During a frustrating trip home yesterday, I found myself thinking "Why did I ever believe I could do this?" But if I had stayed home in my recliner, I would have missed touring beautiful gardens, making a bandana wreath, learning about the Central African Republic, spending time with fun, crazy people, and lots of good food!
On Saturday, after an excellent brunch, Carla taught us how to make bandana wreaths. Originally she had sunflower wreaths in mind with yellow bandanas and black centers but wasn't able to get enough yellow so we ended up with wide and beautiful variety. I did a sunflower but it isn't quite done; this one is Lorie's.
Then we were treated to a presentation on the Central African Republic by two of Lydia's nieces and three of their friends who have only been in this country about 5 years. They did a great job and I learned a lot about an area that I knew very little.
That evening, I did a very impromptu book talk on The Blue Coyote, the second mystery I wrote that is based in Ledges. The audience was very polite and didn't throw any tomatoes. Or cookies, for that matter.
In spite of an iffy forecast, we actually had excellent weather with only a few sprinkles. There were many other activities that not all of us took part in: stream-sitting, the High Trestle Trail at Madrid; the Boone Railroad. In the small world category, the couple camped next to me were from Missouri and in our first visit, I mentioned that I was there with the Midwest Glampers. She said that she had joined our Facebook page some time ago and joined us later for a couple of the activities. I also got a visit from my 'schleroderma sister', Barbara, who lives nearby.
In spite of an iffy forecast, we actually had excellent weather with only a few sprinkles. There were many other activities that not all of us took part in: stream-sitting, the High Trestle Trail at Madrid; the Boone Railroad. In the small world category, the couple camped next to me were from Missouri and in our first visit, I mentioned that I was there with the Midwest Glampers. She said that she had joined our Facebook page some time ago and joined us later for a couple of the activities. I also got a visit from my 'schleroderma sister', Barbara, who lives nearby.
So what made my trip home frustrating? Start with a power plug full of tiny ants when I unplugged the camper. And then a half hour wait at the dump station because the guy ahead of me took about 25 minutes for what should be no more than a 10 or 15 minute task. Also, I had planned on getting gas on the way home; I had $1.10 a gallon credit on my Hy-Vee gas card which is supposed to be honored at Casey's. The first Casey's I stopped at in State Center does not honor Hy-Vee cards any more. At Marshalltown, there was supposed to be a Casey's within a half mile of the exit but I couldn't find it. At the third, in Toledo, the pump wouldn't accept my Hy-Vee card and a very nice assistant manager came out, couldn't get it to work either but finally managed to ring me up inside. All of these stops added up to almost an extra hour on my two-and-a-half hour trip. However the biggest problem was the folding bathroom door. An earlier mishap with the latch, and an attempted repair resulted in not being able to secure it for travel, so it swung back and forth, dislodging the track from the ceiling. I have a little construction ahead of me.
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