Year 2011

We just got back from our weekend getaway in Cynthiana, KY at the annual Raggedy Ann & Andy festival. We had such a Raggedy good time visiting with all of our Raggedy pals! In attendance were Charles & Cheryl Platt from Raggedy Land and their friend Monica, Jannell Crosley & Hubby, Holly Nolan & Hubs, Pat Bowers & Hubs, Robyn Amato & Hubby, Erika Pierce and Mother and Renee Frantzen and Hubby along with many others.  If anyone has photos from this trip that they would like to share please send an e-mail to RaggedyBecca@aol.com .  Below is my story of events from the festival.  "Blessed are those with Raggedy Friends."  Becca Miller

We arrived in Cynthiana, KY around 3:00 PM on Friday.  My family and I live here in Kentucky...we are about two hours from Cynthiana...not far but Junior and I wanted to get away for the weekend.  We stayed at the Side Saddle Inn...our room was lovely.  We lounged around our room on Friday until it was time to meet at Biancke's Restaurant for our Raggedy dinner.  The photos shown above and below are Raggedy window displays we passed as we were arriving at the restaruant.

My family and I were the first to arrive at the restaurant.  Shortly after Renee Frantzen and her husband joined us.  Pretty soon the entire Raggedy gang had arrived!

Pictured in this photo are Cheryl and Charles Platt from Raggedy Land and friend Monica.

There was a bit of confusion with our seating arrangement...the restaurant was very busy...but we didn't let that spoil our Raggedy good time.  Soon we were seated in a room all to ourselves.  I could feel the history in the room...the building after all was antique.  Raggedy chatter began as soon as we were all seated.  Laughter and smiling faces were abound!

Pictured in the photo above are Jannell Crosley and husband, Renee Frantzen and hubby and Holly and her husband Mike.

There was so much laughter around the table Friday night...I know that everyone had a wonderful evening!  We arrived at the restaurant at 6:30 PM and no one began leaving until after 9:00 PM.

Pictured above are Robyn Amoto and hubs, and Pat Bowers and hubby.  Robyn handed out the cutest Raggedy Ann bottle cap magnets...Thanks Robyn!

After such a fun night my family and I went back to our room at the Side Saddle Inn for some rest.  I was looking forward to a good nights sleep on the king size temperpedic mattress on our bed!  I had hoped to fall fast asleep with thoughts of Raggedy Ann dancing in my head.  My good hopes were spoiled by a sleepless night.  I was allergic to the detergent that our bed linens were laundered in.  I finally fell to sleep around 4 AM.  My sleepless night didn't effect my mood Saturday morning...I was happy to be in Cynthiana at the Raggedy Ann & Andy festival among wonderful Raggedy friends.

The weather Saturday was very cool and wet.  Yes...we all wished that the weather had been sunny and warm...but everyone seemed happy to be there.  We dressed my son, Forest, as Raggedy Andy for the festival.  He was sooooooooooooooo cute....the cutest Raggedy Andy you ever did see!  tee hee!  We brought my son's radio flyer wagon to pull him around in.  Everyone we passed "awwwwww'ed" at my son!  You couldn't look at him without smiling.  He brought some sunshine to Cynthiana that Saturday!

We made one round at the festival and decided to take shelter at Biancke's restaurant...we feared it was much too cool and wet for my son to be outside for long.  Inside Biancke's we were soon joined by Holly and her hubby Mike, Jannell and hubby, and Pat and her hubs.  I'm a real java nut and hadn't had my coffee fix that morning...thus I ordered coffee and dessert.  The coffee was good and I have to say that was the best blackberry cobbler I have ever had!  Yummie!

My son took a short nap while at the restaurant.  After he woke Holly came over and entertained him for a while.  Holly is such a dear Raggedy friend as is her husband Mike.  During our last move I lost my entire collection of Raggedy books.  I haven't a clue what happened to them.  On this trip dear Holly gifted me the entire collection of Raggedy Ann & Andy Grow & Learn books!  I hope she knows how much her kindess is appreciated!  Raggedy people truly are the kindest people in the whole world!

After leaving Biancke's Restaurant we visited Cheryl and Charles Platt of Raggedy Land at the festival.  I purchased a few items from their tent before heading back to our room at the Side Saddle Inn.  I really wish that I could share with you more details about the festival...but my son is only 17 months old and it was much too cool and wet to have him outdoors for long.  There was talk about having the Cynthiana Raggedy Ann & Andy festival "indoors" next year.

While at the festival someone gave my son a balloon...goodness...I do believe that balloon kept him entertained in our room for the remainder of the trip.

Pictured are Forest and his Daddy (Junior).

When we arrived back at our room from the festival it was still pretty early...the Saturday night dinner wouldn't be for several more hours.  So we all got into our PJ's and watched movies as we relaxed and played on our king size bed!  Forest played with his green balloon endlessly!

The Side Saddle Inn resides on a horse farm.  There are several recreational activities to do outdoors however the weather didn't permit any this year.  We plan to stay at the Inn again next year...hopefully we can view the farm and do some fishing!

Soon enough it was time to start getting ready for the Saturday night dinner.  The dinner was at 6:30 PM...same hour as the Friday night dinner.  I brought two dolls with me on this trip...an Ann & Andy set that I had made several years ago from a "Dinky" pattern.  I brought them with me to the Saturday night dinner...thought I would do a little "show and tell."  The dolls are adorable with their bright orange hair and chubby smiling faces.  Everyone seemed to like them. 

Everyone was very happy that Erika Peirce and her mother decided to attend the festival after all.  When Erika and her mother arrived at the dinner there was a bit of Raggedy cheer in the room.  Same as Friday night...smiles and laughter were abound at this Saturday night dinner.  We were all happy and lighthearted...much like children!  Dumb dolls?  I must have missed the convo about "dumb dolls" but everytime someone quoted it everyone began laughing.  Please someone do let me in on the humor?

Shown in this photo are Jannell & hubs, Robyn & husband, Pat & hubby, Cheryl & Charles, Erika & Mother and my hubby Junior.

Niether Cheryl & Charles Platt shown above or Holly & Mike Nolan shown below could resist my little boy!  He was passed back and forth like a bag of sugar...sugar cause he's so sweet!

Mike & Holly spoiled my son just a bit.  My son loved pushing the buttons on Mike's chair.  Having my baby with us on this trip wasn't easy...he is 17 months old and is into everything at this stage.  We take him with us everywhere...I have never left him over night.  My Raggedy friends really helped tend to my son and I know they enjoyed having him around.

I really enjoyed spending time with Pat Bowers and her sweet husband.  We shared lots of laughs but I believe we both teared up a few times as well.  Pat sweetie YOU ARE GOING TO BEAT THIS!  I am so happy that we got to spend time together.  I can't wait to see Pat in Arcola!

Jannell Crosley is pictured in this photo.  Jannell is a special lady and a wonderful Raggedy friend.  I always looks forward to seeing Jannell and Holly...they are dear to my heart.  I can't wait to see Jannell again in Arcola!  June is just around the corner!

Pictured in this photo are Robyn & husband and Erika & Mother.  It was so nice getting to know these two Raggedy gals better this year.  Erika is a woman of many many talents...I enjoy her art the most.  I can tell that Robyn is quite crafty herself....thanks so much for the Raggedy Bottle cap magnet Robyn!  I hope that everyone enjoyed the musical soundtract CD Raggedy Ann & Andy A Musical Adventure I handed out.

Cheryl & Charles Platt contribute so much to our Raggedy community.  I hope that they know how much I and all Raggedy enthusiast appreciate it.  Our little Raggedy world wouldn't be the same without this Raggedy pair!

After the dinner was over we all said our good byes and gave lots of Raggedy hugs!  Most everyone that attended the Cynthiana festival will also be attending the Arcola, IL Raggedy Ann Friendship Gathering.

After leaving the Saturday night dinner we went back to our room at the Side Saddle Inn...we took our baths...made sure we washed behind our ears...and brushed our teeth!

Then Mommy read Forest a story and we all went to bed with thoughts of our friend Raggedy Ann dancing in our heads!

The End!