November Northern Lights

 South Dakota and states as far south as Arizona (a friend sent a photo) were treated to another awesome Northern Lights display on November 11th, the night before the deck was demolished!

Here are some of my photos beginning at 7:31 and ending at 8:38 PM.

All the photos are from the deck of the condo using my iPhone without any editing. I did some research and wanted to try some features in the camera mode, but did not get the chance the next night. The guys working on the deck had placed some plywood on the runners so I could step out safely, but the light display just wasn't there on November 12th. I feel so fortunate to have seen such a magnificent display twice in the same year!

The Deck - Before and After

Hubby and I stained the deck for the second time in June 2022, since we moved into the new condo in the fall of 2018.

dirty after a rainstorm

By the summer of 2024 we realized it was in need of another facelift and neither of us was looking forward to the job.

The next four photos are from the summer of 2025.  The rug covered much of the area, but it was an eyesore to say the least.

Not to show off the cucumbers after adding flowers to the bed, but to emphasize the chipped stain on the steps.

We didn't even pressure wash the deck last spring for fear of losing all the stain.

Even the front door stoop was showing chipping. On one of his almost daily summer bike rides, Hubby talked to guys installing a Trex three-season room on a house in the neighborhood. He asked questions and visited the business showroom. Within a week we chose a style, color and were on the list to replace our cedar deck and stoop.

Demolition started on November 11, after the first light snowfall and prior to a major frost. The floor and steps were removed on November 12th.

For several days the only entrance to the house was through the garage. The front door stoop was the first to be completed. Smaller job.

Thankfully, they could work around the raised cucumber bed. It looks very bare. 

the front door stoop on November 14th

the floor of the deck on November 14th

almost done on November 19th

The HOA lawn service people had aerated the lawn while they were working on building the deck. We may have had some rain during that time, also.  Although the weather was decent the ten days the two guys worked on the project, the side lawn was a muddy mess, as were the deck, stoop and driveway.

We LOVE the new deck and will really enjoy it come spring! Even now, the metal railing gives us a more open view.

Update on the Grandkids

 We have been enjoying the school activities the grandkids have been participating in this fall. 

The Lincoln High School Chorus groups had a Fall Concert, inviting 8th grade students who will be attending Lincoln next fall, to partipate with the choirs. Our 8th grade grandson chose NOT to participate. Miss W was in one of the 3 groups who did perform that evening.

the full Lincoln High School choir

Cadet Choir

Miss W, second row from bottom, in the center

Miss W, 3rd from right, in a special quartet 

Lincoln High School Band had their concert earlier this month. Again, 8th graders who will be attending Lincoln were part of the performance. McBe participated. Miss W is no longer in band.

McBe is in the blue hoodie

8th graders getting organized before the concert

8th graders with most of the band members

McBe on percussion, first on the left of the 4 percussionists

McBe waiting his turn to play the timpani

This one has nothing to do with school activities, but it was a proud grandparent occasion. McBe participated in a regional TKD (martial arts) tournament in Sioux City last Friday. 

He won 3 gold medals at the event in his class (brown belt), one in each of the 3 categories of TKD: basic technique (demonstration), sparring (most points in 3 matches), and breaking boards. His outstanding effort resulted in winning an invitation to the National Competition in Alabama next summer.

Lucky us that we get to be a part of our grands' performances and honors!

Kansas Geocaching

 This trip through some of Kansas was two-fold: to see our former winter neighbors and to find geocaches in a few more KS counties.

We saw our former Canyon Vistas neighbors Thursday morning in Topeka. Sondra and Herman were the first people we met when we arrived in CV December 30, 2005. They lived across the street from us the first year and were on the lot next to us for the next 8 years. We have LOTS of very fond memories with them.

Because of health issues they live in a Senior Housing complex. Sondra is in the Rehabilitation unit and Herman is in an Independent Living apartment in the same complex. 

Then it was off to collect some geocaches.

The area in red are the counties we have yet to find a geocache. 

Guard of the Plains

Guard of the Plains was at a rest stop along Interstate 70. It was a hike up the hill to see it and find the cache.

pink flowers growing from the bark of this tree

????

cemetery caching is a favorite

no traffic

1894

this was one of the largest headstones (grave marker) I have ever seen

21 counties left after stopping in six counties on this trip.

More From Wamego KS

 As I mentioned in the last post, Wamego had more to offer than Totos and The Yellow Brick Road. They have a lovely city park where we spent time walking around and admiring and learning about the history of the area. 

representing Science

I can't imagine moving a 20 ton boulder by wagon (and horses or mules) 9 miles to the city park in 1907.

representing Art

126' circumference and 26' high

stork

Old Dutch Mill

When we first saw this title on the geocaching map, our thought was Old Dutch (chips) started in Kansas??? NOT

1879

originally 12 miles north of town, 

used to grind grain

area historic buildings moved to the park

colorful tree in the park

I reached 31,200 cache find while in Wamego

this was the third Adventure Lab in the little town of Wamego