Camp Norwesca

 

Everyone in our family has been to Camp Norwesca at one time or another.

Sister One went for Camp Fire camp and was actually a counselor there during one semester of college.  Mardell came from eastern Nebraska to go to band camp there.

Sister Two went for Camp Fire as well.  She also went for the sixth grade trip.

Sister Three probably went for Camp Fire.  But I know she went for the sixth grade trip because I was a camp counselor while she was there.  Man, that was a long time ago!

And now another generation is enjoying the rustic beauty.

Sister Two called me the other day and said that she had a "really big favor" to ask of me.  Could I please, please take Dani to camp?  Umm, let's see .... painting or taking a road trip?  It wasn't a hard decision --- especially since Pat's Creative is on the way home!

Dani was uncharacteristically quiet on the drive up.  She only spoke up to say "Bug Slug"

and to tell us that she saw a flock of wild turkeys.

We missed the wild turkeys --- the only turkey we saw was in our back seat!

It wasn't long at all before we were pulling into the driveway to the camp.

 

Dani got all of her stuff out of the back.

This was all for an overnight camp. 

Can you imagine how much she'd take for a week?

We followed the signage

to the main lodge

where Dani signed in.

Then we took her stuff to the cabin.

  

 

She was in Cabin Six, home of the Wolf Pack.

The boys were in the top cabins and the girls in the lower cabins.

  

Dani chose a bottom bunk, which really surprised me.

Then it was back to the main lodge for the rest of the activities.

We passed what served as the craft cabin when I went to Norwesca.

The dinner bell was still intact as well.

I still like the little chapel in the trees.

She didn't waste any time getting started on the activities.

 

"You can go now.  You've served your purpose."

She didn't actually say this, but I know that she was thinking it!

And to think this is a child who would scream non-stop whenever her mom left her as a toddler!

After completing our appointed task, we were off to Chadron's Evil Empire, which isn't at all evil.  I actually like their store.  I would shop there all the time if it was closer.  It's a good thing it isn't --- it cost me $100 just to take Dani to camp!

I hit the garden center because two full loads of periennials from Ingrid wasn't enough.

I found a juncus plant.

I also got a bee balm, a huge Shasta Daisy, and some more strawberries.

Their plants were absolutely beautiful.

But our real purpose for going to the Evil Empire was to get our favorite treat.

There is nothing better than a frozen Coke.

Except maybe, two frozen cokes.

Then we hit the highway and headed for the quilt store.

We saw this coming down the road.

Twelve times, no less.

I can't begin to imagine where twelve huge tanks were headed.

It was a great trip and I can't wait to see Dani to hear all about it!

Come on down to Kokomo

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for tonight through tomorrow.

They are predicting about 5 inches of snow.

So when I open the door tomorrow morning

to let Ginger out, this is what

I will probably greeted with:

I would much rather be greeted with this sight:

Wouldn't the Bahamas be a much better place to be in February ?

I can almost relax just thinking about it.

Palm trees, no snow, crystal clear beaches, no snow,

and blue water as far as the eye can see.

water falls......

Suntan lotion, no snow, fancy drinks

with umbrellas in them, no snow....

Pigs swimming in the water?

But no snow.

Ahhhhh, the Bahamas.

Nebraska

I was thinking about what to post today, that would be more exciting than my day to day activities. (Okay you can say it out loud... thank goodness). It got me to thinking about my own back yard or actually what is beyond my own back yard. With the economy in the state it is, maybe we need to travel locally for fun things to do. Nebraska has so many neat things to see and do.

I find it hard to believe that none of the "Three Sisters" has mentioned one tourist attraction right in our hometown. Maybe we don't see it as an attraction, but a lot of people stop and visit it year round. Any guesses ?

Spot # 1 to visit: Carhenge http://www.carhenge.com/

It is located just two miles north of Alliance on Highway 87. You need to get out of your car, walk out to the cars and walk around it. It's actually pretty neat. For the first nine years that Keith and I were married, I drove by this site daily thinking to myself, "Why are all these people stopping and looking at carhenge, or car wreck as my young niece & nephew would call it". So one November when Nicki brought Andrew to Nebraska for a visit, when made a stop there. It was kinda neat . So get out of your car and walk around ... it's worth it.

Next spot you could visit on the "traveling our own backyard":

Spot # 2 Chimney Rock National Park http://www.nps.gov/chro/index.htm

A favorite spots that Krista and Dani drag Aunt Trudy to every year!

If you are really feeling the pioneer spirit you can also partake in Gordon Howard's wagon rides and eat at the chuck wagon cookout. http://www.oregontrailwagontrain.com/

Also worth stopping at is the Scottsbluff National Monument and a side trip to the Riverside Zoo in Scottsbluff. http://www.riversidezoo.org/

Side note: another fun place to stop and eat at is in Paxton, Nebraska at Ole's Steak House http://www.olesbiggame.com/ . If you have spent the day at Lake McConaughy http://www.lakemcconaughy.com/ than drive over to Paxton to eat.

Spot # 3: Fort Robinson State park just outside of Crawford http://www.stateparks.com/fort_robinson.html

You can take trail rides on horseback, by jeep or stage coach. You can learn about the native American history of the fort. Stay in the camp grounds or in the soldier's living quarters. They host a fun fourth of July rodeo and party. Growing up we took many class trips to Fort Robinson and always had a good time. Check it out.

These were just a couple of local sites that I have been to. Now is a couple of things I hope to do and visit in the next year. Also local.

Toadstool National Park north of Crawford, Nebraska:

Or Agate Fossil Beds
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument -Agate Fossil Beds and its surrounding prairie are preserved in a 3,000 acre national monument. Once part of "Captain" James H. Cook's Agate Springs Ranch, the nearby beds are an important source for 19.2 million year-old Miocene epoch mammal fossils. Cook's ranch also became a gathering place for Chief Red Cloud and other Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Indian people. The monument's Cook Collection of American Indian artifacts reflects years of gifts brought by the Indians during visits to the ranch from the 1880's through the early 1900's. Phone: (308) 668-2211 or Visit Agate Fossil Beds

A little farther from our back yard but still in Nebraska.

River Tubing! We have the Niobrara River, Dismal, and Loup rivers that you can leisurely raft, tube or tank down.

(disclaimer: I don't know who these people are)

Then on yet another trip to eastern Nebraska, I would like to stop here:

Located at Gretna, Nebraska

http://www.holyfamilyshrine.org/

Isn't this the neatest church! Of course I wouldn't be listening to the sermon, I would probably be gawking around.

If you are already in Eastern Nebraska than you have to stop at the

Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.
http://www.omahazoo.com/

These are just some of the fun things I want to get to this summer.

I

Spain

I've been meaning to post some pictures of my cute hubby's Spain Trip but I kept procrastinating because I don't know what these places are called. So I'll just ad lib the captions.

Here's Andrew by the ocean. He said that the weather was pretty nice but he didn't want to try going in the water because there were too many raw-sewage-looking items floating near the shore.

I don't know what this is, but I do remember Andrew said it was one of his favorite spots and he wants to take us there if we ever go together.

We have this thing for farmer's markets and flower stands.

Here are some mad-scientist-looking beakers at one of the fish farms Andrew visited.

Here's a famous church somewhere in Spain.

A happy little crucifix near the side of the road.

And last but not least, a random picture of Anderson that I downloaded before I decided to show you Spain pics.

Our Staycation

Andrew's boss learned the word "Staycation" a few weeks ago and couldn't stop talking about it. I guess he mentioned the word about twenty times that day, so I thought we'd try it since we're hanging around Sacramento anyway.

On the first day of our exciting adventures we headed off to Old Town Sacramento.


Only a handful of people asked us for money which isn't too bad.

(I actually don't mind sharing a couple of bucks now and then because I remember all of the rejection I received when I had to sell campfire candy and always promised myself to be nicer to salespeople/beggars/etc. when I got older.

But a couple of summers ago, I was parked in the overflow parking lot at the grocery store and this weird guy came up behind me when I was trying to buckle Isabella into her car seat. He handed me a note that said "I need money".

I was totally freaked out because I couldn't grab Isabella and run away because she was already in her car seat and he was standing right in the door so I couldn't get into the front seat. I wasn't sure if he was like trying to mug me or something or if he was just homeless and wanted a dollar so I ended up shoving a bag of groceries at him and I got in the car and drove away. But ever since then, I have this creepy beggar phobia, especially when I'm with the kids.)

Anyway, having averted near death while exiting the parking garage, we headed over to the most popular summer event in all of California . . . the farmer's market. Isabella scored a free dahlia just for looking cute. I was going to flash the melon guy a glimpse of Anderson to see if we could score a Ruby Bella (have you tried those? They're really good.) but I didn't want to lug a five pound melon around with us the rest of the afternoon, so we stuck with the free flower instead.



Next we walked down to the river and looked at the Delta Queen.


(Which incidentally is where Andrew and I had our bachelor/bachelorette party -- if you want to call if that -- I wouldn't call it that myself, especially since the announcer guy told the entire audience at their dinner theater that anyone going there for their pre-wedding bash was totally lame.) But if you're not into drinking or watching strippers where else are you going to go? Denny's? The Library? Why not a floating murder mystery dinner theater?)



Then we headed off to see the trains. Why do pre-schoolers like trains so much? What's the attraction?

If I could go the rest of my life without reading another train story, I would . . . do something . . . I'm not sure what. But it would be big like giving up coffee or selling my soul to the devil or seling amway or something. I'll have to think about it.


We also went to a birthday party during our exciting Sacramento vacation. It was a pool party which was very fun for the kids but not as much fun for me because I didn't plan on going into the pool.


I think anderson really wants a dog. He just stared and stared at their dog. Poor Shasta sat there thinking if one more toddler comes over and looks at me or pulls my tail, I'm going to try them out as a chew toy.








After the party, we came home and took a bath. Isabella likes to play beauty parlor and tries to help wash Anderson's hair.

I think he likes it.







On Sunday, Tara and Dave had us over for another pool party.

But this time we also got to wear fancy hats. Actually they are popcorn bowls, but they make much better hats. The boy in blue is Shannon's baby Luke. He is two months younger than Anderson. So they'll have a lot of fun causing mayhem together when they are teenagers.


Yesterday we went to Sonoma. I wanted to take some pictures of the vineyards but a lot of them had nets over the grapes. I don't know what that's about.

We stopped at this artsy garden place just to see what it was like. They had some cool lilly pads and water lillies.



Isabella really liked these cows.

















they also had this big blue sculpture that we could see from the road. I thought it was supposed to be a giant piece of coral, but it's actually a tree that died, but the owner didn't want to chop it down. So he covered it in hundreds of blue Christmas bulbs instead. It's called Blue Tree.




















This statue was like $2,000. I'm not sure why. I just tried to leave a wide berth around it while pushing the double stroller.

All in all we've had a pretty good staycation, but I would rather be in Spain.