Iowa Reunion

One of the houses at Ramsey Farms at dusk

Every year about the same time the Beede family converges on a little place called Ramsey Farms to get to know each other a little better and pay tribute to those we love that are no longer with us.  Ramsey Farms is a working farm with several houses that they have turned into a Bed and Breakfast, located halfway between Kellerton and Mt. Ayre, Iowa.  It works for us because it's within driving distance for a lot of people and those of us who have to travel a long distance enjoy being in proximity to where our parents, grandparents, etc. lived.  For instance, our favorite activity is Saturday afternoon at Lefty's bar in Mt. Ayre - family lore states that my dad and his brothers hung out there.

Lefty's Bar!

I don't know if we were just especially tired from staying up too late Friday night playing Pitch (a card game our family has played for generations and I'm just starting to understand) or if it was because our usual waitress, Judy, wasn't working due to a broken leg, or the AWFUL mold smell that permeated the whole room.  Anyway, it just didn't seem the same this year!  There were normal people in there just hanging out watching the golf tournament on TV - why would they subject themselves to the smell?  Probably because it's the only bar in Mt. Ayre?  This is also the 1st year I've been to the reunion since my Aunt Loni died 2 years ago.  It just didn 't seem the same without her and Uncle Ivan is still very sad. 

To break tradition of eating lunch Saturday at the farm, we opted for eating at a small diner in the Mt. Ayre square called Peggy Sue's.  Well, the Beede family showed up in droves - do you know how long it takes to do short order for 42 people at one time?  It was fun anyway up until the point where somebody (won't mention any names - Tim) scared Uncle Ivan with a fake rat in a box.  Didn't go over too well with our crowded table.  We also celebrated Aunt Gertie's eighty oneth birthday - yes, that's right - eighty oneth.  She is truly my inspiration!  I hope I look and act as young as her when I'm that age.



Melvin (my cousin), Uncle Ivan, Uncle Duane, and Gary (my brother)
in front of Peggy Sue's diner, Mt. Ayre, Iowa



Uncle Duane, Aunt Gertie, Jennifer (my niece) and Connor (my great nephew)

 After a little shopping at Aunt Jenny's attic, we returned to the farm for dinner, of which the highlight for me was the homemade ice cream.  Lots of visiting, looking at pictures, and numerous showings of Aunt Linda's Alaska voyage - ha (just kidding Linda - it's great to watch), we went to bed much earlier.  One of the things I liked best about this year's reunion was that there were so many children and they had so much fun playing together.  I think they had more fun than we did!  As usual, I didn't take enough pictures AND THEN must have deleted them before I downloaded since I can't find them now!  Thank you Jennifer for sharing your fabulous pictures.  Somewhere there's a picture of most of the group and one of me & my siblings.  If anyone reading this has more pictures, please send. Thanks!



Russell (my long-suffering brother in law) - just kidding!, Linda (part of the cause
of his suffering) - ha!, Rivers (my sister in law/long-suffering as well), ME, & Mike (cause of everybody's
suffering). I'm SO funny! You KNOW I LOVE you guys!



Wedding on the mountain!

Last week-end Mike and I had the priviledge to attend a wedding in Bella Vista, just north of Bentonville, AR - a beautiful chapel in the woods. 

We were so excited to reunite with friends we don't get to see very often, including people that grew up with Kelly and had become a very important part of our lives and their families too.  Catherine (the bride) was radiant and we love Sean (the groom).  I just have to say everything was beautiful and so much fun! AND did I mention that we also were able to hang out with 2 of our favorite people - Kate and Lily!  We enjoyed it - but hotels and toddlers - not a fan----  



Kate at the Splash Park



Lily at the Splash Park

Saturday morning, Devin & I took them on an outing to the Splash Park in the downtown Bentonville square. I think I had more fun than them! While we were there, an old fashioned bicycle parade went by complete with music & balloons. Devin commented that it was like we were in Mayberry. 


Sunday, the day of the wedding, we were so blessed to have Jenny and her best friend Sarah take care of the girls while we were at the wedding and reception. Thank you thank you!!  They were amazed at how well Kate can walk in 4" heels!  That girl does love shoes - think she takes after her Gigi in that way.


Lily in her Dad's shoes



Kate wearing my shoes

It's so good to see long-time friends - 

Right now I'm wishing I had taken more pictures!  Note to self (again) - TAKE PICTURES. 
 

Want to upgrade my blog!

This is a test to use some shabby gadgets!

Fun post divider --\

Now - can any of my 5   4 loyal followers tell me how to write or insert inside these cute post pretties?

One Extreme to Another!

We've had an extremely busy spring so far.  Believe it or not, right after Easter we went to Las Vegas - thank you Devin & Kelly for getting us out there in our lifetime.  It was a fantastic trip packed with lots sight seeing.  Definitely the high point was seeing "Love" - something I've wanted to do ever since it opened 5 years ago. 

Our hotel



Right after we arrived and found the most expensive hamburger I've ever had, we headed to the Eifel Tower - Vegas Version

Great view of everything plus the fountains at the Bellagio

Next day - after a huge breakfast buffet, it was off to the fabulous pool and a breakfast mimosa to start the day. How much better could it get? Lots of walking around this day, then dinner in the hotel @ Onda (very good!) right before "Love"!

Resting!

Ceiling in Bellagio lobby

Caesar's Palace
 
Saturday included a little pool sitting (Pina Colado this time), a little more walking around - Venetian 7 Palazzo Casinos mainly.  Lunch @ Wolfgang Puck's Postria.  One more show - Blue Man Group, that night and another wonderful dinner @ Delmonico's Steak House (Emiril's) where we were surprised with a birthday gift card from Jeff & Jenny.  I love surprises!  Needless to say, our clothes were just a LITTLE tight on our way back to Shreveport. 
 

So glad we were able to celebrate Mike's birthday, mother's day, & our anniversary in this awesome way! 

 A toast to Kelly, Devin, Jeff, & Jenny!

After all the glitz and glamour of Vegas - where else would we go the next week-end but camping in rural Arkansas! That's what we call from one extreme to another!

 

Easter Blessings

I finally remembered I have a blog ----   life gets busy and this makes me have to think too hard!

We had such a good time during the Easter holiday.  It started Friday afternoon with playing outside with Kate and Lily - the weather was just about perfect.  Lily started the afternoon by falling into the wading pool which meant diaper time for the rest of the afternoon, and of course Kate wouldn't wear clothes after that either!

Lily

Kate

Saturday morning brought a little park time, followed by a little nail spa time for Mom & Gigi, and last but not least, steaks on the grill! 


The Easter bunny paid a visit to Kate & Lily, then church where we took some pictures in front of the Easter Lilies.  Kate & our Lily really didn't want to do that----as you can tell.

Then on to brunch at the house - sausage egg casserole, fruit, biscuits,, & Paula Dean's Strawberry Shortcake recipe which was very yummy if I do say so myself.  Note to self - next year be sure & have mimosas too!  It was so much fun watching Kate & Lily dive into the strawberry shortcake - a little messy though ----

Winter - Go Away!

We are not a winter people.  This season has seemed particularly harsh with lots of below 32 degrees nights and some days.  I like winter - to a certain extent - but the last 2 spring-like week-ends have made me realize I'm ready for warm weather... not the walk outside, sweat, & get attacked by mosquitos warm weather, but the sit on the patio with a cool breeze, glass of wine, and no bugs weather.  Two week-ends ago, Mike, Linda, & I stayed with Kate & Lily while Kelly went to New York with Devin.  We enjoyed it as usual, but these next 2 pictures tell a lot of the story.

They LOVE to play outside but both of them had colds and it was in the 20 degree range with 6 inches of snow most of the time we were there!

Fast forward to Valentine's week-end.  Both of us had colds which didn't help my winter doldrums.  Mike bought me a new camera for Valentines Day - so I'm checking it out with some bleak pictures of my backyard. All the freezing days in a row took a toll on my plants, not to mention one of my greenhouse walls shifted down a couple of inches.

Pretty dismal huh?

Hopefully this ONE flower is a sign of things to come!!!

Next blog - a spring transformation possibly????? 

It's 2011!

It's been a year since I decided to start a blog - it's been a slow process and I'm still trying!  Year 2 here we come.  Still love this time of year - the feeling of renewal and possibilities.  First a re-cap on Christmas.  We started the holiday with Christmas Eve/Christmas Day in Marianna.  I think all of us were kind of scared to face it for the 1st time without Mamfie.  We missed her very much but I think she would have been pleased.  Had a good turnout of grandkids!

That's why I don't blog very often - it took me at least an hour to remember how to insert that picture!

A week later, New Years Week-end, we met with the Beede clan in W. Monroe, LA.  New Years Eve we celebrated my sister Linda's 65th birthday with a surprise party.  Thanks very much to Kelly for heading up this endeavor and the rest of the family for pitching in.  It was a great time and I actually think we pulled off the surprise part!  

This picture was taken right after the party - note the fun people still have on their party hats!

New Years Day we had our family Christmas party at Linda's house - tenderloin, cheese grits, mac & cheese, greens, peas & lots more great southern food along with pumpkin & pecan pie.  There was a crazy amount of delicious food all day, football, catching up on family stories, & of course Kate & Lily!

This may sound extremely corny but I have to say Mike & I have the best family and it was a joy to be with them this Christmas!  I think I'm going to end this post before I get frustrated again - ha!  Now it's on to a wonderful new year!