Demolition, Digging and Driving to Kokomo

I haven't taken too many pictures the last couple of days.  Why?  I think my arms have been too soar to pick up the camera.  Well, maybe not THAT bad, but we have been busy.  We worked with our son, Jeff for a couple of days taking down kitchen cabinets, drywall, studs, ceilings, tiled shower and floors.  We started out this morning helping John finish digging a trench for a new water line and then laying the pipe and filling it up.  We fit that in before cleaning up and heading to Kokomo by 10am to meet my college roommate/maid of honor and her hubby.  We thought we had plenty of time.  We totally spaced that most of Indiana is actually on eastern time and we have been on central.  So, Ann and Bob had to wait on us.  We thought we would be 15 minutes early, but we were actually 45 minutes late.  Don't ya hate it when that happens?

We had such a wonderful visit and caught up on the last 10 years or so since we last saw each other.  The waitress was kind enough to take our picture.

Craig, Kathy, Ann and Bob

What great people and how fun to reconnect after all of these years.  Love you, two and hope to see you soon.

Happy Trails!

What a Workout

Craig and I helped Jeff with a Kitchen demolish today.  Everything went out to a dumpster.  Hope we are able to do it again tomorrow!

I think it's going to be an early to bed tonight.

Nite all!!

One Month in Indiana

We started out the day with an early morning fishing trip with our two boys and Marie.  It was cool, but otherwise a gorgeous morning.

Todd, Marie and Jeff (looks like he is signing a receipt).... family joke.

We caught a few small mouth bass, but this was the biggest catch of the day.  Craig caught it, but Todd had to help with the "landing".

Jeff helped out Jim with a frustrating electrical issue.

I did some laundry at Jeff's and we worked on a few sprinkler issues before eating the last of the Walleye from MN and also some of the bass and crappie caught here.

We ended the day with a chat on Jeff and Rachel's back porch.

Jeff and Craig

It's really been nice spending these past 4 weeks here in our home state.  We have a big family reunion on Aug. 4th and then we will probably be heading on down the road.

Enjoy a day of rest!

Women and Worship

Today I got to do things that I really look forward to.... fellowship with good friends and worshiping the Lord together with them.  What a special time.  Thanks, Denise for a great presentation on the lunch (she will know what I mean) and to Deb and Cindy for coming for the time together.

Deb, Cindy, Denise and Kathy

Worship is something that not everyone likes to do, but that's our main goal when the 4 of us get together.  I hope that we will be able to do this more often in the future.

Love you all!!!  Thanks for a special day!

Work and Wonders

 It was the kind of day that you just wanted to capture on film.  I did some picture taking today, but realized I was having so much fun, that I didn't take near enough.  Here's short glimpse of the day.

Craig and John were busy fixing the handle that empties our "gray tank".  I broke it... they fixed it.  Craig told me to pull it out and that's just what I did.  Dough!!! Thanks guys.

Pretty flowers that we walk by everyday on the farm.

The two dogs are always near by to make sure that we are doing our job.

 

Craig and John in the workshop.

We just happen to be parked right in front of the workshop.

The Happy Camper

While the guys worked I took off for a much needed visit with my friend, Jayme.  She has a blog of her own that inspired me to start mine.  You can see it here:

http://talefromthecoopkeeper.blogspot.com/

Jayme and Glenn are Bee Keepers (just a small part of their many talents).  Take a look at the great Bee Hotels!!!  I believe they are in a larger place then I am!!

We ended the day with a crock pot dinner that we shared with John.  The temps have been cool and perfect and we are getting down to our last week here in Indiana and we are doing our best to enjoy it to the last drop!!

Bee Good!!

Grazing Through Indiana

We have been having a grand time renewing friendships and eating wonderful foods in wonderful places.  You could see most of them on my mid section.  We ate Mexican last night with two of our favorite people.

Aren't they too precious!!!

Craig and I thank you for a fun night of food and fellowship and getting to try out the new furniture!!!

Love ya'll!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

We were awake around 2am with wind gusts and we thought an impending storm.  We got up and put away the RV awning to keep it from tearing or tipping us around.  We got back to sleep because the wind settled down and no rain came accept for a few sprinkles.  This was the storm passing by us once we woke up this morning.

Our morning view

My Morning Visitor

John and Judy own two work dogs and they are so sweet and friendly.  This one comes to get us in the morning when John and Judy are in the barn feeding and pasturing the horses.

After doing our morning routine with the horses, dogs and John and Judy, we have a day of rest in store and tonight we are going to take my Aunt Rosie out to her favorite restaurant.

Stay cool   ~~~~

Renewing Friendships

This has been a fun week of seeing people that we haven't seen in years!!!!  Craig met with some of his High School Gymnastic buddies and their coach.  I drove over to Valparaiso and had a great visit with my High School Spanish Teacher.  It was so wonderful to chat and catch up on what has been happening in lives.

We have worked with our son, Jeff and couple of days this week on the basement framing and we are trying to be some help around here with the horse ranch.

Today Craig visited with Ron Patz (who stood up in our wedding and is an old family friend) and Jim Harrison who was also a gymnast.  I drove over to my Aunt Rosie's and visited with her.  It was great to see Ron Patz after 43 years since our wedding.

We did some shopping this afternoon and then went out to Jeff's  We had a simple supper of BLTes and corn and it hit the spot.  Craig and Jeff worked on a few things on Jeff's Van and they got things all set for Jeff and family to head out in the morning for a campgound in Michigan.

It was nice to get back to the RV.  The temp is down and the windows are open!!!  I'm not all that crazy about air conditioning, but this last week, I was very thankful that it kept running. 

We sat down in the Whale and this is what I heard outside:

This didn't finish uploaded last night, so I finally got it posted Sunday morning and I just want to say: Bless the Lord, O My Soul and all that is within me because It Is Well With My Soul!!!!

Rest and Work

We are here in hot, humid Indiana.  I think it's the same throughout most of the US.  Things are still green here, but I can begin to see the stress of the heat.  We sat out a couple of nights ago and just enjoyed the setting around us.

Trumpet Vines

Arena for jumping

We did some work yesterday helping to frame a basement.

We will be here again today.  Craig ended the night yesterday by helping to dig a hole to find a water leak and then threw 182 bails of hay into the loft once the sun went down.

Keep Cool!!

Toss Dem Bails

We are still at the Farm and Craig has been working with Jeff during the day on construction and by night, he tosses hay bails.  It was in the mid 90's yesterday, so they waited until late evening before they started tossing these.  

It's true that you have to make hay while the sun shines.

Craig tossed for the first half

Then, they switched and John finished up

I was thinking about inventing a "wagon jack" so you could raise it to a level to throw them down instead of up.  Wasn't I a big help?

52 years ago, these two guys were in High School Gymnastics together.  John was best on the rings and Craig on the trampoline.  They've still got it.

Fishing and Feeding

We just love to fish.  It's relaxing and a great time to spend with people you care about.  You also get to see scenes that are magnificent   We got out with Jeff for awhile Sat morning before helping some friends with projects around their house.

 Reflections

Jeff and Craig

This morning we helped some with the horses and I had a chance to record this:

Craig also helped throw 182 bails of hay into a loft.  That was a job.  Monday we got to help Jeff and bit on a basement remodel he is doing and then we were invited for dinner with Todd and Marie at her parents house.  It was a nice night, good food and fellowship.

The cats are entertaining here at the farm.  This is the "medicine/feed box" and the cat was being a cat.  Not sure if this is Moe or Curly.

Be kind to one another.

Fog, Picking, Fanning, Fishing and Flushing

It's been a busy day, but a productive day.

We woke up to some fog on the pond next to us... it was only 52 degrees at this time.

Early Morning Fog

The horses get fed at 6am.  Then, they are all moved out to pastures.

Moving out two by two


This is Judy.  She is amazing.  What more can I say?  The horses all have "fly guards" that are put on before they head to the green pastures for the day.

This is John talking through how to "pick/muck/poop scoop" the stalls.  The guys did all of the stalls while Judy and I swept and cleaned up behind them.

Time for breakfast and getting ourselves together to head to Todd's.  We installed a ceiling fan for them and then we went to a private pond owned by Marie's sister and did a little fishing.  Craig and Todd had fish on, but I got skunked today.

This is Marie's father, Paul, Craig and Todd.  What a pretty backyard Joey and Michele have!!

We also made a quick stop at an RV Store today to pick up some parts we needed.  We came back to the RV, showered, ate and watched the show of fire flies outside.


We also used a new portable tank to flush out our gray tank into the septic system here.  It's all flushed and clean for a couple of days.

Once this video has uploaded.  We are going to bed.  Mom, I'll try to call tomorrow.  We have another pretty full day planned.

Spouting off............

Whale Stall

Stoney Run Farm

  It's been a gorgeous day on some beautiful property!!!

          

The Whale is in it's stall

You can see more of Stoney Run Farm here

Applebee's, Cherry Pie and Oh My!!

Don't you love your good friends?  How fun to have people that love you and you love them and you so enjoy each other's company.

Budd and Craig

Cindy and Denise

Another good thing.... friend introduce you to other friends they have made!

My friends, Cherry Pie and Coffee.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Blessings Upon Blessings

Thanks, Bob and Denise for your great hospitality!!  We always enjoy our time with you and hope to see you more.

We had a wonderful visit with our good friends, the Ballous yesterday!  We had lunch and got a tour of their lovely new home.

It's great to see friends and then hard to leave them again. But, I do feel that we are going from blessings to blessing as we move between places and friends.  Yesterday we moved again.  We are staying just outside of Crown Point, Indiana on property that our good friends, John and Judy own and they board horses.  They have had SO much rain this year and things are a bit soggy and at the same time, so very very green and lush.

The Whale's Tail is happy, too.

Sarah and her buddy

The Whale's Stall

I'll have videos and more pictures at a later time.

Please don't feel sorry for us.  It's a rough life, but the Lord is looking out for us!!!