Man, the title for this adventure is just about perfect for how the weekend was!  Although most of the days leading up to the weekend gave a feeling of early spring, by the time Saturday came round.....winter had returned!  We awoke Saturday morning to see snow falling.  Knowing Cathy and Harold Simpson planned to fly in, all of us were a bit concerned if they would make it.  But let's back up a bit and take it from the beginning.

    I went to Indianapolis Airport on Friday to pick up WolfPup.  Her flight was scheduled to arrive at 2:35pm.  Well, so much for schedules!  While I waited for her plane to land, I kept hearing over the loud speakers, "Flight.... will be landing in about 5 minutes."  All I have to say is, that was the longest 5 minutes in history!  LOL!  It turned out to be an hour late!  But as I sat watching the planes come in, a very nice gentleman loaned me his paper to read, that helped a lot to pass the time.

    After Pup's plane landed and hugs were exchanged, it was agreed while she fetched her suitcase, I would hobble  (yes, still using my cane) over to the Starbuck's Cafe for a couple of vanilla Lattes.  We then walked out to the Trooper and were on our way to a weekend in Plymouth, Indiana full of fun!

    I had hoped to reach our motel before dark, but that wasn't to be.  However, it gave Pup and me some time to catch up on each other's lives (although she had visited a month prior).  She told me about making changes in herself.  Before the weekend was over I saw first hand the remarkable turnaround!

    We arrived at the Ramada Inn around 6:30 pm and to our surprise Kim (AspenBelle) Bailey had beaten us!  She must have left earlier than she had planned from Columbus, Ohio.  We also found out that Mary (CountryRoads) and her hubby, Mike, had also arrived.  We asked the desk clerk if we could leave a message for them and she told us that Kim was in the Padget's room!  Even better!  LOL!! So we called Mary and was greeted with "John Denver Central!"  I almost dropped the phone from all the laughter!  I informed Mary that we had arrived safe and sound and explained about the plane delay.  Then she put Kim on the phone and she came down to the lobby to check in with us.

    Soon we were unpacking both Kim's and my cars and stowing our gear in our room.  After we had everything in, we rang Mary and Mike's room, only to find that our host for the weekend, Jack "Rooster" Roose and his fiancé, Dawn had also arrived.  Before we joined the others and after we stowed our gear, gifts were opened (Pup's birthday was Feb. 3 and AspenBelle's birthday was the following Monday).  After the presents were opened, "Oooh's, Ahh's" and hugs were given along with big thank you's, we decided to head down to meet the others.

    Dawn and Jack headed home while the rest of us went to Applebee's for dinner.  A fun evening was shared chatting, as AspenBelle passed around her pictures of Aspen.  To top off the evening, when the waitress heard of Pup and Kim's birthdays, she brought them ice cream sundaes.  With our tummies full, it was time to go back to Ramada.

    Nope, not for sleep...but to play DENVEROPOLY!  At least Mary, Kim, Pup and I played.  Mike went  to bed.  We changed into our jammies, turned on the JD music (keeping it low so as not to disturb others) and settled down.  Around 1:30 am, it was time to get some sleep if we wanted to be alert for the fun later that day.  Goodnights were said to Mary as she started back to her room.

  As I mentioned, we awoke Saturday morning to see snow falling, plus it was bitter COLD!  The three of us took our time getting ready, then went over to the hotel lounge to join up with the Padgets and Robin Peavey.  When all were ready, it was over to Bob Evans for breakfast.  Returning to the hotel to prepare for Jack's, we saw the "Welcome JD Gathering" sign (at our request) Ramada Inn had put up!  Far out!!

    Soon AspenBelle, Pup and I headed out to the farm.  Mary, Mike and Robin would join us later.  They wanted to  wait for Cathy and Harold.  Following the directions Jack had given,  we saw the sign going over a hill....Rooster Hill.  This was it!  I pulled in and Chelsea (Jack aka Rooster's daughter) led me down a trail back into the woods where the campfire was already going strong.

Friends around the campfire....

    Introductions were quickly made to those already there as more arrived.  Including Mary and Mike, who informed us Cathy and Harold wouldn't be flying in, there was so much cloud cover, but driving. It'd be several hours before they would make it.  In the meantime, it was time for a hayride!

The weather had been quite warm earlier in the week, melting most of the snow.  So sled rides were out.  The cold (it was just below zero with the wind chill!) was bearable as long as a person stayed near the campfire.  But one couldn't be on a farm and not go on a hayride!  The Padgets, AspenBelle, Pup, Linda Stoop and her grandson Ryan, and I braved the cold to have some fun.  And, man, did we have FUN!!  With the ground being frozen, there were quite a few bumps.  Also some muddy spots from the recent snow melting.  No matter how hard Jack tried to pull the trailer with the 4-wheeler, we ended up climbing out!  A hawk blessed us during our ride by circling overhead.

    Jack took us around his property.  Arriving at his house, we took a break to get warmed up.  He also logged on to his computer and some of us left messages for Dove, a JD sister recovering from a serious accident with a motorized scooter.  Fortunately she is doing much better!  Anyway, back to the adventure.  Soon it was back to the campfire with a short stop on the way.
 
 

    Chelsea, had been following us on another 4-wheeler and, reaching the barn, she wanted to saddle up the horses for those wanting to go riding.  Linda and Ryan joined her.  Jack needed someone to drive the 4-wheeler back to the campfire, so Mary volunteered.  After a quick lesson, she was all set!  It didn't take her long to get the hang of it.  She even passed us on the hay wagon!  LOL!

    Back at the campfire, we gathered around to warm up again.  Mary enjoyed the 4-wheeler so much, she was ready to go again.  Mike and she planned to go together, but she talked me into riding with her.  AspenBelle joined Mike.  After a few minutes, Mary had talked me into taking a spin at driving our 4-wheeler! I hesitated at first but then decided what the heck! One thing to note about these BIG things, they are hard to control! LOL! You either go really fast or stop! There is no in between! At one point, we were suppose to turn a sharp curve and I was afraid of turning us over. I didn't know what to do, but Rooster rode up on his horse and told me to turn around in the huge field behind us and follow him.  So we did.
 
 

4-Wheeling Fun!!
Kim, Mike, Mary and Wolf

    After a few spins, it was time for a hike. Aileen and her hubby, Bill had joined us by then.  Jack led the way down to a stream.  Most of this area was still covered by snow!  When we came to where one would have to cross over the stream to continue only Jack, Mary, Mike and Robin did so. I was afraid I might fall in because of my long skirt and also my unsteadiness with my knee. But first, a group pix in front of a "leaning" tree.  In order to get the best shot, Jack and Mike climbed the tree!  The rest of us went back to the campfire.   Cathy and Harold had finally made it!  Hugs again were given.  Shortly, the others returned from their hike.  It was time to head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.   I stopped at the barn where Jack put some air in a tire that Robin had pointed out as being low. Little did Robin know, Jack had told me about the tire earlier, he ask me to remind him about putting air in.

    Dinner was at Damon's, a restaurant at the hotel.  Pup, AspenBelle and I went a bit early to set up a table with some JD related stuff  - including the now infamous Prayer Pose Poster.  I had also gotten a birthday cake for Pup and AspenBelle.  Learning it was Ruth's (Jack's sister) birthday as well, she was included in the celebration also!  After all, the more the merrier!
 
 

Happy Birthday!
AspenBelle, Ruth, WolfPup

    Some members of Jack's family who had been at the farm joined us for dinner.  We had our fill of the delicious food, watched a video I brought with clips from Aspen, and then settled down to listen to Jack as he entertained us with songs.  Ryan, who is about 7-8 years old, is learning to play the guitar.  Jack gave him some pointers, as did all of the other guitar players. It was cute to watch them all show Ryan different things and he ate it up BIG TIME!  Ryan was a big hit.  He had also helped pass out the birthday cake.  A real sweetie!  At  11:30pm the waitress told us it was time leave.  So what did we do?  Moved the party!  But by that time, it was only Cathy, Harold, Pup, Mary and me.  We played yathzee.  I lost! LOL! Oh well....
 
 

Dancing the night away....

    The yathzee party lasted until nearly 1:00 am when again they told us it was time to leave so they could close up the sun room.  By then all us were pretty tired so it was back to our rooms and bed. Before we left however, some comical pictures were taken and used as BLACKMAIL by a certain PILOT! LOL!

    Sunday morning dawned bright and clear, with NO change in the temperature.  It was another bitter cold day.  It was also the day to say "see ya" to our sisters and brothers.  The gang was to meet for breakfast at a nearby truck stop.   Kim, Pup and I dressed then finished packing our things.  As we took our stuff out to load in the cars, I noticed my left rear tire was flat - the same one Jack had put air in!  Oh, no!  NOT what I needed!  There was nothing to do but call AAA, hoping they weren't busy and not take too long.  Sure enough, half an hour later, as we walked over to the lobby to check out and wait for the tow truck, the guy shows up!  GREAT! This won't take so long.....or so we thought!

    The first problem came up immediately.  The guy had a hard time getting the tire cover on the spare unzipped.  With the help of some hefty tools, he finally accomplished that.  Next was getting the tire off the rack and removing the cover completely.  Well...this is when another problem came up...the spare was FLAT!!  So...I'm thinking what will I do now...it's Sunday, nothing will be opened!  The guy was able to fill the tire with air.  Fortunately, there didn't appear to be any leaks.  It took a little more struggle, but soon the tire was on the Trooper.  The Denvermobile was ready to roll!

    It was on to the truck stop.  The three of us arrived to find everyone else had already gotten there, but Robin.  He pulled in behind us.  It took him some time to get out of his car.  He must have been phoning home.

    We dawdled as long as possible over breakfast.  Soon, however, the time came when the group could no longer linger.  So with much remorse, all of us paid our bills and headed outside.  Although more good times were coming, it was still hard to leave.  With one more group pix, group hug...we said "see ya, next time!" We are all ready for our next JD adventure!

    As Pup and I headed back to southern Indiana, we stopped at a flea market that was open. We didn't buy anything, other than a cup of hot chocolate for Pup and coffee for me. HOWEVER, we did strike up a conversation with one of the booth owners who noticed my National Wildlife Federation wolf jacket (it is always getting attention! LOL!). We told her about the JD gathering we had just attended. I also gave her our business & my personal website cards. She said she would check it out.

    We made a side trip to my niece, Terri's, house. She wasn't home but her hubby and kids were. They were all delighted to see Pup, they missed her last time she was here. The Daytona 500 NASCAR race was on. I really wasn't a fan, but I sat and watched it because I knew Pup was. I got caught up on all the excitement and to say I was hooked is an understatement!

    On a note of sadness, as most of you know by now, Dale Earnhardt Sr. did indeed lose his life in that crash. Our hearts go out to the Earnhardt family and friends.

The End

More fun pix!

Mike & Robin return from a hike	Mingling
Aileen & Bill	Ryan handing out cake
Here's a piece for you	Enjoying the music
Cathy & Aileen	Dawn & Jack
Jack gives Ryan some help	Gotcha!
Listening to Jack	Jack & John
Cheers!	Mike, Aileen & Jack
Ryan	More pointers for Ryan
AspenBelle & Harold share some cake	All smiles!

And to see still MORE go to:

Plymouth, IN JD Gathering - Book 1
Plymouth, IN JD Gathering - Book 2

NOTE:  A special thanks to my sis, CountryRoads, and bro, SkyKing, for the use of some of their pix!

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