Tripping through Russell

 I arrived in Russell, KS around 5 pm.  I had turned a normal 2 hour trip into 3 hours, taking the "lesser" road.  But that is what I do!

Russell was originally named Fossil Station by the railroad, but later named after Captain Russell, Second Kansas Regiment, who was killed at Prairie Grove, Arkansas.  Russell was originally founded by a group of colonists from Ripon, Wisconsin who were looking for warmer winters and a new life.  They arrived by railroad and lived in the boxcars while their homes were being built.

"Russell is the location of the only site in the nation that two International Highways intersect.  Highway 281 stretches from Mexico to Canada and Highway 40 from coast to coast.  The highways are becoming fragmented due to updating the highway system. In some areas across the nation, Highway 40 has merged with I-70." - Russell Historical Society

There is a magnificent church close to my friend, Sheryl's house.

After unloading my car, Sheryl and I went out to eat.

She took me on a tour around town.

They have quite a few murals on buildings.

Isn't this neat for a library?

We wondered what this house was.

Here is a post about it.

We had to find Robert Dole's house, of course!

It is a private residence so no tours are given.

Here is the hospital where Sheryl's daughter works part-time.

Sheryl gets to babysit her grandbabies on those days.

When we finished the tour, we went on a walk; just like old days.

Thanks, friend, for letting me spend the night!

Off to pick up my daughter Jill at Denver Airport the next day!

On the road again

One, two, a one, two, three, four

On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again

Willie Nelson popularized that song years ago and those lyrics resonate with me.  This time as I drove to Colorado, I decided to take 81 highway north to Lindsborg and turn west on highway 4  (we usually take highway 135 to Salina and west on 70).

At some point, a tornado hit this tree line.  They are growing back.

Could you imagine loading EVERYTHING to travel across the land to set up a new home?  No stopping for food at fast foodies or at rest stops for bathroom.  No toilet paper.  Miserably long trip!  

As you get into McPherson, highway 81 turns into this spur road.  We always got on it from 135 when we used to go to my sister-in-law's house.  I didn't realize that it was actually highway 81!

We always turned left here to go to her house.  But I was taking 81, so continued straight through the intersection.  New roads - "going places that I've never been!"

I love Lindsborg and would have loved to spend a couple hours there, but I needed to get to my destination today.  If anyone wants to "do" Lindsborg with me, let me know!  It's a fun Swedish community!

A barn is going up!

Looks like an Amish dad and his son.

Cheyenne Bottoms from the north looking south

Maybe on a cooler day...

J Ranch

This house looks pretty amazing!  Wonder if someone is fixing it up?

I turned north on 281 coming into Russell from the south.  I would spend the night here at a friend's house.  I needed to pick up my daughter, Jill, at the airport at noon so going down the road a little meant not having to wake up so early in the morning.

New road!  "Seein' things that I may never see again!"

Day by Day 2

While I was in Colorado, my brother-in-law had a surprise 60th birthday party.  Here are the 3 brothers.  Happy birthday, Reuben!

What else have we done day by day? 

We celebrated our 64th wedding anniversary!

We've had lots of adventures over the years!

I made some granola for my daughter.  She loves this recipe!

This recipe is from the More with Less Cookbook.  I make it all the time.

I put it in a big roasting pan, not in 2 shallow pans.  I stir it only once.

  I don't add raisins either.  We don't care for cooked raisins personally.

I've enjoyed time with friends!

 Sewing for Dress A Girl.

We went to the rodeo in Pretty Prairie with friends Loren and Lynn.

This group put out a music video in our hometown.  They put a different name on the water tower, but it is our town!  Pretty cool!

We went out to eat at The Barn in Burrton with dear friends, Dave and Marilyn.

And visited at their home afterwards.

I had coffee with another sweet young friend, Hanna.

I took care of the children of our pastor and his wife, Jack and Courtney, while she had a medical procedure in Oklahoma.  We continue to pray for her healing.

We went to the splash park and the park at Quail Creek too.  The kids were excited to come to my house to play in our playhouse under our stairs.  Benjy kept calling it my Barbie House.

We went with friends, Marc and Sarah,  

to Chamber Music in the Barn at Prairie Pines.

My poor husband is "Patch the Pirate".  He either got a spider bite or is fighting some infection.  (He is being treated.)

 

I am so grateful for friends!  As we have been praying for one another day by day, I thought of the analogy of the Roman soldiers who get into turtle formation when they would meet the enemy.  Ephesians 6 talks about putting on the full armor of God, and as we do this, together we can advance against the enemy and help shield eachother!  We stand together!

Ephesians 6:13  -

Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Be faithful - day by day!