A Whirlwind!

It’s Thursday morning and the last 3 days have been a flurry of activity and no wi-fi,  till now.  Just pulled into Starbucks someplace in midstate Indiana...so we’ll play catch-up.   After a few great visits we said goodbye to my brother and sis-in-law.  Sadly, we won’t see them for at least another year.   We immediately consoled ourselves with a fabulous dinner at Andy Williams’ Moon River Grill...LOL.  

Then off to the Moon River Theater to see Andy...with seats in the 3^rd row!  When the curtain rose and Andy walked on stage it was like seeing an old friend after a long absence...only this time I didn’t accost him.  : )  He sounded great, and looked amazing.  His voice is still strong and mellow even though the range isn’t quite what it was.   His warm personality and great sense of humor are the same as it was when I used to watch his TV show.  It was a pleasure to hear him sing and to tell stories, especially the one about his mother always thinking he had won 3 Academy Awards because he sang 3 of the nominated songs at 3 different Oscar Ceremonies...and they all won!  Those songs were my favorite of the many that he performed.

Oh, a note for those who asked, he did NOT lip-sync. It was a joy to see him still doing what he loves.  Next year he will be celebrating 75 years in show-biz!  He started in a quartet with his brothers when he was just a kid.  Quite an accomplishment.  For me, the only down side to the whole concert was that he shared the stage with Ann-Margret for part of the time.

We drove northeast out of the Ozarks yesterday and travelled longer than expected because of 3 detours.  They took us off the beaten path through dips, curves, narrow bridges, out cropped rocks, creeks and narrows on a roller coaster of a ride.  “Maggie” our GPS kept telling us to “Make a legal U-turn!”  I did notice some creative names for places along the way... “Old Clive Williams Road”, “Coon Creek Road”, a town called “Brown Branch”, a property called “Chigger and Tick Ranch”, and my favorite...a mobile home park named  ”Booger Holler”.

We stopped in McDonald’s and I overheard a woman talking about her daughter in Toronto and had to introduce myself.  Chatted to this amazing woman, Lisa Rollens, for some time.  She is single and lives solely and completely off the land she owns.  I have forgotten the term she used to describe her way of life, but it is something she has always believed in and is now living that dream!  I find that amazing.  She is capable, committed and industrious.  Joy exudes from her every pore. 

We arrived in Mansfield and visited the last of the Little Houses, which aren’t  places the Ingalls family lived at all...they were homes where Laura and her husband, Almanzo, lived.  This is where she wrote the Little House books, and she didn’t start till she was 65.  Guess there’s hope for me yet! 

Lastly we visited the final resting place of both Laura and Almanzo and also of their daughter, Rose.  It was a solemn time and I am grateful for being given the opportunity to take this tour, to see these places where history unravelled and where it was recorded.

Spent Wednesday going through St. Louis and then all of Illinois and are now in Indiana.  Pretty uneventful drive except the sign for Route 66.   Been wanting to travel down this historic highway since Todd and Buzz did it in the 60’s in their red Corvette convertible.  For you young ‘uns, Route 66 is an old TV show.   Another dream come true!  Am I blessed or what?   And I’m fortunate enough to have a hubby who will put up with my whims and trek with truck and trailer into these back-woods places. 

 Bye for now.  We’ll probably be home by the weekend at this rate, God willing.

Mom/Peggy

PS.  Seen along the highway yesterday...

Celebration

Saturday night my brother, Terry, picked up Ted and me and drove us through these winding Ozark roads to a neighboring town, Forsythe, stopping for a fabulous view of the valley and dam along the way.  That night we were his guests at the VFW Hall (read Legion Hall, Canucks). 

The festivities started with honoring of the Vet of the month, Vicky.  The moving ceremony included a run-down of her career and presentation of gifts.  It then ensued with a salute to the Stars and Stripes followed by a prayer for those lost in 9-11.  All was ended with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, something I hadn't done publicly in many a year.  Tears flooded my eyes as it brought back memories of  my youth growing up here.  I thought of John Steinbeck's words from Travels with Charley, "From start to finish I found no strangers... These are my people and this is my country."  This is how I feel...and it feels good.  I'm so glad we made this trip!

A grand dinner of smothered pork chops, scalloped potatoes, red cabbage, green beans and cake followed. Then Jeff Gordon stood up to entertain us with his mostly country music.  He also did a mean Tom Jones and had the ladies...well, some of the ladies...on their feet reeling!  He even let others take the mic and Ted would have sung a song or two...if he could have just remembered the words.  LOL!

Yesterday was a relaxing day visiting Elaine once more and taking in one of the IMAX films.  We topped the day off with more good southern cooking at McFarlands...YUM.  The chicken pot pie was wonderful but Ted was really impressed with the gooseberry pie for dessert!  It's not often you see that on the menu and it's one of his faves.

Ted's now off to have the transmission oil flushed in his truck...whatever...and I'm going to spend the morning relaxing in this glorious park.  Have to get ready for Andy, don't ya know.  : )

Love,  Mom/Peggy

PS.  I could hear the garage mechanic on the phone while Ted talked to him and he must have said, "Yes, Sir," ten times in that short conversation with him.  : )  I just love it!

Titanic!

Since we're staying put for 5 nights here, we slept in for the first time in a long while...what a luxury.  Got in touch with Terry and Elaine and made plans to meet them around 4:00, and then took off for "The Strip" in Branson.  We took a right turn on 75 and POW right in front of our eyes was the prow of theTitanic!  We steered into the parking lot and queued up for our tickets.  We were each given a Boarding Pass with the name of one of one of the real-life passengers.  I was lovely 22 year old actress, Dorothy Gibson and Ted was John Jacob Astor.  For 2 hours he was the richest man in the ship and he loved every minute of it!

The museum was amazing.  Fabulous stories, delicate artifacts and re-created displays made it come to life.  Highlights for me were the gallery of photographs taken by Father Brown while aboard the ship; the Bridge where we could place our hands of the Ship's wheel and "steer" her across the star covered waters up ahead; walking out on the promenade in the cold (refrigerated) night air to see the view the starry sky and the floating ice; and, of course, watching Ted enjoy it so much, as his father worked for the Cunard White Star Line in Southhampton, where the Titanic set sail from. 

The grand finale was when each of us was allowed to pick one velvety red rose petal (freeze dried but oh so fragrant) out of a bin and place it in another larger container.  That large collection of rose petals will be scattered over the sea where She sunk next year on the 100th anniversary of the disaster.  Very touching indeed! Alas, no photography was allowed so it will all remain a mystery until you, too, come and visit.

After a hasty, late lunch at Baldknobbers (don't ask) we drove to Scaggs Memorial Hospital and visited Elaine, my sister-in-law who is recovering from surgery and my brother, Terry, who just happens to work there.  Was so very good to see them both!  I enjoyed our chat and laughs...which were many...and made plans for our next day or so.

Back at Table Rock Lake State Park, we sat under the stars overlooking the marina, listening to the hum of insects, croaking of frogs and calls of the night birds.  Ted lit a fire and we had a cup of cocoa, roasted marshmallows and he played some tunes on the harmonica including Shenandoah, Dixie and Amazing Grace.  Peaceful end to an enjoyable day.  Blessings to you all.

Love,

Mom/Peggy

From the Prairies to the Ozarks

I really miss toonies and loonies.  For my American friends, those are the affectionate names for our 1 and 2 dollar coins.  Two reasons:  I dislike having to carry a huge wad and count out all those singles, and I can never seem to collect enough quarters to do more than 1 load of laundry at a time...aaargh!  Someone needs to talk to the US Treasury Department...soon!  End of my little rant.

On the up side...I have introduced Ted to the candy of my youth...Baby Ruths, Butterfingers, Bit-O-Honey, Tootsie Pops.  His fave is Baby Ruth...so far.  Oh, not to forget Blackjack and Beeman's chewing gum.  Just the scent of Beeman's takes me back to Leona Drive in Redford.  It was Grandma O'Neill's favorite and she always seemed to have a stick or two to share with me.  I love it to this day and it's hard to come by.  Of course there is no such thing as "sugarless"  Blackjack or Beeman's and my teeth really notice it.

It was refreshing to spend our first stay in a State Park last night.  After breakfast we headed south of town to see the site of the log cabin Pa built is Osage territory..."The Little House on the Prairie".  They have built a replica cabin on the site.  Right now Ted is watching a Disney mini-series based on the happenings there.  It remains to be awesome for me to see all these places where real people lived what they thought were ordinary lives without ever knowing what a legacy they left for us.

We visited the museum/gift shop before we left and met the most amazing woman, Liz Moore.  She works at the museum from April through October but she is also a writer and had her first book published this year.  Of course I bought a copy and she autographed it for me and we exchanged email addresses.  Her book is the story of a year in her life when she quit her job, left her condo and packed the trunk of her Honda and headed for parts unknown.  She crossed the US, stopping in random towns, taking jobs along the way to support herself.  It's called "Making it Home, My Life as a Middle-aged Runaway".

We left Kansas about noon and arrived in Branson this eve.  Pulling a trailer through the Ozarks was un-nerving, to say the least.  Along the way we saw an overturned RV with half of one of its sides torn off and emergency vehicles on site.  Needless to say this did nothing for my fears of missing a corner and leaving the highway.  When we arrived I could hardly get out of the truck I was shaking so!

This campground...our 2nd State Park...has wifi so I can sit in comfort without feeling rushed while I write. Tomorrow I will contact my brother who lives just outside of town and visit my sis-in-law who is in hospital here.  It will be GREAT to see them both.  We plan to spend a few days here visiting with my family, taking in some sites and...yes...an Andy Williams concert.

Good night for now.

Mom/Peggy

Glorious Country

Before we left DeSmet we visited the grave site of Pa and Ma Ingalls and some of their chldren.  The markers are quite plain, flat granite slabs...all but Pa's.  His grave stone, considerably older than the rest, is a tall marble oblisque with his name and dates almost obscured by time and weather.  It touched me deeply and I asked myself why.

I have left behind the modern-day, Michael Landon image of Charles P. Ingalls.  Not that I don't still appreciate the show...especially what it did for making these historic places prominent.  But in reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's novels...most for the first time...I have come to see Pa as much more than a TV star. 

Pa worked so hard!  I look at all we have here in North America and wonder if we really appreciate it.  And do we appreciate all that those who came before us did so that we may have it?  Pa Ingalls struggled through grasshopper plagues, prairie grass fires, blizzards, starvation, threats from wild animals and more.  He met these challenges with courage, strength and ingenuity. 

As Ted and I drove down the narrow dirt laneway out of the graveyard, I realized that in writing about her family...her father in particular...Laura not only immortalize him...but she also immortalized the Pioneer Spirit.  Charles Ingalls, her beloved Pa, IS all those other men, women and children who dared to leave the comfortable life behind and face the dangers of the unkown to help open up this vast country.

This morning Ted and I are leaving Milford Lake, Kansas and travelling to Independence where Pa took his family and built Laura's "Little House on the Prarie".  I am looking forward to more of this vast land flowing past the me in a gorgeous panorama where endless grasslands meet endless skies...small towns stretch out flat and neat as a picnic blanket...rolling landscapes are dotted with isolated grain elevators and old-fashioned windmills...above-ground irrigation systems pop up like giant preying mantises and.huge stockyards corral cattle waiting for consumption.

The Missouri River flooded terribly this spring and many of its tributaries and lakes were stopped from draining into it.  Here's a photo of the receding Milford Lake, now opened, where we camped last night.

Bye for now.

Love,

Mom/Peggy

So much to see

The prairie winds have died down and the weather is warm and sunny...for now.  I'm sipping on a low-fat, decaf latte at Ward's Bakery in DeSmet, SD.  Ted is back at the RV park hitching Rosa up.  We'll pull out in an hour or so.  That isn't long enough to begin to tell you everything we've seen here, but I'll attempt to give you some highlights.

Arrived here Saturday evening and did a quick drive-by of the town and picked out the sights we wanted to tour.  Then we drove east of town to see the 160 acres that was Pa's claim.  The wind was whipping up a fury but it was wonderful to see the land that looked so much as Laura described it.  There are some buildings on the site and even though they are not original, it was interesting to actually go inside a soddy that was like the one Laura and her family lived in "On the Banks of Plum Creek".  It would have been tough for me to do that...even though there was one small window, it was like being burried alive!

Sunday morning we worshipped in the exact church building that Pa helped build!  Amazing to sit there and imagine the hard work he put into nailing this structure together.  Afterwards we had lunch in the Oxbow Restaurant, then went back to our Home Away From Home and rested for the afternoon.  I finished reading "The Long Winter"...Laura's tale of the prairie winter in DeSmet that began in early October and lasted through April.  The whole town near starved to death because, now dependent on the train to bring in supplies, the RR had been shut down because of the weather. 

This morning we took a guided tour of the buildings here that have an Ingalls' connection.  First we went through the Surveyor's house where the Ingalls stayed the winter after Pa finished his job with the RR.  Then we went through the school house where Laura first taught when she was 15 years old.  The next building was the school that she and Carrie attended...Mary had already left for Iowa to attend the School for the Blind.  These were all original buildings, but had been moved here from other close-by areas.

For me, walking through the House that Pa Built, as they call it here, was the best.  It is original, on it's original site and houses many family artifacts.  Pa lovingly built this place in town after about 7-8 years on their 160 acre claim, and he died here at the age of 62.  Ma went on living here with Grace and Mary, I believe.  After Pa died she rented out the upstairs and part of the main floor to make ends meet.

It was in this house we saw Mary's huge raised print Bible...imagine this was before Braille had been invented.  The kitchen had samples of Ma's and Laura's and Rose's dishes.  Rose was the only child of Laura and Almanzo that survived.  This whole town is full of the Ingalls-Wilder history.

We are leaving shortly.  On our way out of town we will see the home that Laura and Almonzo lived in for a short time before they moved to Mansfield MO.  We will also visit the cemetery where Ma, Pa, Carrie, Mary and Grace are burried.  Then we're off to Independence Kansas to see the Little House on the Prarie.

I love the mid-west...people here say "crick" for creek and "ruff" for roof...just like me...or like I used to!  Everyone is warm and friendly and the gas prices are CHEAP.  The country is so huge.  The town streets are wide and flat enough you could drive a locomotive down the center of them.

Will write again when wi-fi is available.  Bye for now.

Love, Mom/Peggy

Just a quick note...

Just a quick stop at Applebee's for a coffee and some wi-fi in Brookings SD.   Seventy kilometers more and we'll be in DeSmet.  This is where the Ingalls family stopped wandering...at Ma's request because she wanted her daughters to go to school regularly.  We'll camp there for a couple of nights and take in the Laura Lore there.

The drive from Pepin WI yesterday was beautiful.  We got off the Interstate and followed 14 West through Minnesota and now into South Dakota.  I know why they call this the Corn Belt!  It was pleasant to see the land turn from rolling hills and lakes to flatter and flatter praries.  I love it!  Just as Laura described...the sky is a huge inverted bowl full of stars.

Ted is itching to get on the road and get settled for the night.  Don't know if we'll have internet but will write when I can.

Love,
Mom/Peggy

Westward Ho

Our 2 nights in Pepin, Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthplace are just about over.  I've tidied up Rosa inside and Ted is outdoors hitching her up.  Yesterday we slept in, relaxed, and did the "homey" thing followed by the "touristy".  I had my hair cut at the local salon.  Elisha is a young mother of 3 year old twins and trained as a cosmetician at the Aveda salon in MN.  For only $17 she gave me a 5 minute consultation followed by a 5 minute head, neck and shoulder massage...I'd like to bring her along for the rest of the journey...and then a shampoo and cut.  Ted had the oil changed in his truck...and they threw in a tire pressure check...and only $5 for about 45 mins labor.

Our first stop of course was "Little House Wayside".  This is the reconstructed 3 room log cabin on the approximate site where Laura was born and the site of "Little House in The Big Woods", her first book in the series.  We drove 7 miles north of Pepin on what was the pathway...now paved...that Pa would have driven the wagon back and forth to town along.  The landscape is beautiful.  Gently rolling hills, undulating corn fields and the occassional church spire gave a pastoral feel to the whole experience. 

Afterward we drove south through some of the other towns along Lake Pepin...which you remember is really just a 30 mile long widening of the Mississippi River.  This area was settled by Scandinavian people and many of the shops and artisans cater to that.  In the town of Stockholm there is a lovely shop in which everything is imported from Sweden.  We enjoyed our browsing through the variety of wares.

In the town of  Alma  we drove up to Buena Vista Park to one of the sandstone cliffs that are along the shore of the Great River.  I had to walk with my "sea legs" because of my fear of heights, but I wouldn't have missed the view for anything.  It was spectacular!  In Nelson we stopped at the Creamery and had a delicious locally made ice cream cone.  Many of our stops are associated with food or drink.  : )

Now we are headed west and will cross the Mississippi this morning and travel into Minnesota along the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Highway, headed for Walnut Grove...site of Plum Creek where the Ingalls lived in a little "soddy" along the banks.  We may find it too far to travel all in one day which will mean a lay-over Mankato or Sleepy Eye.

The weather is still unusually cool but we are managing.  I'm going to attempt to add a photo or two to this.  Success!  The pics are not in the order or place I wanted, but hope you enjoy them.  Talk to you soon.

Love,

Mom/Peggy

Taking a Breather

Ted and I are all cozied up in "Rosa" this morning.  Last night we battened down the hatches and even turned on the heater as the wind whipped up and the temps dropped into the low 30's F.  Was so cold last night that I slept in my clothes.  In By the Shores of Silver Lake when the Ingalls spent some time in the Railroad camp, Laura and her friend, Lena, slept in their clothes on the bare grass with nothing to cover them,  inside one of the tents camp tents.

Today we camp for recreation and relaxation...to get away from it all.  We are fortunate to be camping so comfortably.  The Ingalls were crossing this country in a covered wagon, plow and washtub and bucket tied to the outside and their ever-faithful bulldog, Jack, tied underneath, running with all his might. They camped each night without all the mod cons we have.  It was hard work.  But the Ingalls were also camping to get away from it all.

They were moving west to escape the hustle and bustle of the eastern cities, searching for a place where they could spread out, breathe the fresh unpoluted air and live off the land.  They eventually find their claim near De Smet, Minnesota.

Right now we are in Pepin, Wisconsin, Laura's birthplace.  The campground is jam-packed but we chose it because of the wi-fi.  Talk about mod cons!  Arrived here early enough yesterday to have lunch (spinach & parmesan quiche) and get the lay of the land.  It was my first view of the Mighty Mississippi...something on my bucket list...it is amazing.  Here in Pepin the river widens to 3 miles across and they call it Lake Pepin.  I am bringing home 2 rocks for my collection from the shore.

We  drove to a couple of neighbouring towns and took in some gift shops and a winery.  We bought apples, cheese curds, and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon for Ted.  Today we're going to take it easy, do more of the same and also drive 7 miles north of the town to see the birth place of Laura  Ingalls Wilder.  This is also on my bucket list. 

Hoping you are all well,
Mom/Peggy

Catching Up

Whew!  It'a been a whirlwind of a trip so far.  We left a day earlier than expected, firstly because we werre itching to get on the road and secondly...we needed another new trailer tire.  Ted white-nuckled it down the 401 in a humdinger of a side wind with tractor trailers whizzing past us like they were in the Indy 500.  Our first camping stop was in London about 10:00 pm at...you guessed it...Walmart.

Our 5 days & 4 nights in the Detroit area were crammed full of activities.  Here are some highlights:

• Being interrogated by the US Border Guards, who once were friendly next-door neighbours and are now no-nonsense cops who intimidate like the best of them.  I understand why, but wish it didn't have to be so.
• Being with Kevin and Laraine and their family.  We were treated like royalty there as we were plied with terrific food, good conversation and plenty of laughs.
• Seeing Erin and Kurt's new home, their first together.  A cute 70's brick ranch on 1.5 acres of gently rolling lawns, glorious flower gardens and trees, trees, trees.
• The O'Neill Reunion!  I love to re-connect with my aunts, uncles, cousins, and their ever-growing families.  Extra special this trip was getting to visit with my California cousins, Bill and Dave and their spouses, Susan and Debi.  Hadn't seen Bill and Sue for over 15 years. Was also good to see a few of my siblings' kids:  Kylie, Lisa and Don.  I love all you guys!
• Watching Kim, Laraine's daughter, sit on the floor in Kev's family room, fresh back from a Mediterranian Cruise, unpacking gifts for her family.  It was like Christmas and I think she enjoyed it more than anyone else.
• Visiting the Redford Grill for breakfast...this is Ted's highlight...4, count em...FOUR times in just as many mornings we spent there.  Need I say more?
• Met Una Gray, Kurt's 95 year old grandmother.  Una lives alone in her own home, cooks a full meal for herself each day, and still drives her silver SUV to the hairdressser and doctor.  She can carry on a conversation without missing a beat and still wears JEANS...at 95.  A simply amazing woman.   And, Una was born in Listowel, Ontario!
• I met June Rodriguez while I was out walking and she was returning home from a bike ride.   As I crossed the end of her driveway, June smiled and asked how I was enjoying my walk. I told her I grew up in the neighbourhood and she said, "Come sit on my swing and tell me all about it."  I did and half an hour later, when we parted, I said I would get in touch when next in town.  June is a charming, lovely, soft spoken woman of 79 and she is an inspiration.

Yesterday we crossed the state to Ludington (the snow capital of MI) and stayed at Vacation Station RV Park.  The camp office was built in the style of an old Railroad Station.  Last night we found out why...you guessed it.  Every hour it went rumbling by.  No wonder it was only 20 bucks a night. But it was neat and tidy and had all the ammenities...except ear plugs.

Today we are aboard the SS Badger just more than half way across Lake Michigan.  The ship is pitching quite a bit and even Ted just took a short tumble as he rose from our table.  I braved a visit to the lav and was grabbing everything in sight to steady my footing...yuk...but I had no choice. We should arrive in Manitowac, WI at 1:00 pm MI time (12:00 Central)).  We'll drive for a couple hours and crawl into our little home away from home.

Speaking of our trailer, there were 3 nominations for names:  Joy Ride, Rocinante and Rosa, short for Rocinante.  Too few to have a vote I think, so I'm making an executive decision and christening her "Rosa", short for Rocinante.  Read past posts for the significance of that name.  Right now I'm signing off and eating this lovely Michigan Cherry salad Ted just placed before me.  MI is the cherry capital of the States for all you non-Michiganders.

Bye for now,

Peggy/Mom

Learning to blog

For the past 24 hours I've been trying to comment on comments to my blog.  Perhaps all I can do is make posts to it.  You are all free to give me instruction or advice in this matter.

Today was busy stocking our little No Name Yet trailer with food stuffs.  Quite a chore because there are so many restrictions as to what we can take across the border.  Basically, if it's fresh, can it!  We'll be making Kroger one of our first stops in Redford.

As you can read so far there are 3 nominations for our trailer's name.  "Prarie Schooner", my own, which I just threw out there to get the ball rolling.  "Joy Ride" from my friend Rosy, is perfect because I am filled with JOY when I enter our little home away from home.  The name is short, catchy and self-explanatory.

The 3rd entry "Rocinante" is from my nephew, Don.  How did you know, Don?  I have a tattered copy of Travels with Charley on the table next to my desk.  I read it in high school and ever since then  have wanted to travel in a trailer, getting off the beaten path, meeting the people, getting to know the country.  I had put that dream on hold for many years.  Forgotten about it, in fact. 

Last year when Ted and I started talking about living the RV life, Steinbeck's book came back to mind.  I realized that I didn't want to buy a huge rig and plant it in the south for the winter.  No!  I wanted to get a smaller trailer, tow it behind a pick up, and head off with not much of a plan other than seeing those places I had never seen in this great North American Continent.

That makes "Rocinante" perfect.  Now I am not proclaiming it as winner because I believe it was going to be up to a vote from our readers, and we don't have 10 entries yet  So keep the names coming.

To Don, all I can say is..."Why didn't I think of it first?!"

Five days and counting

In 5 days Ted and I will be off in our 24 foot Jayco trailer.  First stop:  Redford MI at my brother's place. Kevin and Laraine always welcome us with open arms.  Love being with family and seeing the sights of the place where I grew up.

I think our little trailer needs a name, so let's open this up to all you readers (are there any readers?).  Each one of you is free to nominate a name.  Ted and I will choose 3 finalists and then we'll have a vote. This nomination process will be open until we leave, or until we have at least 10 suggestions.

I'll start with nominating:  Prarie Schooner...an affectionate name for the Connestoga Wagon, the mode of travel for the Ingalls Family and the rest of the pioneers.  Now it's YOUR turn.

Eagerly awaiting your creative nominations...

Mom/Peggy/Granny