My family – on my mom’s side – we’re a small group but full of fun – and we love each other!
Category: Family
And They’re Off To The Next Town
I don’t know how they do it. They ride bicycles for miles, spend the evenings eating all different kinds of food and drink, party and play, pitch a tent in someone’s yard to sleep, then get up the next morning, get back on their bicycles and ride for miles to repeat the process. All the while being surrounded by thousands of people doing the same thing. Or they drive the sag wagons – those who take a different route away from the bicyclists but heading to the same destination to set up camp and have things ready for when the bikes start rolling in. For seven days straight. But those 20,000 plus people who do it every year love it!
I’m not sure how many people we actually had here. I didn’t get many pictures and no good pictures. We had two buses and I think five tents in our yard. The one group all slept in their bus while the others pitched tents and/or stayed in our camper. They ate supper, had some shaved ice, socialized, played bocce ball and ladder ball, had s’mores around the bonfire. We had beautiful weather, almost chilly by nightfall. It was all very low key and totally away from the crowds in town where they had food vendors and entertainment, concerts and I don’t know what all going on. It was great to spend some time with family. Joe’s sister didn’t ride this year but her daughter, son, and two of their kids did so she drove down and spent the night in the camper with them. We sat around the campfire until midnight and enjoyed each other’s company. And they were up and gone by 7:30 this morning. Some were gone a lot earlier than that. Off to Iowa City, their last stop before dipping their tires in the Mississippi River on Sunday before heading home.
Family Fun
The annual Houseal Fish Fry was this Sunday. As usual it was a day of fun! Lots of food, yummy fried fish, swimming, fishing and catching up. Thank you Uncle Terry and Aunt Judy for hosting everyone every year! We all took pictures so lots to share!
Grandpa Asbery
I ran across a beautiful pattern by Lori Rippey called Crow Hill and I knew I had to stitch it but I wanted to tweak it a little to pay tribute to my Great Grandfather Asbery Bond. I never knew my great grandpa but I’ve heard stories and I’ve always felt drawn to him. For years there was a little county park named Bond Hill after my Bond ancestors over by the Richland area. They donated the land to the county and up until recently the county kept it as a small county park but I just discovered that it’s no longer there. So, I saw this pattern and thought it was perfect. But then I stitched it. And I do love it – but – all the stories I’ve heard of Grandpa Asbery portray him as an outdoor person who spent the majority of his time living in a cabin on the Skunk River and this picture just doesn’t seem to fit him.
After sharing this picture on Instagram with an explanation as to what it represented to me I received a response from someone who is a distant relative. She wrote that we were related through Asbery Bond. I had known we were related and through the Bond side of the family but wasn’t exactly sure how. She went to school with my daughter so is a lot younger but she’s interested in family history and doesn’t know a lot about this side of her family. To make a long story short, I dug out some old family history with the intention of photocopying everything and giving it to her. Of course as I was digging this all out I just had to sit down and read some of it and I realized that my Bond Hill stitchery just isn’t accurate at all. There was no way this grand old home in any way represented Grandpa Asbery. One of his grandchildren, my dad’s first cousin, wrote that Grandpa Bond was a “throwback to Daniel Boone and many other early Americans.” He also wrote that Grandpa lived in a one room cabin or what he stated would be considered a shack today. My dad has always talked about the cabin where Grandpa lived during the summer months along the banks of the Skunk River.
So – I don’t think this is a fitting tribute to Grandpa Asbery Bond. I’m going to have to do more than changing the Crow Hill to Bond Hill and the black birds to blue. I’m thinking a cabin should replace the grand old home and there needs to be an American flag to represent a very patriotic man who fought with Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. But I love the birds so they will stay although maybe black crows instead of blue birds like the original pattern. And I like the flower as it looks like a wild Black-Eyed Susan to me, something that would grow wild along the banks of the Skunk River. And maybe even a skunk if I can design a realistic looking one. There’s also a story about Grandpa serving skunk to a visitor one day. I’ll have to share more in another post but Great Grandpa Asbery Bond sure seems to have been quite the character. I missed out on knowing him here on earth but I sure do look forward to meeting him someday, God willing!
Weekend Wanderings
Since we celebrated Father’s Day last weekend with the whole family we didn’t really have any plans for this weekend. The one thing we did know was we were staying inside as much as possible – the forecast was calling for very hot and humid days and boy was it right. You would break a sweat just by standing outside in the shade! We’re supposed to get one more day of it today before it finally breaks. So we stayed inside as much as possible and did very little. We went out for supper with Dad and Mom Saturday night which was an adventure. We ended up eating at a restaurant called Four Corners that Mom had read about in the Our Iowa magazine and it was delicious! It was out in the middle of nowhere, about an hour from home with cornfields all around. The parking lot was full and there was a wait but it was so worth it. The best buffet we’ve had in a long, long time! Dad and Mom enjoy finding new restaurants in out of the way places and we hadnn’t done this with them in a long time. When we got home we sat outside at their house and Drew caught fireflies. Once the sun set the heat broke and it was a beautiful evening.
Beautiful picture my cousin Todd drew. It depicts the train depot in Richland, Iowa from days gone by. Todd is a history buff and a very talented artist. Richland is the town where his mom and my dad were born and raised.
On Sunday we went with Dad and Mom to visit my Uncle Jerry and Aunt Konnie. It was Uncle Jerry’s birthday so Mom took brownies to celebrate. My cousin Todd was home so we had a nice small family get together. They have a beautiful farm with the most breathtaking views. They live outside a little town called Rubio but now have a Richland address since there’s no longer a Post Office in Rubio. There’s nothing left in Rubio besides a small refurbished train depot which is now a community center and a handful of houses. I think Jerry and Konnie’s farm is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been (Not that I’ve traveled or spent much time out of Iowa!) We had a nice visit with them and then we drove into Richland. Dad wanted to check on the acreage he and Konnie have together. It was originally their home place with their house and their grandpa’s house but there’s no houses left – it’s just a corn field. We drove past the Friends Church where Dad and Mom got married and their old high school which is no longer used. We meandered into the cemetary and drove around there. And Dad took us on down the road past the cemetary that led to two very very old cemetaries that I never knew where there. When we got back to Sigourney we drove through another cemetary. One I hadn’t been to since grade school when we would walk there and see all the old gravestones for fifth grade history class. A friend of my mom’s had passed away about a year ago and Mom wanted to show me the gravesite. I didn’t realize this cemetary was still being used. It’s a small cemetary with lots of very old stones. Drew wanted to get out and explore so we decided we would run to town one day when it wasn’t so hot and walk around and look at all the old old stones together. It’s a very peaceful and pretty place and I look foward to exploring it one of these days!
I would love to have this view out my front window! It’s beautiful in all seasons!
Drew found the kittens of course!
Celebrating Father’s Day Early
We celebrated Father’s Day a week early this year. We spent the weekend camping at Belva Deer. It was a lot of fun and so great to have all the kids with us. There was rain, heat, bugs, games, food, walks and lots of fun times and memories made!
Diamond supervising while Grandpa builds a fire – no matter how hot it is we have to have S’mores!
Bocce ball players!
Nap time!
These two little boys put a lot of miles on those little legs!
Our campsite!
Bayah and Great Grandpa!
Water fights with the neighbor kids!
Good food – it always tastes better outside!
Walks through the woods!
Walks around the pond!
Piggyback rides!
And cheesy smiles!
Early Father’s Day
When Joe ran into H & M on Saturday to get a replacement tube for the wheel barrow tire he mentioned that they had these tractor planters that reminded him of his dad and he thought it would be nice to have one in the flower bed along with the stone he got from Albert’s funeral. He wondered if I would have anyplace to do something like that. Now this is not something Joe normally thinks about doing so I thought I would run back in sometime during the week and get one for him for Father’s Day because he had obviously put some thought into it. But then I didn’t know where I would put it so he wouldn’t find it. So, on Sunday I suggested we go in and look at it and if he wanted it it could be an early Father’s Day present. I should have taken a before picture because we got it home and Joe immediately took it down to the shop and “Oliverized” it! He used the paint he had leftover from when he refinished his Dad’s original Oliver tractor to paint the wheels red and the grill yellow. The little planter came with a free flower and he picked out a begonia – a flower his mom always liked. I think it’s just perfect and a perfect addition to this little spot under the kitchen window!
Uncles
Along with all the work we tried to get done over the weekend we were able to take a break and run out to Belva Deer and visit. Dad and Mom were camping again this weekend and Mom’s brothers drove up from Burlington for the afternoon to visit. It’s always fun when we get together with family and Uncle Donnie and Aunt Susan and Uncle Terry and Aunt Judy are no exception. As they get older they tend to reminisce more and more and I just enjoy sitting and listening to them talk about their time growing up and hearing about Grandpa and Grandma. I’m so glad we ran out to see them for a little while. This time we got to hear Uncle Terry tell about his escapade with his buddies when they were seniors in high school – they decided to head to California and get jobs and be on their own. They made it as far as Colorado!
Mother’s Day Camping
This came home Wednesday. Joe totally surprised me. I was subbing at school when he texted and said he was on his way home with the camper. For some reason I got a burst of energy that evening and I cleaned it all up – bleached, dusted, vacuumed, washed the bedding. Then Mom texted and said they had their camper set up at Belva Deer. We ran out there for a little bit and I guess the camping bug got us.
This is what happened Thursday night. Totally unplanned and spur of the moment. I raided the freezer for meat, the refrigerator for eggs, made a quick stop at the grocery store and we were off.
It rained and rained some more. Saturday was spent in the camper for the most part due to rain. Sunday the kids and Aunt Beth came out and we were able to eat lunch outside and then back to the camper to sit out a storm and lots of rain. We did get to sit around the campfire each night – it was chilly and the blankets came out – perfect campfire weather. We had a great first trip and we have the next one planned for June. We have lots of work to get done between now and then!
Where Did The Weekend Go?
Wow -it’s Monday. I have no idea what happened to the weekend. We had the first nice weekend weather wise in so long and it just flew by. Friday night we ran to Ottumwa to get supplies to build the chicken enclosure and Saturday morning saw us up and outside building the darn thing. Unfortunately we ended up having to make another Ottumwa run and a run to town to our local farm and home store before we could finish and it took us literally the whole day and we’re still not done. But – we were able to get enough done that the chickens are no longer running free all over the yard destroying everything in their paths! I do feel bad – they are some very unhappy chickens right now. And I do miss looking out and seeing them wandering around. And yet – we can’t have them destroying the yard like they were doing. We’ll let them out to free range now and then but not on a daily morning to night basis anymore. And I’m sure they’ll be a little happier when we get everything done and they have more room to run. We didn’t get back in the house Saturday night until after 7:00 so a quick meal of leftovers and we were beat!
Sunday saw us up early working in the yard. Mom had given me a bunch of hostas and I had to get those in the ground. Then I worked on picking up junk in the yard. Where does it all come from? People must just throw their garbage out their windows. I know they do when they turn onto our gravel road because I find beer cans and fast food containers along that side of the house a lot. Grrrr. So, I picked up, organized, got cushions out and on chairs, hung my new wind chime Abby gave me for Christmas (love it!) up on the pergola, pulled out an old rose bush that was just not pretty anymore, checked in on the chickens numerous times to make sure they were okay, then in for a quick lunch and a quick shower and we loaded up the truck with furniture for Aaron. He has been in his apartment for a couple of years now and never had a bed. He just slept on his couch. He finally decided he wanted his old bed and dresser. And Dad and Mom had a recliner to give him. So we loaded it all up and headed to Washington. Got it all unloaded and now this mom feels better knowing her baby has a bed to sleep in – although whether he actually sleeps in it or not remains to be seen!
After all of that we took Aaron out for supper. We had such a nice time. Dad and Mom were with us and Eric and Drew. It was nice to spend time with the boys and watch them interact. They are 26, 19 and 7 – such an age difference – and yet they get along so well and you can just see the love they have for each other! When we pulled back into our driveway around 7:30 Joe asked if I wanted to start putting mulch down. No – I did not. But – yes I took advantage of his offer and we got a start on the flower beds until it got too dark to see. We got just enough done to see we were going to need more mulch. And so spring finally begins – long days spent outside working to get things done that need to be done after a long winter. Lots of late nights and early mornings. But we enjoy it. Today after picking Drew up from school we’ll run to the new greenhouse in town, pick up a handful of flowers and potting soil, run over to Mom’s for some more hosta and back home to get everything planted. We’re supposed to get rain the next few days. I hope we do – we are really needing the rain.