Vacation!

Hi all
Yes, I said it, we are on vacation.
I know it is hard to believe that we need a vacation from retirement.
The projects have been one after another and life is still busy.
So we decided to take the week before Millie's family annual get together
and combine a shake down run and vacation.
After cleaning out the camper this spring and making some small repair/upgrades
we had to go camp and see what we forgot to put back in.
List isn't too long yet.

We are in southern Minnesota just outside of Forrestville/Mystery Cave State Park
Great Ma and Pa owned RV park.
Small enough for neighbors to be friendly and still quiet.
Here with a cousin of mine and having a good time.

Went for a drive to look around the area and came across

Yes, a barn!
Hard to believe in Minnesota.
Today we went to Forrestville.
A Minnesota Historical Soc. run attraction in the State Park.
It is a great inexpensive tour of the original buildings
and store.
With live actors that did a great job of being in character
in 1898.
Very well done and worth the trip if anywhere in the area.

Residence and dorm for hired single men.

Front door and kitchen with live cooking on the wood fired range.
Smelled really yummy.
Unfortunately it appeared to be only for the actors.

A talk about much of the equipment needed to operate the
community.
And the 3 story barn.
Can hardly imagine this area all filled with hay from the ground up to the collar ties.
The side areas are where the livestock was housed and fed.

A bit of summer recreation for those with nothing better to do.
I expect there was rarely a line waiting to play.
Life was not as easy back then.

We also had done some shopping at several Amish Farms yesterday.
These people are keeping the craftsmanship alive and well in this country.
From furniture to leather goods to bread, jams and quilting.
Is very interesting to visit and learn about the Amish in this community.
Thanks Cousin Ken!

Ken and Muriel have been our guides and activities directors.

Plenty of great food and although we ran us almost out of beer,

bed was calling and we will restock tomorrow.

Cousin Joanne came out to the campground for supper tonight.

So the five of us visited and cooked over the open fire for a great time.

Lefty has even make up to Muriel about the little "nip" when they met.

Great time and looking forward to a few more days of relaxing

and visiting with wonderful people.

End of the week we are heading to the Carlson Gathering

and time to reconnect with Millie's family. 

I am guessing I will get tired and take a break to post again

to share more of the good times.

Make your day great 

and enjoy the fast moving summer.

Tom and Millie