Ken Sidey Nature Area ~

I was searching Google Earth, looking at parks in Adair County.  The Ken Sidey Nature Area is only a couple miles from Greenfield.  I love the story behind this area & how long it's been left in a native state.  For over fifty-years, Mr. Sidey took weekly walks here & wrote about the area in his Notes & Notions column in Adair County Free Press.   My Aunt, Blanch Tracy worked at the Free Press for many years.  She enjoyed the work there; I think I would have too!

I convinced Butch we needed to take a short hike, before continuing on to Creston.  The day had started out cool, with a nice breeze, but turned downright hot.  The humidity was high, after what must have been more overnight rain.

Entrance Sign~

Nika was with us & ready for a walk. The start of the trail was soaking wet, with water running along over the top of the already muddy soil.  I had on sandals; Butch gave me a look :-)

Nika & Butch on the trail~

The one sign we found wasn't too informative. It showed what looked to be nice circular trail system, but there was no signage as to what trail you were on. We found a couple turns off what we thought was the main trail.

In the Timber~

It was beautiful! So lush, so green & so quiet! It was also very, very wet! We were slipping & sliding with almost every step. Under the layer of mud & water, we could see gravel here & there.

Columbine~

The Columbine above is the second I've seen this season, each at a different park. The ground covers here were more diverse. I only saw a few honeysuckle - I hope they're removed before they have a chance to spread!

Nodaway Lake

The first turn we made, took us down to the lake! The second, we were climbing a hill along the side of a open field. We could just see a house at the top, so we both thought we'd made a wrong turn. By now, my Garmin said we'd covered a half-mile. The sweat was dripping from us both & even Nika had slowed down.

Connie & Nika

We decided to turn back - after taking a short break on one of the benches along the trail.  The sign below was near a gate at the edge of the lake.

Yuck!

From that point on, I felt every drip of sweat & thought it was a tick! I think it's great we're to mail in the form & a study is on-going.

Our trek~

By the time we were back to the parking - the three of us were more than ready for the air-conditioned comfort of the truck! This will be another place for exploring on a cool fall day!

Memorial Day Weekend ~

  Originally to honor those who died in service to their country, over the years, Memorial Day has become a time to honor all Veterans who have served.   When I was little, it was called Decoration Day.  We would go to the cemetery to decorate family grave sites.  The meaning of the holiday, has changed somewhat over the ensuing years, but in the heartland, the true meaning is still very much in evidence.

  As we've done each Memorial Day weekend since moving to Iowa, we drove to my hometown.  Having packed the weed whacker, preen, new artificial flowers & the tools we knew we'd need to spruce up the area's at each of the two cemetery plots where so many of my family are buried.  My parents, paternal grandparents, aunts & uncles in Greenfield.

The Veteran Sunken Garden, Greenfield Cemetery~

The crosses in the garden hold the name of each Veteran who has served his country.  At this mornings ceremony, the names of each & every Veteran was spoken.  They now total 644 names...   Since the town's population is only around 2,000 - many men from this area have served over the years.  My Dad, my brother, several of my Uncles.

Looking toward the cemetery entrance.

I removed the old flowers from last year & placed the new ones. Since the weather was forecast to be awful, the American Legion decided to not place all the flags. The ceremony itself was scheduled to be held at a very large fitness club at the edge of town.

My Parents & youngest brother~

It is always a very introspective time for me.  Both Mom & Dad were 85 when they passed, just four-years apart.  We lost my youngest brother in 2000.  The cemetery was a busting place - cars coming & going, everyone out decorating & honoring family & friends that are no longer with us.

Nika waits~

Our next stop was again, the little cemetery, on a high hill.  My maternal family plot has been here, since before I was born.  It's always so quiet & so restful.  Some of the stones are very old, it's like walking back in time to see dates going back to the early 1800's.  Nika has made this trip with us several times now & likes this place the best.  

We can notice changes now.  Last year it was much drier & the peonies were already in bloom.  This year, they were still in the bud stage & everything was very wet & green.  We planted a new white peony & added a thick ring around it for protection from the mowers.  

I still remember my Grandmother bringing me out here each summer to pull weeds & think of how she would appreciate our taking over these duties.

Creston ~

 The first few years of my life, we lived in Creston, just a few blocks from my Grandparents house.  By March of 1954, my parents decided to move to Boulder, CO.

First Home in Creston~

I missed my Grandparents & friends, but I did love our house in Boulder.  I had a playroom in the basement & we were just blocks from the foothills.  Even with trips every summer to visit, it wasn't long until we were moving back to Iowa in November of 1956.

First home in Boulder, winter 1954

 This time to live in Greenfield, where I started elementary school.

My fraternal Grandfather was quite a businessman & entrepreneur.  From the family stories I've heard & the paperwork I inherited from my father's collection, Grandpa Jim had an Auto Livery & Taxi company, a Portable Hammer Mill & owned real estate both in Iowa & Missouri.  In 1947 he sold a rooming house in Creston, for the new Union County Court House to be built.

Notice the phone number~

Court House

 While we were searching for the houses I'd lived in, we drove by the original Post Office & Court House.

Post Office, Creston

I was impressed with the grand scale of the building, built in 1901.  On the register of National Historic Places.

Beautiful columns~

We ended the day at the city park. The smell of the lilac's drifting through the air as sweet as honey & almost overwhelming.

Entrance to the City Park~

It was quiet, just the sound of a lawn mower breaking the early evening quiet. The fish were jumping, surprising Nika! A great blue Heron flew the length of the lake & settled up at the shallow end to find his dinner.

Summit Lake, Sunset~

 I remembered those fourth-of-July evenings when we'd bring our blankets, sparklers & wait for the fireworks show to begin.  So beautiful with the reflection on the water. Afterward, Grandpa Jim would take us all out for ice cream!  The lemon was my favorite!

Fishing, 1955

 I loved to fish, just not bait the hook!  Mom's photo above won a photo contest & was published in the Creston paper.

The Budweiser Clydesdales!

On my bucket list & so close to home! I saw on Facebook, that the Budweiser Clydesdale's  would be just a few miles from us in Plattsmouth, NE.

Banner in place~

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on a overcast, very chilly & windy afternoon!  With temperatures in the low 50's & the stiff wind, it felt downright cold! As Butch found a place to park, I walked up to the semi-trailers & watched as the horses were brought out one at a time to be harnessed.

Halter to Headstall~

At 2,200 lbs. & most well over 18 hands tall, they were impressive! The gentle giants of the horse world live up to their reputation.

So willing~

 As the tack went on, each horse knew the routine.

Keeping a close eye on the rest of the hitch :-)

Every horse knew his place & kept perfectly calm in the ever growing crowd of people that soon surrounded the small compound that the trucks & trailers provided.

Feathers!

I loved the flowing feathers! 

The hitches

The hardware was sleek & simple in design.  These big guys are so well trained that the task went smoothly.

Chain, hooks & stainless~

It took quite a while for each of the eight horses to be led out, tacked up & then moved over to the wagon & hitched in place.

Leading by the halter~

 The wagon itself was spotless!  There are three hitches that perform across the country. 

The tack too, mostly beta & bio-thane, much easier to clean than the leather of old.  I'm sure it holds up to the rigors of weather & a busy show schedule.

Black, gold & red - tasteful!

As horsemen, their intent is to highlight the horses with tasteful, beautiful tack, not detract from their beauty.  All were perfectly fit.  I moved up the hill to where Butch had found the the best spot to see the team move out!

On there way!

Even the Dalmatian was in attendance & knew his place on the seat!

Lots of reins!

The team made about three circles around the parking lot.  I pity anyone who thought they'd do their grocery shopping!  The parking lot was jam packed & the police had stopped traffic while the team was on the move.

Impressive!

Butch took the video below.

Really fun to see & a big Thank You to Lincoln Budweiser for bringing this amazing hitch to Plattsmouth. 

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center ~

Since the first time we'd driven past the sign on the freeway, I'd wanted to visit this Forest!  It's interesting to me, that it is called a Forest, since other woodlands are described as Timber.   Just over the Plattsmouth bridge & a short drive & on the Nebraska side of the Missouri, we arrived.

Entry~

I loved the rock & steel entrance signage.  With more than 2,000 acres of forests, prairies, swamps & other lands in preservation, this preserve encompasses one of the largest natural deciduous forests in Nebraska.

Front~

The front elevation could have easily fit have fit into either a Colorado or Washington landscape, but was perfectly at home here too.

Bison Bench~

The copper Bison Bench was a perfect welcome, except possibly on a hot day!

A shadowed reminder~

The seat was a reminder to visitors of the changes that have taken place in our country since Lewis & Clark first trekked to the west coast.

First green views~

The early morning cloud cover burned off & the sun was rapidly heating up the day.  After the rains, the humidity was climbing too.

Trail signage~

We received a trail map at the information desk.  The lodge had many informative displays, a raptor exhibit & gift shop.  I wanted to get out into the forest, walk the trails & see what types of ground covers & under-story grew here. 

Beautiful -

When I asked if the land had been left in a natural state over the years, I was told that the area had a long & varied history of use.  Nebraska Culture Indians, from about 1150 to 1450 A.D., a trading post, logging, farming, etc.  Sites were excavated in 1937 by archaeologists of the Nebraska Historical Society.  They recovered over 4,600 pottery fragments, 26 flint projectile points, awls, fish hooks fashioned from bone & an assortment of ground stone tools. 

Dirt trails~

In the northern part of the forest, there are mature trees dating from the 1720's, but through most of the forest it's impossible to find a tree more than a century old.  Between 1902 & 1920 logging nearly clear-cut virtually all of the trees from the surrounding area.

Boardwalks~

The length of the boardwalks is impressive & makes at least a part of the forest accessible to everyone.

Constitution Tree, a Burr Oak~

I loved seeing this tree & thinking of the years that it has lived in this spot, marking the passage of time.

Signage~

Such an impressive tree, it gave me a better idea of how long it takes the hardwoods to grow here & reach massive size.

Sign & mid-trunk~

I soon discovered that there really don't seem to be under-story shrubs.  Young trees, trying to gain a foothold are as close to under-story that I could see.

View of Omaha & the Dome of Henry Doorley Zoo

Ground covers grow higher than I'd imagined & some that I thought were weeds at home, are actually native plants!  It was a great learning experience!

Who's this?

Stinging nettles also predominated in many areas!  It was not a forest where you'd want to walk far off the trails.  Butch reminded me that since the leaves are now opening, we were just past the prime time for the early native flowers.

On the Boardwalk~

We finally reached a point where we saw the sign below, attached to a tree along side the trail we were on.

A warning :-)

Since we'd not had breakfast & time for lunch was long past, we decided to turn back.  There are between 19 to 21 miles of trails!  The Great Marsh area was closed due to damage from the flooding.  That will be an excursion for another day.

Map of the trails~

Back at the gift shop, I found a wonderful book;  Field Guide to Wildflowers, color coded by the colors of the blooms.  I'm already using it to identify more of the plants along our creek & in the timber!