MN Vacation 2008
We had five wonderful, relaxing days in Minnesota, August 19-23. The travel was enjoyable, the weather perfect, and food, friends, and family the best!
After leaving the MSP airport early Tuesday morning, we took the l-o-n-g way to my brother Rick's place (in Chisago City) - by way of St. Cloud :-) Lots of farming country (very dry there, too) and a big equipment dealership for Weldon to drool in.

In getting from one place to another, we always tried to take the back roads so we could enjoy the scenery.
On Tuesday evening, Rick & Kathy fixed a fabulous supper on the grill. Later, while roasting marshmallows, Rick took a sip out of his cup and there was the cutest little tree frog on the rim. Kathy wanted to get a photo, too, but just as she was ready to snap his picture, he took an amazing leap ... right into the coals. N-o-o-o-o-o :-(
Wednesday morning they took us by this neat old round barn, built from a kit sold by Sears.
From Rick's we made a leisurely trip to my brother Dave's in Mora. (You'll have to get out your MN map.) Dave & Judy's place became our "bed & breakfast" for 2 nights. While there, we had a mini family reunion with my parents, Judy's sister, my Aunt Lois, and Don & Lil (my uncle & aunt). We ate lots of food (fish fry - mmmm), had cow races on the wii, played dominos, worked on a jigsaw puzzle, and sat around and talked a lot. Such fun!

On Thursday we went to our one-and-only tourist attraction on this trip: The Hinckley Fire Museum and monument in, you guessed it, Hinckley.

We journeyed south to Rush City to meet Tavis, a guy Weldon "met" through his beloved tractor nut site. He told us about his work (trains!!), took us to lunch, showed us his home, and gave us some strawberry jam.

What a [tall] guy!!
From there we continued to Stark (hope you have a good map!) to see my best friend from Cambridge High School days. I hadn't seen Linda & Jack in probably 35 years!! (If I were the crying type, I would be have been crying tears of joy.) They quit dairy farming just a few years ago, so Weldon felt right at home.
Back to Dave's for the night. Friday morning (after a delicious and nutritious breakfast) we took Ma & Pa and Maddie (their dog) and started our trip down to my youngest brother Randy's place. We took the scenic route (of course) and stopped briefly at Rush Lake.

Then we stopped in North Branch to visit with my former mother-in-law Esther. She is 93 years old and still going strong!!
At Randy & Jane's we had a family get-together with all three of my brothers and sisters-in-law and some of my nieces and nephews. The biggest surprise here was that "the twins" showed up: Joanne & Jeanne from my youngest years in Kettle River. Unbelievable!!!! (Ma had arranged this.) They couldn't stay long, so we talked really fast. If I were the crying type, I would have been crying tears of joy :-)
Here is Randy, commiserating with his daughter Amanda
and Great-grandma Naomi, sharing quality time with her newest great-grandbabies.
Saturday morning, Weldon went to spend some work time with Jeff Winberg, whom we met 2 years ago while in MN.
While he was getting his farm fix, "the girls" went to get their nails done and hit a few yard sales. I acted as photo-journalist, and the tell-all expose will be published later this year.
Then it was time to head to the airport, turn in the rental car, and sit back and enjoy the flight home. Aaahhh - vacations are a wonderful thing!!!

Send some rain ....
That has been our prayer since last summer, actually! There are many places that have been devastated by floods, but that's not the case here. Due to the dry summer last year, the corn crop yielded only two-thirds of the usual harvest. The corn is chopped into silage to feed the cows; so, to make sure the cows would have enough feed till this year's corn harvest, Weldon planted wheat. The wheat produced a good (and pretty) crop. He began chopping it in early May. About that same time, we got our first and only decent spring rain.

Weldon wasn't able to start planting corn until June 17 and the ground was so hard and dry, he had to irrigate before he could plant and then again to get it to sprout! After spending almost $500 on fuel to run the irrigation system, he called a halt. I can say I've never seen him so discouraged. Here's what he wrote to one of his daughters: "Fuel cost so high I cannot justify expense and time/labor to think about growing all the fields. Already thinking seriously about very soon selling 15 bred heifers due to calve this fall in order to stretch feed supply on hand . If drought continues, will have to sell half or so of about 30 cows to have enough feed to get through the winter. Or it could be all of them. Breaks my heart to think about it."

July 4 & 5 we finally had a good rain - about 7/8 of an inch. WooHoo!! Weldon could plant some more fields in corn. Being so late in the year and not knowing how well the corn would produce, he decided to plant some sorghum also. The dreaded thought of selling heifers and cows was put on hold, although he did get rid of a few cows that were eating more than they were giving back.
Knee high by 15th of July??
The corn and sorghum are growing quite nicely, in spite of NO RAIN! The corn won't make a bumper crop, but it will be enough. I know it is the Lord who is watching out for us and providing all that we need and so much more. We are thankful!!
As I'm ready to hit the "Publish Post" button, I hear thunder rumbling. The sun is shining on the front of the house and a huge black cloud is behind the house. "Send some rain!!!!!!!"

Backtracking .... June 21 & 22
After my week in Miami with Katie, it was time to go see Anna & Marshall in Charlotte. We had a fun and relaxing weekend together! We exchanged late birthday gifts (see video below), did a little shopping at Target (surprise surprise!!), and enjoyed the pool and hot tub.
Anna's "apartment mates" (Jason and Natosha) joined us for the supper she cooked. Natosha said taking a picture of her eating was the worst thing she could think of ... except, of course, if she were naked with a giant spider behind her. After a statement like that, you just KNOW I have to post her picture :-)
Puss in Boots - my birthday present from Anna:

THE WEDDING
Weldon's nephew Wesley Carroll married his high school sweetheart Ashley Edney on July 19.

Larry Bumgarner is the same preacher who performed Weldon's and my wedding.
The ceremony was held outdoors at Magnolia Manor in Colfax, NC.

Wesley's mom (Weldon's younger sister Beth) wiping the tears from her cheek
during the ceremony. I love this picture!

The flower girl, daughter of one of Wesley's military buddies, was very excited about her shoes.

The moms

The bride and her attendants

The groom and his attendants (that's Wesley's dad Steve on the left)

Weldon was one of the groomsmen. His first (and last?) time in a tux!

Wesley's sister Maria, who later caught the bouquet :-)

Pat was the Register Attendant

The happy family

At the reception, first dance

cutting the cake
I couldn't get Weldon onto the dance floor, so I cut in on Beth and Steve. Beth went right over to Weldon, obviously pulled his nose or blackmailed him with some dark tale from the past,
and VOILA, he was dancing :-)
He was later transformed into one of the Village People

as the groomsmen got wild with The YMCA.
It was a wonderful wedding and we wish Wesley & Ashley a Very Happy Ever After!!
* * *
We want to recognize the Lawson family with
our sincerest and heartfelt THANKS
for milking Friday & Saturday evening,
allowing us to fully participate in all the festivities of the wedding.

JOYS & CONCERNS

Pastor: Does anyone have any joys or concerns to share?
Weldon: I have joys and a concern -
In February, my youngest daughter called to say that she is pregnant, due in August.
(happy "aah"s from the congregation)
Weldon: On Mother's Day, I learned that my oldest daughter is expecting, due in October!
(lots of smiles and more aahs and ohs)
Weldon: And on May 18, my middle daughter told me that she is expecting
and the baby is due in December!
Pastor (as the laughter dies down): Cindy, you'd better look out!!
Weldon: That's my concern!!!

Melinda (the youngest)
and her husband Joe are having a little boy (that's Weldon, not Joe, in the pic);
Kathryn (the oldest)
and her husband David and 8-year-old daughter Ashley are having a girl;
and we don't yet know if Jennifer
and Scott's little darling will be a son or a daughter.
What we DO know is that we are thrilled for all of them and praying for safe deliveries and healthy babies.
Stay tuned for updates as these sweethearts make their entrances into this big, wonderful world - and maybe I'll even get some up-to-date photos of Weldon's "girls" and their hubbies :-)