65 degrees with bright sunshine in Clarinda, IA at 1:30 pm Thursday.
Friends from our Kenwood RV Park, who live in Ansley, Nebraska, stopped by for a brief visit one day last week.
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Some random thoughts -- before I forget them. Recall gathering corncobs out of the hot lot to the west of the barn at home to put in the heating stove and the cook stove. I thought it was a bit humourus to occasionally put a few dried hog turds in with the cobs. If mom missed them and dumped in to the cook stove, but when they started to stink I caught the devil. Back in the late 40's and early 50's the sows, and maybe the fattening hogs, were fed a lot of soaked grain. Can't recall if it was rye, oats, or wheat. It didn't smell the best, but they sure went for it. Remember there being a tank at the northeast corner of the two hoglots that also served the cattle on the north side of the fence. In the wintertime that tank was covered with boards and had a tank heater in it. I don't recall whether it burned wood or had a kerosene tank that dripped into the bottom. There was a tank right by the windmill just west of the house that had a heater in it, too.
Recall dad butchering hogs and calves. Would hang the carcasses from the windmill, at least sometimes. One time we had the volumnus guts of a beef piled on the wooden sled to take it out away from the buildings. Dad was standing on the sled and I was pulling it with the Ford tractor. Was going slow and smooth, but for some reason I slowed down. Dad fell forward right into the rather large pile of guts, etc. There was some discussion about my driving. Talking about the hogs, in later years, in the 60's dad had feeder pigs in the pen by the barn, which wasn't too far from the house. Brother Don was married to Paula and they came home from Lincoln one time. The pigs were fed by the metal feeders that had the doors that the pigs lifted up with their snout and got in to the feed. Of course, when they backed up the lid would slam down. Metal on metal. It made a clatter that we had gotten used to. After we had gone to bed, Paula raised such a ruckus with Don about the noise of the hog feeders and it keeping her awake that he asked dad what could be done. Dad went out late at night and locked the hogs in the barn so they couldn't get to the feeders until the next morning.
Not sure of the reason why, but I played the baritone one summer in the Callaway City summer band. Seems like a Savage girl led the summer band, but can't remember her name. Then when I was a freshman I played the trombone---even though my two older brothers had both played the sousaphone. In my freshman year the son of the Superintendent played the sousaphone. When he left the next year, I took over at the sousaphone. It was rather big to carry around -- was the brass kind then, later my little sister played and they had bought a fiberglass one that was somewhat lighter. Recall marching at the home football game -- for the Callaway Bears -- and many of the students thought the huge bell above my head was collection place for paper wads, popcorn sacks, etc. Recall marching at least one year in the stadium at University of Nebraska at Lincoln when they had band day. Seems like we went every 2 or 3 years, so surely did it more than once. The one time I recall we were rehersing early in the day for the half-time performance when a lot of bands performed and I heard "Hey Miles". Looked over to the sideline and there brother Don was. He was attending the University at the time, earning his BS degree there, MS degree later at Hastings, NE and then getting his Dr. of Microbioligy degree back at Lincoln later.
Here is some copy I just made from some "Notes" on my computer from 2003:
Cars – Rambler Classic, bought new in October of 1962 bought in Broken Bow at Pontiac-Rambler dealer. Dave Maddox traveled out to Callaway with me, and we went to Broken Bow where Dad co-signed the GMAC loan. I have just started work for Union Pacific. It was a 2-door, had standard transmission with overdrive. Had a white top and gold lower part, from windows down.
Paid $2,400 price, though it was financed. It did not have any seat belts, but they were just coming in some cars then. I bought add-ons and bolted them into the rear floor panels. The front seats were bucket seats. Gold vinyl. Both seats would lay back as a recliner.
1965 Buick Skylark. Traded the Rambler in on the Skylark at Grahm Buick in Omaha in February or March of 1965. Phyllis was pregnant with Cam and wanted a four-door and a car with automatic transmission. Traded for a difference of $3,200. Car was an Ocean Mist green. Had tail lights clear across the back. We bought clear seat protectors and put over the cloth seats. When was in Salt Lake City we had worn the seats badly and had them reupholstered. Was still driving the Buick when we went to the elevator in Coin in October of 1974. I later sold it to a part-time emplyee who lived in Bedford. He later totaled it.
Bought 1975 Chevrolet Impala in 1976. Was a company plan car. Was yellow in color. After drove it a while decided didn’t like it and in 1977 bought a new Oldsmobile Wagon from place in Glenwood, IA in June. Within 2 weeks we drove to Tampa, FL where Darrell was working and living and spent time with him and going to Disney World.
Drove that ’77 Olds Wagon for many years. Finally gave it to Cam when they were in Wisconsin. He drove it until had about 175,000 miles on it and sold it to a junk yard for $75.00.
We drove many Subaru’s -- Art Greenwood got me onto them and he was doing repair work on them and could get old ones to run. At one time had 3 Subaru wagons all in same color of blue, think one was an ’84, one an ’82, and one an 83. In 1998, in the spring, bought a 1996 green Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon in Omaha. It had about 45,000 miles on it. Still driving it at Christmas time, 2003.
Have had several vehicles since then, but won't go into that right now.
More later, Maybe..............Lynn
58 degrees at 4:00 pm Friday in Clarinda, IA. Possibility of frost predicted overnight.
THE WAY I REMEMBER IT -- 4
Have a few random thoughts. Another teacher from grade school at Lower Lodi - Valair Robinson. Think this was in one of my upper grades. She was a stout woman with graying hair. I think she drove a Model A Roadster car. I don't know if it was her or another teacher that got tired of some of the students sliding down the banister the half-floor from the level the school rooms were on to the level that led to the double doors going out of the school--and also down to the basement. Whoever it was had warned to stop using the 2"x4" board banniste- top to the wall along the steps as a slide. So she covered it with clear Kayro Syrup! Seems like there were some upset kids who had the syrup all over their hands and pants.
Bobby West (Barbara was her name but she always went by Bobby) got hung up crossing over a barbed-wire fence to the east of the school grounds, near the girls toilet. There was probably nearly a foot of snow on the ground and for some reason a bunch of us went over the fence into the adjacent field, maybe to play in the snow. Anyhow, Bobby got the barb wires caugt in her jeans between her legs and she wouldn't let any of the boys help to try to untangle it. The girls worked for some time to get her off the fence.
There were a lot of evenings during the school year that there were events where the parents were involved. I think there were times when the ladies brought lunch in an unmarked bag and the men bid on them and and then ate with whoever brought the lunch bag. I would suppose this was a way for raising money for some project. Often there would be square dancing afterwards. I recall going out into the hall and then into the small library that was in the jutted-out portion of the building that also contained the stairway, and hiding so wouldn't have to square dance. Hard to imagine that now since we began square dancing here in the 1970's, quit while we were working at the grain elevetor until 1994 when we took it up again. Went to many cities in southwest Iowa (Council Bluffs, Missouri Vallely, Creston, Corning, Shenandoah and others; northwest Missouri and eastern Nebraska for square dancing and then in the latter 1990's we did a lot of travelling to other states for their annual State Square Dance Conventions; Nebraska in Hastings for many years, Iowa rotated amongst the 5 or so separate federations of the state, Kansas in Wichita; and others. Then we began going to other states to advertise our Iowa State Square Dance Convention. We travelled many times with Patty & Rick Steckelberg. We travelled with them and also, at times, with Carolyn & Al Ruhde, both couples being from Shenandoah. We went to Nationals in Oklahoma City, OK, San Antonio, TX, Portland Oregon, St. Paul, MN; Charlotte, NC, Denver, CO,(had attended Iowa's holding the National clear back in the 1970's) We got active with the Southwest Iowa Federation of the Iowa organization of squaredancing and went to many state meetings which were usually held in conjunction with a Federation Dance. Travelled to many of the areas of Iowa for those, usually in company with Rick & Patty Steckelberg. Iowa had their annual State Square Dance Convention, usually in March or April, in different areas of the state each year, rotating among the 5 or 6 different Federations. We helped the Southwest Iowa Federation of Square Dancers put on the Iowa State Convention in 2004 in Ames, IA.
Joyce Juhler was selected to be Chairman and Phyllis & I were selected to be Co-chairs. Since Joyce was a single lady, Barbara Harrison offered to "help" her. Well that B____H stepped in and completely took over. We made many trips to Ames to meet with the people there, some of the trips had to be on the sly because good old Barb had forbid us to talk with anyone since she was in charge. All the Southwest Iowa clubs helped and it went over all right, but I developed quite a hatred for the Harrison woman.
Went off on that subject, will get back to some of growing up. Remember running away from home one summer when I was about 7 or 8 or so. Recall packing a WWII Army backpack with a sandwich and a can of Pork & Beans and probably a Life or Look or Saturday Evening Post magazine or two and heading out the east driveway. I was wearing my leather, wool-lined, pilots cap that had a wool lined flap on the front that came down and covered my forehead. There were a lot of tall weeds just to the east of where the driveway met the road and I went off into them, being completely hidden by them. I sat down, ate my sandwich, opened the can of pork & beans, at them, doodled around a bit and went back to the house. Talking about maybe a 100 yards in distance here. It was only a few hours and to this day I don't know if anyone even knew I ran away!
Well, only 18 days until we start our drive to our winter home in the Rio Grtande Valley in south Texas! Got the one recumbent trike we brought home, disassembled and put in the pickup this afternoon. Have been taking all the sliding drawers out of the travel trailer, re-inserting the screws holding the slides in place with a spot of Super Glue. Several wouldn't work right as the screws had jiggled loose. Can't imagine why dragging it over some 70 to 80 thousand miles over the last 8 years would loosen anything up. Think we have everything checked out on the trailer and fixed up ready to go. Plan to stay one night in yard at Harold & LaRhoda Neher's near Hiawatha, Kansas and then three nights in Cape Girardeau, MO while we visit my older brother Don & wife Vicki for a couple days. Then head south and probably getting to our place in Kenwood RV Park on Monday the 30th.
Later, Lynn
74º in Clarinda at 8:00 pm. Had a high today around 90º but humidity is relatively low.
Last Wednesday our daughter Michelle came and stayed Wed & Thursday nights. On Thursday we went over to Phyllis' sister Beth & husband Steve's place for lunch. On Friday morning I drove the pickup pulling the travel trailer and Phyllis rode with Michelle and we drove to Marengo, IA. Went to the Methodist Church where they had rehearsal for Emmy & Derek's wedding on Saturday.
It is now 80º with cloudy skies and 20 mph wind out of the south at 1 pm on Tuesday. Yes, I got side-tracked.
Playing Pegs & Jokers with Michelle one evening.
These photos are at rehearsal Friday evening at the Marengo Methodist Church - Jessica was flower girl and David was ring bearer.
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| Exchanging vows |
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| The newly married couple with her parents. |
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| The ring bearer and flower girl, after doing their thing,came to sit with their dad, Michelle, and us. |
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Officiating pastor, at left in photo, is now retired but was minister at Marengo 2000 to 2003 when both girls were attending church and Sunday school there. At right in photo is Derek's younger brother, who served as Best Man. |
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| Heading towards their car. |
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| Individual bubble "blowers" were handed out to cover the couple as they left the church, rather than throwing rice. |
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| Derek and Emily arriving at the Country Club |
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| Lots of dancing happened |
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| Phyllis with grandson-in-law Heath and great granddaughter Jessica |
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| Son, Cameron, with granddaughter Emily |
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| Daughter-in-law Patty with great grandson David |
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| Daughter-in-law Patty with granddaughter Emily |
