Birthday trip to Indianapolis with John

For my birthday, John took me to downtown Indianapolis. First, we went to the historically re-created L.S. Ayres Tea Room for lunch in the Indiana State museum. It was really fun! After the tea room, we walked around the museum. They have fantastic exhibits on Abe Lincoln and a great collection of native Indiana bird specimens.

I had never been along the canal before. This is just right outside the museum. It was a beautiful day.

Is this Wooly Mammoth getting fresh with me? Watch that trunk, buddy.

I love you John! Thank you for spoiling me on my birthday.

New Pictures of Walter

Okay, these aren't really new, but they are cute. John and I have had Walter for 3 months now, and we love him so much. He loves to play, and go on walks, and sleep. We do too, so it's a perfect match!

Walter (otherwise known as Goldie)

John and I are attempting to adopt a sweet dog from the Animal Rescue Fund here in Muncie. Yesterday, when my brother and his wife came up for a visit, we took them with us to see the dog. Before you watch this video, be warned that there is a brief shot of my winter-white backside flashed to the camera. Very sorry!

RV Museum in Elkhart, Indiana

Before making our annual trip to Pokagon State Park, John and I made a detour and headed to the RV and Mobile Home museum in Elkhart. It was awesome!
Visitors to the museum are even allowed to go into the RV's for a look around. The RV's displayed were built anytime from the early 1900's-1980's.

One of John's favorite RV's was the 1967 Winnebago (pictured below).
Here is John in a camper built around 1935.
Below, John is standing next to one of the more unusual style campers. It was bullet shaped!

This black camper was a 1916 model, and one of the oldest manufactured campers known to exist. I really liked this one. Water for your shower would be warmed by the engine.

John and I highly recommend this museum! For $8 a person, it is money well spent, and makes for a really fun afternoon.

Halloween with John

John and I had a great weekend together! On Saturday, we carved a pumpkin and a yellow bell pepper into Jack-o-lanterns. That afternoon, we picked up John's 1963 Chrysler New Yorker from the repair shop.

Here is John, checking the oil in his car. The car is so big, and really smooth and fun to drive. It has a push-button transmission!

For Halloween, I decided to dress up as Amelia Earhart. John went as my husband and publicity manager, G.P. Amelia and George Putnam were married in 1931.

Isn't John handsome as G.P.? I love you John!

Our 1st Anniversary in Globe, AZ

For our one-year wedding anniversary, John and I traveled across the country for my friend April's wedding. She and her husband Marcus were married at a beautiful bed and breakfast in Globe, Arizona.

John and I enjoyed wonderful views on our drive from Phoenix into Globe. The desert is so pretty, and the weather was sunny and in the high 70's.
After settling into our room, John and I took a quick hike around the bed and breakfast. It was so fun to get to be with John again.
Here are April and Marcus the night before their wedding. They held a traditional Apache dinner for everyone. It was very good, and John and I were able to meet Marcus's Mom and family.
This amazing sunset greeted us around 6:30 am on the morning of April's wedding.
Since John and I had the whole day to ourselves before the ceremony, we visited Salt River Canyon, and Tonto National Monument. The views were terrific. I love exploring new things and places with John.
Here are the lower cliff dwellings once inhabited by the Salado people nearly 700 years ago. They were able to adapt to the desert climate and grow corn, beans, and cotton. Very fascinating to see!

Here, John and I are back at the bed and breakfast, and ready for the ceremony to begin. John always looks so handsome!

April looked lovely, and the ceremony and reception were perfect. For dinner, we had steak and chicken fajitas, rice, beans, and chips and salsa- all delicious. The cake was really good too! White with lemon filling. Check out April and Marcus's really cool cake topper. It's a skeleton bride and groom.

Congratulations April and Marcus!

Audubon Society bee-keeping field trip

My friend Julie Rosenbaum is a new bee-keeper. She really knows a lot, and agreed to give a tour and presentation about bees to the local Audubon Society.

Here, Julie is showing the honey extraction room and equipment.

Outside, Julie really captured the audience's attention! We had 15 people at the field trip, and they all were curious and had great questions. Here, Julie is showing them a solar-powered beeswax melter.

Julie is decked out in her special bee-keeping jacket. It protects her from stings to her arms, face, and torso.

Julie described the anatomy of the hives, and the social system of the honey bees. By using pheromones and a mental map of their hive location, all the bees know which specific hive they belong to. Amazing! Do I have awesome friends, or what? Thank you Julie!