Friendly Fossils & Fried Food

So...recent road trip! We went to Ashfall Fossil Bed State Historical Park. It was a dear hubby bucket list item. It was no where to be seen on my bucket list. But my bucket list is so shallow that I decided to say one of my bucket list items was to check off one of his bucket wishes!

This place was so interesting! We really enjoyed it! It's a place of wonderment, enlightenment, and for reflection. The process alone is mind blowing. The discoveries vast - from algae to fragile plant life to massive horned four legged creatures. All quiescently preserved for study and appreciation today.

It was a beautiful day for a drive to Royal, NE

home of Ashfall Fossil Beds.
(Or it's alternate home: Orchard, NE...
long story...all has to do with post office...)

 

Informative markers line the trails.

 

The work lab is staffed with UNL paleontology students

who were passionate about
answering all our questions!

 

An outdoor, gridded, fossil bed.

 

The indoor, gridded, fossil bed. The UNL paleontology students

rotate from the inner lab to this area to work and answer questions.

Such a ton of work...all done with soft paint brushes and tiny picks!

 

Every area is instructive and educational.

 

Check out THIS bad boy!

 

Discovered and revealed in their original place of demise.

 

And a huge variety of natural floral!

 

We would both highly recommend a trip to Ashfall! Friendly, knowledgeable staff, walking trails, areas for kids to play paleontologist, cell phone dial in for walking tour narratives, educational, and FUN! And the gift shop is filled with goodies! I HAD to buy a lapel pin, pencil, and a magnet! Just HAD to!

 We topped off the day with a stop for dinner at Bob's Burgers in Martinsburg, NE. (I've blah blah blahed on a previous blog about Bob's.) ##WashYourHands #EverythingIsBreaded&Fried and the burgers are significantly larger than the buns.

From fossils and fried foods to friends...........

 

 

 

Star Friends

~Base card - kraft by The Paper Studio

~Background - Anthologie by We R Memory Keepers

~Three stars

~Sentiment printed on laser printer

~Die cut - Spellbinders Scallop Circle

~Blended smudges around circle using SU Crumb Cake & Memento London Fog

~Washi tape by The Paper Studio

 

Challenges | Inspirations

Just Us Girls - Trend Week - blending

Freshly Made Sketches - sketch

Just Add Ink - color combination

 

Here's to fossil's, friends, regional interests, staycations, Midwestern skies, and hubby time.

 

Nancy in Iowa