A few pictures....and a new BIG project

One of my (our's and a lot of other peoples) favorite landmarks is hurting more and more.   In fact, it continues to stand while slowly falling apart.  This is the old grainery in Crookston.   No one is tearing it down and, obviously, no one is saving it.   So, one day it will be a pile of sticks on the ground.   SAD!!!  I'm sure it was there when my Grandpa Logterman was a young man....probably he could have remembered when it was put up.       Another thought ------ when the top of it falls off it will probably just sit there ---- UGLY!!!!   No one will clean it up.    AUGH!!!   I hope there's usable lumber --- that will get someone out there!!!

Anyway --- on to other things.    Valentine had some hard winds over a month ago.  A guy called up Gary --- he had gotten his name from a mutual acquaintance.   "Did Gary want a Spruce tree to cut up?"  He had found out that Gary had his own sawmill.    "Sure." 

He got a real nice amount of lumber from that tree.  But what a loss for the Boyers.  They lost all of their shade on the west side of their house. 

Holland Michigan has Tulip Time in May.   They have to work real hard at getting the tulips to be perfect and some times the weather doesn't cooperate.   People are fined quite heavy for even picking one tulip!!!    Well, we don't have a week long celebration over our Sunflowers ---- but I think the beauty is ever so much more special.   We don't do a thing to get them to grow and we certainly don't fine anyone for picking a huge bouquet  ....  and there are tall ones and short ones.....   You do have to be careful because there are also bees and ants on them --- but everything can't be perfect.....
Here is our driveway -----

The other day as we were driving along I got the feeling that we (in the car) were in a parade and the sunflowers were watching us go by and waving at us.....All those yellow faces looking at us.     OK --- so I'm wierd......

The BIG project is the parsonage....... well - it's a breezeway attaching the parsonage to the garage. 

They started this past Saturday.....tore it off in 3 hours.  I guess the steps were SOLID cement and it was quite the task.  They beat it to pieces ---- blow by blow.  Somehow one of Gary's hammers came up broken but no one has claimed doing it.   Oh Well --- all in a days work.   This could be something that goes along nicely and then again --- it could be something that has this problem and that problem.  Hope it goes nicely for the workers sake as well as for Pastor Mark and Dawn!!!!   Gary has somehow been put "in charge".....

It was down right chilly this morning --- 45 degrees.  So I suppose summer could be on the way out.  But we are hoping for some good warm days yet.   I have about 20 nice sized pumpkins in the garden --- it's the first time we've gotten pumpkins----really never planted them before.   We also have about 9 watermelons that we are watching.   No muskmelons this year.....they don't do very good for some reason.   We've dug our potatoes and pulled all the onions....canned beans.....made sweet pickles and sweet pickle relish.   Guess you could call our garden a good success.  Still waiting on the cauliflower and brussel sprouts.... also something new we are trying.

Enjoy what remains of the summer!!!

One of the sunsets while we camped at Maloney Lake south of North Platte this summer.

Gary and Barb

Screws are gone -- and so is Skips

I had my screws removed  a couple of weeks ago and I can tell it definitely was the thing to do!!!  It's hard to explain what these screws did to me --- to my flesh --- as I bent my knee I could feel a "ripple" effect in my muscles.   When I let the Dr. feel it he knew it was the screws doing it.   These screws were down by my knee - holding the pin in place that was part of my broken hip repair.  The Dr. really wanted them to be in for a full year (if there was no problem they would have stayed in forever).....they made it 6 months --- and Dr. was OK with that.    I am glad they are gone.   I was afraid it would set be back again and I might be needing a cane.   But that wasn't the case and I have no problems.   In fact I can walk further - better.

Our pup, Skip, who was run over in June........had a pin in his leg all this time.   He is now pin free also.   That is looking like a no problem item also.  He is supposed to behave for another 4 weeks......no running.   He so wants to get free to wrestle with Toby but we are trying to restrain him.  Toby needs that kind of exercise  ---- but not Skip just yet.   I really wonder what will happen when these two dogs are free from all restraint.  I just stay out of their way!!!!

When I had my Upper GI (along with the colonoscopy) the Dr. thought (he wasn't at all sure -- but maybe there was something there) he saw something on my voice box.   So I should go to an ENT (Ear, Nose Throat) and let them have a look see.

So last Monday we traveled to North Platte (actually we camped in North Platte) and went for a visit to the Dr.  I really figured he would tell me to come back another day.....but no he would do it right away.    So he sprayed some stuff up my nose to somewhat deaded it....and then put a little light - attached to the end of a tube - down my nose to my voice box.  He had a screen he could look at ---- attached to the tube ---- "Nope - I don't see a thing --- you're good to go".   And that was that.    And I have to tell you --- once again Gary and I had prayed that they would find nothing.   NOTHING 😁.

We had camped at the Buffalo Bill State Rec. Area........  the Nebraska Campgrounds leave a lot to be desired!!!!   And the Gov. is going to get a "nice, friendly" letter --- letting him know what needs some improvement!!!    Good grief -- at the last one you had to pay for the shower and after getting all undressed and put my quarters in......NOTHING 😝 --- the next one (after wrapping a towel around myself) didn't have a shower head.........!!!!!!    Finally I got my shower but I think my blood pressure had gone up a few numbers!!!!

We have had 13 inches of rain since June --- but right now it's getting pretty dry.   It's great haying weather and they are busy at it.   Our lawn is still green and in need of mowing.  90 degrees with a light breeze is still comfortable if you don't do anything and just sit under the trees 👍   Come on over and we'll have some iced tea!!!

Love to all, Gary and Barb