Iowa Tractors

I heard on the radio that there was going to be a tractor celebration in a nearby town. I asked Terry if we could go to see what it was all about but he said there was too much work to do in the house and yard.

We didn’t need to go anywhere. Yes, that’s our house behind the parade of orange, red, tan, silver and green tractors. They drove past the house for three hours, in groups of a couple of hundred or so. The largest number that I saw was #732.

Most drivers waved at us, a few honked or tweeted their horns and a couple even threw wrapped candy at me.

Most of these tractors were old restored but reliable antiques which didn’t have enclosures. It was a good thing that the day is cool. The rain didn’t start until after the parade was over at our house but I don’t know where the tractors were located when it stormed.

We have done many family things while in Iowa. My grandson, Joshua graduated from high school. My niece, Mc Kensie graduated from college. Our son from Alaska visited for a couple of days and helped Terry. Our son, Richard and daughter-in-law, Shelly and grandson, Marcus helped us tape and “mud” walls and take off wallpaper and thick paint. Then they took time to shoot Rich’s bow and arrows in the back yard.

Yes, we are living in the house but still have a lot of work to do before it is organized. Yes, we still are planning on RVing so that means we need two of most things for activities of daily living. We are visiting the thrift centers and buying new and used things.

To those of you who have asked about my niece who is expecting triplets, Mindy and babies are doing okay but Mindy is in the hospital on bed rest. She is in her 23rd week of pregnancy.

Memorial Days

Except for a ten-day trip to and from N.C., we have been busy in Iowa since the 28th of April. We bought the house from our daughter Karol. We have spent much time visiting with family, especially my mother, so I have not been on the computer much.

My mother became ill in February and has been in the hospital or a nursing care facility since then. We have visited her three times a week while in Iowa. On Saturday she was coherent and visited with us. We spent Sunday morning at church for a Memorial Day Celebration of the lives of those who died serving our country and of those of the congregation who died in the last year. Then we went to the Monroe County Care where my mother, Agnes Hoven, died peacefully at 1pm. The morning of Memorial Day was spent at the funeral home. Funeral services were held at 10:30 am at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa on Wednesday, June 1. Burial was at Liberty Cemetery near Bussey.

Part of her eulogy is as follows:
Agnes Hoven was united in marriage with Clarence Hoven on August 20, 1941. She assisted her husband in many churches throughout their ministry. She taught Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, was a Ladies Bible Leader, and also helped in missionary work from 1953 to 2000 in Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Canada. Agnes had 7 children, 28 grandchildren, 47 great- grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

I’m sure that Dad will miss her most of all.

We plan to stay in Iowa this summer. There is a lot of work that we still need to do on the house, especially painting and lawn care.