Got in last night and unloaded. Was good to sleep in my own bed. Today will get caught up on laundry, etc. Our next adventure will begin on Friday.
Today let us remember Jim Hayward, former Lt. for the Independence, IA police department. One of the best men, officer, detective I have ever know. He would have been 94. May he rest in peace.
Today I ponder…”the soul of the hive“… what is the soul of the home you live in? the church, the community, the state, the government…etc May your soul be based on Christ, recognizing those things that are or will become evil, and resisting external forces that constantly try to encourage evil. List the ways you tend to conform to the world and ponder them.
We found Linda hanging the wash. She didn’t hear us drive in due to the washing machine engine. We laughed as she jumped a foot into the air at the sound of the man’s voice. Henry & Steve had left for work, Marty, for school. It was decided we’d do our exploring and comeback for supper.
We head S on 183 towards Monowi, NE. Will find our lodging for tonight and then go exploring.
Driving the Outlaw Trail on Hwy 12 in NE. Interesting history in this area. We’re in cattle country.
Butte, NE named for the surrounding land formations.
Spencer, NE, 1891 named for an Army Captain or a US Senator George E Spencer.
Bristow, NE, 1902 named for Benjamin Bristow Secretary of the Treasury under US Grant.
Lynch, NE, 1892 named after John Lynch a pioneer settler.
Just passed page 31… smiling
Monowi, NE having 🧀 & crackers and 🍵 in the parking lot of the closed post office. Feeding scraps to the 4 feral 🐈. I’m a titch disappointed, but I am glad we came. Just a shame someone who worked so hard may see it all gone.
Just as we are ready to leave, a car arrives. It may just be the mayor of Monowi. Her plate says “Monowi1”.
Found our lodging for the night in Butte,NE Another mom & pop, inexpensive, decent beds, very clean, lots of plug-ins, even a small desk with discrete lighting for those late night/early morning work times. Rm#2 for us. Sacred Heart church within walking distance.
Took off around 9 am. to begin leg # 3 of the great adventure. We start with 3690 miles (what we have traveled thus far). We are headed to SD first and will work our way back.
Did you know Sparta, WI was named after the Greek city/state, and that it was known for its healing springs? Anyone know where they were/are located?
As we depart, the temp is 31⁰, there is snow on the ground, the sun is shining, and the skies are blue.
There is no snow in LaCrosse. The Mississippi River ice is almost gone. What is left is not safe to walk on.”Zebulon Pike mounted an expedition up the Mississippi River for the United States. Pike recorded the name “Prairie La Crosse.” The name originated from the game with sticks that resembled a bishop’s crozier or la crosse in French, which was played by Native Americans there.
Minnesota welcomes us. There is no snow there either, and no ice on the river.
Nodine,MN, formerly Rose Hill, had its name changed by an early survey crew to Nodine because there were no places to eat. Light skiff of snow with a temp of 29⁰.
Rushford, MN, was first known as Rushford Twnshp beginning in 1858 when it was named after Rush Creek, which was named after the rush plants that lined its banks.
Lewiston, MN, was named after pioneer settler Jonathan Smith Lewis in 1873.
Chatfield, MN, was named after Judge Andrew G Chatfield and sits on land claimed by Thomas Twiford in 1853.
St. Charles, MN, was named after St Charles of Italy. Settlers came for the fertile valley, the Whitewater River, and the beauty of the limestone bluffs.
Dover, MN, was named after Dover, NH, because that is where the settlers came from.
Elgin, MN, was laid out in 1878 after the railroad got there and was named after Elgin, Scotland.
Stewartville, MN was founded in 1857 as a small praire village by Charles Stewart and was named after him. It only had 3 streets. People of note from this town… Richard Warren Sears, founder of Sears & Roebucks Company; Jason Hammel half of the Indie- Pop duo of Mates of State; John Paul Goode geographer and cartographer.
Interstate 90, County 1, mile marker 197 thru 189 has windmills and powerlines stretched out as far as the eye can see.
Dexter, MN platted in 1874 named after Dexter Parrit.
Grand Meadow, MN, as the story goes on a bright sunny day, a gentleman’s gaze saw a beautiful landscape and declared, “What a grand praire!”
Elkton, MN, was platted in 1857 by W.E.Richardson and Frank A. Day. Notable people, Alvin Baldus.
Rose Creek, MN, was named for nearby Rose Creek in 1868 when the railroad was extended to that point.
Brownsdale, MN, was named for Andrew D Brown, a businessman in the lumber industry in 1856.
Austin, MN, was settled in 1853 and laid out in 1856, being named for its 1st settler Austin R Nichols originally from NY state.
Albert Lea, MN, a small settlement on a lake named Albert Lea after a topographer, Lt Albert Miller Lea, who was part of the United States Dragoons and had sketched the lake naming it Fox Lake. Joseph Nicollet later renamed it Albert Lea lake.
Manchester, MN, was named after Manchster Township, IL, which used to be the home of an early settler.
Snow-cover growing deeper. Beautiful bald eagle soaring the sky.
Wells,MN, named for JW Wells father-in-law of Clark W Thompson WW I & II Veteran, who served 11 terms in the House of Representatives.
Kiester, MN, was named for Jacob Armel Kiester, a lawyer known as a historian for Blue Earth County, but before that, a legislator, county attorney, and county surveyor, among other roles.
Frost, MN, 1899, was named for Charles Sumner Frost, an architect.
Irrigation equipment dots the landscape for Blue Valley Sod company.
Blue Earth, MN, is named for the Dakota word Mahkato, meaning greenish blue earth.
Communication towers rise in the sky over Blue Earth. More windmills dot the landscape.
Guckeen, MN, originally called Derby in 1899 but changed to Guckeen after an early settler in 1901.
East Chain, MN was named after the East Cain of Lakes.
Fairmont, MN, “the county seat was given the name Fair Mount, which referred to the way it was situated above and beside the Central Chain of lakes, giving it a fine outlook across the lakes and adjoining countryside. The name was later shortened to Fairmont.
Just saw the news regarding the fatal shootings of 2 law enforcement officers and an EMS worker in Burnsville, MN. May they rest in peace. Domestic violence calls are one of the most dangerous to respond to.
Sherburne, MN “It was named Sherburne, to recognize Moses Sherburne (1808-1868), a prominent area attorney, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Minnesota Territory (1853-1857), who retired to the county and spent his final year of life there (in Orono).”
St. James, MN, named by the railroad for James Purington, an early settler,the new city was incorporated in 1871. It was the hometown of Minnesota Governor Winfield Scott Hammond
Alpha, MN, was first known as Wisconsin in 1878, later becoming Earl, then Irwin until finally it was named Alpha by the post office.
More windmills dot the country side. Flat land here with farms scattered about amidst large powerlines and communication towers. Scattered clumps of trees and rock piles. Looks like corn and bean land. Lots of grain elevators. Fuel averaging 2.94.
Round Lake, MN named after the beautiful lake nearby.
Adrian, MN, Had my breath taken away here. We saw a church steeple from the interstate and decided to check it out.
South Dakota welcomes us. Fuel 2.75, very few snow piles.
DeSmet, SD, home of Laura Ingels Wilder where her last 5 books took place.
Rosebud Reservation is close to our turnoff. Resting place of my stepmother Susie and half sister Charity. I should have thought ahead and looked up the information before we left home.
Southbound on Hwy 45 to 271st St. We’re in pheasant country. Now in deer country westbound on 44.
Missouri River
Last stop for the day. Parkside Motel Gregory, SD. Clean mom & pop at a good price.
Leg #3 of the Great Vacation begins this morning… Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa here we come.
Lenten ReadingDay 5 All men thirst to confess their crimes more than tired beasts thirst for water:… Illustrated London News, March 14, 1908
Found a shop in Bangor that I enjoyed… House Warmings, 1522 Commercial St., Bangor, WI. Open W-Sat 10-5. Also has online shop. Didn’t have time to check out the other one across the street.
Intermitent fasting… 1795 fasting hrs = 18 weeks = 20#s lost; 7wks left on my 25 wk challenge. Seems like a small weight loss, way too much water, and not enough movement.
Cpap… I’m still wearing it, but I still hate it. Have managed to use it daily for 4-6 hrs. It is working in regards to lessening events.
African Popes… Victor I (189-199AD), Miltiades (311-314AD), and Gelasius I (492-496AD) all 3 have been declared saints.
Lenten Action… consider the virtues listed in 1 Timothy 6:11. (Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Endurance, and Gentleness) Ask yourself how you might increase your practice of them.
Our sympathy goes out to the family of EM who passed away on the 12th from heart failure. May he rest in peace.
Today is a fast day.
This Lenten season we are doing the devotional called Lent & Easter, Wisdom from GK Chesterton. It is proving to be thought-provoking. As I look back on our child-raising years we had always made it important to pray a family rosary together. I have memories of all the children in pj’s in the early morning before school gathering to pray as a family. I cherish those moments. I hope they do too.
1778 hrs of intermittent fasting, still slowly losing, the loose skin is driving me crazy. Still have issues drinking enough water vs living in the bathroom. Still not getting all the steps in but doing what I can. This is not a bad way to lose weight, it is just slow. Which I guess is how I put it on so perhaps a good way to take it off.
Need to take the library book back and get another. Drop off the mail while out and about. Pack for leg 3 of the great adventure.
Made it home by 2 yesterday afternoon. Unloaded the car, and started the laundry. The man headed to Clucker’s to have the car checked. That fan noise that sounded like a jet taking off had stopped yesterday morning but the vehicle still needs to be checked out today before we head to the next leg of our vacation weather permitting. Would hate to break down in South Dakota.
This trip has brought to the forefront the need for communication in marriage. We will celebrate 50 years soon. During those years at points (although married) we seemed to be single in thought and direction. As we walked down memory lane on this leg of the trip we realized what fun we had together and remembered those important turning points in our relationship with each other. Work and children seemed to place us in different times and spaces. My advice this morning is to keep couple-time every day, even if only 5 minutes go over the day with each other, and iron out any issues that reared a prickly head. Take a moment to see the world through your spouse’s eyes as well as your own.
So very grateful no family was injured in yesterday’s shooting in KC. This brings to mind a road sign seen in Buchanan Co that said… “Have you found Jesus yet? I am waiting for you.”
The car needs washing again… that will happen late afternoon on our way west. Meanwhile, a good vacuum doesn’t hurt anything.
Osceola has the hum of traffic from the interstate
Still chuckling to myself over last night’s visit with J&D could have been there lots longer but the patrons were sort of looking at us and shaking their heads. Perhaps we laughed too loud.
Ash Wednesday… abstain from meat… keep your eyes on your own paper. Tx you for that one Mary C.
Valentine Day… in the modern world it is for lovers, it wasn’t always. Check out the article at thepioneerwoman.com along with other fun Valentine Day things. Wikipedia also has a good history on it.
In the "Wilds of Wisconsin & Cornfields of Iowa" 