Sugarplum Trees

When Dot and I met at Walmart a few weeks ago to start our project, we each had our own visions of Sugarplums dancing in our heads. But inspiration and cooperation resulted in our agreement to purchase a four foot tall tree in an urn and a dozen small, golden, bird ornaments. Our plan was to let the theme of the tree evolve as we made additional purchases.

Hobby Lobby's advertisement of 40% off Christmas floral and ribbon, inspired me to grab an assortment of red and gold colored stems, picks and ribbon to get us started. Then Dot invited our niece Lori to get a matching tree and join us in the project. Dot also suggested that each of us select decorations on our own without consulting the other two. We decided that what we didn't use on our Sugarplum tree, we could use ourselves. My advice to all was to look for glitz...to which Dot responded with a theme suggestion we all loved...."Puttin' on the Glitz."

After two decorating sessions, my craft room was covered with glitter and hot glue residue and the two trees were covered with Dot's big white flowers, Lori's sparkly stems and my gold florals. Beautiful!

However, neither Dot nor I were satisfied. We separately arrived at the same conclusion...we needed more glitz!!

So, we each purchased more stuff and met for a third time. Since niece Lori was busy painting at her new house, we didn't tell her that we were adding glitz to the trees. She had been a little worried earlier that we were putting on too much stuff but Dot and I are certain she will like what we added. I hope others like our trees enough to bid $$$$ for them to benefit the Albrecht-Kemper Art Museum.

Missouri Western Homecoming

Homecoming went fine until rain cancelled the parade Saturday morning. However, events that started on Thursday continued smoothly throughout the week-end because Missouri Western staff members moved quickly to adjust plans....and provide umbrellas.

Distinguished alumni (including ME!!) were recognized Thursday at a dinner held in the alumni center at the University. My family....Kelly, Rodney, Andrew and Adam (and their friends Elizabeth and Heather).... made a special trip from Kansas to attend. Sister Dot, Bro-in-Law Barney and my long-time friends Joyce Edwards and Mary Elder were there along with Council member Joyce Starr, her husband Francis, Mayor Bill, and city manager Bruce Woody and his wife.

Friday evening, university president Bob Vartibidian and his wife Laurel invited the Distinguished Alum to dinner at their house prior to the bon fire on campus. We bonded over pork loin and cheesecake. (OK...we had some cocktails also.) By the time we arrived at the football field for introductions, we DA (Distintuished Alumni) had become a real GROUP.*cheers*

We all met at Norty's Saturday morning for breakfast. *yum* Several people checked the weather radar on their cell phones as we ate, so we were aware of extreme conditions in our area. But we forged ahead....onto a shuttle....to the staging area of the parade. We got off the bus and huddled under umbrellas while rain drenched us, the Homecoming royaly in their tux and formals, the cheerleaders, and the floats. When lightning flashed, the police and the university agreed that the parade had been rained on and we were disbanded.

However, the alumi stadium tailgate party was still on, just at a different location...in the student union building. Any student on campus was invited to have hamburgers, hot dogs and chili. Oh, yes, those folks at the university know how to tailgate. Again, we Alum had a time to bond before we went over to the stadium to be introduced before the football game.

What a great week-end. I had so much fun!!