Blogville Awesome Retreat Day Two, or When We Really Got There

Friday saw us leave the Holiday Inn Express in LeRoy, Illinois, 

and start out for Brown County State Park, in Indiana. 

Ms. Stella Rose Long was all duded up for the Blogville Awesome Retreat. 

The dress and hat lasted about 20 minutes (but it WAS cute). 

Too hot! 

She has a stroller, as you see. 

There was a scavenger hunt. 

It was designed to get a birthday girl out of the shelter so it 

could be decorated. 

Here came the Birthday Girl, Carol. 

It got mighty hot that afternoon. 

The poor pugs suffered the worst, in fact, on the way back to the hotel, Stella Rose worried us to death, she began gasping. 

There had been a LOT of visiting ... that's Zaphod, looking at you. 

Zaphod and his sister Hailey came all the way from Canada. 

Jessie and Chance the Boxers were there... 

Oreo was there. 

Murphy (l) and Stanley (r), the current Honorable Mayors of Blogville, 

were there.  Their term is almost up. 

Jes and I took a walk in the Forest Primeval. 

Really. 

There was a wonderful remembrance ceremony led by Yamini, who came all the way from Scotland.  Dogs (and cats) who had crossed the Rainbow Bridge were remembered, and I have to say, it was very moving. 

Ernie and Frankie watched from the sides.  Ernie was the original Mayor of Blogville. 

It was so much fun meeting the gentle Yamini, who has lead a fascinating life and had many adventures.  This was her first visit to the United States! 

She was kind enough to ride with us on Saturday morning so we could find the park again! 

And then the picture-taking started.. that's Stanley, Murphy, Dory and Oreo. 

Zoe and Whitney joined them. 

There were many more combinations of pictures. 

Sit still, Frankie. 

Sit still, Jessie. 

Sit still, Hailey and Zaphod. 

As I said before, Stella Rose gave us a scare going "home".  Within ten minutes of being in the cool hotel room, she was much better. 

No one had to tell Jes to sack out.  I'm telling you, he is the best traveler, he got the hang of it within 24 hours. 

They weren't the only ones pooped (don't kill me for this picture, Deb)... see Stella tucked right into her side?  As soon as she settled down, all the panting stopped.  We had Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner, they were right across the parking lot... and at 8:40, I walked over and got some 

A and W root beer floats as a treat. 

The retreat also lasted a half day on Sunday, but we had a six hour drive back to Keosauqua, across the "I" state of Illinois.... so we were not able to attend the Friendship Ceremony.  

At 7, we had a knock at the door, and for an hour, we visited with our friends there at the motel (where almost everyone stayed) carrying our chairs around to put them in the shade. 

It was a great end to the day. 

End of Day Two. 

A Fun Weekend at the Blogville Awesome Retreat - Part One

What a weekend and trip we had! 

Little Jester had his first trip by car.  He wasn't so sure as we went north to Iowa. 

He rode in the front seat on the first leg of the trip to Keosauqua, Iowa, where we 

were to meet friend Deb and her girl, Stella Rose Long. 

Lilly had to stay home, she is too old to go so far... and Daddy actually took her to a kennel for three days, since it's hard for him to get up and down the stairs here.  And yes, she really did look this sad when she realized she was staying home. 

He called to tell me she was glad to see her friends she made six weeks ago, and did very well. 

She got to come home before we did, on Sunday afternoon. 

So... off we went. 

We made a stop an hour into the drive.  It was hot, so I walked Jes and then decided I had better run into the restroom myself.  This was the part that scared me the most, putting him back into a van getting hot fast, and someone taking him.  I found two other folks walking their dogs at this stop. 

 This was our second stop... the "Amish" Welcome Center at Lamoni,  Iowa.  I am showing you the Maid-Rite end of it, the welcome center is to the left.  We got a good piece of broasted chicken, some caramel popcorn, and a new Iowa map. 

Keith and I stopped here frequently when we were going back and forth regularly in the past. 

I was getting a little confidence that Jester was going to be a good traveler at this point, and also ran into the same people who had been at the first rest stop.  They were very encouraging to me. 

There were several private rest areas in Iowa... if I were close to a secondary road, I would do this for travelers.  

It had a lovely picnic area, big trees, the little church... and ... a RESTROOM. 

It was a privy-restroom but spotless and plenty of tissue. 

It was a peaceful place to stop. 

Two hours later, we were meeting my friend Deb and the beautiful 

Stella Rose Long, and as you see, Jester got right into the thick of it. 

Maggie and Gussie, the other two pugs, were in the kitchen in prison. 

We also met Mama Weinie and the +Four. 

(the only one who held still) 

Jester had a good stretch as Deb loaded the back of the van... and then we 

set out for LeRoy, Illinois... remember, I forgot Illinois lay in between Iowa and Indiana! 

Does that view of the van from the hatch side tell you anything about 

how much was packed?  

Since I had only driven the van one time, about six weeks ago when we went to Iowa to see Keith's nephew play... can I tell you that it was a learning curve to open the doors with the hand held unit????  We were constantly opening and closing the wrong doors, and Jester sat like a ROCK when we did. 

And off we went again. 

Deb drove us across the mighty Mississippi... thank HEAVENS. 

I'm getting dizzy just looking at it. 

And we ended up that night at the Holiday Inn Express. 

Stella Rose Long had never traveled either, and her sight is fading, unfortunately... but she was also a trooper and adapted to our trip very, very well! 

Ooops... a little blurry, but you get the picture  Jes relaxed immediately, we had no idea he would be so calm about the travel. 

We were fortunate in that there were good places to walk the dogs at each of the three hotels, and... that Jes is used to going to the bathroom on a leash. 

So, that ended our first night. 

Tomorrow I'll show you our first visit at the Blogville Awesome Retreat, 

at Brown County State Park, in Indiana. 

The Box Came The Box Came

Last week, we won a prize. 

It was a drawing that Stella Rose Long had for Benny the French Bulldog, 

who is battling Cancer. 

Look!!!

It was very well packed! 

It is 96 degrees out here today, and everything in the box was FINE. 

It was much, much more than we can remember Stella putting in there! 

There was a beautiful bandanna for Lilly to wear. 

There were 3 fudges, for Mommy and Daddy to eat. 

There was beautiful pottery. 

There was some smell-good soap and lip balm. 

There is a tiny pig magnet that we love! 

There was lavender and a catnip bag, made by an Iowegian lady.  

There was JELLY that Dad will love. 

And lots of things to tell about Iowa, the part where Dad didn't come from. 

There was also a beautiful ornament to put on our tree at Christmas to reminds us that we have friends in Keosaqua. 

We want to thank Stella, Maggie and Gussie, and their mom, Deb, for 

the wonderful box! 

And one more thing is even coming sometime in the next few weeks, we just can't believe our 

luck blessings! 

Thank you, Stella Rose Long!

This little girl

Is Stella Rose Long.  She came from the Cruella Deville Puppy Mill, and her mama and daddy rescued her. 

Her blog "The Three Little Pugs" is on our sidebar. 

This handsome creature is Benny, the French Bulldog.  Benny has liver cancer, and is fighting the fight to keep his life with his mama, Andrea, and his sister, French Bulldog Lilly. 

Stella Rose sponsored a giveaway for Benny's expenses this week, and Abby entered. 

We won a box of goodies all the way from Ioway, that's already on the way!  

Thank you, Stella Rose, Margaret and Angus.... and thank you Deb and Butch, for your generosity in helping beautiful Benny. 

Fight like a Frenchie, Benny! 

And in home news, my physician's assistant pronounced me on the road back to health this afternoon, yippee! 

She suggested I rest rather more often, and that's what I'm doing right now, resting as I post this, after cutting grass and starting chores. 

A beautiful start to the day, though hazy. 

Donald headed straight out to the barn pad and was keeping guard over his girls.   A note here... the ducks have all been laying in the same place in the henyard.  I usually pick up four eggs before letting them out for the day.  Starting last Sunday or Monday, I started getting 3 eggs a day.  Someone was holding out.  

This morning, I got only 1.  I have a slight idea where there might be two, and as soon as the heat dissipates a little, I'm going to go on an egg hunt.  Right now, the heat and humidity have driven me in for a little bit. 

Can you see the two little faces watching me cut grass?  They finally took a nap on the deck, where it's cool in the afternoon. 

Yes, we have some apples ready to pick! 

Gratuitous goat cuteness. 

Has to be everywhere mamaaaa is. 

This gaillardia has been blooming for almost two months. 

The sedum is blooming early, and the agastache next to it, still blooming.  See that huge mum? (on the left)   It's about ready to bloom. 

Doggone it, Kody, what are you doing up there? 

(The little boys are not allowed to be in the chicken yard anymore without me.  I was doing chores and they were amusing themselves and waiting on me). 

Thanks again, Stella, Mags and Baby Gussie!  We can't wait to see our box when it comes in the mail all the way from IOWA!!!!