Friday we went INSIDE Squirrel Cage Jail in Council Bluffs. bucket list✔️

checked into our hotel in Omaha, found the concert venue in La Vista, ate at Chili's, Kevin saw Blackberry Smoke for the (?) time.

Saturday we found Chef Boyardee. walked along the river. I went to Voodoos Odd Shop. bucket list✔️. lunch at Longhorn. hung at hotel. supper at Sickies Garage.

Sunday drove to Plymouth to visit Katie & Brayden and check out the new lawn. beautiful. they made lunch, we hung out, then on the way home, an eagle flew across the highway right in front of us, and we checked out 2 supposedly haunted cemeteries in Rock Port, MO that are bucket list.✔️ home 11pmish.

got my steps in early. KJ and girls met me at the "new" bookstore at Princeton that I had not been in, in the old title office.

Z had trouble finding a book. she really wanted a notebook and pen. so I picked out her book and she picked out her notebook, pen, and bookmark. and she really wanted to get a notebook for Neneah. she is such a giving, generous little soul. always worried about someone else. I don't know how her big old heart fits into her chest. Izzy picked out a potty training board book with 4 pages. she knows what she likes. she was still excited about seeing trash cans. (insert smiley face.) found a western written by Chuck Norris for Kevin, and a ghost book for me. cute little bookstore. a couple of cozy reading chairs. big stuffies in kids area. Z longs for a Squishmallow. Squishamal? whatever. I didn't realize she didn't have one. so will rememedy that. then we went to the cofee shop. (also my first time. in KJ's old bank) again, Z had trouble making a decision. Izzy and I went with vanilla cones, Z finally decided she wanted chocolate. then she got brain freeze. apparently just not her day. then I took a pic of girls by the new eagle mural at American Legion. quite beautiful. 2 women stopped and asked if I'd take their pic. so I did. then the girls went home for lunch. when I got home, Katie was here working. she left again to say goodbye to the girls, and started off in the severe thunderstorm warning. she said it got bad but she was driving out of it.

Katie came home to tell Nicole goodbye before she moves to Maryland.

Kevin took an early out, mowed our yard. I weekeated. 1977 steps = 1 mile. did 3 extra workouts. tried to do an all over workout one, but it was too much. I got cocky. that workout attempt put me back in my place.

I found my beheaded baby Katie reborn doll the other day, started making her a dress from old curtains. think I'll pose her holding her head on her lap. took the photos I'd printed off to girls for their photo albums. hung their dream catchers. helped Zerelda read her library book.

fire at Lake Shawnee Abandoned Amusement Park. The big shelter with the Skull Face where he shows you the evidence. (sad face.) Chris thought trespassers. why are people like this?

rainy. flash flood warnings. indoor walk.

did some more creepy corner work. changed sheets. yesterday started doing a dance workout, too. going to try a step aerobics workout on step from garage into house. freshened Katie's room for her upcoming visit. but the BIG news???? The REALLY REALLY BIG NEWS????? I. found. the. Bear. I knew he was in a tote. I knew it. I could see myself placing him in a tote, right on top so he wouldn't be smooshed. closing the lid. for safekeeping. for Katie's first baby. looked through virtually every tote in the house. I was starting to panic. and today, I checked the totes in Katie's closet. there he was, smiling up at me. All is well.

every grandbaby I've given something of their mom/dads. a childhood toy. Ian got Grape Bear. Cora and Violet got American Girl Dolls. Millie got The Big Brown Bear that Kevin bought me on our honeymoon to Worlds of Fun. Zerelda got weenie dog. I can't remember what Izzy got. and she's the youngest. go figure. KJ had a bazzillion cherished stuffies. But Little Tan Bear was also bought on our honeymoon to Worlds of Fun. all 3 kids slept with him. he has been patched and patched and patched. his fur is matted. his nose is scrunched. he has been well loved. and now he's going to Nebraska for a new generation.

WalkFit: for me, the arms are the hardest part. my arms are noodles, bro.

after lots of grumbling from Kevin that it's too hot to sleep, took another quilt off the bed yesterday, washed it, dried it, and going to patch it up. I froze last night.

made 3 phone calls today, something I don't like doing. glued a tiny wig on a tiny doll. not sure why. not quite yet....also made a primitive pumpkin head square bodied primitive doll. did 2 additional indoor workouts today. didn't do evening walk. left my step counter on till I hit the daytime goal. Katie called. Kevin brought home salad and chicken breast strips and fresh fruit. a perfect supper.

update:

Ella The Keeping Fairy is done. I went with her tribal African Voodoo vibe, ditched the wings. I see her as a slave who works in the house. grumbles to herself. slowly poisoning Massa and his family. always plotting escape, which is hard, since she has countless farflung children. and quite possibly grandchildren. how would she know? Massa sells them off each spring and fall like cattle. she has a special spot on top of haunted doll cabinet. I call her Black Ella. which of course is not acceptable these days, but back in the 1850s where I've placed her....

The Black Frog came to life today with his poly pellets, which are kinda steep, but very very cool, and is hanging out on top of Koren's doll house.

these patterns and a few others I've completed have been moved to the shelf in the basement. where I found the Patchwork Kitty pattern that I haven't tackled yet. still have a patchwork bear pattern. and of course an upcoming 9 patch baby quilt and stocking and Christmas Sack....

morning walk at park. left phone on and indoor walked rest of day. hit 10,000 steps. made gramma deb barbie bigfoot jammies and a bigfoot pillow from a worn out bigfoot sock. reading. some porch sitting. Katie announced her happy news on social media today. I bawl everytime I watch the TikTok. just so sweet.

celebrated first day of summer with a ghost hunt to a location where we'd never been. (it was on my bucket list of "area" locations. as in within driving distance) The Alexander Majors House Paranormal Camp.

learned some cool history. he was one of KC's first millionaires, shipping goods out west by wagon. also involved in the Pony Express and he knew Buffalo Bill Cody. didn't feel spooky. interesting house design. tons of doors, windows, closets. some equipment activity, but I really don't believe in it anymore. esp. spirit talker. met a psychic that doesn't like Chris & Kelly. I personally adore Chris & Kelly. crossed it off my bucket list. one and done. 2286 steps. 1.1 miles. combining Walk Fit with ghost hunting.👣👻 there were 3 psychics there. I know we met 2 of them at the Joplin Paracon. Kevin strikes up conversations and gleans all kinds of good info. I just wander and take pics. of course there was an annoying person in the SEVEN people on our hunt. she looked a lot like one of KJ's good friends, so gave her a chance but quickly regretted it. wore my striking Trans-Allegheny Asylum shirt. no one commented. oh well. I know I was perfectly dressed!

heat advisory started yesterday. I had an on-the-way home Pepsi. and cookie dough bites. and some of Kevin's Ruffles. he also had a Coke and an Almond Joy. ghost hunting fuel. they were plugging KC Paracon and the Peneteniary Investigation. Kevin was excited. he was a bit floored by ticket prices. he's already met Brian and Richel. but not Dustin Pari. and celebrities cost more. so, first Saturday of August, we'll be in Kansas!