Vacation Finale

While I'm glad to be home, I had a terrific time in Oklahoma! As promised, here are some pictures and the story of my vacation.  My sister, Donna (who refused to pose properly!)

turned 60 in September of this year and threw herself a party in July...in Phoenix (her daughter lives there). I had planned on attending the party, but circumstances with Dennis' mom caused a last minute change. I had a free SW ticket, so I called and change my travel plans to fly to OK in November. I love SW; it only cost me $2 for the change! Turns out, it was way more fun hanging out for three days than having to share her at a party would have been.

This is my sister's house. It is probably the cutest house I've seen in a long time and reminds me of the cabin we stay at in WA. She's painted every room a different color and its just so open. I love it.  Outside, right off the deck, is a river; her neighbors are set farther back, so you'd never know they were there.

This is the view from inside; the plants in the window are usually out on the deck, but since its winter, they're inside now.  Its a veritable jungle in her house this time of year!!

Its such a relaxing and comfortable house filled with quilts I've made for her over the years.  She has more of my quilts than I do!!  Here are a couple (okay, so they are small and pre-longarm, but still.....) There are two others, although one of them is small like these. The other is her birthday quilt...pictures are here.

And this is Lucy. She's a Cairn Terrier and she's so cute!! She helped with my puppy withdrawal and even slept with me two of the four nights I was there. She has a routine of going to the neighbors to visit; they love her too.

Friday morning, first thing, my sis was going to make coffee--or the brown water she usually makes that passes for coffee. She asked how many scoops for a 12-pot coffeepot...two??  No, no, no...six scoops later she was panicking that her pot would clog; then she tasted the coffee. I think she may become a coffee convert!

I already told you about visiting the Beauty College for a pedicure...lovely shade of green, eh??

Then the movies on Friday night...you really do have to see Unstoppable! Its so exciting!

Saturday we went to War Eagle Mills and Eureka Springs in Arkansas. War Eagle Mills is an old mill site where they ground flour, etc. They have a really cute restaurant on the third floor, a gift shop on the second and food items to buy on the first. We ate there on our way to Eureka Springs (beans and cornbread, yum!) and then headed to Eureka Springs. Here is a photo of the town. The streets are narrow and steep and the buildings are so unique. I loved it...no quilt shop though. Weird!!  They did have one of those stores that sells pre-made quilts with quilting that is very suspect. Then I found one that sold Amish quilts; those were beautiful...and expensive.

Sunday we relaxed after our 2 mile walk on this dam. Its a mile from end-to-end, so we parked, walked across and back. Lucy came with us; but about 3/4s of the way across, her little 3" legs were tired, so we carried her the rest of the way. On the way back, instead of carrying her, we stopped frequently so she could rest those little legs and I could take photos.

Donna cooked breakfast when we got back and then that evening, we went to the small town of Wagner, where Kenny, my nephew lives with  his wife and step-kids. We traveled in style in this car; it's a 1939 (I think) Ford something. Very cute and very much fun--weird though because it has no seatbelts; apparently seatbelts were invented after that year.




Kenny and Rachel live in a really nice house; Kenny loves critters, so they have four dogs (three of which were rescues). This is Penelope...she's part Great Dane and adorable. Penelope is the largest, Molly is some sort of cow dog (Aussie/Heeler cross), then there's Snowball who is basically a white, fluffy small mop-type dog and Clyde, the Weaner dog.  Its quite the menagerie!!

I made it home Monday evening after a long day of flying, planes breaking down, etc.  I'm glad to be back, but I miss hanging out with my sister...weird, eh??