Granddaughter Skyla comes to Visit!

The afternoon of the 24th, granddaughter Skyla boarded a plane at Sea Tac in Seattle to make the flight to Omaha!  I was so excited when I'd heard from our daughter Jentry that Skyla wanted to visit!  The family lives on Camano Island, north of Seattle.  Her mother made the 75-mile drive south to Sea Tac through the usual heavy traffic.  It was a relief when Skyla texted, she was on the plane!  

I left home plenty early & at Eppley, stood in line for a guest pass that allowed me to be at the gate when she disembarked.  Since I didn't have a ticket per sea, I couldn't use my TSA pre pass & had to go through the usual security line.  Even so, I arrived at the gate in plenty of time.

9-25-25 Grammy & Skyla on the Bob Perry Pedestrian Bridge, Omaha, NE

I knew the bridge was just a short distance from Eppley, so after we took the shuttle to the Bronco, we Googled our way to a parking area.  It was my first time at the bridge & we really enjoyed the walk & views of the river.  We met another couple & exchanged a photo op.  The lady had flown in from Virginia & Skyla from Seattle.  Here we were, meeting in the middle of the country, over the middle of the Missouri River on the state boundary between NE & IA.  After our bridge walk, we had an early dinner at The Mattress Factory!

9-25-25 Skyla at Lake Manawa~

Skyla had tried Butch's e-bike, but it was too big for her.  Smokey, my analog bike fit her perfectly!  Watching her peddling along, standing up on the pedals, reminded me so much of when I was a kid climbing the hills of Boulder.  She was a trooper & even with the heat & bright sunshine we finished my usual 13+ mile loop!  Tastee Treat was next on our agenda!  We ordered two dinners to go. It was Skyla's first-time trying barbeque pulled chicken & hush puppies.  Of course we had dessert first!  Ice cream for the trip home!

I didn't take photos on the 26th.  Skyla wanted to help me with an outdoor project.  I had several small Ash trees in the marsh that needed to come out.  I used the small chain saw to cut them down & planned to cut them into short lengths.  There's an area across the creek where the bank is sliding, the perfect place to throw them.  Skyla grabbed one, gave a huge heave (Her Javelin throwing skills were on full display.) & it sailed over to the far side!  We ended up taking down seven trees!  

9-27 Skyla in front of the Adair County Courthouse, Greenfield, IA

The following morning, we dropped Finn off with Doris & were on our way to my hometown.  We parked just off the square. Skyla saw her great grandfather's name etched in the Veterans Memorial wall.  We shopped at Ed & Eva's; where Skyla found a super cute denim, handmade bag.  

We made the circuit of town, driving by the house my maternal grandmother lived in before moving to the farm, the house I lived in when I was only four, my paternal grandparents' home & the homes of my two best friends etc.  

We visited the Greenfield Cemetary & the graves of my parents & brother, paternal grandparents &  great grandmother.  Skyla is now the sixth generation to make this trek.  From Greenfield, we drove on toward Creston.  I turned onto the gravel road going out to my grandparents' farm where Skyla's mother spent a summer visiting, too.

The Fleming Farm~

We turned back to the main road & took another gravel road to Nevinville.  Just a wide spot in the road now, the town was bypassed when the train lines were built across the country.  My maternal grandmother went to school here & our family has had ties to the town for a very long time.  The church was where my maternal great-grandparents celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Skyla~

Every time we visit this area, I have to drive by the church.  Each time the deterioration has increased.  I find it so sad, to see this little country church with such historical significance go to ruin.  

Family plot~

We visited our family plot where Skyla's great, great grandparents & her great, great, great maternal grandparents are buried.  I hope she remembers & returns with her family someday.  I'd shown Skyla photos the evening before of our relatives so she would have a point of reference.

By the time we arrived in Creston, we were starving!  Pizza Ranch was our next stop.  Skyla had never had a dessert pizza!  The Staff made us a peach pizza & delivered it to our table hot out of the oven!

Our ride at Green Valley~

The final stop for the day was a bike ride at Green Valley State Park.  The temperature was in the 80's & Skyla isn't used to our blazing sunshine.  Her forearms were coloring red from our ride at Lake Manawa.  Not to be dissuaded though, we unloaded the bikes, wiped the gravel road dust off the seats & away we went.  It was a beautiful afternoon & is such a gorgeous place to ride.

Sunday the 28th, we arrived at Fontenelle Forest about noon.  Skyla's reservation at TreeRush Adventures was 12:30 p.m. She had three hours to do as many of the Adventure Courses as she wanted.  In the video Skyla is navigating through the most difficult challenge of the Osprey Course.  Skyla had done several of the courses when the family visited in 2023, but the courses are changed somewhat each season. I was amazed at how easy Skyla made it look, especially after seeing other's fall & dangle from their harness! 

Skyla cooking our dinner!

Skyla loves to cook; she doesn't get that from me!  We'd gone shopping for the ingredients needed for Eggplant Parmesan.  Even after spending three hours in the trees & expending a lot of energy, she still put together a wonderful dinner!  I told her it was the first time in forever I didn't have to be the one in the kitchen!

Skyla at Eppley

Monday, we were up early.  Skyla was packed & took her bags to the Bronco.  We dropped Finn off with Doris & left for Eppley in plenty of time.  We had to wait in line at the ticket counter for my guest pass.  Skyla had lunch before we went through security.

The little germanium makes it safely to WA!

I'd rooted one of my little red germaniums & potted it that morning for Skyla to take home. At security, the plant was taken & set off to the side.  After I went through, I mentioned to an agent it was ours. They took the pot & did several tests.  When it was returned to me, I asked what the tests were for & was told; "Explosives".  Over the years, I've made at least a couple trips carrying on small plants, but this was a first.

It seemed like a whirlwind visit, the days flew by so fast...  It was very hard to see Skyla leave...  She was the first of our little group of now four grandchildren, to visit on her own.  I'm so proud of the young woman she's becoming. She promised to come again & I will hold her to it!  

After the Wreck - Lake Manawa~

 When I told Butch I was a little nervous about riding again, he reminded me after the wreck, I'd ridden back to the Bronco.  I decided on Lake Manawa's smooth surface trails.  A little less demanding that keeping my eye on the trail.

Ready to ride~

The experience is familiar to me.  After numerous accidents, related to equestrian pursuits over 25-years, it should be.  With a bike though, it's all me, I can't blame the bike!  I tried though!  I explained to Shadow that I'm done hitting the ground in the literal sense!

Along the south side of the park~

After the first few pedals, the nerves melted away & the enjoyment of the ride replaced them.  It was a simply stunning afternoon & I was happy I'd decided on the park.  I did make a couple stops.  One to adjust the front fender, which was rubbing on the tire.  I hadn't noticed that after the fall.  My rear brakes made a tiny squeak when I stopped, too.  Since the bike is coming up on 1,000 miles, Butch is going to replace the pads when he gets home.

Returning south on the spur trail to the Wabash Trail head~

I did what I call my usual loop, which includes going out the spur trail that connects to the Wabash Trace trail head about halfway.  At the high point, I turn back to the park.  The train overpass is in the distance, I-29 is behind me.

The corn is drying out~

The fields of corn are drying & turning yellow.  The sweating is over for this season!  Farmers are hoping for a bumper crop, but that depends on how the weather treats the fields going into fall.

Goldenrod~

I envy a friend in Florida, who does a lot of hiking in a mostly native area.  The flowers she finds are so diverse & beautiful.  Here in IA, ours are much more limited, except possibly in the native prairie areas.

The Old Campground~

The old campground had been mowed.  I love the wide-open look so close to civilization.  Too bad it couldn't be incorporated into the park.  I know the park has lost acres to development over the years since it's inception.

On the Indian Creek Bridge~

There wasn't much wind today & the temperature was perfect in the low 70's.  As I returned to the south end of the park, I still had it mostly to myself.  A surprise on such a nice weekend.

Across the lake at Council Bluffs~

I called Butch from the bench at the lake shore as I watched the sail boats work to catch what wind there was.  For a day so close to the end of summer, it could not have been nicer.  Next week we're supposed to get another stretch of heat/humidity before the real fall cool down begins. 

This coming Thursday, our Garden Club is traveling south to tour Kimmel Orchards!  The weather is expected to be unseasonably warm.  We've enjoyed this trip a few times over several years & always come back with bags filled with apples, canned goodies, wonderful wine etc. A little heat won't deter us!