July 2026

July 2026
Over the years, we've always compared our family life to a wagon train heading west. Just as everyone had to do his part to get to Oregon years ago, so everyone in our family must do his/her part to make our journey through life successful. If somebody climbs in the wagon and lets the others do the work, we just don't make any progress. We all have to pull our weight and work together. Along the trail we find lots of pebbles that make for a smooth ride and some bigger rocks that jar us a little; we hit the occasional pothole that can slow us down. But if we purpose to search diligently, there are countless gold nuggets and precious gemstones along the way as well. This journal is an attempt to preserve some of those precious moments for our children, and our children's children, as together we travel this trail called life.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11


Monday, September 20, 2010

9-19-10 Corn Boil

Oh, it was good to be in church again. We all missed it these past two Sundays. Although it seemed emptier than usual as quite a few were missing, singing was still beautiful and fellowship was precious. I can’t remember a specific TakeAway although we heard many good exhortations on humility and meekness among other things: good reminders for all of us.

Supper was a DELICIOUS novelty. This year was our turn to host the annual Kaiser wiener roast, and what Joyce originally planned to be a depression era pan fried chicken supper for Grandpa’s 80th birthday at Cullinan Park somehow turned into a corn boil out here instead. I think it was a combination of excessive negativity by some (one?) of her brothers (no names but he knows who he is), our offer to host it out here so we could use our shed in case of rain, and Uncle Don’s aspiration to try the corn boil. At any rate, it was very very very good, although with the spices that added so much taste, I’m not sure it qualified as depression era. From what I’ve heard about that era, the food was basic (which it was tonight) but pretty bland. Well, depression era fare or not, I hope we do this again – it was very fun and VERY good. Anyway.

Very soon after we got home from church, the boys started the fire and Chief Cook Uncle Don was out with all the food for supper. Chief Planner/Organizer Aunt Joyce wasn’t far behind him, and the corn boil began. I was in the house doing inside operations and missed out on much of this step, so Kate took most of these pictures – she really does a good job (thanks, Kate!).

Covering the first pan…

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…and it’s cooking.

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Assembling the second pan…

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Needs more vegetables…

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…and it’s ready to cook.

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And there they cooked for a couple hours.

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Since we’re abundantly blessed with watermelon, we decided to add one to the menu for the evening.

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This one was our biggest of the year so far – weighed in at a whopping 40 pounds! I didn’t get any pictures of it cut, but it was bright red and oh so sweet and juicy. Delicious!

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Aunt Marj supplied decorations.

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Adding more water. The food is on a raised tray: the boiling water underneath it steams the food and has to be replaced often.

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Testing.

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4:30.  Although most Kaisers were here, there were several who couldn’t come; they were missed.

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Dad, Grandpa, Mike, Uncle Harley.

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Derek and his fiance Meaghan.

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YUMMMM

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I wasn’t the only one snapping away!

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Kate wanted to sit by Kate again.

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After a beautiful evening (thankfully the predicted rain didn’t materialize) of much fun, food, and fellowship, everyone left by 8:30. Amazingly enough, while I bathed littles and got them to beds, Dad and the big kids had the entire shed, yard, and house pretty much cleaned up by 8:47. What a crew!

Beds for us too then, and that’s it.

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