Summer 2014

Tom and I traveled to Montana to collect Dan and his belongings from the 2 month internship he had with his sister and brother-in-law.  On the way we did some hiking. This particular hike warned of bears, rattlesnakes, and poison ivy.  I ended up with the poison ivy.

We opted for this hike because there was no elevation gain.  The day prior we climbed a mountain with significant elevation gain. I quickly realized that bicycling doesn't not properly prepare one for hiking. Dan laughed at me the rest of the week each time I walked up and down the stairs saying, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch.

Here is the 7000+ ft beauty we climbed - Storm Castle Peak. When Tom realized I had selected this mountain to climb his comment was, "it's insurmountable."

Later we caught up with Dan.

We also visited Williston, ND where all of the oil drilling and fracking is going gangbusters.  It was fascinating to see. We drove in on a Saturday night and couldn't believe how much traffic there was. The landscape was dotted with oil wells and flairs of natural gas burning, billboards advertising employment and housing, new businesses, and much more.

Tom was intrigued with this little business in Williston: Boomtown Babes - a drive up coffee shop whereby scantily-clad women serve up hot drinks to their customers. He thought the coffee and service were both quite good... 

This museum in Glendive, MT took a creationist approach to dinosaurs.

Montana rest area

Back on the farm in IL, bass fishing has become quite the evening activity among Dan and his buddies.

Enjoying the front porch

Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!

  Sunset on the organic farm.

Tom designed this flower display for me on Mother's Day. The flowers are in an old "lard pot" that his dad used to make lard back in the day.  There is a long history of lard with this family.

This farm wife got her zucchini from her town friend.  

Elvis ain't dead. He met me at mile 35 last week! 

The Koerners want this little pill. 

The 2 male adult cats are quite fond of each other...and since the momma split they have become the gay adoptive parents of the 4 little kittens.  Each morning the entourage ventures out for tree climbing and other such "explores." 

My sweet mom!

Dad and Mom at their favorite Italian restaurant! 

Tom, Barb, and Charlie

Tom Terrific opening the lid on his bin.  I disapprove of this picture.  

Tom found a new home for the bird feeder. Keeps the porch cleaner this way.

There's nothing better than sitting on the front porch playing some banjo on a summer evening.  

Christmas on the first day of summer!

 Grandma keeping her grand kids warm...or maybe it's the other way around!

 Grandpa giving safe rides in the gator (seat belts, helmet including a little rear view mirror).

Jumping off the rope swing into that natural blue water...

 Trouble in mind

 My soul niece, our birthdays are 6/6

 And they kept talking about how warm the water was. Hmm.

Lifeguards

Determination

Since Dan is on his internship in Montana I occasionally have to do farm chores like run chemicals to Tom. This is taken from the driver side truck window. You can see the spray boom on the left. Tom can be seen in the rear view mirror hooking up the hose to the sprayer.

Kitties

I believe that's all folks!

Happy Father's Day

I asked Tom last night what he'd like for breakfast on Father's Day. He dove into this LC cherry pie (from our 2013 crop) this morning. I need some coaching on the lattice top.

Tom with 10 month old Dominic, who is holding Great Uncle Tom's cigar.

Our next door neighbor (1.5 mi away) had a big bash for her 85th birthday.  People came from as far away as Portland, OR and Florida!

Tom's organic wheat crop.  The winter was so harsh he didn't know if the crop would amount to anything. It looks pretty good to me!

On the edge of the organic 80.You can see the our National Forest to the left and center.

Tom vs Mother Nature

Spring has sprung!

Jeanne & family on her 60th!

Tom made a lid for his gator.

Soybeans ready for delivery. 

Weather permitting...
When our parents made trip plans it was always prefaced with the caveat "weather permitting." If we awoke to 6 inches of snow the trip was likely to be cancelled.  Weather permitting has a different meaning at our house. Tom was going to go to NY with me for Easter, but alas, the weather was too ideal for farming so he stayed home and planted corn.

It was a great visit to Hancock to see Mom and Dad!

This was on an eagle watching trip to Starved Rock State Park with some students.

Wild asparagus on the farm.

Merwin Nature Preserve - this was taken on a wild flower walk.

Double rainbow looking towards Jim's farm.

Dan is waiting to be checked out once and for all from his dorm room.  Next year he will live off campus in a house with 3 other guys.

My undergraduate school, SUNY Cortland, was recently named the 2014 #1 Most Underrated Party School in the US.