HenandChicks

Royally Fun!

Every little town in Iowa has its special weekend and this weekend is ours--Union Tar Heel Days. The weekend is filled with good homemade food, lots of games and contests, a 5K run, a golf tournament, a parade, a pool party....you get the drift. Something for everyone.

For the past several years, my husband has been the bbq'er for the Friday night supper. Everyone always enjoys the smoked loins. Supper is served in the town park, so the kids like to play.

Our friend Jo sees that Parker gets down the slide from the top, while Morgan, Goldie,
Virginia, and an unknown little girl make sure she lands safely at the bottom.



The annual Little Miss and Mr. Union-Whitten is named. We were excited to hear Henry's name being pulled from the hat!

Henry and the Union royal court.


Henry's royal duties include being in the parade. This morning it was a team effort to prepare the royal transportation.



Little Miss and Mr. Union-Whitten in the parade.



Henry took his duties of throwing candy very seriously.



After the parade was lunch (with homemade pie) and the 4-H carnival. The kids played some games and got their faces painted.



We're home now cooling off before celebrating Jeff's 25th class reunion tonight!

Blink of an Eye

You might be asking why is she posting a blurry picture? I thought it was actually perfect for how I felt on Tuesday night after taking our Norwegian guests to the airport. I felt like the past month was a blur of activity. In a blink of the eye they came, they played, they went home. As tears flowed and we hugged goodbye I couldn't keep my hand steady for that last photo...

Prior to their departure we visited the Mall of America--the girls' one request when coming to the United States. Typical teenage girls, wouldn't you say?

Marie, Virginia and Goldie give the MOA a thumbs up!


Lots of shoes were purchased...and socks.


The fun goes beyond shopping with lots of rides for all ages!


Pure happiness!


And, one final pose on the front step...but a million...oh make that a billion memories to remember for a lifetime.

Marta, Goldie (and Sam), Henry, Virginia, and Marie

Scenes of Summer

Nothing better than a beautiful evening outside playing golf. Our church hosts an annual best shot golf tournament. No big prizes. Just an evening of fun. We are lucky in a small town to have such a well kept golf course. I loved the contrast of the fairway with the grain elevator in the background.



Team Kjose was lucky to have one player that has golfed recently (it wasn't me!).

From left (back row): Jeff, Marie, Marta, and Heidi; (front row) Virginia, Henry, and Goldie


Every summer vacation should include at least one museum stop. For us it was the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota. It's free and it's fun.



 

 

Texture

My creative friend Roseann Kermes did a blog on texture recently. Quilters love texture. The soft feel of cotton. The depth of wool. The smoothness of silk. The bumpiness of hand-stitching.

My favorite texture photo--

The soft warmth of a flannel shirt.
The coarse texture of bib overalls.
The smooth, worn feel of well used leather.
The grittiness of just ground creep feed.
The gentle heart of a farmer.
The tiredness of a long, hard day.
The deep love for family.
A way of life.


Summer Treat

Nothing sweeter than cold, juicy watermelon on a hot fair day.

Henry


Goldie


Virginia

Great First Calf Show

Henry had quite a large cheering section for his first Clover Kids bottle calf show!



He was instructed to be sure to look directly at the judge when we was talking to him. I think Megan was doing the same.



Around the arena they trotted, jumped, bucked, and laid down.



The reward for a successful show was to buy a new cowboy hat.



Then we took in some of the other fair highlights--like rock climbing.



Today we'll go and bring Megan and Bully home. There will be one last chance for fair food...until the Iowa State Fair arrives in August. We'll be counting the days.

 

 

Good Day at the Fair

There was a parade of bucket calves and future herdsman.



Lots of viewing from the stands...and trips to the 4-H Food Stand and games.



Like mother, like daughter.


A sighting of Scooby Doo and Velma.


Pebbles and Dino.

Henry and his friends Allison and Evan with their sheep.

 

 

The Fair Experience

The trailer was pulled around. Aboard were two little cuties. They were replaced with Henry's bottle calf Megan. Off to the fair we went.



Megan got her "up do" so she looks all pretty in her stall.



Fun was had with friend Emily's llama.



Even a little lovin'.



Then off to the rodeo in the grandstand. Ropin', bull doggin', and bull riding was enjoyed by all.


My Farmer

 
Henry and Megan

The Hardin County Fair begins today and our preparations for Henry's first showing experience continue. Megan, his bottle calf, finally has decided to walk nicely behind the hay rack. We can only hope that she'll do the same during the bucket calf show.

The priceless moment was yesterday morning when he and his sisters went shopping with Marie and Marta. Armed with $10 in his pocket and instructions from me that he could buy anything (expect too much sugar), they entered the first store. He wanted the plaid shirt. Marie quized him, "was he sure, if he spent all his money on this, then he couldn't buy anything else. No toys, nothing." Yep, it's what he wanted to buy. Once in the car he told me "I didn't have a plaid farm shirt like dad. Now he could look just like Dad when they did farm chores." (Insert his big grin.) He's proud as punch and making his mother cry. (Insert kleenex.)

Henry and Bully

The 4th of July

It may have been a wet 4th of July, but at least we were together with friends and family.


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