Still in Pipestone for about 10 more days

Last week was a busy week for us.  On Wednesday, Judy worked in the office and was also outside scraping the building (The owner, Earl, is planning to repaint so the old stuff has to come off first!).  I mowed for about two hours around the CG.  In the afternoon I went out to Claudia's and mowed the homestead there  which took about 3 hours.  By the end of the day I was covered with dust!!  While I mowed, Judy and Claudia checked out the Geyerman's store uptown.  It is a women's clothing store that has been in Pipestone for as long as I can remember.  How it really stays in business is a mystery to many because it is an upscale store.  And now they have menswear and a home decor section as well.  Oh well...

On Friday Elvira and Russ and Elvira's cousin, Lynnette and her husband, Leroy, arrived at the CG around 10:30.  We went to the Pipestone Monument, watched the movie and walked the trail.

The water over the falls has decreased dramatically due to lack of rain.

This is what it looked like in June when Emma was here.

Lynnette and Leroy:

Elvira and Russ:

Came back to the CG for lunch in the shade:

 Later we went over to Ft. Pipestone and did some shopping.  They left around 4 since they had to be back to Paulina, Ia. by 6 for supper with Elvira's aunt and family.  It was great seeing them again.

On Saturday morning, we picked up Claudia around 8:30 and drove up to Lake Benton to watch the auction proceedings.  There were 4 families included in the auction (including stuff from Claudia).  The auctioneer started at 9:30 and did not expect it to be over until around 5 in the afternoon.  

We watched it for about 2 1/2 hours, saw some of Claudia's things sell, and then walked over to the NAPA/Hardware Hank store to visit with my cousin, Gary and his wife Shirl.

Since it was lunch time, we walked over to the American Legion to eat.  Judy had a couple of appetizers (corn fritters and onion rings), Claudia had a pizza, and I had a small taco salad - all way toooo much to eat!!

We got back to the CG around 2, and, shortly after, my cousin, Paul, came by. It was a good visit as we got caught up.
He left early to go to his 55th class reunion and on Sunday morning we met up with Paul and Gary and Shirl for breakfast at Langes.  

Saturday night we went out to the Calumet to have dinner with the other camp hosts and the owner and his wife. 
Earl and Suzanne are the first couple, then Dorthy and Vern, then Carol and Meryl, and finally Judy and me.

Jill was our waitress.  We first met Jill when she was tent camping in the CG. She was in the site next to Lauren and Ben when they were here back in July and we got to know her.

After dinner we walked over to the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (yes, Pipestone has one) and listened to the 1st Thursday Dixieland Band play.  It was fantastic.

After Sunday breakfast we drove up to Minnetonka to visit Pam and Steve and families again since this will be the last time to do this.  In the evening they surprised me with a birthday cake (since my b-day is coming up on the 15th).  On Monday we went to another Twins game (they already had tickets since it was a make up of a rain out/sleet out!! game back in April).  It was hot - 95 degrees, but we were in the shade so that helped.    We had a big contingent there - Judy and I, Pam and Steve, Molly and Zak, 

Stephanie and Jesse:

Sisters:

A few pictures of the stadium of course:

 

Around the 7th inning scoreboard began to recognize people who were there at the game.  I was watching some of it but then all of a sudden everyone in our group start hollering, clapping, etc. and when I looked up at the screen, here is what I saw:

Those turkeys - they just won't let a guy get past a birthday!!!

It was really special to remember me and what a way to remember it forever!!




We are now back in Pipestone for our final work days - Wednesday, then Friday thru the following Thursday and then we are done!!
Have a lot to do during that time - getting together with relatives and friends one final time.  And a land auction of 339 acres of my Aunt Nora's land on Friday the 20th.  Will tell you more about that after it is over.

In the meantime have a great week....