Rob Morris Day at WhiteStone (MESH)

Saturday August 15, 2009 was Rob Morris Day at the Masonic and Eastern Star Home, now known as White Stone. The residents were served Ice Cream and cake inside as it was so very hot to go outside.
We set up the tables and ice cream and cake in the Rotunda. Here are some pictures.

We are sitting up the tables and decorations . If you have never served on this committee, it is good to do so. The residents are very appreciative and the company is so good. If you set and talk to any of them, you will learn, they are a wealth of information.


I so enjoyed being there. Grace and Jud Rea have recently moved to the home. Geraldine Moore, Carthage Chapter Secretary, Debbie Keck and myself went early and visited with them and then had lunch with Jud and Grace before I went to help set up for the birthday party.




I got the feeling from just being there, that everyone enjoyed themselves. There is an OES Chapter at White Stone and members were present. In fact they sold jewlery, peanut butter and baked goods. These ladies can really bake.






Alice Jane Lingerfelt and her committee serving ice and Cake at the Masonic and Eastern Star Home.









The Grand Family, Residents and Guests enjoying the goodies.



















Three of us were given horns to blow and told to blow them some times. This is me tooting my horn,
By the way that everyone was talking and eating, I think a good time was had by all. There was a lot chatting going on, and in my opinion, that means people are having a great time.



The following pictures were taken in the Lounge area. Did you know there are beautiful ceramic pieces for sale. These are made by the residents. When you visit there be sure to look them over.

The Easter Star Chapter at White Stone sold Jewlery, baked goods and Peanut Butter. I had gotten some, but when I got home, I couldn't find it in the car, so I have to check with my passengers to see where it was put as I gave it to someone else to put into the car.

4th of July Picnic

I got home from Iowa on the Fourth of July. I had been invited by friends, Debbie and Jerry, to attend a hugh family Forth of July Celebration. So I drove straight to Siler City, NC. I had a good time and the food was great! But I was so very tired from driving, so I went home earlier than anyone else. There were drawings for prizes, and I couldn't stay any longer. When I got home, I went right to bed.

They had games for the Children, and Cotton Candy. They had Barbarque, hot dogs, lots of baked beans, slaw and the deserts were to die for. I was good I just had fruit for desert. I got to meet Debbie's Aunt Rachael. She is a nice person.

Here are some pictures.





Sign at the 4th Picnic, two families from Siler City host this every year to say Thank You to their friends and Neighbors. Isn't that a great way to say Thanks!!









Debbie's Aunt Rachael and Uncle Harold. They are in their 80's.









Debbie and her Aunt Rachael. Doesn't Aunt Rachael look so sweet in her bonnet?

Visit to Cedar Rapids, Iowa

While I was in Iowa, I visited a wonderful friend from my Online Cancer Bereavement group. Her name is Ruth and I stayed with her for two nights. I arrived about 4PM and low and behold there she was waiting for me outside her home, just to be sure I got the right house.

Her parents took us to dinner at a Pizza place that evening. It was so nice to meet them. I can see where Ruth gets her common sense from. I just love people with common sense. We decided we were very much alike. But I think if I got to know all of the ladies from our group, we'd find we have lost in common. We both have younger sons named Michael. But hers are much taller than mine. Oh for some height.


Ruth has two cats. They are mother and son. The son would crawl upon my lap and let me pet him until my heart was content. The mother just circled around me like saying, "I don't like strangers." But Ruth told me she'll bite, so I was leary of her also. Probably just as much as she was me.




Ruth and I, even tho I lost 26 pounds at the time, I am still chubby! Uck!






Eating Dinner Tuesday eve. Good meal. I had fried chicken and there were Red beets on the salad bar, so I had to have a few of them, even if I shouldn't of had.


While there, Ruth took me down to the area that was flooded last year. It broke my heart to see so many of the homes boarded up. There was too much mold and mildew to clean up, so I think these home will probably be destroyed.

Pictures from the trip to Iowa

While in Iowa, we went to many places and I saw many things that I would have never seen if not for Bob and Lucy. I so enjoyed my self. I spent my 66th birthday with them and we went to a restaurant by the Sioux River. I have included some more pictures from my trip.

Making items from Pipestone, There is a quarry in MI where they still mine by hand this stone. The Indians used this stone to make pipes. But they make other things also. I bought a pair of earings made out of pipestone. They are in the shape of a feather and look very nice on.



While in Pipestone, we ate lunch at this Inn. It is a very old hotel and inn. The lunch was very good and we could tell that the soups were homemade. We asked the waitress to take our picture. The hotel had been restored and the wood work was beautiful. If you ever go there, I am sure you would be comfortable.

These next three pictures are of the restaurant where we ate for my birthday dinner. The river was beautiful and there were boats going up and down the river. It was a peaceful view.














A Toast at our meal. If you look out the window, you can see the river. They have an outside seating area, but it was hot and humid that day. Lucy and I had a glass of wine, but Bob had water, which I should have had. But I wanted to celebrate a little.











We also went to Falls Park in Sioux City. This was taken of the falls from a tower. The falls are pretty and I saw a small animal of some kind swimming.







Bob got Lucy's convertible going one day, so we were off to have some fun with the Top down. The breeze was blowing through our hair and it felt so good.











I was fascinated by the wind farms in Iowa. It seems that there are several of them. They are huge and look like big air plane propellers turning at the end of a long pole.







Back at the house Bob and Lucy surprised me with a Birthday Cake. Here I am blowing out a candle. It was a Carrot Cake and I did have a piece. Ummmmm Good!!










Bob has a garden and I couldn't resist taking a picture of him hoeing his garden. He will have some beautiful veggies to eat this summer.

Enjoy!




We also went to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City. It was a Sunday afternoon after lunch and church. I got to hear Katie Admire sing. She is a very good singer and we all enjoyed listening. She was singing at the Betty Strong Encounter Center and it was FREE!

After wards, we went to the Lewis and Clark side and and I saw a short video of their travel. I know I hadn't seen this before, but I can't remember what it was about. Oh well, out of sight out of mind. I think my mind is mostly out!


I know I am missing some of the places we went, but I had such a good time and I will have these memories the rest of my life. A big Thank you to Lucy and Bob for inviting me.

Miracles in stone - West Bend, Iowa

The Grotto of Redemption

During the week we went to West Bend, Iowa to see the Grotto of the Redemption to see the Witness -A Miracle in Stone. It is a composit of nine separate Grottoes each portraying a scene in the life of Christ. It is the largest Grotto in the world. It represents a vast collection of minerals and stone - petrified wood, stalactite and stalagmite, malachite, jasper, quartz crystals and many more. The Grotto is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you get to Iowa, it should be on your list of things to see. It was so beautiful and the story behind it so interesting.

The Grotto of the Redemption is the inspiration and life work of Fr. Paul Dobberstein, a Catholic Priest. For a decade he gathered rocks and precious stones from around the world, then began construction in 1912. For the next 42 years, he created hundreds of intricate rock settings that form the Grotto's walls and ceilings, evoking a spiritual experience.


Can you imagine working on one project for 42 years of your life. This was truly a work of the love of Christ. We had a volunteer guide, but you could also just go on a walking tour by yourself. Our guide was very knowledgeable and really helped to explain the different Grottoes.

Oh yes, it poured that day and we got to the car just in time. There is a beautiful Church, but I was getting very tired and we decided to go home. I think that I will see that the next time.


Bob and I at the Grotto.










Some pictures I took at the Grotto. If you ever get to Iowa, please be sure to see this, as it is so very beautiful and my words and pictures do not do it justice.