I am falling behind on posting the activities. Mostly, it is about getting unpacked, but first, there are so many things needing to be done; unpack a box and where do you put the contents? Creative solutions were found at Ikea. Household storage is the prime challenge to settling in more efficiently. Still, we are warm bodies and have taken moments to grasp the Zen moments of early coffee on the screened in porch. Even took in some entertainment Saturday night when John was able to tear himself away from the lawn mowing. Since the pots and pans are yet to be discovered cooking is minimal so we are testing the local gastronomic offerings. Yesterday, one eatery is next to a town pond making it nice waiting for John to join us from a different direction.

Aidan and the ducks

A mama and hatchlings

Today, I made it to the Greyhound Station in Allentoown and picked up the nine boxes they shipped for me. Alas, I heard broken glass in a couple of them. To avoid increasing the chaos factor in our residence Aidan and I shagged them up to the attic. I will attack them box-by-box tomorrow and see if I can get the contents out of the attic heat into a safe corner of the house or in my bedroom.

I have a new mattress! Now for a bed frame.

Wendy says someone at the store this evening was commenting on the "heat" today. For us, it was a gorgeous, cool breeze of a day. Absolutely, delicious with windows open and fans taking care of our weather needs.

Aidan's new cello teacher Mrs. de Pasquale is really wonderful. Met her with Wendy at Aidan's lesson yesterday afternoon. I have yet to assemble my piano, but soon.

I made a crock pot full of meat and veggies for dinner. Good to sit down together at our own table.

Yesterday, a feed store, a hardware store, a grocery, a small lunch at a outdoor eatery. And, we kept seeing sky divers.

Aaidan happy with the root beer.

This is the C & C Cafe setting.

Then, we watched sky divers.

Up hills, down hills and around curves. All sorts of housing--no two alike. The terrain here doesn't lend itself to strip malls and local businesses haven't been killed off by Walmart. So very interesting to see all this blended into thick stands of trees. Yes, we'll all slip and slide around this winter I'm sure. I do love it all already...so I don't care.

Aidan led my tour of the attic today and also a closer look at the barn's nooks and crannies and lofts.

John cleared out the room that will be mine. It is small, yet I already love the light of the two windows and the corner location. I have met challenges of small spaces before and will do it again. This room and the boys' are in the old portion of the house. I'll enjoy thinking of the history.

Boxes abound. There is much to do. The nine boxes I sent on Greyhound await pickup in Allentown. They might need to go into the attic for a one-at-a-time opening.

Toby is gradually moving indoors from the porch. No fights, so far.

Everybody is getting cleaned up for a meal out and seeing "Despicable Me" at Quakerstown. It is hard for John to stop mowing grass.

Yahoo! I'm here...

I drove up and Wendy & Aidan were playing badminton.

John and the new mower...

Evening and out to pasture...

Jasper the barn cat keeping warm! on my new car...

Yum-yum

Jasmine greeting me.

Me first!

Peaceful world.

Peace and love to everybody. It is great being here.

Yea! God willing and the crick don't rise, I'll see my Telford family tomorrow.

Toby and I are ensconced in the "Regal" Motel. What it lacks in regal-ness it makes up for in the pocketbook; plus it has the fastest Internet on this road trip, so far. And, today has been in the 70s all day long!!!

Toby is relaxing after a thorough room check to see if there were any very small humans. Who knew he'd be so scared of the darling small grandchildren of Jeanenne and Larry. After some thought I realized he'd never seen any person younger than seven years old.

We are a little east of Columbus, Ohio, tonight.  My thoughts today were all business and we have little to report beyond there are nicer and nicer rest stops in Ohio. We managed well, but tonight is all about resting up. I am clean, Toby is out of jail and harness, bedtime beckons.

Shout out re RAGBRAI: Susie says it is even cooler in Iowa. She biked the morning shift.

One more thought...I have just dined on the last of Lydie's wonderful care package she sent along with me and Toby--tonight the last of the nuts and candy. Twice, when it was just too inconvenient to go get food, it made meals out of all she gave me; plus, lots of snacks. And fruit today from Jeanenne and Larry.

Sleep well, all my family and friends.

The drive up to Jeanenne and Larry's house stopped at his brother's halfway down the hill where Gary and Larry loaded up Toby, baggage and me in their electric carts to shuttle me past the backhoe and truck blocking the drive while company men assessed the leaking water well line. All is well. The water is still flowing, but needs prompt attention.

The Clark family was almost all here during the day save for a couple of them who were at work. Two of the four grandchildren remain here asleep in the other guest room. Such an honor to have so many of them come from far and wide to greet me. We had a great family meal in the evening. I got to ride around the property with Jeanenne late evening in the cart and look at the blooms and trees and enjoy the peace of summer at Clark Conclave.

A shout-out to the RAGBRAI cousins, kissin' cousins and friends gathered in Iowa: Tell 'em to make room for Wide Loads on bicycles.

The remainder of the trip to PA starts tomorrow morning. Though I'd love stopping in Elizabethtown, KY, I will have to postpone to another time because the attractive suggestion from Taylor via Jackie for a free meal and non-motel housing would be wonderfully welcome, it challenges me to a 700+ miles longer drive the second day, or another motel stay. A hearty thanks. I still love the idea that my KY brethren are no longer going to be two time zones away. Please, I'd like a rain check.

Cousins Mackinsy & Emery

Harper & Grandmother Jeanenne. Mother Jackie in background.

Larry on kitchen duty.

Larry on Harper duty.

Jonathan.

David

Sarah & "Kinsy

Jeanenne & Grands

David and Sarah

Larry and Grands

More tomorrow...

What a fine end to a great day. Made it to Susie's St. Louis home in time to see her and Cousin Jackie before they head to the RAGBRAI in the morning. I will go to Jeanenne's for more hugs then. All is well. All is beautiful. It is late. Toby is soooo happy to be out of his jail. I will say more tomorrow. So late. So good to see my cousin and sister with another sister in my sights tomorrow....

Hello Joplin MO. Rain but little on me, but highway was soaked for 150 miles.

Then it cleared...hello Ozarks.

Susie & Toby. Toby didn't want to leave. Complained mightily in the car.

Cousin Jackie. Ready to drive the Wide Loads' Sag Wagon. Go Jackie!

Western Oklahoma tonight. Early enough to settle quietly into one of what Erick, OK offers in motels. It may be the best of the two. The joint next door specializes in "Calizones". I picked the Mexican one. An interesting interpretation.

We passed the 1000 mile break-in period for the Outback east of Amarillo. The small silo towns gave us a sort of variable speed thing that would make Subaru's mechanics smile.

I didn't need Tucson's Catalina Mountains to tell me where north is. In the Texas panhandle everything leans north.

I didn't see any Border Patrol today. But, maybe they are hiding.

All the ruckus of the past week rolled into a quiet Sunday drive of many yawns, frequent stops where some shade appeared, and even a moment when Toby in his harness and leash could be in the grass of a roadside park-like area along the way. He has eaten nothing while we are on the road, but gobbled down quite a bit of Texas grass. He still hunkers down like a pack of coyotes are on top of him, but a bit more relaxed today.

Texas Panhandle

Excitement in Texas Panhandle

Trees in Texas Panhandle

Toby Enjoying Texas Grass

He and I are getting the hang of this motel and car thing.

Bedtime calls so I will post a few pictures and stop for now.

What a day! What a week!

Yesterday a week ago, on Friday, my condo went on the market, Saturday someone looked at it, Sunday they bid on it, we agreed on a counter offer by 7:00 p.m., the party wanted to close in two days, it was put off until the following Friday--yesterday, my birthday. Last Monday I traded in my pony Hyundai for a brand new Subaru Outback. Here I am at Roswell, New Mexico, in some motel whose name I don't remember, but houses Toby and I.

Yes, I am following the Boldings to PA.

What better way to end my birthday than a shower in Phil's guest house followed by a dinner party in his dining room with his wonderful, funny, bright, gracious friends; as is Phil himself. All capped by candles on a cake. Thank you, Phil. What extraordinary timing!

I viewed a gorgeous Tucson morning from Phil's guest house window as the sun rose over the Rincons. Sky vivid blue with rainy season type clouds clinging to the mountains and a thousand puffs dotting the expanse of sky.The view, my favorite of all the views in Tucson, was further enhanced by two local women on Arabian horses passing by about 40 feet away.

Next, I rearranged the Subaru stuffings of belongings, coffeed a few minutes with Phil, crammed Toby and I in, and headed for Pennsylvania.

Today thoughts constantly flowed through my head while I drove remembering the wonderful people who gave me so very much help and good wishes all this past week. Without them I could not have accomplished so much alone.

I am happy in a wonderful way that is both deeply calm and wildly happy.

There are pictures taken, but the camera is in the car so I'll wait until tomorrow night to post.

Phil and Michelle Meet

Carol & Janie Allowing a Photo Op

My New Subaru, Gloria & Me--the dealership is sending her a finders fee

Gloria & Joseph

This is what happens when you mix Stitch Witches and a choir.

And...you get more of them

Gloria enjoying our Mexican food roots in Tucson.

Me, too.

I crash Phil's dinner party....

And he gives me a birthday cake!

And candles to blow out...

Carla is smiling for Aidan!

Toby is last to load

White Sands National Monument & storm over Alamagordo.