Two Days of R & R

Day Two…

You just couldn’t wait to see where we went next could ya??

We were attending a wedding on Saturday in Dubuque so we opted to stay overnight in Independence, Iowa.  We had some time to kill the next morning and visited a neat little museum next to our hotel called Heartland Acres Agribition Center displaying past agricultural practices as well as cars and other antiques. 

Watching the storm brew in the distance. 

They even had a real “Cow-ch” 
Brother Tom & Sister-in-law Sue


My favorite though was the farm kitchen pictured above.  
If you get through there and have an opportunity, it’s a nice tour at a very reasonable price.

On to the wedding we go…the reception was held in the Grand Ballroom at the Julien Inn.  Very elegant.  The Julien is a very old hotel that just went through a major renovation, but they were careful to keep the historic feel of the old hotel.  I would love to return for an overnight sometime.  But of course, I didn’t take one picture of the hotel itself.  I was too busy taking pics of the grandkids, I guess…
Don’t Owen’s baby blue eyes just make you melt?  even with the crumbs on his chin. :) Miss Ava thought she was pretty important drinking champagne (white grape juice) like all the big people.  By the strange looks we were getting from the table next to us, I think they really thought we gave the kid champagne.
and a portrait of the “Miller Women” – myself, daughter-in-law Heidi and granddaughter Ava.

Sunday we had a baptism celebration at church and Monday it was back to reality again.  I hate it when reality rears it’s ugly head, don’t you?  

Faculty come back to campus this week and classes start on Monday.  So much for the peace and quiet of the summer schedule.  Let the chaos begin!

Two days of R & R

Day One…

Dan & I as well as Dan’s brother Tom and wife, Sue left Friday morning to attend a family open  house at the company our son works for. 

Luke’s a service tech for Hagie Mfg and services agricultural sprayers.  He works mostly out of Central Illinois but gets into Missouri and Indiana on occasion.  The company itself is located in Clarion, Iowa. 

  Sprayers in1959

  and sprayers today…
 
The booms on this particular sprayer were 120 feet long.

Luke even gave his ol’ mom a ride.  Now that was fun!  They bounce along pretty fast and I only covered my eyes once!  Aren’t ya proud of me??

We drove in rain most of the day but it turned out to be a gorgeous summer evening.

Stay tuned for Day Two – You’re sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation, aren’t you???  I just know you are.

Storm Damage

We took a drive last night with friends to take a look at damage to area crops from the big honkin’ hail(tennis ball size in areas)  we received Friday night.  We were spared here at the home, just receiving monsoon-like rains.  Can you say water in the basement?

Warnings were issued for us for large hail as well but thankfully only a small pebbles fell.

As close as 15 miles away though there was pretty extensive damage that will drastically affect the yields. 

It has been such a goofy, cool, wet summer and now the gi-normous hail. 

It sure did a number on this soybean field. 

See how the leaves on the corn are shredded.

Just doin’ what the sign says…

Don’t you always do what you’re told???
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist throwing that in.  :)