HItting the HIgh Spots?

We spent the day in Pulaski County.  Yes, we did.

First we stopped at Family Express in Winamac for gas.  We noticed that gas prices are lower in Lafayette at our favorite pumps at Sam's Club.  We paid $1.82/gal there compared to $2.25 in Delphi but the FE in Winamac was more in the price range at $2.08.

Since we neededto drop off a new bag of cat food, the next stop was Dollar General for that.

Driving past the Edward Jones business, we decided to stop by and visit Sandy before we went to Duane's office.  It was good to see her and just catch up about family news since we saw her on Christmas Eve.

At the Davis Real Estate and Auction office, we went through the paperwork for the closing on the 20 acres, then we moved to the Pulaski County Abstract office to meet with Norman, Arden, Trevor, and Trent Bathke to sign the paperwork to sell our 20 acres at The Farm.  We had actually accepted their offer in late August, but we wanted to wait until 2019 for tax purposes to actually transfer the property and accept their payment.

Following all of the necessary paperwork, I walked to Key Bank to close the one final account I had in the that bank - a CD that I had opened with $1000 Mom had given me as part of Grandma's estate.  I had never touched it, letting it sit in the bank to collect the interest.  We had closed out the checking account, cashed in the other CD we had, and cancelled the credit card, all within the last 18 months.  This was the final connection to Key Bank.  I walked out with a check for the full amount minus $1.35 since we closed it before the maturation date of January 28. 

I had been chatting with Krysten Hinkle on FB recently and since we aren't 'across the field neighbors' anymore, I suggested that we have lunch to catch up.  We met her at a new place, Sublime, which moved into Tippy's old spot.  The salad bar was great, but Gary didn't like the set up - everything was self serve (except the sub sandwiches) on Styrofoam plates and cups and bowls and the utensils were plastic forks and spoons.  The place was full, though, and Krysten saw several people she knew and we knew a few also!

After lunch we drove down 119 to Pulaski, then west on the Francesville-Pulaski blacktop and stopped at the house.  Gary took down a peg board that Dad had made and I found a couple of things I wanted to bring back to our house.

When we drove to Francesville, it just seemed odd to me.  We had driven that road for 42 years, to school, to The Farm, to church in Medaryville, to church in Francesville, to events in both towns.  Now we didn't really 'belong' anymore. 

Kayley Cervenka Kasten bought a baby carrier from Hilary, so the next stop was at Alliance Bank in Francesville.  Coincidentally Wendy called at the same time we pulled up to the bank about signing some paperwork that she would send to us.  Since we were parked across from her office and she was on her way into town, we met there.  We decided to lower the price on the property, signed the forms to do that, and also signed the paperwork to extend our contract with her for another 6 months.  A side perk was being able to see the new baby - who is just so sweet, so cute, and absolutely adorable!

Onward to the north to Lake City Bank in Medaryville to take care of the checks we had received that day, to distribute some money to the savings accounts of Landon, Tessa, Cooper, Owen, and Lynnlee, and to get some cash for the Florida trip.  Of course we visited with Karen too, and there are plans for a trip to Las Vegas in April in the works.

Another gas station stop at the Family Ecpress to cash in our lottery tickets from Christmas.  Gary came out with $11 which is more than we usually get from the scratch offs!

Final stop of the day was actually in White County at the Whistle Stop for an early dinner.  For the first time ever we saw NO ONE that we knew in there. We didn't know the only waitress who was working, the guy who was working in the museum, nor the two people who were already dining when we arrived or the two people who came in just before we left.  Good food though....

As we were waiting for our dinner, Gary gave the rundown for the day:

two gas stations (both Family Express)
three banks (Key, Lake City, and Alliance)
two real estate offices (Davis Realty and Auction, Neihouser Realty)
a financial service (Edward Jones)
two restaurants (Sublime and Whistle Stop)
three towns (Winamac, Francesville, Medaryville)
two sisters (Sandy and Karen)

But the best thing was that when we were pulling out of Whistle Stop, Gary said 'Let's go home'---and he turned south to return to Delphi. 

Because that is where home is.  Now.