August 24, 2020 – Omaha, Nebraska

Honey Wagon, more like honey draggin’, am I right?!?!?!?!?

After leaving Kansas, we headed up to Omaha, Nebraska to visit our oldest and his wife.  It is just a short little jaunt of 3 hours to get from Manhattan, KS to Omaha!  We were unable to find any full hookup RV sites (which includes water, electric and sewer) within our cost range, so chose a fairly new park in Ashland, Nebraska.   The park is Ashland RV Campground. (ED. NOTE – The free WiFi is really good and allows for streaming – doesn’t completely make up for no sewer hookup but does offset it some!) It is a quiet, little park about 2 blocks from downtown Ashland.  Ashland, itself has about 2 blocks of “downtown” but has fun shops, 3 or 4 art galleries and a winery tasting room.  It is also right next to a disc golf course – again!  The hubs is really getting into this new sport, so having a course within walking distance is great for him.  (ED. NOTE – It really is fun!!!!  And hopefully the kids will keep playing and getting better because right now they are getting their a*** handed to them!!!!!) Because they are new, there are not many trees or rather only short, new baby trees and for some reason they didn’t put in sewer.  Not sure why but am planning on asking before we leave 😊.  We’re on our 3^rd week here and have enjoyed it – it’s only a 20-minute drive to the kids’ apartment.

Finally, something that we’ve all been hoping for!!!!!!!

Since we’ve been here, I’ve done a lot of hanging out with JC and Kara, watching movies while I (thankfully) get to use their washing machine and dryer, eating dinner, playing disc golf, etc.  I visited my first yarn shop since early March! ImagiKnit Yarn Shop in Bel Air Plaza, Omaha.  It was a little tricky finding it among the shops in the plaza just because there were several buildings – but it was SO WORTH IT!  I knew I was having withdrawals from visiting shops but didn’t realize how much I missed them until I walked in and was overwhelmed with the yarns, notions, bags and fun things.  (ED. NOTE – if you bring new yarn in, you gotta get rid of some old yarn, weight is still something to keep in mind!!!) After being greeted and making sure it was ok to browse (during this COVID time), I walked back to the front door and started making my way around the shop.  The yarn was plentiful and many brands, old and new, were hanging or resting throughout the shop.  My friend, Nicole had given me a pattern for a market bag that was just what I needed to break up my sweater habit, so I began searching for the right yarn for that pattern.  It was a variegated shade of Hempathy Prints which was on sale – so I bought two different balls for two different bags 😊 I also came home with a Stratosphere yarn named Hot Air Balloon (red) for a pair of fingerless mitts for my daughter. (ED. NOTE – OMG – so it wasn’t that you missed shopping, it’s that you missed BUYING!!!!) Karla, the owner, has a great selection of project bags and I needed one to carry my yarn home in, sooooo – you know I had to have one of those also.  There were some really cute larger bags for toting yarn or other purse-like needs (I may go back before we leave here…)  I had a lovely conversation with Karla and her assistant about traveling around the country – they were both a delight!  This is a place I’d love to come sit and knit in after we’re virus free! 

If you keep recruiting, you may end up with a cult!!!!!

Kara took me to explore Lincoln the other day and it was a fun day.  Our first stop was at another yarn shop called The Yarn Shop. It was a little south of Lincoln in an indoor shopping mall.  Again, there was a ton of beautiful yarn! and a lot on sale!  It’s the time of year that shops are trying to make some room to bring in the fall/winter yarns!  My DIL spotted a pattern that she liked and expressed some interest in knitting!  Of course, I was jumping up and down inside because maybe, finally, someone in my immediate family might enjoy knitting!! (ED. NOTE – If you get someone else to try your insanity does that make them insane too?!?!?!?) We got the pattern and a ball of yarn for a wash cloth and got her started that afternoon – she picked it up fast and I’m keeping my fingers crossed (but no pressure, Kara!😊)  After leaving there, we headed to lunch in downtown Lincoln.  We were looking for something light with a covered patio and found that at the Bison Witches Bar & Deli.  After devouring some tasty sandwiches, we walked over to the central campus of the University of Nebraska where she is completing her degree.  The student union was giving every student 2 mask to wear to their on- campus classes – so glad they are thinking of the kids’ and teachers’ safety! (ED. NOTE – Do you really think they are wearing them while they’re *@#$&*% ?!?!?!?!?!)

Well, that certainly is unusual!!!!

I was interested in visiting the capitol after seeing a picture of it online, so we drove in that direction.  It was unlike the others I’ve seen, the building is a low, wide building, just 3 levels with a tall tower in the middle and a gold dome on top.  After doing a bit of research, I discovered this was the third capitol building built on this site, completed in 1932 and the first statehouse that was not built in the style of the nation’s capitol.  The building is a “cross within a square” which houses 4 interior courtyards and the tower in the middle is 400 feet high.  There are carved murals around the outside of the building showing the “business” of the government building.  It is very impressive.

       

We’ll be here the rest of the week before we head on to Wyoming!