The Stone Rabbit

Santa Cali Gon .....2015

 

 Bonnie and I met up very early this morning, at the Historic Independence Square, to attend the event that's the official (for us, anyway) start of the "fall into the Christmas holiday craft sales season". . . Santa Cali Gon Days!!!  

This is the 43rd year for the festival that  "commemorates the origin of the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon trails".  We have only missed attending one time (I think)  in the last 15 years.   And while it's not "the same" as it was in the "good old days" (and what is????), it's still a fun time to stroll through the many huge tents of craft ( and imported ....sad face here) items, enjoy some tasty treats from the large variety of food booths and restaurants , shop at the local retail stores, and just have a good time with my friends for a few short hours!

 

 

We ALWAYS arrive before many of the vendors are set up .    "Why?" you ask?  Well, because, while they are putting the finishing touches on their booths, we . . . 

 

 

 

are getting our shopping "nourishment"!!!    Bonnie and I each had the biscuits and gravy and my daughter (who was able to join us for a bit) had one of their yummy cinnamon rolls.  We almost always eat our Santa Cali Gon breakfast at Dave's Bakery.  This establishment just recently celebrated their 30th year in business!

 

 

By the time we finished breakfast, the craft tents were starting to fill up with shoppers!

We always go through them at least twice. . .sometimes more, depending on our own schedules, our stamina and our level of "shopping interests".

 

 

 

Soon it was time for LUNCH!!  This year we decided to dine in a local restaurant as it was really getting hot and we needed some A/C!!   We ate at The Court House Exchange.

Once we were finished, we shopped a bit more then needed to head home.   I got this photo of a new addition to the weekend's festivities. . .they added "wine" to the "Beer Garden".  That place will be rocking later on today and probably the rest of the weekend!  :)

 

 

Our only photo of us was a quick "selfie" I took with the Kettle Corn in the background!!  I can't believe we didn't buy any  this year. . .but we didn't.  I know I was still stuffed from my breakfast and lunch!

 

 

They will be holding a 5K run/walk again as part of the Santa Cali Gon festivities!      It's a very, very, VERY hilly course. . . and will be a big challenge for me, but one that I am sure I'll enjoy being a part of, especially because a couple of my running pals have also signed up for it.

THE STONE RABBIT is showing you the shirt we got for signing up for the run. . . I think he looks pretty snappy in it even though it fits more like a blanket on him than a shirt.   :)

 

 

 Please add a visit to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, to your list of "to dos" over the next few days!  There you will find a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares!

Happy Pink Saturday!!

DANA

 

Labor Day . . . a weekend of good times!

 

 

 Labor Day officially "kicks off" one of my favorite times of the year......fall through Christmas....filled with festivals and holiday shows/open houses  and special antique and junque shows !!!

 SANTA CALI GON DAYS is the big event held around the historic square in Independence, MO., over the long Labor Day weekend.  The festival was started in order to celebrate our special location as the starting point of the three trails:  Santa Fe, California, Oregon.  The event features lots of art and craft booths, food booths,  musical entertainment and even a big carnival.  Thousands and thousands of folks turn out for it each year!

I've attended the first day of the sale for over 35 years.  I think I've only missed once or twice.  Years ago the "vendors booths" were filled with amazing handmade creations.  No "imported" or "market" merchandise was allowed.  It was a juried show and was very hard to get a booth space.  Well, times have changed.  Sadly, the majority of the "craft" vendors now sell imported and market items.   However, the really good crafters do very well at this show cuz fortunately lots of people still appreciate "handmade in the USA".

The weather conditions of the weekend have run the gamut.  About three years ago it was a gorgeous weekend.  I took this picture early in the morning of the first day, before the crowd arrived.  You can see the court house on the left and the amazing clear blue sky.

 

 

 

 The next two pictures show how crowded it was in just a few short hours!  

  

 

 

 

 

The year I took this photo it POURED early in the morning of the first day.

 

But Bonnie (below) and I (next) picture were prepared!!  :)

 

 

 

Last year it was brutally hot.  One of our friends was working in the yellow booth as a fundraiser for their church.   They sold Italian sausage sandwiches and lemonade!

 

 

I was there bright and early this year!  I thought the PINK SATURDAY group would appreciate the PINK cotton candy flags in front of the court house!!

It started raining again this year.....but thankfully not until after I'd spent lots of time going through the craft tents and several of the local shops that surround the square.

Yes....my favorite time of the year has officially started!

 

 

 

 

 

The organizers of the festival brought back the 5K that used to be held during the time of Santa Cali Gon Days!!  Several of us from our little running group have signed up to do that.   I don't think they have had a big turn out for the run, but they still provided us with a nice shirt and the chance to enjoy running and walking 3.1 miles on some very hilly areas that surround the square during this great weekend!!

THE STONE RABBIT is going to try to convince some of his concrete pals to have their own little Labor Day race!, too!  He's so good at organizing fun events for his friends!!

 

 

 

 

Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend and a great PINK SATURDAY!

Hurry on over to Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  She'll have a long list of bloggers ready to share their PINKS or special fall items with you this weekend!!

DANA

 

 

 

 

 

It's BINGHAM WAGGONER TIME AGAIN!!

 

This time of year brings some great sales in our midwestern area!!

 

Last night Bonnie and I headed over to our friend Dale's sale called THE FLEETING FLEA!!  He has found a great location for his "pop up" vintage flea market and is now able to host several of these shows a year in an indoor location!!

Bonnie and I love to look at all of the gatherings and, with luck, we find a few treasures to bring home!

Here she is showing how cute she looks with a PINK princess phone!!

 

 

 

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the entire year. . .THE BINGHAM WAGGONER SALE!!!  It's located on the grounds of a victorian mansion in Independence, MO!! 

We always start the morning off with coffee and biscuits and gravy cause we've got to have strength to walk and walk and shop and shop!

 

 

 

Besides looking for treasures, my favorite part of this day is running into other friends who are also "treasure hunting" or are vendors!

Pictured below is Kathy. . .an awesome folk-artist and cat lover!  I own many of her handmade items!!  We became friends over the years through the various craft shows we have been in together.

 

 

 

Here's another special friend. . .Sharon (on left).  We went to high school together!!  I rarely see high school friends so this is always a treat to see her and the many "goodies" she and her sister bring to sell in their booth!!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT is shown with some of the great items I found at the sale one year!!  

Do you see those paper mache' planters in the foreground?  Bonnie and I turned those into glittery jack-0-lanterns and sold them in our Fall craft shows!!

 

 

I can't believe another PINK SATURDAY has rolled around again. . .but it has!!

I sure hope you visit our great hostess Beverly, at HOW SWEET THE SOUND, because you will find lots of other bloggers who are ready to share their special pinks with you again!!

DANA 

 

 

Pink Landmark. . . and Running Results!

 

I live very near to a wonderful family built and grown business. . . Farrand Farms.  Not only do they  sell amazing annuals and perennials, but they also have this wonderful PINK windmill.

It was a snowy, cold day in March of 2010 when I decided to pull into their parking lot to snap a photo.

 Then, in June of 2011, I took the next three pictures.

 

There is a plaque at the base of the windmill. . .entitled:  Pink is Good!   I thought I'd taken a photo of the text on the plaque, but evidently, I didn't.  The windmill is dedicated to family members and friends who have fought the breast cancer battle.  There is also a little pool near by where visitors can toss coins and that money will be matched by the business and donated to charity.

 

I love this sweet sun etched into their sidewalk!

Their business is such an asset to our community.  Not only is it a beautiful place to walk around and "dream" about your summer plantings or landscaping additions, but it's also a location where you are guaranteed great products and service.  

I've always felt welcomed when browsing or shopping at Farrand Farms.   They spend time with you helping you make your selections, teaching you about the various plants. That's right, I said THEY SPEND TIME WITH YOU!!  What a selling point!  It's no wonder they operate a successful business!! :)

Farrand Farms is currently run by Keith Farrand and his family. . . the fourth generation to do so!  Their operation is certainly a testament to the importance of small, successful businesses to our communities.  Not only does Farrand Farms bring beauty to our area, but it provides incomes to their families and to their numerous employees and vendors.  Thank you to those at Farrand Farms for working so hard at building such a great organization!!

 

On last week's Pink Saturday, I shared that I would be running the 5K portion of the Kansas City Marathon with my niece and her step mom, who made the trip from Arkansas. . .and was dealing with a leg injury!

Here we are, gathered for our "pre-run" photo.

Left to right:  Mary, me, Carrie (my beautiful niece).

 

My phone camera must've been cold early that morning because the photos I took were pretty blurry.  We are in line . . .making our way to the "start".  

 

 

 I made it!!  That's me near the end of the run.  I know I look like I have a squirrel on my head!  :)  I have to wear a visor because if I don't, the sweat will be rolling down into my eyes!  I have an array of visor colors, but obviously, this PINK one is my favorite!!

They changed the course this year. . .and I'm glad I didn't realize it until I was actually running or I would freaked out.  

The first mile was basically flat, but most of the second mile. . .UP HILL!!  What a challenge that was.  I was really glad that I'd been including a lot of hill work in my runs around our neighborhood. . .but NONE of those hills are as steep and long as the one last Saturday!  :)

I was very happy that morning!  I didn't have to walk any of the course. . .even on that dreadful hill.  My time was slower than last year, but I'm blaming it on THE HILL and not on my "advanced age"!!  Anyway, it felt great to be a part of that day with so many other runners and walkers!

 

Here are Carrie and Mary!  They were nearly finished, too!

 

And here we are with our post-run photo!  

Yay!  That was such good time!

This was the third time I've run this event. . . and now I'm thinking "we" need to bump things up!  I "suggested" to them that we should train to do the half-marathon next year. . .not running it, but to run/walk it.

Mary said she wasn't interested. . .my niece didn't exactly say "no", so maybe. . . .  :)

 

 

 

Jeanne, of Backyard Neighbors, was celebrating her birthday on the day I did that run.  I told her I would be singing Happy Birthday to her as I ran along that morning, but in the excitement of the run, I FORGOT. . .until afterwards and then I did!!  I hope it was a great day, Jeanne!

THE STONE RABBIT told me he didn't forget to sing to you bright and early that morning!  He's so sweet!! 

 

I hope you had a great week!

Please be sure to visit Beverly, at HOW SWEET THE SOUND, so you can see the long list of bloggers who will be ready with their PINKS!

 

Happy Pink Saturday!

DANA

A BUSY WEEK. . .with bits of PINK!

 

 This week was full with my normal life events. . . but there were some very special moments to celebrate, too.

Starting with last Saturday. . . .I attended the annual Strawberry Festival at the Vaile Mansion in Independence, MO.

 

THE VAILE MANSION

 

 

Antique and flea market vendors set up shop on the grounds of the mansion.

It's usually a good sale, but sadly, for me, it wasn't this year.  So many of the regular vendors (antiques/flea market) no longer sell here. . . instead there were a lot more booths featuring hand made items and TONS and TONS of jewelry booths.  

 

 

 

However, I did enjoy my "breakfast" of strawberry shortcake and ice cream!!  Yes, I was eating this around 9:30 a.m.!!!  What a great treat!

 

Early in the morning, these musicians entertained the shoppers.

 

 

I did locate a kindred spirit!!  She broke her arm while setting up the reception site for her daughter's wedding!  I told her I had tripped on an uneven sidewalk. . .she got her toe stuck in an electrical outlet on the floor of the venue!

She shared that, even though she was in lots of pain, there was "no blood and no bones showing" so she continued with the plans. .. the wedding and the reception, then went to the emergency room afterwards!  What a mom!

 

 

Since I struck out finding treasures at The Strawberry Festival, I hit a couple of garage sales in our neighborhood.  I struck out there, too, but enjoyed looking.

 

 

Later Saturday afternoon, we attended the "tri-fecta" of birthday parties!!  My son and family celebrated the birthdays of our little 6 year old Grand Girl and our 3 year old Grand Boy!!

 

 

AND it was our son's 36th birthday as well!!

I can't possibly be old enough to have a 36 year old. . . can I?  :)  

He's a wonderful son and has brought us so much joy over the years!  Earlier that morning, he ran a 10K. . .what a way to celebrate a birthday!!

 

 

Moving on. . .

I decided to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jublilee by having tea and cucumber sandwiches.  I got in a little "royal wave" practice, too!

 

 

As the days go by, I've learned to do more and more while wearing a splint.  See, this week I was able to get an exam glove over my hand. . .mostly!  :)  Actually, that was my first attempt.  I can now put them on without tearing.  So, doing dishes is a lot easier!

 

 

 One day, a sweet friend, delivered this wonderful gift to us!  She said that box of PINK cuppy cakes just jumped in her shopping cart!!  They do have a tendency to do that!!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT and I have been nibbling on these great treats. . .they are wonderful spirit lifters!!

Thank you, Michelle.

 

Another great "spirit lifter" is exercise.  On Wednesday, I honored National Running Day by completing a 3.1 mile WALK around our neighborhood.  I was "running" in my mind. . .but have to wait until my hand heals to do that physically.

 

 

 

 

And today. . .my groom and I are celebrating our 44th wedding anniversary.  OK. . .I guess I am old enough to have that 36 year old son!!  :)

 

 

Whew. . .no wonder I'm tired.  There was a lot going on! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someplace else where there's a lot going on is at Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND.

Be sure to visit her and all of the great bloggers who are ready to share their PINKS with you today!

Happy Pink Saturday!!

 

DANA

LABOR DAY WEEKEND.....it was a busy one!

 

Did you have a big Labor Day Weekend?

Mine was full. . . and could have been even fuller had my buddy Bonnie not been visited by a respiratory bug that sidelined her for the holiday.

These photos show where we were a year ago last Thursday. . . at a flea market!

Yes, Bonnie and I were planning on attending again this year, but cancelled because she was sick. 

 

I'm sorry she felt horrible, but we probably should not have gone anyway. . .the temperatures were up near 100.  Last year, we shopped in the rain . . . and it was lots cooler. . . but pretty muddy!

 

Something else we always do together on Labor Day Weekend is visit the local festival that goes on around our historic square in Independence.  It's called Santa Cali Gon Days.

We always gripe about how it's not as good as it used to be, but we still head up there....just in case something great is waiting for us!  :)

I took this photo last year when Bonnie and I arrived. . . .first thing on the opening day.  You can see it wasn't too packed at that point.  That's why we always go super early....to avoid the massive crowds that come later in the day and every day through Labor Day.

 

 

 

 

Since Bonnie was still sick, I decided to go check out the craft tents.  You can see that many of the vendors were still setting up, but most have learned that the "hard core shoppers" get there early and they should be ready for business a couple of hours before the "official" opening!  :)

See how lonely I looked. . . shopping all by myself!  :(  Meeeeeee and my shaaaadow. . . . .

 

 That night, my husband and I had planned on attending The Irish Fest.  These photos are from last year's event.  

However, it was still crazy hot on Friday night, so we decided to wait and hit it on Saturday evening. . .

after we attended the second birthday party of our little great niece!

Unfortunately, the heavens opened up and it poured buckets and buckets of rain, so we skipped the festival this year.  :(

BUT. . . the rain was a welcome sight because it brought in a COLD FRONT that is still going on as I type this some three days later!

I sure wish we could send some of our amazing weather to Texas and Oklahoma. 

 

Oh, and because I was entered in a 5K Labor Day Run, I started "carb loading" on Saturday morning!  Carb loading is my favorite part of running!!!  It gives me a legitimate excuse to enjoy one of my favorite food groups..."carbs".  OK....I know carbs are not really a food group, but they are still my favorite foods.

This was my "lunch" on Sunday after church....a cranberry, nut, wheat germ pancake!  SOOO deliciously carbohydrated.

 

 

On Sunday afternoon, my daughter and I headed back to Santa-Cali-Gon Days.  I like this shadow photo much better!

I have to say I have not taken her to this event since she was about 2 years old.  We went there with my brother and sister in law and their two kiddos....we took our two kiddos.  The cousins were five, four, three and two.  It was horrible.

But this time, it was wonderful to be there with her!  :) 

 

And now this was a shot of the crowd around the historic court house on that day. . . .THOUSANDS of folks!  It was almost too much for me.

I was being a real pain to my daughter.....whining about how hard it was to make our way through the crowds, when we spotted the FUNNEL CAKE BOOTH.

YAY!  Another carb loading opportunity!!!

 

While we had to wait quite a while for our funnel cake, because the line was sooooooo long with others who were also anxious to carb load, it was soooooo worth it!

 

 

There were about 7 or 8 huge craft tents at the festival.  On Sunday afternoon, they were PACKED with shoppers.  There was no way I was going to go through them....I'd already done that early Friday and my girl had zero interest in doing that, but she would have if I said I wanted to look.  :)

 

That evening, we grilled steaks and I continued my carb loading with awesome twice baked potatoes!!  After all, the 5K was the next morning!

 

 

Besides the activities mentioned, I checked on my friend's cat while they were out of town over the extended holiday.  

He got friendlier as the days went by!  I also bribed him with kitty treats.  :)   Just call me the "Cat Whisperer"......meeeeeooooow!

 

Another place I went on Saturday afternoon was a funeral.  It was that of the mom of one of my best friends in high school.

I am so glad I did make the effort to attend, even though it meant I was driving, driving, driving that day from one thing to another.  

She was a very important figure in my high school years. . . always opening her house to me when I needed a place to stay after school or over night.  I lived 12 miles from the town where my school was located.  It wasn't easy for my parents to pick me up after school events, so she kindly let me join her family whenever I needed to.

Plus her daughter and I were very close during high school.  Sadly, we drifted apart over the years....she moved to another state and I left that rural area and rarely saw anyone I went to school with.

On Saturday, at the funeral, I had the honor of visiting for awhile with that friend and three others.  The last time  I saw them was three years ago when another high school friend had died.  At that time, we vowed we'd get together and not wait to see each other at such sad times.

We didn't follow through with those plans.

I hope we do this time.  We're all in our mid sixties.  What on earth are we waiting for?

 

OK...so bright and early on Labor Day morning, I ate a banana and a piece of whole wheat toast.....carb loading to the bitter end.

I  put on my running clothes and shoes and. . . .

 

 participated in my first every Labor Day 5K run!!!

It was the perfect day. . . cool and clear and the course was FLAT!!!

I will share more about that fun experience in a couple of days.

I can't believe that I just started running a year ago and have now participated in six 5K runs.  It's something I'm very proud of. . . and so is my doctor.  In fact, when I went to his office today to  review my recent lab report, I was THRILLED to see that my over all cholesterol level had dropped 30 points since February.  I was a really bad girl over the holidays.  I've backed off the sweets and was able to get back to my running as well as taking a couple of great classes at our gym each week that are big in cardio exercise, strength, balance and core work!!

*I'm in my mid-sixties.

*I am a runner.

*Push ups are still a challenge, but I can jump rope. . . and I don't mean "skipping" rope....I mean JUMPING rope!  :)

*I love to carb load!  :)

DANA

IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR BINGHAM-WAGGONER 2011!!!!

 

Oh my. . . . I can barely STAND it!!!  

 

The one day of the year I look forward to the most will be here on Saturday!  Yep, it is the day we are treated to the best antique and craft fair of the summer on the grounds of the historic BINGHAM-WAGGONER estate in Independence, Missouri.  

 

On Saturday, the lawn of the estate will fill up with:

 

awesome vendors

 

 

 

 

 

great PINKS

 

delicious foody treats

 

 

 

 

 

wonderful music

 

 

 and US. . . old friends and new friends. . . . along with tons of fellow shoppers.

 

 





We come in the rain. . . .

 

and in the heat. . . .

 

to look . . .  

 

and look . . . .

 

 

and to buy. . . .

 

and buy!

Then at the end of a long hot (or wet) day of shopping and eating our way around the sale. . . it's a great just to kick back, sip some iced tea and/or lemonade and just relax.  

You just can't beat the atmosphere of fun, friends and finds at the BINGHAM-WAGGONER ANTIQUE and CRAFT FAIR.

 

Here are a few of the "treasures" I found last year!  

In the middle of the items you can see a black metal flower basket.

THE STONE RABBIT wanted you to see that right now,  that black metal basket is in the middle of our dining room table.  It is holding a vintage Uncle Sam bank, a commemorative Bicentennial plate and a bit of flag ribbon!  

 

I can hardly wait to see what goodies come home with me this year from the sale!!  :)




Please be certain to visit our hostess Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND.  She is so kind to host PINK SATURDAY every week, just so all of us and gather and share our PINKS!!!

 

Have a great PINK SATURDAY!

 

DANA

Happy Pink Saturday. . . July 4, 2010 Revisited!!!!

 

For YEARS, our family tradition has been to attend this small town parade, followed by a gathering with friends and family for an afternoon of dining, visiting, playing.......and just appreciating Independence Day in the USA!!!!

 

 

 

                                          *    *    *    *    *    *    *    

 

 

 

"God Bless America, 

 

 

Land that I love. 

 

 

 

Stand beside her,

 

 and guide her, 

 

Thru the night

 

 

 with a light

 

from above. 

 

From the mountains,

 

to the prairies, 

 

To the oceans,

 

white with foam.

 

God bless America,

 

 

My home sweet home.

 
 

 

God bless America,

 

  

My home sweet home.

Blessings go out to you and yours this Independence Day!

 

Don't forget to visit Beverly of HOW SWEET THE SOUND.   There you will find many bloggers with PINKS to share during this time of "Red, White and Blue"!!

DANA

GOOD TIMES CAPTURED WITH PINK!

 

 Last Saturday morning, I drove over to one of our most prized locations in Independence, MO. . . THE TRUMAN LIBRARY.

 

 

 

I was happy to see that the "Chick-fil-A EAT MORE CHICKEN" cow had shown up, too!

 

 We were all there to be a part of the  6th annual L.I.N.K. 5K RUN/WALK  , which helps to raise money for a fund that awards college scholarship money to local high school students.

"Chick-fil-A" was one of the sponsors of the run. . .it was great to have the cow "mingling" with the participants.

 

 

 

After we sang The National Anthem. . . . (I love this part of the runs). . . .

we were off!!!!

I am on the left side....wearing my "lucky" yellow visor!!!

That part of the run was awesome. . . we went down the long sloping drive of the library. . . 

 and headed for the 3.1 miles it would take to complete this run.

Sadly, I have to say it, was not one of my stellar days.

Right off the bat, there was a hill. . . and by the time I made it up that, I was pooped for the rest of the run.

I even had to stop and walk. . . for the very first time in a 5K EVER!!! (OK...I've only done five of them. )

 

My calves were sooooo tired and I just couldn't "talk myself" out of the way they felt.  SO,  I walked....twice during the run.

 

As it turned out, my time wasn't terrible for ME.  I did the run in 34 min. and 54 sec..  I could have had a decent run if I didn't have to take time out to recoup.  

 

 

One thing I always look forward to, following a run,  are the "treats" the organizers/volunteers have ready for us.  

 

Cold water is especially a good thing after running/walking and so is juice.   There's always fruit...like oranges, bananas and/or grapes.  Often, there's yogurt.  Sometimes there are yummy eats. . .like this breakfast roll I nabbed!  NOTE:  I'd already consumed my banana by the time I thought to take a picture.  :)

 

 While we waited for the run results. . . 

 

 

one of the awesome organizers of this event drew names for prizes!!!  There were some good ones, too.  

I really hoped I would get a gift certificate to our local running store, but I didn't.  In fact, I usually don't win anything, so when my name was FINALLY drawn I was thrilled!  

There were only three prizes left to choose from and they were all . . . 

 "chips".  

I couldn't see what they said on them, but picked the purple one.

No one seemed to know what they represented.  I have to drive to this local Harley spot and find out!! I'll let you know when I collect my "prize".  

Do you think I won a "HOG"?  WOW!  That would be an awesome prize!   :)

 

 Next, they announced the results of the run. . . first, second and third places for each division.  The divisions are based on gender and age.

I was actually shocked that I was in third place in my division.  It wasn't such a big deal, since there were only 5 or 6 of us in the Female 60-64 age group.  However, the first and second place gals beat me by a little over 3 minutes...which is a lot of time.  I was kicking myself that I had to walk cuz it really slowed me down.  

OK, I am a bit competitive....I need to refocus on beating MY personal times, not someone else's...right?  I promise I'll work on that.

HOWEVER: I came away with some lessons learned.

1.  I didn't give my legs enough rest before the run.  In the days before the 5K, I'd run over 3 miles,  two times.  On top of that, I'd attended hard workouts at the gym on two nights.  So, instead of "resting" for 2-3 days prior to the run, I'd only rested one day.  Not smart for my elder legs.

2.  While I include hills in my runs, I have never started out with a hill in my outings.  I will toss that challenge in over  my runs in the future.

3.  Here's a big lesson learned:  Do NOT eat bar-b-que the night before a real 5k...ever, ever, ever again. :(

 

THE STONE RABBIT loved my third place medal!!  

He thinks it's awesome that I was able to complete the run at all.....especially since he saw how miserable I was when I left the house that morning....cursing the bar-b-que I'd eaten the night before!!  :)

Oh, and did you notice the swell iPhone he's showing you?  That was a gift from my hubby for our anniversary!!!

I had it with me at the run and took almost all of the photos you saw on this post with it!!!

 

I'm sure you are loving the PINK shell I selected for the phone!!!  Oh, and it's hard to tell, but Izzie's collar is brown with PINK flowers!!! 

 

Yep, we love our PINKS around here....even THE STONE RABBIT has learned how much fun PINK can be!

 

 

 

You're certain to have PINK FUN today if you hop on over to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND.  Lots of other bloggers are ready and waiting to share their PINKS with you, too!

 

Have a great PINK SATURDAY!

 

DANA

 

 

 

 

 

I have to share this with you, too.  Rhondi, of ROSE COLORED GLASSES, is hosting her annual PORCH PARTY on June 21.  If you haven't participated in it before, you should!!!  

 

It's so much fun.  We get to visit  the porches and patios of fellow bloggers. . . all decked out in their summer fun!

 

OK, now I need to work on my porch....the pressure is on!!!  :)

PINKS ON "THE SQUARE"!!!

 

The day before Mother's Day was just beautiful in our city of Independence, Missouri.  It was as if the weather had been specially "ordered" for the annual Flower and Garden Sale on THE SQUARE of this historic town!! 

The vendors set up shop around the old court house, giving us the longed for burst of color which, after our Missouri Winter, is always such a welcome sight.

 

Besides the amazing array of plants, you can usually find President Harry S. Truman, strolling around The Square, greeting the  shoppers and . . . .

 

reminiscing  about his unexpected victory over Dewey!!!  In fact, he keeps a copy of the newspaper with that famous headline in his pocket!!

 

 

This year my neighbor was able to attend the sale with me.  She was pleased with the  gorgeous plants she found for her flower pots.

 

 

I ran into my buddy Sharleen at the sale, too.  She was hunting for a hanging plant. . . and was really impressed with the size and beauty of this one!!!

In fact, Sharleen no doubt knew I'd be at the sale, so she wore her PINK jacket. . .just in case I needed a Pink Saturday photo!!!

I've trained my friends well!!!  :)

 

This vendor had such a gorgeous selection of hanging plants!!!

 

I didn't get hanging plants, but did pick up several small pots of Gerber Daisies to use as Mother's Day gifts the next day!

 

Sharleen was pleased with her purchased. . . and the help she had in getting that huge plant to her car!!

 

This is Debbie Kraft,   a local gal and the author of  "Perfect 10 Cookbooks, Family Secrets" .   I saw that she not only had her cookbooks for sale, (I bought mine at another sale)  but she also had added a line of "toppings" which she calls "Island Jamz".   My neighbor and I each purchased a jar. . . I selected Pineapple-Coconut Rum!!!!  I'm saving it to drizzle over some yummy vanilla ice cream one day. . .  very, very soon!!!  If you clink on the link, you can see the amazing selection of flavors. . . and the many uses for her delicious "toppings"!!

 

This is Stephanie Speers. . . another local entrapeneur.

Stephanie creates the most delicious sweet treats.  Her business, called PIN-UP PASTRIES, specializes in cupcakes, cake pops, cookies and brownies. 

Don't you just LOVE how she incorporates so much PINKNESS into her displays and creations?  I sure do!

 

I personally had to sample one of these and . . . .

 

one of these!!!

Somebody had to do it. . . .right?   :-)

They were wonderful!!!!



I feel so lucky to live near our wonderful square that hosts so many great events throughout the year. . . especially the annual garden show.  It's a very special surprise when local small businesses share their wares  at these events, too.

 

Just looking at Stephanie's wonderful cup cake pictures makes my mouth water as I write this post.   Sadly, I don't have any of her sweet delights to satisfy my urge for sugar.  

 

HOWEVER. . . I did remember that I still had the box of PINK Cuppy-cakes left from last week's Pink Saturday Birthday Party!!!!

 

 

Sadly, THE STONE RABBIT reported there was just ONE PINK Cuppy-cake left!

It seems the hubby had been enjoying these little goodies all week long!!!!  Guess I will have to find a better hiding place in the future!  ;-)

 

While these little gems are not nearly as pretty OR tasty as Stephanie's, THE STONE RABBIT and I have to say. . . .

they are still pretty danged yummy!!!! 

 

   

 

Please visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND for a long list of fellow bloggers with PINKS to share with you!

 

Happy Pink Saturday!!

 

DANA