Travel

 We had a Metzger Cousins Reunion planned for the first weekend of June.  The week leading up to it, the corn really started growing.  I realized that I needed to get the corn sidedressed because if it rained over the weekend as predicted, and I couldn't get back in the field for awhile, it might get too big.  I was able to get an applicator and I hustled to get across all of my corn acres (except the replant), and I finished at 9:30 A.M. Friday morning.  We were on the road for Lester, Iowa at 10:30.

I believe there were 83 first cousins that survived to adulthood.  I think there are 78 of us currently surviving, having lost three to Covid since our last reunion.   There was a decent turnout and we had good food and fellowship for the weekend.  The Metzger trivia game was especially enlightening, as each family was asked to submit questions.  I learned a lot about the family that I hadn't heard before.  We stayed at Mark and Audrey's (along with Dennis and Beth) and enjoyed their hospitality in their "new" house, as they have recently moved to town.  On Saturday evening some of us went for a drive through the country to survey the damage from recent high winds and a tornado in the area.  It was good to be in Lester church again on Sunday, and we left for home shortly after.  We drove into rain in central Iowa which isn't fun traveling in, but we were safely home by midnight.

I hauled some corn to the elevator last week out of one of my bins.  It is an old bin and it always gets some corn in the center, especially around the sump, that goes out of condition.  When I had emptied enough to be able to get in the bin, I started scooping out some of the bad corn.  I threw a shovel full out the door into the skid steer bucket, and the clump broke apart and out slithered a snake!  I have seen snakes around the outside of bins, but have never seen a snake inside a corn bin before!  It somehow got in through the unload tube and was helping control the mice, I'm sure.

The 2022 King's Table Game Convention was being held in Leo, IN this year and Son#1 asked to borrow our van to drive out with the boys.  We decided to go along for a visit and to help babysit kids while the dads were at the convention.  We left after work Friday and spent the weekend staying with Loren and Rita.  We enjoyed the fellowship and spending time with grandkids.  The weather cooperated and the kids got to spend time outdoors and do some swimming.

A long time ago I planted an almond tree that was supposed to be hardy enough to grow in central Illinois.  The last couple of years I noticed that there were a few almonds on the tree.  This spring it is loaded with almonds!  Some of them are falling off the tree early, so I will need to figure out why, but perhaps we will get some edible nuts this year.

And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.                                Numbers 17:8

Fam Vac

 Over Memorial Day weekend, we took our children and grandchildren on a four day vacation to the Starved Rock State Park area.  We rented two large cabins at Grand Bear Resort for the 21 of us.  The kids especially enjoyed the indoor water park at the lodge, and they enjoyed being together with their cousins.  We enjoyed lots of good food, and played some games, and had crafts for the kids.  Everyone enjoyed hiking in the park.  We hiked some of the high overlooks including Starved Rock, and into several canyons.  The canyons with waterfalls were the favorites.  Saturday we ran into the Washington Young Group out hiking.  The grandkids got wet and dirty which was a sign that they had fun.

The Lazy River and the Wave Pool were both hits at the waterpark.

The weather was just right for hiking most of the time.

The kids also enjoyed the playground and the older ones were introduced to Mini Golf.  Here are all 12 of our grandchildren.

We checked out at 2:00 on Memorial Day.  At 5:20, a 911 call reported a fire at Grand Bear Resort.  It turns out that it started in the building just west of our two units.  There were strong south winds all afternoon and the fire spread quickly to the north.  Sixty some departments sent trucks, tankers, and firemen, with a couple hundred firemen involved.  By dark they had it contained, but they lost seven buildings with four units each for a total of twenty eight units lost.  The only two units out of the seven buildings that still were standing, were the two units on the east side that we had stayed in!  It was very fortunate that there were no injuries to occupants or firemen.  I feel sorry for the farmer whose seed corn field was driven over and used for a staging area.

It was a little unsettling, but we feel fortunate that we were gone and that the fire didn't start in our units.

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.                               Daniel 3:17