FPS

 The Farm Progress Show was held in Decatur again this year, so we headed down on the Wednesday.  The weather was about as pleasant as you could have for a day of walking around Progress City.  I tried really hard not to pick up a lot of farm swag this year, and I think I mostly succeeded.  Face masks were required in a couple indoor exhibits, but otherwise it was a typical show. Everything agriculture is on display, and lots of new products are introduced here. 

The "Worlds Largest Tractor" was on display at one of the tire manufacturer's exhibit.

We took a Saturday day trip across the border to Burlington for one of our Iowa granddaughter's birthday.  We had a picnic at Starr's Cave Park and spent the afternoon hiking to the caves and the Nature Center.  The main cave is closed to humans to prevent the spread of a bat virus, but we still enjoyed the park.  The granddaughters especially enjoyed the hiking, climbing, and playing in the river.  On the way to Mediapolis and Son # 2's for our supper, one of our group was led down a mud road by the GPS, which resulted in a couple hour delay in their arrival.  After being unable to get to them with a 4-wheel drive pickup and then turned down by two towing companies, they finally borrowed a tractor to retrieve the van from its predicament.  After supper we had a birthday party and then headed back east.

A week ago Thursday evening, my feed mill went down.  I called the dealer/serviceman and he told me he was in Wyoming for a week.  Friday morning I called the mill company and talked to their technician and we diagnosed the problem over the phone. He said he would overnight ship the part I needed along with instructions so that I could install it myself.  I was a little worried because it was Labor Day weekend, and I didn't think I could make it until Tuesday without feed.  Friday afternoon I was able to line up emergency delivery of feed from a local feed mill for Tuesday just in case I didn't get my mill running.  The part didn't show up Saturday.  Nor did it show up Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday.  I took delivery of the emergency feed on Tuesday because I had empty bulk bins and I was leaving on a short vacation early Wednesday morning.  The part showed up while I was gone, and our dealer/serviceman was able to get it installed on Saturday morning after he got home from his vacation.  I got home late Sunday night and was able to make needed feed Monday morning.  Nothing like a little stress just before a vacation! 

 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.         Isaiah 2:19