Sailor's World

In May we set a record for us for miles driven in a single month. I think we are mostly recovered from our adventures, and since I have most of the pictures downloaded, I thought I would give you a little update and I'll start with the Kansas Leg of the trip.

This was really 3 trips squeezed into one. Earlier in the Spring, Annie found out that Mutti had the opportunity to attend her 70th reunion (Class of 1943) of Bethel College in Newton Kansas. We also wanted to be in Denver for our grandson's 6th birthday (Chas). The dates were close enough that we could drive from Delta to Boulder, pick up Mutti and drive to Kansas, and make it back in time for Chas' birthday. And so we did......

But since we also wanted to do some work on the new house in Oregon, so we bought a cargo trailer and packed it tight with furniture, tools, wood.... you name it, and had it parked and ready to go when we got back from Denver. I'll give you some highlights:

Kansas Reunion Hightlight #1:

When we arrived in Newton, Kansas, our fairly trusty GPS (Judy Garmin) sent us to 'The Breadbasket' which featured German dishes served buffett style. There we met Mutti's brothers Merlin and LaVerne, Merlin's wife Karna, LaVerne's son Craig, and Craig's daughter and friend. The place was packed and we were hungry and it all tasted pretty good to me

There are many German dishes that have never made it out of ethnic German communities. So it was really interesting to taste some of them. They served a cucumber salad that had dill and sour cream... but was sweet. Interesting. Of course there was sour kraut, and sausage, and zweibach (although the zweibach didn't live up to Annie's standards - and her's really is a lot richer and softer). There was also a very interesting desert made with a pastry stuffed with sweetened beans (small white, I think) and it was surprisingly good

The best part was the visit that we had with Merlin, Karna, LaVerne and Craig. The 'Breadbasket' closed at 8 pm (and the sidewalks rolled up shortly thereafter) so we went back to the hotel and visited in the lobby until about 10:30 or so. It had been a busy, long day of driving and we were glad enough to get to bed. We were pretty well topped off with carbs, and stories new and old. So it was a good day.

Kansas Reunion Highlight #2:

So maybe this wasn't the biggest high light, but there was a very nice meeting in the home of the Bethel College President on Saturday morning. The President and his wife live in a historic house on campus that is really very lovely and full of good examples of fine wood working. Mutti was a little disappointed that no one from her class was there. But she was warmly received by a friendly alumni, and the President and his wife were very gracious.

(This window seat was in the movie 'Arsenic and Old Lace')

(The 'Geroz House', done in wheat by the Voth Sisters)

Mutti and the President of Bethel College and his wife.

The evening banquet was also disappointing in that there was still no one there from her class when everyone was assembled for the main get-together.... well, except for Fredrick Dick, who was not from Mutti's class but lived up to his name. He was from Missouri, and I think he might have lived across the river from Carthage.... and I was just there for the meal.

Kansas Highlight #3

Happily even Fredrick Dick couldn't cast a shadow on meeting Vic and Elizabeth Goering, who are a couple of Mutti's friends. We didn't have an address, so Judy couldn't help guide us. But after a little driving we found their house and knocked on their door and had a very nice visit. They were so gracious and welcoming. Vic was recovering from a table saw accident - so that wasn't fun (two fingers) but he took us out to his shop and showed us all of his projects, and garden and many of the beautiful and unique pieces of art and interest that they have in their house. Very, very nice people.

Mutti Vic Georing Elizabeth Goering

Vic Goering and the jewel box.

Vic, Annie and a thriving garden

A clock Vic made - a scaled up pocketwatch

Kansas Highlight #4

Lastly, Annie was able to meet the Sister's Voth. They are twins, and I think they said they are 88. They are artists, and their pictures are made entirely from wheat (remember, we were in Kansas). The pictures are intricate including shingles, bushes, trees with twigs, awnings (3D)....they were great. I hope the pictures do justice.

This house made of wheat is really not as 3D as it looks. It sits pretty flat on the velvet canvas. The 3D showed up when I used a flashlight to introduce some shadows.

Mutti and the Sisters Voth

One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies. and it kind of describes our situation since early in July of last year. We went to Oregon to see our grandson's (Seth's) baptism. While we were there we spent some time with Andrew and Caren in her grandfather's home. They were just in the process of moving to their new home in Battle Ground Washington. Our visit was not too long, but we were charmed and enchanted with the house and the property, and it didn't hurt the cause too much in that most of Utah was scalding hot or on fire.

To follow Inigo Montoya's example and sum up rather than explain, we made an offer on the house and property. Since then it has been a wild ride trying to please the bank underwriters, the insurance people..... and there are probably some people that aren't happy yet. Getting a loan since the financial panic in 2007, the requirements to get a loan have gone from having a body temperature, heart beat optional, to passing every requirement imaginable, documenting that you have passed the requirement, and then the house has to passed a variety of tests and standards. You gotta wanna.

So today we closed. It's a done deal and we have a house payment to make every month.... much bigger than we are used to paying. I think we are in the position of a lot of yappy little dogs that chase bikes, cars and horses. And then, one day, they catch their prey and they aren't sure just what to do with it. We aren't quite ready to retire yet, so I guess we will feel our way along and figure it out as we go. There is a lot more to detail to the tale, but I think this is enough for now.