To the Caves & Home~

 Butch has been busy since being home over Christmas.  His usual dispatches are from somewhere in IA, NE or SD to somewhere in the area of OH or MI.  Occasionally he may go to KY, TN, WI etc.  This last week though, he was sent to MO.  

Waiting to go in~

Not only MO, but to Americold, a delivery he hadn't made since driving for Blake Scott!  This was his first visit in the snow though!

Entrance to the Caves~

The road going in, hadn't been cleared, so it was icy & slick. Another truck had slid off the shoulder.

Spelunking anyone?

From the first time he was dispatched here, I was amazed at the size of the facility.  Drivers new to the area usually are smart enough to ask for a map!

Once inside~

Butch was pretty familiar with the layout, but this was an entrance new to him.  He made his way to the correct dock.

Maverick at the dock~

It's difficult to get an idea of the size, until you see a semi tractor/trailer at a loading dock.  Of course it stays a constant temperature year around.

Maverick~

This was to be Maverick's last run with Butch, but the new truck he was to pick up isn't ready yet.  When he called to tell me, he'd have time to make his delivery in Council Bluffs & come home overnight, I started dinner!

It was just after 7 p.m. when he turned down the street.  Finn gets so excited when he hears the sound of the diesel engine!  (You can hear his little sounds in the video.) It may be Maverick's last time home, depending on how the schedule goes.  It's been such a reliable truck; from 11-1-23 to 12-19-24 Butch has driven Maverick 143,257 miles.  By 7 a.m. today, he was back on the road.

2024 - In Review ~

 Eight years have gone by so fast. The morning of the New Year dawned, crisp & clear.  (Butch had pulled in at 11 a.m. on New Year's Eve.  We enjoyed spending the evening together at home.)  I mixed up a batch of cornbread. We'd been invited to a chili dinner!  We played our favorite game & even though we were all a little rusty, Butch won!  It was really a fun way to spend the first day of the new year!

Maverick - 1/1/24

Butch left the following morning.  Mid-month a blizzard moved in & covered us with several inches of snow.  Things warmed up enough by the end of the month, that I enjoyed my first ride of the year on the 31st. at Lake Manawa.  

Finnigan is enjoying his home with us & his new life.  He & Doris were friends from their first meeting.  He loves going to visit her when I go riding. He attends mat making every week & is our mascot.  He now owns the yard, Doris's yard & the neighborhood! 

2-26-2024 New walkway

February, I started burning some of my brush pile.  When Butch got home, he helped me trim up a couple of the trees, so we had that to burn too.  

The loss of our Grandson Mason was a difficult time.  Especially so for me.  I hadn't seen him in several years.  Butch had been lucky to see Mason in March of last year & met again with daughter Courtney, Mason & Cassidy in North Bend, last fall.

By month's end, the concrete work we'd planned was completed ahead of schedule.  The ground hadn't frozen & the weather was warm enough for the walkway to cure. 

3-29-2024 Butch & Finn on the White Cloud Trestle~

In March, we'd made the decision to buy e-bikes.  We went shopping & tried riding a couple at REI in Gretna, NE.  Butch found the one I needed & ordered it on-line.  He had purchased a different bike & after a long ride, didn't like it.  He ended up returning it & ordered one like mine.  Even Finn got new wheels!

4-26-2024 Tornado that hit Creston, IA

April, it seemed like nowhere was safe from a string of Tornado's. I couldn't believe my ears when I was listening to the noon news.  Creston & Greenfield had been hit.  It was a helpless feeling to know so much destruction was going on & think of all the lives affected.  

It was a great month for bike riding & I was on the trails a lot.  The tulips were blooming & our world was turning green again.  

May, I was busy keeping up with the mowing.  Even though we have Troy to mow the backyard, I do the marsh, front yard & woods.  Butch convinced me to try a self-propelled mower & I love it!  

5-26-2024 Greenfield, IA

Over Memorial Day weekend, we made our usual trip to Greenfield.  The "Sew & Sew" quilting club at Trinity Lutheran sent me with ten quilts to donate to Greenfield.  We were admitted through the check point & signed in at the DOT trailer.  It was a huge relief to see my grandmother's house on the highway still intact.  My A. Evelyn's prior home wasn't so lucky & sustained quite a bit of damage.  

The end of the month, I made the drive again, to attend my 55th High School Reunion.  We lost one member to the tornado.  Our group was subdued as we discussed the long road to recovery.  (We made donations to several organizations helping with the recovery efforts.) 

6-27-2024 The Marsh~

June ushered in the summer months.  We'd been getting more rain than usual, which kept things green & my mower going at least twice a week.  Butch crossed the 300,000-mile mark driving OTR!  

7-21-2024 Flowers~

July was very warm & very humid, as usual.  The flowers loved it & the wetter summer contributed to plenty of color & less watering.  I fell getting out of the Explorer when Butch was home & managed to damage my knee.  That kept me off my feet for most of two-weeks.  Thankfully, friends helped with watering outside, taking me to Dr. appt's & keeping me in groceries! 

8-7-2024 Goodbye Bronco~

Early August, the Bronco sold.  I'd had it on the market for over two-years.  I was thrilled it was purchased by a mechanic at the Creston School Bus Barn.  It was sad though to see him drive it away.  The last of the vehicles that made the trip with us from WA.  We'd owned it for over twenty-years.

8-11-2024 Mason's Celebration of Life~

Early August, we packed the Explorer & left for WA.  Butch wanted to make the drive & I was looking forward to seeing the country again.  Daughter Jentry, arranged for us to stay in her camping trailer at a beautiful private park on Camano Is. just blocks from her house.  

Mason was a bright spot in so many lives, his H.S. friends drove long distances to be there & the turnout was a testament to all the people he had touched.  His mother had reserved the beautiful Novelty Hill Farm & provided a catered meal of Mason's favorite foods.  There was live music & many of Mason's favorite songs were played.  A fitting tribute to our courageous grandson.

9-23-2024 Hughes Private Sewer Project

Fall, was the most unpleasant we've experienced in Glenwood.  A private sewer project, to connect a new low-income housing development at the edge of town, started construction. Yards were torn apart, lawns destroyed, fences taken down; streets were closed & dirt was flying for weeks & weeks.  There was no consideration given to residents.  It was sheer luck the city easement was on the far side of the street from our properties.  Even so, after weeks of no rain, the dust & dirt had me making a visit to the Dr., unable to breathe.

10-12-2024 Spirit Lake~

By October, I was more than ready to get away from it all, for our Anniversary trip.  We spent a few days at Lake Okoboji.  The beautiful bike trails to Spirit Lake & beyond were outstanding.  The weather was a combination of sunshine days & clouds.  Perfect to enjoy the fall colors.

11-24-2024 - My Germaniums, Nika's tree & Finnigan~

Back home, November was a beautiful month.  We finally received rain, after a dryer than normal September & October.  The watering chores I thought I'd missed during the summer, fall made up for! 

The sewer construction kept on & on & on. Heavy equipment making a mess of the roads.  Yards that had been covered with beautiful green lawns, were left dirt for the winter months... 

Butch & I spent Thanksgiving at home.  

12-25-2024 Bronco Sport, on the Plattsmouth Trestle~

December, Butch surprised me when we turned in to a dealership on our way to lunch!  We found a Bronco Sport.  Just my size & with so many new to me features that make driving easier & more fun.  

Finn & I walked the Wabash again & walk our woods daily.  The weather turned cold, gray & mostly gloomy.  Very few days did the sun appear.  Regardless, we had a beautiful Christmas day & I finally got in a bike ride on the 30th.  (It had taken a while to get the hitch installed on the Bronco & for Butch to get home to put on the lift & rack.)

Butch will be starting his fourth year of OTR driving.  This last year with Nationwide has been smooth sailing.  (In October he received the "Driver of the Month" award!)  It's also wonderful to have him home on schedule & an occasional extra night or two each month.

I've agreed to act as President for our Glenwood Garden Club.  I'm looking forward to the programs scheduled for this coming year.  I still attend mat making & love the friends I've made there.  More time on the trail is always a goal, too.

We're looking forward to 2025!  

Wishing our family & friends the Happiest of New Years!

Past year 2023~

Return to the Trail!

 Today, after five days of gray weather & fog, the sun broke through!  I'd been watching the forecast hoping to get in at least one ride in the month of December!  My last ride was November 24th.  We found the Bronco & traded in the Explorer on the 30th.  I had to wait until the 10th to get a hitch installed on the Bronco.  The rest of December only had a couple days that weren't either cold, windy or both.

Butch had been researching electric bike racks & found the Lift Caddy.  He ordered one from Bike World in Ames.  The staff was a little surprised when the semi pulled up in front of the store.  Home for the holiday, Butch had time to get both the lift & rack installed.  

The Bronco & Shadow~

Today, was the first trip with the Bronco carrying my bike to the trail. The electric lift made loading & unloading the bike super easy!  Much easier than manhandling it onto the rack, even with the ramp.  Driving has become fun for me again, too.  I'm still getting used to the Bronco's smaller size & quicker response. 

The Bronco waits~

I parked at my usual spot.  It felt so good to be back on the bike, the air was so fresh!  Lake Manawa, surrounded by city, is a gem of nature.  I'm so lucky to live as close as we do & be able to enjoy the trails during the months the Wabash is in its freeze/thaw cycle.  I've given up even trying to ride the limestone once the weather changes.

On the trail~

A truly glorious afternoon, very quiet.  The sun was so warm, even with the breeze the bike makes, I took off my jacket more than once.  We've had so much fog, the trail was wet.  We haven't had any measurable precipitation in weeks & weeks.

Indian Creek Bridge~

As usual there was a headwind going up the west side of the park on the Indian creek trail.  When I stopped for the photo, one other rider passed.  The shadows are so long this time of year, Shadow lives up to her name.

Me & Shadow~

Can you recognize us?  The sun was getting lower in the sky & as it dropped, the temperature did too.  Still - we reached 50 mid-afternoon.

South end of the lake trails~

The smell of Juniper was thick in the air!  The conifers here, considered to be weed trees by many, are Eastern Red Cedar.  The name is a misnomer, since they belong to the genus of Juniperus. They are about the only native conifer in our area.  (Several years ago, we dug up four along the side of a country road & transplanted them to the marsh.  They've done well & I enjoy seeing anything green during the winter months.)  Why the smell was so pungent I don't know.  Maybe the moisture in the morning fog has something to do with it.  I absolutely love the smell.  The wood is used in the manufacturing of cedar chests.

My favorite view~

The stumps in the foreground are what's left of the huge old cottonwoods I used to admire.  Many cottonwoods were cut down in the park last year & I miss them.  I sat out in the sun for quite a while, it was just too nice a day.  There's hardly any ice on the lake so far this season, but that will probably change in the coming month.

The way back~

It was after 3:30 p.m. by the time I left to return to the Bronco.  My usual ride at the park is just under twelve miles. This year, my first ride on my new e-bike was March 28th.  Since then, I've ridden 565-miles.  I'd ridden my analog bike 100-miles earlier in the year, giving me a total of 665-miles for 2024.  More than last year, but less than the 800-miles I in rode in 2022.  My all-time biking total since 4/1/20 is 3,303 miles.  Not much compared to dedicated riders, but enough to keep me happy!

A Change in Bronco's~

 My history with Ford vehicles & the Bronco in particular, is a long one, going back over 25-years.  We bought our first full size Bronco in December of 1999.  I'd driven Mustang's for years, before we moved to the Homestead.  When we brought horses' home, I needed something to pull a horse trailer.  It was a sad day when we traded my 1986 Mustang GT 5.0 for a Jeep Pioneer. It wasn't long before the transmission in the Jeep went out & we realized I needed a more powerful truck.  

Our choice was a black 1995 Ford Bronco.  It pulled the horse trailer easily.  I could park & maneuver it in almost any situation.  April 2000, I drove over the pass to attend Home on the Range, the first endurance ride of the 2000 season.

Home on the Range, Endurance Ride 4-1-2000~

The Bronco took me to rides when Butch had to work.  I camped in the back of the horse trailer.  Sometimes he'd arrive later with the RV.  (That year, Jas & I received our first 250-mile completion pin.)

April of 2006, I was t-boned in an intersection by a woman driving a huge old station wagon with a V shaped front bumper.  It hit right in the middle of the Bronco.  No one was hurt, I hardly felt the impact & thought the Bronco would be fixed.  Butch picked me up & the Bronco was towed away.  The following day, we received the news that it had been totaled.  The frame had been bent.  By that time, finding a full-size Bronco in decent condition was almost impossible.  

Butch searched everywhere.  April 30th, he found one south of Seattle that had come from the Portland, OR area.  It was in great condition.  I don't remember the mileage it had then, but it too, had the 5.8 L engine. We added a hitch & I was again on the road!

Our second Bronco, 5-23-2022

This is the Bronco we hauled on a trailer behind the U-Haul, when we made our move from WA to IA.  It continued to pull the horse trailer for the next two-years, until we moved Farah back to WA in September of 2018.  From 2016 until late 2018 we covered over 4,000 a year.

8-2-2024 - Goodby Bronco~

August of this year, after having been on market for over two-years, the Bronco was purchased by a mechanic from the Creston School Bus Barn. He had his dad & grandfather along with him.  They were thrilled to find a Classic Bronco in such great condition.  I loved that they appreciated the Bronco.

7-7-2019 - The 2012 Explorer & 1995 Bronco~

We'd purchased the Explorer in June of 2019. From that time on, the Bronco just sat.  We took it out for a ride now & then.  I counted on it in snowy weather, but it no longer had a job to do.  I never did really adjust to the Explorer.  It just didn't feel right for me.  It was perfect for long trips though, smooth, comfortable & with plenty of room.  It was also great if the kids came to visit, we could all fit with the third-row seating.  Twice a year though, when we took it in to switch out the summer tires to winter, I complained to Butch.  Listing the same complaints, I'd had since we'd bought it.

We'd taken it to Barrett for a seasonal tire change the day after Thanksgiving.  November 30th, we drove up to Council Bluffs for a late breakfast. It was a cold, gray, blustery day.  The next thing I knew, we were pulling into Edwards Nissan!  I asked Butch; "What are you doing?!"  His reply: "The salesman waved at me." That left me speechless.  I explained to him there was no way I was walking around in a Nissan sales lot in the cold.  

Just to be nice, I got out of the truck & followed him along the first isle.  We both stopped at the same instant & just looked at each other.  There it was - the exact vehicle we would have picked - out of who knows how many... 

2023 Bronco Sport, Big Bend~

Butch told me to get in & drive it.  Well, that was all it took.  I loved everything about it.  It felt familiar, if smaller than my full size.  Quick, nimble & so easy for me to see out of & park!  It had the heated seats I've been wanting since we moved to IA!  With under 8,000 original miles & additional convenience packages from the factory, the salesman didn't have to sell us.  Butch spent his last day of home time going over it from top to bottom.  We've installed several accessories & I've been driving it almost every day.  I'm very happy to be back in a Bronco!

Thanksgiving ~

Happy Thanksgiving!  We woke to a stunning morning on the Home Place~

Mid-morning~

Butch arrived home Monday afternoon.  Tuesday, he had appointments at the VA & in Tabor for an overdue haircut.    

Our traditional favorites, Southern Chess & Pumpkin~

Wednesday, we took the Explorer in for scheduled maintenance & to have the winter tires put on.  When we returned home, I baked pies & made some of our favorite side dishes ahead of time.

Our morning~

We decided to cheat this morning & have a piece of pie to go with our lattes!  Butch could not wait until I got the picture before taking his first bite!   It was so warm on the deck; we sat out in the sun.  Both of us grateful for time together.

Thanksgiving - 2010 on the Homestead~

We miss the girls & their families every day, but especially when the holidays roll around.  The photo above was taken the year before Skyla was born.  Ben, Mason & Cassidy were what we've always called the first generation of our grandchildren.  Skyla wasn't born until the youngest of the first three, Cassidy - was eight. Josie arrived the following year.

Thanksgiving 2015~

The picture above was taken our last Thanksgiving on the Homestead, the year before we decided to sell out & move to Iowa.  Cassidy, Connie, Butch, Ben & Mason, with Nika & Rascal.  Jentry, Joe & the girls had moved to Astoria, OR. 

Butch ready for our meal~

The table, set for the two of us, was full of food!  We're very thankful for our family, friends & many blessings~ We continue to mourn the untimely loss (in February) of our Grandson Mason~

In Blew the Cold!

 We'd enjoyed some really beautiful fall days!  Sunshine, not a lot of wind & even with warnings of cold weather to come, it was hard to believe it.  I'd spent Saturday pulling Zinnia's & Virginia Creeper from the hill between our backyard & the marsh.  It took me most of the day.  Then, I decided the front yard actually needed mowing one more time!

One of the few curves in the trail~

Since Sunday was the last forecast nice day, I had to get the bike out!  I hadn't ridden from Silver City to Malvern for a while, so left from Silver City.  Mari Jo was just leaving town on the trail too, going north!  We took a few minutes to chat before heading our separate ways.

Open views ~

It was a total joy to be out in nature on such a fine day.  I only saw two other riders going north on my way.  I stopped at the pond for my break.

2:21 p.m. Boehner Pond - looking north~

No one was at the campground, nor the little park.  The sun was warm & there was just a light breeze when I arrived.  I tried getting a call through to Butch, but didn't have service.

2:42 p.m. Boehner Pond - looking south~

Within just the 20 minutes I was there, the weather changed dramatically.  The clouds rolled in & the temperature must have dropped at least 5 degrees.  The wind picked up too, first from the north, then changing direction & back again.

Increasing cloud cover & wind~

The farther I rode north, the darker the day was.  I added my coat over my vest to keep warm.

Spark of brilliant reds~

I did stop to get the above photo of the bright reds against the wood of the big old tree snag.  Such a contrast of color.

Silver Creek from the trestle~

At the trestle, all was quiet, no sound except for the blowing wind.  I didn't stick around long.

Almost back to Silver City~

Rain never did happen, it didn't feel like rain, it was more of a pressure variant I could feel.  I pulled my fleece headband out of my pack to keep my ears from freezing!  The Explorer was the only car parked by Happy Trails.  I'm sure going to miss returning to visit with Mari Jo at Happy Trails to warm up before the trip home.  

Silver City to the Lookout~

It was one of those perfect hazy days of November.  I knew the trail would be dried out enough to ride & decided to ride the section north from Silver City.  There was only one other car with Nebraska plates, in the parking area by Happy Trails.

Northward Bound~

I was surprised to see the first mile of concrete still covered with leaves after all the winds we've had.  The air was so fresh & the smell of the leaves the strongest of the season.

Stuck Van on a Grade B Road~

The picture above is a perfect example of why not to try to drive on Grade B roads after a rainstorm, or two!  I could hear the groan of the engine before I reached a clear spot on the trail to see where the noise originated. (This was one of the roads Farah & galloped when it was dry.)

Farm pond~

I'd taken a photo of this pond early in early October.  It was beautiful then & even more beautiful now.  The surface of the pond looked like a mirror, reflecting the trees.  There was absolutely no wind today & that's very rare, especially this late in the season.

Shadow~

When I made the climb back up to the trail, from admiring the pond, Shadow was waiting for me.  If not for this bike, I doubt I'd be doing the miles I've been used to.

Leaving Mineola~

The four miles to the Mineola trail head went by in no time.  The trees are still sporting some color & I enjoy them all.

Unidentified tree~

This is the second tree I've seen on the trail with the beautiful orange leaves.  My best guess so far is a Black Cherry.  

Harvesting Corn~

Further along the trail & more noise.  I soon saw why. It's still amazing to see how cleanly modern machinery can harvest corn from a field.  Very few ears are left & they're soon picked off by the deer, squirrels, turkey's etc.

At Margaritaville, I stopped to take a short break before finishing the last couple miles to the Lookout.  I assumed I was alone.  Wrong!  The slam of the outhouse door startled me!  A man came out who evidentially was walking the trail.  He didn't speak, I got back on Shadow & continued on.  A lesson to remember - even with no bikes around, someone may be.

Shadow & the view~

The Lookout bench rest spot wasn't occupied. I put in a call to Butch & took a short break before starting back south. 

Territorial View~

Though limited, I love what there is of a view from this hill.  It'll be a shame when the trees grow enough to close it off.

The "Lookout"

This rest spot is one of the nicest on the trail.  Most of the improvements occur on the mile's closest to Council Bluffs. There are so many areas further south that could use some work, but at least the two trestles each side of Malvern were repaired.

Lewis & Clark Trail~

Just past the underpass is the signage for the Lewis & Clark trail.  It follows the Wabash Trace for several miles & even continues through Glenwood.  When I passed the Grade B Road again, the van was gone.  

View of Mineola in the distance~

The view from the Old Goat rest area is another I always stop to admire.  With so much downhill on this stretch of trail, I wasn't too worried about getting back before sunset.  From here I had just over four miles left to reach Silver City.  I arrived at the Explorer by 4 p.m. & returned to pick up Finn from Doris by 5.  Once home, by the time I'd put the bike away, it was dusk.  Shorter days, but I'm enjoying them while they're still here.  Before long, the cold will come~