We went to Clear Lake last weekend for the holiday. Rather than rush out of here on Friday, we decided to leave early on Saturday. We rolled in to CL at around 11am. The girls slept a little and were good most of the way. A 2 hour stretch is about all Ellen can handle still, which keeps a couple places we'd like to visit once in a while a little out of reach comfortably. Of course we could make it if we really had to, but who wants to deal with that.
In the original planning stages of the trip, we were going to seal the deck Mom and Dad's house. No small feat if you've seen it. The weather wasn't cooperating, so dad called on Friday morning and told me we might be golfing instead. We packed the clubs, but when we got there, the windy conditions had dried out enough to allow us to work on the deck. It was good to get it done, but I obviously would have rather been golfing. It took us about 3 or 4 hours, but it's done and looks pretty good considering I don't think the previous owners ever sealed the deck. While we were slaving away, Mom and Stacey and the girls were galavanting about indoors. The weather was kinda shitty, so that was a good place for them to be. That evening we got the kids fed and Kim and Cuddy stopped by. Always good to see them. Later, we grilled a loin and sat outside for a while. Dad and I smoked a cigar, and relaxed with a few cold ones.
Sunday Stacey headed to Charles City to see Gramma Alice while Mom, Dad, and I took the girls to Belmond. I wanted them to see, and I wanted to see Grandpa and Grandma Thompson (my Mom's parents) plus Mom wanted to take care of some Memorial Day business at the Belmond cemetery. We spent about an hour at Grandpa and Grandma's condo. The girls played in the living room and were actually pretty well behaved. Grandpa and Grandma lived on the farm for as long as I knew until a few years back. They moved in town to a condo, which I'm sure Grandpa hated having lived on a farm for so long. My point is, ya know how Grandpa and Grandma's house has a smell and feel that puts you in a nostalgic daze when you enter the home? I swear that even though they live in a different home now, it feels the same as the farm house to me. I could lay down on their sofa and sleep after a meal and feel like I was in the farm house.
Anyway, we left there and hit the cemetery. I admit I was a bit taken aback by all the familiar names I saw. Names that aren't supposed to be there yet but are. Reality is a tough pill to swallow sometimes. Sorry for the somber note.
It was then off to Uncle Buck's farm. Mara and Ellen got to see cows less than a foot from them. Only a fence seperating them and the very cow that will occupy our freezer in 6 short months. I haven't explained that to Mara yet. I don't think she'd understand anyway, but if she did, we'd probably have to see a counseler. We also got to climb up on the tractors. I was certain that actually taking Mara for a ride on one would go over like a turd in a punch bowl, so I didn't bother. She liked being around them though. I think they are bigger than she thought they would be. The old John Deere 4320 is still my favorite. I hope Buck keeps that one around for a while.
Back home, we relaxed most of the rest of the day. Dad and I got his boat out of storage and into the boat lift ready for action.
Monday, Dad left for work pretty early and I didn't see him go. Monday turned out to be the most beautiful day of the weekend, so I took the boat out to blow the cobwebs out of it. Ended up taking the girls out for a spin too.
We're hoping to spend a lot more time up there this summer.
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