RAGGEDY ANNIE'S GRANNY: June 2016

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 ..

NEWS FLASH .. NEWS FLASH!!

I have some exciting news to tell you this morning .. I considered giving you little tidbits and keeping you hanging for a while but naahhhhhh .. I'm just gonna' come right out and tell you!! So here you go .. but WAIT .. maybe I better think about this .. maybe it would be more fun to make you wait .. oh my oh my .. should I tell you?????? OK .. Yeah .. I'm gonna' tell you .. because I'm very happy about it and I think you will be too!! Kenneth Arthur John Novak has asked Elizabeth Sue Grissom Richards for her hand in marriage and she has said "YES"!! He is such a sweetheart .. he even got down on bended knee to do this (with no coercion from me I might add!!) .. bless his romantic heart!! AND he said when it came to the part about love honor and obey .. he wasn't even going to put the obey in there because he knew I wasn't about to agree to that .. gotta' love him .. LOL!!

We had Pat and Rich meet us at Gingham's for breakfast yesterday before going to the Bread Company to tell them our news and to ask them to stand up with us .. with great big smiles they said they weren't surprised at the news and that they would be happy to stand up with us. Thank You Pat and Rich. After gobbling Waffles and Bacon at Gingham's we went down the block to the Bread Company and shared our news with the bunch there!! We haven't set a date or a place or any particulars yet .. and we've just started looking for rings .. so I'll have to leave you hanging on all that .. but rest assured I will keep you updated!!!

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013

This was THE day ..the rings have been found and purchased!! Believe me .. I am as surprised as you are!! We had a great visit with friends at the Bread Company this morning .. there were about 20 of us all together drinking Coffee .. gobbling Bagels .. and yakking .. yakking .. yakking!! After leaving the Bread Company we checked out a jewelry store in the area but didn't find what we wanted .. we had already decided we would save the other jewelry stores for later but planned to stop by McKinley's Jewelry in Desoto before going home. The little old couple who own this jewelry store came into the GW Boutique every now and then looking for "treasures" and they were always friendly .. every time they came in they'd say "you've gotta' come and see us now" .. and of course I'd say I would one of these days .. well .. I finally did! Little did I know that I'd find just the ring I wanted there!!

Ken insisted that we wait so he could put it on my finger and get a picture when we got home!! He is such a Romantic .. and I love it!!

Thank You Ken for the beautiful ring!! And for being the romantic that you are!! Aren't you glad the search is over???? LOL LOL LOL!!

Did I say he was a romantic??? In celebration of our having found the ring we went out and mowed the yard .. LOL!! We are leaving for Branson and Silver Dollar City in the morning and the yard wasn't badly in need of being mowed since Nick just mowed it the other day but we thought perhaps we'd better mow it before leaving if we didn't want it to look like a jungle when we get back!!!

I'm taking my laptop with me to Branson I'm not sure how much blathering I'll get done .. we'll see .. LOL!! Have a good week .. see you when we get back!!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 .. ELEVEN DAYS!!!

We're almost ready for the BIG day!!! We went to the court house today and got our marriage license!! As some of you know .. this is our second license .. LOL!! The young woman at the Marriage License desk remembered us and the three of us had a good laugh about the situation!! We kind of jumped the gun the first time and made our plans without checking with some very important people .. our kids .. to be sure the date we chose would work for everybody and the first license expired .. WHOOPS!!!!

Ken has a suitcase laid out in the guest room and the license is in the suitcase .. he wants to be sure we don't go off without it .. LOL!!! Maybe we should go ahead and put the rings in there too!!!

I was planning to get calls made to everybody in Branson having to do with the wedding but time got away from me and before I knew it it was after 5:00 and too late to get hold of most of the people so I guess I'll be making those calls tomorrow. I just want to be sure we have all our ducks in a row before we get there!! I did get hold of the preacher and everything is set there!!

I'm excited about the wedding but also nervous .. I just hope everybody who is coming realizes that it is not going to be a big Fantasy type wedding with the bride in a shimmering white dress and veil trailing across the ground and the groom in a tux .. it's going to be very simple but sweet. The preacher emailed a copy of the vows she will be reading for us to approve and we both are very happy with them .. they suit us and the way we feel!!

Time to stop pecking on this keyboard and see what we can put together for our supper .. everybody have a HAPPY AND SAFE 4th OF JULY!!!

SUNDAY, JULY 7 .. GETTING EXCITED!!

Just one week from this morning we'll be in the Hospitality Room at the Savannah House having breakfast with FAMILY!!!! It just hit me this morning that while we're getting our Coffee and making our Waffles .. we'll undoubtedly be battling with the other family members over who gets the waffle maker first .. and just a few hours later we'll be in the gazebo out front .. with those family members all around us as we say our marriage vows .. WOW!!!

FRIDAY, JULY 9 .. WEDDING UPDATE!!!

Finally I can relax and get excited about the wedding!!! I have been worrying and stewing this whole time because we weren’t able to get a meeting room to have any kind of reception in after the wedding and it has been really bugging me that we were just going to have the wedding then BOOM .. OK folks .. that’s all there is .. wedding's over .. time to go home!! So I talked to the Savannah House manager yesterday to see if we could have Cupcakes in the Hospitality Room afterwards .. he said that would be fine! They keep Coffee going 24 hours a day so there will be Coffee .. Juice in the juice machine .. water .. I have also picked up some Mixed Nuts and couldn’t find those little pastel dinner mints people always have but my eyes landed on the Hershey Kisses so I bought a bunch of them to have instead of mints .. (that works .. wedding .. kisses .. sounded great to me!!) I called the Wal Mart down there a while ago and ordered 7 dozen cupcakes. At last count we have around 30 people coming to the wedding so that may be way too many Cupcakes but I am planning to let any other hotel guests who might be floating around have a Cupcake and goodies also .. plus .. maybe some people will want TWO Cupcakes!! Not a very fancy "reception" but this way we can celebrate with very little muss and fuss .. I'm happy with it!!

Most of our guests are staying at the Savannah house .. and most will be there Friday and Saturday and go home on Sunday .. we are not planning to arrive until Saturday. That way everyone will be free to do what ever they want to do Friday and Saturday .. I'm assuming we will see most of them Saturday night around 9:00 in the Savannah House Hospitality Room eating Cobbler and Ice Cream and Cookies!! And then again Sunday morning at Breakfast!! That will be so neat!!! And something we will remember every time we stay at the Savannah House!!!

FRIDAY, JULY 12 .. TWO MORE DAYS

My last day for getting everything together .. YIKES!!! We have to be at the flower shop in Branson before noon tomorrow to pick up the flowers so we'll be leaving for Branson very early in the morning so no last minute dithering around!! Suitcases are packed all except for last minute items that we need to get ourselves presentable in the morning .. marriage license and rings are in Ken's suitcase .. I'm charging the camera batteries at this very moment .. goodies for the reception are boxed up and ready to go .. all except for the cupcakes which we will pick up tomorrow at 3:00 .. let me see .. what else .. what else?????????

I am so mad at myself .. Ken's son Steve and Lori and their grandson Jeremiah came out yesterday evening .. we took them to Main Street Café in Festus for their delicious Baby Back Ribs .. and had a great visit .. and it never entered my mind to get a picture of them .. where was my brain????? DUHHHHHHH!!! They came all the way from Arizona to be able to go to the wedding!!! We had thought they might spend the night with us but they wanted to take Jeremiah to the Museum of Transportation this morning before taking off for Branson so they decided to stay at a motel up in that area so they could get an early start.

We are meeting Pat and Rich at Gingham's for Waffles this morning .. then will go to the Bread Company for Coffee and a visit with everybody there .. I have a Dr. appointment at 2:00 in Festus .. right now I'm wracking my brain trying to think if there's anything we need to pick up while we're out and about!!

I think all the "Kids" .. Ken's and mine .. are going to Branson today .. they will have a couple of days to get out and have fun before the big day .. I'm assuming we will see everybody who's staying at the Savannah House in the Hospitality Room at the hotel tomorrow night .. gobbling Cobbler and Ice Cream .. LOL!! This will be so fun .. gobbling Cobbler and Ice Cream with them all tomorrow night and having Breakfast with everybody Sunday morning!!!

Ken just remembered he needed to load his Bonzai in the car before we head for the city .. we're taking it to Jeff and Theresa's for them to babysit with while we're gone!! And I just remembered I need to pick up a couple of birthday cards .. what else .. what else??????

Time to hit the road .. I'm outta' here .. everybody have a GREAT day!!!

FRIDAY EVENING EDITION ..

HARD TO BELIEVE .. tomorrow morning we'll be taking off for Branson .. and the next day .. is the BIG DAY!!! We are both at the .. "is there anything else we need to do" .. "what else do we need to do" .. "are we sure everything is done" stage .. LOL!! Hanging clothes have been hung in the car .. suitcases are ready except for last minute "toiletries" I believe they're called .. I need to polish my fingernails .. what else .. what else .. what else???????? I think MAYBE we've actually got it all together!!!

I'm taking my computer along so that I can download pics and get them off the camera chip at the end of each day .. hopefully I will have time to post at least a tiny bit of blather every now and then but it's sounding like we're going to be very very busy so I'm making no promises .. LOL!! We're planning to leave bright and early in the morning so my computer is going to get packed up as soon as I get done here so I won't be tempted to get on it and blather away!!!

Ken brought a Morning Glory in out of the yard for me .. can you find it??????

OK .. time to get off of here and work on my nails .. then I'll make one more run through everything just to be SURE we've got it all together .. and then hopefully we can just relax the rest of the night!!

SUNDAY, JULY 14 .. THE BIG DAY HAS ARRIVED!!!

Whoops!! We were so busy from the time we got here yesterday my computer didn't even get unpacked until this morning!! We're hoping the weather today is as gorgeous as it was yesterday .. temps in the 90s but a wonderful breeze making it a very beautiful day!!! We were in the Hospitality Room until quite late last night visiting with family and friends .. we're heading down there shortly for Breakfast and more visiting!! It's so neat to be here in Branson in the Savanna House with a room full of family and friends!! We'll miss that next time we come!!!!

My stomach's hollering for one of those delicious Waffles and a cup of Coffee .. I'm outta' here .. everybody have a GREAT day .. I know we will!!!

Our last day in Kansas City!!! After a hot Breakfast in the hospitality room at the hotel we loaded everything in the car .. and then relaxed a bit! with a second cup of Coffee in our room!! All the places we were planning to go to didn't open until 10:00 so I thought I would have plenty of time to work on the story of Day Two and get it finished up before getting out and enjoying our last day!!! So much for thinking .. I couldn't get internet access!!! Called down to the front desk and she said they had no internet in a 2 block radius .. someone somewhere was working on it .. and they would call the room when they had hook-up. Needless to say when we left the room for our day's fun I still had no connection!!

Sooooo .. here it is the next day .. we are at home .. and I still don't have this thing finished!!! I just finished posting the pics from Day Three .. you are welcome to check them out!! I will try very hard to get time tomorrow to focus and get the stories of both days posted. I promise I will try .. can't promise that I will get it done .. but I will TRY .. LOL!!!

I can at least take time to tell you a little bit so you know what that strange looking tower in this first picture is .. first on our agenda for the day was the National World War I Museum ..

Notice the amount on this check .. you may have to click on it to make it bigger to be able to see it .. 57 cents!!! And read what this check is for below .. I found the amount unbelievable!!!

I didn't take a lot of pictures at the museum but if found some great videos on You Tube ..

NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MUSEUM

WW I MUSEUM VIDEO 2

WORLD WAR I : THE AMERICAN LEGACY

Ken got a kick out of this floor mat we found in the gift shop of the museum .. LOL!!!

You are supposed to be able to go up in this tower and see the view but the elevator is being worked on and people are not being allowed to go up at this time. However, we were given "Rain Checks" so that we can go back when the tower is once again open!!! By the way .. there are 45 steps to get to the top!!!

The view of Kansas City from the base of the tower ..

How about a video of that view ..

A VIEW OF KANSAS CITY FROM WW I MUSEUM!!!

Stones in memory of those who have served our nation .. not only in World War I but also in the other wars ..

We spent 3 hours in the museum .. a must see if you ever go to Kansas City!!! Our next stop ..

RIVER MARKET ANTIQUES ..

THREE floors of Antiques and Collectables!!!

Oh My .. there was a lot to see here too!!! Lots of walking .. lots of looking .. the most unique item we came across was the poor stuffed Squirrel below .. seeing how much I enjoy watching the Squirrels here at Sawyers Ridge play around in our back yard I found it a bit sad to see this little guy stuffed and all alone on top of that old cabinet in an Antique Shop!!!

At the price they're asking for him I think he may stay on top of that cabinet for a long long time!!!

Our touring is done .. it's getting late .. and time to head for Festus, Missouri and Sawyers Ridge!!!

Remember the EMMA sign I took a picture of on the way to Kansas City??? Here is another one .. we decided we would go into downtown Emma and get some pics for Jane to enjoy .. also for the rest of the Bread Company Bunch so they can see this delightful little town where Jane spent her childhood years!!!

I wish I had gotten a better picture of the cemetary we saw as we were driving in .. Jane has family buried at Emma but I'm not sure if they are in this cemetary.

Below is a church on the outside of town .. almost missed it I guess!!!

And another church ..

A little bit of countryside before getting to the town ..

I like this old church .. tried to get a better picture on the way out of town but it came out blurred!!!

And here we are .. downtown Emma ..

The building across the street is the City Hall of Emma ..

We almost stopped to go into Emma's General Store .. as sign on the window said Antiques .. but there was a big Antique Store in Columbia we wanted to have time for and it closed at 6:00 and time was passing all too quickly!!!

I took pictures of a couple of other older houses but I guess we were going too fast at that time because I didn't get good pics!!! But at least I got one!!! I wished I had known where the house Jane grew up in was located .. never even entered my mind to ask her!!!

A little more of the countryside around quaint little Emma ..

Sad to say we didn't make it to Columbia in time to go to the Midwest Market Antique Store .. maybe next time .. LOL!!

We eventually went through Union and Washington, Missouri .. Gini and Mike's daughter and family live in Union and Michelle and her daughter both work at a very neat resale shop in Washington named "The Shop Around The Corner"!! We stopped and had our Supper at KFC in Washington and then moved on.

And now we're a lot further down the road toward home .. the sun is setting and the clouds are turning pink ..

And there is just a sliver of a fingernail of a moon up there in the sky ..

I'm not sure what the gray column was in this picture but I got a snap of it .. I was aiming to get the moon and never even noticed the gray until I looked at the pictures later .. LOL!!!

See that sign .. SAWYERS RIDGE ..

HOME AT LAST!!!

We didn't make it home until about 9:00 .. we were tired and draggin'!!! But it was worth it .. so much to see in Kansas City!!! I regret that we didn't get toArthur Bryant's BBQ .. Ken's other favorite spot .. and we missed a lot of Antique Shops because the biggest part of them were only open on the weekends .. but loved the museums and everything that we did see!!

OMG .. LOL LOL LOL!!! What a way to end my story .. LOL!!! I put a pan of eggs on to boil before I sat down here to peck away at my adventure story .. one thing I like about having my desk and laptop here is because it is right by the kitchen and I can keep an eye on what I'm cooking .. Yeah .. Sure .. if I don't become too absorbed in what I'm doing!!! Yep .. you guessed it .. I was pecking away on the paragraph above and I heard a loud POP .. and then another loud POP .. I hollered across the room to Ken and said "did you hear that pop .. you got any idea what it was"? Then about that time it hit me .. OMG the boiled eggs!!! So much for keeping my eye on what's cooking .. LOL LOL LOL!!!

What a way to end our Adventure story .. LOL LOL LOL!!!