scenes from the clark fork parade

Small town America.  It’s the best.

Here are pictures I took while perched on our float as we lined up on a side street.

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“If you can’t do it in a tractor, it doesn’t need to get done!”

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(I think he was on his cell phone!)

And here’s the view of the crowd, while we were in the middle of the parade route.

2014-07-04 042And seen in the parking lot, at the end of the parade…

2014-07-04 0552014-07-04 0562014-07-04 050Due to a technical glitch, photos of the Friends of Scotchman Peak Wilderness float and the Cougar Creek Band will be posted in the next edition of the blog.

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getting ready for summer

Story Man has been indispensable this past week.

Because he is young.  And energetic.  And doesn’t have a bad back or bad legs or bad knees.

And because he is a helpful kind of guy.

His uncle was thrilled to hand the power washing chores to the next generation.

After some instruction, of course.

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sunshine and meatballs

In the kitchen, nothing makes me happier than to make a massive amount of one thing.

 I suppose it’s the cook’s equivalent to running a marathon.

Banjo Man,  Story Man (formerly known as Son #2) and GL (my dear brother-in-law, who looks like Burt Reynolds and plays the lap steel guitar) are getting ready for The Sisters.

It’s an annual event that has been documented on this blog many times.   Festivities include cooking, eating, singing, playing musical instruments, more cooking, more eating, more singing, the 4th of July parade, fireworks on the dock, wine on the dock, fishing, kayaking and general merriment.

This year Story Man is showing a home videotape of the family cleaning out the farm house, their old home.

We will also welcome 4 members of the second generation and one member of the third generation, who is three and a half and will love throwing rocks in the lake.

My French Friend Janou is dismantling her intricate audio/video system (it even has its own closet) to loan me her VCR.

(I love my friends.)

Speaking of my French Friend Janou, have I told you she is a Canasta Addict?  Last year The Sisters, Etc. played massive games of Canasta and then I taught Janou how to play.

Her husband may never forgive me, but that’s another story.

This year’s family Canasta games will be aided by the arrival of a 6-pack card shuffler, which was purchased on Amazon and shipped to MFF Janou (because we don’t have a  mail box).

Anyway, back to the meatballs…

I made 100 of ’em.  Loaded up the Ipod with a new playlist called Songs to Sing Along While Making Massive Amounts of Food, and got to work.

I’m not sure why that was so much fun.  My legs didn’t think so later on that evening.  And my feet complained.

But it was worth it.

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(You can find the recipe https://isthereanymorepie.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/healing-with-meatballs/

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last morning on the road

We’re here, as of 11 AM this morning.

It feels good.

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A brief stop at the Little Big Horn yesterday.  It was our first stop in Montana.  Our first battlefield of the trip.  Our first mosquito bites.  This place is always solemn and moving and bigger than I remember from the times before.

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north to the Badlands

Some Nebraska horses enjoying a beautiful morning.

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South Dakota!!!

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We took dozens of pictures in the Badlands.  I’ll post more, but here’s a teaser:

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Banjo Man and Story Man enjoying the view.

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Tomorrow we’re off to Wyoming and Montana, with a stop at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

And I’m shopping for red cowboy boots, but don’t tell anyone.

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mr. lonely

2014-06-23 037Banished for his poor fashion decisions, Banjo Man waits for a ride back to Nebraska.

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billboards, breakfast and other things

What we saw in Lincoln, Nebraska today:

2014-06-22 006This is true.

And quilters?  There are gazillions of them.  And they’re proud of it.

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Here is Nebraska Jack fixing his every-Sunday-at-8 AM-breakfast. We love his food.  And he looks good in yellow.

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Want to guess what this Nebraska farmer is doing?

2014-06-22 003I know you can’t guess, so I’ll tell you:

He is describing his recent cataract surgery.

Which is kind of scary.

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what we did saturday morning in lincoln, nebraska

Sneak preview of tomorrow’s blog post:

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and the storms don’t stop…

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A special birthday party wasn’t affected by the huge storm that hit Omaha Friday night. Until we realized it was time to go home and the rain was still coming down in torrents, that is.

2014-06-20 018Banjo Man is making his sisters laugh.  That happens a lot.

The drive back to Lincoln was a little stressful.  Traffic was stopped on the interstate.  There was rain.  Lots of rain.  And thunder.  And lightning.

Mega lightning.

Banjo Man,  Story Man and I didn’t get back to our cozy hotel room until close to 1 AM.  Or maybe later.

But what a fabulous party!!!

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