Mother/Daughter Road Trip to MSQC - Day 1

 OMG --- It's time!  We bought tickets for the Doan Girls Retreat FOREVER ago and now it's finally happening.  Since it was a mother/daughters event - Jen and I are going with Sam and Gwen.  We actually next to the last tickets available when we booked.  Super pricey, but my fingers are crossed for a great time.  Sam and Jen came in tonight to help us get an early start tomorrow and pick up Gwen in Sulphur Springs.  Here's to memory making.

7/31 - Well, right off the bat, we realized that the car we were planning to take would not hold all of our "stuff" - hey, we're quilters.  Jen had an inkling and brought her Expedition along with a rack for the back.  Sam's hubby threw in a couple of coolers for our "purchases."  We are set now.

Time to go get Gwen.  Psst - the coolers are empty at this point.

First stop is Sulphur Springs to pick up Gwen.  It's Jen's first time here and so she checks out the downtown restrooms.  Gotta love them.

Courthouse grounds.

We're all here and on the road.  Woot woot.

Next stop is for lunch at the Greek House for some Mediterranean Grill.  YUM.  Can't complain about the salad - just not wanting a heavy meal right now.

Is there a storm looming?  Glad we packed waterproof, empty containers.

By 2:30 we are in Batesville, AR and Marshall's Dry Goods.  The schedule has been met and we have until 4 here.   Shop, shop, shop.  I head straight to the flat folds after showing Jen and Gwen around the shop.  Marshall is happy to help with any questions we have and two big bags leave with me.  Good thing we have extra space, BUT, for now, it all just gets tossed into the back.  We'll load the coolers later.

Back on the road and the next destination is Mountain View, AR and the home of our dear friend, Ramona.

Ooooh, there she is coming out of Oma's Playhouse - the now infamous little studio.

We get to have some playtime in the studio before a tour of the grounds and house.  What a special treat.  I didn't take pictures of her home because, well, it's her home.  Ya know - that whole privacy thing that drives me crazy?

Outside - 

After our tour and visiting with Ramona and Steve , we are off to Anglers for dinner and a meet-up with more friends.  Anglers is right on the river and I cannot wait to get some pictures.  It's GORGEOUS.

Back to the table and loving our time with Linda, Carla, Elizabeth, Ramona AND 3 hubbies.  It's a lot of laughs and fun along with good food.  Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that the river is starting to fog up.  More picture time.

So, so fun.  Toss in that the people on the deck are a hoot and trying to charge me admission each time I go out to take pics.  Love it.  Meanwhile, back in the restaurant, we are finally getting a few pictures.  Jerry (Linda's hubby) has some good ones, but we couldn't get them sent to me.  It is what it is.

Selfie time.  The funny part is that people offered to help us with this, but -- ya know --- TRADITION!!!

Such a great time was had and good-byes are hard, but six months will pass fast.  Right?  SIX MONTHS.  OMG.

Onto our little home that Sam found for us.  Thank you VRBO.  It's perfect and comfy.

Gwen and Sam's room.

My space.

Jen's space.  Just in case one bed is not comfortable enough.

Some outside pictures - and that's it for today.  See y'all tomorrow with more adventures.