Our nation sets aside a special day per year to honor all those individuals who served honorably in the military in war time and peace time; it is Veteran’s Day.
This year Veteran’s Day is Tuesday, November 11.
Thank you veterans.
Thank a Veteran
Category: history
Orange & Black for Halloween
Orange and black are the two colors we often see at Halloween. I wondered how they came to be those colors, so I looked for an answer.
Simple. Black represents darkness … since Halloween is a night-time thing. The fall season, harvest time, is orange and indicates life. Thus we have black and orange!
The history of Halloween is more complicated. I’ll leave that to others to write about. Happy Halloween!!
Jane Touched My Heart
Jane Goodall was always an inspiration to me. In the 1970’s, I knew of her observational work with chimpanzees and time in an African forest. At the same time, I was a science teacher, backpacker and loved science, nature and the outdoors. To record factual info, spend time in a natural environment and observe nature was one of the reasons I enjoyed the subject of science. I was also aiming to encourage my science students to be aware and involved in environmental activities. While listening to Jane Goodall speak a few times at Cornell University, I knew my goal in encouraging my students to care about their local environment would be beneficial. She spoke to me in a way that further opened my heart to the love of the natural world. I wanted to do the same with my students. To touch another’s heart with a compassionate and loving message, there is a better chance the individual will join your project.
Jane Influenced My Approach to Teaching
My junior high school science students learned the usual info in science books, but also had outdoor activities. In the beginning, each class simply went on an outdoor walk around the school yard with me, observing and discussing what they noticed. Eventually each student with a partner did “adopt” an area of land in our school’s deciduous backyard. Students had a piece of land one foot by one foot at its surface and also took measurements approximately a foot above and below the land’s surface. They recorded the organic and inorganic matter in their plot, once a month for 8 months in the school year. (Yes, there was snow, much to the chagrin of my school administrator who wondered how the students would do their outdoor observations on those days.) Students enthusiastically accomplished their observations and made some surprising, at least to them, notes. I think to be outdoors doing science was so unique to the students there was no question it intrigued them to participate.
A group of my science students also started a paper recycling club. They made sure every classroom had a bin just for paper. Students collected the bins throughout the school on a regular basis and stored the paper waste. Old textbooks had their pages ripped from the binders. At locker clean-out time per quarter, students collected the notebooks thrown out and ripped out those pages of paper. (Fortunately these were years when the group received money for the paper they recycled at recycling centers.) They also collected pencils, sharpened what was left to many of them and made them available to the student body.
While I was not in Africa with chimpanzees, I continued to motivate young people in projects so they could appreciate our natural world. Decades later, 1991, Jane Goodall began her “Roots and Shoots” program for school groups. It was similar to what I was doing within my teaching. As I suspected, Jane had touched my heart and that was motivation for me to do the work I did as a science teacher.
As a Cadette Girl Scout leader, I took my troop camping once a month year-round. I wanted the young campers to realize every camping trip is not easy. We wish weather to be beautiful, bugs to be non-existent, campfires to light with a first match, and rain to stop … there is much to be learned when things do not go as planned. My hope was they would be problem-solvers and remain optimistic even when challenges grew larger. I saw this too with Jane Goodall as the decades went by. She had talks with opposing groups to understand how their side could help to make all a bit better. If we could all work together a common goal, no matter how small the goal. There was an importance in compromising to meet a goal: small positive action moved forward rather than a full stop and no goal met for decades or ever.
The Future is in our Youth Leaders
I followed Jane Goodall’s work throughout the years with info from the Jane Goodall Institute. She worked tirelessly. To this day I can recall her chimp welcome when she began her talk at Cornell University. I was moved seeing the photographs and videos of her work in Gombe. Her shift to working with young people with “Roots and Shoots” program was what I believed to be most important since they are the inheritors of this planet. Hearing young people speak so intelligently about the natural world is heart-warming. I believe we are in good hands as the younger generations move forward with knowledge and understanding of the natural world and how to have a healthy planet. Soon they will be in position of power to make the decisions needed. Our generation may think we know it all, but we are spending time trying to fix the mess we made and at times I’m not even sure we are doing that! The younger generation wants a healthier planet for them and their future generations.
To quote another influencer in my lifetime, Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Jane Goodall accomplished so much during her life till the day she died … touched many a heart … and one is mine! Thank you Jane!
An Elko Surprise
Do you know where Elko is? I discovered Elko, Nevada on my drive from Utah to California on Interstate 80. Quite honestly, there is not much between towns in Nevada except for wildlife bridges, mining areas, casinos and sage brush. However, we then entered Elko!
After a Mexican meal, recommended by a local, we walked some of downtown Elko. We learned the town’s name came from a guy who saw many elk in the area and then decided to add an “O”, thus Elko! The county courthouse is an obvious building along with the numerous painted murals around this town of 20k locals. One mural near the Western Folklife Center had info about the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, happening since 1985, and to be in Elko again in January 2026. Every July since 1963, Elko hosts the National Basque Festival since many people immigrated to this area since the 1890’s from the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain.
We walked by Elko Railroad Park where stand a historic locomotive and caboose. Central Pacific Railroad ran through the middle of Elko in 1868. As the years went by, there were 16 railroad crossings within 5.4 miles of tracks in this town! You could imagine the congestion and safety concerns … or maybe not, as I read, “it was not unheard of to wait an hour or more for one of the 50 daily trains to pass through town”. Yikes!
Near the locomotive and caboose we saw this tower and wondered who was Chilton. We discover Mark Chilton was the guiding force with Project Lifesaver. The river and train tracks were all re-aligned, as were other Elko infrastructure projects redesigned, for great improvement to the area. The ten year plan included 5 years of construction, 1979-1984, with many positive results. Now trains do not go through the center of town!
Step away from the town and you’re in Ruby Valley Recreation Area for all kinds of outdoor activities. So maybe you’ll stop in Elko for a few days as you drive across Nevada and discover what’s here in this town. Did you know you can get a custom horse saddle made here too? It’s really fun to spend time in small towns; check them out when you can.
Never Forget September 11, 2001
On September 11, 2001, four terrorist suicide attacks happened in the USA. You probably remember where you were on that day. We watched in horror as 2 planes flew into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Another plane crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. While a fourth plane had crew and passengers fighting to prevent another possible crash on our White House or US Capitol. It crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We now know more than we did in those horrific moments about how orchestrated the attack plan was for this day.
Many lives were lost on that day, 2977 deaths. We remember them in many ways. A 9/11 National Memorial and Museum has been visited by many of us at the World Trade Center in New York City to remember the lives lost. The Flight 93 National Memorial (U.S.National Park Service) is in Pennsylvania. The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is in Virginia.
Various organizations, such as the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, collect donations to alleviate financial burdens of fallen firefighters, military and emergency service personnel. These individuals had put their life on the line for us each day while in service. The foundation helps in various ways. It was first started to honor Stephen Siller, a local firefighter, who died on September 11, 2001, and continues now to provide stability and security for families in need. Recently some individuals received mortgage-free smart homes.
Never forget September 11, 2001. We have a country worth fighting for everyday and must honor all lives lost in service to our country. And provide stability and security for those individuals and families that suffered tragic loss.
Travel and How to Not Break Your Bank!
So you want to travel! And you’re concerned about the cost of the travel. I understand; I get it! Before leaving home, you can estimate some costs: transportation, food, lodging and sightseeing admission costs. Use realistic numbers when calculating these estimates and then add what you feel could be your “slush fund”. Those monies are what you may need to cover the surprises … increased fees, emergencies, or paying for an event you truly wish to attend and just learned about while on your trip!
Does everything cost money? Not exactly. Where things do cost money, there may be ways to accomplish the same or similar in less expensive ways. I look for ways to not break my bank account.
Gas to power the vehicle. Some people can drive hybrid vehicles and get better gas mileage than me with my van at 20 miles per gallon. However, others wish to travel in a larger RV and they only get 8 miles per gallon. So choose the travel vehicle best for your travel budget and go forth!
My go-to choices when looking for gasoline at less dollars per gallon is to check my GasBuddy app. There I see what gas station has the least expensive gas price, especially when there is no Costco in the area. Otherwise I use my basic Costco membership for my gasoline bill. With it I often pay 5 to 25 cents less per gallon than another station in the area. Those cents add up to saving dollars.
Other people may use Sam’s Club, another membership that can help you save money. I recently signed up for Love’s Travel Stop. Besides saving cents per gallon, I can wash my windshield with their longer-handled windshield brushes. Plus if I need a shower, after a few boon-docking nights or Harvest Host nights with no services, I can reserve/take a shower for $18 at a Love’s Travel Stop.
Food to power you. You’re driving down the road and billboard messages entice you to try a place at the upcoming exit for their cheese, ice cream, hamburgers, etc. Willpower is needed. Keep your budget in mind!
Dependent on your method of travel … are you tenting, in a van/RV decked out with kitchen, or such as my van where I use a backpacker stove at a picnic table? In your estimates, you would know the breakfast with yogurt, cereal and blueberries may not be every morning. My coffee and tea per day are a constant. So how many mornings did you plan to eat an omelet or pancakes out?
In your estimates, you may have planned lunches with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or cheese and crackers, fruit and nuts. What number of lunches may be eaten on the road? Or will you snack and have a late lunch, early dinner on the road?
I have seen people carry all kinds of kitchen appliances, even if their RV has a kitchen! Additional grills, InstaPots and waffle makers. If you’re carrying them along, are you using them?
My approach: when the weather is nice, I’ll cook every meal on my backpacker stove or make a sandwich or have food directly from my cooler. When weather is not so nice, I quickly boil water for a dehydrated meal from my food box. If I am swamped with bad weather, I consider buying food I can eat with no prep needed.
Here’s where supermarkets are helpful. I love having a sandwich for lunch or dinner and often will buy a bread roll, sandwich fixings at the deli counter and make my own sandwich. I love the markets where you can buy one roll at a time! My best meals are when I buy a roasted rotisserie chicken and shred the chicken breasts for future sandwiches with tomato and avocado! I usually eat the thighs and legs straight-away. I love adding coleslaw to all my supermarket sandwiches. Some markets have the California sushi roll, rice pudding, small curd cottage cheese and kefir … other food items I look for when in a store. Don’t forget to check the day-old product shelf! You’ll probably be eating the item that day and you’ll be saving 50%! Fresh fruit and individually-packed fruit containers work for me to keep a balanced diet.
Every state in our union has a special food to brag about, such as brats, cheese curds and Kringles in Wisconsin. So I look for the food and try it … another joy when traveling! Some day I’ll actually do a food tour as I travel. That would be so much fun!
Don’t forget to eat where locals eat. Often I find more food served at a less expensive cost, so ask for recommendations to local eateries. I also learned they often only take cash … so be prepared!
Each day I will make coffee and tea, then it is water for the rest of the day. Hot days, electrolytes are added. Relaxing moments and wanting something different on my tastebuds, I’ll drink a small soda or electrolyte drink purchased from the supermarket. Late afternoon, I often have a Guinness beer. Buying drinks from establishments is costly; however, I do have a set amount of money on my Starbucks card. Rainy days may be the morning I buy my coffee at that establishment, but when I am out of the money I set on the card, I am done.
Where to sleep at night. If you are traveling with an RV, or like myself in a self-contained van, the decision is quite easy. Choose the campground you can afford. Many apps and guides can help, plus each state has state parks. I also like the Harvest Hosts membership where I can request a stay, pull in to the location and only pay $30. I’ve met campers who stay on Bureau of Land Management or Army Corp of Engineer locations. Again, there are books providing those details.
Motels, hotels, bed and breakfast places, glamping and cabins are other options. If you go the motel/hotel route, then join their loyalty card so you can save dollars, and/or gain a free night, after staying so many nights. Or select a credit card linked with a hotel chain. You’ll spend money throughout the year, so pay those bills with the credit card and points add up. It’ll allow you to use the points toward the hotel chain the credit card is linked with. As a result, enjoy a free night at the hotel while on the road.
Sightseeing costs. Prioritize what you want to see while traveling. Dependent on the museum, art gallery, wildlife refuge, theme park, local, state or national park, beach or place you wish to visit, there may or may not be a cost. Do some research before heading to an attraction. Some places have hours later in the day with a lower entrance cost. Others are free on some or all days.
Gift shops … wow, here is a place to easily spend money. Check your budget and think before spending. I always see so many cute things to purchase, but my budget just doesn’t allow it. When I do purchase something, it truly is something special!
If visiting more than one, for example state park, it may be worth buying an annual or season ticket than a daily ticket. Combine activities. Some are free and others may cost. Try not to shell out money every day.
I have a hard time being indoors on a beautiful day, so I’ll head to a wildlife refuge, local park or nature center … all of which rarely have a cost. Or I’ll take a longer hike or bicycle ride. But, there are some sights you just have to see and they will/may cost an entrance fee. That’s okay since your original travel plan may have had them already in your budget. Go for it! The point of traveling it is to learn and see a variety of new things. Remember, there are discounts for seniors, military, etc. so make use of them too!
Don’t let money slow down your travel plan. Do set some monies aside each month in anticipation of a trip. The money you currently spend to eat at home or visit a special exhibit needs to be shuffled to cover on-the-road expenses. Be clear-headed about your goal. You’ll figure out what works best for you and your family. Each time I travel I learn something new or discover what works best for me. Plan what you can and be ready for the adventure! Go have fun!
Colorado Beauty: Part 2
Colorado’s beauty is in its natural landscape. Between the mountains, open landscapes, creeks and rivers, all often bordered with sweet yellow clover, there is a calm. Enter a small or larger town and the frenetic pace of life kicks in with one wishing for the quiet space once again. This is how I felt driving from Walsenburg to Cortez.
Thankfully Wolf Creek Pass and miles between towns were calm as was where I spent last night outside of Pagosa Springs. As I mentioned in the previous post, I appreciated this Harvest Host location at 84 Ranch. Only the wind. Even the cows in the field were silent! It’s wonderful to escape life’s noises every so often. I wish I could bottle this silence. Plus there is no cell service so I can completely unplug from the world events. Time to think, meditate, read, write, sketch and simply be! The sun did go down and the stars were huge!I wish everyone could have this experience. It’s a shame they cannot.
Next morning I visited Chimney Rock National Monument, located between Pagosa Springs and Durango. It was designated a national monument in 2012 and is one of only 14 managed by the US Forest Service. I took the Great House Trail tour and learned the ancestral Puebloans were most aware of the moon’s location between Chimney and Companion Rock every 18.5 years. Sites like this continue to be spiritually significant to Native Americans. Please always treat these sites with respect. Always.
The next day, while in Cortez area, I visited Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. My first early morning stop was at Lowry Pueblo and guaranteed to have the place to yourself. Canyon of the Ancients was designated a national monument in 2000 and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. During the month of September, the Bureau of Land Management provides special recreation permits for the public to also use the land. This is very different than land managed by the US Forest Service which does not provide that option.
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument encompasses 176,000 acres and so far there are 8300 documented sites with ancestral Pueblo artifacts. Archeologists think another 10,000 sites are possible on this land. Be sure to stop at the visitor center and view the couple of films, the museum and the Escalante Pueblo, a short walk up a paved trail. I cannot help but notice what great locations these pueblos are at with 360 degree view. No doubt it was for defensive positioning. Looking across the sage plain and to the far away mountains also provided a place of beauty.
Missouri and Kansas; Driving Through the Middle of America
In my quest to drive roads I have not been on before, here I am in Missouri and then Kansas.
Missouri:
Oak Grove, Missouri: my Harvest Host was in this town, yet the best part was her delicious sourdough bread she made for me that evening! Lovely quiet night to sleep and visited a local cafe in the morning to catch up on my emails and blog writing. Mocha and blueberry muffin to enjoy! Then, on with my day!
Independence, Missouri: stopped at the Presidential Museum for our 33rd President Truman. I am not typically a museum or history buff, but I did find the exhibits very interesting. So much to learn from history and they bring much of it to life with the museum exhibits and movies. This place is worth a visit.
Kansas:
Wilson, Kansas: my Harvest Host was here and specifically at a Cold War Atlas F missile base. The owner provides a tour, for a $25 fee, to explain the engineering and construction where the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile was housed in the 176 feet deep silo. You walk own into the historic missile base and see the work being done to convert some levels into Air B’n B’s! One is done and people have stayed there. I camped at ground level with other campers, but in time the owner hopes to have more sites.
Check out the website: https://www.atlasadastra.com
If you are in the area, stop in for a tour. I know I will return in a couple of years as I truly want to see the work the owner has completed by then as this is a huge undertaking!
Wilson, Kansas: Largest Czech egg is here! The traditional design is on this 20 foot high egg. A sign nearby explains what the different colors and symbols represent.
Colby, Kansas: Prairie Museum – Art & History. Wow, a variety of things to see here! Displays of the local history and a room with regional art work. I started with the Kuska Collection. This couple collected everything! And when I thought I saw it all, the staff told me there are more things in storage as they cannot display all 28,000 items at a time.
Then there was his plains information and equipment, but I found the buildings on the site most interesting. They had a sod house, a barn, a school building, a church and most impressive is the Cooper Barn This is the largest barn in Kansas and in 2008 voted one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas Architecture. Now I really need to check the others out! Plus, the barn is one of the 70 don’t miss Kansas Bucket List experiences. Who knew so much was happening in Kansas? I only remember coming through Kansas, when I was young and with my family 55 years ago, and experiencing non-stop wind! It is still blowing to this day!
Visiting Springfield, Illinois: Land of Lincoln
Springfield has rain! My leisurely start to the day was wonderful in Wisconsin’s sun with time to eat breakfast and enjoy my coffee. This is when camping is best! But alas, I must move on.
As I cut away from interstates and decide to grocery shop in Peoria, the landscape scenery was miles and miles of corn fields. (By the way, Illinois is the 3rd largest grower of popcorn in the US.) I’m not sure what the other abundant crop was; however, the town of Varna has numerous and gigantic grain bins! I think we forget what our farmers in the midwest provide us. As one drives through, there will be windmills, large solar arrays, really huge farm equipment driven on the side of the road, many intersections with 4-way-stop signs, and small towns that proudly hang their “Welcome to …” signs. America is with such variety in landscape and sizes of towns. Getting away from large cities provides moments of reflection. Time to respect what each community offers the greater good. Time to understand our differences need not tear us apart. Time to appreciate the kindness humans are capable of when we treat each other as neighbors. The miles of cornfields are a gift of time for me to think how fortunate we Americans truly are when we work together for the benefit of all.
I’ve got grocery shopping done and off to the Kampgrounds of America (KOA) Springfield campground in the rain. Unfortunately I saw a camper backing over a chair at the site next to me. I jumped out of my van and suggested they ask for a different site. They did with an upgrade and know now to reserve pull-through sites, and not back-in sites, at their next campgrounds. During one of my walks I was talking with them and they are from Minnesota and traveling to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina … KOA’a the entire way.
My sightseeing day in Springfield included the following:
Dana-Thomas House … need to reserve a free tour ticket … fascinating 1 hour long tour of this Frank Lloyd Wright 1902 “Prairie School” construction for Susan Lawrence Dana in Springfield. I love his architecture style, which is not always the most comfortable seating, but the art glass throughout the home is beautiful! No photos can be taken of the house’s interior; so tour it if you are in the area. More research is needed my me regarding the woman who commissioned this house. My understanding is that she was an early suffragette.
Next stop: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library. Researchers would be interested in the library. My $12 ticket was to visit the museum which was built 20 years ago. This is a “must-see” visit! A couple of different videos, and exhibits to walk through of his cabin and early life, Civil War and White House years. It is simply remarkable how the history was brought to life! I’m not a usual museum person, but this was worth a visit!
Final stop for the day: Lincoln’s Home. I walked from the museum to the home. Easy 15 minute walk and was able to jump in a tour leaving in 20 minutes. The National Park Service ranger led us through the home … the original home and only one Lincoln lived in besides the cabin he grew up in and the White House. The ranger explains what furniture is the original in each room and focused on Lincoln as a person, family man and lover of cats! It was a nice change of pace from the earlier museum time where I spent energy understanding the American conflict at that time.
I walked back to my van and stepped into the driver’s seat as a severe thunderstorm hit! Wow, lucked out as I would have been drenched. Good news… windshield is clean and no leaks in the van! Phew!
Tomorrow I leave Springfield with a breakfast stop at Charlie Parker’s Diner for a “Horseshoe”, or smaller version: a “pony” meal. We hear about Chicago-style pizza and other Illinois iconic foods. Well how about a horseshoe sandwich? Slices of toast, with ham or bacon, crispy fries and a gravy or cheese sauce on top of it all, a “horseshoe”? The 1928 original was open-faced sandwich with ham in horseshoe shape and fries representing the nails. A recipe for the original cheese sauce is available to the public. Here’s a “pony”. I ordered scrambled egg on the toast with ham and cubed American fries and small amount of each sauce. Photo below of the iconic “pony” breakfast sandwich:
Travel Away From Wildfire Smoke! Hello Door County Wisconsin!
Canadian wildfire smoke is blowing on the northern Minnesota towns I have been trying to visit once again. In 2023, I was smoked out due to Canadian wildfire smoke. At that time I was literally in the smoky area and drove out of it. My weather app indicated the air quality index for each town I was interested in visiting along with weather alerts. I simply chose to drive south away from the smoke. Traveling away from the wildfire smoke also meant I did not visit the western part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as I hoped. Maybe another time I will return to the area.
Once across the state line into Wisconsin, I stopped at a cheese shop for cheese curds! Now I need to portion out my snacks so I don’t eat it all too quickly! If you are in the Green Bay area, do stop at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. They have an incredible nature center with so many exhibits. There are trails to hike around fenced areas where some animals are being rehabbed or now provided homes. Some animals had been pets and now cannot be returned to the wild, thus the sanctuary is now their home. I noticed a couple of groups of young children on an adventure with a teacher/leader and also a teenage group with cameras photographing wildflowers. I loved hiking here and seeing what this place offers; fantastic place!
Have you been to Door County?
I have arrived and am camping in Door County! Often when I mentioned Wisconsin in the past, someone would ask me if I have been to Door County? Wow, 19 communities have truly united in providing a variety of activities: art, theater, a drive-in theater, orchards, wineries, breweries, state park, local parks, open spaces, land trusts, marinas, antique shops, boating, hiking, bicycling, museums, restaurants, dog parks, and you name it, they have it! I think I spent an hour just flipping through their “official destination guide” to map out a plan for my next day visit. (So much to do, so little time. I see they recommend 4 days to visit this county.) I’ll do my best to see the 300 miles of shoreline, lighthouses, marinas and various places in a day.
My jam-packed day in Door County began at Sturgeon Bay. There is a Maritime Museum and tugboats, but I was delighted watching an artist painting a tugboat while his art students looked on … as did I! But the most delicious stop was at Seaquist Orchards. I ate the most delicious slice of cherry pie. Each cherry burst with flavor in my mouth as I watched and learned, on their outdoor video, that they make 20,000 pies a year. They, now 6th generation originally from Sweden, have 1300 acres of cherry orchards. Their first cherry tree was planted in 1912. Tart cherry trees are shaken and collected by machines, whereas the sweet cherries are hand-picked. Informative signage about the family and a huge store to meet all your cherry shopping needs.
There are numerous places to pull off the road for views of the lake or to travel away from the main route. Each town has its own vibe and some are very walkable, such as Ephraim with all its shops having a view of the waterfront. An off-the-main-road stop I made was at Garrett’s Bay Park. Here was a boat launch for non-motorized watercraft. An interesting sign also about a wooden schooner, the Fleetwing, missing the Death Door’s passage and crashed onto a rocky beach in Garrett Bay. The crew survived and additional gale force winds have left the schooner in pieces. Divers, snorkelers and kayakers can still explore the remnants of the wreckage on the lake bed’s floor.
On the east side of the peninsula, the temperature dropped about 15 degrees. What was a warm morning became a cold 50 degrees with 30 mph winds. I stopped by Cana Island and also Anclam Beach where even the diving Caspian terns were challenged as they dove straight-down into the water to fish. Loved watching them! But alas, my day must come to an end and I return to the campground an hour away, yet still in Door County. The landscape is beautiful and I understand now why people ask if I have been to Door County. Have you been here?
