Douglas county fair week

It is Douglas county fair week. Always a fun week seeing old friends, watching family show and sell.  Nostalgic trips to the concession stand and grabbing a snow cone.  But this year, held a little sadness too.  It was hard to be there and not think of the missing goofy grin.  Looking across the fence line and seeing my dad standing there on the fence without Eric beside him  was just wrong.  

My brother loved the fair.  As a kid. And as a grown ass man.  It was a week he gave himself permission  to take a break.  A vacation of sorts.  When the other parents were bedraggled and grouchy, he would be there, can of coors in hand, goofy lopsided grin on his face asking if you were coming back for the derby.  Catching up with every single person there.  He knew them all. He bullshitted with then all.  He loved every single minute of it.  He borrowed a camper and camped up there with his son.  He watched Clayton show his livestock and was not the “show dad”. Shouting directions or giving one more piece of advice. He was just there, having the time of his life.  He should be there. 

He should be there  watching Clayton show and sell his calves.  

And I am positive that he was there.  And I have no doubt that he is as proud of Clayton’s success as we all were.  

A belt buckle was given to an exemplary 4-Her in Eric’s honor.  I think he would be tickled about it.  I also think he would have appreciated this year’s recipient. A kid who Eric helped get started in 4-H - helping him get a couple of pigs and teaching him to show them. And a friend of Eric’s son - Dalan. 

One year ago, we were at a rehearsal dinner for these 2.  Easton was a classified piece of information. The weather was unseasonably cool and beautiful.  We were excited and happy and added a daughter to our family. It was a blessed and happy day.  

This year has flown by.  It has been filled with a little more sorrow and grief than normal. But it has also been filled with many blessings.  

Happy anniversary Spencer and Colin!  We love you and are so very proud of you!  

Couple of side notes.  Clayton won a backpack for having the champion red angus.  We don’t need to mention that he had the only red angus.  

Clayton also had the reserve champion Charolais.  When the 3rd overall was pulled from that class  his calf got to come back in the grand drive.  Which meant both of his calves were in the ring for the grand drive. That’s pretty exciting. He didn’t win, but he did work hard!  I’m sure it was an emotional week for him.  He handled it in true Clayton style.  

 

 

Corn!

This weekend was all about preserving food.  Altogether  I made 30 quarts of applesauce as well as apple butter.  As I was finishing that mess last night, I learned that some neighbor boys were selling corn and had a bunch left.  They made me a neighbor discount deal that I just couldn’t resist!  So today I had 7 dozen ears of corn to do something with. To me, corn is easy- but messy.  In order to preserve it, I just shuck it, cut it off the cob and then put it in quart size freezer bags, add a small amount of sugar and salt and freeze it. No, I do not cook it until I am ready to use it.  It might be controversial online, in the canning and food preservation groups I follow, but I have been doing it this way for years and it works for me! 

This was amazing corn too!  Not one worm in the entire batch!  Not any bad ears either!  

I had to run to Topeka to pick up Harper from a house/cat sitting job and buy some liquid  chlorine since the pool has turned green (this has been the worst year for the pool).   When we got home, Andrew and Madison and the girls were swimming (they don’t care about the green they only care about doing stuff outside that isn’t getting overheated).  I went on inside and started on the corn.  After a while, Andrew and Jim came inside and started helping me shuck.  Evelyn then asked if she could help, so we showed her how to shuck.   Then, of course Wrenley wanted to help as well. She caught right on to shucking and was handing me nicely done ears.  Then I noticed the pile she was standing in!  Apparently she didn’t hear the part about putting the shucks in the bucket!  Luckily it was easily cleanable. She cracks me up.   

Mallory and Madison also helped me shuck corn. They got all 84 ears shucked in about 20 minutes!  It was awesome.  

We got 12 quarts and 4 bags of corn on the cob in the freezer plus we had enough for dinner too. Which was sort of weird since we had breakfast for dinner!  Also, the goats and chickens had a great shuck and cob feast!  

 

 

I also used some of the jalapeños from our garden and made Jim some jalapeño jelly.  After all that, I threw the tomatoes in the freezer- I’m out of weekend and out of energy!  

Fri-yayyy

Weekend is here - thankful that it finally showed up!  I have projects that need more attention than I had time for this week.  A friend gave me a couple bushels of apples.  Today I used half and made 13 quarts of apple sauce, 5 quarts and 5 pints of apple butter.  Tomorrow - we will finish and then start in on jalapeños. 

Free slushes on Friday at Casey’s is a favorite for summer. 

Today the township purchased a new location. With the property is an old Co-op tire shop and a newer Morton building.  We have enough space here to be able to park all of the equipment indoors, including the grader with the snow plow on it.  When we get everything situated, it is going to be an amazing change for us.  Next up- Hope puts her decorating skills to the rest in a couple of bathroom/office spaces.  

 

Summer vibes

Tatum is a parks and rec Director in Bonner Springs.  As such, she seems to have a lot of fun things she is in charge or helping with.  Friday, they hosted a “dive in movie night” at the city pool.  Cameron and Tatum took Evelyn.  

I love this idea so much.  What a cool night!   I can’t wait to talk to Evie about it.   And you already know how happy it makes me when my kids hang out/do stuff together. 

The last couple of weekends were busy and/or weird.  I was very much looking forward to going to bed early Friday night and sleeping in on Saturday morning.  

Preston and Sunny were driving in because they have to clear out their old apartment in Manhattan.  I ended up staying up late worrying about them driving here so late at night.  And then the alarm was ringing bright and early because Jim was invited on a fishing trip with his friend Bob.  I guess we will sleep when we are old.  Or something.  

Jin sent me this photo.  I admit that I only glanced at it and then was like “nice one” and after responding I realized that is NOT Jim or Jim’s catch!  Nice catch Justin. 

Other happenings - trying to potty train Daryl is proving to be a bit difficult.  I have threatened him that if he doesn’t get better he will be out in the barn with Larry and the other brother Daryl!  

We did, unfortunately lose one of the barn kittens already.  It was a sad accident and that’s all we need to say about it.  

Wren was a little bit sad because Evie went shopping with aunt Mal. They were searching out materials for Evie’s fair craft project.  

Little garage man is getting pretty mobile! Colin might have to watch- looks to me like he’s trying to take the car out on a date.  

Cameron represented PNC bank at the award ceremony for their corporate games he has been participating in.  His bank got 7th place.  He got a trophy.  

And a girlfriend who is willing to attend a banquet with him too.  

We had a craft afternoon.  This is Evelyn’s fair project.  We still have to grout and put finishing touches on it.  I think it will be really neat!  

Harper and Saige made the same thing, but they aren't taking theirs to the fair, they just like to make crafts!

They are having the most fun summer.  I am happy Cameron likes to send me pictures!

I have been trying to sell this billy goat.  I haven't had any offers, some interest but nobody seems to want to buy him.  I wouldn't mind keeping him, but he is a tremendous pain in the butt!  He is always getting stuck in the fence, or breaking in to the doe pen.  He really, really needs to find a new owner.  When he was little he, and his twin sister were constantly squeezing through impossibly tight holes and constantly out.  I named them A-hole and Armpit.  And they do live up to their names.  

Tell me why this baby looks like a grown up kid?  Slow down little boy!  The boots!  He looks so cute!  

The 4-H had their summer party this weekend.  Evelyn and Wrenley were so excited to go to the pool!  Harper and Saige were party poopers!  

This weekend was nice.  We saw all of the kids except for Colin and his crew.  Preston and Sunny got all the stuff moved from their old apartment.  Cameron came down and hung out for a while.  Quincy stopped by for lunch.  We walked goats in the heat and hung out in the pool.  It was a good weekend and I am so thankful for it.