Ad Astra Per Aspera

meaning: To the Stars with Difficulty. (the KS state motto)

Kansas Fun Fact: Liberal, KS, has an exact replica of the house in The Wizard of Oz.

10-13-11:  On the road to Topeka.  Hard leaving Arkansas.  We both love it there!  But on to the next adventure. And the grandbabies. And the McClintock's. And our cousins and great friends, Linda Sue and Greg.

One of my fave billboards in KS is "Escape to Leavenworth".  Get it?

Passed thru Peculiar, MO (that's odd). One of the ways you can tell you are in Kansas is by the trees and fences that are loaded with plastic Walmart bags. Another good reason to use reusable shopping bags.

Monroe School Bldg

Brown vs BOE

Have you EVER seen a school water fountain this clean?

David says "No Thanks"

We actually lived thru some of these days.  Craziness....

10-14-11:  David and I visited the Brown vs BOE Nat'l Historic Site in the old Monroe school bldg in Topeka. Lots of important history here that sure turned things around.  It all began about the time that David and I were born and was still mighty fresh when we began school in the early 60's. Very good museum.

Kansas State Capitol in Topeka

Abe in front of the Capitol

The Kansa Native American atop the dome

Walkway to the steps

Some of the flowerbed at the Capitol

We also walked around the KS state capitol and took pix. 

10-15-11:  Today in the laundry room at the rv park in Topeka, I met Jamie, who knows a couple we met in San Antonio when we first began traveling: Pinky and June. Jamie and her husband, Jim will be camping at the same campground we will soon go to in El Dorado.

Remember this face, Pinky and June? Small world indeed.

10-17-11:  We got to Smith Center, KS - near the tippy top of Kansas and down the road from Lebanon, KS,  the center of the continental USA - yesterday to get service done on the camper.  This is the home of the Excel factory.  Smith Center is less that 2000 in pop and we know nobody!  Went to breakfast at The Second Cup downtown.  We'd eaten there last time we were here.

I'm an honorary member now!

As we were eating I noticed a plaque on the wall that said "As the Bladder Fills Club".  There was a table of 8-10 gentlemen in the center of the room, so I figured it had to be them. After eating I asked them if they were the Bladder Club.  They immediately began telling me all about themselves. Some had been doing this Bladder Club morning coffee meet for 25 years!! So sweet and so funny.  They bantered back and forth with each other. And teased me about being from TX.  I asked if I could get my pic with them.

My Bladder Gang

They were more than happy to oblige and told us that now we are honorary members of their club!   They told us to look for a book called "Our Boys" at the local Alco store.  They told me that a NYC author wrote it about the Smith Center HS football team - The Redmen. They modestly said that their coffee club is featured in it as well. I told them I'd look for it and if we were still here the next morning, I'd be back for them to autograph the book.

After getting my flu shot at the Smith County Health Center, David and I revisited the Dutch Mill downtown.  It was originally in Reamsville but was moved to Smith Center many years ago by FDR's NYA.

Found out we need to spend one more day due to the camper service, so we got a room at the Buckshot Inn.  Very quaint little motel with a sign in the room warning us NOT to clean wild game in the room. Dang!  There goes our evening.  LOL.

After quietly cleaning our wild game, we went looking for "Our Boys".  The Alco didn't have it. While eating at the Pizza Hut, I asked the young server if he had any suggestions as to where we might find a copy.  He suggested the Heartland Grocery Store and sure 'nuff!  They had it.  A checker for some reason (accent) asked me where I was from and I told her TX.  The cute young fella who was checking behind me said "I'm from Texas, too!" Found out he is from Texarkana!  Again - small world!  His mom is the Bowie County Clerk, Natalie Nichols. He lives up there w/dad.

David got hold of the new book first tonite.  And read it in one sitting.  He said it's really good.  Now, for my David, that translates to "Great book!!!"

Our last breakfast with the Bladder Club -- this year

10-18-11: I could hardly wait to get to The Second Cup this morning.  We got there just after 8:00 a.m. with "Our Boys" in tow.  We enjoyed breakfast with our new Bladder peeps, got their autographs, and heard more stories. They told us more about the author, Joe Drape - who still stays in touch with some of the members.  If all of Smith Center is as awesome as this group, I could live here!!  At the very least, I could come back for a cup of coffee.  This will be a memory David and I will treasure!

Home on the Range Cabin

Home Home on the Range

After the meeting was adjourned (one had to promptly pick up his wife from the beauty shop, others had to - I don't know, maybe it was morning nap time)  David and I visited the Higley Cabin, aka Home on the Range Cabin.

Inside the one-room cabin

West Beaver Creek where the song was written

This is where Dr. Higley lived and wrote the famous song on the banks of the West Beaver Creek in the early 1870's. This song became a sensation when the president at the time said it was his fave.  Enjoyed lunch at the Jiffy Burger.  It was like $3 and some change for a burger, fries, and drink. Haven't seen those prices since Snappy Lunch in Mayberry!

Sunflower field - I'm thinking at the end of its season

Sunflowers as far as the eye could see

Milo in northern KS

Beautiful day and beautiful landscapes full of post-season sunflowers, milo crops, and farmers at work.

Set up at El Dorado, KS State Park

Doug and Sheila's cabin at Santa Fe Lake

Doug and Sheila

10-20-11:  Got to El Dorado State Park yesterday.  Visited Doug/Sheila's awesome new cabin at Santa Fe Lake and headed over Mac's to help him eat some Flying Pig BBQ. Yum.  Rec'd an email from Ivan, from the As the Bladder Fills Club.  Evidently, he is editor and publisher of Smith Center's EchoEcho weekly newsletter.  Not only did I love reading his comments about our visit, but I now feel like Smith Center residents are long-time friends.  I'm reading "Our Boys" now and have a hankering to google their Friday night games!

Asher

Grandpa (this is really why we go to the playground)

Andrew - Electrifying!

10-21-11:  Justin and the boys came out to the campground.  They have grown soooo much!  Well, not Justin, but Andrew and Asher have!  And so entertaining and sweet!  Little Asher asked me right off the bat if we had been in "Chackamooga".  We played (and played) at the playground.

Andrew, Asher, and Justin - ready to roll

Catching up with Grammy

Did some bike riding.

From the dam hill

Throwing rocks into the "rocky lake" - El Dorado Lake

Is Asher a lefty??

Hiking down the hill and talking to Kathy

Walked up the dam hill.

Grammy's boys

At the end of the hike -- see where I left the walking stick?

through the woods we go

da boys

throwing acorns into the Walnut River

Walnut River

Hiked in the woods. Grandpa David grilled burgers for a picnic.

Bikers!  Note the Sturgis shirt

More playground

Where are my people???

More playground time.  Wonderful, wonderful day!

Walking off the stress of the game!

railroad tunnel on the bike path

10-22-11:  Watched our Razorbacks barely beat Ole Miss. Whew!

Linda Sue and Mr Biggles at Botanica

Linda Sue at the Children's Garden at Botanica

Bec at Botanica

Can you identify what kind of tree this is?

10-24-11:  Linda Sue took me to Botanica where she volunteers once a week.  Loved it. The Children's Garden is great.  So many things about nature that the kiddos can learn in a hands-on experience.  Gotta go back there with our boys (not the book) sometime! Linda Sue pointed out that the tree has a gleam in his eye while I'm there with him.  I've still got it!

10-25-11:  While David ran errands, Rocky and I spent the whole day outside - well, except for a few walks back and forth to the laundry room.  So gorgeous and windy outside.  Oh, how I'd love a clothesline on days like this!

Happy Day!

Diamond for an anniversary? pshhhh....

10-28-11:  David -- I think you're a keeper. In 1988, we dated for 7 weeks, went and got the kids and us a new pair of jeans, Laura and me bouquets of flowers, and went downtown to the JP and got married.  We still say if we had it to do all over again, we wouldn't have waited so long!  And we are still having a blast -- especially in retirement! Love you and Happy 23rd!!

Finished "Our Boys" today about the Smith Center, KS hs football team - The Redmen.  Really good book and I found myself googling their Friday night stats.  Who knows, David and I just may venture up there one year for a game!

Sunset in Kansas

Telescope at LAPO

Changing views

I see it!

We need one of these at the camper

the stuff we saw through the telescope

Tonite, David and I went to the Lake Afton Public Observatory. Beautiful, clear night loaded with stars and a sliver of moon in the early evening. Enjoyed the observatory although it was a smaller one from what we understand.  One big telescope and lots of big words that I didn't grasp.  But we saw Jupiter, some nebula, and Andromeda.  We now know when we go to an observatory this time of year, it's important to wear a jacket.

10-29-11:  Watched the Hogs squeak by Vanderbilt.  Too many of these close games.  Not sure David can survive too many more.  Whew! Pig Soooiee!

Grammy with Batman, the Boy Wonder and the Batdog in background

Justin and family at Trunk or Treat

Are you a witch?

Trunk or Treaters 

T

Thank ya kindly

Went Trunk or Treating in Douglass, KS with Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder and their parents!  Their capes where what David's mom made for Laura, Gus, and Justin when they were little.

Asher, Andrew, and Sarah

Ladybug Hannah and Becky Lynn

Spider ring

too much to carry

Batman

Robin also plays the harmonica!

Halloween sky - a couple of days before Halloween

Just needed a little Batgirl to wear Laura's cape. Fun night!  (except when Grammy - that's me - lost Asher's helium balloon).  Saw a falling star as we headed back into the campground.  Forgot to make a wish.

Sheila, Bonnie, and Greg chillin at the cabin

Linda Sue, Mac, Doug, Heather and Dodger ready for some chili

Rocky at the cabin dressed for Halloween

10-30-11:  David, Rocky, and I went out to Doug and Sheila's cabin for chili this afternoon.  Really fun time w/ so much laughing!!  Mostly at Doug's expense.  And mine (accent).

Rocky keeping me balanced

Linda Sue trying out the hammock

Greg, what?

graceful dismount

 Linda Sue and I had a contest on who could get in and out of the hammock without hurting ourselves. We both did it so gracefully.  Grandpa Mac said I "won" because I was lower to the ground when I was in it.

Another October sky in Kansas

 Great food and even greater company!

Linda Sue and Bec hiking the Teter Trail

Becky and David

Becky and Cuzzin Linda Sue

Rocky and Linda Sue

10-31-11:  Linda Sue came out to the campground for lunch and a short hike today.  We ventured onto the short Teter Trail. Prettier than I expected and a few inclines here and there.

Internet pic of a Paw Paw

One of the things that this trail is known for is a Paw Paw Patch.  We didn't know Kansas had those.  We knew that they were somewhere "way down yonder", just didn't know it was here!  Need to see it in the summer though to find the paw paws. They are actually edible.

Honk the horn, Grandpa!

11-1-11:  Brought Asher, the 3 year old grandson, out to the camper this afternoon for an overnighter.  His first with us. He was so excited.  Talked the entire way from Douglass to El Dorado.  Full of questions and really doesn't care if we answer them or not. Except when he asked Grandpa to honk the horn. He wanted to hear that truck horn.  He's also full of info! As we came through El Dorado, he spotted the little Statue of Liberty replica and identified it correctly!  Smartest kid in the world!

Grandpa and Asher

Asher climbing up

rollin, rollin, rollin

This is one way to do it

And this is another

Grandpa, Asher, Grammy, and Rocky

Asher and Rocky

Sweet Baby

Sweet Baby

We played at the playground near our camper. It was fun, but just seemed to be missing something. Oh yeah!  It was missing a big brother to follow around! After supper we took a walk on the bike path and he loved throwing the big, mutant acorns (no smaller than golfballs!) into the Walnut River.  He could've done that forever.  After a short bout of homesickness around dusk, he did great the rest of the night.

Zzzzzzzz

 I slept on the floor with him and loved watching his little face as he was falling asleep.  His eyes would be too heavy to open, but suddenly he'd just break out in a smile like something funny had happened.  Grandparenthood rocks!

Walnut River

A little red

and a lotta xanthic 

The weather in Kansas is certainly feeling like Fall. And to me, a little like Winter!  Love the coziness though.  We will be here this whole month, so the Kansas blog will have a Part II.

Happy Thanksgiving to our family and friends!!


Dr. Higley and Nurse Emily Morgan