Ellis, KS
Winding down on the Blogging from A to Z.
This blog is about me, enough of me. Today is "Y" day and I want it about YOU.
Give us all a short bio please. Curious minds want to know!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
W is for Weather!
Ellis, KS
Maybe it's because we are in Kansas, but I chose WEATHER as my W Word. We've really seen some "Weather" since we started on the road in February 2010.
This is one scene we are glad we missed. Only two days after we left NJ, this is what our former house looked like.
Daughter and son-in-law had to shovel this mess to get to their car and THEN shovel the driveway. They now have a snow blower. No heavy accumulation since, of course.
We have not seen snow like that fortunately. The only snow we saw was in Arizona last February. This was taken at the military cemetery at Fort Huachuca near Sierra Vista. This snow arrived and left the same day.
We spent last Spring dodging tornadoes in OK, MO, AR, and MS. We went back to NJ for a spell last two summers. Daughter and son-in-law had a yard party the summer before last. This is son-in-laws band set up with the storm quickly approaching.
This is the AFTER picture. About two miles away were 7 telephone poles in a row were tumbled. Perhaps a small tornado?
In September we went to Rhode Island for a NOMADS project. As a Hurricane Irene was expected to hit that area, we went inland about 300 miles to the Pocono region of PA. Got hit there too. The stream behind our rig before the hurricane:
And after.
We returned to the RI project to find no electric for one week and loads of trees down. For one week, we worked on clean up.
Again this spring we are in "Tornado Alley" Last week while in Oakley we had rain, high winds and then some beautiful sights.
This looked like it could be the formation of a tornado just east of us.
After it passed we saw this double rainbow. It remained in the sky longer than any rainbow I've even seen.
As the sun set this was the view:
Snow, tornadoes, hurricanes. We still keep traveling down the road.
Any weather related stories from our blogging friends?
Maybe it's because we are in Kansas, but I chose WEATHER as my W Word. We've really seen some "Weather" since we started on the road in February 2010.
This is one scene we are glad we missed. Only two days after we left NJ, this is what our former house looked like.
Daughter and son-in-law had to shovel this mess to get to their car and THEN shovel the driveway. They now have a snow blower. No heavy accumulation since, of course.
We have not seen snow like that fortunately. The only snow we saw was in Arizona last February. This was taken at the military cemetery at Fort Huachuca near Sierra Vista. This snow arrived and left the same day.
We spent last Spring dodging tornadoes in OK, MO, AR, and MS. We went back to NJ for a spell last two summers. Daughter and son-in-law had a yard party the summer before last. This is son-in-laws band set up with the storm quickly approaching.
This is the AFTER picture. About two miles away were 7 telephone poles in a row were tumbled. Perhaps a small tornado?
In September we went to Rhode Island for a NOMADS project. As a Hurricane Irene was expected to hit that area, we went inland about 300 miles to the Pocono region of PA. Got hit there too. The stream behind our rig before the hurricane:
And after.
We returned to the RI project to find no electric for one week and loads of trees down. For one week, we worked on clean up.
Again this spring we are in "Tornado Alley" Last week while in Oakley we had rain, high winds and then some beautiful sights.
This looked like it could be the formation of a tornado just east of us.
After it passed we saw this double rainbow. It remained in the sky longer than any rainbow I've even seen.
As the sun set this was the view:
Snow, tornadoes, hurricanes. We still keep traveling down the road.
Any weather related stories from our blogging friends?
Friday, April 27, 2012
V= Valley
Ellis, KS
Yesterday we took a drive seeing the sights of the Smoky VALLEY Scenic Byway. Okay, I know that is pushing it - but give me a break. Valley DOES start with V.
Kansas has designated many such scenic byways. This one started in WaKeeney south on Rt. 283, east of rt 4 and north on 147 back to Ogallah, a total of only about 60 miles. The byway winds through mixed-grass and short-grass prairies. Most of what is seen is farmland. The Scenic Byway is filled with abundant history of the westward bound pioneers.
There are few structures along the route making those few very evident. This is Zion Lutheran Church built in 1920 by German immigrants. There are still services held in this church. There are no other buildings for miles around.
Wilcox School House is listed on the State and National register of historic places. It is one of the last remaining rural school houses in the area. Apparently much needed repairs are being made.
Four and a half miles off the paved road is Cedar Bluff Scenic Overlook.
A rugged gravel road leads to the top of the 100 ft high cedar-covered bluff. The overlooks offers a spectacular view of the area and is supposed to be a good spot to see wildlife. We saw none here but a short ride later saw 4 mule deer and then a little later 9 white tail deer.
Along the route is Cedar Bluff State Park. We pulled into the park entrance but found it would cost $15.00 to enter. As we would not be using the park, just driving around, we turned around and headed back on the Byway.
We went off the paved road again in search of Threshing Machine Canyon but could not find it. In 1867 Native Americans attacked a wagon train that was transporting a threshing machine to Utah. Names of pioneers are carved into the limestone bluffs dating back to the mid 1800's and are still visible. We thought there would be signs directing us but didn't find them either.
Emanuel Lutheran Church was established by early settlers from Sweden and was build in 1905 of native limestone quarried near Threshing Machine Canyon. A small congregation still uses the church. Again, no other visible structures in sight.
As we travel through Kansas for another 11 days, we plan on driving a few more of their Scenic Byways. Looking forward to it!
Yesterday we took a drive seeing the sights of the Smoky VALLEY Scenic Byway. Okay, I know that is pushing it - but give me a break. Valley DOES start with V.
Kansas has designated many such scenic byways. This one started in WaKeeney south on Rt. 283, east of rt 4 and north on 147 back to Ogallah, a total of only about 60 miles. The byway winds through mixed-grass and short-grass prairies. Most of what is seen is farmland. The Scenic Byway is filled with abundant history of the westward bound pioneers.
There are few structures along the route making those few very evident. This is Zion Lutheran Church built in 1920 by German immigrants. There are still services held in this church. There are no other buildings for miles around.
Wilcox School House is listed on the State and National register of historic places. It is one of the last remaining rural school houses in the area. Apparently much needed repairs are being made.
Four and a half miles off the paved road is Cedar Bluff Scenic Overlook.
A rugged gravel road leads to the top of the 100 ft high cedar-covered bluff. The overlooks offers a spectacular view of the area and is supposed to be a good spot to see wildlife. We saw none here but a short ride later saw 4 mule deer and then a little later 9 white tail deer.
Along the route is Cedar Bluff State Park. We pulled into the park entrance but found it would cost $15.00 to enter. As we would not be using the park, just driving around, we turned around and headed back on the Byway.
We went off the paved road again in search of Threshing Machine Canyon but could not find it. In 1867 Native Americans attacked a wagon train that was transporting a threshing machine to Utah. Names of pioneers are carved into the limestone bluffs dating back to the mid 1800's and are still visible. We thought there would be signs directing us but didn't find them either.
Emanuel Lutheran Church was established by early settlers from Sweden and was build in 1905 of native limestone quarried near Threshing Machine Canyon. A small congregation still uses the church. Again, no other visible structures in sight.
As we travel through Kansas for another 11 days, we plan on driving a few more of their Scenic Byways. Looking forward to it!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
U= Unusual (could have been Q for Quirky)
Ellis, KS
In our two plus years of being on the road, we've seen some unusual things. Such as:
Beautful glass gown at the Corning Glass Musuem in Corning NY.
Small outside scuptures at Ava Maria Grotto in Cullman, AL
Round Barn near Oklahoma City
Large roadrunner statute along the highway somewhere in SE SOuth Dakota.
"Space Age" resturant and motel in Gila Bend, AZ
Classic cars left to rust along Rt 66 in New Mexico.
Rock frog on the road between Congress and Prescott, AZ
How many of these have you seen?
In our two plus years of being on the road, we've seen some unusual things. Such as:
Beautful glass gown at the Corning Glass Musuem in Corning NY.
Small outside scuptures at Ava Maria Grotto in Cullman, AL
Round Barn near Oklahoma City
Large roadrunner statute along the highway somewhere in SE SOuth Dakota.
"Space Age" resturant and motel in Gila Bend, AZ
Classic cars left to rust along Rt 66 in New Mexico.
Rock frog on the road between Congress and Prescott, AZ
How many of these have you seen?
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
T = Terri
Ellis, KS
This morning we moved about 75 miles east on I 70 to Ellis, Ks. We are parked at a small city campground right on a small lake. Temperature expected to reach 98!
Today I dedicate my Blogging from A to Z to my younger daughter Terrianne Kristin.
She is the caretaker of the family. If anyone has a need, she is the first one there. Even though Terri is definitely a Type A personality, she has a heart of gold.
I sometimes question her rational thinking as she followed her mother in her chosen field - Human Resources. At one time she wanted to be a Pastry Chef and is a graduate of the Restaurant School in Philadelphia. She was doing well in that field but soon realized that money just was not there until a chef is well established.
So she took some entry level positions in HR and through a series of jobs, is now a regional HR Manager for an International food processing company that grows and processes chocolate throughout the world. She oversees three facilities: one in Pa, one in NJ and one a North Carolina. A big benefit is she gets to travel to Switzerland and Germany every year.
Here she is opening one of her favorite Christmas gifts!
She and her hubby, Steve, enjoy visiting wineries when they travel. Speaking of travel, this is her coming out of a wee building in Scotland that was outside a Cathedral.
Family and friends mean a great deal to Terri. She and Steve have a great a circle of friends which she loves to entertain at our old house in NJ which she bought. She always prepares so much food that her guests knew to bring their Tupperware for the leftovers. She felt bad that they had to bring their own containers so she now keeps a supply of hinged Styrofoam take-out containers.
This is Terri with the two top men in her life: Son Justin and Husband Steve.
Smart, caring, dedicated, ambitious, generous - That's our Terri!
This morning we moved about 75 miles east on I 70 to Ellis, Ks. We are parked at a small city campground right on a small lake. Temperature expected to reach 98!
Today I dedicate my Blogging from A to Z to my younger daughter Terrianne Kristin.
She is the caretaker of the family. If anyone has a need, she is the first one there. Even though Terri is definitely a Type A personality, she has a heart of gold.
I sometimes question her rational thinking as she followed her mother in her chosen field - Human Resources. At one time she wanted to be a Pastry Chef and is a graduate of the Restaurant School in Philadelphia. She was doing well in that field but soon realized that money just was not there until a chef is well established.
So she took some entry level positions in HR and through a series of jobs, is now a regional HR Manager for an International food processing company that grows and processes chocolate throughout the world. She oversees three facilities: one in Pa, one in NJ and one a North Carolina. A big benefit is she gets to travel to Switzerland and Germany every year.
Here she is opening one of her favorite Christmas gifts!
She and her hubby, Steve, enjoy visiting wineries when they travel. Speaking of travel, this is her coming out of a wee building in Scotland that was outside a Cathedral.
Family and friends mean a great deal to Terri. She and Steve have a great a circle of friends which she loves to entertain at our old house in NJ which she bought. She always prepares so much food that her guests knew to bring their Tupperware for the leftovers. She felt bad that they had to bring their own containers so she now keeps a supply of hinged Styrofoam take-out containers.
This is Terri with the two top men in her life: Son Justin and Husband Steve.
Smart, caring, dedicated, ambitious, generous - That's our Terri!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
S X 3
Oakley, KS
Today's "S" topic is about three S's. Son-in-laws, Scott and Steve
My daughters are each married to an S man.
Scott is married to my older daughter Amy. They live in a very rural part of Maryland and have two children, Charlotte and Abby. Amy and Scott are both archaeologists and met while working on a project.
I remember Amy coming home and remarking about meeting a man at the site who was looking for a girlfriend. The next thing I know, we were meeting that young man - Scott. They were married a few years later.
This is an ideal match. They both have a love of nature and history. They both are avid readers and are teaching their little ones the joys of our natural world and books.
Scott is actively involved in the girls lives. When possible he attends their school or daycare functions.
He spends quality time with each girl. Scott grew up in Delaware and returns some weekends to attend to family business. He will usually take one of the girls so to spend time with each one alone. We laugh because the girls will argue on whose turn it is to go to the local recycling center with him on Saturday mornings. They think this is a real treat.
Often when we visit, Amy, Len and I will sit around the dining room table after dinner while Scott cleans up the kitchen and gets the girls ready for bed or whatever else needs to be done.
Looking at pictures I have of Scott, I find I have none downloaded on the compter of him and Amy or him and Abby. These are of Scott and Charlotte. I will have to remember that when we next visit.
Steve is married to our younger daughter Terri. Steve is in Sales (another S) and is a musician. He is the lead guitarist and singer (still another S) in a country band. That is how he and Terri met. She loves to dance and there he was. This is the best picture I have of him with the band. It is dark so difficult to see. I know there is a way to lighten it, but I don't know how.
Terri and Steve married a little over 2 1/2 years ago. They bought our New Jersey house and love to entertain as we did.
Steve is extremely talented. He is an excellent drummer. I've been told by other drummers he is the best in the South Jersey area. By far his band is the best in the area as he has a remarkable voice. Listen to Steve at www.4-wheeldriveband.com
A few years back we vacationed in Scotland with Steve and Terri. This picture was taken there.
Terri loves to socialize and Steve fits right in. She, too, has a husband who complements her personality. I especially appreciate that Steve has a good relationship with Terri's son, our oldest grandson Justin.
Both Scott and Steve are good husbands and Son-in-Laws. Today's blog is dedicated to these fine young men.
Today's "S" topic is about three S's. Son-in-laws, Scott and Steve
My daughters are each married to an S man.
Scott:
Scott is married to my older daughter Amy. They live in a very rural part of Maryland and have two children, Charlotte and Abby. Amy and Scott are both archaeologists and met while working on a project.
I remember Amy coming home and remarking about meeting a man at the site who was looking for a girlfriend. The next thing I know, we were meeting that young man - Scott. They were married a few years later.
This is an ideal match. They both have a love of nature and history. They both are avid readers and are teaching their little ones the joys of our natural world and books.
Scott is actively involved in the girls lives. When possible he attends their school or daycare functions.
He spends quality time with each girl. Scott grew up in Delaware and returns some weekends to attend to family business. He will usually take one of the girls so to spend time with each one alone. We laugh because the girls will argue on whose turn it is to go to the local recycling center with him on Saturday mornings. They think this is a real treat.
Often when we visit, Amy, Len and I will sit around the dining room table after dinner while Scott cleans up the kitchen and gets the girls ready for bed or whatever else needs to be done.
Looking at pictures I have of Scott, I find I have none downloaded on the compter of him and Amy or him and Abby. These are of Scott and Charlotte. I will have to remember that when we next visit.
Steve
Steve is married to our younger daughter Terri. Steve is in Sales (another S) and is a musician. He is the lead guitarist and singer (still another S) in a country band. That is how he and Terri met. She loves to dance and there he was. This is the best picture I have of him with the band. It is dark so difficult to see. I know there is a way to lighten it, but I don't know how.
Terri and Steve married a little over 2 1/2 years ago. They bought our New Jersey house and love to entertain as we did.
Steve is extremely talented. He is an excellent drummer. I've been told by other drummers he is the best in the South Jersey area. By far his band is the best in the area as he has a remarkable voice. Listen to Steve at www.4-wheeldriveband.com
A few years back we vacationed in Scotland with Steve and Terri. This picture was taken there.
Terri loves to socialize and Steve fits right in. She, too, has a husband who complements her personality. I especially appreciate that Steve has a good relationship with Terri's son, our oldest grandson Justin.
Both Scott and Steve are good husbands and Son-in-Laws. Today's blog is dedicated to these fine young men.
Monday, April 23, 2012
R= Rich
Oakley, KS
Everyone has their own idea on what makes a person "rich". We sure do hear about it a lot now in our political climate.
I can remember as a young wife and mother thinking once we could afford to buy butter instead of oleo we would have it made. Then I thought, okay we have butter now but anyone who can afford to buy fresh flowers for the house all year long is "rich". Funny, even when we could afford to, I never did.
I have always been on the conservative side when it comes to managing our finances. Many years ago after Leonard and I married, we decided to use the services of a financial planner. All the planning in the world does not prevent those unexpected expenses but having a long range plan has assisted us in our current situation.
I always wanted a large home filled with antiques. In 1992 we brought an old farmhouse built in 1850 that had a large 15 year old great room addition.
A couple of years later we added another room upstairs for my office, a Three-season room to the back of the house and later a deck.
The house sits on a little over two acres and is completely surrounded on all four sides by a large nursery. I felt truly rich. We entertained a lot. At our annual yard party we had up to 140 guests. I loved this house and feel blessed that we lived in it for 17 years. I cherish the richness of the memories.
As we started to think about retiring we knew we would downsize. And downside we did.
We have no debt and some money in the bank. But what really makes us rich are the experiences and memories we are gathering, the love of family and friends, the love of our Lord and our commitment to each other. We are indeed "rich".
What makes you rich?
Everyone has their own idea on what makes a person "rich". We sure do hear about it a lot now in our political climate.
I can remember as a young wife and mother thinking once we could afford to buy butter instead of oleo we would have it made. Then I thought, okay we have butter now but anyone who can afford to buy fresh flowers for the house all year long is "rich". Funny, even when we could afford to, I never did.
I have always been on the conservative side when it comes to managing our finances. Many years ago after Leonard and I married, we decided to use the services of a financial planner. All the planning in the world does not prevent those unexpected expenses but having a long range plan has assisted us in our current situation.
I always wanted a large home filled with antiques. In 1992 we brought an old farmhouse built in 1850 that had a large 15 year old great room addition.
A couple of years later we added another room upstairs for my office, a Three-season room to the back of the house and later a deck.
The house sits on a little over two acres and is completely surrounded on all four sides by a large nursery. I felt truly rich. We entertained a lot. At our annual yard party we had up to 140 guests. I loved this house and feel blessed that we lived in it for 17 years. I cherish the richness of the memories.
As we started to think about retiring we knew we would downsize. And downside we did.
We have no debt and some money in the bank. But what really makes us rich are the experiences and memories we are gathering, the love of family and friends, the love of our Lord and our commitment to each other. We are indeed "rich".
What makes you rich?
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