We started off the month of August very broke!
Because we got a new car for this driver! She was very excited, but not as excited as I was because now I can have my car back! Ok ok... her car is not a NEW car. But it's new to us!
AND THEN... I had to turn around and go to Kansas City for work like a week after I got back from my mom's. BUT... I was able to drive over to Kansas and have a cappuccino to mark my 40th state! I've been sitting on 39 states for almost a decade. I think it's time to travel more within the US! Thankfully I was able to visit KC with a cool coworker, Alexis who celebrated this momentous occasion by taking this silly picture of me!
After I had coffee in Kansas, Alexis and I went down to Country Club Plaza, which is a Spanish/Moorish themed "car centric" (their words!) shopping center.
Country Club Plaza is considered to be the "first planned large outdoor suburban shopping center in the United States" - ok, that's good enough for me! Superlative, check! Kansas City is also known as the city of fountains, and we sure found a few at the Plaza! This is a statue of Neptune, which was cast in 1911 in England for the President of the Baldwin Locomotive Company and eventually brought to KC in 1953.
This bad boy is one of three replicas of the "Wild Boar of Florence" of which the original sits at the entrance of the straw market in the Italian city. The original was carved in marble by the Greeks before Jesus was born!
At one point, I felt like I was actually IN Florence! (Ok ok, this is more Spanish tile work but still, it felt similar!)
There was also a small church being torn down in the Plaza area, which was a former Church of Christ, Scientist (that's not to be confused with scientology - this is the one of Christian Science Monitor fame.) This religion was founded by Mary Baker Eddy (of the famous library in Boston) back in 1879. I found the whole idea of "God is love" funny here as they are tearing down the church!
After the first day of my workshop, we all went out for BBQ at Jack Stack Barbecue!
And it did NOT disappoint! I had the "BIG PIG" (which don't worry, I said repeatedly because how funny is "BIG PIG"???) What's on this ginormous sandwich? Well... it's Pulled Pork, Smoked Ham, Bacon, Smoked Provolone, Fried Onion Ring and Mustard Barbecue sauce. SO GOOD. We all had the best conversations about traveling too - and I sat with three people I didn't know at all, and one woman that I have met a few times... but we all discussed our upcoming travels! We were heading to Hawaii, Croatia and the Czech Republic, Kenya and Tanzania, and Argentina! How cool is that???
And thankfully the restaurant was within walking distance of my hotel because I needed to walk off THE BIG PIG! On our way back, I spotted Slowpoke Rodriguez on the side of a building!
We had a lovely sunset when we passed the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts - which reminds me a bit of the Sydney Opera House.
And we just had a lovely evening, even after the sunset! Had to capture it from my hotel room!
For the second day of our workshop, Alexis, Lori and I grabbed some Insomnia Cookies when we went out for lunch. Of course, I had the peanut butter one (what? Grant wasn't with me!) and it was insanely good! Love the little hamburger heart in the background, too.
And after the workshop was over, Alexis and I drove down to see the Kansas City Royals play our Boston Red Sox! You can see Arrowhead Stadium, which is right next door. (Booo Chiefs, Go Bucs!)
But I have always wanted to go to Kauffman Stadium because of the gigantic crown in centerfield and the fountains in the outfield that dance throughout the game.
I finally made it to see the fountains! This stadium has been around since 1973, and it was a dream of mine as a kid to visit and see the Water Spectacular.
It's the largest publicly funded fountain in the world (which makes sense that it's in the city of fountains) so hey... superlative, check!
Who could forget old scrappy 3rd baseman and 13 time All Star George Brett, who is one of only five people in MLB history to have 3,000 career hits, 300 homeruns and a better-than .300 batting average? He joins Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Miguel Cabrera, and Hank Aaron in that category - not bad company to keep!
LET'S GO RED SOX!
It didn't turn out well for the Sox, as they lost 8-4, with Bobby Witt, Jr. hitting two home runs for Kansas City. Oh well, at least we got to see the fireworks go off!
And we had our FAVORITE weekend of the summer... Mousam Lake, Maine! We had planned on going Friday-Sunday, but with the remnants of Hurricane Debby coming through New England, we shifted the trip by one day and drove up on a Saturday. We were surprised to see our nephew GoGo there for the day! We were excited to head out on the boat and got to jump into the water up in the northern most park of the lake. The water wasn't too cold!
Gordie: Ummm, is anyone paying attention here? Please turn the boat to the right.
Grant getting some driving tips from his cousin GoGo.
We passed by Blueberry Island where Natalie always gets nostalgic to go pick blueberries like she did when she was little. Unfortunately, other people have discovered this spot over the years and the blueberries are wiped clean.
Back on land, Grant and Todd played a little game of corn hole.
This year, Grant really enjoyed using the kayak! He dragged it into the water, grabbed the paddle and (eventually) a life vest and headed out into the lake.
Todd enjoyed lounging around. This is far more satisfying at our age than physical labor in a kayak!
Grant always loves a good weekend at the Blue Moose!
After a fun day on the water, we all sat around the fire pit.
And what's a fire pit without s'mores!?
We had even more beautiful weather on our second day there- so of course, we went back on the boat. And I FINALLY saw my very first bald eagle! Next up, I just need to see a real, live moose (preferably not on the highway)!
We stopped for a quick swim south of the bridge, on our way back home. The water was weirdly much colder here than it was the day before on the north side of the pond!
Helen took a cute picture of the four of us floating around!
We weren't out on the lake too long, so we came back and floated around the dock area of the Blue Moose. Here is a bathing beauty, enjoying Mousam Lake.
Then Grant picked Natalie up and chauffeured her around the lake with his kayak.
Drag me around, clown!
Mousam Lake is always so peaceful in the evening after the boats have returned and children are no longer in the lake yelling at each other (and by children, I mean mine).
Now it's time for a smack talking rivalry among siblings!
Game time continued into the evening. My mom got us this game and we think it's SO funny! Gordie and Helen were MUCH better at this than me! Think beer pong, but harder.
Todd floated in the water after dinner but Nat and I sat on the dock and he took this cute picture of us!
Later in the evening, we enjoyed another fire pit and this time, we had a visitor. I thought he was cute!
On Monday, there was time for one more dip in the lake before we went drove back to Massachusetts. I had to work a bit Monday morning, so when I finally got down to the lake, this is what I found. Grant dragging around BOTH his sister and dad. Ha!
Until next time, Mousam Lake! Until next time, summer!
