Up on the farm because I couldn't say down on the farm cuz this was such an up day . . .

Ryan has the middle name of his Grandpa Dale. Grandpa Dale was a farmer wannabe. His father and grandfather farmed and his uncles farmed and Dale loved the farm. Dale helped out with farming whenever he had the opportunity. He spent two years after high school working on a Teen Challenge Training dairy farm in Pennsylvania and told some pretty good cow stories.

I was less than excited during our first year of marriage when Dale excitedly (seriously) took me “home” to Uncle Howard’s farm so that we could help hoe weeds out of the bean field! There were more exciting times when he went to help bale, etc. but combining wheat or corn—actually driving the combine—was the cat’s meow. I had to say that because yes, he liked cats, oh my.

It would be quite a long way from honest to say that loving-everything-farm is a genetic family marking. However, I am living for these past few days in the land of pretend.

So this is really about my sweet everything-farm grandsons, okay the farm part is a stretch but not the sweet part and the farm part was true for the morning.

Would that be with butter or without?

The sun came out on Sunday afternoon . Bob had a church meeting so I decided to go to Morton Arboretum and fill up on some fall color.

The trees have not turned much yet but the day was beautiful and I had a book and a glass of cold cider and settled here to read.

I scooted over for a clearer view.

After a couple of chapters, I decided to walk around the Fall Color Festival for a bit.

The flowers were beautiful!

What caught my attention was that everyone—okay not everyone—but many people were eating delicious looking foods—

That would be a taffy apple bar, popcorn, brats, and corn-on-the-cob!

It was the corn-on-the-cob that was calling my name.

Returning to the car for some change, I discovered that the battery was dead. Nothing happened except a tick when I tried to start the car.

Of course, I did not have my Triple A card in possession but fortunately hubby texts and returned my plea for numbers.

Within an hour, I was all set with a new battery.

Sadly the booths had all closed up for the day. Does anyone want to join me next Sunday afternoon? Can I wait that long?

But I think we will pass on ice fishing . . .

A little damp weather did not discourage us from taking a lake walk.

And admiring the trees.

Nor did it dissuade us from taking an early morning boat ride.

We loved looking at the sights along Lake Maxinkuckee.

No doubt the ducks wondered why we were disturbing their peace.

We were not alone. There were a surprising number of fishing boats.

See way off on the right, a fisherman is getting ready to go out.

I loved watching these swans. We thought that we also saw snow geese.

I was so intent on watching the birds that I nearly missed the building—whatever it is—a home? Surely not—certainly a lovely place to stay!

Jim pointed out landmarks . . .

(Cold hands anyone?)

Beautiful Culver buildings . . .

Honestly, it was pretty cold.

Nothing that a good hot cup of coffee and breakfast couldn’t fix.

They will rise up . . .

The Wheaton Academy freshman class homecoming float was whimsical and creative with an appropriately bold and confident theme.

Kent is a freshman.
He loves a challenge.

He loves to run.
I like to watch him run.

The Cross Country runners had to do this hill twice!

In the above video, Kent is the first one up the hill.

It was a good finish!

Time to hydrate, recupe, and review with friends

These two students, Widi and Matt, are not yet eligible to participate in high school sports. They will be tough competitors in 2010!

Steven ran the last stretch of the practice race with his “adopted” brother, Widi.

Kent waits for results with his good friend, Andrew.

Two upper-class teammates, Mike and Kent S.,
finish in 1st and 3rd place respectively.

The Wheaton Academy team
places third out of ten teams.

Kent is our oldest grandchild.
This was the first high school event that I watched where a grandchild was participating.
It seems as if I should capture as much as possible.
The launch is both brief and breathtaking.