On our way!

on I435 west of Kansas City, MO

on I435 west of Kansas City, MO

Dateline - Carthage, MO  Drove an easy 280 miles today, straight (or nearly so) south on Highway 71, using I29 where they were together so we were in 3 states today; Iowa, Missouri, Kansas (going around Kansas City) and Missouri. We left home in Southwest Iowa at 9:30 am after doing final close-up things at the house and ended up in Carthage at EconoLodge in Southwest Missouri.  Don't remember ever seeing so much color in trees in the fall.  Of course, that may address the fact that my memory is a bit of a problem, but I think it is the most colorful fall we have had in the Midwest.  A few of these photos are in Kansas and rest in Carthage where we drove around looking the town over; Left click on any of the photos to see larger.

south of St. Joe, MO

We stopped for lunch at Arby's in Platte City, MO and also got gasoline for $3.18, sad to think we got a good deal because it was cheaper than the $3.33 price in Clarinda, when we it seems we should be paying a dollar or so less.  $4.57 for lunch and then $8.50 for supper here in Carthage at Long John Silvers.  We spent about an hour driving around part of Carthage after checking in at the motel.  Nice town, about 22,000 population or so.  We found site of one of the earliest battle sites in the Civil War and I am showing photo of a marker.  Also, drove by a very unique county courthouse and show it.  Plan to spend a bit more time looking around here in the morning and then some more time in Joplin, MO and finally on to Gravette, AR to Don & Bessie Runyan's place. 

Marker of Civil War battle in 1861

in Carthage, MO

In Civil War Battle park on Old Highway 66 north edge of Carthage

in Carthage, MO

Jasper County Court House, Carthage, MO

in Carthage, MO

FINALLY......all packed

Dateline Clarinda, IA    The last couple days have been continual packing, notifying garbage service, setting up vacation-no water usage with city (still pay small monthly fee but must have water turned off), setting up vacation site in Texas for Dish Network and line up new dish to be installed and wired in mobile home, filing temporary mail change of address with post office, have meals with friends to say goodby for 5 months, disconnecting and packing computer, printer, scanner, external hard drives, monitor, box up slides for copying to computer.  Disconnecting and boxing two of the televisions and both Dish Satellite Boxes.  Completely covering some of the windows with temporary curtains, draining/cleaning the hot tub, moving all furniture off the deck into the shop, boxing quite a few books to read and/or put on garage sale in Texas or put in our RV Park's library.  Cleaning gutters on house and shop, cleaning out shop and moving everything back against walls so could put the Excursion in for the winter (and disconnecting both batteries in it). Washing up all the bedding (Phyllis did this), putting insulation in the three fireplaces and also in the bathroom vents, spraying bug stuff around outside of house and around basement walls.  Since we had sod laid by the new street we have soaked it with water every day for last week and I just pulled in 200 feet of hose and 25 feet of soaker hose, drained and coiled it up in the garage.  This afternoon finalized packing the trailer and the car, except for some potted flower plants will put in car in the morning.  The trailer box I built turned out to be just a little too small so have put a car top carrier on it.  Since many items will be left at our mobile home in La Feria we won't have to use it coming north next April.

Do you think I have enough straps on the car-top carrier?  We head out tomorrow, will spend the night in Carthage, MO and then do some looking around Joplin, MO where storm did so much damage last spring, then head on to Gravette, AR where we will visit with Don & Bessie Runyan and stay overnight Monday.

Till later, Lynn

3 more days

Dateline Clarinda, IA  Hey, only 3 days till we pull out going south.  If the weather could stay like this until spring, though, we would probably stay in Southwest Iowa.  We have worked hard on getting everything possible inside for the winter and also get everything we think we want down south to fit in the trailer.

Last evening we went to our last of the year Square Dance with Clarinda Circle 8 club.  Kenard Swift called square dancing and his wife Amie cued rounds.  Most were in Halloween Costumes, though we missed that it was to be costumes.  Had couple squares.  This morning one square went to the Mental Health unit here and entertained them by square dancing for about a half hour.  Some 35 people are in the unit and all were in costumes of some kind.  The employees spent a lot of time setting up and working with the people.  Afterwards several of us and caller Lowell Schaaf went to eat a late breakfast or early lunch at Vaughn's Vittles here in Clarinda.  This afternoon Phyllis & I joined a group of "Red Hat" ladies in touring the new hospital nearly complete just across the street from our house.  They are just79 days away from moving from their old facility in the middle of January.  Lots of rooms and facilities in the structure.  Seemed a lot larger inside than it looks outside.  Both Phyllis and I had chiropractor appointments this afternoon and she did an hour with massage therapist afterwards.  I will get a half-hour back massage tomorrow and we should be ready to head south Sunday morning.  Late this afternoon I experimented with putting a car top carrier on the trailer to hold some items we couldn't get inside the trailer- see top photo.  Think it will work so will probably use that.  Will take photo of car and trailer as we head out.  Tonight after the hospital tour we ate supper with good friends at J's Pizza. Said our goodbyes to the group and  Harold and Jackie came to our house for a little more visiting afterwards and we said goodbyes for the winter as won't see them until first of April. 

Till later, Lynn

Warm day late in October in Iowa

Rode 10 miles on the Recumbent Trike along with Phyllis.  Took these pictures of the fall leaves and harvest activity at the local grain elevator.  Was 75 degrees this afternoon and to be nearly as warm tomorrow before being in the 50's the rest of the week, with nights in the 30's.

We are putting things away from the weather for the winter.  Here is our deck ready for winter without us.

If you compare this with the photo of one of my earlier posts here you will note much amiss!    Speaking of books, I am about through with Uh-Oh: Some Observations from Both Sides of the Refrigerator Door by Robert Fulghum.  It is in one of my "libraries"  or otherwise known as bathrooms where I have book in each of the 4 we have here.  He also wrote All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.


Till later

Instant grass

Clarinda, Iowa  Our street has been in state of construction most of the summer.  Cement was poured about a month ago and dirt was finally filled in between street and our lawn.  Yesterday we got sod laid (or is it lain?) so looks not so bad.  Here are some photos of before, during and after.  These photos start in July and the next to bottom one taken this evening.  Bottom photo up shows fire hose being used to soak down the new sod this afternoon.  Imagine we will have to keep watering it for a while--it has been really dry here.

Speaking of books, I finished reading Last Man Down which is a good read.  A Fire Chief who was in one of the World Trade Centers when it collapsed, along with about 10 others, survived and helped them all out of the rubble some 6 hours after the collapse.  Quite a read.  This summer I read Nothing Like It In The World by Stephen Ambrose, a story of building the first Trans-Continental Railroad between 1863 and 1869.  I am currently reading River Horse, by William Least Heat-Moon, a recounting of his driving a boat (yes, a boat) from New York City to the Pacific near Portland, OR in 1997.  Quite a read, also.

Weather forecast shows cold is coming by middle to late next week.  We have been busy getting things off the deck and into the shop for the winter.  Getting a little further along on packing for our 5 month in Texas.
Till later, Lynn

Shiver me timbers!

Frost on our hot tub this morning!!  Texas beckons, though we are to get warmer here tomorrow; and, it is in the mid 50's today, midday. 

We went out to eat out last evening in Shenandoah at the Mexican place with our good friends Al & Carolyn Ruhde and Patty Steckelberg.  Enjoyed the evening and visiting.  Discussed when Patty will be coming to visit us in Texas and if/and/or when Ruhde's might make the trek.  Was first Wednesday evening we didn't go to choir practice as we will head for Texas before the next time the choir sings on a Sunday morning.

Will be eating with our "Thursday night bunch" this evening at J's Pizza.  Will report.  Till later, Lynn

Fall weather is here!

Clarinda, IA  Weather today reminds me why we are heading south to Texas in 11 days!  Temperature 43 when we got up and heavy overcast.  Had gotten about .15 inch rain yesterday and didn't ride the recumbent trikes.  Today, about 10:30 am, with temperature in the upper 40's, we did.  It's tough wearing your hood under your bike helmet.

With the cooler weather and the wind the last few days, the leaves are covering lots of lawn.

Saw some pretty flowers on our 5 mile ride that will not look the same tomorrow--to be freeze overnight.

Have finished with the lid to the 5' x 8' trailer that we will pull to Texas in 11 days and have it in the garage now with the lid off so can arrange (and probably re-arrange) all the boxes of stuff.  Till later - Lynn

Sunday afternoon drive

Harold & Jackie

Clarinda, IA  Sunday we went to church early to practice with choir before 9:00 am church service.  Since this is our last choir singing with them until next April (we are heading towards Texas on the 30th) turned in our music after church and bid adieu.  Phyllis fixed Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken for lunch.  After a "sit a spell" (like in sprawl on the recliners and "watch TV" with our eyes closed) we went for a drive south to Shambaugh and then west to south of College Springs and west of Blanchard.  Didn't find some friends home there so drove towards Shenandoah and visited with Harold Book and Jackie for a bit.  I had transferred a lot of old slides (from 1947 to the 1980's) onto DVD's that he could watch on television and delivered them and we watched several.  Phyllis even got to play a bit on the electric organ.
Headed home about dark. Saw a lot of wind blown damaged corn in our drive southwest of Clarinda.
Today, Monday, intend to work on revising the lid to the box we added to our 5' x 8' Carry-On Trailer.  Will maybe show pics of it tomorrow.

Eastern Iowa travel

  Got home about 7:00 pm from our son Cameron's place in Marengo, IA  We had pulled our new little trailer with some furniture in it for our oldest Granddaughter Ashley and her husband Heath who will be moving into their first home in a week or so.

Took Ashley to her volunteer job of helping with the local Haunted House and then Cam, Patty, Phyllis and I went to Cedar Rapids for supper at

Carlos O'Kelly's Mexican Cafe

Got to look at the new addition being made on Cam & Patty's place. They have it enclosed now enough that they can still work inside if weather turns on them.  Will be pretty nice when they are finished later this fall.

We had nice drive back to home, getting here just before sunset.

A little rain, finally, in southwest Iowa

Yesterday, Wednesday, was nice during the day.  We had an appointment at our retirement investor guy up town so rode the recumbent trikes to see him.  Would be about a mile directly, but we managed to put about 4 mile on the trikes by the time we returned home.  Phyllis spent the afternoon at Sew & Share at the church while I lazed in front of the TV watching old American Chopper shows.  At 6:00 pm we were at Choir Practice and at 7:30 pm we were at McKinley School for the evening's square dance with Doug Phillips from south of Omaha as caller.  This morning it was 49 degrees and wet as I walked the 15 feet or so on the back deck to the hot tub and was a bit cool on the portion of body out of the water for the 10 or so minutes I was in it.  They are working on the ground in our front yard by the new cement street and said that sod will be laid down this next Tuesday.  We will load an older recliner chair in the car today along with some other items and be ready to pull our trailer with furniture to our granddaughter's new rented house in Marengo, IA tomorrow.  Later

Foggy start to morning

On this Tuesday morning was foggy when I spent the 15 minutes in the hot tub on the deck in the back of the house.  Yesterday was nice when I took these photos of the deck.  Have worked under the bedroom in the crawl space and added foam to the crack under the plate on the concrete blocks and will put the fiberglass insulation back up against the concrete blocks.