5,000 miles

I can be a homebody.  But during the last couple of months, I have been on the road - A LOT!  I figured out that I have driven over 5,000 miles in the last 3 weeks!  (Not much for a trucker, I suppose.) 

That is the the distance that a purple martin flies from here to Brazil!

When we got back from our vacation at Dauphin Island the middle of August, our purple martins had flown the coop.  We hoped they had not left for Brazil yet.  A friend told us that they were still in Wichita so we went to find them.  They congregate with other groups of purple martins before migrating south.  

It is estimated that about 50,000 purple martins congregate here in Wichita annually before migrating.  They tend to move to a new location around town to roost and it took us a couple of nights to find the place.

This year, grackles and starlings joined the dance in the sky and also a hawk who thought he might enjoy himself a tasty meal!

Time to take down the purple martin house until next spring.

There was an unusual sighting of a swallow-tail kite in our town!!  My "Guide to Field Identification. Birds of North America" puts these birds along the Gulf but a birder friend said 2 had been sited in Kansas.  

Here in our town and one in Lawrence!  What a treat!  We had to go look!!

How cool is this??

A search shows that these birds also migrate about 5000 miles across the Gulf of Mexico, down Central America, over the Andes and across the Amazon Basin to ranchland in southern Brazil.   

So, what trips have we gone on recently that have taken us on a 5000+ mile car ride?

Besides a day trip around the Flint Hills with my husband, I went to northern Wisconsin and western Iowa, then with Allen we drove to Denver and Leadville Colorado, and then down to Arkansas.

Before those trips, however, we went to Clearwater (46 miles south) to look at a sunflower field.

Life cycle of a sunflower

I have 1 more trip to go on soon, which will be another 600 miles.  But, you know, life is short.  Look at the sunflower.  Here today, gone tomorrow.

"As for man, his days are like grass;

     he flourishes like a flower of the field;

  for the wind passes over it,

          and it is gone,

                      and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord

     is from everlasting to everlasting

         on those who fear Him,

   and His righteousness to children's children,

      to those who keep His covenant

and remember to do His commandments."

                        Psalm 103:15-18

We might be enjoying life one day and be gone the next.  As I am writing these words, I hear sirens.  Tragedies can happen just like that.  Cancer, loss of job, car accidents.  We cannot hold onto this life too tightly.

But I can enjoy each day to the fullest, knowing the Lord is in control.  He holds my life in His hands.  And while I have health and the means to do so, I will travel to see my children and grandchildren and enjoy God's creation!  And enjoy my quiet days at home too!  

And when my life is over, well, it really isn't!!  There is more to come!  

My last breath on earth is my first in heaven!  With Christ!!  And what adventures we will have there!!! 

Fall River

On the way home to Kansas, we stopped in to see Uncle Bill who lives about 40 minutes from our son.  Uncle Bill no longer lives on his own hill in the boonies. 

         He assured us that we could come see him.  He has his own little place.  

His family moved him to a nursing facility since Aunt Betty passed.  It seemed like a nice place for him.

My heart goes out to family who cannot see their loved ones in nursing homes.  I have several friends who haven't been able to physically visit their husbands or parents - haven't been able to for months because of Covid.  Quite frankly, it doesn't make sense to me.  I think it is immoral.   If workers can go in and out why can't family?  These people NEED their family!!  If they take the worker's temps and make them wear masks, why can't family do that?  I am glad we are not having to deal with that since our parents have all passed on.

We stopped to wash the car and get the salt air off.

After passing Fredonia, Al made the remark that he has always wanted to see Fall River Lake.  He had never expressed that out loud before.  "Well, let's do it!"

So, now we know.  We've been there.  

The Lego house

On our way home to Kansas from vacation on Dauphin Island, we stopped at our son's home.

Eli showed me his room.  He has a loft bed now.

"I built your home with Legos, Nana!"

This is Papa and me in the kitchen.

(here it is in real life below)

The hidden pantry.

With Emeri inside sneaking chocolates!

 (as she always does!)

The hearthroom

 

The livingroom with our bedroom in the corner

The grandchildren seem to think that Papa dresses into a Santa suit that we have hidden in the closet.

Not sure why they think this.  Hmmm.

Eli even made the basement!  

This took Eli lots of time and effort.  Isn't he creative?  Love it!!

Eli then had to show us his closet.  Ready for an invasion!

Then we peeked in at Emeri's room.  So pretty!

Then Josh showed us his project in the garage - Nice!

Another project he had was making a windchime for my birthday! 

 

Here it is after we got home and hung it up.

It makes such a beautiful sound!

Thank you, Josh!

As we got ready to leave their home, we saw 5 deer jump across the way.

We were so glad to make the out-of-the-way stop to see them!