In case you missed it

Some of you have heard about the destructive snowstorm we had on April 15th. Trees that were in bloom or already leafing-out held on to so much snow that they were damaged. Lots of broken limbs, split trees and tipped trees. I didn’t have time to write anything about it then, but if you weren’t here to see what happened, here are a few pictures.


Looking east from our front porch


Looking northwest from our porch



The willow that shaded our driveway. It was too badly damaged to leave in place. We will have to remove it and plant a new tree.


Loading up what broke away. It is early evening and most of the snow has melted.



A few other trees in our neighborhood

Road trip- day nineteen

We slept in today. After breakfast we went to the Sierra Trading Post outlet store and browsed for a while. We each got a few things and then we got back on I-80 and headed for home. Once again, we saw lots of antelope and lots of grazing land, but almost no farming land because Wyoming is dry and hilly and rugged. We arrived home safe and sound in the early evening.

Two people, 3413.1 miles and 11 pounds. Overall, a very good road trip.

Road trip- day eighteen

Today we went to the Winter Quarter’s temple in the morning. It is one of the small temples but it is built into a hillside so there are two stories. This temple has beautiful stained-glass windows.



After the temple, we changed our clothes as the Winter Quarter’s visitor’s Center and hit the road again.

Nebraska has some of the flattest landscape that I have ever seen! The only thing that blocked our view of the horizon was the trees that grew along the rivers and streams.

It was very, very windy for most of our drive through Nebraska and into Wyoming. The car would bounce around in the wind sometimes and our average MPG dropped from 27 to about 20 because of the wind. Every time we passed a big truck we could feel the car speed up a little while we were in its ‘wind shadow’ and then slow back down again once we finished passing the truck. The wind wasn’t so bad by the time we got to Cheyenne and we stopped there for the night.

Road trip- day seventeen

We started home today. On our way out of town, we drove through Sheboygan Falls to look at the upper and lower falls on the Sheboygan River. Pretty, but not tall falls like we have in the west. They are more like rally big riffles and short drop-offs. After a quick look at the falls we took the back roads through farm country until we reached the freeway.

Once again we saw lots of planting going on. In the fall there will be lots of corn to harvest. Another thing that the farmers in Wisconsin and Nebraska harvest is the wind.

There were lots of farms with windmills on them. Sometimes you would see a factory or warehouse with its own windmill.


When we stopped for the night in Omaha, we went to the pioneer cemetery by the temple to take pictures of a sculpture. The sculpture is a couple standing over the open grave of their child. Behind them the roots of grief reach up for them.


The sculpture sits over the graves of an unidentified child and several other pioneers.


Wherever there was a marked grave, the paving around the sculpture was placed around it.

Road trip- day sixteen

We all got a lot done today- planting, pruning, cleaning, shopping. Fortunately, we got all of our jobs done before it got cold and windy. Then we had some heavy rain a couple of times this evening and also a hailstorm.

Today's project: a handrail for the deck steps- little boy height.



Underway


Support crew



Finished project

Tomorrow, we hit the road.

Road trip-day fifteen

Yes, I know I skipped day fourteen.

Yesterday we ran lots of errands and got some things ready for gardening. then we went out for dinner at Horse and Plow, a local eatery.

Today, we ran some errands, fixed three flat tires on a stroller, started working on a nadrail for the steps on the deck, had a waffle-fest and a video chat with Tita.

Big news of the day- During our waffle-fest dinner, we saw a fox in the backyard! Pretty cool.

According to Bean

This is a picture of where we are sleeping while we visit with LL and family. It's a hide-a-bed sofa. We do not call it "our bed" because Bean corrected us once and told us it was Tita's bed.



On Thursday, Bean got into bed with us to snuggle for a minute. Then he started scooting our pillows to each side and explained, "This side is grandpa's, this side is Nana's and here," he said as he pointed to the middle, "is where Tita will sleep."

And that's the way it is.