Colorado Springs, Tulsa and Virginia

This update is way over due.  I meant to do this a couple weeks ago. I have been down in the blues and I don't understand why, and when I think  I am getting out of it, I go back into it. Today I decided to post about my trip. I took the Greyhound  to Colorado Springs. I got to Columbus, OH and found out they had changed schedules on June 2 to accommodation  their summer schedules. guess what? It was June 20, which meant I did not make it to my transfer in Indianapolis. My schedule was changed to where I had to switch buses at truck stop.  I got to Pueblo, CO on time but the next bus was 3 hours late.  I was 45 minutes away.  When the next bus came, it was almost full but I got because I was getting off at the next stop.  The bus didn't make it. It overheated right outside Colorado Springs. Vickie H picked me up at this diner with Meari and we went straight to Ruth's Stitchery. thank you Vickie! I did buy Lizzie Kate Bacon Bits,  cat scissors, and Just Cross Stitch pre-ornament issue. I got to the hotel after 9 and my supper was vanilla  milkshake from Sonic. The picture above is the view from my hotel room, whom I shared with Penny and Sandy.

I was up before 7 am and Penny and I met with Karin and Meari.  We went  to a wolf center in Divide, CO at 9000 feet altitude. I did get sick on the tour and they got the golf cart for me. It was embarrassing but I did feel better  with some water.  The wolves were beautiful and are very sociable creatures.  It was very hot too and some did not want to leave the shaded area. I can't blame them.  At the end, the guide had us howl as a group. In return you can hear the wolves howling back.  It was so awesome!

For lunch, we went to Miramount Castle , a real castle built in the mountains!  We all had tea, either hot or cold.  All of us  wore Victorian hats as we had lunch.  Our server, Faith, was a sweetheart.  Here we are with our hats and than Faith.  We all liked her outfit.

left; Sandy, Karin, me, Penny, Vickie H., Meari, Mare

A few of us toured the castle.  I only saw the second floor because they only had a lift just to the second. I had my walker with me.  The first floor was a dedication to the volunteer firefighters. There were fire coats and helmets and the girls dressed up. I took the pictures but mine came out blurry.  I forgot to change the  settings.

After the castle, we went to Old Colorado City  for a bit of shopping and to stop by Holly Berrys, which was more a knitting store. I didn't take much  pictures of this area.  I was tired and it was a hot day. we  head back to the stitching room for a hour or two.  We went to Hobby Lobby for sandy needed a skein and Vickie wanted some bobbins.  We went to Texas Roadhouse for supper, than back to the hotel for Meari's class on flat ornament and cording. No one finish  the ornament at the retreat. I still have to finish mine.

Saturday was more of a relaxing day. I opted to stay at the hotel.  It was hotter that day than the day before and I couldn't see myself walking around Cripple Creek with it being that hot.  I visited with Mare in the morning and met with Meari for lunch.  We had to eat from the market because the restaurant was close. We were having lunch when we discovered about the wildfires that was happening in the area.  We went to the stitching room to stitch and watch  the headlights from the wildfires.  Mare finished her stitching and she gave me the  pattern.  Here is a picture  of Sandy.

There  was a pizza party after the ladies  came back with rotel cheese dip.  We pick out the patterns we wanted from the designers who send patterns to the retreat.  I, also, brought home 2 frogs. One of them  was for the most frogging and the other one being the last one to frog. I had stitched Lavender Blue on the bus for the 2 days I was on the bus.   I discovered I was off by 2 stitches and everything I  stitched had to come out.  I was so aggravated that I end up snipping the fabric.  It is not bad and I can still stitch on it still by using some interface. Unfortunely, I have not been back to it. I think I will end up buying the pattern.  I took out my Enchanted Mermaid but  had frog on her too.  I gave up stitching that night.

Sunday was checkout day.  Meari had left really early.Vickie was driving back home and she took me to Tulsa,OK. She went 2 hours out of her way and I am very much appreciate she drove me.  driving through Kansas, there was a wildfire going next to the highway on the other  side.  We got to Tulsa in about 12 hours.  

I was in Tulsa to visit  my nephew, Jacob. I  hadn't seen him in 4 years.  He had grown up so much. He is into videos like a typical teenager.  He looks like his mom but he acts like his  dad.  It sure makes me believe behavior is in our DNA as well as our environment.  It was in the triple digits on the 2.5 days I was there so doing outside activity was out.  We did go to the aquarium but my camera batteries died.  I was so upset.  I have pics on my camera but I need a card to transfer them to the computer. Here is a couple that I did get on my camera and a picture of  Jacob and me.

After the aquarium, we went to The Silver Needle.  I love that store.  I picked up a couple LK patterns, CCN Star Spangled  Garden and the threads.  I wanted to get this in Colorado  but they didn't have it.  I left for Virginia and the bus ride was terrible. From Tulsa  to St.Louis, the bus was crowded and I got stuck in the back. The bathroom stunk awfully bad and the a/c was not working probably, plus it was late.  I had to buy a ticket from Philadelphia to Williamsburg, I got stuck almost 12 hours in Philly at the bus station.   I got on the right bus but the bus got stuck in traffic.  remember when  I told you the bus schedules got change, well it effected Virginia and the last bus to Williamsburg left with out me. The next bus was at 7 the next morning. I was so devasted that I burst into tears.  Those tears got me a hotel room courtesy by Greyhound.  I needed to sleep in a bed and I was so refreshed for that last hour on the bus to getting to Williamsburg. 

I stayed at my friends' house until July 19. They had went to Florida while I watched the dog and cat. They had found new homes for the cocker spinals and it was quiet with out them. I did some stitching, of course, and my finish is a couple posts down.  My friend's son drove from Virginia to New Jersey.  We  had lunch at Genia's inlaws and than Genia drove me to my sister's in West Haven. I got to spend some time with my nephew.  He made me a bracelet than charged me for it. the cost was $400for the bracelet, $170 for taxes and $2 for his time.  Of course I gave him the money but it was play money.  This is what happens when Grandpa babysits his grandson. The picture above.

  So I am leaving this post with a couple  pictures of Zoey and Piper.  thank you so much for coming to the end. I promise there will be a post on my stitching within  a week. Have a great week.

I forgot to give you the link to the rest of my pictures.  Press on pictures.