Uncle Mart's Sale Barn

Last Saturday there were a couple of things I would like to have done but as you know, you can only be in one place at any given time.  One of the things I wanted to do was to go to the Kramer Auction barn where auctions are held about twice a month.  When I was a teenager, Grandpa would go and help his brother on auction night when they would sell cows, pigs, and other livestock.  In it's heyday, the Kramer SaleBarn was a popular place.  My cousin, Cindy, still holds auctions about twice a month and I would now call it a "junk auction".  We got there about 12:30 and they were selling horse tack which is saddles, blankets and other things pertaining to horses; then they went outdoors to sell the hay that was brought in.  After that, they started on the "junk" - I can't imagine who was going to buy some of that stuff.  We left before they started selling the chickens, miniature ponies and sheep which is what I could like to have seen.  We would have had to wait over an hour and chose not to do that.

 

At one time, several towns around had sale barns with sales on Saturday afternoon.  It was the method by which farmers would buy or sell their livestock.  Luverne also had one.  I don't know of too many that are left.

 

  One good thing about the sale barn is that the CAFE has homemade pie so dad and I just had to have a piece for lunch - their sour-cream raisin was wonderful.

 

 This is the auction ring.  The auctioneer is the fella in the red hat.  At one time they would herd the livestock in through the white door in the middle of the picture and then after they were sold they would be herded back out the door behind the fella in the plaid shirt.

 The red things in the cages are chickens that were going to be sold with the sheep and ponies.

This is where the people sit around the "ring".  I couldn't believe how small it was - seems to me it was much larger at one time!!!

 My Uncle Mart's diploma from auctioneer school.  I asked him about going off to school once when I was visiting with him.  He said it came so easy for him and it was something he loved doing.  It's called "crying" an auction.

After we left the salebarn, we headed off to Ward, SD to have a birthday dinner for Kurt along with Uncle Glen and Aunt Sue.  We stopped and got a cup of chia tea and dad got a coffee smoothie and then we proceeded to take 2 1/2 hours for a one hour trip.  We took all back roads - a lot of them were gravel.  Drove through Dell Rapids and then spent some time driving through Flandreau.  Discovered that there is an Indian Residential School just north of Flandreau that is still operating.  Very interesting.  Need to do some further research on it.

Arrived in Ward about 10 minutes early and Uncle Glen was already there - we had a wonderful evening with the birthday boy and his wife and Glen & Sue.  I think we were there at least two hours. 

When dad and I left we went east, rather than west where we'd come from and took back roads all the way home.  It was a great afternoon!!!!!!!

Well, that's my blog for this Tuesday.  Aunt Sue reminded me this morning that it was Tuesday and time I updated my blog.  I have no excuse for not getting to it other than I didn't.

Have a super week!!!
Love to you all,
Gramma and MOM

Cemetery Visiting

As you both know, cemetery visiting is a ritual for dad and I ever since we took care of Lakeview when you girls were MUCH younger.  Yesterday we picked up Grandma for breakfast and then we were off to eight different cemeteries.  (Valley Springs, Hills, Steen, Rock Rapids, Doon, Rock Valley, Lester and Larchwood)    We put flowers out at Valley Springs, Hills and Steen.  Uncle Rich had brought a geranium for Aunt Pat's grave plus a bunch of silk flowers and a couple of crosses so I took most of what he brought apart, bought some new flowers for the crosses and went from there.

Grandma had these red flowers hanging down in her storage unit for years and decided maybe she should put them out this year.  She was pleased with the look of it when we finished.

 I think this is a bit flowery but Uncle Rich likes lots of flowers.  After Memorial Day, I think dad and I will plant some day lilies where the orange cross is. 

 

Aunt Fanny always brought flowers for Grandpa's vase every spring and since she died, I've taken over for her.  I always try to find something bright that can be seen from the road.  I think it's a good tradition to carry on.

 This was the first year we've ever put anything out for Grandma but Rich had brought this pink bouquet and it looked really nice out there. 

 This little gravestone was a highlight for Grandma.  This is her little brother who died when she was 8 years old - she doesn't remember a funeral nor does she know what he died from.  She had no idea where he was buried but as we were driving/walking around, we found this.  We also found several other "Gorter" gravesites.  I think it was "fun" for her as she tried to remember who some of these people might have been and how they were related to her.

I'm sure there are many people who think our spring ritual is morbid but for us, it's a journey down memory lane.  I saw the gravesites of both sets of my grandparents and it brings back happy memories of going to their homes and a sense of comfort knowing that they are with our Lord and Savior waiting for us to arrive home.

I always feel a bit sad though when I visit Aunt Nel - I just wasn't ready to let her go.

As Memorial Day comes, we think of our armed forces and what they have done to help us keep our freedom.  But I also think it's a time to remember our loved ones and how they have influenced our lives and help make us the people we are today.

Enjoy the holiday!!!!  Loads of love from,
Gramma and MOM

25th Anniversary

Do you recognize all of these wonderful people who helped us celebrate our 25th Anniversary so many years ago?  We went to the Bali Hi for their Hawiian dinner.  At first I was a little upset that dad and I didn't have a drink of any sort when the rest of them did (note:  Gary's ever-present coffee pot).  However, as I looked closer, dad and I have the largest drink of all - see the two straws coming from the drink in the middle.
This was a very memorable night in other ways - it's the one and only time that your father has danced with me and it was on stage in front of everyone.  He still talks about it.  It was a fun, fun evening with very good friends.

I don't think any of us have changed at all, except Marvin maybe.  His hair isn't quite as dark as it was back then.

ENJOY!!!!

Love to you all
Gramma and MOM

PS:  This memorable picture came from Nancy this last week.  She must be cleaning.  Click on picture to make it bigger, if you wish.

Our backyard

 

We've been home over a week now so I decided to just skip our "going home" trip.  This last week one day Dad told me he had to go to Menard's and buy himself an electric chainsaw.  Of course, I asked him whatever for.  He indicated that the apple tree in the backyard was just too tall and had too many apples that were too high for him to pick last year.

 

After I hear him cutting away, I go out to check his progress and this is what I found - he absolutely massacured this tree.  Even the neighbors were giving him a hard time this weekend.

 It's all cleaned up now so the backyard looks better but the tree is still super ugly!!!!

However, dad's flowerbed along the back of the house looks quite nice - his red tulips are blooming; his old-fashioned hollyhocks are coming up nicely and also his lilies. 


 This is our clematis and it's actually growing this year.  Maybe it will bloom and be beautiful like other people's plants.  We'll keep our fingers crossed.

 

Tonight we went to Maggie's graduation party - what a nice party!!  Maggie was lovely.  Dad didn't even recognize her with her cute dress on.  We had a good time with lots of EXCELLENT food - good jog, Aunt Sue and Maggie.

 

That's it for this week.  Have a good week ahead.

 

Love to all

Gramma and MOM



Old Tucson with the aunts

Old Tucson was on the list that Aunt Jen and Aunt Jan wanted to go to; however before we could go there, they ended up watching a lot of shuffleboard.  Dad and his partner, Lynne, did GREAT this year.  They ended up third out of 32 teams.  This was the scoreboard from one of their games - dad's team was yellow.

 His stats for the year were 7 wins and 4 losses - very good.  He has improved greatly each year.

 Old Tucson - it's a place just down the road that many years ago was used as a movie set.  The original set of buildings burned down several years ago and they have been rebuilt.  It was a fun place to go.

 These are a couple of outfits from Little House on the Prairie.  Aunt Jan said it was as close as she's ever going to get to Laura.

 We took a stagecoach ride....

 and watched some stunt men.  I was even able to get a picture of this guy as he fell from the tower after he was shot.  How talented am I??????

 Don't let anyone tell you that Aunt Jan can't drive a car any longer.  She just "raced" around that track.

 

Your dad is one of the most talented men I know.  He can "work" on his computer with his eyes closed.  Hope you're impressed!!

We're off to the "Hog Pit" Barbaque for dinner with some park friends tonight.  Bet you all want to come along.  Amy, the sauce they use is awesome.  We'll take you when you come down.

Lots of love to all of you,
Gramma and MOM

Going through Old Files

I was going through some old files in preparation to giving the park newsletter files to the new editors and found this wonderful video.  It was taken when you, DeAnn were pregnant with Katie.  Amy took it just before one of Holly's recitals, I believe.  I LOVE it and smile everytime I see it.  Enjoy!!!

Amy, you don't take a lot of pictures but you done good.

Back to work - enjoy your day!

Love, Gramma and MOM

Here They Are

Aunt Jen and Aunt Jan finally arrived.  Ever since we made their reservations at Thanksgiving time, we've been waiting and planning for their arrival.

 We did some fun things while they were here but thought I'd start with our "going to eat" experiences.  I think this was Aunt Jan's favorite place that we ate.  I have to agree with her that they do have good cheeseburgers.  Actually the only items on "In & Out Burgers" menu are hamburgers, double hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, soda and shakes.  That's it.

 The "Elbow Room" is actually a dark, windowless bar that has good food cheap!!!  I think we went there with Marv and Judy for spaghetti one night.  I like their spaghetti ($4.75 for all you can eat) and I like their fish fry on Friday nights ($5.95 for all you can eat).  It's a unique place that was very popular at one time and still is on Friday nights, in particular, plus the food is good.

 Rachel's is another local breakfast place that we used to frequent a lot; however their breakfast special is not as good as it was.  Now we go to Pappy's just down the street but I failed to get a picture of that.

 Aunt Jen loves chili dogs and we had taken her to Wienerschnitzel before so we had lunch here one afternoon - as you can see by the sign - 5 chili or corn dogs for $5.00.  Can't beat that, can you?  Amy, we even ate outside in their little eating area with all the birds.

 One of our last nights in Tucson, we went to a steakhouse that we had not gone to before.  Aunt Jen saw a flyer for it so off we went.  Food was good; service was OK.  I don't think we'll be doing back there, however.  We have better steakhouses closer.

Before we took off to go back to Phoenix, we took them to Jack-in-the Box for breakfast.  They have a great supreme croissant with ham, bacon, cheese and egg.  Very good.

 When we were in Phoenix, we went to Tortilla Flats which was a little community at one time in the Superstition Mountains.  There is still a restaurant and a couple of gift shops there - mainly a tourist stop now.  It's about a 14-mile drive from the city on a beautiful, windy mountain road.  They have a restaurant there that serves very hot chili.  Last time we were there, Aunt Jen decided just to have a chili dog - not the straight bowl/cup of chili.  She thought she was probably braver now in her old age.

 but just in case, she ordered a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich in addition to the chili.  She was not able to eat the whole cup - good thing I didn't bet on her.

 They have dollar bills on the walls and ceilings with people's names and addresses on them.  A unique, fun place to go and as I said, the scenery coming and going is gorgeous.

Well, that's it for eateries.  We did go a few other places but I forgot my camera and didn't get pictures.  And OF COURSE, we did eat at home on occasion also.  Even ate out in the patio.

Next blog, a few fun things we did.  Til, then, have a super, duper good week and enjoy wherever you are and whatever your weather is.  Sunshine and warm here.

Love to you all,
Gramma and MOM