December Festivities

 

As usual, December festivities included the Chamber holiday mixer, United Democrats of Northwest Missouri dinner and the Sisters' Party.  

 

Chamber Party

Sister Dot was sick so Barney and I had to go  to the Chamber Party without her. *boo hoo*

Thanksgiving

Because Dot and Barney's home is on the Symphony Holiday Homes tour this year, I had Thanksgiving dinner at my house. Never before in my life had I prepared and hosted a Thanksgiving meal but I had so much fun that I have volunteered to do it again next year, including left-overs on Friday.

Art

 

"My Black Cat" was purchased by a Boehringer scientist who developed a vaccine for cats with diabetes. Makes me happy to know that "my cat" has a good home.

 

 

MWSU Convocation

Doris Kerns Goodwin was the guest speaker at this year's fall convocation at Missouri Western State University. I wasn't able to attend the morning speech but did go to the luncheon. Goodwin is the author of "Team of Rivals," a biography of Abraham Lincoln. The Steven Spielberg film "Lincoln" was based on Goodwin's book. 

 

Cousins Connect

My cousin in California, Donna Joyce Bush Karver, and her husband recently read a book about a Scottish family that immigrated to Utah in the 1800s. Her husband commented that the early McIntyre ancestors may have had a similar experience when coming to the United States. Knowing that I have been researching our family's history, Donna Joyce called me in late September and asked if she could visit me and discover her Missouri roots.

Donna Joyce and I have visited each other in the past so, of course, I said "sure," thinking that she meant to come next year in the spring or summer. But a few days later, she called again to ask when in THIS October would be the best time for her to come. *LOL* Actually, October is the best time to visit Northwest Missouri: crisp, clear mornings, pleasantly warm afternoons, and a hint of chill in the evenings. So, the timing was ideal for Joyce (as she is known in California) to connect with her Missouri cousins (me and sister Dot) and learn about her McIntyre ancestors.

The itinerary for the week focused on local and family history, including a trip to Dearborn, MO where our grandparents lived in the olden days. So, by the end of Donna Joyce's visit, we cousins had reinforced our shared connections.

Julia and Eugene's wedding

 



Cousin Joyce, my friend Joyce, Dorothy, Barney and I attended the re-enactment of the wedding of Julia Comstock and Eugene Field at the Christ Episcopal Church.

Afterwards was a wedding reception/dinner during which the audience tried to solve the mystery of the missing gold jewelry Field had intended to present to his bride.

Barney and Dorothy came to my house later for a drink with Cousin Joyce.

Happy Birthday

Dorothy and Barney helped me celebrate my birthday with dinner Saturday at the Country Club (thank you, Barney) and chocolate cake afterwards (thank you, Dot). On Sunday,the actual date of my birth, I went to a PEO ice cream social and had more chocolate cake as well as a scoop of ice cream. Kelly called Sunday to sing "Happy Birthday."

New Teachers' Lunch

Again I was invited to give a brief welcome at the new teacher's lunch sponsored by the Women's Chamber of Commerce. Among the new staff this year are two of my former students. One is the new Chief Financial Officer for the district and the other left a city inspector position to teach at Hillyard.

Mayor's Arts Awards

Fiftieth anniversary for the Mayor's Arts Awards. This was the first official event I attended as a council member after I was elected in 1998. I haven't missed one since then.

Mark is pictured in the program this year. He is in the one on the upper left and is standing on the far left.

PEO Convention at Tan-Tar-A

Dot and I spent the week-end at Tan-Tar-A with our Missouri PEO sisters. Because Dorothy is our Chapter FL president, she served as a delegate for this state convention. I just went along to support her. Several other FL members made a special trip to southern Missouri for the Sunday meeting because Janet Steury, a member of our chapter, was installed that morning as state president.

Beer Walk

The Allied Arts Beer Walk featured six historic homes near the Wyeth-Tootle mansion which are being restored and renovated by homeowners in the Museum Hill neighborhood. Dorothy and I sampled area beers and food from local vendors as we visited each house.

Barney couldn't attend because he was playing in the Men's Invitational Golf Tournament at the Country Club. Dorothy gave his ticket to a couple standing near us in line for the tour. The couple had stopped by just to see the mansion and were somewhat dismayed to learn that it would cost them $70. We convinced them to take Dorothy's extra ticket, buy one ticket and tour all the homes. We saw them later and learned that they were from Lincoln, Nebraska.

Memorial Day

Dorothy, Barney and I put flowers on our relatives' graves and stopped by Mark's site also.

Junior College Reunion

 

 

Displays of yearbooks dating back to the early 1920s, centerpieces in the JC/MWSU colors, yummy breading-stuffed chicken and assorted desserts, piano and accordian music provided by a current Missouri Western University senior, a spontaneously improvised  vocal performance by 94 year old Dr. Joe Friedman, class of 1939, who had a Broadway singing/acting career in the 1960s, and a video of JC graduates (me included) recalling their experiences at Junior College highlighted this year's reunion luncheon in Spratt Hall on the university campus. 

 

To conclude the luncheon, we were asked to join in singing the Missouri Western alma mater. We all sang along even though none of the JC grads regard this song as ours. The Junior College alma mater either has been lost or never existed.

Students Exhibit

Easter Sisters

As is traditional, Barney took Dorothy and me to brunch at the St. Joseph Country Club. Later, we went to niece Lori and Bill's house to watch our great nieces and great nephews ending their Easter egg hunt. We ended the afternoon at Barney and Dorothy's playing some games on our iPads and having a glass of wine.

Click here for Dorothy's slide show

From dj's 2013 blog

Dressed Up

Kelly, Rodney, Adam and Heather stayed all night Jan, 23 after vistation for Rodney's dad who passed away last Sunday. We stayed up talking until after midnight. I was in the middle of a winter cold so I skipped the Thursday services.

 

As family members hurried out the door, I snapped a few photos.
 

 

 

Albrecht Membership Exhibit

Sister Dot and I again entered the annual membership exhibit and again won first and third places. Dorothy won first place in watercolor with her painting "Schenzhen Teapot." I won third in digital art with "My Black Cat," a digitally altered photo of Lydahlkit, my cat...who really is black.

Although the winners usually buy drinks,we passed on that when we entered the restaurant and saw the number of people we were joining for dinner. Ummmmm....These art awards are not CASH.