Badlands National Park

We decided to go home via I-90 instead of our usual route, I-94. As we are now considered Senior Citizens in the eyes of the National Park Service, and because we had never been there, we went to The Badlands, purchased our Senior Pass, and enjoyed the sights. It is a strange and beautiful place.

She wanted to be friendly to Paulee. Paulee wasn't buying it.

Watching me take pictures.

A So-Cal surfer bus. Bit of an upgrade from the old VW vans.

And everywhere the motorcycles. Sturgis is getting closer.

I enjoyed the grasses...

...and the colors in the hills.

That green patch on the mountain caught our attention; 

just weird, like thin icing running down the side of a cake.

And then the strange landscape turned to waving grasslands.

Another Stop in St. Paul!

Yay! We got to spend a few more days with the Balsbaugh family in St. Paul. 
But, more "lost" photos before we got there:/ We were able to connect with my cousin, Darlene Mohler in Fort Wayne, IN. Such a fun visit over lunch! I had not seen her for many years. And then we stopped to see more cousins, Fred and Gail Gish, in Claypool, IN. It was so much fun to visit with them again. Their grandson, Wyatt, was there and he made me think SO much of our Vaughn, looks and mannerisms. He's a sweet little boy. 

I had the privilege of witnessing Nora's Locks of Love  haircut.

Too cute!

We had a couple of days together, then Sunday afternoon Jen took all the kids except Charis to a camp for five days.

Bye, kids!

Now, a little only-child time with Charis.

First to downtown St. Paul for a stop at Candyland 

where Papa helped her make her choices.

You think she is pleased?

Just never know what's coming with this girl.

"Look, my sucker matches my shirt!"

Next stop, Mickey's Dining Car.

If you listen to A Prairie Home Companion

 you may have heard it mentioned.

We went here in honor of Ray and Sandy Birch, 

who introduced us to the storytelling of Garrison Keillor : )

I haven't seen one of these for awhile! 

More decisions.

After a stop at Caribou Coffee

 we found a place to sit and enjoy the coffee and a perfect summer evening.

Nothing like water on a warm summer evening to entertain a child.

Charis soon made a friend.

And continued to enjoy her lollipop.

She is a constant motion child, experiencing life to the fullest.

Those braids were swinging every direction.

"I'm cold."

One last walk in the water.

She just couldn't resist!

The Amish Mill

I made a discovery when I went to choose photos for this post... I had formatted the camera SD card before a final check to see if all photos had been transferred to my computer. So, most of the photos I took while at the PA Amish mill were deleted. I am so sad. However, we had a good experience there and I enjoyed the visits I had with Gideon's wife, Catherine, a very sweet young woman.

  

They graciously allowed us to park at the mill, basically in their back yard.

There was a view of their beautiful garden to enjoy.

One morning a young woman who was helping Catherine, as she recovered from surgery, was weeding in the garden, singing so sweetly a song in the language they speak amongst themselves, Pennsylvania Dutch.

Some everyday activities.

Bringing in the hay.

Mom and daughter on an errand. 

There was a miniature horse pulling the wagon.

Picking hubby up from work.

Funny story about the house in the background. 

Sunday was a visiting Sunday (no church, just visiting) and I noticed some people sitting in the yard over there, so I zoomed in with my camera to take a picture only to see that they were watching me through binoculars!

I waved.

Unfortunately, that was one of the photos I deleted.

I also deleted some darling photos of six little children, siblings, who came to visit the family in the house. They had so much fun in a couple of wagons, zooming down the road in my first photo, managing to turn before they got to the road, then going around the house to do it all again. One little boy, probably five years old, was giving his little brother, maybe two, rides in a stroller around the same track. A little girl tottered out for awhile, then wanted to go in the house but couldn't reach the door handle. The same little five year old hurried to help her. So cute! When the family left they walked past the motor home and there were six little stepping stone and another on the way!

We found produce stands when we could, so as to enjoy summer's bounty.

The hot dogs are North Carolina style,

with coleslaw and hot dog chili sauce. Tasty!

Virginia, Two

For the next job we moved south about 75 miles, to Buena Vista, VA, where we found a city park to call home for our stay.

Just up a small rise from the RV area was this beauty.

I had to investigate! 

By peeking in a window I learned it is called Paxton House, which led to information online from the 

City of Buena Vista website.

It is currently being restored, as funds allow. 

Elisha Paxton and his wife Margaret had one daughter and six sons. One son, Elisha F. Paxton, was an acquaintance of Stonewall Jackson, who lived in Lexington, VA, six miles away. 

I found some fun reading on Wikipedia about them.

A visit to the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington was in order. 

We visited here on an earlier trip, but it's like a magnet to me.

 A memorial to Thomas Jonathan Jackson 

with The Four Apostles

Can you tell I am an admirer of Stonewall Jackson? 

I hope to visit with him someday : ) 

For some insight into how he thought, read a few quotes and favorite sayings.

The Chapel, outside....

and inside.

The unpretentious administrative buildings 

A few of the summertime cadets

The dress shoes and socks with the casual wear brought a smile. Shortly after this photo was taken, they were ambling through a narrow street area, causing a car to have to wait. A very tall, athletically fit man was jogging on the road and came up behind them. We heard a loud, authoritative command, "Get out of the street!"

Talk about a scramble to the side of the street!!! He stopped to give the cadets some further advice, in a quieter tone, before continuing his jogging. 

They stayed at the side of the street.

Adjoining the campus of VMI ...

...is the scenic campus of Washington and Lee University.

The two photos were taken from the same spot in the sidewalk, just did a 180 turn.

Lee Chapel, 

where Robert E. and some family members are buried in the lower level, just across a hallway from a reproduction of his office when he was head of the school for five years, after the Civil War.

There is a small museum and book store there also, where I had a nice conversation with a young lady, and on whose recommendation I purchased a book titled The Lee Girls. Looking forward to reading it.

Antebellum campus buildings, from the front of Lee Chapel

Did a double take when I saw this parked near our truck in the VMI parking lot!

The door sign says Willamette Valley Concrete Pumping Inc. and that's an Oregon phone number.

It was towing this old Jaguar. 

Buena Vista is nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains

 so we took an early morning drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway

 and we were not disappointed!

Thank You, my creator Father, 

for the beauty You provide and allow me to enjoy.

And thank You for this hard working man.

My guy after a long, hot day at the mill.

Dad's home!

She feels it necessary to clean his face of sweat and grinding grit.

It's a daily ritual when he works.

 

Good job, Paulee!