Back to Grand Bear

 We took our family back to Grand Bear Resort for a four day vacation.  You might remember that the last time we did that, the place burned down the afternoon we left!  All the cabins that burned are rebuilt, but weren't open yet.  We had to rent three smaller cabins instead of two big ones.  We spent the first day with all of us hiking at Starved Rock State Park.  I love hiking with the grandkids.  I like seeing them have fun outside in nature.  Grand Bear has an indoor water park, so the kids spent a lot of time there, especially the second day when it rained.  I spent an afternoon hiking on my own after the rain stopped.  We had a lot of good food and a fun time together.

We managed to get all of the grandchildren to stand/sit together halfway cooperatively for a group picture!

The corn is maturing rapidly from the heat we have had this summer.  I don't know if harvest will be early, but it won't start late.  I picked the rest of the peaches and pears.  We need some cold nights to sweeten up the apples.

The City of Washington is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.  We didn't attend much of the festivities, but I did go to the antique tractor pull last Saturday.  Son#1 entered the Massey Harris 44.  He plowed the sweet corn patch with it the day before to make sure it was in pulling condition.  Either the clutch slipped or something else happened, because it stopped before it pulled down.  We need to figure out what the problem was before we try it again.

My mom turned 97 this month!  I can't imagine being that old (and probably don't have to worry about it).  We had a party for the local relatives, and some that were able to make it from out of town.  We wish her continued health and quality of life.  Her dad, my grandfather, lived to be 104!

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.               Proverbs 3:2