Surprise!

After work Friday evening we drove off into the sunset and northwest Kansas to spend the weekend with Arthur's family.  It was a perfect time to travel since we left at 5pm and therefore had two hours of NPR's news show to listen to.  Our other favorite time to travel is Saturday mornings so we can tune into NPR's news quiz show  Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me and word riddle show Tell Me Another which keeps us entertained.  When I was dating Arthur Saturday was a good time to drive to visit so I could enjoy Car Talk.  Anyway, after listening to the news show we had a lively discussion about the news stories.  For the rest of the trip Friday evening and then for a good portion of the trip on Sunday we pulled out our hymnal and had a hymn sing.  We sang all our favorites and got practiced up on all the Easter songs as well. 

On Saturday afternoon we went out to Arthur's sister and brother-in-law's home for a surprise party to celebrate Arthur's mom's birthday.  They have recently put in 4-wheeler trails around their house so we toured the trails going back and forth across the creek.  Arthur's favorite part was getting to pet their basset hound.  We did a little 4-wheeling and then took off on a quick hike down the country roads around their home.  These roads would be great for what I grew up calling boonie-hopping-- fairly rugged, not much traffic, and out in the "middle of nowhere".  There were some good hills and beautiful rolling hills and pastures.  

Dinner was delicious-- BBQ chicken, potatoes, fruit salad, bread, and cake.  All the women in Arthur's family- his sister, mother, grandmothers, etc. are great cooks.  They shower people with love by filling their stomachs.  There have been a few times when I have about popped because of so much "love".  Just observing in the kitchen over the weekend I was amazed by the detail and work these ladies put into meal preparation.  I guess it is a good thing Arthur married me for my love of hiking and not for my cooking skills. 

After dinner we played a rousing game of The Farming Game.  It is very similar to Monopoly where you try to acquire acres of grain, hay, and herds of cattle.  It involves taking out loans from the bank, selling at market value which changes with a roll of the dice, and paying operating expenses.  Arthur was our banker which was great.  I know very few other people who can do mental math for two hours-- let alone enjoy it.  Omnia Vincit Amor.