Hot Missouri

Well, it's been hot here, 90s. This was a great year to upgrade our camping with an air conditioner.

We visited the Branson Landing the other day. John and Erika were there with us last year. They added fire to the water/music show. Cool.

Ate at Piztros that nite. Shannen was our waiter.

The campground is pretty empty. Steve rises at 4 am and has quiet time and coffee, at 7am brings me coffee, a snack, warm water to wash my face. I spend a couple hours in the tent reading, typing (laptop) and having quiet time. We do brunch at 11 or so, nap in AC coolness, then read or go somewhere for the aft.

It's working pretty well. I could do this for weeks. I've only gotten one book read yet. Two more started. Julie, we bought a little blender like you had so make smoothies. Works great.

Better go. My 60 minutes online for $3 is about up at the library.

September Camping

Well, it wasn't always a beautiful day in the neighborhood, but we didn't have the cold, wind and stomach flu which plagued us last year, so by Minnesota standards, that was a darned good time.

We got about 3-4" of rain the Thursday night and more rain Monday when we packed up. We went to Anne and Dan's 7 minutes away in Rochester twice for respite. We decided to do the campout over Labor Day next year.

The food was again superb, with each family only having to provide two meals- a breakfast and a supper.

The kids gave away the too-many tomatoes I'd brought along. The second give-away netted $. They reacted like they'd won the lottery. "Can you bring a whole bunch of tomatoes next year, Grandma??"

A pyrotechnic display by John.

Saturday early morning we head south for our two-week camping vacation, coming back Sept. 28. Looks to be in the 70s and 80s down there for the next week. We tested out our new AC for the tent. Works pretty slick. Great for napping in the heat of the day.

I bought my tickets to Phoenix the other day for Lindsay and Jon’s wedding. I’ll be traveling and staying with Mom and Dad.

Piano

It’s a warm and windy day in the neighborhood.

Well, the piano we’ve had for 28 years has a new home at the Covington manse. Shannon was excited to come along and ride in the big truck, one Sean borrowed from work.

We got this piano for nothing from our friend Mel Slagter who owned a piano and organ shop in Waterloo. We refinished it, had it repaired, new keys put on and it’s been and pretty good instrument for 30 plus years worth of lessons for three kids.

In its spot goes the new Duncan Phyfe table and chairs we got from CraigsList in Mn.

I was anxious to see how big my table got with all its leaves (8 1/2’). So I tried it. It seats 12 easily and we can still use our other table (7) and breakfast bar (5).

We didn’t need any leaves in for Sunday dinner. John and Erika were here and Erika’s folks, Herm and Dawn- all here for Trisha Van Ee’s wedding Saturday. Erika was a personal attendant and also played violin.

On Monday Steve helped Sean put in the picket fence around their yard.


Tomorrow morning we head for our annual family camping weekend near Rochester and come back on Monday. Can’t wait.