Nebraska

I am in Nebraska and enjoying every minute.  Great state to visit and spend some time in.  I am going to be writing about the places I have seen and posting pictures.  Since I doubt if I will have internet for while I will be spreading out my stories over the next few days.

We are alive and well.  For those that asked thanks. 

We are staying in a nice park outside of Lincoln.  Beautiful setting, swimming pool, hot tub....  It also has a very nice shower.  I was thoroughly enjoying it until a lady came in and was yelling hello, hello.... then there was a pause followed by a loud scream.  Taking a shower is a very vulnerable time - think about the movie Psycho.  The lady was fortunate that I didn't come out of there swinging my shower bag.  She apologized and ran out of the door before I could pull on my clothes.  I wanted to throttle her.

Other than that the days have been fun and unexciting.

Later.

Troy and White Cloud Kansas

Today mom and I drove the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway. It began in Leavenworth Kansas and ends 63 miles later in northeast Kansas. Some of the towns we saw today were Atchison, Leavenworth, Troy, and White Cloud.

The byway was named Glacial Hills because glaciers once covered the northeast corner of Kansas. When the glaciers receded north, they left behind a unique landscape of rolling, wooded hills, rock-strewn soil and valleys with clear, running streams.

Since we already explored Atchison Kansas we made a quick stop at the visitor center to purcharse a pin and browse the brochures. Mom and I decided not to put a map on the outside of the van to show folks where we have been. Instead we buy souvenir pins of the states and places we have been. I purchased some adia cloth and created a banner to display them.

From Atchison we traveled to Troy Kansas to walk the downtown and to see "Tall Oak" a sculpture created by Peter Wolf Toth.  Troy is also famous as being the only town in the state of Kansas that Abraham Lincoln visited and gave a speech. It is reported that the Troy speech was a trail run of his Cooper Union speech in New York.

From Troy we drove to White Cloud Kansas. White Cloud was named for James White Cloud, son of Chief White Cloud of the Iowa Tribe. In its heyday the population was over 2,000. Today the population is below 300. White Cloud is featured in episode 4 of the 2008 television documentary Stephen Fry in America. Some scenes from the 1973 movie, Paper Moon, were filmed in White Cloud. White Cloud is also famous because in 1910, ten-year old Wilbur Chapman sold a prized pig to raise money for a leper colony. Coin savings banks were created in the shape of pigs, manufactured, and sold, resulting in the origination of the "Piggy Bank" as we know it today.

White Cloud today is known for its many historic buildings; in fact the entire downtown district has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately time is running out on several buildings. We ate a very late lunch by the river. Mom was getting tired so we found a RV park with amenities. Tomorrow has 50% chance of thunderstorms or as mom likes to say "50% chance of sunshine.” If mom is right we will be heading to Hiawatha and then into Nebraska.


Troy Kansas

White Cloud Kansas

Dear Abbie

I received a letter today from Annie who now has the name of Abbie.   Her new people love her very much and she has turned into quite a character.  She is living in the state of Iowa and will return to Arizona in the winter.  She has godparents that will take her if anything should happen to her new people and she just raved about them as well.  I thought I would never hear or see her again and I was so surprised to receive this letter and the pictures.  Of course I will be writing her back.   She also has an email address.  She is a techno puppy!!!


Today was such a nice day.  My son, Scott came up from Tucson for a mini vacation and we had a cook out.  Ribs, brisket, and salmon.  It was delicious.  We also decided to celebrate Scott and Robert's birthday and Hannah's graduation.

Hannah and her beau ordered a new fifth wheel and bought a new truck to pull it so the trip to Kentucky was postponed until next year.  The fifth wheel is being made as I typed this.  It is 40 feet long and is quite roomy.  They are hoping to live in it full time.

We are officially back on the road and we have no destination in mind.  Due to the oil spill we decided to stay away from the coast.  Life is good.


Grandpuppies

Ella

Louie

Rose

Bernie

Give Me The Ball!!!!!!!!!!!

The Family

and finally great advice I gave my son......

Pond Song

Floral arrangement on the table.

Hannah and Robert's pond - An Unknown Pond Flower

 This is the proud parent of a couple hundred tadpoles - along with his mate they sing lullabies to their children.

I am amazed the "yard nazi" aka HOA lady hasn't tried to evict them due to the singing.  Lullabies don't have quiet hours.....

Atchison Kansas - Mt Vernon Cemetery

In the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing and the sky is clear and red.
When the summer’s ceased its gleaming,
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure’s lost its meaning,
I’ll be homeward bound in time.
Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.
If you find it’s me you're missing, if you’re hoping I’ll return.
To your thoughts I’ll soon be list’ning, and in the road I’ll stop and turn.
Then the wind will set me racing as my journey nears its end.
And the path I’ll be retracing when I’m homeward bound again.
Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.
In the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing, I’ll be homeward bound again.

Marta Keen

Something funny along the way.....

Yes

We are still with my daughter and we are waiting for my son, Scott to join us on Friday.  We plan to have a BBQ.  Saturday is the day we will take off for Kentucky.  Come hell or high water.

Today Hannah and I decided to face on of our fears.  We donated blood.   I have an unbelievable fear of needles and I don't like the sight of blood either..... especially my own.  When I was working in an office, we were allowed one to two hours off to donated blood.  I was one of the very few that stayed behind.  Today that all changed we went down to the local blood bank and did it.  It wasn't bad because I wasn't watching.  Hannah was getting a little peaked but we did it and I am proud of us.  Yes, I will do it again.  I don't think Hannah will ever do it again. 

I have been trying to get to Hiawatha Kansas and I am going to have to postpone that until our next visit to Kansas.  Atchison Kansas was a great place to visit as well as Weston Missouri.

Oakhill Cemetery Atchison Kansas