The Elder Plays......
I really wanted to start this out with the title "The Grinder Plays.....and the Monkey's Dance" but that doesn't do fairness to us. We are not entertaining others...just ourselves. What started out last week on the Finlinson's back deck has now moved to the FM break room building...mainly because it is indoors and it was raining. Most of last weeks group came back for more and we were joined by a some of new couples. It is good to add new couples so we have an excuse to go back and re-learn and remember what happened last week. Elder Orme plays a "mean" accordion and did so well that one of the elders through out a paper cup and we provided donations.....it was such a pittance that he gave the money back.
Speaking of our memories we have added a new adventure to Rendezvous. It's over a month now that Sister Hipple has taken the reins of the show and things have, as expected, changed (just a little...or maybe a lot....depending on your perspective. I am not sure exactly why...maybe the departure of missionaries on a large scale during the fall months and the subsequent smaller casts, or maybe the fear of the winter months illness' taking a toll...or maybe we are all preparing for other roles? While the vignettes have stayed pretty much the same, with the addition of those now called upon to play them due to the departures, the smaller "one line" parts and roles are a constant merry go round with changes every night and then we have added rehearsals before the performance most nights. Learning a line of dialogue and where and when to insert it is not an easy task for many....older folks prefer a constant....that way they can remember...like what they had for breakfast.
Most are past the point of enjoying change or a challenge....now I am not inferring all....just many.
And so the show goes on! It is still a source of happiness and joy for me.....and I still look forward to it.
Fifteen Yards of Concrete,
Sixteen People,
Fifty Feet of Pipe....
....Engle House Gets a Footing
I knew it was coming but no one had said anything about manning up so I was feeling that I was going to miss the opportunity to help with the concrete footings on the Engle house...I wasn't feeling sad....more like grateful. That all ended with Elder Hawkins calling me and inviting me to the party..."The more the merrier" he said. I knew from the beginning it was going to be hard work. The concrete was conveyed via a 5" hose that needed a man on it every four to five feet to lift it as it was directed around to where the concrete was poured. Then it was in the trenches moving it around to get the correct grade and where it needed to be. It was all hands on deck and took all of us five hours to complete the task. Of course one of those hours was standing around waiting for hardened concrete to be removed from the pipes....seems like someone had neglected to clean them out the last time they were used. The reward was pizza for everyone.....provided by FM. They got their money's worth.
I made the tactical error of returning to the Economou house just to check on things and I spent the remainder of the day putting in insulation....why?.....I have no idea...I was sore and tired. Just because you are getting older you are not getting much smarter.
On the Road Again....
...."The Fort", Bonaparte, & Bloomington
It started out as and adventure over in Fort Madison to visit the now vacant Iowa State Prison now known as the Fort, that was first erected in 1839. It sits on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River and looms as an old decaying edifice for all to see. Years of renovation, addition, changes and the like were reflected in tour. Our guides were former guards who knew it well and along with pointing out a little of the architectural changes were very informative as to life as a prison guard. The history and visuals of the prison in it's heyday as well as early pictures of public executions where it is reported that up to 15,000 people came to visit. Not my idea of a way to spend a day...but then it was early Iowa.
We headed south after that. Seems Sister Lindeburg had a "hot" tip on an Amish bakery "a little bit past Milton, IA. Lunch called as we past Bonaparte so we made a quick retreat to "the Retreat" which has always been a favorite place eat.
Returning to the road we arrived in Bloomington only to meander through the town looking for Yoder's Country Corner. We were struck by the architecture of the county building erected on the town square. It's unique style caught our attention so we stopped in the rain and took a picture. After that, while still searching for the bakery we ran into an original cabin that was built by the pioneers as they traveled along Iowa on their way to Zion.
We soon resorted to Google to find the bakery...turns out it was 7 miles past the town. Our anticipation and expectations were only overshadowed by reality. It was okay...but it certainly wasn't Kalona, which has become our benchmark. There was an adjacent wood manufacturing facility which was worth the trouble. We bought a fruit basket. It lay flat as a board and looked like an apple...then when pulled by the stem it would transform into a basket.
A Lesson....and a Legacy......
.....of Unrivaled Determination and Faith
While reading the sign of the cabin in Bloomfield I was struck with something I already knew. Only this time is was more than knowledge...it was the Spirit testifying to me. These pioneer saints, our forefathers, were a determined lot. They lived their lives with an unrivaled determination and a faith in God that pushed and pulled them through every circumstance and obstacle that befell them. Their decisions weren't based on what they thought they should do but rather on what the Prophet wanted them to do. Days never went as planned. The Mormon exodus was fraught with obstacles on end....yet they continued. Sickness, misery, and death accompanied them. Yet they pushed on and at the end of the day they gave thanks to God and often would rekindle their spirits with music and dancing.
Glory be to them and their sacrifice....Hopefully we can leave a similar legacy!
Odds at the End
We were just sitting on the bench in front of the Post Office on Sunday. After two days of rain it was a great day with the sun shining brightly. Two of our favorite Senior Sisters Shumway and McNiel had wandered up from Riser Boot as they were a little board. They saw a few buckeyes on the ground and began to scratch around when it occurred to them that there were still some on the tree. Great presents for the Grandkids they explained. Looking for excitement I quickly volunteered and soon found my crew as we dove into getting them off the tree. A broom, a bench, and a lot of stretching and we had them in hand.
After we had completed the task Elder Walker pointed out that there is a reason men live shorter lives than women....they do stupid things to impress them. As Sister Gibsn says in Rendezvous........"Think about it!"
(a buckeye is similar to chestnuts but it has a smooth outer shell...not the prickly kind. And by the way...it is not to eat if you are a human!)
It started out as and adventure over in Fort Madison to visit the now vacant Iowa State Prison now known as the Fort, that was first erected in 1839. It sits on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River and looms as an old decaying edifice for all to see. Years of renovation, addition, changes and the like were reflected in tour. Our guides were former guards who knew it well and along with pointing out a little of the architectural changes were very informative as to life as a prison guard. The history and visuals of the prison in it's heyday as well as early pictures of public executions where it is reported that up to 15,000 people came to visit. Not my idea of a way to spend a day...but then it was early Iowa.
We headed south after that. Seems Sister Lindeburg had a "hot" tip on an Amish bakery "a little bit past Milton, IA. Lunch called as we past Bonaparte so we made a quick retreat to "the Retreat" which has always been a favorite place eat.
Returning to the road we arrived in Bloomington only to meander through the town looking for Yoder's Country Corner. We were struck by the architecture of the county building erected on the town square. It's unique style caught our attention so we stopped in the rain and took a picture. After that, while still searching for the bakery we ran into an original cabin that was built by the pioneers as they traveled along Iowa on their way to Zion.
We soon resorted to Google to find the bakery...turns out it was 7 miles past the town. Our anticipation and expectations were only overshadowed by reality. It was okay...but it certainly wasn't Kalona, which has become our benchmark. There was an adjacent wood manufacturing facility which was worth the trouble. We bought a fruit basket. It lay flat as a board and looked like an apple...then when pulled by the stem it would transform into a basket.
A Lesson....and a Legacy......
While reading the sign of the cabin in Bloomfield I was struck with something I already knew. Only this time is was more than knowledge...it was the Spirit testifying to me. These pioneer saints, our forefathers, were a determined lot. They lived their lives with an unrivaled determination and a faith in God that pushed and pulled them through every circumstance and obstacle that befell them. Their decisions weren't based on what they thought they should do but rather on what the Prophet wanted them to do. Days never went as planned. The Mormon exodus was fraught with obstacles on end....yet they continued. Sickness, misery, and death accompanied them. Yet they pushed on and at the end of the day they gave thanks to God and often would rekindle their spirits with music and dancing.
Glory be to them and their sacrifice....Hopefully we can leave a similar legacy!
Odds at the End
After we had completed the task Elder Walker pointed out that there is a reason men live shorter lives than women....they do stupid things to impress them. As Sister Gibsn says in Rendezvous........"Think about it!"
(a buckeye is similar to chestnuts but it has a smooth outer shell...not the prickly kind. And by the way...it is not to eat if you are a human!)
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