November 9th, 10th and 11th we made a trip to Springfield Illinois to the Bluegrass Festival. We stayed in the Royal Crown Plaza Hotel where all the performances and jams were held. Didn't even need to go outside although we did journey out each day for dinner. We were there last year also. Several folks we know go each year so we pal around with them. Last year Bob got up on the stage for the Saturday talent show but this year he didn't show off his talent. He and the others in our group did some jamming until all hours of the morning. We didn't take our cameras with us so I don't have any pictures from the festival but I did want to show you Bob's latest purchase. I took this picture when we got back home. It seems that while Bob was jamming he needed a capo so he went to the instrument vending area and not only did he buy a capo but a new Taylor Guitar. Now, I did remember him saying that he needed another guitar because of a certain playing style he was trying to accomplish. But I have to admit I was a bit surprised when he came back to the room with a guitar case in hand. This makes number nine (9). It does have beautiful tone, Merry Christmas Bob.
One of the very delightful things that I have been doing is getting a massage. I was having trouble with my back and we have friends, Claudia and Tom, who's daughter Raimy is an excellent massage therapest. Claudia bought a table so Raimy comes to their house. An added perk is that Tom has been cooking us great dinner's.
November 16th was the annual Red Cross Dessert Auction, The Radio Club sponsors a dessert. This year I made the dessert for the club. I made oatmeal, lemon butterscotch chip cookies and brownies (two trays). What you see here is the table of desserts waiting to be auctioned. What happens is the WDNL Radio station has someone on the air to describe each dessert. The listeners call in with their bid and all proceeds go to the local Red Cross. I was on the air trying to get folks to call and bid. The radio club got together and pooled money so we would have the money to bid. What we decided to do was see if folks would bid and if so we would donate what we had collected. We managed to get a bid of $25.00 and then we donated the $100.00 we had collected.
Posted
at 10:56 AM CST
Updated: Friday, 7 December 2007 7:54 PM CST
The Indy 500 is fast approaching. This is a big event in this area and for all racing enthusiasts who watch the Indy each year. I (Kathy) am fortunate to know folks who have been involved with the various social gatherings that take place during the month of May. For the past two years I have been invited to a couple of radio press conferences that take place at the race track where they interview the drivers. It is held at a motel/restaurant called the Brickhouse. This is a picture of my friend Dwayne and Irene the lady who has given Dwayne tickets each year. Dwayne is an amputee and needs to have somebody drive for him. I made two trips to Indianapolis, last Thursday (5/17) and the Thursday before (5/10). We have dinner and then the interviews begin. There are about twenty folks who sit together at one of the reserved tables who have been involved with the Indianapolis Race Track for many years, either working there or involved with the event one way or another. Irene was the secretary of the owner for many years.
A 2000 Toyota Sienna. It has only had one owner and 57,000 miles. We are both pleased with our purchase. Bob is off this evening with the car to the jam session. You won't see this car racing around the track on the 27th! 
Tom and Claudia joined us to enjoy the pancakes and the day exploring the replicas of the early days. Here is Tom and Bob sitting on the front porch of the log cabin. Bob looks like he belongs in that era except for the camouflage hat. They are enjoying their conversation and I think talking about what they would have done had they lived in the olden days. We also went to the building where they make maple syrup. They were finished for the season but were demonstrating how it was done.
Bob went on a camping trip, leaving the 4th of May. He went with six other guys. They do this a couple of times a year. Bob was invited to the one last fall and now seems to be a part of the group. Each of the fellows has a nick name. Bob's is biscuit since he made biscuts in the cast iron skillet the last camp out. Now, I'm not saying they turn out perfect all the time and in fact I don't think he made any this trip.
I went from the mountains to the sea shore with stops in between. This is the concrete boat at Seacliff State Park in Aptos, CA south of Santa Cruz a few miles. This boat is one of three concrete boats built in 1917, named the Palo Alto. If your interested in the history here is a link you can use to do some reading 
Sunday we invited my brother Mike's son Scott here for dinner. Mike lives in Reno, NV. where he is a motel manager. Scott was born in Reno and moved to Red Bluff ,when he was very young with his mother, after his parents divorced. He works at a local molding manufacturing plant. He is divorced and has one son Jonathon, who is 20 and lives near Morro Bay, CA.
Monday was Robs bowling day. He didn't do as well this week. I think his knee was giving him trouble. He has arthritis and has his good days and bad. One reason he was not doing so well is that when he bowls he stands in one place, back from the foul line, drops back on his right leg/foot as he brings the ball back and releases the ball towards the pins without taking any steps. Rob was standing to far away from the foul line and he was releasing the ball to far back causing the ball to loose speed and direction before reaching the pins. Some of the people use bumpers, Rob does not. We tried to get him to stand closer but he was going to do it his way. The problem is not only does it effect his score but the bowling alley personnel will get after him for dropping the ball to far behind the foul line.
We always cheer for everyone in the group. Some of the people in the group have known each other for forty years or more. They have been involved in different programs together. I took this picture when Rob got a spare, he was happy! 
. It kind of looks like he is thinking of what mischief he can get into while I'm gone. Bob has been keeping himself busy. Earlier this week when he was at his Dad's they went on the computer and looked at the different family blogs to get Dad caught up on what everyone has been doing. Dad really enjoyed the pictures of the great grandkids in Juneau and reading about Michael's research of the thermal heating they're planning to install next summer. 
When I looked at this picture I thought "he is sad and really misses me" or "he is sad that his blond locks are turning to gray". What do you think? Comments welcome.