Coming to you from Ohio!!

I had to hide from my sister-in-law, Jo Anne, who was having a surprise birthday party, here in Ohio. My 'excuse' (last week) for being away from social media was in case she wondered where I went....

Her beautiful children, Sara & Michael, gave her a great party, and Joe and I were happy to be part of the surprise.  We also surprised my dear grandmother (95 years young) and were able to spend two nights with her at the start of our visit.

Grandma Thompson. Doesn't she look great?!

She wanted us to visit the local fairgrounds, where the Old Timers' Club was having their annual festival. They were serving cornbread and beans in the main dining hall, and she wanted to have some for her dinner. So, off we went to the Old Timers' Festival. We got cornbread and beans for all of us to have for dinner that night. They were so good, and brought back childhood memories for me.

There were lots of old tractors on display. Lots of them! Joe had to buy a cap for his collection.

Grandma's yard is maintained by her brother, Jim, and always looks so pretty! He and his wife, Jane, take such good care of her, and she is able to stay in her home because of his help. We were happy to "take over" for a day, to give him a break.

 Every morning, around 9:00 a.m., 29 ducks come marching into Grandma's backyard, to be fed. She looks forward to the parade, and after the ducks, she gets squirrels and birds. Jim keeps the feeders full of corn and seed, and the squirrels also get peanuts. The ducks "live" in a retention pond behind some apartments, the next block over, and they waddle in from there.  Lots of fun for her (and all!).

We left Grandma's house to travel to the big surprise birthday party, which was the reason I had to get silent on social media. It takes us two days to get to Ohio, and then there is no wifi at Grandma's house, for another two days.  

Sara and Mike did a fabulous job putting the surprise birthday party together. We arrived a little early to help with decorations or food, but it was all under control. They had a good crew of friends there helping, when we arrived. It was so fun, watching Jo Anne come in, blindfolded, and totally oblivious to what was happening. It was great.

This is my niece, Kelly, my sister (her mom), Patti, and me (at the party).

The next night, we took Jo Anne, niece Sara, her boyfriend, Matthew, and nephew Mike all out to dinner. It was just more good times. Time with family is never long enough.

Mike and Jo Anne, making faces, while Joe laughed at everyone.

Jo Anne teaches English (and history) at a Christian high school. Mike is a senior at The Ohio State University, and is in pre-med, applying to medical schools all over the USA.

Matthew and Sara. Matthew is going to be a doctor, and is almost ready for his residency. Sara is a pre-school teacher for the Head Start program.

See - I was there too.

We left Jo Anne's house Monday morning, and traveled up to Van Wert, Ohio, to meet blogging friend, Carol!!. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive from Pickerington, which was really delightful. The weather was great and I love traveling through farm land, with corn fields on both sides of the highway.  The leaves are beginning to change, but the colorful show is still a couple of weeks away.  We still enjoyed the scenery, and the drive. We met Carol and her husband at Bob Evans, and enjoyed prayer, lunch, and some great conversation. Our guys liked each other so well, that they exchanged email addresses before we left.

Me and Carol. The sun was BRIGHT in front of the restaurant!!

We left the restaurant and drove almost four hours back to south eastern Ohio, to my sister's house.  We arrived to find a big pot of chili on the stove, which made a great dinner for us.

We got up this morning (Patti is also a teacher - 3rd grade - 35 years and counting) and Patti took the day off so we could "play" all day. Greg (her hubby) works from home, so was also able to enjoy a play day. We drove down the Muskingum River and across the mightly Ohio River, into Parkersburg, West Virginia, for some shopping. We then went back across the river, to Marietta, Ohio, which is where our niece, Kelly, goes to  college and has her apartment. We picked her and her boyfriend, Avery, up (between classes for both of them) and took them to lunch.

 Crossing the Ohio River.

Kelly and Avery. We were at a Mexican restaurant, in downtown Marietta, and the waiter brought out a hat for Joe, so they could sing happy birthday (only 4 weeks late! Ha!). Kelly had to try on the hat.

We dropped the kids back at the apartment, and headed back to McConnelsville, with a stop for some CORTLAND APPLES!!! and cider!  The Cortland is my absolute favorite, and I never see them in Florida. We got a bag to bring back with us.  Sorry to be heading home tomorrow morning (Wednesday). We'll stop over night. Too old to do 16-17 hours on the road without sleep now.

It will be good to get home. Our wonderful neighbors are watching the cats and the house for us. We have had two nights in three different beds, living out of a suitcase.  Wonderful, but tiring. When we get home, we will have one day to do laundry and get some sleep in our own bed, before heading further south to Naples, for Tristan's 18th birthday party. I think next week we will be exhausted, but happy with the great memories made along the way this past week and a half.

Thanks for stopping in!! I will try to catch up on blogs, but may not comment. There are over 100 sitting on my Feedly page. Please offer a prayer for continued safe travel!! I will appreciate it.  Peace & love!!