Xenophobia and Xenia

X...this letter gave me fits last year, but since I had signed up multiple blogs to the challenge last year I really had to stretch.  I used X Marks the spot, the city of Xenia Ohio, and X...well here, take a look

There are 6 cities/towns with the name of Xenia in the United States.  One in Colorado in Washington County at 4,534 feet of elevation, Kansas in Boubon County at 1,040 feet, one in Iowa in Dallas County at 1,027 feet, also one that used to be in Hardin County, but there's very little documentation of this, Illinois has a Xenia in Clay County at 534 feet (this location is now known as Altanta), and the one most known for the horrible tornado in Ohio.

Additionally, there used to be a city/village in Missouri named after Xenia Ohio as a matter of fact, that no longer exists.  There is a sign marking where the village used to be in Nodaway County.  It moved to Pickerington when it was by passed by the railroads and ceased to exist back in 1870.
There was a small skirmish during the Civil War between The Union from the Iowa Calvary and the Confederates from southern Nodaway County.

XENOPHOBIA:
 fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign

**After the close of April's A-Z, I plan to continue to write a post a day in the month of May using again the A-B-C's as my guide.  My focus for the month of May will be Spain.  I've been planning and almost have every letter thought out.  If others are interested in continuing to blog daily using our A-B-C's, please let me know.  We could start a linky and continue what we've begun during April.  I don't imagine it will be anywhere near the scope of the annual April Challenge.  But, if you're interested, please let me know in your comment.  And even if you're not up for another blog challenge, do stop back in, I have much to share from recent travels to Spain.**

If you're a new follower, please let me know so I can reciprocate.

Traveling Interstate 70, Illinois

World's largest cross measures 198 feet by 113 feet. This large cross is at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interset 57 in Effingham, Illinois. At night it is lit and visible for quite a distance. A beacon.
Visible for a good distance during the day also. It was built by The Effingham Cross Foundation using 180 tons of steel. Please take time to hop off the freeway, follow the small signs to see this up close and personal. There are 10 stations each with a button for audio homilies, a visitors center (with bathroom), and a video you can enjoy. There are several large crosses across the country. Groom Texas boast the 2nd largest cross in the Western Hemisphere. You can see how little hubby is by comparison...the speck of red, that's hubby. Click on the picture to enlarge it for a better view. I've lighten the photo for better visibility, as it was dark and gloomy...misting while we were there.
This picture of me and my bison was taken out front of The Indian Arts and Crafts Shop in St. Elmo, Illinois; also right along I-70. I have a thing about bison and so we stopped for a photo opt. However besides stopping to see the Bison I encourage you to stop and do a little shopping while you take a potty break. The selection of Native American crafts, and art is fabulous. Prices are quite good.

Too often in our travels people blow past items of interest, thinking only of the final destination. I really believe it's the journey, and not the final destination that can produce wonderful memories, opportunities to learn and add to the enjoyment of the trip. So, please do yourself a favor, stop, look and learn. Why not add these interesting stops instead of speeding in and out of a rest stop next time you travel?

Interstate 70 is most generally the fastest way from point A to point B, running from near Cove Fort in Utah to near Baltimore Maryland, and the first Interstate Highway Project here in The US; but there are sites along the way..............slow down and enjoy them.

Travel safe my friends and let me know what you see along the way.

Traveling with Flat Stanley in Illinois and Indiana

click picture to enlarge and see detail

Do you know Flat Stanley?  Has your child or grandchild done a Flat Stanley project at school?  It's fun, it's educational.  A co-worker's nephew is doing a Flat Stanley project and so we're doing what we can to add to his project.  I took my Flat Stanley tailgating last wkend; but due to the old camera only working some of the time.  The pictures I thought I had....weren't there.  Errrrrrrrrr, I so need a new camera.  My regular camera broke while on vacation a couple of weeks ago, thus I've been trying to use the old one.  Very frustrating.  So, while Flat Stanley was appropriately colored to be Buckeye for tailgating, those pictures are non existent.

He also traveled with hubby and I last wkend to St. Louis with a car load of stuff for our daughter.  On the way back we made a couple of stops and Flat Stanley got his picture taken in Indiana, and in Illinois.  These 2 pictures with The Bison and TeePee were taken in Illinois on US Route 70 exit 76.  This is a fun stop for all.  The kids will love the TeePee and The Bison, parents will love the very unique gift shop; and furry friends have some room to roam and stretch their legs.  It's not the first time we've stopped here; nor will it be the last.

Here's Stanley in Indiana, again on US Route 70.  He got his picture taken by a nice memorial to our men and women in service.  The Blue Star Highways were started as a way to honor our military after the close of World War II, by ladies garden clubs all across the country.

If you'd like to join in on the project it would be great.  You can color your own Flat Stanley and take him places, photograph it and email it to me.  Or...you could take my Flat Stanley, print it and go visiting.  It's a geography lesson primarily for this particular group of kids; but the kids learn so many other things as well.  I like to add some history info, they can find locations on the map etc.  It started out as a way to get kids to write letters, to journal; but there are many possibilities.  Let me know if you're interested.  Here's a link if you'd like to color your own Flat Stanley