August 2009

We decided to take a short trip up to LilyDale, NY this summer. It is south of Buffalo. This is the house we used to own there and it now belongs to our very good friend (and fellow Spiritualist) Patti. So we got to see her and stay there for a few days.

This is what we see when sitting on the porch of Patti's house. Many, many people stop to admire it. I sit there and think how I'd like to paint it!

This house we also see from the porch, just to the left of the other one. The flowers are such a treat for the senses.

Our friend Jean, from Syracuse, was also able to come and meet us there for a few days. The whole trip was such a pleasure.

Many of the houses are being renovated back to the Victorian styles they were in the 1800s.

July, 2009

We had a great car trip this month. On our way to Minneapolis we stopped to see Helen and Russ in Berea, KY. Enjoyed a few days of their wonderful hospitality.

We then headed up to Minneapolis to spend a few days with Dennis. Although Brian and Julianne lived near Berea in KY, they were up in Canada fishing so we stopped to see them on the way back.

We got to see a live golf tournament, toured some lake areas and neighborhoods, played lots of cards and missed Jim as he was in Nepal for the month.

While up in MN, Dennis drove with us to Mt Rushmore in South Dakota. What a fantastic feat that was to create!

We also got to see Crazy Horse (another huge mountain carving that is a long way from finished but fantastic.

On the way home we stopped in Rapid City. They are placing bronze statues of all the presidents on their street corners. Fun to see!