(I guess when you get to be our age you have 2 pages of history)

Although we were anxious to leave Arkansas for our home state, we weren't anxious to leave the beautiful property on the little body of water we had in Helena.  Never did we dream we would fall into the property we did in Kansas with the help of a friend and a realtor. While still living in Helena, we negotiated long distance after making a quick trip to Kansas to view the property.  There wasn't much discussion, as it was everything we wanted.  Rural, 80 acres, lots of trees, fields, outbuildings, a lovely house, and best of all, the property had 2 large strip pits with the largest one right out the back door.  Did I mention DARK SKIES?  Well, the "seeing" may not be as good as Helena's, but the compromise was more than worth it.

 
A cropped image of most of our property shot by one of our rocket launches

After we got all moved in, secured an office to rent to practice medicine, (yeah, life goes on beyond astronomy), we settled down to the business of observatory building.

The "dome hill" had to be leveled

 

 

That should prevent any vibration!

Jim Jordan of Jordan Construction builds the bottom story and the deck as Richard Olson of Ash Dome waits to do his part of installing the dome.

A great view up there!

Mikey gives Richard Olson some building tips

Richard Olson building the Ash Dome

Calling it a day

Lots of dirt work was needed done.  My father was very helpful as usual

 The dome complete, the grounds seeded with grass, and Grandpa left the kids a dirt hill.  All is good.

When Sandra asked me where all the pictures of the scope installation in Kansas were, I told her there weren't many, if any, since only Riffle and I were there to do the installation.  Not much time for picture taking.  However, she did find this very good one of Riffle.

 

Together again at last!

 We have so many great images of the observatory, might as well post them.

The landscape has changed with the dome on the hill.  Beautiful sight.

 A good argument for total dome and scope remoting.

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