July 29, 2008

Thank You Miss MaKayla, our daughter Jill’s co-first grade teacher, for recommending we a visit Burlington, Colorado to see the Old Town Museum & Emporium. Old Town is a collection of 20 historical building authentically refurbished and furnished with turn-of-the-century artifacts. Each building had a Digitized Voice Module to provide an audio history personality. The buildings included a Train Depot, Law Office, Bank/Land Office, Barber Shop, Cream Station, Blacksmith Shop, General Store, Barn, Sod House, School House, Church, Doll House, Manor House, Soda Fountain, Saddle Shop, Carpenter Shop, Jail, Saloon, Burlington Blade Newspaper and a Texaco Service Station. The blacksmith shop, sod house, general store and newspaper were our favorites. This is a fun place with lots to see. If you stop here allow lots of time.

This is one of the many beautiful carriages on display.

This unique piece is a Wooten Desk. The wings have slots and drawers for mail. There are over 100 pigeonholes for filing papers. The doors can be closed and locked for security. The price for a desk like this, depending on the model, could cost up to $750 in the late 1800s.

This gas pump at the Texaco Service Station was in excellent condition. I’ll bet my brother-in-law Bill would like to have one like this pump for his collection.

This engine drives the power shaft that is mounted above to run the different machines in the blacksmith shop.

The above two pictures were taken for my Brother-in-law Bill. He wants to build an overhead shaft like this in his shop. It looks like an easy gadget to install. When will yours be ready, Bill?

Next we went to see the Kit Carson County Carousel that was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. This carousel was carved in 1905 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. It features 46 hand-carved animals and a Wurlitzer Monster Military Band Organ. It only cost 25 cents to ride this magnificent carousel so of course we took the 4-minute ride.

This is Carousel Park next to the fairgrounds. The large building in the rear on the right houses the carousel.

This Wurlitzer Organ provided wonderful music while we enjoyed the ride.

Charlotte picked one of the tamer horses to ride.

On the way back to the campground we stopped at the Vault Creamery in Goodland. This new business, just three days old, was extremely busy serving ice cream and handcrafted sodas. The temperature is supposed to be 100 degrees for the next three days so this place should have a line out the door from opening till closing.

The owner made all the counters, cabinets and wall trim in his woodshop next door. The door behind the counter is a large vault that remains from when this was a Post Office in its earlier life. Hence the name “The Vault Creamery” is appropriate for the business.

We met a man outside the store who could have or should have been the town historian. He was on hand to give us all the information concerning this building. He also wanted us to see the unique bathroom in this shop.

This bathroom was designed with both grownups and little people in mind. Note the difference in the size of the toilets. There is also a smaller sink for the kids.

This is the typical small town business that we love to visit. The ice cream is great, the service is fantastic, the people are extremely friendly and the prices are very reasonable. We wish them much success with their new business.

July 28, 2008

We are in Goodland, Kansas now. The weather is warm, mid 90s, and we are experiencing some gusty winds but not strong enough to cause concern.

We stopped here to visit with a friend. Fred is a meteorologist with NOAA’s National Weather Service here in Goodland. We met Fred two years ago while on a tour of the local facility. I said then in our blog and still believe this tour is a great opportunity for education in the science of weather forecasting. This time we learned how to use the online Storm Prediction Center. This is a fantastic tool that gives us advance knowledge of severe weather in the entire country. We can use this service to modify our course if necessary. If you are near one of NOAA’s locations, please take the time to stop and learn this and many more tips.

This time Fred invited us to his “small” but delightful ranch of 50 acres. He has four horses, several sheep, some guineas and two dogs on the ranch. He is having a building constructed that will include a large area for Fred's family and friends to play music.

Fred built a new arena for riding horses and he and his family were painting the fence. We had the pleasure of meeting his wife, Rachel, and his daughter, Kristina, who were the master painters helping him. Rachel is a fourth grade teacher at the local school. Kristina, who is in 4H, will be showing some of the sheep at the fair next week.

We had a wonderful time visiting with Fred and his family. Thanks Fred, Rachel and Kristina for sharing your piece of Kansas Paradise with us.

July 26, 2008

This was our last opportunity to see a Cubs game at Highlands Ranch this year. The Cubs won 26 to 8 and played very well. Our favorite player, number 4, had three doubles and two singles. She also scored three runs and made some exciting plays in the field. Our favorite was scooping up a ground ball to shortstop followed by a great throw to third base for an out. Check out the pictures below.

Wow! What a great hit.

One of the 26 runs the Cubs scored.

This is the defense that held the opponents to 8 runs.

There are a lot of great players on the Cubs team but we are extremely partial to one, our Granddaughter #4. I’m sure others at the game have some great pictures of their favorite players. We truly enjoyed going to the games this year and seeing all these young players do outstanding things. I am looking forward to next year and another season. Thank you Cubs for some fantastic entertainment.

Check out the link, Abby’s Blog, on the right side of my blog to see a great video of these two games.

July 23, 2008

Today we went to The Wildlife Experience. This is a small compact museum and a fun place for kids of all ages. We arrived in the early afternoon and the place was busy with day care kids. After about an hour most of the groups left and it was easier to enjoy the place.

Abby’s next-door neighbor, Austin, went with us. He is a few years older than Abby but they get along well together. He is one of the neighborhood ball players that get together each day.

The interactive areas in the Wild Colorado Room make it easy and fun to learn.

There are plenty of close up encounters with animals.

We also enjoyed the two galleries of fine art. The horse is the featured animal in the lower changing exhibit gallery. The upper changing exhibit gallery was filled with wild animal paintings. They also have some outstanding photographs of animals on the walls of the Habitat Hallway

It was fun watching Abby and Austin play the “Fore! The Planet: A Putt-To-Learn Adventure” indoor putt-putt golf course. The course was rather busy for their first round when we arrived so the two golfers went back later for their second round while Jill, Char and I admired the art in the adjacent gallery.

If you are in the Denver area this is a wonderful place to visit. Check out their website http://www.thewildlifeexperience.org/ for more information.

July 22, 2008

We went to Abby and Jill’s school today. We helped Jill get her room ready for the new school year that starts in a few weeks.

I was in charge of pictures and moving the ladder while Karl put up numbers around the ceiling.

Abby and Grandma went to get the large paper rolls so we could decorate the walls.

Here Grandma and Abby stapling paper and borders to wall.

The fancy border around this board is Jill’s effort.

Jill puts up lots of things on the walls.

We made these name cards so Jill knows who left the room to go to the bathroom.

It was fun even though the air conditioning was not on and it was in the upper 90s. Thanks Jill, for letting us help.

July 21, 2008

Today we visited with our good friends Andy and Peggy Bosomworth. They have made some great progress on the remodeling of their home. It is really looking good. Andy is working on the final major project, the master bedroom and bathroom. I’m sure he will be happy when everything is finished. Here they are standing next to their Motorhome.

July 20, 2008

Because of the easy access and open areas for landing at Chatfield State Park, we have seen many hot air balloons drifting lazily along toward us. Two days in the last week they landed about 100 yards away from our campsite. I think Grandma enjoyed the balloons as much if not more than Abby. Perhaps someday you will see pictures of Charlotte in the tiny basket hanging beneath one of these beautiful highflying balloons. As many of you know, I don’t like high places so I will remain on the ground taking pictures.

Yesterday was a very warm 98 degrees and not a great day for a softball game. But the undefeated Cubs team that Abby plays with was up for the challenge. It was a nail-biter until the final run was scored. Here are a few pictures, in our opinion, of one of the outstanding players of this game.

Abby in the field is ready to catch any ball hit in her direction.

Abby’s great catch at first base although the throw was a little late and the runner was safe.

The Cubs were behind from the very beginning. But this team doesn’t give up. This is just one of Abby’s doubles during the game.

Here Abby scores the tying run. It doesn’t get more exciting than this.

Unfortunately, the Cubs lost 16 to 15. It was a fantastic game to watch and everyone played very well. It is amazing to see the difference in the girl’s performance from last year. As eight year olds they have a better understanding of the game and what they need to do to win. The Cubs have two more games to play this summer. We will get to see the action again next Saturday. Go Cubs.

July 15, 2008

We finally reached one of our favorite destinations; Highlands Ranch, Colorado. We stopped at Jill, Karl and Abby’s house on the way to Chatfield State Park so Abby could ride with us. She wanted to ride in the front passenger’s seat because she can’t do that in a car yet. She did this also last year and loved it and was very excited about riding with us again this year.

Abby decided she wanted to stay in the RV with us every night. She is not getting as much sleep as she would at home but she doesn’t care. She is no problem and she sleeps through the night. We did have a light on the first night so she could find her way around if she needed to get up to go to the bathroom. Last night, much to Abby’s delight we used a rope light during the night. Tonight she said she is fine and doesn’t need or want a light on.

This is at Abby’s house just before we left for the campground.

Here Abby is helping me put the leveling jacks down.

Waiting for the fire to get just right so we could make smores.

Karl and Abby entertained us with campfire songs.

I think you can tell she enjoys singing and dancing.

Abby is now big enough to ride Grandpa’s Trike Bike.

Jill needed two more chair pockets for her classroom. For all the non-teachers, these are pouches that hang on the back of the chairs and the kids put their things in them so their desks aren’t as crowded. She brought one home for a pattern and we made three more for her today.

Here you see Grandma the Happy Seamstress.

After the chair pockets were finished, Abby wanted to sew. We cut out a simple little bag for Abby to carry here toothbrush, soap and shampoo in and she sewed it together.

Abby is really concentrating while Grandma watches.

She added a little black handle to make it easy to carry.

I think both the Teacher and Student are proud of this handy bag.

July 10,2008

Leaving the campground this morning we had lots of mixed emotions. We were excited about getting closer to the Denver area and Karl, Jill and Abby. Yet we were sad about leaving our best friends, Richard and Vera. It was fun being back together again on the road. We wish them happy and safe travels until we meet again.

We are in Cheyenne, Wyoming tonight. We are staying here till Sunday. Then we move near Denver and the kids. Tomorrow we are having the car’s oil and filter changed at the local Saturn dealer. That will take most of the morning. I have some routine maintenance and checks to do on the Motorhome so I will get that done in the next couple of days. Then it will be full time fun with Abby, Jill and Karl.

July 9, 2008

Today was an easy day with a short trip to downtown Rapid City to see the Presidents Statures they have erected along Main Street. So far they have 31 presidents represented. The remainder will be put in later. It reminded us of the fun we had last summer searching for horses and boots in Cheyenne, Wyoming and the doghouses in Ocala, Florida. Here are a few Presidents that you might remember.

Gerald Ford

Ronald Reagan

Jimmy Carter

John F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr.

We also saw some painted buffalos in front of a store so we had to have pictures of them also to go with our collections.

This one had Psalms 104: 19-20 inscribed on its side.

Next we stopped at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral. What a beautiful Church with some fantastic stained glass windows.

This wonderful little Church is St. Michaels in nearby Hermosa where Richard went last Sunday. Remember, Vera was ill then and did not attend.

We also had time to do a little shopping and lunch. We will be leaving this campground tomorrow so after getting back home we did a few maintenance things to get ready for the road. In the morning, we will be saying Goodbye South Dakota and Hello Wyoming.