Adventure 56: Elk City State Park/Independence, KS

Southward Bound

After a nice morning of putzing and a leisurely breakfast, the sisters hugged with tears of joy. Rod and I shook hands, and we all hoped for a future meeting. The drive was straight forward, the weather excellent, sunny, windless, and in the mid fifties. Our only snafu all day was that a gas pump refused to give us gas. Since we were in America at a highway interchange, all we did was go across the street. (Is this country great, or what?)  Guided by our faithful GPS (Ain't big brother, great?), we found the park and a nice site down by the lake. I leveled the trailer in a lazy man gesture that I hope doesn't bite me. But we're only here for the night, so maybe it will work. The park is interesting. The reservoir is man made, the earthen dam is huge, and it appears the place is used by fishermen, hunters, and at least for now, several permanent residents. There are at least forty trailers on the property that appear to have dug in for the long haul. They have plastic skirts, insulated lines, and many have the kind of assorted stuff around that can only be built up with time. Several have a couple of cords of wood stacked outside. I'd love to know the story (I'm just curious that way), but since I'm merely a passerby, I'll just have to make up my own stories for them. Judy suggested a walk (She saw a sign that said one mile to the lookout). It ended up being about six miles before we got back, but the glorious Kansas sunset met us as we returned to Frac. We managed over 16,000 steps today, saw a couple of deer, and had a very pleasant time. One thing not so pleasant was a  slight friction rash between my thighs that was most reminiscent of my "Big Red" experience while biking across America. (I think I may have added a layer of winter fat while enjoying the hospitality of the Franz's.) No matter, we were famished after the walk, and Judy fixed us a delightful redux of Thanksgiving dinner, which we garnered from the garage buffet before we left. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, gravy, and rolls. How can life get better. Oh, yea: pumpkin pie topped with candy pumpkins. The good news just keeps on coming. The best news of the night is that Judy (the cheater)
I DO NOT CHEAT!  I'M JUST AGOOD STUDENT :)  didn't skunk me in the first game of the Elk City Open. I had to use all of my wiles and most of my card playing acumen to avoid the stripe down my back, but verily I say to you, "I live to play another day!" We had already agreed that the Elk City Open would be best of three. I'll make here sit with her eyes facing the sun tomorrow morning because those of you who know my Hunny Bunny know that there's more than meets the eye beneath her graceful Kansas manner, the mystery of which makes life good, especially today.

 Art shot of the day.

 Lazy man's leveling system.

 Walked six miles to see this view.

 Good tandem country; wish we had time to explore.

 This is the view from our living room.

 Let the games begin. 

 The Bunny hard at work. Doesn't she look stressed?

This needs a comment?

Adventure 55: Manhattan, KS/Post L

Frac's last  night, emblazoned by Christmas lighting

Judy's cousin, Jean Wiens, wrote us an e-mail this morning wishing us safe travel and thanking us for helping get the family together a few weeks back. Since the blog has been dominated by the food pictures, she's taken to calling it: Fric, Frac, and Food. (I think she's adding calories just reading the thing). Regardless, we did enjoy a fabulous Thanksgiving, and two weeks of traditional foodstuff along with some excellent repasts. Today is to be our last day in Manhattan. I rode my bike, but forgot the camera, so you'll find no documented proof. Judy and Karen began replacing the fall decorations with the Christmas trimmings. Rod raked leaves, and he guided me to Tuttle Creek where I emptied Frac's tanks. Tomorrow we're off to Independence, Kansas (Elk City State Park) and from there to Vinita, OK the next day. Vinita has been on our itinerary since the beginning of our trip because it is the location of the Clanton Cafe, which is reported to have the best chicken fried steak, fried liver fingers, and banana custard pie anywhere! We read about the Clanton Cafe in Savuer magazine. The glossy pictures in the magazine made us drool, so I hope the place lives up to our hype. While in Vinita, we'll find a church for Sunday service (We haven't been Baptists yet), and then we'll head down to Center City to do some volunteer cooking for the Mennonite disaster relief (tornado) project. We'll spend most of next week helping however we can. (We enjoy cooking almost as much as eating). After that, who knows? Our time in Manhattan has suddenly come to an end. We'll all suffer through some withdrawal moments tomorrow. One daily event I haven't mentioned doesn't involve food. It's been a nightly card game called Hollywood Gin. It's a mind numbing game that I taught Rod and Karen the last time they came west. Judy and I learned it from my Dad. He used to play it on his lunch break way back when he was running computer payroll programs in Portland. We've played it on every visit to my folks for years. Karen loves the game, and to be honest it is fun. During our time here, everyone won at least one game, much giggling ensued, several groans of disappointment rumbled from beneath the table (But that could have been the Tryptophan effect), and of course there were chortles of glee from the winner.  I'm sure every family has some game that acts as a bonding exercise. Surely, fun is had by all. One thing has struck me of late. It's worth it to connect with family and friends. So reach out and call someone; you'll be glad you did. To emphasize the importance, Judy's Aunt Elizabeth died this morning (age 92). She was her father's last living sister. We just visited her in Garden City on November 12. Though she was confined to her wheel chair, she appeared sharp. I wouldn't have predicted her life to end in twenty days. I do believe, and have always preached that "No one is promised tomorrow". That is why I continue to say, "Life is good, especially today."

 Hollywood Gin, but really just a mind numbing chance to giggle (Is it two sets and one run or one set and two runs?). 

 Karen, whose talent rivals any interior designer, loves to decorate for the season. Fall's bounty gives way to the unveiling of the Christmas promise.

 Sleds, skates, pine cones, and chestnuts: Warm fire anyone?

 The sisters made bread so we can pack Fric with "road" food. 

 They also dried fruit and prepared Peppernuts to be sent to friends and kids.

 OK, where is the mouse who ate these? This jar was full of Peppernuts just two days ago. (I only ate two!)

 Tonight after the Hollywood Gin game, I enjoyed a delightfully decadent slice of pumpkin pie topped with chocolate dessert. (This is living! Watch it grow.)

  Let's see. Back to the garage buffet for Thanksgiving leftovers, or off the the local Mexican joint. Can you say Fajita?

Adventure 54: Manhattan, KS/Post K

Miss Jane's recipe for cranberry jello salad bottom right.

Wikipedia (Who can trust it?) dispelled one of my long held myths. The tryptophan shock I'm enjoying right now isn't caused by turkey, but the garlic mashed potatoes, sausage stuffing, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry jello salad with whipped cream, fresh green beans sautéed in butter and onions, and crescent rolls all smothered in brown gravy just might have exceeded my daily carbohydrate requirement. It seems that some scientific studies have shown that a binge load of carbos causes that old "sleepy" feeling. Today's carbo loading began around 9 A.M. with a simple German breakfast of semel with meats and cheese, or jelly and cheese or both plus fruit.  We sat down for the Thanksgiving mega-load around 1 P.M.  In between, we justified our 5 O'clock mini-load with a casual walk around a mostly comatose Manhattan. Our 5 O'clock helping (Prepared much like a fire drill in its urgency) involved a bucket brigade of moving leftovers from the garage to the counter so we could fill our plates again. Judy was beside herself trying to decide whether to eat more gravy or not, and Rod and I just had to have another helping of last night's chocolate dessert. Around six, we ushered Wib and Arlene out the door on their way back to Newton. They had their arms filled with obligatory tin-foil wrappers filled with turkey, rolls, potatoes, dressing, and pie. Oh, wait! I forgot the pie. We squeezed a piece of pumpkin pie somewhere in between the mega-load and the mini-load.  What's more, it's not out of the realm of possibility to top this day of Thanksgiving with a bed time nosh (I can barely keep my eyes open now).  One quite funny incident occurred during the clean up brigade (We share the work, too). The metal tray that the roasting turkey rested on as it was baking just disappeared. No one could find it. We all looked, even in unlikely places. Then, all of a sudden, like magic, it appeared cleverly disguised as the bottom tray of the dishwasher. We've had several of these silly, laughter inducing events this week. That's what makes the memories. It's sort of like when we buy our kids the expensive plastic, and they mostly enjoy playing with the cardboard box. The lesson is in the small things. Food and tradition, and near catastrophe aside, we're thankful to be with family, thankful we can enjoy bountiful excess, and thankful that the magic of technology allowed us to connect with our loved ones. Rod and Karen had face time with their son Kirk and his family, and both daughters. Judy and I talked with our kids, and grandkids. Sawyer sent us an e-mail from Mexico, and Kel babe called from Madison where he was enjoying Thanksgiving with Mrs. Kim, Mr. Micah, and Miss Kate. It's also nice to know that almost every one we know is enjoying much the same experience. We all realize that much of our good fortune is merely the gift of grace. We all realize that we're among the privileged.  But today, inequity in the world isn't our prime concern. Good families take work, commitment, and love. They are not free, and much good fortune is the result of good preparation.  As far as I'm concerned, it's OK to relish a little in a job well done. Nevertheless, I will bend my heart in gratitude before I fall asleep, for my usual mantra: Life is good, especially today is especially true today.

 Amazingly fresh beans expertly prepared by Karen.

 Despite the discussion of which technique is best, this brown gravy was eminently slurp-able.

 Arlene rescued the only cooking casualty of the day (The Hunny Bunny forgot the Sweet Potatoes in the basement stove).

 Rod picked the dark meat from the bones; I carved the breasts:).

 The spread (The sisters enjoyed their mother's favorite-turkey necks-which is the brown plate at the left).

 Even Coco got a taste.

 My first plate.

 Mimi and Pop pops face timing the kids.

 Classic, but I doubt it will see the light of day. Can you say bedtime snack?

 The tryptophan trio.

 Can you find the missing metal grate?

 More tryptophan sufferers, except for Rod-the Cowboys' win revved him up.

 Semel warming in the toaster oven for the mini-course.

 The Hunny Bunny working the snack brigade.

 The sisters learning how to take "Judy Bites".

 My mini-course plate at the 5 O'clock nosh.

  The Friesens (Micah is just to the right) thanks to the magic of technology.

Adventure 53: Manhattan, KS/Post J

Quite Elegant.

Before we know it Black Friday will blow its cloud of sad good bye over us, and we'll  hitch up Frac to hit the road. But for now we're basking in the pure white light of fortunate love. Judy, Karen, and Arlene are together as sisters should be. We husbands are warmed by their loving glow. Dinner was plentiful and excellent. Our blessings continue to mount. Clearly, the light  of small miracles shines everywhere. For example,

Yesterday, Judy and I talked to Emily and Sarah via SKYPE: Emily can snap fingers with each hand, and Sarah opens every sentence with, "You know what?"

You know what? Everybody's children are the bestest!
You know what? Every body's grandchildren are the cutestest.
You know what? Family makes us happy.
You know what? Friends make us happy, too.
You know what? Good memories and shared experience make us happy, too.
You know what? Even if you don't see yourself on this post, you make us happy.
You know what? If you scroll through your old photos, you'll make yourself happy.
You know what? Life is good, especially today.


 Weddings make us happy.

 Gorgeous daughters make us happy.

 Babes in yellow make us happy.

 Good friends make us happy. 

 This guy is happy.

 I couldn't be happier with these two: they are the bestest!

 These two are at the "top" of their happiness.

 Butter for ears? How could he be any happier?

 Mom and son: quite happy.

 Girlfriends are happy.

 These two are happy.

 Come on. How can we get any happier?

 This little cutie is happy.

 Vermont? Now that's happy!

 Priest Lake? Now that's happy!

 These two are up to something, so they must be happy.

 Grandkids roasting "smores': certainly happy.

 Cute makes us happy.

 A soon to be full plate makes Rod  happy.

 This chocolate dessert will make anyone happy.

 Sisters sharing is a reason to be happy.

Getting to see Wib and Arlene makes us happy.

 This little Bunny makes me happy.

 Smart makes us happy.

Curiosity makes us happy.


Finally, mooching off the Franz's has made us more than happy; it's made us thankful.