This is what Strafford Missouri looks like from space

I was looking at Google maps yesterday (which sounds nerdy and boring at the same time, really...) and was looking at the street level views (which are really incredible...you should try them!) and then got caught up looking at satellite photos of Oldenburg, Germany (trying to look for Klauspeter's house on an der braker bahn).

And then I started looking at the satellite photos of Strafford, Missouri. The reason I mention Strafford, Mo is that whenever I've looked online to see if anyone has a blog about Strafford, it's people who are passing through... rarely is it someone who lives in the small town of Strafford, Missouri (which is located just outside of Springfield, Missouri if you must know).

The reason I keep mentioning Strafford is that every time I type the name it gives people another option of finding it on a Google search or a blog search. So if you came here by searching and were hoping for some great wisdom about Strafford, Missouri or Stafford, Mo or Springfield, Missouri...forget it...cause it ain't here, buddy!

I got a bit sad looking at the Sat photos, because from them you can clearly see Farm Road 231 which is just off YY Highway outside of Strafford, Missouri. You can see the long, winding hill that goes just past our old house and down around the valley by where the Newberry's, Brewer's and Boehning's used to live. (To be fair, some of these families do still live there...)

As you go past the Carlson's house and the Avery's and then on up to the Lile farm, you will soon be nearing the city limit of Strafford. But first, you have to pass the Comstock's place and the house where Governor Matt Blunt grew up.

From the Satellite photo you can almost see the city limit sign...(I'm joking) but you can make out the high school with it's track and football field and the various ball diamonds scattered around. Even though the pictures were taken from miles above the Earth, you can pick out a lot of detail in them. (for instance, the seven acre lake that we used to own that was at the bottom of the hill in the valley between our house and the Boehning's.)

Someday, when I win the lottery (that is, if I ever played the lottery), I'd like to buy a bunch of land in that area and move back home to Strafford, MO and then I'd look at pictures from Independence, Missouri from space.

-David