren House (where Daddy used to live), and saw Judy and Jane briefly. We then went to Bill and Sharon's house (above) and enjoyed a leisurely afternoon. That evening we went to Judy and Mike's and enjoyed celebrating John's 98th birthday! That was a highlight. Kitty, Dorothy and Wootsie also came by, so we had a great visit. For some reason, we got no pictures with Tua/Kennedy group.

Friday we went to lunch with Bill, Sharon, and Chuck, visited a few friends (Addie Lee, Virginia Wheatley, Sabra Tate) then went to the Isle of Capri for dinner - you can see by the picture that we enjoyed that immensly! (this picture was taken with my camera by the waitress).

The picture on the right is of Will Rogers Elementary where I and most of those pictured below went to school. Dana took this shot during a walk - note the green trees in late October!

Saturday I went to coffee at Annette Nelson's with my "high school/kindergarten" group - they drove from OKC, Tulsa, and Texas (and Susie walked over from next door - a surprise and treat!). While there I also visited with Sam (Jane's beau), Millie Wheeler, and Annette Nelson. Then the "girls" went to lunch in Old Town - see picture. You'll notice that I wore my Kerry shirt to do a little PR!! (Again, picture by our waitress!)
Picture ID - back: Susan Smith Clark, Mary Beth Shuller Carney, Jane Wheeler, Cindy Nelson Lafoon. front: Lynda Smithschick, Mary Frances Edwards, Susie Clinkenbeard Northcutt, Sue Ann Milner Forschen (Sam).

After a wonderful lunch and visit, Dana and I hit the road for Siloam Springs. Here are Dana's pictures of the Fall in Arkansas - the colors were nice but not spectacular. The first few are City Lake, Sager Creek, and the park, in Siloam Springs. The last one is Beaver Lake, from near Nancy and Hal's house. The group shot is Jane's picture taken at Nancy and Hal's dinner on Sunday night.







It was wonderful: Nancy and Hal, Margot (Tom was in China), Theresa and Greg, Bob and Sue, Jane, Gerry and Catherine; Nancy Zink; and Chip and Janet all the way from Georgia! Caroline and Dick also joined us - commemorating our meeting last Spring in Brussels!

On Monday Nancy, Hal, Dana and I saw everyone off, then had dinner in Rogers. Gerry met us and he and Dana went to a movie, while I went back and spent another night in Rogers. Nancy drove me to Fayetteville on Tuesday where I spent the day with Barbara and Marilyn - a great time. Marilyn then took me to XNA where I met Linda's plane from California and we both met Dana to drive back to Siloam. We had a nice visit with Bill, Dorothy, and Linda. Hope and Glenda came up from Little Rock and I had dinner with them - then we met Jane, Gerry and Catherine for dessert at the Cafe on Broadway. Dana and I had breakfast with Hope and Glenda the next day. During the Siloam visit I had lunch and saw lots of folks at the Middle School while Dana did the same at Kiwanis.

On our last full day in Arkansas we got together with our "pot-luck" group at Laura's cabin on Spivanaw Creek. (The picture is of Ray's cabin, next door). It was a gorgeous, warm Fall day and we thorougly enjoyed the leisurly afternoon on the patio with Laura, Mary, Ed, Stephen, Ruth, Sid, Sherry, and all the dogs. As you can see it was warm enough for shorts and sun hats (and afternoon naps)! After a great meal, we drove back to Siloam and went to the music/Halloween gathering at Bill and Deanna Lisk's house. There was Irish music; ()note the Bodhran, a traditional Irish percussion instrument that we see all the time in Ireland!; a Beatles theme with accompanying music; and belly dancing by our friend Patty and her sister Linda. We were happy to see Don and also happy that Lynn and Paul came over to see us from Bella Vista. Also note the great picture of Mary playing her new instrument - love this pic!









IOWA - NOVEMBER 2-5, 2008


On Sunday, November 2 we flew from XNA to Cedar Rapids. Mary and Ed took us to the airport. My bag was overweight for the domestic flight so we re-packed. At Ed's suggestion, we took the cheese packets only from the mac and cheese - brilliant idea; they went home with 5 boxes of noodles! Mick picked us up in Cedar Rapids that night. Above is a Fall colors picture of Mick and Jeannie's beautful house in Mt. Vernon.

Monday MFE spent the day with Jan, Gerry, and their granddaughter Jadyn. They drove from Tennessee to see us (and some family, too!). We had a great day just putzing around Iowa City. We met Tara (Jan's sister) at McBride - great shot of the ankle deep leaves. Then Jan, Gerry and I went to Mt. Vernon, met Dana, Mick, Jeannie, and Kelly (Maria's daughter who is living this year in Mt. Vernon). We drove to Marion and had a nice evening with Pat and Dick Berntsen - dinner was hot dogs and hamburgers - I said it was our 4th of July! Jean, Jerry, and Dustin also came by for visits -and Nitro, the new black lab pup.




Dana, Mick, Jean and Nitro hunted Monday and Tuesday - no luck but lots of exercise. It was too hot for hunting! I've included 2 pictures to show the corn and the Iowa landscape. On Tuesday I toured around Cedar Rapids and went to St. Luke's - memory lane. It's so different I almost couldn't find my way around! Tuesday evening Dana and I met Jean and Bill Schneider at George's - had a beer, then went to Pagliai's for our favorite pizza. On Wednesday Mick and Jeannie drove us to Chicago for our flight to Shannon. Our plane was 2 hours late (first of the whole trip!) but other than that the trip was uneventful and Gerard met us at the airport and returned us safely home - to 2 dogs who were quite glad to see us!