Our Vacation Pictures

Last week Don and I were blessed with a wonderful, relaxing, FREE vacation! We got to stay at the Richardson Resort in Winfield. Our pets were welcome and they even had other dogs, puppies, and a cat to play with.

Roxie especially loved the pool. It seems that Roxie, our Golden Retriever (well known for their water skills) isn't really that keen on swimming - but she sure does love to ride around on a floatie! If we tried to go swimming without her she would cry and cry at the ladder. Also, one of the resident dogs (Smore) loved to bring her ball to the pool, drop it in the pool in hopes that you would throw it for her, and walk around the edge of the pool making sure you knew where the ball was at all times. Roxie loved to watch Smore and her antics.

Roxie also enjoyed playing with the 10 six week old puppies at the resort. She wasn't sure what to think of them but did like "herding" them for us when we got them out to play.

Don got to go fishing almost everyday and he caught quite a few big bass. He invited Tony Hemmen one day, his brother Troy another day, and his friend Brent yet another day. A good time seemed to be had by all the fishermen.

We also had a great time when mom and dad invited us to dinner. They only live 25 miles away. We had a great dinner and an even better time visiting with them. It was really nice to just sit and visit for an evening.

One day we drove to Ark City to Graves Drug Store because Kim told us they have an old fashioned style soda fountain. Don and I shared a Brown Cow (for all you young whipersnappers who don't know what that is - rootbeer, chocolate syrup, vanilla ice cream float with whipped cream and a cherry) - DELISH! We even got to sit at the bar in the soda fountain with our 2 spoons and 2 straws sharing our treat.

WHAT A GREAT VACATION!

PEACHES, PEACHES, AND MORE PEACHES. YUM!

Last Friday we took our annual trip to Porter, OK to buy Peaches at the Livesay Orchard. As usual the peaches are so delicious we wound up eating most of them. Every single day, all day, we are enjoying these wonderful juicy peaches. Yesterday I noticed some getting bad spots and froze 4 quarts for later.

We had a wonderful trip to Porter this year. Don called his sister, who lives near Tulsa, and she and her husband met us for lunch. It was great catching up and spending some time with them.

Our camera quit us and we bought a $10 digital camera while in Tulsa. People, it is true, you DO get what you pay for. Below are the pictures we got. But just keep in mind - they came from a $10 camera.

Don, with his sister, Portia, and brother-in-law, JD

Don, Portia, and me

Livesay Orchard

Of course we had to shop at Bass Pro

KROUT FAMILY REUNION

Last weekend was our Krout Family reunion and we had a great time. This was our 17th annual reunion and there was a bigger turnout this time than ever.

Saturday night is the night the "cousins" come out to the lake to have fun the night before the actual reunion on Sunday. We had 22 people come out Saturday night and several of us stayed up until 2:30 AM or later just catching up, playing games, and sharing laughs.

Sunday we had a building full of people and more wonderful food than we could possibly eat. As my cousins' children grow up and get married we are now having new babies every year and it is so fun to watch them all grow. This year we had 2 boys and 1 girl that were born after last year's reunion. One of my cousins and his wife are expecting another baby in December so we will have at least one new baby next year. It is amazing to look around at that large room full of people and think about how it all began when 2 people fell in love and started a family.

By my count there were 61 people at the reunion this year - WOW! The best part was, it seemed like everyone had a great time.

A group picture will be posted as soon as I receive it.