Goodby Charlie

I first met Charlie Long in late 1971.  He was working at Clarinda Elevator in Clarinda, IA and we had bought some feeder pigs and were getting feed from Clarinda Elevator.

On January 1st of 1972 I went to work for Clarinda Elevator, as an outside salesman and assistant to the Manager.  Charlie was driving the auger feed delivery truck.  He came in off a delivery run one morning and said  "I know where you live--I just ran over your mailbox"  I thought he was joking, but was not sure until I got home after work that night.  He and I were both at the elevator until I left in October of 1974 to go to Coin, IA to manage the newly acquired Coin Grain Corp. that was bought from the Whitmore Family.

I don't recall exactly when Charlie came to me and asked if he could come to work for me, and leave Thaine at Clarinda Elevator, but probably in 1975 or so.  We grew in number of employees, I think as high as 9 one time.  Charlie Long, his brother Rodney Long, Bob Miller, Mark Beery, Duane Graft, Rusty Orme, Larry Guthrie, Phyllis, and myself.  We often hired extra people at harvest time.

We sold off our extra feed store in Clarinda and the fertilizer portion of our business in 1989 and cut back on employees.  As business slowed before we finally sold out in 1994 we gradually reduced employees; Charlie was with us until we closed the doors in September of 1994.  Charlie went to work for Pella Window factory for some time and when health problems arose he s pent years salvaging iron and spending a lot of time with his family.

We kept in touch over the years, though with our going to south Texas for the winters and traveling with the RV most summers we didn't often see each other.

Following some health problems, Charlie passed away last Sunday at the Clarinda Regional Hospital located across the street from our Clarinda home.  Charlie was a good man; he spent lot of time with his kids and grand kids.

Good-by Charlie

Employee Duane Graft died several years ago.  Though we owned the elevator outright by the late 1980's, there were five owners when we started the elevator in Coin:  Kenny Ripley, Bob Olenious, Thaine Cabbage, J. C. Mecom, and myself.  All those other owners have passed on; I am the lone servivor of the owners and the old employees are passing on.  Feeling old.

Later, Lynn

Weekend before Christmas

78 degrees and mostly overcast in La Feria, TX at 2:00 pm this Sunday afternoon.

Filled with gas in Harlingen this afternoon at $165 per gallon.

After eating lunch 

(Supreme 10" Pizza) at

Stefano's we went

grocery shopping.

Phyllis

was picking

up some paper

goods for the Rec

Hall while we

were there.

Yesterday, while riding the 14.4 miles I did during the whole day, came upon Lee Miles on his electric scooter--with the battery down.  Pushed him home so he could plug it in to the charger.

Had to dry out several

towels and a rug from

the bathroom after couple

of leaks broke out at coupling

of the PEX pipe at shut-off.

Replaced the fittings with

proper PEX fittings and, whalla, no

more leak!

 Wednesday evening we had Pot-Luck supper
with a pretty good turn-out and lots
of variety of delicious food.

After the pot-luck

we played Pegs & Jokers

at Neher's with them

and the Raab's.

Harvested first couple meals
of lettuce off the "Salad Bar"
on the north side of my shop
this week.

Had enough for

salad for

two meals!

Neighbor Bill

Winslow examining

the 4-wheel 

cycle that neighbor Ardel

Finken just unloaded

off the truck - a Christmas

present sent by his daughter. 

Marian is to the

left of the cycle.

It has electric-powered

push-wheel at the back

that can be used by itself

or to assist you when

you are both pedaling.

Yesterday morning was breakfast at
the Rec-Hall.  At left Jan Engle from
Indiana, is walking behind Don
Ferguson from Ansley, NE as
he keeps the orange juice cups
filled.  He also brewed
coffee for all.

People going into the kitchen
to pick up their eggs and
bisquits with sausage
gravy.

Felix Paterick, from Arkansas,

Merve Stoufer from Ontario, CA,

and Pat Sumner from Kansas

serve up the

food.

Weather has been generally really nice - dipping into the 40's some nights but mostly

into the 50's and then up to upper 70's or lower 80's during the days.

Still have not had any real rain for about 5 weeks now, so a little dry.

More later, Lynn

Cold-and-Hot

Cool 73 degrees at 9:30 pm in La Feria, TX.  Riding the trikes a bit ago (put on 13 miles today)

 Click on any photo to enlarge.

Saturday we drove to a large hall in Weslaco and took part in free lunch that HEB Grocery Store provided to hundreds of people.  They do this in many cities in Texas and also in Mexico during the holidays.  Above is the line as we approached.

 They had it organized well and many different civic

groups helped in the serving and they really put the people through without a lot of waiting/trouble.

A couple tables away were Jerry and Shorty Ramsbacher and Marian and Les Vanderwerf and Terry and Charlie Serven.

 Outside they had some

entertainment and kids rides.

This unit, of the Weslaco Police

force was there, along

with several policemen to take

care of the traffic.

Quite a rig- looks like

they have it equipped well.

Sunday was first church service of the winter, with Rev. Baker conducting the service.  Small attendance, and small choir.

On Monday was our second, of the season

bingo and eating at Mr. Gatti's.

Had about 50 attend from the Park.

This morning a lady from Harlingen Chamber of Commerce made presentation of restaurants, art places, events going on in downtown Harlingen.

There are several restaurants we need to check out -- most of these are small family-run restaurants in the old buildings along Jackson Street and nearby.

I did repairs to some plumbing under bathroom sink and also replaced everything in the tank of the stool.  Made couple trips to Borderland Hardware in Mercedes for parts -- showed 86 degrees in middle of afternoon on the pickup thermometer, with bright sunshine.  With sun going down it cooled off nicely to the lower/mid 70's.  Walked across the street to Burger King and had supper of their special of 10 Chicken Nuggets for $1.49.  Each got that and one order of fries with two senior drinks for total of $5.39, tax included-tip not necessary.  Not too bad for meal for two.

Will go to pot-luck supper at the Rec Hall tomorrow evening.

More later, Lynn

Windy, warm weather

La Feria, TX 78 degrees at 5:12pm on Friday.         Click photos to enlarge.

After several weeks of full cloudy days and damp gloom, the last week or so have been just what we ordered -- sunny and warm.  Cool enough in the evenings (had windows open all night last night) that the 80 degree days don't really warm it up too bad.  Today must have had 15-20 mph winds all day, which kept the temperature feeling cooler than the mid 80's it got to.

Last Sunday evening, after ice-cream and announcements at the rec hall, we played Pegs and Jokers in the Friendship Room with: above, left to right, LaRhoda and Harold Neher, Phyllis and Jim Boozer; below Lois and Patrick Sumner and Lavin Boozer.

 Wednesday we played Pegs and Jokers at our house.
 Above Bobi Raab and Lyle Winter.

Phyllis, Harold Neher and Doris Winter.

Doris Winter, Bob Raab and LaRhoda Neher.

This week I helped Pat Sumner re-build the ramp to fit Harold's platform

so he can drive up with his electric scooter

.

Patrick Sumner, from Kansas and John

Beaupre from Wisconsin are working on the

steel part of the structure

All built and wooden floor constructed on topof metal supports.  Didn't get a photo of Harold going up
and down with his electric scooter, but it held up well

On Thursday I used our pickup to haul the "stuff" from the

storage shed to the Rec Hall for the Sew & Share ladies

who make quilts

 Photos
of the
gals at work
on the fabric.

This morning

we were at 77 South

and Ed Carey Drive

and saw this gas

at $1.65 per gallon.

About as low as we

have seen.

And this is how some
people exercise their
dogs - by taking them
along side the
golf cart.

Some of the

decorations on

some of the units.  Park

people announced the new

owners are giving prizes

away for "best decorated" in

form of discounts

on February lot rent.

The retired Minister, from Oklahoma, who serves our park for the winter arrived today so there will be a service this Sunday at 9:30 am in the rec hall.  Choir is to do a short practice at 8:45 am beforehand.

More later, Lynn

Yard Sale over

La Feria, Texas - 73 degrees, bright sunshine.         Click on any photo to enlarge.

 This is my 26,477th  day on earth.  Wow, that seems like a long time looking at it that way.

Put up the

new LED

lights on

front of

Texas Room

This is

night view.

Had a small turnout - but good food
at our potluck supper on
Wednesday evening.

 Had a good turnout

at our first-of-the-season

beanbag baseball on

Thursday night.

Saturday (yesterday) was an all-park
yard sale.  Top two photos were taken
Friday afternoon as we set out early
for the people in the park.

 Saturday when the

front gate opened

there were quite a 

few from out-of-the-park

came through.  Think

some of the Latinos

were buying to take

to their flea

market.

Had been announced that there would be church - choir practice this weekend, but Rev Baker did not

arrive so those did not happen.

Late this week Jim and Lavin Boozer arrived from Illinois; Sharlene and Lynn Stivers arrived from Nebraska; Dan Herbst from Iowa; Shorty and Jerry Ramsbocker got in from Minnesota; Les and Marion Vanderworth from Minnesota came in and Bob and Bobbi Raab from Minnesota; Felix and Betty Paterik from Arkansas; and Bill and Kathy Connolley from Kansas got here.  Also, Anna Mae Thomas from Ohio, and Betty Schneider from Ohio.  The permanents on our side of the street are pretty much filled now.

More later, Lynn