Poor haRVey Needs a Makeover!

This is what used to be our tire. How quickly the tire disintegrated while we were traveling at 60 mph down the highway on November 3.





  The plastic fender decoration is missing. It is still sort of intact, a little duct tape will solve the problem, then it will match the other side! Most of the screws holding the fender in place had pulled out leaving the fender blowing in the wind as a result of the tire flying apart.  We had just checked the tires at our last stop. 

This boo-boo happened when we avoided a branch high, but hit the low branch.  Again, a little duct tape problem solved.  We need new plastic fenders on both sides.  

The back tire on this side is the one that blew out when we were on a two-lane highway in Kansas last Spring.




While we were in Decatur, Alabama we decided it was time to lay out the cash for brand spankin' new trailer tires. I am thankful to have new tires.  When the Lord provides more than we need we say, "I wonder what we will need next?" 

Our spare tire getting the once over at OK Tires in Decatur, Alabama.

Yes, indeed I can give you a trade price on this sort of new tire.

Four NEW trailer tires, and a repaired spare!

Bales of " Hey, Look at That"

We have been enjoying our week-long stay at Little Mountain Resort  just outside of Guntersville, Alabama.  Of course when folks around here say it, it sounds more like Gunnersvul... Back on topic.

 We have internet AND phone coverage at the same time.  We have not experienced that in awhile.  Lately, as I am making reservations, I ask if the campground has internet/phone coverage.. Back on topic.  

This is a perfectly fine looking bale of hay.  





But aren't the following bales of hay more fun? The camp workers around here like to have a bit of fun.

 

Dan Fogelberg

 Dan Fogelberg  lost his battle with cancer in 2007.  I was introduced to his music in 1977, when this cute guy asked if he could look at my guitar (what a pick up line, eh?)  So, here I am many years later, married to the cute guy, and I still enjoy the music of Dan Folgelberg.

We were traveling back to our campground having just sung for the students at Bethel Lutheran School in Morton, Illinois, when suddenly, Miss Direction interrupts our conversation with her favorite line, "recalculating"!  As we continued to drive down the wrong road I saw a sign that read Dan Fogelberg Memorial.  As much as I like Dan, I did not know he grew up in Peoria, IL.   It was a good adventure on the wrong road which turned out to be the right road. 

A portion of his song "Part of the Plan"

"I never got into music to be the latest, greatest thing.  I'm a musician because that is what I am.  I will create music the I want to whether a million people are listening or no one is listening.  That's not the point of creating music.  The point is following your own creative instincts." ~ Dan Fogelberg

Holy Hill

It was a little tricky - spiral staircases.

There are many views like this one all around the Holy Hill area.

I thought this was very touching

I pray this little girl is dancing!

While we were parked in Hartford, we visited Holy Hill.  I lived about 25 miles from Holy Hill, but never visited.  We chose a blustery day to make the trip, the beautiful Fall color made it worthwhile.

Grandpa's Place Up North

The windows are new I remember very small windows.

 These photos show my Grandpa and Grandma's place just north of Wausau, Wisconsin. My grandparents have been dancing in heaven many years now, but the house Grandpa built is still there and so is the big woods.

 I have fond memories of driving up to to visit them. Five kids in a station wagon.   My parents probably felt the trip took six hours - "this is the line! Do NOT touch me." or "Stop making faces at me." And the all time favorite of kids everywhere - "If I have to stop this car..." for 3 1/2 hours from West Bend to Wausau. 

After settling in and playing a few games, we would all pile out of the car at the half-way point, The Cheese Shop in Freemont, Wisconsin, along State Highway 110. We could walk around a bit, go to the bathroom, and choose string cheese or cheese curds for the car snack. The Cheese shop is boarded up, but thankfully we no longer need a unifying family break.

On the trip when I took these photos I was traveling to Wausau, with three of my siblings - it was a great trip the only tense moment? "Shot gun!  I called it." 

The house looks the same and the owners were so kind in allowing us to park and walk through their yard to the woods.

The remains of our maple syrup operation. 

In the Spring, we kids would "help" Grandpa and our dad make maple syrup.  Our job was to  gather wood - until we lost interest... .

In the Fall, sometimes Grandpa would hitch up the wagon - big enough for eight grand kids - to the tractor and take us for a ride through the woods out to the clearing. We had such fun.  

Now that I am a grandma, I hope that I can help make memories that will be treasured up through the years.  It is always a good time when I get together with my siblings and someone starts off with - remember when...

My House on North Street

536 North Street

Oh my goodness!  I have not been able to blog in what seems like forever!  I have missed blogging.  It is frustrating to be in a place with poor internet.  Can you even believe that there are places with poor or spotty internet? Well, there are and I believe I have visited all of them.   

In the latter part of September we were parked in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, then Hartford, Wisconsin, the following week.  It proved to be a perfect time to take a trip down memory lane.

When I entered fifth grade we moved to this house on 536 North Street in West Bend. We had lived in an apartment in Milwaukee.  Even ncluding my married life, it remains the house I called home for the longest amount of time. 

North Street was a great place to be a kid, even though I had to share a bedroom with my sister.  Living next door in this house there were ten kids! In our family we were five kids, so if you were up for a game, chances are you could find someone who was ready to go.  The house across the street also had ten kids.  I thought every kid got to play kick the can, touch (shove) football, ride bikes around the neighborhood (which encompassed about 10 blocks), go sledding -- on cardboard in the summer and on real sleds in the winter -- down Suicide Hill. (When I saw the hill this trip I was less than impressed by its fearsomeness.)


While I was away at college, my family moved to a new house.  It was much roomier and out in the country, but there were no neighbors with tons of kids.  I felt bad for my younger siblings missing out on the adventure that made my childhood so much fun. 

Parked at LHS

 During the last part of August, and  into September, we parked haRVey at Mayer Lutheran High School.  Before our traveling life began, I worked at the school.  It was fun for me to stop in the office and visit a bit and go out for lunch with my office buddies. Coach Grimsley assigned me a locker - with a combination!  I feel younger just sharing that bit.
 
We thought by parking in the back lot we would be out of the way.... not so.  The brown shed you see in the photo was emptied and sold.  The only sign left of the shed is a cement slab.  

Watching the demolition of the shed brought with it interesting memories.  The brown shed was the site of a HUGE annual rummage sale dating back 45 years!  Many churches in the area (30 churches) help raise funds for the school by donating gently used clothing, books, kitchen items, flea market treasures, furniture and tools.  It is not unusual to hear people say, "I am saving this for the summer sale."  With the brown shed gone, I wonder what people will say when sale time rolls around? Put it out on the slab? 

Thank you LHS for allowing us a place to park and catch up on the latest as you continue to Prepare the Next Generation of Christian Leaders!