Going Through Life One Blog Post at a Time
I got to take this beauty for a test ride (or four today) or maybe she took me for a ride. I think CycleX has made a sale. I was climbing hills that I didn’t know I had in me and that 45 minutes just might have been the best workout that I’ve had in months. I’m not sure who was smiling more – me or Andy. I will never be able to keep up with him, but maybe he can slow down a little for me now and then…
I love it when a plan comes together! Andy hung the new pictures in our bedroom tonight.
I love it! The pictures really show off the height of the ceiling. All are of Missouri’s Champion Bur Oak tree. The bigger two have our kids standing by the tree. The pictures were taken about six years ago and the kids look so tiny next to that massive trunk. They would still look tiny today… The smaller four were taken by Mike Morgan, a friend of Andy’s from Big Tree Cycling. The candle sconces were in our bedroom at the old house. I think this wall is going to look even better once I finally settle on a paint color for the walls!
After walking over 15,000 steps, I decided to make some sweets tonight – Puppy Chow, Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats, and Banana Breakfast Cookies. Since Andy is off at a Cub Scout Committee Meeting, I think I will make myself a grilled cheese sandwich and then pizza for the kids. A nice glass of white wine will just top off my day!
After nearly six months of being a complete mess, we took about three hours today and organized our John Deere room (that is an indoor shed in the corner of our basement for those who don’t know the terminology). Everything is now put away and you can walk all around the room.
We have a decent pile of things that will be put out with the trash/recycling on Friday and we still have to dispose of 18 cans of paint and stain, but the room looks great and we actually have space for a larger freezer! Sweet!
We are finally getting around to hanging pictures in our bedroom. These two are framed and ready to be hung! Maybe soon our bedroom will stop echoing…
Today we ventured to Strataca, the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, before leaving for home.
Yes, the museum is in an active salt mine that is 650 feet below the surface. The trip down was a bit disconcerting as it was completely dark, but what a great experience for all of us. I tease Andy for picking up all those tourist brochures in the different hotels that we stay at, but it really does work out sometimes!
The museum is located in an area that was mined back in the 1950s and the year-round temperature is 70 degrees. It was very interesting to learn all about salt mining and the miners themselves. John was fascinated by the large machines that were (and are) used in the active mine.
The tour included a self-paced walking tour, a short train ride, and the “Dark Ride” with a tour guide. At one stop along the Dark Ride, it was amazing to see the pile of trash left over from the 1950s. I saw an old Campbell’s Soup Can and a calendar on the floor that you could still read quiet well.
It is customary to leave everything in the mine. This results in a lot of equipment laying around that is not in use anymore along with all kinds of other things like boxes that once held explosives, and, of course, the trash. The Dark Ride ended with a stop that allowed everyone to pick up their own piece of salt. The kids were very excited to get to do this and each picked out a few small pieces.
After visiting the gift shop to buy a magnet and then getting a “squished penny,” we left for home about 11:45. We decided to break up the drive a little by stopping about 90 minutes away in Emporia, Kansas, for lunch. We ate lunch at a local brewery, Radius Brewing Company, that I had found online. Of course, Andy and I had to try the beers so we shared a flight. The beers were quite good and the food was great!
We arrived home right about 6 pm. It was a great, short trip and we all had fun. If you ever get a chance to visit Hutchinson, do it! You will not be disappointed.