Coffeyville, Kansas

Since September 13, 2014 we have called Coffeyville, Kansas our "home is where the RV is parked" base.

Keith accepted a workamper job with Amazon Camperforce for the busy season.

We thought it would be a cool experience (so far it has been) and it would give us a little extra money to buy a couple of big ticket items that were on our list of must haves for our full-time life on the road.

I'll have him write a little post about his experience and post it here later.

Y'all that know me, know that when I land somewhere I hit the ground running!

And I certainly did just that!!

I found a wonderful homeschool group at our local library.  They meet every Thursday during the school--Coffeyville Homeschool Connections. Their leader, Janie Hearson, has been such a welcoming new friend. There are so many wonderful families who attend and have kindly adopted into their homeschool family. We have loved being apart of their group and it will be a sad farewell when we have to depart.

While at my first group meeting I met my friend, Amy Castello. She is the one who invited us to our new church home, Bible Baptist Church.

There are so many wonderful things I could say about Bible Baptist!

Pastor Daniel Knight and his family are amazing and we are so happy to call them friends.

The congregation is kind and so hospitable. Following our first Sunday morning visit we were visited by Pastor and his family on Tuesday evening with a bag full of homemade chocolate chip cookies and some great fellowship.

It's a small congregation however it is growing and we invite you to come grow with us!  

The city of Coffeyville is a nice small town community. Everyone here has been so welcoming and friendly. Midwest hospitality has been extended to us everywhere we have been. I really love the people here!

Here are a few things/places we have been since arriving:

Riverside Park, Independence, KS-- is a 100 plus acre park that includes: Ralph Mitchell Zoo, playgrounds, aquatic center, miniature train, carousel, miniature golf, and a lighted fountain.

Ralph Mitchell Zoo exhibits a variety of native and exotic wildlife including: black bear, cougar, elk, deer, muntjac, bison, bobcat, ducks, monkeys, macaws, pythons, caiman, African spur tortoises, kinkajou, aoudads, llamas, wallabies, Opossum, Red Fox and coatis. Monkey Island is a favorite attraction. The admission is FREE!  

Depending on the time of year are the hours however it does open daily at 9 a.m. no matter the time of year.

Tulsa Zoo, Tulsa, OK--This was a wonderful zoo! We really enjoyed the day with our Coffeyville Homeschool Connections group. Our two favorite exhibits were the Topical American Rainforest and the Oceans and Islands.

Old Iron Days, Fredonia, KS--This yearly event takes place the last Thursday-Sunday of September. In addition to the heavy duty farm equipment one would expect to find at an Old Iron Show, the Wilson County Old Iron Club teaches young and old about the domestic ways of the past and how children contributed to the daily life of the family.  Visitors to our show have an opportunity to see old-time laundry methods, various methods for making butter, open-fire cooking as well as cooking on a wood burning stove, making apple butter, sewing on a treadle machine, quilting and tatting, apple cider pressing, and other facets of rural life as it was lived in the past.

Little House on the Prairie, Independence, KS-- In 1869, the Ingalls' family moved to this location, 12 miles southwest of Independence, Kansas. They stayed here about a year before returning to their earlier home in Pepin, Wisconsin. Laura Ingalls Wilder was only 3 when the family lived in Kansas, but when she started writing the "Little House" books, she based Little House on the Prairie on memories of her older family members:  Pa, Ma, and Mary.  They left the area when it was discovered their homestead was located just over in Indian territory. Pa Ingalls packed up his family and left before the government sent soldiers to evict them from the property. He said he wanted to leave the place on his on free will.

We had the pleasure of being part of Lamplight on the Prairie in late September. We walked the homestead with lanterns lit by candles and were greeted at each area on the property by actors in period dress telling us their point of view tale of the night before the Ingalls family left Kansas to head back to Wisconsin.

We loved it! If you're in the area please go by and visit there. It is closed during the winter months, November-April but you're still able to walk the grounds, look at the buildings and peer into the windows. Please be sure to leave a suggested donation of $3 for adults and $1 for children under 18 in the copper mailbox when you visit.

Dalton Defender Days, Coffeyville, KS--Dalton Defenders Days celebrates that fateful day of October 5, 1892 when the Dalton Gang was defeated in Coffeyville Kansas.  The Dalton Gang attempted to rob two banks in Coffeyville and all but one of them was shot and killed.  They celebrate the four towns people who gave their lives defending Coffeyville.  There's a re-enactment of the shoot out, food vendors, car show, craft booths and live music. Many fun activities for the whole family to enjoy like a cake walk, several different eating contest, and a few rodeo events out at the fairgrounds. The event is FREE but you'll need a little cash for food & craft vendors.