Tough to Keep Track

 For instance, I had a visit from a long-lost cousin of mine on my father's side. My father was adopted at 3 months old by Sam and Anna Brock, mainly because his mother, Pearl Beason Van Horn passed away. My birth grandfather was a twin, Walter Van Horn. His twin brother was Wesley Van Horn and my cousin Denise Bush is in the Wesley line. We had a great visit Denise and I. She had arranged a visit to the museum so I went along. We learned that southern Greene County was a big coal mining area and 5000 people called SOUTH Greene County home at one time. Our great uncle, Billy Van Horn led a rescue mission with his sled dog Buddy to get supplies to the people in the southern part of our county during the famous blizzard of 1936. 

We then bopped out to the cemetery and I showed Denise where Pearl Van Horn was buried. I learned a lot on that serendipitous day!

My intention a few days ago was to share the above information. 

Today is "last minute get ready to leave" time. We have the Pool Hall all tucked in for the winter. Foodstuffs are whittled down to nearly nothing. Karla and Devon stopped for a visit last night and that helped, along with the fact that we had not seen either of them for a long time. It was good to catch up.

I am doing laundry on clothes and bedding today. Butch has nearly all the things he needs to do before morning done.

Internet will be off and on for us until we arrive in South Texas and that might take a full week. So till next time!!

Hectic

 It has been a hectic two weeks, with some appointment or task on every one of the days. But the day of departure is close.

Yesterday Butch needed to get another cortisone shot in his leg. We went to Ames IA for that, after which we met up with Jason and Laura. Watcha Smokin in Luther Iowa was where we went for lunch. It was our first time there and it was packed! Luther is a very small town and one would never imagine a waiting line in a small Iowa town on a Tuesday! We were told it would be 20 to 25 minutes. Their parking lot was full to overflowing and after we were seated a tour bus pulled in. When going to a new restaurant, especially a busy one it helps a great deal to go with people who have been there and liked it. It was one I would gladly go to again. I had brisket (fatty) mac and cheese and cole slaw. Cornbread is served with all meals. Jason and Laura suggested the fatty brisket.  Fatty Brisket is what I will always order in any brisket place! It makes a world of difference in taste and satisfaction. I was never fond of brisket before, too dry, tasteless and hard to chew.

Just for kicks and giggles I looked up the population of Luther and it is 147!

After lunch we meandered through the Ledges State Park. It is peak time for leaf color and the Ledges are always special! We had a discussion about the name and here is what I found:

Ledges State Park is named after the prominent sandstone ledges that tower above the Des Moines River within the park, which are a result of glacial meltwater carving through the rock, creating a series of distinct horizontal cliffs throughout the area; essentially, the "ledges" are the defining geological feature of the park.

Till next time!

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