Our 2015 Mid-west Trip

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Grampa & Gramma
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Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:03 pm

Our 2015 Mid-west Trip

Post by Grampa & Gramma »

We were to leave on April 15 but delayed a day due to our second good snowstorm of the year. We spent a night in Grand Junction with friends, where we caught up with the storm again. Then we drove over the Rockies and out into the tornado belt in western Kansas. The storms were north and south of us so Judy turned it up to 85MPH and we escaped! We arrived at Pat and Dave's on the 18th. We toured around the area and then went to Jon's farm in southern Indiana for a few days. We visited Carl and Sandy while at Dave's - they now live just a half hour away. Then on to Indy for a couple days. We visited Jean in Janesville before returning. Again, we outran tornados in eastern Nebraska on the way home. We had a great trip and now are planting our garden.
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The departure snow storm.
The departure snow storm.
Lunch at Paris Landing State Park with Judy' brother Carl and his wife Sandy
Lunch at Paris Landing State Park with Judy' brother Carl and his wife Sandy
D & P took us down some of the Natchez Trace Parkway from Nashville to Natchez.  The old pioneer route.  We walked down to Jackson falls along the way.
D & P took us down some of the Natchez Trace Parkway from Nashville to Natchez. The old pioneer route. We walked down to Jackson falls along the way.
Fortunately, it had rained and the falls were in good form.
Fortunately, it had rained and the falls were in good form.
We visited Fort Donelson National Battlefield on the Cumberland River, where Gen. Grant defeated the Confederate Garrison and open up acces to the Mississippi River valley for the Union troops.
We visited Fort Donelson National Battlefield on the Cumberland River, where Gen. Grant defeated the Confederate Garrison and open up acces to the Mississippi River valley for the Union troops.
Brother Dave on the porch of their house in the woods.
Brother Dave on the porch of their house in the woods.
The Brothers!
The Brothers!
Russ & Judy
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Grampa & Gramma
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Re: Our 2015 Mid-west Trip

Post by Grampa & Gramma »

I have to post in segments because if you take too long while posting the web site reaches a time limit for posting and everything goes away, then you have to start over! This is the "Jon's Farm" segment.
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Judy and Jon in the "orchard."  "BTM" in the background.
Judy and Jon in the "orchard." "BTM" in the background.
Lunch in the farmhouse.
Lunch in the farmhouse.
Biscuits and sausage gravey for breakfast.
Biscuits and sausage gravey for breakfast.
Jon cut down two trees where he plans to build a deck on the back of the house.  The first job is to cut off lower limbs then rope it off so it will fall sidesways and not into the house.  It didn't!
Jon cut down two trees where he plans to build a deck on the back of the house. The first job is to cut off lower limbs then rope it off so it will fall sidesways and not into the house. It didn't!
Making the cut.
Making the cut.
Both trees fell well.  This is the second tree.
Both trees fell well. This is the second tree.
Off to the wood pile.  He has a wood burner in the basement.
Off to the wood pile. He has a wood burner in the basement.
Then it is time for a drink!
Then it is time for a drink!
We built an Inukshuk out of some coal slabs in the old coal pile.  The burner in the basement used to burn coal.
We built an Inukshuk out of some coal slabs in the old coal pile. The burner in the basement used to burn coal.
Russ & Judy
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Grampa & Gramma
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Re: Our 2015 Mid-west Trip

Post by Grampa & Gramma »

Jon's Farm, segment 2, part 2!
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The point of the visit was to find morell mushrooms.  The time looked right - the dogwood and redbud were in bloom.
The point of the visit was to find morell mushrooms. The time looked right - the dogwood and redbud were in bloom.
Sweet Williams and May Apples were out.
Sweet Williams and May Apples were out.
Jon sent us to all the places he thought were good, where we were unsuccessful.  Meanwhile, he found these in sight of the house!
Jon sent us to all the places he thought were good, where we were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, he found these in sight of the house!
We had to burn the branches from the cut trees, as well as all the other brush piles we could find.  Judy was in charge of the burn!
We had to burn the branches from the cut trees, as well as all the other brush piles we could find. Judy was in charge of the burn!
Pat and dave joined us for an afternoon.
Pat and dave joined us for an afternoon.
Russ and Debbie Demerath were there, too.  Deb is Judy's niece from Wisconsin.
Russ and Debbie Demerath were there, too. Deb is Judy's niece from Wisconsin.
Jon planted a hedge row of Hedge Apples.  Here they are making a furrow for the seeds.
Jon planted a hedge row of Hedge Apples. Here they are making a furrow for the seeds.
The hedge "apples" were left to rot, then stirred up to free the seeds, then sloped into the furrow
The hedge "apples" were left to rot, then stirred up to free the seeds, then sloped into the furrow
Here is "Jonney Hedge Apple Seed" at work planting.
Here is "Jonney Hedge Apple Seed" at work planting.
Finally the fire went out and it was time to move on!
Finally the fire went out and it was time to move on!
Russ & Judy
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Grampa & Gramma
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Re: Our 2015 Mid-west Trip

Post by Grampa & Gramma »

Segment 3, on to Carmel Indiana. We stopped in Bloomington to have dinner with Jordan and his girlfriend Hannah. Jordan graduated IU on May 8. After a few days with Jon and Carrie we were off to Jean's in Wisconsin.
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Jordan was glad he was through this first stage of his schooling.  He had applied to several Med. schools.
Jordan was glad he was through this first stage of his schooling. He had applied to several Med. schools.
Carrie cooked up the mushrooms the next day.
Carrie cooked up the mushrooms the next day.
Carrie (BTM) has a new mower.  I tried it but nearly crashed!
Carrie (BTM) has a new mower. I tried it but nearly crashed!
Fortunately for BTM there is lots of grass!  (BTM is Born to Mow!)
Fortunately for BTM there is lots of grass! (BTM is Born to Mow!)
We got a call from Jordan telling us he had just been accepted for med school at Marion University in Indy.  We went to see the school.
We got a call from Jordan telling us he had just been accepted for med school at Marion University in Indy. We went to see the school.
We opened the champagne!
We opened the champagne!
We were happy to get to see Andy.
We were happy to get to see Andy.
Jordan's graduation.
Jordan's graduation.
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We didn't get out much at Jean's, but we did go to lunch at Cracker Barrel!
We didn't get out much at Jean's, but we did go to lunch at Cracker Barrel!
Russ & Judy
rusty

Re: Our 2015 Mid-west Trip

Post by rusty »

Man it looks like you had a reaally great trip! It was great to see some pictures of Deb and Russ, and also Carl and Sandy, haven't seen any pictures for a while. also loved the one and Dad and Dave.

Pretty nice plough Jon, just need to get a big bucket of corn seed and you can do the whole field!
rusty

Re: Our 2015 Mid-west Trip

Post by rusty »

Hi again,
Just wanted to pass on congratulations to Jordan on graduating and wish him the best of luck in his future studies!
Russ
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