The Bridges of Franklin County

The Low Water Bridge

I live in the middle of no-where.  It’s 15 miles to the nearest grocery store.  The man picked out this land LONG before he met me.  It was his dream to live out in the country.

The Man fancies himself as a farmer. I call this photo Grumpy in Black Socks.

Maybe I said that wrong.. I think he dreams he is a farmer and really is a country boy. (if you met my in-laws they are not very country-fied)   To get to our home you must cross the low water bridge. Sounds scary, but doesn’t look that way does it?

Not much water here huh?

Flowers blooming on the side of the creek..

Pretty.. Not too bad huh?

Looks like a little babbling brook…

A red bud blooming.. it’s spring in Kansas

Here’s the same creek after a bit of rain

About 16 years ago, (when I just moved here) I left early in the morning to spend the day in Kansas City.  It was raining when I left, and it rained all day.  When I came back home I encountered this bridge, with water rushing over it.  It completely freaked me out.  The Man had NEVER told me the bridge gets this way.  Matter of fact, he never mentioned  the creek.

So I did what every good city girl does… I headed into town.  I needed to get a hold of him, because I had NO IDEA how to get home without going down this road.  I drove into our little town, which only has a post office, car wash, and some vending machines. I knocked on some doors to see if I could borrow a phone, and the only people I could find home said “they didn’t have no phone!”  I found a pay phone on the side of a brick building and called him. I called and called.. he did not answer the phone.

I started to panic.  I did not know how to get to my house except the one way I had always come.  I’m going to admit I was a little more than just panicked.  I was frantic. I started to cry and drive.  I drove every logical way to get to my house. I didn’t have a map, or anyone to ask where I was or where I was going.  After about an hour, I found my way home.  It was a scary experience for a city girl that drove a sports car.. known for going 0-60 in 6.8 seconds.

I’ve seen it as high as the “4”  on the gauge (2 photos above).  It’s hard to tell in this photo how high and fast this water is moving.  I don’t know the name of our litttle creek, but I know it runs into the Marais de Cygn.  It rained last night pretty hard.  My creek is up and so is the river.

Here’s part of the Marais de Cygne where 68Hwy cross it. Normally you can’t see the water unless you are on the bridge, looking down.

Here’s the Marais de Cygne in Ottawa. Normally it’s about 20ft below that walking bridge.

**see how my photos are all off kilter? That’s because I had child #2 take the photos while I was driving.  He thought he would be cool and not hold the camera straight.. so that’s what’s wrong with the photos.. and weird blue stuff on the photos.  I was not trying to be cool.

It’s a Wine Tasting.. instead of a Whine Fest!

Child #1 and I went to a Wine Tasting.  She is a FRINK or a Friend of Ink…. which means she is a panel writer for Ink Magazine/Newspaper.  In case you are wondering Ink is a super hip newspaper/magazine  for people… who live in and around Kansas City. She was invited to meet the other Frink Panel writers.  I of course went because well.. #1 won’t drive.

We headed to 17th and Baltimore in Downtown Kansas City to the Cellar Rat.

We parked outside in front of this fabulous mural/painting by T. Wilson.  I don’t know who T. Wilson is.. but #1 and I thought it was a great mural.

Here’s #1 looking over the wine selection.

They have a HUGE selection.. (if you couldn’t tell) and some great beers, oil, cheese, and vinegars too.  We tasted 3 wines they were:

  • Dona Paula Sauvignon Blanc; Juicy and frmly built, with good definition and energy to the flavors of lime, grapefruit, tropical fruits and peppery herbs.
  • LaGarrigue Cotes Du Rhone; A big, sweet bouqut of Licorice, garrigue, kirsch liqueur, and black fruits is followed by a dense, opulent, medium to full boddied, supple, luscious mouthfeel.
  • Boekenhoutskloof the Wolftrap;  Has good concentration, with soft edges, shoing plum, anise & violet notes backed by a toasty finihs.  A blend of Syrah Mourvedre and Viognier.

My favorite? The Dona Paula Sauvignon Blanc. The red wine was good too.. but whenever I drink red wine I want to eat with it. It’s not my favorite (red wine) without food.

Cool art on the walls huh?

Here’s #1 with her favorite Boxed wine.. we both thought this looked like a milk carton.

How cool is this label?

Super cool logo/sign

Here’s something you don’t see everyday out where I live.. Trees growing on roof tops!  Out in the country our trees grow on the ground.  Ok.. I know, I know.. It’s a roof top patio something.. But there was just something about it that made me smile.

Here’s photo of the WHOLE building.

Girl Scouts.. I don’t just love them because of their cookies…

 

  Girl Scouts.. I don’t just love them because of their Cookies…

Some of you may not know I am a girl scout leader.  I love them.  I’ve been a leader for 4 years now.  When I first started I had 8 brownies.  Holy Smokes these girls were cute!

                                                                 

 

 

 

It’s my fourth year, and I have 40 (yes, you read that correctly) Girl Scouts. I could say "I don’t know how it happened".. But I DO know, or at least I have a good idea. 

 

  1. I am the only troop that meets after school
  2. I am homeschool friendly 
  3. I have Brownies & Juniors (next year I’ll have cadets)
  4. I have LOTS of help! That shipping manager aka child #1 is the Brownie Leader.. and I have Belinda, Betsy, Janet, Lorna and sometimes Jeff!
  5. I can’t say NO
  6. I do lots of fun things and try to do 2 badges a month.

                                                     


                                                      Here’s a few of the girls waiting to perform for on Girl Scout Sunday!

I started this troop thinking it would be a great way for my #3 kid to have friends and be part of a group (since she’s homeschooled).  It’s become more than that to me.  It has been a chance for me to get to know some fabulous girls.  Some spoiled, some gifted, some who need love and some who just need a little confidence.  

 

                                                                                 

These girls teach me something each time we have a meeting and every time we go "camping" .  I put quotes around camping.. because some people don’t really think what we do is camping.  You see we don’t sleep or cook outside.  I mean REALLY how can you cook for 50 people outside?  We use one of our council’s lodges when we camp.  One day I’ll be brave and sleep outside with 50 people.. until that time we’ll have fun in the lodge making crafts and eating non-camp food.  Our last camping experience we spent 2 nights in the lodge.  We had a Mexican Buffet the first night, and the second night we had (get this..) Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes (real ones), peas, salad and rolls.  We painted mugs and learned to embroider!  You can’t do this kind of stuff outside!

 

It’s April, and it occurred to me today that I really only have 2 or maybe 3 more meetings before the summer starts. I love my Girl Scouts.. and will miss them until we start back up in September…

 

 

 

     


 

             

 

What Do You Get a 4 year old for His Birthday?

 

I am never going to win any parenting awards.  I really did shop ahead of time for my soon to be 4 year old’s birthday.  (We will call him #5.) Number 5.. is a good sweet kid.. just look at those eyes….

                                                                  
                                                                    His Grandma gave him some cash….

I know what he loves.  He loves Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and all those DC Comic things.. Since he’s only 3 (almost 4) I won’t let him have the "big kid" action figures. 

For Christmas Santa brought him a Fisher Price Imaginext Bat Cave.  

                                                                       
                                                                                            #5 Loves the Bat Cave.

But Santa didn’t bring all those super cool action figures like the Joker, Mr. Freeze, The Penguin or Superman.  All of those characters were sold out back then.  

#5 want’s this: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-6-Imaginext-DC-Super-Friends-Batman-Joker-Freeze_W0QQitemZ120399380521

I can’t bring myself to pay $69.99 for some action figures… I’ve searched high and low for these… all over Kansas City.  Nothing.  Maybe he’d like a Barbie instead?  

The price has gone down for the individual pieces on eBay.. Maybe I’ll buy those and we can get them here before Easter?

I’ll leave you with a few funny photos of #5…

                                                                         
                                                                          Here’s is own adaptation of Bat/Super/Spiderman

Here’s what he looked like when he was just a little baby.. four years goes by pretty fast….

                                                             
                                                            Makes makes me want to have 5 more…. (Don’t tell The Man)