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Reminder

Don't forget to check out the Paige B. Photography Blog regularly for more photo-ey goodness!

Prairie

After checking out the old house we headed to the Holy Family Shrine. It's a beautiful building on a hill surrounded by natural prairies. It's open to the public so we wandered around and checked out the beautiful scenery. John and my dad talked about plants and prairies while I wandered off and took pictures of them.

These are the last of the photos from my dad's visit. Happy Monday : )

Another Old House

When we were driving around outside of Ashland, NE last weekend with my dad we drove by this old mansion. It is huge and was probably very beautiful at one time. But unfortunately it is in pretty bad shape after sitting empty for about 10 years. We later looked it up and found out that it is called the Israel Beetison Mansion and was built in 1875. It was inhabited by the family until 1999 when the Iron Horse housing developement (million dollar homes on a golf course) bought the land and the house. At that point it became vacant and apparently nobody ever touched it again. And it is supposed to be a historical landmark.

Here's what it looks like now

Here's a photo I found online of what it looked like in 1999

Ashland

My dad was visiting from Peoria last weekend and we managed to find a couple of new things to do. We've had a string of visitors over the past couple of months, but their personalities and interests are all different which makes it possible for us (John) to find new things to do.

Last Saturday we headed over to the little town of Ashland, NE. We bummed around their cute downtown area.

The old guy in that last photo was quite a character. I was trying to be sly and get a picture of him but he was highly suspicious of us. When we walked by we said hello and he immediately launched into a rant about the terrible economy and bad presidential candidates. He went on and on and on and at one point he told John he was just glad he wasn't our age because our lives are going to be so bad. When he was finally done talking John replied with a smile "Well I wish I could say it's been nice talking to you!"

The Rest

Here are the rest of the photos from Michelle's visit. I'm not going to explain any of these, so you'll just have to use your imagination : )

Louisville - Part II

More photos from our trip to Main Street (not Wall Street). Okay I'll stop with the political references.

I need the sign below. Good Times - Established in 1981. I am living proof.

Okay, I should explain these next two. We walked across the street to the liquor store (for bottled water) and I spotted these three interesting people eating ice cream out front. I was trying to be sneaky and get a shot of them. I love this shot for some reason.

Here's a closer look. I love that woman. I wish I could've been brave enough to get her from the front. She had a permed mullet and huge granny sunglasses.

Well that's all from Louisville, Nebraska! Tomorrow, corn and wine...stay tuned : )

Louisville

So when Michelle was here we took a drive to a small town called Louisville (pronounced Loo-iss-ville, not Looey-ville). Louisville's downtown is the essence of small town middle America. Plenty of Joe six packs and hockey moms. Ha, just trying to make a little joke there. No but seriously it's a cute little town. We wandered Main street, but everything was closed except the liquor store (it was Sunday).

This little art gallery/shop was crazy! I've never seen so many colors and lawn ornaments in my life.

I started taking a few pictures of Michelle and before you know it I was treating her like one of my high school seniors. "Okay and turn towards me a little more...perfect. Beautiful." She is also a closet watcher of America's Next Top Model so we were making fun of Tyra. She asked me if she should "smile with her eyes". But she doesn't need any help from Tyra. She's a natural.

More from Louisville tomorrow!!

P.S. I don't know what's going on with this post. The columns got really small all of a sudden.

We have a winner

My friend Michelle D. came for a visit last weekend. I think she wins the award for most visits since we moved here a year ago (I think this was her 4th). For our friends and family who didn't know I was handing out awards for frequent visits to Nebraska, I am. It's a huge trophy and Michelle is going to get one.

Anyway, we had a great time and I took tons of pictures. We did a lot of interesting things now that I think about it. In fact, there are so many photos I want to post that I'm going to spread them out over a few days.

On Saturday night we went to a sports bar to eat and watch the Huskers get smashed. But then we moved on to another bar where there was a fun cover band playing. We particularly like this bar because the people watching is always amazing. I've seen mullets, she-males, old men with young women, crazy bachelorette parties, baffling dance moves, too short skirts and too high heels. It's very entertaining. And this night was no exception. We even joined the freak show and did a little dancing ourselves.

John and Michelle at dinner

Michelle and I at dinner

John and Michelle enjoying the freak show

John and his sister Lori

Michelle and I ready to shake our groove thang.

Photo Overload!!

I'm a little behind on the editing and posting of recent photos. But I'm going to start catching up right now.

Two weeks ago John and I went to Kansas City for the weekend where we met up with Mitch and Kathleen. Mitch's brother Jimmy is in a blue's band called Levee Town and we went and saw them play on Friday night at BB's Lawnside Bar B Q. The band sounded great and Jimmy rocked it on the harmonica.

(that's Jimmy playing the harmonica on the left)

(that's the back of my head, taken by John)

On Saturday we walked down to the Plaza where there was a huge art fair going on. It was a gorgeous day and we had fun checking out all the art.

We headed back on Sunday after a fun and relaxing weekend. Thanks for meeting us in KC Mitch & Kathleen. It was fun!