Trip Home

Well, as you may know by now, we are back in TX for the time being.  We did get home on 9/23 and are enjoying being stationary for awhile.  Haven't seen Julie, Ken, and Emma since May so we are enjoying being with them again.

We did get to Chanute, KS and had some maintenance done on the trailer - replaced all the moulding around each slide as they were all deteriorating from the elements.  Also had some tree damage repaired.  Trailer looks really nice now and is ready for new adventures.


Next trip is planned to be in late January when we head out West again to visit Mexico (Puerto Penasco) and then AZ and NM.

For now, I hope you have enjoyed reading about our travels.  We certainly have enjoyed the travels and the people we have visited.

Kansas

Left Elkhorn, NE on Friday, the 16th and drove into Kansas and found a nice park for the weekend - Crossroads RV Park.  Rained alot during the day but a nice sunset in the evening.

Must be time to get home - campground is almost empty!!

Elkhorn, NE (again)

On Tuesday, Sept.13th we drove from Pipestone to Elkhorn, NE to visit with my sister and her family again.

We usually go out to eat the first night.  Aliza was making the rounds.

On Wednesday we went to the Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha.  Katie, Aliza, Judeen, and Alison went with Judy and me.

About Mission Lauritzen Gardens is a living museum of unique four-season plant displays, maintained to the highest standards consistent with environmental stewardship. It provides memorable educational and aesthetic experiences for all. Escape to an urban oasis of beauty and tranquility to experience the glory of the garden. Discover a hidden sanctuary in the heart of the city. Relax while cultivating your mind in this living plant museum, conveniently located in the beautiful riverfront hills.

They have an indoor display as well as an outdoor walk.

You will notice fr om the pictures below that this was the best part of the Gardens for me.

The model railroad garden is located on a hillside just north of the rose garden. It surrounds visitors with a bright botanical world that features the activity of model trains, continually traveling through miniature communities, landscapes and countrysides.  The garden’s structural elements are constructed of natural materials such as leaves, twigs, bark, berries, pinecones, gourds and cinnamon sticks. It includes stunning reproductions of natural landscapes as well as recognizable buildings and landmarks seen in and around Omaha. The flora throughout the exhibit includes live plants, trees and shrubs – all scaled to size – and continuously manicured. Seven G-scale model trains run through the garden.

We talked with a volunteer who made sure that the trains continue to run.  While talking to him, a lone engine came by.  He had to stop it and then find the cars that belonged to this engine - for some reason they had all fallen off the track.  So he went back and got the engine and then placed it back on the track with the cars.

We continued around the park and Judy caught Katie and Aliza watching a train.

Shortly after that we think Aliza wanted to let us know that she had had enough!!

We found the cafe on site and had some lunch.  Aliza was busy watching the big fish.

It was a great day.  Did not know that Omaha had a place like this.

Thursday we had lunch in downtown Elkhorn with Judeen, Jim, Katie, and Aliza.  Then we walked around Main Street.  They have a new Art Gallery just opened with artists working on site.  Very interesting.

It was fun to be able to come back here a second time and visit with Judeen and family.  Will have to do it again next year!!

Pipestone, MN

On Tuesday after Labor Day, we drove the 18 miles to Pipestone.  We are here for a week.

The campground is the same, the teepees are still here, the sunsets are beautiful, etc. etc. etc.

We have spent a lot of time with my cousin, Claudia, and her friend, Mike Doubledee.

This farm house is where Claudia's grandparents lived.

The house was sold and moved to Holland, MN (about 12 miles away) back in 2015.  Here is a picture on a new foundation.

Now Claudia has had the basement filled in.  The front steps and some of the foundation still remain.  She also had the basement steps turned upside down and has flowers on them.

 

 Mike and I even got to mow her yard.

Dueling lawn mowers!!

Later in the week we had some rain and some interesting cloud formations!

On Sunday the Catholic Church in Pipestone was having a fall festival, and, Claudia, Mike, Judy and I went to the dinner.  Excellent dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable and dessert.

Across from the church is an interesting house.

On Monday evening before we left Pipestone, we went to Langes Cafe, a restaurant that opened in 1955.  They buried the keys in cement on the day they opened and have not closed their doors since then.  If you want good down-home cooking, here is the place to go.

One final note about Pipestone - my mother and 4 of her sisters were born on the farm about 5 miles outside of town.  Since then my uncle (Harold) and and now his son (John) have farmed this acreage for 100 years.  This is the certificate from the state of Minnesota.

And a picture of the barn.

Many memories from the early days here.