October 12, 2004
Summer is over, and it is time to update my pages.
What a great time we had at the farm on October 10. We had a picnic and all family was there except those in Oregon and Washington.
Here is the “trail”
I have been on since last updating my page:
Our application to have our farm registered as a Century Farm, and the 40 acres
qualified. Great-grandfather Jesse Van Winkle bought the farm in 1867. There will be a presentation on Nov. 9 at the Saline County Courthouse.
Weather was a bummer here in St. Charles
and in Saline County. High winds damaged my area, many trees down, and no power for almost 2 days. Linn and Jeannie witnessed a terrible hail and wind storm at the farm – roof damaged and the television
tower was blown over – crops were flattened but revived without too much loss.
Brad and Chantay were married August 7 in Liberty,
Missouri, and the reception was in Independence. They honeymooned in the Smoky Mountains,
coming back to their home to start their life together – Chantay teaching and Brad starting his own business.
I decided to do some painting at the farm – tackled the bathroom and
did some major basement cleaning. Everyone thought that the fresh paint looked
great as well as the nice cabinet that Linn made. Judd and Amanda had me in for
supper one night – great kabobs and appetizers.
St. Charles Main Street
has had lots of activity – Festival of the Little Hills, Quilts on Main, Mosaics, and the Octoberfest.
Barb’s high school class held their 55th reunion on October
9, so she arrived in St. Louis on the 5th. Bettye, Barb and I went to Cahokia Mounds across the river in Illinois
on the 6th, had supper at Bettye’s and then to the play “Plaza Suite” at the community college
later that evening.
Thursday we headed to the farm to drop off some food, then on to Independence. We stopped by in Liberty to see Junior
Bales. Linn baked one of the turkeys that he killed last year – Barb had
never eaten wild turkey. Brad and Chantay also came to enjoy the evening.
Friday Jeannie, Bettye, Barb and I went downtown Kansas
City to see the Arabia Steamboat
Museum. It is certainly worth a stop
when visiting KC. Also, went to a quilt show at Crown
Center. We decided that we were going
to let “Sam’s do it”, so Jeannie took us to pick up the brats, potato salad, baked beans, chips and buns.
When we got back to the farm Friday, Oct. 8, we didn’t have any lights,
so had to call for service – we only had two candles and a small flashlight – and they were after midnight getting the power restored because they had to replace the transformer.
Saturday, Oct. 9, we went to Arrow Rock to the festival. It is always fun to see all of the crafts and visit with friends there. Then Saturday night Barb
and I went to her reunion. It was great to see some of her classmates.
The idea of a picnic was a super idea – just open up the cartons, and
have the men cook the brats. Cindy brought King Ranch Chicken, and Bettye baked
brownies and an apple cake. I brought the veggies and dips. About time we were ready to eat dessert I remembered that I didn’t devil two dozen eggs. Barb decided to enhance our cake and brownies with a gallon of French Vanilla Blue Bunny Ice Cream –
diets were ignored. We all planted a crocus bulb in the yard in front of the
picture window – we will welcome the blooms early next spring.
After everyone left but Linn and the sisters, we quickly cleaned up and Linn
planted the 7 thornless blackberry vines I brought. So, we all left Sunday evening
and agreed that our family is truly blessed.
On Oct. 11, Barb went to TeaTime with me.
She read the quilt poem to our group and they enjoyed it. Then Barb and
I went to Sue and Paul’s for a delicious steak dinner. Barb left
this morning for Eugene.
Fall is at its peak and I plan on taking pictures of our trees in St.
Charles tomorrow.
Love, Jen
