July 11 -Dow City Farm

Slept in this morning until 8:30! Sweetness!

After breakfast helped trim dead branches on a rose bush, did some watering then enjoying the front deck, though not much wind and was hot. I remembered I had a neck fan in the car, grabbed it and oh so much better!

Great conversation and time with dear friends Paul and Carol Rehm.

July 27 - Aronson Cousin Reunion

What a fun day as 26 Aronson cousins gathered to reminisce, share stories and catch up with one another. Some of us hadn’t seen each other in over 50 years! 

July 28 - Friendship Prayer Popsicle

This morning we all headed to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church because I had heard that cousin Matt was going to bring his mom, Auntie Mavis. They were there and it was special to support her at her home church. After church Matt and Auntie Mavis came for dinner which included salmon that Phil and Susan brought. It was actually half of a 25 pound salmon that Susan caught this summer! Oh it was so good!!!

Friendship popsicle Kennedy made for me. We talked about that I was going to put it by my bed, I would see it in the morning and I would pray for her. She had made herself a popsicle and said she would do the same for me! The next morning I told her I saw the Friendship Prayer Popsicle on my nightstand when I woke and prayed that she would have a special day, that she would be kind and honest! Her face lit up!!! So special!

Kennedy and I doing “cheers!” with our Friendship Prayer Popsicles.

Because of the heat, worship was held in their fellowship hall with air conditioning!

Phil serving up salmon!

Phil wrestling with the kids!

July 27 - Model A is Running!

Today Tom and Phil got the Model A out and running! Here’s proof!

Threshermen 2024 Summary

 

Aug 15-16 Iowa Corn Arrives Snohomish and Seattle

Evidence of Iowa sweet corn being eaten in Washington!

Tom would be proud! Lillian ate her corn without ANYTHING on it! Mmm good!

Lincoln enjoying a family favorite of butter on graham crackers! Umpa would be so proud!

Family out picking blackberries!

Lydia has the sweetest smile and is so easy going!

Paul, Kris and Erika enjoying some Iowa sweet corn!

Aug 13 - Time to hit the road!

It was time to leave the farm!  But not before Tom packed up 2 dozen corn for me to pack home to be enjoyed by family! It was literally picked 15 minutes before I drove down the lane and off the farm..packed in a styrofoam cooler with 3 one quart ice jugs in the center. Making the return trip with me was fresh Iowa corn, farm tapped maple syrup and one loaf of homemade rye bread baked by 11 year old Aubree!

Had a short two hour drive to Sioux Falls to meet up with Mike and Jolene Hildbrands, fellow Northwestern alums AND 5 of their 11 grandkids (twin 1 year olds. 3YO, 6 YO, 11 YO). The afternoon was filled with high energy, naps, Candyland, coloring and of course great conversation. Kiddos were picked up by their parents before supper and Mile, Jolene and I enjoyed some of Tom’s sweet corn, steak and salad. After dinner we took a drive to “the falls” of Sioux Falls! Beautiful evening and viewing at the cascading falls.

This corn was picked minutes before I left the farm! Headed to Seattle!

Aug 12 - Packing Up!

What a wonderful time I have had spending the last two months every night out in the country on 7 different farms! How did this city slicker get so lucky! I am truly blessed by dear friends and family!

Monday I had one last chiropractor appointment for sciatica issues. Packed up the car. Put away the Model A for another year, though Tom will have it out and run it a few times before next year. One last night to enjoy an Iowa sunset and a relaxed evening of conversation. 

This time has been rich with conversation, new experiences, always learning more and more about life on the farm.

Last farm sunset for this city slicker for 2024!

Bi-color corn vs white corn. Hands down the white was the sweetest! Ate it without any salt or pepper! The flavor was amazing!

Aug. 11 - Threshermens Day 3 - Post 2

What fun to have Anna, Bennett and Dawson join me for the day at Threshermens! Bennett especially loves tractors and would have been happen to sit in the grandstands all afternoon watching A Year of Farming in 60 Minutes! But we also did some walking around seeing more John Deere tractors then Bennett has ever seen at one time before! We took one of the last trolley tours out through the fields and got to see nearly 20 older tractors with various plows or discs breaking up the rich soil. Most were old and just 1-3 rows wide in a field that hadn’t gotten plowed over the weekend! Was so fun to see so many farmers bring their old equipment to work the land together.

When it was parade time Anna and boys joined me in the Model A. Bennett rode with me back to the farm, Anna and Dawson joined us later. Once at the farm there was time for a tour in the Kubota to see the 20 plots of produce still waiting to be harvested. Then fresh corn for supper before Anna and the boys hit the road and headed north to spend a few days with cousin Diana and family.

Many old tractors plowing and discing the fields.

Rich Iowa soil!

We are excited and ready for the last parade at Threshermens 2024!

Bennett thought the Model A was pretty cool!

Out in the grandstands watching A Year of Farming in 60 Minutes! Bennett could have stayed watching it all afternoon! But Dawson and Auntie Karol were getting warm!

Aug 11 - Threshermens Day 3

This was a first! Third day of Threshermens and it was only Tom, Joni and myself overnight last night. Usually there are 8-10 spending the night and we take several cars over. We jumped in the Model A to drive the 2 miles to Threshermens site. Only 1 mile if we could drive straight across through the corn field!

Good time of worship with 3 local congregations as sponsors. Just before the service started they were looking for one more judge for the pie judging contest. I was asked to be that third person after it was determined I had traveled the furthest to attend the worship service. What fun it would have been! But I declined as my 94 year old Auntie Mavis was at the service along with her daughter, son, great granddaughter and 3 great great grands! It is tradition at this service to have a flash choir sing for the choir. Their rehearsal is their performance! Auntie Mavis always joins as well as her daughter Miriam and son Matt. I didn’t want to miss it! It is very special to share this time with many of my cousins! 

Aug 10 - Day 2 Threshermens

Another beautiful day with temps in the mid 70s! Record crowd of 7,500 on a Saturday! Main parking lot was full by 10am! Heard there was a 2 mile backup to get into the parking lot! 

Drove the Model A over to the Threshermens and it ran beautifully! Phew! And ran well in the parade! Had 3 passengers join me in the parade today!

Reported to work for my 3 hour shift at 10:30 at the main Cafe! My job: helping cut pies! We cut and served up 40 pies! Strawberry rhubarb, cherry, apple, peach and blueberry.  It was crazy busy!

After the parade drove the Model A back to the farm. It has been a wonderful tradition that Tom and Joni have hosted a wonderful potluck picnic on Saturday of Threshermens for Aronson cousins and friends. Tom and Joni provide the meat (smoked pulled pork), pickled cucumbers, potato salad, apple crisp, and Scotcharoos! Everyone else brings a salad or dessert. Once again perfect weather to enjoy great conversation. 

Mom Armstrong. Connie Aronson and Joni

Ben, Sara and Aubree 

My special friend Aubree! She made me a second friendship bracelet this year! Look close and you can see it on my wrist! The one she made last year broke off my wrist a week before returning to Iowa!

The littles!

Not everyone has a toilet and bathtub to greet their friends! When Larry and Connie Aronson drove on to the far their grandkids asked Grandpa Larry why Uncle Tom had a toilet and bathtub in their front yard? Well, because if you need to use the toilet it is right there! No need to go in the house! Don’t worry, nobody will look!!! Apparently the look on their faces was priceless!

Aug 9 Threshermens Day 1

Beautiful weather with morning temps in 50s. High 75. The absolute perfect weather for Threshermens!

Largest Friday crowd ever of 4,400! That’s how many usually come on a busy Saturday!

Model A backfired multiple times on the drive to Threshermens, and died 3 times!!! Never again taking the blacktop! Too much traffic. Didn’t drive in the parade today because of concern if it would backfire and die AGAIN! Drove it back to the farm in the afternoon and it ran beautifully!

Pulling two pork butts for tomorrows picnic on the farm.

Cousin Adelynn reading to Finlee.

Antique tractor pull Friday morning at Threshermens.

One of over 750 John Deere tractors during the morning Feature Parade.