For the first time in the history of the United States a total eclipse will slide across the entire country, from sea to sea.    The last total eclipse in our country swooped the Western United States and up into Canada.  Our eclipse trip will peak tomorrow, August, 21 as we travel into rural Nebraska to witness this great celestial event.  

There is no shortage of news about this event.  Though, it seems that much of the news is focusing on what could go wrong.  We are packing a picnic lunch and, see it or not, will have a great day.  

If your plans are to see the eclipse in person or on television, we hope your week is blessed!

Do you see the deer in the picture?  Neither do we.   We were amazed at the number that emerged from among the sunflowers to feed in the grassy fields nearby as the sun went down.  Corn, sunflowers and cattle surround us as we take in the wildlife.  We are enjoying a break from our summer shows and our visit with family.  A simple trip to the hardware store results in a social visit with a friendly member of the town.  A passing motorist gives a wave on every street and road – truly the Heartland of America.

“I want to own a feed lot and make a lot of money,” the young boy responded after asking him what he wanted to do when he was older.  The other boy, who was showing his pigs at the fair, as part of 4-H wants to be a veterinarian.  What we enjoyed most at the Cuming County Fair in West Point, Nebraska were the great number of children that freely wandered the fair for its four-day run.  We do not see this many children in our California, Arizona or Nevada shows.  Many of the children are involved in 4-H and show everything from cattle to turtles, from photography to sewing.

We are enjoying some time with our children in Martin, South Dakota:  a rural land where cattle outnumber people by the thousands and dirt roads well outnumber paved ones.  Ranching and farming rule this land of rolling hills and endless plains.

Our Great Eclipse Trip of 2017 is more than half over and the eclipse less than a week away.  Today our son took us on a tour of a local rancher that raises cattle on a 10,000 acre ranch that the family has held for over one hundred years.  While enjoying a view of its 340 acre lake I think we found some agate that looks promising.  Perhaps a Fairburn Agate?