Jujube, Iola, KS, United States

MamiTig


Posted Jun 29, 2011, 1:38 am
Jujube was very excited to arrive on earth today! She landed in a garden, which she thought was quite lovely, and is excited to track down her cousin, Jellybean, before heading out on the next step in her earth journey!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 29, 2011, 1:48 pm
The mother ship reconnaissance teams told Jujube that her cousin, Jellybean, was due to come by the old coach house this morning. Jujube climbed up the old wall to have a look and surprise! Jellybean and two other TVs had come to play! Jujube was sooo excited!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 30, 2011, 4:24 am
Jujube and the other TVs got to visit the doctor's office today, so the doctor could have a look in B's sore ear. Jujube was fascinated with all of the doctor's devices.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 1, 2011, 4:14 am
While earth mom watered the garden, Jujube explored around and found some lovely zinnias!
MamiTig


Posted Jul 1, 2011, 6:35 pm
Coffee break time! Someone brought a lovely 4th of July brownie cake with white frosting, then blueberries and strawberries, to create an American flag pattern, so earth mom took a piece for a coffee break snack at work! Yum!
MamiTig


Posted Jul 2, 2011, 3:01 pm
Jujube was very curious about what earthlings eat for breakfast! Earth mom cooked up eggs, donuts, and milk!
MamiTig


Posted Jul 3, 2011, 4:02 am
Jujube was very excited to attend a gathering of earth families! She thought it was fascinating how they dunk themselves in water, then play with fire.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 4, 2011, 6:45 am
Oh joy, more parties! Jujube was so excited to go with the earth family to a friend's 14th birthday bash. They enjoyed a cook out and lots of fun fireworks!
MamiTig


Posted Jul 5, 2011, 1:41 am
Jujube was so excited to find out what the earth family went when they said they were going geocaching. They all seemed so excited. :) They showed Jujube a little homing device that helps show what direction to go and how close you are to a hidden cache, so you can search and try to find it. The first was supposed to be at Riverside Park, but it was nowhere to be found.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 5, 2011, 1:46 am
Next, the homing device took the group to the cemetery in Gas, KS. They stopped to pay their respects to a friend who had died in a car accident last year, before going to the old part of the cemetery. The geocache was an old box in the nook of a tree!
MamiTig


Posted Jul 5, 2011, 1:53 am
The next geocache was in a wooded area behind a shed in the cemetery in La Harpe.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 5, 2011, 1:55 am
The final geocache of the day was supposed to be in East Iola Park, but nobody could find it. So it was playtime instead!
MamiTig


Posted Jul 6, 2011, 4:19 am
Jujube was very excited to meet a new TV who is coming to visit, Topple! Topple and Jujube talked a bit about Jujube's upcoming journey and Topple assured her that traveling through the earth postal system is not that bad; kind of like being in stasis in space :)
MamiTig


Posted Jul 6, 2011, 4:21 am
Jujube was thrilled to go geocaching again. Everybody looked and looked and looked, but the cache couldn't be found. Still, it was a pretty little pocket park to relax in!
MamiTig


Posted Jul 7, 2011, 5:35 am
Jujube was very interested in the earth thing known as "wonder bread." She investigated further...
HoBi


Posted Aug 29, 2011, 7:47 pm
Hello Mum,

Imagine that – I arrived in Germany!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9745.jpg

Murph and Mirembe opened my envelope immediately. I can move – and I was free!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9752.jpg

I showed the two postcards and my papers from the costums.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9759.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9761.jpg

Maybe I am the only TV, someone should pay duty on?

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9764.jpg

The trip was really long and it was so boring in the envelope! Now I had to go out – I wanted to see and smell flowers!

We went into the spa gardens, because the others told me that there were many beautiful flowers.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9715.jpg

I didn’t believe it – so many flowers. I had to go closer and have a look.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9705.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9739.jpg

There were other things to see – Bad Salzdetfurth is an old mining-town. On the streets there are many memories of this time.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9711.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9713.jpg

Nice, but I wanted to see more flowers!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9722.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9724.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9736.jpg

You can see Salines here; people used it to produce salt in the past.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9738.jpg

Maybe I will show you more about this in another Update. But at this moment I wanted to see more flowers!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9743.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9726.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9728.jpg

Finally I show you the most beautiful flower of the afternoon!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9730.jpg

This was exhausting. A little break with Murph and Mirembe was great!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9701.jpg

I am so lucky to be here. We will see, how the time with the others will be – but I am sure that it will be wonderful. Mirembe and Murph are friendly and funny – and there are so many flowers here!

Love
Jujube
HoBi


Posted Sep 6, 2011, 8:25 pm
Hi Mum,

today we went to Lamspinge. There is a big park with a nice playground.

Here you can see the Abbey, where the park belongs to.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9803.jpg

In this park the Lamme starts – the little river, that flows through Bad Salzdetfurth. 

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9766.jpg

There was a big roll on the playground. Unfortunately it is full of graffiti.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9773.jpg

But there was a wonderful slide.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9779.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9783.jpg

We wanted to use the seesaw, but I was too big, so it didn't work.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9774.jpg

The ride on the ropeway was so funny.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9785.jpg

Then we had a rest on this roll.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9792.jpg

At the end we found this beautiful water wheel.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9799.jpg

We had so much fun.

Many greetings
Jujube
HoBi


Posted Sep 17, 2011, 8:46 pm
Hi Mum,

Today we drove to Hildesheim and visited the rosarium there. In front of the rosarium we found these two palm trees – it was like being on holiday.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9807.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9810.jpg

This is the entrance to the Magdalenengarten.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9854.jpg

Of course I found many beautiful flowers.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9819.jpg

And there was a wonderful sundial.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9813.jpg

We took a rest and enjoyed the sunshine.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9827.jpg

There were more lovely roses.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9822.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9823.jpg

Now I wanted to show you a photo of the whole garden.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9833.jpg

There were many statues.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9834.jpg

This pavilion is in the middle of the park.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9839.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9843.jpg

Hildesheim is the rose–town. This flower is named after Hildesheim.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9848.jpg

At the entrance there was a funny collection box. Bine tried to put me into it, but fortunately I was too big.  :D

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/M_9846.jpg

What a beautiful garden!

Many greetings
Jujube
HoBi


Posted Sep 22, 2011, 8:41 pm
Hello Mum,

Today we went to Hildesheim again. Murph wanted to show us his famous places.

Here you see the „Kehrwiederturm“

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9859.jpg

This is a beautiful street with many frame houses.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9862.jpg

This wonderful fountain is a memory for a Jewish synagogue.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9866.jpg

There are nice paintings on this house.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9869.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9871.jpg

This Statue shows the indian goddess Shiva.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9874.jpg

Can you see, what is there in front of her feet?

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9875.jpg

On our way back we passed a field full of flowers. HoBi had to stop, because we wanted to make photos with the flowers.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9879.jpg

Murph und Mirembe searched beautiful flowers for my photos.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9881.jpg

A beautiful sunflower
http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9887.jpg

I loved this flower – it has my colors!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9885.jpg

More flowers for my mission.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9896.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9897.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9899.jpg

As a nice last photo I chose this really beautiful sunflower.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9893.jpg

Mum – you know that I am not so good in counting? How many flowers do I have for my mission?

Love
Jujube
HoBi


Posted Sep 24, 2011, 11:09 pm
Hello Mum,

I am so happy!

Today I went out to search for new flowers. And I found more!

Have a look:

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9980.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9965.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9970.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9969.jpg

Aren’t they beautiful?

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9973.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9977.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9975.jpg

I really loved these!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9980.jpg

And two more photos as a bonus!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9983.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9986.jpg

Yippee! My first mission is completed.

Many greetings

Jujube
HoBi


Posted Sep 27, 2011, 7:38 pm
Hi Mum,

Shush! It is a secret! It will be Murph’s birthday tomorrow. Mirembe and I prepared everything. First we wrapped our gift for him.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9988.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9993.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9997.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0001.jpg

Then we decorated the room and the table.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0006.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0008.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0013.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0018.jpg

Ready!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0022.jpg

I hope that Murph will love it. Will tell you more about the party!

by tomorrow

Jujube
HoBi


Posted Oct 1, 2011, 4:41 pm
Hi Mum,

Today it is Murph’s birthday. He reveived a nice card from his best friend Dicker Kumpel.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0090.jpg

We sang a wonderful birthday song for Murph.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0033.jpg

Then he blew out the candles.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0038.jpg

We gave him our gift.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0041.jpg

He unwrapped it  - and he was so happy about the great game.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0042.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0047.jpg

We had coffee and a cake.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0050.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0053.jpg

Then we played ‚hit the pot‘. It was so funny!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0071.jpg

I found the pot immediately.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0076.jpg

I won sweets!!!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0078.jpg

What a wonderful birthday party!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0080.jpg

Many greetings

Jujube
HoBi


Posted Oct 4, 2011, 7:40 pm
Hi Mum,

I will travel to Canada now. I am so excited!

Yesterday we made a nice trip to Derneburg.

Here you can see the Castle of Derneburg.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9929.jpg

We walked along the Lavespfad.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9916.jpg

First we went along this wonderful Lake.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9901.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9904.jpg

This house was really beautiful.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9909.jpg

Then we saw old houses of fishermen.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9912.jpg

We went into the forest and found an old teahouse.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9927.jpg

We had to go upstairs. It was exhausting.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9923.jpg

At the End of the stairs we found this:

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_9918.jpg

A pyramid – in the middle of Germany – in the middle of a forest – it was great!

Back home we searched a nice postcard for my next host.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0093.jpg

Now it was time to say goodbye to Mirember and Murph. I will miss them!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0095.jpg

Then I jumped into my envelope!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/Murph/IMG_0096.jpg

Canada, I am coming!

Many greetings
Jujube
smaug


Posted Oct 22, 2011, 5:06 am
Hi Mum,

I arrived in Canada :D! Today I was feeling very squeezed in what I guess was a mail box when eventually a helping hand put me on something much softer :). Here I felt a burst of activity as if someone was trying to open my envelope :stare:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5360.jpg

As I came out I found a crowd of TVs looking at me: Sofia, Orpheus, sammino and Quentin Ducky who arrived today too...which might explain why that mailbox felt so crammed :rolleyes:. Quentin Ducky and I  showed to the others  the lovely cards that our last hosts gave to us :) and then we started chatting and telling stories about our TV life :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5361.jpg
smaug


Posted Oct 26, 2011, 5:05 am
Hi Mum,

Today I took my first visit to the mountains :D. As we left the car we were followed by light sleet, and the first glimpse of our surroundings wasn’t encouraging: dark clouds...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5370.jpg

...and snow at high elevations. Well, not even that high, the whole upper part of Nakiska ski area seemed already ready for the winter season :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5371.jpg

From a bit further up we saw Barrier Lake in the distance and even what looked to be some sunrays :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5372.jpg

While in the direction that we wanted to take things were less encouraging. I was a bit concerned :rolleyes: but smaug and sammino said that we had nothing to worry about. Even Sofia seemed quite relaxed :stare:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5373.jpg

Eventually we reached the top of the valley, from where we could see the surrounding mountains :)...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5384.jpg

....and the ridge that we just followed.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5383.jpg

sammino suggested that we should have tried to reach that peak behind me :rolleyes:, but smaug said that he didn’t want to be on that face if the weather turned ugly, so we just headed back home.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5382.jpg
smaug


Posted Nov 17, 2011, 3:48 am
Hi Mum,

smaug suddenly disappeared and left us alone for almost two weeks (something that, as sammino explained to us, happens sort of frequently :(). What was very disappointing is that he didn’t leave us very well supplied :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5400.jpg

Anyway, by somehow rationing the chocolate :rolleyes:, we made it. And when today he eventually reappeared, he even had a surprise for us: a parcel, maybe holding inside a new friend :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5398.jpg

And, yes, it was a new guest: Cherry Lola :D, a nice Zebra from the US. And she brought to us a lovely card and some delicious sweets :p....which got all the attention of our starving stomachs ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5399.jpg
smaug


Posted Nov 19, 2011, 4:10 am
Hi Mum,

Guess what? Today smaug showed up with another TV-suspicious ;) parcel. Of course we all gathered to see who was going to come out of it.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5401.jpg

It was Cassiopeia, a nice turtle from Germany :D. She is one of the most experienced TV ever, so we didn’t really give her the chance to rest and we pinned her down all night to hear everything about her travelling ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5402.jpg
smaug


Posted Nov 21, 2011, 4:00 am
Hi Mum,

It sure looked like being at the airport arrival lounge here this week :rolleyes:. For the third time smaug came back with a parcel holding a new guest inside :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5403.jpg

This time it was Sweetsy, a nice gingerbread man from Germany :D! And he brought over some great gifts for us: a lovely “self-themed” :rolleyes: card and some delicious German Christmas sweets :D...which, of course, fuelled a long night of chatting ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5404.jpg
smaug


Posted Nov 22, 2011, 3:30 am
Hi Mum,

Temperatures were in the freaking minus twenties over the week end :stare:, but sammino explained that it was a great chance for us to get acclimatised to the proper Canadian winter weather and he convinced smaug to take us for a short walk in the foothills :rolleyes:. At least the sun was shining :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5407.jpg

The trail was covered in snow, but just a couple of cm.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5418.jpg

We stopped at this sign to check where we were: luckily we were not lost :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5417.jpg

Eventually we reached the highest spot of our walk, where we had a great view of the mountains around us :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5432.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5433.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5434.jpg

At this point we stopped to recover and sammino made appear a cup of boiling tea :) along with a well deserved bar of chocolate :D....the best part of the day ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5453.jpg
smaug


Posted Nov 24, 2011, 3:38 am
Hi Mum,

Today we said goodbye to Sofia and Orpheus who are ready to travel to their next hosts :). They are both going to Germany...but using separate envelopes :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5454.jpg
smaug


Posted Nov 29, 2011, 4:23 am
Hi Mum,

Today we went for a short hike in the foothills :). As it often happens, we spent the first part of the day between the trees, but soon the view improved :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5460.jpg

This ridge was very exposed to both sun and wind, so all the snow had disappeared :stare:...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5461.jpg

...but our way forward looked snowy enough :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5462.jpg

Luckily TVs are lighter than humans ;) and don’t sink so much into the snow, so, since the trail was well marked, we left smaug toiling up his way behind us and marched ahead following sammino :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5475.jpg

Eventually we reached the summit ridge where the view was great. We could see the prairies and even Calgary far in the east :o...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5476.jpg

...and mountains everywhere else :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5478.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5479.jpg
smaug


Posted Dec 24, 2011, 11:49 pm
Hi Mum,

After a long time being very quiet (smaug was quite busy and, despite our best efforts to get his attention, we felt a bit invisible over the last few weeks :(), today we had the first glimpse of hope of being active again :). sammino left us for the day and came back with two guests....two deeply asleep guests :stare:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5505.jpg

As they woke up they introduced themselves as Landroval :), a native Canadian eagle coming back for the holidays and Sigfrido, sammino’s delegate and representative in France :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5501.jpg

They offered to us some lovely (and very appropriate) sweets that they collected while travelling here :D. But they also told us that they have even more interesting goodies hidden somewhere in their baggage, can’t wait to see that ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5502.jpg
smaug


Posted Dec 26, 2011, 3:40 am
Hi Mum,

Merry Christmas :D!

This morning we found a lot of presents on the floor...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5506.jpg

... but, since they didn’t seem to be for us :rolleyes:, we focused our attention on some of the sweets that Landroval and Sigfrido brought from France and Italy :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5503.jpg

Later we decided to burn some calories ;) and went for a walk along the river.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5513.jpg

That red bridge over there is a new pedestrian passage over the river which was supposed to be open almost 18 months ago :stare:...and that hopefully will be open sometimes next year :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5521.jpg

Back home we expected to have a turkey meal :), but sammino said that he had organize and unconventional Christmas lunch based on his favourite local product...massively thick steaks :D!

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5525.jpg

After that, to be even more unconventional, we topped the meal with a lovely chocolate cake ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino2%20tv/DSCN5529.jpg

Well, eventually we were so full that we fell asleep...dreaming of more food, of course :rolleyes:.
smaug


Posted Jan 1, 2012, 4:05 am
Hi Mum,

Today we went for a short trip near Calgary in the Elbow Valley. First we walked a bit along the Elbow River :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5542.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5543.jpg

Moving on we reached the Elbow Falls and had a look at the falls from the upstream side...which looked a bit scary :stare:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5544.jpg

While the canyon immediately downstream was quite nice :)....but freaking cold, so we just went back hiding in the car :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5551.jpg
smaug


Posted Jan 3, 2012, 2:05 am
Hi Mum,

Today we explored a bit around Calgary :). First we roamed around the streets looking at the skyline.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/IMG_5688.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/IMG_5692.jpg

Then we entered a mall and stopped a bit to rest.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/IMG_5722.jpg

Those flags are for the Junior Hockey World Championship which is going on right now in Calgary.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/IMG_5720.jpg

Later we explored a bit the mall...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/IMG_5712.jpg

...and just before heading home we found this lovely curtain of lights :)...it probably looks better without the daylight coming in from the glass roof :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/IMG_5701.jpg
smaug


Posted Jan 3, 2012, 3:36 am
Hi Mum,

Today we gathered all together to say goodbye to Landroval and Sigfrido who are travelling back to Europe and will arrived just in time to celebrate New Year’s eve :)...assuming they won’t be too jet-lagged :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5558.jpg
smaug


Posted Jan 9, 2012, 3:36 am
Hi Mum,

Today we went for a short hike near Calgary. Most of the route was between trees with the occasional viewpoint :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5568.jpg

Once we reached the summit the views were great :D and, funny enough, the place is so windswept that there was hardly any snow around :stare:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5581.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5580.jpg

On the way down we noticed that someone had built a igloo :D. The outside didn’t looked exactly state of the art in igloo construction :rolleyes:...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5571.jpg

...but is seemed solid enough, so we went inside to take some shelter from the wind and have some rest. And it was actually very warm and comfortable :), too bad eventually we had to leave and go home ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5577.jpg
smaug


Posted Jan 23, 2012, 3:11 am
Hi Mum,

Today we said goodbye and wished a safe trip to both Quentin Ducky and Cassiopeia who are travelling to their next hosts in Chile and Germany :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5590.jpg
smaug


Posted Jan 30, 2012, 3:30 am
Hi Mum,

Today smaug showed up with an envelope that looked like having a new guest inside :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5593.jpg

And it was a new guest indeed :D, Commodore Quack a nice duck from Wales. Of course we gave him a warm welcome and spent the night chatting and listening about his travels :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5594.jpg
smaug


Posted Feb 2, 2012, 4:45 am
Hi Mum,

Today we were bored to stay at home so, despite the weather forecast not being exactly beautiful, we convinced smaug to head to the mountains :). It was actually a bit cold and cloudy, so we hid in the backpack until we reached the first stop of our day, Rawson Lake. The lake was frozen solid and covered with snow (like everything else around it :rolleyes:) but, half covered by clouds,  we could see the imposing face of Mount Sarrail at the back of it.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5595.jpg

On the opposite side of the lake we could see our destination, that ridge up there.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5596.jpg

So, up we went in the middle of the trees. Breaking trail in the deep snow was hard work...so we left smaug taking care of that ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5605.jpg

Once we reached the top, the clouds were getting thicker and lower, but we still could see the frozen shapes of Kananaskis Lakes.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5614.jpg

On the way down we had a great idea: instead of sticking with smaug at his painfully slow pace, we decided to practise glissading on the snow and wait for him at the bottom. It was so much fun :D!

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5615.jpg

On second thought, maybe it wasn’t the best idea ever :rolleyes:. Oouch!

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5620.jpg

After this little accident we humbly went back in the backpack ad nursed our wounded pride with some chocolate for the rest of the day ;).
smaug


Posted Feb 21, 2012, 2:24 am
Hi Mum,

Today smaug had some time for us, so he took us up to the mountains to snowshoe a bit :).  We soon started questioning his trail selection strategy as it seems that for the whole day the sun was always on the opposite side of the valley, but he seemed unfazed by our complaints :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5624.jpg

It was funny that, while we had to proceed in deep snow,...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5627.jpg

...some of the peaks around us were almost snow-free :stare:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5626.jpg

On the way we stopped to talk to this friendly bird and asked for directions :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5640.jpg

Eventually we reached our destination, which unfortunately was battered by the wind and clad in clouds :rolleyes:...except for the direction from which we had just come. So we took a photo and quickly took cover ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5641.jpg
smaug


Posted Feb 29, 2012, 4:42 am
Hi Mum,

It was fairly cold and snowing here in Calgary this weekend, so we stayed in town and went just to stretch our legs along the river, which is mostly but not completely frozen.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5650.jpg

Not surprisingly not many people were around :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5653.jpg

On the way we stopped to check how construction of the Peace Bridge is progressing....it seems there are chances that it might open less than 2 years late from the expected date :stare:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5660.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5666.jpg

Later on, we politely explained to sammino that while we were sort of comfortable with the -15C :o, the wind was starting to bite a bit, particularly since we haven’t got specific arctic survival training :rolleyes:. So we took a final look at downtown Calgary and headed back home...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5665.jpg

...where we spent the afternoon nice an warm playing computer games :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5675.jpg
smaug


Posted Mar 11, 2012, 9:56 pm
Hi Mum,

Today was a nice and warm day so we went for a short walk to the foothills :). It was actually nice and warm in Calgary, but only nice and freaking windy a bit higher up :rolleyes:. Luckily most of the time we were walking between trees...

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5681.jpg

...passing by the occasional viewpoint :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5679.jpg

Once we reached the highest and most exposed spot of our little trip it got very, very windy, so we took a couple of shots trying not to get blown away and then took cover for the rest of the day ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5690.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5691.jpg
smaug


Posted Mar 25, 2012, 7:38 pm
Hi Mum,

Today eventually smaug had some time for us, so, even if the weather wasn’t exactly great, we went for a short hike in the snow :). After a a bit of walking we crossed this lovely canyon :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5697.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5698.jpg

Then we reached the best viewpoint of the day: apparently on a normal day this would be a great view of the lake and of the mountains behind it....not today :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5717.jpg

So we kept going along the trail.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5716.jpg

Later on we decided to walk down to the lakeshore where the view was a bit clearer...although it was hard to tell what was lake and what was shore ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5718.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5719.jpg

And at that point the camera’s battery surrendered to the cold and, despite our best efforts, there was no way  to revive it. So I’m afraid I will not be able to document all the lovely fog and clouds :rolleyes: that we enjoyed during the rest of the day.
smaug


Posted Mar 29, 2012, 4:07 am
Hi Mum,

Today smaug came home with a parcel that looked very likely to be the travelling quarters of a new guest :), so we got very excited.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5728.jpg

And it was a new guest indeed, Petit Lapin :D, a nice rabbit from Germany who is traveling the Round Robin 16.  He showed us the lovely cards that he brought with him :), and then we spent the night chatting about past and future travellling ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5729.jpg
smaug


Posted Apr 8, 2012, 5:11 am
Hi Mum,

Today a new guest arrived in Calgary :). Smaug brought back home an envelope and we immediately knew that it was a TV.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5730.jpg

And yes, a TV it was, Melek a nice hedgehog from Germany :)...and he brought with him a lovely card and some delicious sweets :D. Of course the chocolate helped a lot in keeping high our sugar levels as we spent the night chatting ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5731.jpg
smaug


Posted Apr 8, 2012, 11:33 pm
Hi Mum,

Not only today is a holiday, but the weather looked gorgeous this morning, so we went for a bit of outdoor exercise :).  We picked a trail in the trees not too far from Calgary.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5743.jpg

The trees around us where still covered with the snow fallen last night  :D.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5742.jpg

As we moved uphill the view even improved.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5756.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5757.jpg

By the time we reached the highest point of our day the weather has taken a sudden turn...for the worse :stare:, and the snow started falling.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5767.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/Jujube%20tv/DSCN5766.jpg

Soon the light snow turned into a heavy snowfall, so we took shelter under a tree. As we were cheering ourselves up with some tea and a chocolate bar ;), we asked sammino if it was normal for the weather to switch from incredibly clear and blue sky into a blizzard in a couple of hours. He just answered : “Welcome to Calgary” :rolleyes:.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5774.jpg
smaug


Posted Apr 10, 2012, 4:28 am
Hi Mum,

Happy Easter :D!

We were hoping to celebrate with some gigantic chocolate egg :p, but smaug was concerned about our diet , so we just got small TV sized egges :rolleyes:....still there was enough of them for everyone ;).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5775.jpg
smaug


Posted Apr 19, 2012, 5:20 am
Hi Mum,

Today I said goodbye to my friends here in Calgary and got ready to start travelling to my next host in the US :).

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5777.jpg

sammino gave me a big hug and wished me a safe journey :) before I jumped into my envelope and started my new journey.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/smaug_tv/sammino3%20tv/DSCN5778.jpg

Speak with you soon from Oregon :D.
MamiTig


Posted Sep 7, 2012, 4:12 am
Jujube arrived safely back with the earth family in Iola, KS.
MamiTig


Posted Sep 7, 2012, 4:13 am
We visited the Farmer's Market this evening and bought a few things. The vendors were closing down while we were there, and some nice ladies gave us peach pies and cinnamon rolls, too! :)
MamiTig


Posted Sep 10, 2012, 12:48 am
Today we enjoyed great company and delicious food at the SDA church supper!
MamiTig


Posted Sep 11, 2012, 4:25 am
Host mom and her oldest daughter went ghost hunting at the Pythian Castle! They joined members of the Paranormal Task Force and learned how to use some really cool equipment! It was a mostly quiet night, but there was an electromagnetic field that hovered in one room for over half an hour that had no explainable source we could figure out! Some women felt their hair pulled and backpacks pulled on, and then could not initially leave the tunnel below the castle. They got really spooked, but host mom and her daughter didn't experience any thing scary! For more pictures of their experience, you can click here!
MamiTig


Posted Sep 13, 2012, 3:46 am
On the way home from visiting the haunted castle, we stopped at the Precious Moments chapel to take a break and breathe in the peace and beauty that is there.
MamiTig


Posted Sep 14, 2012, 3:51 am
Host mom stopped at Twin Trestles to take a photo shoot with us this morning. The sky was pale gray and threatening rain, and the late summer flowers were in bloom, but the leaves aren't turning autumn colors yet. The water in the river was nearly all dried up. This is one of host mom's favorite local places to take pictures!
MamiTig


Posted Sep 16, 2012, 7:22 pm
The host family took me to Marsha's Great Plains Deli today... they swear it's the best deli in the Midwest! The sandwiches were amazing!!
MamiTig


Posted Sep 17, 2012, 4:50 am
Host mom had to take a trip out to Nevada, MO and stopped to show us the lovely building that is now Heartland Behavioral Health Services. Like the Pythian Castle we went to recently, it was originally an orphanage. You can read about the history of the building here.
MamiTig


Posted Sep 21, 2012, 3:54 am
We got to celebrate a birthday! It was so much fun to see the presents unwrapped! :)
MamiTig


Posted Sep 26, 2012, 3:27 am
We went to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival and saw so many amazing things! Around every corner there was something new to see or do! The performers and shopkeepers were so incredibly nice to us, too :)
MamiTig


Posted Sep 28, 2012, 1:19 pm
Mmmm, Red Robin has the best veggie burgers and other stuff! :)
MamiTig


Posted Sep 30, 2012, 3:14 am
I inspected the progress on host mom's latest project!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 1, 2012, 3:18 am
One of host mom's daughters is taking a photography class for her after school program and had an assignment to look for patterns. On Saturday, after Sabbath school and while waiting for potluck, we helped her look for patterns!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 3, 2012, 5:34 am
Host mom took us down to see the Neosho River today. She was amazed that even after all the rain we have had, it is still incredibly low!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 4, 2012, 5:05 am
Host mom finished her project today- a dress for her oldest daughter!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 7, 2012, 3:55 am
Host mom got her new full spectrum camera in this week, so we decided to take it somewhere interesting to try it out. We visited the Galemore Cemetery, and host mom took pictures with both full spectrum and her regular camera.
MamiTig


Posted Oct 8, 2012, 2:46 am
Jujube inspected the cranes that host mom's oldest daughter is making. She says she wants to make 1,000 cranes so she can make a wish.
MamiTig


Posted Oct 9, 2012, 4:30 am
Host mom is finishing up another costume... she calls this one "Little Red Fighting Good"!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 10, 2012, 4:48 am
Today was host mom's birthday!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 13, 2012, 7:30 am
We were supposed to go to the high school football game today, but lightning, thunder, and torrential rain meant it got postponed. We took shelter in a nearby recreation building and watched the middle school and high school bands at marching practice!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 14, 2012, 5:53 am
Another delicious vegetarian Sabbath supper at the SDA church! :)
MamiTig


Posted Oct 16, 2012, 4:49 am
The stormy skies had an amazing yellow shade that we never could quite catch in a picture, but host mom did get these lovely pictures with her regular and full spectrum cameras.
MamiTig


Posted Oct 17, 2012, 4:57 am
Host mom is hard at work on another costume...
MamiTig


Posted Oct 18, 2012, 4:48 am
More progress! Host mom told us that inspiration for the design came from Edward Gorey.
MamiTig


Posted Oct 19, 2012, 4:29 am
Oh my! There was a ghost cat in the downstairs bathroom tonight...
MamiTig


Posted Oct 22, 2012, 3:42 am
We visited the Farm City Days celebration in downtown Iola today! We saw all sorts of things, like carnival rides a blacksmith, tractors, and vendor booths! It sure was a lot of fun!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 23, 2012, 5:08 am
We got to watch The Passing Zone performance at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center! We even had front row seats.
MamiTig


Posted Oct 27, 2012, 4:42 am
We met a new friend named Axie! Host mom was so happy that Axie joined her family because Axie is a squishable axolotl and #426 in the series!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 29, 2012, 1:08 am
Jujube enjoyed another Sabbath supper at the SDA church! :)
MamiTig


Posted Oct 30, 2012, 3:13 am
We took a visit to Twin Trestles, to see what autumn is doing to the landscape. The trees seem to be going straight to curled up and brown, or to leaves falling, without a lot of the usual pretty colors this year.
MamiTig


Posted Nov 2, 2012, 3:59 am
We visited the Attachment Center in Wichita, KS today. This is what it looked like outside and inside!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 4, 2012, 2:15 pm
On the way home from Wichita, host mom stopped to take a short walk and find the spring around which the Kansas town of Eureka was founded.
MamiTig


Posted Nov 6, 2012, 3:27 am
Strange things were afoot on Halloween!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 6, 2012, 3:28 am
Mmmmm! The Mexican food at El Charro is amazing! :) We tried the vegetarian fajitas today :)
MamiTig


Posted Nov 7, 2012, 1:26 pm
I helped host mom cut out her next sewing project!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 8, 2012, 4:57 am
Today we visited Grene Vision for an eye appointment and looked at all of the fun glasses! :)
MamiTig


Posted Nov 9, 2012, 4:36 am
The fall colors at the South Lake are lovely in the morning!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 10, 2012, 2:34 am
I visited a charming little hedgehog in his hidey house today!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 14, 2012, 1:42 pm
We spent the night at the Tri-County Truck Stop, a reportedly haunted location, on a paranormal investigation! Host mom didn't have room to take all of the TVs in so some of us only got to see the dining area. For the rest of the pictures, you can click here!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 17, 2012, 4:58 am
On the way home from the truck stop, we couldn't resist stopping at Lambert's for lunch. We had to wait an hour and a half to get in, but it was SO worth it! Yum, yum, yum!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 17, 2012, 8:14 pm
Host mom had to visit the court house in Garnett and showed us how lovely it looks!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 18, 2012, 1:45 am
Host mom has made some progress on her sewing project!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 19, 2012, 2:15 am
Today we enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast with the host family's friends at RiverTree. :)
MamiTig


Posted Nov 21, 2012, 3:11 am
We were fortunate to get to watch the very amazing Birdhouse Factory performance by Cirque Mechanics... every act was incredible and astounding!!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 23, 2012, 1:51 am
Host mom decided to cook something yummy for dinner and we got to help! She made Hungarian Noodles and Cabbage and it was so delicious that all the kids had seconds!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 24, 2012, 3:22 am
We very much enjoyed celebrating an American Thanksgiving with a community luncheon at St. Timothy's Episcopal church. Since the host family are vegetarians, they didn't eat the traditional turkey, but did enjoy mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, bread rolls, cranberry salad, and pumpkin desserts!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 25, 2012, 1:33 am
We got to enjoy another one of the host family's holiday traditions. We went for a leaf walk, to find colorful leaves to make a table centerpiece for tonight's Thanksgiving dinner! This is a tradition that host mom says has been practiced in her family for at least four generations now!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 25, 2012, 6:37 am
We got to help make Thanksgiving dinner! Sweet potato and Black Bean Enchiladas, white cheese mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and cranberry sauce made up the menu!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 27, 2012, 5:58 am
The city of Iola kicked off the Christmas season with an event on the town square! The kids had a candy cane hunt and then we listened to a storyteller. We waited and waited, and then Santa came in on a fire truck to light the town's tree!!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 28, 2012, 6:20 am
Host mom finished her sewing project: bright yellow jeans for her oldest daughter! :)
MamiTig


Posted Dec 1, 2012, 5:37 am
Today we went to work with host mom and looked around her office.
MamiTig


Posted Dec 3, 2012, 6:14 am
We helped make Christmas ornaments at youth group. The ornaments will also double as book marks and the youth group kids will be giving them away as gifts. :)
MamiTig


Posted Dec 5, 2012, 5:24 am
Another yummy Sabbath potluck supper at the SDA church! :)
MamiTig


Posted Dec 7, 2012, 2:48 am
Host mom made a couple of pretty shirts for her middle daughter!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 8, 2012, 3:29 am
We went to the Bowlus Fine Arts center to watch the elementary school Christmas program!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 10, 2012, 2:03 am
Host mom took us for a late night walk so that we could enjoy some of the Christmas lights that people around town have used to decorate their homes!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 10, 2012, 5:02 am
We visited the Safari Museum in Chanute, KS and got to see and play with lots of fascinating artifacts from Africa and Borneo!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 12, 2012, 4:36 am
We found some lovely buildings in downtown Parsons, KS!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 13, 2012, 5:22 am
It was the coldest day so far this winter (17F) and host mom took us down to see the sun rising over the Neosho River. She is sad that it is still so low, and hopes we'll get lots of snowfall and then spring rains to fill it back up.
MamiTig


Posted Dec 16, 2012, 9:23 pm
We got to watch the Iola Middle School winter concert... strings, choir, band, and jazz band! The kids were fantastic, and it made my heart dance!  :D
MamiTig


Posted Dec 17, 2012, 5:42 am
The Classique Dance Studio Christmas party was wonderful! We got to see the little dancers, and take part in an indoor "snowball" fight!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 20, 2012, 4:52 am
We spent some time in the waiting room at Legend's Drive Dental today, while the host family all had their check ups!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 21, 2012, 3:04 am
After a long day, dinner at CeCe's Pizza was delicious! :)
MamiTig


Posted Dec 22, 2012, 4:52 am
Today was the first snow of winter! There wasn't much snow, but it sure was cold and gray!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 23, 2012, 1:12 am
Host mom made a super cute outfit for her youngest daughter, who loves bright, sunshiny colors!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 23, 2012, 3:45 am
Today we enjoyed a potluck at the SDA church! :)
MamiTig


Posted Dec 25, 2012, 5:01 am
We went Christmas caroling with friends from church, then enjoyed a super hot bonfire afterward! Everyone was trying to roast marshmallows but it was so hot that it was hard to get close enough to get them cooked! Perfect for a cold winter's night!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 26, 2012, 5:38 am
We enjoyed watching the host family celebrate Christmas! :) Merry Christmas to all! :)
MamiTig


Posted Dec 29, 2012, 7:10 pm
The host family had an invasion of blob plushies, so we got to visit with them! (The oldest daughter had made them for presents- aren't they cute?!).
MamiTig


Posted Dec 30, 2012, 12:20 am
Host mom has been having fun with fleece... she made her littlest daughter this pretty coat!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 31, 2012, 5:16 am
JuJube made some tiny little friends today!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 2, 2013, 4:58 am
The new year greeted us with a light dusting of snow. There wasn't quite enough for a snowman, so we settled for a snow lump!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 3, 2013, 3:12 am
Mmmm, yummy! French toast for dinner!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 7, 2013, 4:36 am
One of the kids was sick with an ear infection, so we got to explore the doctor's office!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 8, 2013, 6:43 pm
We enjoyed another Sabbath potluck supper at the SDA church! :)
MamiTig


Posted Jan 8, 2013, 6:44 pm
We went to the park to see the frozen water on Elm Creek! It sure was a chilly day!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 10, 2013, 5:05 am
We helped the host family make focaccia!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 13, 2013, 2:18 am
JuJube and some of the other TVs checked out the new coat that host mom made for her oldest middle daughter!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 15, 2013, 4:19 am
The host family made a bucket list of things they would like to do in the next 5 years! I wonder which ones I'll get to do with them!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 17, 2013, 5:18 am
The host family is musical and today, I got to see the oldest daughter's bass clarinet!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 18, 2013, 4:45 am
The host family accomplished the first thing off of their list of 148 things today: baking a pineapple upside down cake!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 20, 2013, 6:01 am
The host family crossed a second thing off of their list today: Taking the dogs to the dog park. The host family has three dogs named Bowly, Turtle, and Dove!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 22, 2013, 2:25 am
Host mom started a new project today, how exciting! She is using pretty red fleece! :)
MamiTig


Posted Jan 22, 2013, 4:42 am
The host family crossed a third (and very delicious) thing off of their goal list: bake a cheese cake! This one is pumpkin swirl flavored :)
MamiTig


Posted Jan 25, 2013, 5:48 am
Host mom introduced JuJube to the piccolo today!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 28, 2013, 6:18 am
We enjoyed another delicious vegetarian Sabbath supper at the SDA church :) First, we helped set up, then we got to eat!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 28, 2013, 6:18 am
Host mom bought a lovely little bouquet of sunflowers!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 31, 2013, 3:20 am
We enjoyed lunch at Jin Shan Chinese buffet! They had so many delicious things to choose from :)
MamiTig


Posted Feb 1, 2013, 1:44 am
Jujube was fascinated with all of host mom's flutes and piccolos! Such pretty instruments! :)
MamiTig


Posted Feb 4, 2013, 5:43 am
February 2nd is Hedgehog Day, so we consulted the hedgehog to see what the weather is going to do. The hedgehog saw her shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter :(
MamiTig


Posted Feb 5, 2013, 1:29 pm
Today we tried Ethiopian food at Elsa's! The food was fantastic, the waitress was very nice, and the smooth jazz music playing in the background made for a lovely ambiance. :D
MamiTig


Posted Feb 8, 2013, 5:11 am
It's a birthday party! Watching presents being unwrapped is so much fun! :D
MamiTig


Posted Feb 8, 2013, 5:11 am
It's a birthday party! Watching presents being unwrapped is so much fun! :D
MamiTig


Posted Feb 11, 2013, 3:24 am
The host family took us to Pizza Hut for a middle school band fundraiser. We ate delicious potato wedges as an appetizer, before the pizza came!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 11, 2013, 1:33 pm
Mmmm, these SDA church suppers are full of vegetarian deliciousness! :D
MamiTig


Posted Feb 14, 2013, 5:09 am
We got to go to a second delicious vegetarian potluck today! This one was for the kids, as they were having a church lock-in for the night. :D
MamiTig


Posted Feb 15, 2013, 2:23 am
We investigated the new baritone! So pretty and shiny! :D
MamiTig


Posted Feb 16, 2013, 5:01 am
Host mom took us to the south lake to see the Canada geese. This is where they come when they head north and nest. The geese weren't quite as happy to see us as we were to see them, and kept their distance.
MamiTig


Posted Feb 17, 2013, 4:36 am
We had an unexpected bit of snow last night, and since there hasn't been much this winter, host mom hurried us out first thing in the morning, to get pictures before it melted!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 18, 2013, 3:35 am
This is the cement factory just outside of Chanute, KS. It's across the street from a music shop where host mom went to purchase a beginner baritone book for her daughter. This area sure is rural!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 19, 2013, 5:21 am
This country road leads past the Colony, Kansas water tower. Colony is a town of about 400 people, with many more cows than humans!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 20, 2013, 5:20 am
Today we visited Humboldt, KS and host mom was able to take us a lot closer to the cement plant there, to see what it looked like. It was huge and seemed to have lots of things going on!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 21, 2013, 10:11 pm
Can you tell that host mom and her daughters like nail polish?
MamiTig


Posted Feb 22, 2013, 5:32 am
There was a big snow storm, dropping lots of snow and ice on the area! School and work were cancelled today!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 23, 2013, 4:38 am
A warm brunch of pumpkin pancakes with white chocolate chips, served with fried eggs, sounded so very good on a cold winter's day!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 24, 2013, 6:39 am
Oh goody... preparing for another yummy Sabbath potluck supper at the Seventh Day Adventist church!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 3:16 am
JuJube enjoyed trying the vegetarian fajita taco salad at El Charro's Mexican restaurant!
MamiTig


Posted Feb 27, 2013, 2:19 am
Host mom finished her third jacket, finally! She was very pleased with how it turned out, and her daughters were delighted to receive them!
MamiTig


Posted Mar 1, 2013, 6:02 am
We got round two of winter storms, so host mom got to stay home for the day. The weather man predicted 8 to 12 inches of snow, but we only got about two, and then it was warm enough to melt some of it off. Host mom took us for a walk in the neighborhood, to see how pretty it looked before the snow went away!
MamiTig


Posted Mar 4, 2013, 2:30 am
Jujube was very curious about host mom's new sewing project. The fabric sure is a bright, bold orange! Jujube loves the color!
MamiTig


Posted Mar 8, 2013, 4:43 am
Host mom had to go to the post office to help some TVs continue in their journey. She was working in Garnett today so we stopped at the town square to see the mounds of snow that are still there from last week's storms, on the way to the post office!
MamiTig


Posted Mar 10, 2013, 6:31 am
Vegetarian lasagna, scalloped potatoes, and so many other delicious things... Sabbath potluck is always wonderful! :D
MamiTig


Posted Mar 12, 2013, 4:15 am
We traveled to Ottawa Music to get a piccolo repaired. It's a wonderful place, full of guitars and musical things both recognizable and mysterious. And they are super nice about answering questions!
MamiTig


Posted Mar 13, 2013, 4:35 am
On the way back from Ottawa, just outside of town, host mom stopped to try to photograph an enormous flock of snow geese that were both resting in a field and circling in the air. Our stopping made them nervous and they started to fly away. She tried to photograph them, but the photos don't do justice to the majesty of the scene!
MamiTig


Posted Mar 15, 2013, 3:56 am
Host mom finished the orange cape that she was making for her oldest daughter. It's so warm and cozy, perfect for TVs to snuggle in :D
MamiTig


Posted Mar 17, 2013, 5:50 am
Host mom took us to the north lake over her lunch hour. We explored the old stone shelter building and then took a look at the lake. It was nice to get out in the fresh air!
sephmariewe


Posted Mar 18, 2013, 12:27 am
Today I traveled on a plane from Kansas to Maryland! When I got into the sky, we saw the clouds. They looked like cotton balls!
When I got to Maryland, I got to eat yummy food - fresh cheese basil pasta with a side of mixed baby salad with mozzarella cheese and tomatoes.
We poked around the house a little and found some cute animals im the window. :)
MamiTig


Posted Mar 18, 2013, 3:16 am
It was chilly today, but that didn't stop us from going to the park to see the historic Carnegie building and log cabin, and playing with some children that we found at the park!
sephmariewe


Posted Mar 19, 2013, 1:57 am
Today I explored host's Grandma's basement!
We explored all the wonders she had. Most of the things you see were made out of clay -  all of it was made by her Grandma.
Her grandma even keeps an indoor garden because it's still cold outside!
sephmariewe


Posted Mar 20, 2013, 1:07 am
Today we went to eat at Great Sage.
Then we met a Macaw at the River Hill Nursery! We looked at all the pretty flowers. :)
I liked the Begonias best. :D
MamiTig


Posted Mar 20, 2013, 1:27 am
Host mom got a special new T-shirt that she's all excited about! It's for Elio motors... she says she can't hardly wait until she gets her Elio in 2014. It will be the first car of its type made and marketed in the USA!
MamiTig


Posted Mar 20, 2013, 4:00 am
Today we went to the Kansas City airport to drop off one of the host family kids, so she could go visit her grandmother for spring break. I got chosen to go with her! We got there early because host mom was worried about the long airport lines that had been reported. We waited a long time so we got to do lots of people watching!
sephmariewe


Posted Mar 21, 2013, 12:49 am
Today we went Geocaching! We helped Host's grandparents find it for Cash Across America. :)

We got to go to a pretty lake in Cambridge, MD.
sephmariewe


Posted Mar 21, 2013, 12:57 am
I went to the Atlantic Ocean at Ocean City. :)
sephmariewe


Posted Mar 21, 2013, 9:53 pm
Today I went to the National Zoo in Washington D.C.! I had a great time with my other Voyaging friends. :)
We saw pandas, jellyfish, hermits crabs, butterflies, and an ancient dinosaur fish called the Arapaima!!
My favourite out of the whole zoo was the red panda. :)
MamiTig


Posted May 26, 2013, 5:24 am
We went on a fun road trip today! First we drove to Wichita and ate yummy Thai food in a tiny restaurant called Thai Smile. Then we drove downtown to the Orpheum Theater, where we watched the Trey McIntyre project perform contemporary dance. It was an amazing day!
MamiTig


Posted May 26, 2013, 5:56 am
Host mom's son decided to take me to Washington DC, where he would be competing in the National History Bowl! Our first stop was the Kansas City airport, where we boarded our plane for DC!
MamiTig


Posted May 27, 2013, 12:59 am
I was so excited to get to Washington D.C.! We checked into our hotel, then ate lunch at a restaurant called Ollie's Trolley. It was full of interesting antiques. Next, we wandered around D.C. and saw the White House and the National Museum!
MamiTig


Posted May 27, 2013, 4:36 am
The second exciting day in Washington D.C.! We ate breakfast at a restaurant called Au Bon Pain, then spent most of the day wandering through the Smithsonian. There were so many exhibits, it was impossible to see them all, but we sure tried! :D
MamiTig


Posted May 27, 2013, 4:52 am
Finally... the day that we were waiting for... the National History Bowl! Our team only won one round, but we were proud of their efforts and a great time was had by all :)
MamiTig


Posted May 28, 2013, 6:50 pm
Mmm! I always enjoy Sabbath supper at the Seventh Day Adventist church! :D
MamiTig


Posted May 31, 2013, 6:00 am
Host mom showed us one of the country storm shelters... we were curious about them after the tornado sirens went off last week. The host family live in town, so when the tornado sirens went off, they went to the local arts center, where a huge basement room, two stories beneath the ground, was opened up for people to stay until the storm passed. In the country, people have their own little shelters, like these. Host mom said that the ground here is very wet, so not very many people have basements, in spite that it would be really convenient when the threat of tornadoes come!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 1, 2013, 11:50 pm
Host mom was on call on Memorial Day and had to go to Erie. She was looking for the metal dinosaurs that are supposed to be on display in the are, but found the Osage Nation plaque instead.
MamiTig


Posted Jun 5, 2013, 4:15 am
Host mom set her GPS to get to and from Erie for her on call visit. The GPS decided to take her off of the highway and down gravel roads. She came across this pretty community building in the middle of seeming nowhere. It had just the building, a storm cellar, and a small playground. When she got home, host mom looked up Odense, KS. Apparently, it is a township so small that she couldn't find a listing of the population anywhere!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 6, 2013, 4:37 am
Our next stop was to look at the wildflowers near Elsmore, KS. Sometimes it's a good thing when the GPS takes you off the highway and into the wild!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 8, 2013, 1:31 am
Host mom got to stay home for about half an hour before getting called out again. We helped host mom's friend, who is helping host mom paint her living room!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 8, 2013, 3:36 am
Host mom showed us what most Americans do on Memorial Day: Visit the cemetery to pay respects to loved ones who have passed, especially honoring those who have given military service to the country.
MamiTig


Posted Jun 10, 2013, 5:25 am
Host mom's last call was in Fort Scott, so she took us by to see the Fort Scott National Historic Site. It was closed for the evening, so we only got to look at the outside. Host mom explained that the bricks that line the streets and the walkways in old town Fort Scott were locally made, back in the 1800s!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 12, 2013, 2:05 am
It was picture day at the host family's kids' dance studio. All of the kids looked like they were having so much fun showing off their costumes and playing while they waited their turns! :D
MamiTig


Posted Jun 12, 2013, 4:06 am
Oh goody, a birthday! Watching presents being unwrapped is the most fun part of the day! :)
MamiTig


Posted Jun 13, 2013, 4:48 am
Tonight was the dress rehearsal for the host family's kids' dance recital! So many excited kids, and I really enjoyed it!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 14, 2013, 5:30 am
Recital day! I got to play with all the dancers who waited in the "holding pit" between their routines! There were so many costumes and so many fun kids
MamiTig


Posted Jun 15, 2013, 5:08 am
Host mom's parents were visiting, so host mom made a vegetarian Thai feast for dinner! In the wok pan there is pad se ew, and in the glass dish (under all of the garnish) there is pad thai!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 18, 2013, 5:01 am
The host family needed to take a trip to Lawrence, so they decided to visit the World's Largest Concete Teepee! It looks like someone lives in the main teepee now, but the side building is for rent. You can read more about its fascinating history by clicking here!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 20, 2013, 2:51 am
On our way to dinner, found one of the Jayhawk statues that show pride in KU (University of Kansas), which is located in Lawrence. It was just across from the parking lot for Zen Zero, which is where we decided to eat. Everything was so good and plentiful that we ate and ate and ate until everyone was full! :D
MamiTig


Posted Jun 20, 2013, 3:41 am
It's that time again! It's summer and the Farmer's Market has come to Iola on Thursday night. People from Iola and the surrounding area come to buy and sell produce, baked goods, and crafts. We love to look and see what there is to buy! :D
MamiTig


Posted Jun 23, 2013, 5:32 am
We ate "haystacks" at the Sabbath potluck this time! Haystacks have fritos corn chips on the bottom, then slow cooked pinto beans, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, olives, onions, and salsa. They are super delicious! :D
MamiTig


Posted Jun 27, 2013, 1:41 am
Host mom says that the best part of spring and summer in Kansas is the wildflowers! These pretty flowers grow by her garage.
MamiTig


Posted Jun 27, 2013, 4:30 am
We had to pick up kids at the airport, so of course we took advantage of being in the area to feast at the Ghengis Khan restaurant! The host family LOVE this place because you can create your own meal and watch them cook it on the giant grill stone! :D
MamiTig


Posted Jun 28, 2013, 4:46 am
Host mom took us out to the community garden at about 10 pm to look at the supermoon, since there were too many trees around the family's house. It didn't seem that enormous from where we stood, but it sure was a pretty orange!
MamiTig


Posted Jun 30, 2013, 3:11 am
Today's adventure involved playing with baby hedgehogs! They are so prickly, but adorable :D
MamiTig


Posted Jul 1, 2013, 8:48 pm
Host mom's project today was to make 2 pairs of blue slippers, to go with the cosplay costumes she is making. They turned out to be adorable! :D
MamiTig


Posted Jul 2, 2013, 4:57 am
Today host mom took us to Chanute to run some errands. She stopped to show us the lovely, historic down town area. The yellow brick building called the Tioga Hotel has a wooden elevator much like the one featured in the old movie The Shining, but we didn't have time to go in and look at that part.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 7, 2013, 4:20 am
I was so excited to be on vacation with my host family, at Broken Arrow Ranch in north central Kansas. We are here for a week of family camp, with about a dozen other families. :D The first thing we did when we arrived was unpack and make ourselves at home in the cabin.  Next, we spent some time playing in the recreation area. In the evening, we enjoyed a campfire service on a bluff overlooking the Tuttle Creek Reservoir. Sunset was stunningly gorgeous! :D
MamiTig


Posted Jul 7, 2013, 7:01 am
On the second day of vacation, we started the day with a worship service in the Green Cathedral. Then, went to the beach. Later, we enjoyed an outdoor cooking lesson where we made foil-wrapped packets with olive oil, white potatoes, sweet potatoes,  yellow and red bell pepper, onion,  fri-chik (vegetarian meat substitute), sage, salt, and pepper, that we roasted on a fire.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 13, 2013, 4:26 am
We celebrated the Fourth of July (American Independence Day) with an All-American (though, all vegetarian) luncheon. In the afternoon we had another cooking with Travis lesson, and learned to make baked cinnamon apples on a camp fire. In the evening, we had a campfire worship service that was followed by fireworks over the beach! :D
MamiTig


Posted Jul 14, 2013, 6:43 am
The host family started the day with ziplining, but we didn't get to go because host mom was afraid she'd lose us. After that was a yummy lunch with veggie burgers. Then host mom took a picture of the view from the cabin on the way back to take a nap after lunch. After our nap we went to play in the recreation room :D
MamiTig


Posted Jul 16, 2013, 5:15 am
On our last day of camp, they brought us breakfast in bed... a basket full of cereal, milk, orange juice, and fresh, hot scones! It was a great way to end a wonderful week. After that we packed up, and we stopped to take a look at the tall grass prairie and the Flint Hills at a vista just outside of Broken Arrow Ranch.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 19, 2013, 4:17 am
The day after we got back from family camp, host mom took one of her sons to summer camp at Hidden Haven. Just outside the camp, she stopped along the road to show us the black-eyed susan flowers that were growing along the road. They are one of the many forms of sunflower that grow in Kansas.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 19, 2013, 5:15 am
We joined in the festivities at the Mad Bomber Run (a community event celebrating a piece of local history) by helping the middle and high school band booster club run carnival booths. :D
MamiTig


Posted Jul 22, 2013, 1:31 am
We had fun helping to get ready for the Sabbath potluck at church. There were so many fun people and so much delicious food that I had a fabulous time. We got to look at the To Save A Life movie kit that host mom shared with the church elders and got approval to show it at church and do a discussion group with teens this fall.
MamiTig


Posted Jul 23, 2013, 5:21 am
We got to go to a wedding! Host mom has been friends with the bride's mom for over a decade, and got to watch her grow from a little girl into a young woman. She was such a beautiful bride, with a country style wedding. :D
MamiTig


Posted Jul 29, 2013, 3:59 am
We took a trip to Springfield, Missouri to go on a ghost hunt with the Paranormal Task Force! We stayed at the University Plaza Hotel, which has a reputation for being haunted, and visited the Pythian Castle for the ghost hunt. We didn't experience anything unusual, but it was interesting to explore anyway.
MamiTig


Posted Aug 4, 2013, 3:45 am
After an exciting night of ghost hunting, we stopped at the beautiful Precious Moments Chapel on the way home. Host mom said she has traveled to many places in the world, and this is one of the most peaceful places she has found.
MamiTig


Posted Aug 7, 2013, 2:54 am
The host family took us to the Allen County Fair! We saw different kinds of livestock, baby animals, baked goods, and handicrafts that people entered in the fair.
MamiTig


Posted Aug 11, 2013, 5:33 am
Tonight was our first night in Tulsa... we watched the host family and friends get ready for the rave at the Tokyo in Tulsa anime convention! :)
MamiTig


Posted Aug 13, 2013, 4:58 am
The host family were really busy with the convention today so I stayed back at the hotel with most of the TVs. This is the view of downtown Tulsa from our hotel room :D
MamiTig


Posted Aug 14, 2013, 4:29 am
On our last day at the convention, we spent some time just sitting and watching the people pass by in the hall, near the artist booths. Some of them were very interesting!
MamiTig


Posted Aug 17, 2013, 5:12 am
On the way home, we stopped at Red Robin in Owasso for lunch. We love the veggie burgers, but service was crazily slow!!! The table just behind us had 3 sets of customers while we waited for our food, grrr!!! But, the veggie burgers were delicious!
MamiTig


Posted Aug 19, 2013, 1:16 am
Host mom made an adorable outfit for one of her daughters! :) I love the bright orange fabrics, they look so cheery! :D
MamiTig


Posted Aug 21, 2013, 2:01 am
We went to deliver hedgehogs to PetWorld in Lawrence, KS. It's the best pet store in the world (at least, the host family thinks so). The staff are super friendly and they let you pet the animals and teach you all about them! :D
MamiTig


Posted Aug 28, 2013, 2:26 am
After delivering hedgies, we headed about 30 minutes to the east to run a few more errands, then ate dinner at delicious Sweet Tomatoes!
MamiTig


Posted Aug 28, 2013, 4:58 am
Host mom made a second outfit, for her other youngest daughter :D
MamiTig


Posted Sep 5, 2013, 3:49 am
We took a trip down to the Neosho River to check the water levels. At the beginning of summer, the entire area was under extreme drought conditions and you could easily walk across at hip level. Now the water levels are showing at over 9 feet deep!!! We got a lot of much needed rain this summer!
MamiTig


Posted Sep 9, 2013, 12:34 am
We attended Sabbath service and then had a delicious potluck at the Seventh Day Adventist church!
MamiTig


Posted Sep 15, 2013, 1:43 am
Host mom took us to visit the Wayne Garrett Memorial Children's Garden. It was built by master gardeners who volunteer with the local after school program and dedicated to the husband of a local teacher, who was killed in a tractor accident.
MamiTig


Posted Sep 19, 2013, 2:16 am
Today we went to DeGage Dancewear to help the host family's oldest daughter buy her first pair of pointe shoes! They are so elegant and lovely!! I was just as excited as she was! :D
MamiTig


Posted Sep 26, 2013, 1:50 am
We went on a search for insects for one of the host kids's science class. He was horrified at the original assignment, which involved catching bugs, freezing them to death, then pinning them to a piece of cardboard. The teacher relented to his request and let him take photographs of them instead. My favorite was this bunch of web worms!
MamiTig


Posted Sep 26, 2013, 1:50 am
We went on a search for insects for one of the host kids's science class. He was horrified at the original assignment, which involved catching bugs, freezing them to death, then pinning them to a piece of cardboard. The teacher relented to his request and let him take photographs of them instead. My favorite was this bunch of web worms!
MamiTig


Posted Sep 29, 2013, 12:38 am
Host mom had to go to Wichita for a continuing education conference, so she took us in the convertible, with the top down! On the way home, we stopped at the park in El Dorado to feed the geese!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 6, 2013, 6:47 am
We went to youth group and had so much fun! There was a puppet show, and we did arts and crafts :D
MamiTig


Posted Oct 16, 2013, 5:08 am
I tagged along with the host family, to go to the dentist, in Lawrence. Afterward was my favorite; dinner out at CiCi's Pizza! :D
MamiTig


Posted Oct 18, 2013, 11:55 pm
Host mom's middle daughter wanted a wild poncho, so host mom made it for her! She'll be warm and cozy in those zebra stripes :D
MamiTig


Posted Oct 19, 2013, 2:35 am
We went to Wichita to see Momix Botanica at the Orpheum Theater. Since we were running too late to get pictures outside and they don't allow cameras inside the Orpheum, host mom didn't get a chance to take any pictures there. But, she did get a picture of our great pre-show dinner at China Star.
MamiTig


Posted Oct 20, 2013, 12:43 am
Kansas City is famous for its race cars and October is Breast Cancer Awareness month... we came across this great pace car, celebrating both!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 21, 2013, 2:07 am
Host mom helped her daughter make cabin for her third grade class assignment on the book Sign of the Beaver. I really liked how it turned out!
MamiTig


Posted Oct 31, 2013, 12:41 am
We started out on an exciting road trip today! The first place we stopped was St. Joseph, Missouri, where we ate at a Taco Bell/Pizza Hut franchise for lunch.
MamiTig


Posted Nov 1, 2013, 3:41 am
Our next stop was at the Loess Hills Visitor Center in Iowa, which has been dubbed "the best rest stop in Iowa." We learned about the geography of the Loess Hills, and that this type of hill was formed by glaciers and is only found in this part of the United States, and part of China.
MamiTig


Posted Nov 12, 2013, 12:08 am
Our first morning in Omaha, we took a visit to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. It spans the river between Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The first thing we saw, after we parked, was the most enormous vending machine I have ever seen! Behind it, the bridge seemed mystical in the chilly morning fog!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 18, 2013, 1:30 am
Our second destination was just around the corner from the first. The Lewis and Clark Trail Visitor's Center was supposed to be closed due to the federal government shutdown, but the state of Nebraska provided extra funding so that it would be open for tourists like us! We saw so many interesting things, and out the back door, we got another view of the bridge we had just walked on!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 21, 2013, 3:16 am
We visited Joslyn Castle in downtown Omaha. It has a very interesting history and even though it wasn't open for tours of the inside, we got to take a nice look at the outside!
MamiTig


Posted Nov 29, 2013, 9:35 pm
Our last stop of the day was Boy's Town. We stopped at the main office to get directions to the museum and garden, and had the opportunity to feed a loaf of bread to some friendly geese. We also got to see the world's largest ball of stamps, the museum that told about the history of Boy's Town, and the Bible Garden.
MamiTig


Posted Nov 30, 2013, 4:31 am
The next morning we crossed the river and went to Council Bluff, Iowa, where we visited the Squirrel Cage Jail. Both the architecture and the history were quite fascinating, so be sure to click the link and learn more! :D
MamiTig


Posted Dec 4, 2013, 6:50 pm
Our next destination was across the parking lot from the squirrel cage jail, at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. We got to learn about the history of the railroad, and see what it might be like inside of passenger train cars!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 9, 2013, 2:06 am
Next on our stop was the Council Bluffs town square/park. Council Bluffs is famous for its black squirrels, but those adorable little guys wouldn't hold still for a picture with us, so we had to settle for a picture with a statue. We also noticed the lovely architecture of downtown Council Bluffs, which consisted of well preserved brick buildings from the mid to late 1800s to early 1900s.
MamiTig


Posted Dec 11, 2013, 5:29 am
The last place we visited on our road trip was the Mormon Trail Center. A very nice docent took us through the exhibits and talked to us about how the Mormon settlers had to leave Nauvoo, Illinois to avoid persecution, and ended up wintering in what late became Omaha, before pressing on to their final settlement in Salt Lake City, Utah. We learned what life would have been like in that era, as well as a tremendous amount of history!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 17, 2013, 2:34 am
Haunted Hay Mazes are a deliciously fun American tradition on Halloween. After we found our way through the spooky hay maze, we had hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows by the fire!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 21, 2013, 4:48 am
Halloween is one of the host family's favorite holidays! The children dress in costumes and go house to house where they say "trick or treat" and people give them candy. We stopped at a street party where we got to dance with a zombie!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 24, 2013, 1:39 am
Mmm, church supper at the SDA church! We helped set up and then we got to enjoy a delicious feast!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 25, 2013, 5:37 am
We made a late night visit to Krispy Kreme donuts. We got to watch how they are made and enjoy their deliciousness! :) I can see why Krispy Kremes are so popular!
MamiTig


Posted Dec 29, 2013, 5:47 am
Host mom made these awesome tardis shirts for her favorite Dr. Who fans, for Christmas! The fabric was custom made at Spoonflower and the buttons were handmade, purchased through Etsy, and have tardis' on them. The inside lapel of the shirt has a print of the inside of the tardis, as does the inside of the pocket!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 1, 2014, 4:16 am
We helped bake Christmas cookies! The platters looked so pretty and the host family distributed them to their friends. :)
MamiTig


Posted Jan 2, 2014, 1:05 am
Host mom made pumpkin pancakes and eggs for breakfast. Then we got to taste test three different kinds of apple juice. It was so hard to decide what I liked best, but I think it was the apple pie!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 2, 2014, 3:12 am
We got a science lesson today! Host mom's daughter had to create a model of a plant cell, so host mom helped her to make one out of cookie dough!
MamiTig


Posted Jan 8, 2014, 4:40 am
On Thanksgiving, we were thankful to be in a community that is warm and welcoming. We went with the host family to St. Timothy's church to share a community Thanksgiving meal.
MamiTig


Posted Jan 11, 2014, 2:37 am
We walked downtown and took a peek in the shop windows in downtown Iola! They have a lot of interesting and fun stores on the town square. :D
MamiTig


Posted Feb 8, 2014, 10:05 pm
Host mom got some lovely granny smith apples and showed us how to turn them into an amazing cobbler for brunch! ju

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