Combat Air Museum, Topeka

Recently, the hubs had an appointment out at Ft. Riley, KS, and the route takes you through Topeka, the state capitol. Since we all decided to ride with him to make it a field trip day, I tried to find something that everyone in the family could enjoy, and came across the Combat Air Museum. It turned out to be a really great side trip. The staff was super friendly and they have a fairly new flight simulator that anyone can try out as long as there is a volunteer available to help you. However, it was very, very cold the day we went, and since hangars are not heated....well, that part made for some not so cooperative kiddos.

The flight simulator.

Overview of hangar one.

Inside hangar two.

Winter Birds

Kansas is the place for Canadian geese in winter. Every pond around here has it's share of them. As I type the water is now all frozen over and the geese just plod along in the snow on ice. I have to wonder what it's like at the place they left behind to spend a milder winter here. One day in late fall we took the girls to see them at the pond on post.

Photo bomb!

Now, as we sit inside, feeling trapped by the bitter winter this year, (feels like sub-zero!) we do have the pleasure of watching the birds. We distribute plenty of seed and of course they come. Here are a few pictures I've managed to snap. I wonder if my neighbors think I'm psycho if they see me with my telephoto lens peering out the window while standing on a chair.

It took a while to capture the elusive biuebird!