Bake and Mow

I stayed in bed until Denny got up.  He left to work in the field.  Brooks and I baked.  He made Chocolate chip cookies, I made a basil/rosemary twisted braid and dill onion buns.   Brooks also made brownies.   I started to mow the lawn.  Brooks got my phone and found out where Denny was and Missy and Brooks took the 4 wheeler there and Brooks rode the tractor with Denny.   

THE TRAIN: 

At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, strangers and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey for the coming years on your train of life.  Reap success, give lots of love and be happy.  More importantly, thank God for the journey!

Lastly, I want to thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!  ❤️

Denny's back in the field

 Denny was getting his breakfast when I headed into IG for OGT.  I was there until 11 and then got groceries.  At home I napped before starting to clean the CSA shed until 5.  SO wonderful to sweep the raccoon trail down off the loft.  Mandy went to Dentist today.  Poor baby.  2 root canals because of an abscess.  I put some of my ranunculus bulbs in soil hoping I can get some flowers here or in Texas. Not sure how that will work.   

Monday September 27 Home

 Left 6:30

Home 12:45= 6 1/4 hours thru small towns curvy county roads.

Ate lunch with Jensens ... guacamole and corn were our contribution 

Stress with time frame stress ... of putting in the windows and working on cleaning the machine shed.

Missy was an instigator... took everything out UFFDA!!!!

2 windows half ways put in ...

Started on machine shed a little after 5.   We made a free pile East of machine shed.

A& B moved stuff to CSA for me.   Denny worked on Grasshopper.  Uffda, it wasn't the muffler.  The new one Denny put in didn't solve the problem.  

Sunday Funday

 Up for coffee.  Church at River of Life in Eagle River at 10.  We took 2 cars, so TJ and Matt could leave early to get ready for TJ's football game.  He was number 42.  After the game, we got sandwiches and brought them home.  Then to the football game at 1.  Karen, Luke, and family came to watch.   Rose and I sat together under a blanket and looked at pictures/videos on my phone.   We chilled at Matt's until Kane's game at 5.  It started to rain ... a cold rain about halfway thru the game and home we went.  T'was nice to spend the night there and not try to drive during the night.  

Cross country meet

Awake for coffee and devo.  Haley's cross country meet was at 9.  It was fun to watch.  Luke' family got there about the same time as we did.   Fun to have a varsity team of 7 gals.  Haley got about 5th on the team.  It was her season's best.   The meet was running 3 groups with 3 teams in each group because of covid, then they compiled the scores.   The girls' Zimmerman Thunder team got 4th.   Becky had wonderful lunch when we got back.   Rose had fun on the swing and in the leaves.  The guys used the polesaw and cut branches in the yard and down by the lake.   So Luke ran the polesaw at ground level.  Matt ran the Wheel of death and Denny ran the chainsaw on big trunks and oiled the chains of the different machines.   Matt had smoked loin for supper.  Haley made brownies to have with ice cream for dessert.  After we ate, I was tired and headed to bed about 7, really early for me.    

                                                        

                                             

North to Zimmerman

Up and Devo  We packed and left 8:15.  It was easy until the city and then very stressful as we drove thru Minneapolis.  We arrived  about 2 and the horses were beautiful standing by the barn door.  Becky hd sandwiches for lunch that really hit the spot.  Haley and TJ are home with virtual classes Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.  They go to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I left at 2:30 to get a haircut from Judy B. who lives in Becker about 40 minutes from Matt's.   We visited the dock and after supper Matt gave us a ride on the side by side.  I think Deny about had the big one 'cause Matt's first trail was the rippydip on the way down to the lake.  AT FULL SPEED.  Matt did wheelies at every intersection.  Beautiful night to be out on the deck.  

 

Sisters in Atlantic

Wonderful Day!!!  I headed to Atlantic and got there about 8.  We just spent time together.  It was so good.   Gail had been to church and got some quilts to tie.   We sat at her table and worked and talked.  Jean got there about 10 to join us tiring one on.  :)  We ate Mexican outside and made a couple quick stops,  I took a short nap at  home  then at 1 Gail, Bruce, and I went to play pickle ball.   It was fun.  Good to play after taking a break after I hurt my wrist and ankle.  It was fun!  We stopped to get Jean and got ice cream to eat under Gail's oak tree by the costa she planted.  I headed home about 5 and stopped to bacon for BLT's.  Great supper with Jensen kids: BLT's, corn, chocolate milk,  Reese and marshmallow to toast.  Anabel and I started the fire.  

                                            

At home

Denny is out farming.  I tried to paint my rocker ... looks not so good.  Then I started taking some nails out of area where  stairway will be.   Looks pretty rough.   

Beautiful picture of Becky and her horses.      

 

Coffee with friends

 Up and out for OGT from 7 until 8:30.  Kathy W. is in town and Teresa Susan and I are meeting her at Jessi's home.  I brought flowers from the garden.  Jordan was there with her home on wheels.   It was a great short visit.  So good to spend an hour with friends that have been friends for over 40 years.  Tis so good to trust in Jesus....  I picked up Denny's meds on way home and did nothing except slowly unload the car after I got home.  Lazy day for me ... Denny is on the tractor.  

Millennial Farm Wife

‘Twas the night before harvest, when all through the house; the farmer was stirring, disrupting his spouse.⁣

His stockings on his feet, a very lucky pair; in hopes that the combine would not need repair.⁣

⁣The equipment was nestled all snug in the shed; for soon they would attach the combines to their heads.⁣

⁣Morning will come and as harvest begins; grain will flow from the combine to the grain cart, then the truck, to the bins.⁣

⁣The farmer lays awake in strong anticipation; wondering how each field will perform, a great fixation.⁣

⁣For each Harvest determines performance for the year; he’s worried post-harvest he won’t be in the clear.⁣

⁣His legacy is on the line, a bit mind-boggling; it’s his way of life, his passion, his livelihood, his true calling.⁣

⁣His son is just two, but someday he hopes; to pass this farm on and show him the ropes.⁣

⁣He knows God in control, his worries are a bother; at the end of the day, it’s up to the Father.⁣

⁣So the farmer turns over, wrestling with the sheets; while his wife lays awake, praying he’d just go to sleep.⁣

⁣She knows it’s her time, to be strong for them both; for harvest can be stressful, it’s really no joke.⁣

⁣But somehow every year, they all make it through; and become stronger together with their faith in clear view.⁣

⁣A poem I wrote at the beginning of harvest last year

⁣

Farmer Denny started today

Today in Grandma Anabel's J's birthday.  I plan to put the pretty lace window curtains she made and loved into the porch, so I went down and brought them up to try in the window.   Denny got a morning text saying that the tractor was ready for him.  Off he went!!  I kept busy all day.  Not a lot done tho.:  Finished white painting trim, painted dog door in machine shed... and was blinded when I came into the shed.  I had been painting white on white in the bright sunshine.  It seemed like I had a thick layer of dust on my glasses.  Blurry eyesight.  Scarey!!  Eventually it cleared up.  I moved f=dresser to the garden shed with mirror.  I moved vases from hutch to CSA barn.  I'll need the bobcat to move the hutch.  It is heavy .  I planted lilies from Nancy's in the ground.  I kept the sprinkler moving every 2 hours to a new place near the creek.  I dug up all the glads,  I picked and put together 6 vases of flowers.  Tomorrow I am having coffee with Kathy, Susan and Teresa at Jesi O.  I'm looking forward to that!!!  Denny came home about 8.  We ate on the porch.  I went out to CSA and finished putting flowers together.  He came in to pack his lunch.  I showered and am tired.  Just do then blog and go to bed.  :)

                                              

Camping at Little Sioux county park

Well, the night was chilly, but we were cozy in the red neck.  Little boys woke up too early coughing in unison and so Mandy and Jason started their day early.  Great camping  breakfast, play grounds, walks, biking, wraps and chips for lunch and packing up to go.  We left for home around 2.  Got most everything put away.  Jensens are staying in Ames thru Tuesday afternoon.  Phillip has a meeting in Ames on Monday night, so it will save a trip and they can do school at Laurie and Alan's.  

Another full day!!

 Up and couldn't wait to check out the gray porch floor.  It looks ok.  :)     I started to look at the scraps of wallpaper from the bunkhouse.   Then we started cleaning.  Denny ran the vacuums, I took Restoring Pledge and cleaned the wood workin our home.  Mandy worked in Storm Lake until 1 and around 3 they headed to camp in Correctionville with their RV.  We packed up gear in the pickup and headed went around 4.  Fun time there with fire, playgrounds, visiting, and fun with littles.  Lovely night.  It was chilly and it took us a while to close up the blue tarp by our feet.  

Go, mow, paint deck

In to IG and I got a rocker for Denny at Another Dose.  Hurrah!!!   We tried it on the porch when I got home and It works.  I carried the rest of the laths to the burn pile and Denny scooped the plaster in the bobcat.  He vacuumed the porch house and I took out the nails on some boards.   Denny kept the sprinkler going on the area by the creek.  We took the boards to the sheep shed to store.  I painted the white board around the house.  We mowed.  We had a great phone call from Luke. So good to talk to them!!!  I painted the porch floor gray and Denny started to clean the house.  Full Day.   Once again it seems we got a lot done.  And it was fun to work together.  

When I was in IG I drove past the house that Denny grew up in.  The the mail man heard that Dnny's folk were building a new house he asked them if he could buy the old one and move it to town.  It is by the bridge on old 59.  

This is the picture fro 1950.   The house looks quite a bit the same.  

First major cleaning of the porch house.  

At homeDemo up a storm

 We got a lot done today.  A good day always starts with making Brooks breakfast and eating on the deck.  Denny trimmed windows on the outside.  Scooped out the kitchen area and took 3 bobcats full of plaster/ concrete. He put cap blocks on west wall to prevent erosion as the rain water was fully right off the cap block and we thought it would undermine the foundation.   He seeded grass by cap blocks and started sprinkler NE of house then west of house when seeded,   As Denny put the cap blocks down he added dirt and concrete gravel and flattened out the curve of the area west of house.  Jensens are at Tama Church of Phillip/s cousin tonight and spending weekend at Ames with Laurie and Alan, I looked decorative additions to porch columns.  We sat out by the fire for a long time burning laths from demo.  

             

Ordered pretty screen door

 Up and enjoyed morning.  We started on bunkhouse after getting Brooks going on dragging the grass seed by the creek.  We hunted for wood down in the sheep shed.  I took about a zillion nails out of noe board that Denny used for framework for the west window.  Denny added wooden base at the bottom of the east windows and fixed/caulked them.   I started removing lathe and plaster from kitchen bath area.  I would work for a while with the window open, go out and do something like visit with Denny, start laundry, or fix lunch and then go and break loose more dusty plaster and lath.  Very dirty work.  By the time I quit I was feeling not good.  Lord, grant me wisdom and health.  I fixed pork enchiladas, coleslaw, pears, and cherry tomatoes for lunch with the Jensens.   We worked pretty steady 9 until 4.  At night we sat on the rockers and found a pretty screen door.  Of course, 42 review... 15 gave the door 5's,  16 gave the door 1's.  Now that's not a good indicator of success ... BUT ... It was pretty and Denny can pretty much work miracles ... so we ordered it.                   

This is the lathe and plaster I attempted to remove....

Notice that the ceiling in the room I am demolitioning  ... is blue.....

                

Kinda the same blue as the porch. 

                                                 

       

OGT + quick trips

  Ii went in early to OGT   because there was a semi coming to take e a 1600 box load.   But the semi was detained and so they weren't loading the storage container on the semi until 1 pm.  I drove to Cherokee and stopped at Mandy's.  The boys were still up and I stayed there until they went down for naps.  Well, I guess Tyler was up and Jack was sleeping.   I went to Paulina to look at ND millworks.  It was fun to see all the salvage architecture.  Then back to Mandy's to see Jack snuggle with Mandy when he got up from his nap.  Phillip was home after his trip to Minnesota.  We had BLT for supper, it was so wonderful!!  We watched the historical peace treaty signing.   Haley ran in a cross country meet on Tuesday.  

Windows to my heart!!!

I was up rather late last night  and stayed in bed until 7:15.  On the way to Carroll to get Prius serviced by 8:15.   In Carroll I shopped at Fareway and New Hope.   The last store I stopped at had cowboy boots for Brooks ... just what he wanted.  At home Denny and I put windows in the east side of porch house.  He was pretty tickles with how great they turned out.  

  

Day of rest

 Rested thru the day.  Candlewood Church at 9:15.  Preach it Brother Rory!   I looked on the web for bunk house info.  We're thinking it is the porch/kitchen removed from upright wing farm house early1900's to make room for a 2 story addition.  So many questions ... may never be answered.  We finished watching Hamilton during lunch.  I really liked it.  Very do little afternoon.  A little reading,  Denny cleaned pickup, I sorted/put to dry some lily bulbs on a picnic table.