Them Thar Hills

 

"There's gold in them thar hills."

According to folklore, in 1849, from the steps of the Lumpkin County Courthouse, a Dahlonega, Georgia mint assayer, Dr. M.F. Stephenson, yelled to the townspeople, "There's gold in them thar hills." He wanted to keep people looking for gold in Georgia, rather than leaving for California.

We found some "gold" in the Flint Hills of Kansas during a recent golfing excursion. But the gold was in the form of wildflowers - not minerals. 

At a senior golf tournament Randy played in this summer, some of his golfing companions talked about playing the Wabaunsee Pines Golf Course. We had a day between tennis and volleyball matches while in Topeka, so we - like the gold prospectors - went west.

Of course, we weren't going as far west as California, but just to Wabaunsee County. 

 

Wabaunsee Pines is a nine-hole public golf course featuring limestone berms and native grasses of the Flint Hills. It's been called “The Gem of the Flint Hills” and we now know why.

The course was constructed and maintained with volunteer labor and has irrigated greens, tees, and fairways.Wabaunsee Pines Golf Association, Inc. was incorporated in 1993. In 2014, a group of patrons joined together and created the “Double Eagle Club” which funds the course's only employee. Before that time, it was maintained by all volunteer labor.

The beauty of the Kansas Flint Hills is just natural - no grooming required. 

 This time of year, the fall wildflowers provided a beautiful backdrop to a nice course.

 

The course is adjacent to Lake Wabaunsee.

Kansas may have a reputation for being flat. But the Flint Hills are just one exception to that rule.

My golfer would recommend it. 

On the way back to Topeka, we had lunch at the Sommerset Cafe in the tiny town of Dover. 

Photo by Taylor Hunt from Facebook photos

 I didn't take any photos (believe it or not.) But we would recommend it, too. The cafe is housed in a 19th-century clapboard building and serves homestyle cafe fare and classic pies. Yes, we had the pie. Randy had banana creme and I had Dutch apple. Yum! We would definitely make a return visit, if the opportunity arises.

 

 

Life Lately

 

I guess I've been too busy living to do much writing lately. It's ironic, I suppose. Theoretically, retirement implies that I'd have more time. But farming kept us closer to home. If I was at the house waiting for my next "go-fer" duties, I took the time to write. (I am still doing my Central Kansas reporter gig for KFRM 550 AM farm radio, Monday through Friday.)

But now, we are keeping the road hot to Topeka or Manhattan or to where ever our heart desires. 

I just commented to Randy last week that our frequent excursions to Topeka to watch tennis and volleyball wouldn't be possible if we were still actively farming. There would be corn to cut and wheat to plant and milo soon ready to harvest. 

Harley Day at K-State Football game - September 13, 2024

Even though we have been season ticket holders to K-State football games for years, we often missed at least one game each fall to stay home and plant wheat. 

August 31, 2024 game - Touchdown!

September 28 game - K-State vs. Oklahoma State

Some of our favorite trips lately have been to cheer on our granddaughters.

This is Kinley's first year in junior high tennis. As a 7th grader, she earned a spot on the A team squad for Washburn-Rural Junior High.  (As I told Jill and Eric, all those lessons at Genesis are now paying off!)

It's been so much fun to see her success. It's also been fun to join the other grandparents (and our friends) - Alan and Christy - as No. 1 fans.

She's gotten to play singles ...

and doubles with fellow 7th grader (and Genesis afficiando) Karmyn. She's had success with both.

We're looking forward to more matches this week. It's a short season, and I hate that it's almost over already.

 

We don't need any distractions during tennis tournaments. However, sometimes little sisters prefer to find something to do between matches. Brooke could have started a little bracelet business during a Saturday tournament.

Thankfully, the schedule has also matched up with with Brooke's first session of volleyball this fall.

We're rather fond of the coach, too. Jill has taken on that duty for the Attack Pack.

It's amazing how much all the girls have improved since they began last year. Several of them are serving overhand - though they all will get more consistent with time. And there are actual volleys happening these days. Once in awhile, they even set each other up.

KANSAS STATE FAIR

We missed the Kansas Master Farmers Day at the Kansas State Fair this year. For years, we were rotating through the offices or had some other committee assignment that required our presence. And while we love reconnecting with our farming friends from across the state, this year, tennis and volleyball with the granddaughters prevailed.

We did stop at the Kansas State Fair on our way home from Topeka. Randy had his Pronto Pup (with Dorothy and the Tin Man and gang looking on.) OK, maybe he had more than one corn dog.

He rode on the State Fair railroad.

And we saw all the attractions - including the giant pumpkin in the Pride of Kansas building. We also got my favorite fair food - an apple dumpling from Wheatland Cafe. I didn't take a photo before digging in.

We'd thought about staying for the evening concert, Casting Crowns, which is one of my favorite contemporary Christian recording groups. However, it was hot, and we were tired. All this running around is exhausting - ha!

NEW INTERNET

We live in Never Never Land for cell phone service and fiber optics internet. I wasn't looking to replace my internet provider. But, when I had a few problems and a technician told me that they were going to phase out the equipment I was using, it was time to look for something else. (I loved my previous company, but there were no options to upgrade for me, since I lived on the very perimeter of their coverage area.)

Anyway, I had new internet installed last week.

When I initially called, the sales representative said, "Wow! You have a lot of trees. I don't know. ..." However, she promised a site visit to see.

Thankfully, the installer could get above the trees by attaching it to the old windmill. Whew! And, so far, so good.

COMMUNITY CONCERT

We had the first Hutchinson Community Concert of the season. It was Legendary Ladies of Country with Lisa Brokop, who sang the songs and told the stories of female country music pioneers like Loretta Lynn, Dottie West, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Anne Murray, and others. 

Community Concerts are a great value. It's only $50 a ticket for quality entertainment. While they aren't headliner stars, they are talented performers. Lisa Brokop was excellent, and we weren't the only ones to think so. Next month, she's getting inducted into the British Columbia Country Music Hall of Fame. The pianist, bass and fiddle players were talented, too. 

 Next time: Trying out a new golf course - and some beautiful scenery.