Showing posts with label Barry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barry. Show all posts

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Road Trip and More

A couple of weeks ago, Jim and I took off across Nebraska into Colorado to pick up a trailer to make it into a boring trailer, which hauls a boring machine and a mix system. Since it was a 4-hour drive, Jim likes me to come along. It makes the drive more interesting and helps him stay awake. 
Several years ago before we became empty nesters, Jim and I started to do a few more things together. It made easier the transition from having a houseful to just the two of us. 
It also helped that Lynette went college in Kearney so for those years she was in and out. Also, our other two kids live close enough to see often. 

The trailer dealership was right next to the sale barn in Brush, Colorado, so after we inspected the trailer (Jim) and paid the check (me), we asked for recommendations for a good place to eat. 
We were told the sale barn cafe was as good as any and better than most, so we went and enjoyed our meal very much. So much, in fact, a couple days ago, Jim was wishing to go back. A bit far, of course, but perhaps there's a plain ol' cafe closer, that sells good ordinary food. 
The decor was metal signs over the whole of it. These were by our table, and I would have loved to go around and read and photograph them all, but that wasn't practical. 
I read the first one to Jim in the way a woman would say it and, well, all my women friends will likely understand why I liked the other. 


On the way home, an hour away, I guess, we overtook or were overtaken by a rainstorm. It rained so hard we couldn't see and everyone on the interstate had slowed down using flashers. Then everyone started moving on to the shoulder. It was a bit surreal to see vehicles lined up on the shoulder, lights on and flashers going and no traffic. Then it started to hail, so we sat while the thumping went on overhead. The largest hailstone I saw was walnut sized. As if things weren't bad enough, I got a tornado warning on my phone. Well, what to do now? Can't get in the ditch, might drown. Too rainy to drive away. So, we sat. I felt a curious sort of calm come over me.  There wasn't anything I could do about the situation I was in and I knew it. 
After a bit, the rain let up and all the traffic started up again. We drove along watching the weather radar on our phones and realizing in less than a half hour we were going to meet up with another storm and sure enough, same song, second verse. We waited again by the side of the road. Not as long this time. and when we got to the shop to drop off the trailer it started raining. We only got .80" at our place.
It took us an hour to drive the last 20 minutes.

These next photos have nothing to do with Colorado, cafes, or storms.
Barry got a bearded dragon lizard for his birthday. It's cute now. I'm not sure how "cute" they are when they are 2 ft. long. 


This really is the same person, Barry just had a haircut in betwen.


 One thing Jim likes to do is go 4-wheeling at the farm. We spent an hour roaming about and being bounced to death over hill and dale and creek crossings. At least, I was. I was very ready to be off and back in the pickup. I don't know why it seemed worse bouncing than usual this time. 

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Barry Turns 6

Birthdays are such a lovely excuse for a lot of family to get together and watch a big mess of present opening and eat cake.  
It is always extra special to have photos of the shenanigans of a year-old toddling cutie.  
You know they always say that no woman would ever have the dimensions that a Barbie doll has...
Well, little Miss Paislee has no trouble fitting through the Barbie house door.





She also lay claim to a few of Barry's prize gifts.


It is a bit unfair to focus all the attention on Paislee, and the other boys were very much interested is many of his gifts which included Pokemon cards, which are back in style, sad to say.  We went through this last generation.



This was a neat candle.  After lighting it opens up into a BIG candle.








Barry starts Kindergarten this fall. 

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Barry's Trip

Three years ago we took Zane on a little trip with us to the Strategic Air Command Museum and the Wildlife Safari Park.  We took Barry this summer, even though he had just been to the Safari Park a few weeks before with his folks. 

He stayed overnight Friday night with us, so we could get an early start.  It takes nearly three hours to get there from here and even with a few new things to play with, the drive was tedious.
We made one stop and I bought one of those "stackables", those big eyed creatures that are everywhere just now.  These look like a stuffed tube and you can only tell the different animals by fur color, little felt tails and feet and prehaps ear shape.  Anyway, there are cute, and I've been wanting to buy one.  Barry was absolutely thrilled and spent the rest of the trip playing with it.  It flew and scampered and fought and had a good time with Barry.


Safari Park 

Elk 


Deer



Pelicans 


There is a spot to walk around and see the goats.  They have a couple of bald eagles and from here trails go up to see caged owls, bears and wolves. 

Barry didn't want to try this, but he sure wanted Papa too!


He's trying out the levers.








Up the trail.



We took a longer trail around to get back to the starting point.  The map said there was a pretty steep place, but I thought I could do it.  
I could with a helping had and a rest on a bench provided at the top.



And the rest was downhill all the way.

Barry is very observant.  He noticed the acorns on the path, the insects and spiders that are ubiquitous to any outside fun, but the most enjoyable part for me was when he heard a bird song and instantly looked up to see it. 
He loves to be outside. 

SAC Museum

Inside the cockpit.


Flight Simulator



Barry at the controls.



Along with all the planes and history in the museum, there is a "learning place" for kids. 
Barry is demonstrating the power of air pressure -- thrust, in the flying world.  He pulls the ball up in the tube on the left, and when it falls it propels the tennis ball in the tube on the right; up, up, over two stories to fall back down in the net and back to the tube to do it all over again. 



Build your own Lego car to race.



There was also a place to play with plastic balls and blowing air.

The display areas have lots of space for a little boy to run. 




Barry enjoyed his time here, but the highlight of the visit was the escalator.




It beat out the elevator.


Airplanes on Display 



Missle


I would like to go back to this museum someday without children and really look at all the planes, the displays and the information.  The feeling I got when I looked at these warhorses of great battles, were shivery ones.  The battles, the sacrifices, the necessity.  It's an awesome thing.
Will it happen again?

Home again.

Supper in Burger King


Souvenirs--the Space Shuttle and the stackable, a lynx




A little bit more play before going home.  
Racing cars down a tube.