Time Sure Flies When you are Having Fun

Hello everyone! I know it’s been a long time and I hope that you still remember me? I wasn’t quite sure where to start back up, from where I last left off. Anyway, I thought it would be good to begin with this last weekend. Our friends Korey and Susie asked us if we would like to join them at the Tulip Festival that’s held at the Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine, Kansas. We started off our day with breakfast at the Doo Dah Diner. Our waitress Robin was so helpful, kind, and a good sport.

This was John and my smothered breakfast burrito with a side of sausage gravy to cut some of the heat of the chorizo and jalapeno bacon. Korey had steak and eggs without the potatoes or bread and Susie had eggs, jalapeno bacon, and maple bacon. I was so happy that Susie and Korey enjoyed their first breakfast at the Doo Dah Diner.

Next we decided to take the scenic route to Belle Plaine and Susie fell in love with this piece of property so we had to stop and take a picture of it. I could see Susie and Korey living here some day. I know it is one of Susie’s favorite colors. And isn’t that the reason to buy a house, is for the color? HAHAHAHA

We also decided to take the trip nice and slow, so that meant stopping along the way to get out and look at the river that runs along Highway 81.

I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get out my selfie stick.

It was a fairly chilly morning and if you couldn’t tell Susie and I were both glad when we hopped back into the car after this photo.

Next stop was in the town of Belle Plaine to look around while we waited to meet up with one of Susie and Korey’s daughters and son-in-law. I loved looking at one of the vendors;

that was into making metal stuff

out of recycled materials.

I especially loved the large sunflower.

Then it was off to the Arboretum and the Tulip Festival.

The trees were so beautiful.

I loved the color of these little trees.

Susie was explaining to me that these are Columbine flowers. I loved the delicate little flowers on the beautiful green plant.

Of course Susie looked adorable and I couldn’t resist taking a picture of her taking a picture of the flowers.

This tree looked so cool amongst all the greens of the rest of the trees. And I couldn’t believe how tall and old a lot of the trees were.

This was a cute little gnome house inside a tulip bed.

Susie and Korey’s daughter and son-in-law; Melody and Chris arrived to enjoy the gardens too.

I don’t think I have ever seen so many tulips before and the varieties were beautiful.

I love the sign and these two cuties.

I loved seeing all of the many pathways.

The pathways all looked like they could take you to some secret place far, far away. This little iron gate for some reason reminded me of my Grandma Hanks. I think I remember that she had a metal gate leading into her yard. I’m sure that my cousin will tell me different if I’m not remembering right. (Hi Sue)

This tulip bed reminded me of my Momma. One of her favorite colors to dress Jackie and me in, was pink.

I loved seizing the moment and I didn’t even notice that Susie’s character had cowgirl boots on, until I uploaded the pictures onto my computer. This couldn’t have been more perfect if we would have tried. 🙂

We had lunch from one of the food trucks located inside the Arboretum and I loved that people picked a place to have their own little picnic right in the middle of these trees.

After we ate, we went for a walk along a newly laid path. I loved the gate all made out of branches.

Susie and Mel were the perfect models.

There were so many good places to take pictures and it was kind of overcast all day.

I was feeling a little bad that I didn’t wait for John to come with us on our little adventure. But, when we got back to him he was sitting with a group of lovely ladies and a bowl of Freddie’s ice cream. He looked so pitifully content.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many cool trees there are on this property. John is the perfect model too and so dramatic.

I loved all the signs too.

Funny though, we all ignored them.

When we got to the other side and it said the same thing, we figured out that we weren’t supposed to go that way because of the embankment was washed away. Thank goodness John was right there to help me through or I probably would have kept going into the little lake.

These little flocks reminded me of my Momma too. As she had flocks that would bloom every spring. She always loved flowers that you didn’t have to replant every year. I get more like her every day in that way.

This Japanese maple was so beautiful.

I love it when John gets just the right photo.

These were some cute little flowers that were along the way out of the Arboretum.

This was a cool vendor that had some really great planters.

I loved this sign and the day spent with beautiful friends.

As we continued our journey home, we stopped at Sonic and took advantage of 1/2 price drinks, then we stopped for pie at Spears. Then we went to Atwoods to buy chickens for Susie and Korey. As we walked in I noticed that there was still a pay phone in the entrance. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of it. I guess there are some people out there that still don’t have a cell phone?

Anyway, Susie picked out 5 chicks from these and 2 little Bantum chicks. I loved listening to them chirp all the way home. It reminded me of my childhood when Mom would buy baby chicks and my brothers would make a box for them with a little light and we would feed them Quaker Oats.

John and I ended the day with dinner at Le Monde. Can I say that I was pooped? I guess I just did. LOL I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and I hope you all have a great week.