I survived the storm!

I survived the storm!

Yesterday while at the Pinckneyville American Heritage Thresherman’s Association tractor show, the wind blew, the thunder boomed, the lightening crackled and the rain poured. Safe and sound under Annie Jansen’s extended camper awning I sat secure enjoying the pounding of the rain. Then the big boom came when the lightening hit a nearby tree splintering wood. The poor vendor sitting near the tree had quite a scare. The tent beside the tree even had scorch marks on it. The rain came down for a while adding much needed moisture and a bit of excitement to a very cool show. Being a farmer’s wife, getting wet didn’t bother me, I just didn’t want to get fried!

The American Threshman Association has two shows each year. One is in August and the second, the Fall Festival will be held October 19, 20 & 21st. The show is held at the fair grounds in Pinckneyville, Illinois. This town is a bit sentimental to me because I was born here and my dad taught school in Nashville many, many moons ago!

I survived the storm, had fun with friends and praised the Lord for the much needed moisture.

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A horse is a horse of course! At Henson Robinson Zoo.

A horse is a horse of course!  At Henson Robinson Zoo.

I took the grandkids to the Henson Robinson Zoo, a lovely small zoo located right on Lake Springfield. After playing at the playground we struck out to the zoo along with my mom for a fun filled morning. When this horse in the picture blew through its nose, my 20 month old grandson did a shuffle toward me that could have won him awards on Dancing with the Stars.

Taking advantage of some of the great sites in your backyard like this fun little zoo in Springfield is a great way to enjoy some grandma/ grandkid time. The peacocks and horses turned out to be the scary animals while the grand babies didn’t seem to be at all phased by the bear or the monkeys. I guess I should correct that phrase because my grand daughter informed me that her brother “Is a big boy and she is a good girl.” There you have it!

The Henson Robinson Zoo is located at 1100 East Lake Shore Drive, Springfield, IL 62712. Call 217-753-6217 or log onto http://www.hensonrobinsonzoo.org for details!

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Butter Cow at the Illinois State Fair

Butter Cow at the Illinois State Fair

This is the 90th year that the butter cow is gracing the Illinois State Fair. Sharon Bumen from New York has been sculpting the cow for the last eight years and six years ago they created this cooler in the round for visitors to enjoy. Dairy Building Superintendent Marla Behrends shared that before when Sharon would work that she would sculpt as beautifully behind the cow as in front. Now visitors can enjoy the entire sculpture.

Bumen will be sculpting completing the butter cow and the final result will be completed on Tuesday. Visitors to the fair can watch her work her art until that time. The butter cow is a tradition at the Illinois State Fair. Everyone enjoys viewing the cow before sampling a dairy treat. The Illinois State Fair runs August 9-19. Children making homeade birthday cards may win a dairy treat. Create your own tradition at this year’s Illinois State Fair where the motto is Family Fun for Everyone!

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Fun at 9 Irish Brothers

Fun at 9 Irish Brothers

At this year’s Graham Bradley tractor gathering, a group of women, five of us from Illinois, Iowa and Ohio set out to tour the Lafayette and West Lafayette countryside. After antiquing in the morning

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