Creeks, Cousins, and a Cabin

When I was young mom and dad would take us three girls on Sunday drives in the country. We would splash in streams, collect fossils, hunt for arrowheads, and pick pods and cattails, (which my mother would spray gold-you might remember that craze—or not).  When autumn came we would search for bittersweet along the country roads and mom would put them in a cornucopia along with gourds and plastic fruit.

As the three of us girls grew up, moved away and started jobs and families of our own, the Sunday drives in the country came to a halt.  I don’t remember when or how they started again, but this time the grandchildren tagged along as well.  We stopped for several months after my mom passed away, so I was delighted a few weeks ago when dad announced that we should wear our old clothes on Sunday because he was taking us on a Sunday drive.

Dry creek bed along the way.

My nephew showing off his finds

Our first stop was in a pasture behind my dad’s cousin’s home.  The hills were huge (and here you thought Kansas was flat).  The cousins enjoyed picking up rocks, sticks, and bones, and setting out on their own journey while the adults watched from above.  I wish you could get a feel for how large these hills really are.

The cousins and dad

The girls half way down the hill

Our next stop was a secret cabin in the woods, which was situated where two creeks converge into a river.  The cabin was built by a farmer for his wife, who had cancer and was not expected to live.  The woman beat the cancer and now her husband is very ill.  There are only a hand full of people who know about this lovely cabin, and we were fortunate they let us visit.  The cabin is absolutely charming  and cozy with a fireplace, a sweet loft and decorated in a woodsy theme.

My daughter by the river

The cousins and dad beside the Marias des Cygne river.

Cousins hamming it up while dad is trying to give a lesson on the river and how it was made.

This past Sunday we went on another Sunday Drive, this time to a dry creek bed.

You can't see it in the photo below but this huge tree is hanging over the creek bed and there is a 4 foot gap between the roots and the creek bed. The erosion from the creek was amazing, cutting sharp and deep along the banks.

My daughters hanging on a vine



Unfortunately our son was away at college, and my older sister's kids and grand kids were not able to be here. Even so, we are fortunate that the cousins are so close and even though some of them are in high school and beyond, they still love to explore the countryside, which thrills my dad and gives him so much pleasure--not to mention the time well spent with family.