Mid America

From Grandview to Wichita the countryside looked very similar to what we see around home. From the Red River on north however there was much less development along the highways. You can't drive very far in our part of Texas without seeing houses along the highway but especially after heading east from Wichita there was mile after mile of nothing and the terrain became open prairie. The grass was green and lush and we saw hundreds of cattle grazing.






As we left Kansas and drove into Missouri the terrain gradually changed to rolling hills and the beginning of the Ozarks. We stopped by the church in Collins for a picture.

Jerry liked the windows.

We drove on to Bolivar to our motel and had time to relax before the bus from Grandview arrived. Then we all went out for supper at Dairy Queen.

Saturday Morning

We had a great breakfast at the motel today. They had cereal, fruit, boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, biscuits, Belgium waffles, donuts, bagels, rolls, milk, cereal, juice, coffee and a few other items. This is one of the best supplied motels I have seen (Comfort Inn in Wichita). The dining room was spacious and there were a lot of people eating this morning.

Dorothy, Here We Come!

Friday morning we left home at 8 am on our trip to Kansas and Missouri. We needed a break by the time we reached the Arbuckle Mountains so we took a side trip to Turner Falls. Will helped Grandma negotiate the uneven path at the overlook.





The falls still look just as I remember them from my childhood.





The traffic flowed smoothly today and soon we were in Kansas. They have a very nice welcome center.





We took advantage of their offer of free maps.

We were in Wichita by 4:30. After checking into our Comfort Inn, Will and I drove to a nearby park and swapped some treasure in a local geocache. It really felt good to walk in the park after driving all day.

Vacation Feast

My cattle usually become restless in late summer as the heat and lack of rain dries up the available grazing. For several years I have planted a field of sudan that so that it will be ready for grazing just about the time that we will be traveling with our church for summer mission trip. This way I know the cows will be content and not trying escape looking for greener pastures.

The sudan has grown really well this season. I think the herd should be content for some time. Here are a few of them after one day of grazing the new field.


I think they may be afraid to wander very far into the "jungle" in fear of becoming lost!




There is no forced perspective in these pictures. The grass is really that tall. Sue Ellen has some pictures of the grass before we turned the cows in.

Missed Opportunity

What a surprise Monday afternoon to see Mary Nell pull into our driveway. She had driven up to Temple for a funeral and then on to Crowley to see her son Rusty. She visited with us for a few minutes before returning to Rosenburg. I forgot to take Pictures!

Bob Barker was very aggressive toward Mary Nell. He growled and tried to pull away from me as she approached the house. How can I teach him to be more friendly?

We hope to make a visit to Mary Nell later in the season. I will not forget pictures then.

Grandpa Makes A Comeback!

Remember that I was sick around the first of July with severe chest congestion. My visit to the doctor at that time resulted in a prescription for some strong antibiotics and steroids. They worked within 24 hours but a slight tickle in my lungs has persisted until last Thursday when I began coughing more and having a tight feeling in my chest. A call to the doctor's office revealed that they were booked up until next Monday.

As I tossed and turned and coughed in bed on Thursday I remembered that the doctor had said that this kind of congestion could easily turn into pneumonia. By 1 am I decided it might be time to go to the emergency room for diagnosis.

The x-ray showed no signs of pneumonia and that was good news so the doctor there gave me a prescription for another round of antibiotics and steroids. Again this combination worked within 24 hours to relieve most of the coughing and congestion.

Now we are again looking forward to our church's mission trip to Missouri. We will be helping a small church in Collins, MO hang sheet rock in their new building. Some of the ladies and youth will help with VBS and I will drive the bus as shuttle for the VBS workers. The nearest motel where we will be staying is in Bolivar, MO, about 30 miles south of Collins. I hope to take pictures of our work and have them posted to a photo blog.