Dear Non- Kansans,
When I reflect on stupid things I have done in the past I recall a moment when I bought a ticket for a roller coaster ride. From the ground it looked very exciting filled with twists, turns and hollering, adventure seekers who appeared to be having a grand time. Unfortunately I forgot that my stomach did not take kindly to upside down travel and I got sick.
The last few weeks in Kansas have felt just like that roller coaster ride. Exciting moments where the cart is going up the tracks and terrifying sudden drops where our knuckles start to turn white.
I am sure in this blog you are interested in learning about our progress here. Well, progress is a funny word. It literally means the development of an individual in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.
I am not sure if a roller coaster ride always counts as progress. Often times the loops feel like we are going backwards and not forward. But none the less we have pressed in and held on for the ride. Here are the highlights of the last few weeks:
The Track Goes Up
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Vegetarians Wanted:
One of our greatest challenges here in small town Kansas is getting to know the locals. Now don't get me wrong, everyone is friendly but getting inside their private world is very difficult.
Fortunately in the last three weeks we have begun to see a breakthrough. Last Saturday, Becca and Kevin. the young couple (who own the new day spa next to our loft) invited us to dinner. This felt like real progress. (The locals tend to talk about getting together but rarely follow through.)
We were escorted to a tiny town called Vining which was described as a suburb of Clifton (population 300) :)
Imagine my surprise when I walked into a dark tavern like restaurant with no less than 12 animal heads mounted onto the wall. I remember whispering to Brian that is was a good thing we weren't vegetarians. After ordering our mouthwatering steaks I told Becca and Kevin that I would remember not to bring our vegetarian friends to Vining. Kevin looked right at me and said "Are there really people that don't eat meat?"
Boy was that a good laugh. Come to find out Becca was raised on a cattle ranch and they literally have beef every night of the week :)
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Little House by the Big Pond
On Sunday we traveled back in time to farm life 100 years ago. Neighbors across the street invited us to come visit their 900 acre farm where they had just built a small cabin.
So off we went, down mud covered roads (you should have seen Brian's truck) through the unending farm land of rural Kansas. Eventually we spiraled around to a large pond and a cabin.
The cabin consisted of an open 24 by 24 room with a wrap around deck. All of the wood has been hand hew over the course of 10 days last winter. The ceiling was done in cedar and the walls in cotton wood. There was an enormous beam down the center of the room and various windows were fitted in. The advantage of this simple cabin is that you can look at the pond while avoiding the whipping Kansas winds.
Eventually they plan to lay oak floors but they are still waiting for the wood to cure and shrink. It was amazing.
Brian went fishing with the guys and I chatted with the ladies who stayed inside out of the wind. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I could really imagine what it might have been like for Laura Ingells in Little House on the Prairie.
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Watching the Cars Go By
Our front yard consists of the downtown square.
We recently purchased 2 reclining lawn chairs and we sit out on our covered parking lot in the evenings and stare at the downtown, the courthouse and the flag. Throughout the evening cars come by and honk or wave. Most everyone either knows us or knows of us.
Occasionally people will stop to ask us about our progress or what we do with tea. Sometimes they stop to tell us how much they like the new loft windows. Other times they holler "get a job!" Then they peel out laughing.
Small town life has wonderful peace filled moments and in those moments I feel lucky to be alive.
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Then Came the Morning
The Spring Cantata was last night. I have included some photos of the gang so you can see how great we looked in black robes. Kinda a cross between penguins and nuns. You can decide.
I have enjoyed the people in the local church choir. They are a lively bunch with an impressive skill for song.
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The Big Ride
Brian rode to Kansas City two weeks ago on his motorcycle. This was his first big ride. He rode 3 hours into the dealer for service and then 3 hours back. It was a warm day but there was a rough wind and he had to ride nearly sideways.
He seemed to enjoy rising to the challenge and has been on several rides since. The bike may pay for itself with the current price of gas!
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Watch out! Here come the windows.
The big news around town was our new Pella windows which were lifted into place. Brian and Jerry worked day after day getting the windows to fit just right. The first day was 78 degrees and with the reflection from the windows they both had big tans.
The next day was a rain and thunder storm. They were dripping wet.
So I guess it can be said that these windows will whether the storms. Be sure to see the pictures of these huge glass wonders.
Anyone need a bunch of original 1910 windows? Everyone here seems to think they are trash. :)
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The Promenade
Friday April 20th was the Washington Prom. The town tradition is that everyone gathers around the town square to watch the couples promenade through the square displaying their finery and of course, their date.
An announcer introduces each and every couple as they walk by their adoring fans and pose for photos. It is really quite an event.
The thing I most enjoyed about Washington's promenade was that each and every girl wore a beautiful elegant gown. There was not a tramp or a sequin in the bunch. What a refreshing change!
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Life at the Museum.
I have been promoted. The ladies at the museum have now given me a new task. Cutting and sorting old newspapers. I am currently working through 1943. I am in search of obituaries and any interesting articles that may be worth preserving.
My old job (which I still do on occasion) was entering the birth dates of all the babies born within the county or that are somehow related to someone within the county. It's amazing what you learn when you do data entry in this town.
One day I was introduced to a new lady at church. After the introduction I asked her if she had 3 sons all of which were in their 20's. Boy did she jump! I quickly explained that I had been entering the births at the museum and remember feeling sorry for the poor lady who had those three boys in quick succession. She said "Yep, that's me." and she actually appreciated the sympathy.
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Washington's Fun Family Fourth
As mentioned in my previous blog (weeks 6-8) I am now coordinating the upcoming Fourth of July event for Washington County. This should be interesting. Here's what I have planned so far:
Proposed Activities:
9:00 am Prayer at the Pole for the Nation
9:30 am Pancake Breakfast at Mayberry's (with announcements about the day's activities)
10:30am Line up for Parade
11:00 am Pet Parade -Multi Age
11:30 am The Great Iced Tea Race – Multi Age Teams
11:45 am Watermelon Eating Contest- Multi Age
12:00 pm Food around the Square
-burger/hot dog stand -kettle corn -snow cones-spray paint hair booth-rub on tattoos-chalk art mural for kids-museum open ? -portable rock climbing? -basketball tourney?
1:00 pm Ice Cream Social at the Museum
2:00 pm Patriotic Program
-swimming at the park -softball tourney-volleyball tourney
4:00 pm Patriotic Program?
5:30 pm Hog Roast at the Park
-horseshoe competition-croquet course-softball and volleyball continue-dunk tank
7:00 pm Games and Multi Age Activities
-sack race
-duck find
-craft center
-three legged race
-bean bag toss etc.
8:00 pm Us Trivia Competition and Crowning of Mr./Mrs. Fourth of July
9:30 pm Fireworks Begin
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The Tracks Go Down:
Distance Gets Old
Traveling long distances to get necessary items gets old. So does hauling 10 -12 loads of dirty laundry to towns 2 hours away. Usually we try to make the most of our time and shop for everything we need plus do the laundry. By the time we drag home we are spent.
It was during this process that I realized why so many Washingtonians just do without. It is a tremendous effort to get supplies. It takes time, energy and planning. Traveling to Lincoln for a simple thing like going to home depot (that's 90 miles one way) makes me better understand the pioneers.
Kansas homesteaders were creative. They had to be. If they needed something the journey would take them 2 days, sometimes more. They made sure they needed it before they went for supplies.
Some days it feels like things are so backwards here. The post office closes at 4:30 (because they have to drive the mail 30 minutes to go out.) and the bank closes at 3:00 (not sure why). Grocery stores close at 7 pm and almost nothing is open on Saturday or Sunday.
Adjustments challenge us on every side. It can get frustrating and old quick. In some ways we really are 21st century pioneers. We are going back to where pioneering began. A time gone by.
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The Million Dollar Kitchen
Our biggest frustration in the last 6 weeks has been trying to order a custom kitchen. There are very few custom cabinetry places here and most only do traditional oak.
I of course did not want oak I wanted painted cabinets. It sounded easy when we started this journey but boy were we wrong.
The first 6 places Brian called just "don't do paint." The next 3 do paint but at HUGE prices. It has taken 6 weeks of painstaking effort to even get bids on the project.
When the bids came in they were HIGH. $24,000 for bottom cabinets. That did not include the counter tops or the appliances or the top cabinets plus they told us to figure 8 weeks for production.
Now, if you consider that the entire 8,000 square foot building only cost $35,000 then you can sense my dilemma. My blood pressure has been up, down and all around with this ongoing project.
As of today, May 2nd I have called the kitchen planner to make additional changes, forget about the painted cabinets and look at my options. We will keep you in the loop on our progress (or in this case our lack of progress).
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Easy Come, Easy Go?
For the last three days my office has been torn up as the guys put in my air conditioner. Temperatures are getting higher and with no ventilation in the office I just could not go any longer without air.
We have had electricians, carpenters, etc in here with one problem after the next.
Yesterday morning the air conditioner was finally plugged in and POOF!
The new air unit blew up. Come to find out the compressor was bad and so Brian had to drive it 20 miles and return it to the company who ordered it for us. (did I mention it took 10 weeks to get?)
So if I seem crabby it could just be that it is getting HOT in here!
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Washington County's Most Expensive Closet
Brian has embraced curves as a recurring theme in our loft. The problem has been that curves have not embraced him.
Over the last 4 weeks Brian has broke one sheet of drywall after the next trying to get it to curve around our hall closet in the entry.
Now, its not like he hasn't done this before. He just can't get it to do it here. So we have spent at least $300-$400 on drywall board that has broken when wrapped around the closet frame
Next week he will buy a new flex board available in Kansas City. Keep your fingers crossed!
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Summertime is the Right Time
Our goal was June for the big loft move in. Obviously with the kitchen set back that is not going to happen. We are now shooting for July even late July if necessary.
The trailer is starting to get hot in the garage and the thought of unpacking my clothes is becoming more and more appealing.
I honestly don't remember what I tossed in Redmond and what I kept for the move. I packed nearly everything in April of 2006 so if I ever get to unpack it will seem like Christmas.
Until then I am trying to enjoy the "process." It's a good thing my mom made me watch Pollyanna (the Disney movie) over and over again when I was a girl. If it wasn't for her "think about the positive" speech in that movie I might have jumped out the loft window long ago.
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So, now you should be up to date on our day to day activities in Washington Kansas. I look forward to sharing additional tid bits in my next blog.
Until then.
Dawnya
HI Everyone-
Dear Friends and Family,
Hi Friends, Family and Loved Ones-
