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. 

November - Gray Card Day~

I love being back to central standard time.  If - please - we could stop resetting our clocks twice a year wouldn't it be nice?  Today - early November -  was a very gray day.  It was the color we were taught of as a middle gray, perfect for a consistent exposure.

Looking toward Iowa from the Nebraska side of the Missouri~

 With a misty rain most of the night, the temperature was mid-40's.  We had an errand to the north of Plattsmouth, NE & decided to stop at Mom's Cafe for a late breakfast.  I ordered the french toast made from a cinnamon roll, topped with banana & caramel syrup!  My meal for the entire day & probably half of tomorrow.

From the Plattsmouth Trestle Bridge - South

  We hadn't been able to go this route, one of our favorites for a while.  Last year, we'd taken it with the truck several times, until one day the gentleman at the toll booth told us the truck was too heavy for the bridge.  Today, the weight signs were posted & we were well under the 20,000 thousand pound limit.   It's the same bridge where my Grandfather rolled his truck load of cattle, on the curve at the bottom.  The bent ignition key is among his mementos. 

Color on the hills~

I asked Butch to stop more than once to get a few photos.  Plattsmouth is such a unique town, so picturesque.  The wreath below was such a perfect blend of seasonal colors, especially against the rich color of the brick.

Guns or Jewelry - you choose :-)

Yesterday, we stopped at Sherbondy's Nursery in Council Bluffs. I've wanted to plant more color & we were looking for shrubs that could grow into a hedge. Almost devoid of stock, it's the end of the season & with freezing temperatures just around the corner, it's no wonder. What was left, was 25% off. We've both been admiring the Burning Bushes & have a small one planted at the east end of the house. I had two in Washington, but they're considered invasive. The few there, didn't have many branches.

New blue pot~

The pot was a real find - just the right shade of blue! Just arrived, they are heavy & I'm told will survive the cold. There's a monarch butterfly on the front & a caterpillar on the back. Inscribed with "Monarch Sanctuary 1939". Made in Vietnam.

In place~

Our Garden Club had a presentation last month on the Monarch Biosphere in Mexico.  Fascinating reading, several states are working to preserve the Monarch butterfly by planting Milkweed along the migratory paths.  We picked up rock for a base & to raise the height of the pot.  Eventually, we'll gravel all the way around & have a path from the parking area.  We're having fun with this little building.

Serviceberry in the ground~

We spotted a bit of bright color & found several Rainbow Pillar Serviceberry. The fall color alone had us sold. When we asked about them, they sounded perfect for the north side of the Cabin. Three more will finish off the row.  They are native, produce flowers in the summer & edible berries.  I'm going to enjoy the great color for as long as the leaves last! The day stayed the same hue of gray right through until what seemed like a very early dusk!

Plattsmouth, NE

 A sunshine beauty of a weekend for our birthday's!  We love the Classic Cafe in Malvern - it's our usual spot for a late Sunday breakfast. We wanted to do some more exploring, so we turned toward another historic town, Plattsmouth, NE.

Heading over the PlattsmouthToll Bridge~

 To get there, the most direct way - you take the toll bridge - built in 1929.  It is a real beauty - with it's cantilevered truss style construction.  The sides aren't high & the drop down looks like a long way...

Looking over at the Train Trestle~

 A toll has been in place since the bridge was built.  The $1.50 expense is more than worth the trip over to the NE side of the river.  Now, the funds collected go to maintain the structure.  Even though it's the shortest way to get there from Glenwood, most of the traffic now goes further north & over the new bridge on Hwy 34.  Once across, you enter the town in less than a mile.  I didn't take any photos of the town itself, but we walked the main street, which was quiet.  As we passed Rohan Photography, Dan came out & invited us into his shop!  He had a beautiful book of photos from his trip to Washington State!  We ended up spending quite a while swapping stories & admiring his amazing photographs!

Next, we drove out to the Shilling Wildlife Management Area - just at the end of the town's main street.  The sun was getting low in the sky - perfect for taking a few photos - even with my smartphone.

Greenbriar gone wild~

 I've been researching the invasive species in Iowa & still think I've identified this plant correctly.  To see how destructive it is once it gains a foothold is downright scary!  As damaging as Blackberry is to Washington state & without the yummy berries!

Thorny too!

 Just the small needle sharp thorns make it difficult to walk through - the vines are so small & tough that they tangle your feet at every step.

Huge Tree!

 Some of the trees are huge - so beautiful to see - yet there are almost as many that are dead & bleached white.  I've been told that the big flood of 2008 drowned the root systems.

Where the Platte River joins the Missouri~

Here, the Platte River almost looks to be wider & bigger than the Missouri. What fun to stand where Lewis & Clark camped on their way to the west coast!  We've also visited Fort Clatsop, at the western end of their great trek! 

History on the banks of the river~

 As we watched the two rivers flow by - we heard the unmistakable sound of ducks!  Lots of quacking ducks!  Looking up - huge flocks were flying overhead!  Wave after wave of them - across the deep blue of the late afternoon sky...

Ducks flying over~

Magical~

Sunset~

It doesn't take long once the sun goes down, for the temperature to drop.  We had to remind ourselves that it was February after all!  A very far away place from where we've spent our birthday weekend for the past several years on Whidbey Island!