ND-Day 2

Today Dad and I were going to the farm to work a little bit in the yard. Some grass trimming was needing to be done and maybe a little mowing. We also were going to pick up another picnic table and chairs to use at the party for Kevin and Susan. Cathy had an errand to run in Minot and would then return to take Beverly to her therapy appointment for her back.

When we drove in the yard (at the farm), my cousin Brad and his daughter Emily were there waiting for us. He had been talking to Dad about getting my Dad's old 1929 International 6-Speed Special ready for the car show that would be taking place in McGregor for the Centennial celebration. It needed a good washing and maybe some clean gas in order to run and they came prepared to take of it. So Dad helped Brad move the old truck out into the yard to be washed. Meanwhile I set to finding a weed eater to use around the yard.

The old truck all cleaned up and in the garage. It's got a big weekend ahead of it too!

First I went to the flower bed and began cleaning out the previous summers' dead perennials. The new plants had grown in over the top of the dead ones. With no one living on the farm full time there wasn't anyone there to take care of the plants. So I tried to clean it all up a bit.

Pretty soon I saw Dad driving his little tool cat around the yard with the mower on it. He was going over some of the grass right in front of the house to spiff it up. Earlier he had told me that he didn't think he would have to mow anything. Nor would he take time to do it. But he eventually climbed in and set to work. I think he decided it would make the trimming that I had done look nicer.

I had found some frozen pizza inside the freezer that is still in the basement. So I went in to make that for our lunch. Something quick and light but it filled the void in our stomach that we had all been feeling. The afternoon was slipping by quicker than we realized. Then it was back to work outside. Brad and Emily were working hard at washing the old cob webs and dirt off the old truck.

We had to pull the truck to get it started (OK, it needs a new battery too!) but once it was running, Brad drove it into the garage of the house to keep it clean until Friday when it would be driven into McGregor for the car show on Saturday.

Dad and I had towed a small trailer to the farm in order to haul the table and chairs. So we proceeded to get them loaded and tied down for our drive back to Tioga. Brad and Emily eventually left for Ray, ND (they are staying with Brad's in-laws while visiting ND from AZ).

We got back to Tioga and found Cathy and Beverly out in the garage chatting. Cathy helped unload our table and chairs and we began finalizing plans for the birthday party on Thursday night.

I made a trip to the grocery store as I had to get the last minute ingredients for a couple of salads that had been requested by Kevin. He says I can make Potato Salad taste just like our own Mom used to make. And he loves Whipped Jello Salad. So knowing I would be home, he asked if I would make these two dishes sometime while we were all there. Little did he know I had the perfect time to do just that! Later that night, I spent most of the evening preparing the two salads while Cathy and Dad cleaned up the garage and started setting up the tables and chairs in the garage for guests. Our cousin Joel that has been building the garage for Dad and Beverly's house had graciously brought in some long planks and saw horses for us to use as a food table. Then he brought additional chairs that he had borrowed from the fire station in town, for extra seating.

Cathy and I had each picked up some "Over the Hill" decorations and gag gifts and brought them home to ND with us. This was going to be great!

We had invited relatives on both sides of the family to join us and surprise Kevin and Susan. We knew that the Centennial weekend would bring family from far and near and decided to include them in the party. It's been a long time since extended family got together like we used to when we were all growing up. Back then it was normal to visit each other's homes for birthdays, anniversaries, confirmations, etc., on a regular basis.

We had a late supper prepared by Beverly and after another late night finally went to bed. I was very excited for Thursday! Kevin's family was planning on getting to Dad's around noon or 1PM.
Thursday morning was going to be busy!