On the road

This past weekend, we drove to Arkansas to be with our son's family.
A beautiful drive through Flint Hill country.

If this house could talk...

We listened to oldies.

The grands and I are memorizing verses each week.  This week I made them each personalized cards with their picture pasted on them.  This is the verse for this week:

Deuteronomy 31:8New International Version (NIV)

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; 

                 He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

           Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Al was tired and asked me to drive.  I wasn't tired so we traded.

My mother always told me that if you get tired when you are driving you should munch on snacks.  "As long as you are eating, you won't fall asleep." she said.
"Yea" Al told me, "You may arrive safely, but you'll be 2 sizes bigger!"

Al took a little nap.  

(no worries - I took this after I stopped the car).

When we approached Webb City, we could see airplanes doing loop de loops.  We watched but I couldn't get a picture since I was driving.  We pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store to take pictures but they were just finishing.  So no loopy pictures.

 Continuing into Arkansas.

 We drove straight to a new sports park area.  LOTS of games going on.  From little tykes who were barely walking, up to older kids.  We found the soccer field where Josh was coaching our grandson, Eli.

 Josh doesn't happen to have an assistant to help him yet, and Al couldn't help but fill in!

 Eli enjoyed being goalie.  All the kids took turns trading spots as they are still learning the sport.

Each of the kids had to take turns on the sidelines.
And it's even better if you get to sit on Papa's lap!

When we got home, Eli showed us pictures he painted.  He really enjoys painting!  These are an adult paint by numbers he did!

Emeri showed me her new fuzzy blanket.

More to come...

Solitary adventure

Last week, I made a trip to the park to pick up an order from the Flint Hills Market and Bakery.  Do you know that they deliver to our town each week?  So, if you can't make it to Florence - but of course, you should!!!  That's a place to go with friends! or even alone!! - place an order and they will bring it to town!  I ordered bierrocks.  I can make them, but I'm at that stage in life that it's easier for me to have someone else do it!

This was the meeting place.  I LOVE Phil Epp's Clouds!   I just wish this was out by the highway so that travelers going by our town would be able to see it!

I love how they painted his clouds on the water tower too!

This artist captivates me.  He knows how to paint Kansas clouds!

There are several "cloud" signs around town too!

The medical clinic has them in the rotunda too.

On to the adventure I went on....

There is a walking path by the park so I decided to put on my tennies before I left the house to go pick up my order.  Also took along a whistle and pepper spray, you know, just in case I would happen to meet a stray bear or something.

I picked up my bierrocks and put them in the cooler I'd brought along.  

As I left the car in the parking lot, I heard the ruckous call - CAW, CAW

A crow above the clouds!

What is THAT?

I would find out....

I could take the path north, or turn.

Oh oh...

glad I have my whistle -

I have dog-phobia - Cynophobia. 

Cynophobia (from the Greek: κύων kýōn "dog" and φόβος phóbos "fear")

Yup.  Attacked as a kid and the fear never leaves me.  I can sense a kind dog and am not afraid of them, but if they so much as look cross eyed at me - I FREEZE!!

 I had my verse cards with  me.  I love to pray Scripture for others.  Now, this was a verse for ME!
No dog left the dog park to chase after me so I was ok.

 Guys fishing.  Beautiful day for it!

 Hmm.   Wonder where this path goes?  I decided to check it out and left the walking path.

 That's interesting...

 The path had many such turn off points with climbing things in them.

 or just stones.

Remember that odd thing that I didn't have a clue what it was?  Well here it was!  I guess it is for kids to climb on!  My grandkids would just love this!  We will have to do this next time they are in state!

 A place for Nanas to sit and watch kids play.

 cointinuing on the grassy path...

I could keep going - I assumed it would take me back to the car,

or turn right, which I think probably took me back to the river path.

I chose to go back to the car this time.

It was getting pretty warm.

 I got back to the car and decided to go to the coffee shop on the north side of town

I love Mojos!

And since I hadn't had breakfast....

Sausage gouda quiche!

 Enjoyed my breakfast.  A cousin and a neighbor stopped to chat for a bit.  In small towns, you meet people you know almost everywhere you go.

And later in the day, this was supper - compliments of Flint Hills Bakery!!