Yoo-hoo!

Helllloooo, Darlings!!  

After my short sojourn in my little bin, I am refreshed, recharged, and ready to go!  And by the way, don’t you just LOVE how my mascara, glasses AND lipstick color coordinate?!  And I think the green hat is such a lovely complement to the entire purple scheme going on💕💕.  But, I digress...

We drove  across ALL of North Dakota today.... and into Montana by about 100 Miles.  Tomorrow, we will drive about 2/3 of Montana, before taking the last 1/3 into Idaho and then head a bit south to get home on Friday.  You know you are in the West when it takes you all day or more to drive across the state!!

Most of North Dakota is bucolic, gently rolling hills, with miles of corn and cattle.  Very lush at the moment, due to lots of rain.  BUT, in the last quarter of the state, up until the very border with Montana, comes a sudden change in landscape.... stunning, as you can see!

These are the so-called Badlands... these photos hardly do them justice!  We took a short detour to Teddy Roosevelt National Park, which encompasses ALL of these beautiful canyons and buttes, with lots of bison.  But, don’t let this gorgeous landscape lull you - there is tragic history here... massacre of many native peoples by the US army, and in return, total decimation of Custer’s army by the Sioux.  A very unpleasant chapter in our history, which echoes through many other conflicts, including current immigration policies over several recent and current administrations.  Oy vey, quadrupled.

Shortly after leaving This park, we came into Montana and the Mountain time zone.... and in about 100 Miles, we reached our stop for tonight in Miles City, Montana.  This city started as a fort in response to the Custer massacre, and has had a boom-bust-boom cycle like so many towns and cities in America.  It appears to be doing very well at the moment, largely due to being a hub for livestock shows, auctions and so on.  But I think much else, as well.  Lots of energetic young people here, and new restaurants, housing communities, etc.

At any rate - here we are!  A very pleasant mid-60’s this evening.... good sleeping weather!  More tomorrow from Garrison, MT.

Ta, ta - and hello from that dog!

💋 Prudence

And now a word from Lynn

Hi, all -
just a quick post to let everyone know we made it ok to Casselton, North Dakota today.  No tornados last night, but a lot of rain, which continued most of today.  Prudence is having a little beauty rest tonight (she needs it, wouldn't you say?!)  Rascal and I are chilling in the van, with the AC - not scorching, but definitely warm, and no trees to be had anywhere in these high plains!  Day four down, and I am a bit drained from the drive today - BUT the windshield is finally really clean, lol!
See you tomorrow, reporting from Miles City, Montana! 

Good Evening, Osseo!

Bon Jour, Darlings!! 


I love the taste of raindrops..... BUT I must say, even I was overwhelmed today by the downpours through which we drove!  I could hear it all the way in my little bin in the closet!  

Now that we are here in lovely Osseo, Wisconsin, the storms have passed, and hopefully will stay away - though we are snug as a bug in our lovely van if they do return.  

The brochure from the Stoney Creek campground mentions that we must seek shelter if we hear tornado sirens.  My dears, I so, so hope that does not occur this evening!  














You can see below how far north we've traveled.... and it is MUCH cooler here - very pleasant mid-70's.  But tons of little flying bugs that bite.  So glad my skin is impervious to such things, but Lynn took refuge in the van after 10 minutes, WITH bug spray on all over, mind you!

https://www.google.com/search?q=osseo+wis&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS758US761&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFsL7qpt7bAhUL3FMKHSkhCHsQ_AUIDygA&biw=1313&bih=622#imgrc=1dbZ54lNujw-QM:

The traffic looping around Chicago was, how shall I say?  Incredible?  Horrible?  How about Very Annoying!  And the local drivers zip around all over the interstate like something out of Star Wars - I don't think I can print the word to describe that, lol!  

The Loft, pictured below, is right up the street from us, but apparently has decided to scale back, as now they offer only Antiques and Cheese - which I found quite odd until I saw this older picture, lol!  There were quite a few cars in the lot when we went by on the way to the campground - so they must have some killer antiques or some stellar cheese, or both, don't you know?!

https://www.google.com/search?q=osseo+wis&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS758US761&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFsL7qpt7bAhUL3FMKHSkhCHsQ_AUIDygA&biw=1313&bih=622#imgrc=jhTCKYUxSMiAxM:

Google offers the following info on Osseo:

Well, darlings, I don't know about you, but I would hardly call a gathering of  around 1700 souls a "city".  Mon dieu - Paris is a city!  New York is a city!  Madrid is a city!  Even Hartford is a city!  Osseo.... not so much.  Nonetheless, the little grocery store was quite well-stocked, and the people most pleasant, so perhaps I will overlook this gross exaggeration of status!  

In comparison, though, Lynn tells me Osseo is about 3 to 4 times the size of Deary, our closest town.  See?  I don't know what the current census is, but it is up by at least one with the addition of Lynn, and two if you count me!  And you KNOW you should, luvs!  I think the three-star hotel must be our place, lol!  There is not even a run-down motel in site from what I can tell!  But of course, if you visit, there will be a steep discount in price :-)

Finally, a little about our hosts this evening, Stoney Creek Campground.... very pleasant place, as all have been. 

That is all for now, my dears..... we are off to Casselton, North Dakota, tomorrow!  And assuming we are tornado-free this evening - more to come!

ta, ta - Prudence

You'll never guess!!

Hola, darlings!!  I have two big things to share today! 

First, we are staying tonight in a wonderful campground in Lakeville, Indiana... AND just up the road is Potato Creek State Park!!  Can you believe it?!! 

I would so love to visit... but time does not permit.  I did check out their facebook page though - lots of Great Stuff going on there!  The image above comes from their FB page also.... you can find it here:  https://www.facebook.com/potatocreeksp/

And second, oooh la la!!  I am of Peruvian descent!!  Lynn showed me a wonderful "Fun Facts About Potatoes" - take a look!  https://www.potatogoodness.com/potato-fun-facts-history/  I am so excited about that wonderful history that my mouth got a bit wonky, lol!

Tomorrow, we are off to Wisconsin, and at some point will be half-way through the 2800 mile trip.... Bring on Day Three!

Ta-ta,
Prudence

Nice to Meet You!

Hello, Darlings!!  Prudence here.... You'll learn more of my story in days to come, but suffice it now to say that Lynn's colleagues at the School of Nursing at Quinnipiac University selected me to be one of her traveling companions (and primary, don't you just know?!)  Apparently it was the connection between Lynn's destination (Idaho) and me (a potato)..... but I am absolutely sure it is a match made in heaven.

Lynn will be retiring on June 30, and is in transit cross-country with me and a dog named Rascal to her new home in Idaho, land of my ancestors.  Little cat Gertrude crossed the rainbow bridge about a week before we launched, but she is with us in spirit and a sweet heart urn.  Personally, I suspect that cat and I would have had a few interactions, and not of the pleasant type from my point of view!  Nonetheless, in a generous gesture, I will say I am glad she is aboard.  

We landed in Woodland, Pennsylvania late this afternoon after leaving Connecticut this morning.  Tomorrow, we travel to Lakeville, Indiana.... where there are major heat warnings.  Thank the potato spirits that this rig has great AC both while traveling and whilst parked.  We're gonna need it!

In the meantime, as you can see, I am making the most of a nice bowl of guacamole, and a glass of wine!  A girl has to enjoy one's little comforts on a country-wide journey such as this!

 Here is that dog I mentioned.... apparently happy to be outside after a long day.  Little does he know that I, on the other hand, have to spend the entire trip in a plastic bin tucked into one of the closets, and I do not get outside on the fuel stops.  I'm going to have to talk with Lynn about that.  Or refuse to pose anymore, I guess.  Although she does let me pick my wardrobe, ever so important to a famous potato such as myself!  She even acts like my dresser - so perhaps I should rethink my grumpy position.... now here's Rascal!! 

So for now, darlings, ta-ta!  I may be just a potato, but I have a little class, don't you know?!  Hasta luego, luvs -

XXX OOO Prudence