Spring Outing

It's been one of the first warm, sunny days in a long, long time.  Since Grandpa's birthday is in March, we decided it should be his day and we should go wherever he wanted.  So we went to Ft Scott,Kansas, Balltown Cemetary, and Rich Hill.

Ft. Scott is a historic restoration of an early fort on the frontier.  Everything has been restored to look as it did in the 1860's.  It was in use before, during and after the Civil War.  It was the site of conflicts over slavery and soldiers were dispatched from there to the Mexican-American War.  



The Hospital, my favorite building



     

Love the big door!


    

Officer's Quarters

 

Old restored cannon housed in the stable

 

Love the caption on this sign--the most unique shop in the Land of Oz!



 

Then it was off to Horton MO to Balltown Cemetary where several of our Reese ancestors are buried.  This was a fun discovery for us when we first moved to Missouri.

We found some Price's that we'll have to research too.

Then on to Rich Hill Missouri.  This is where Great Grandpa Hamit Allen Reese was born.  It was a mining town with a rich deposit of coal--hence the name Rich Hill.



This is the 'Big Mouth' drag bucket that they used to clear the earth off of the coal.



It was a great day and we wish you were here to enjoy it with us!

Snowpocalypse 2011

This is what we experienced during the last week:
         

That's not my car, but that's the same amount of snow Dad shoveled to get me out.  The snowdrifts were amazing!  I should mention that I 70 was closed from Kansas City to St. Louis due to blizzard (blowing snow) conditions. 

It makes me grateful for the home, food and warm clothes I have.  We all owe a debt of gratitude to those that worked through the night to get the roads clear.

This is what braving the storms of life by yourself feels like:

This is what it feels like with the love of family and the warmth of faith:

Stay safe

Stay warm

Give thanks

Gifts of Love

I know it's February and the month of Valentine love,

but I want to tell you of eternal love.

The Randall family has a tradition of giving 'Gifts of Love' at Christmas time.  I was the lucky recipient of a red birdhouse made at Cub Scout Daycamp by my wonderful grandson Kevin.  This year we sold our house and completed our move by December 18.  Needless to say, we didn't have many Christmas decorations or traditions this year.

I saved my favorite birdhouse and decorated it for Christmas.  This was the only personal decoration I kept out.  I love it!

                                           

Families can be together forever.... Thank you Kevin.  I love you!



They call me Mr. Tibbs!

Kimberly's kitty, Raven, has adopted me.  Apparently I am human extraordinare!  He meets me in the morning at the sink.  He's there before I turn on the light.  When I do yoga, he is mat side.  He'll lay on his back if it's a reclined pose.  If my hand is stretched out, his face is in my palm.   He purrs and sings.  He'd sleep with me if I let him!

It's amazing to have a live animal love you.  I don't know what I did to deserve it--but I like it!