Lunch at Kristi's Aug 21, 2013

Carol E, Ron, Jim, Carol A, Terry, Mary, Gary, Pat, Peg with Kristi as the camera person and the host for a sloppy joe luncheon.  Jim and Mary have a lavender farm in Iowa!  Yep, you read correctly, they raise lavender!!!!

They stayed in a condo behind the Harley Davidson store in Osage Beach and Terry and Jim had played some golf.  They found the rugged terrain a major challenge.  They know each other as their children married and brought the families together.

Ron had to leave early for a routine eye exam, but Carol E stayed long enough to just beat Ron home!!
Thanks, Kristi.  We really enjoyed the new arrangement of the house and the location of the fish tank.

OMP 2013

Ozark Mission Project (OMP), a church youth work project in southwest Arkansas, has been the "summer school" of Ellen and Larry for several years.

 They now have a tool and equipment trailer to keep "stuff" together and allow for transport to the worksites.  This year most of the projects seemed to be wheelchair ramps.  In years past they have repaired roofs, cleaned yards and painted.

 The center of activity this year was based in the Methodist Church

 The students arrived and set up base camp at the church.

 Orientation and expectations were necessary to ensure the "builds" were accomplished in a safe and timely manner.

 Lumber was purchased wholesale from a local yard.  Ellen (in yellow) is and has been the heart of the operation for several summers.  Larry only provided this photo and I had to crop and enlarge to get it.

 A typical wheelchair ramp build.  This gives a look at the "skeleton" of the build.

 A view with some workers and the gentleman who needs the ramp.  His wife is leaning on the post to the upper left.  Some of the volunteers are hard at work.

Another completed ramp which only needed a straight shot to the door.

Visit by Bob and Pat Aug 2013

 Bob, Carol and Pat on the porch at the Shawnee Bluff Winery (lake location).  Note the wine bottle behind Pat's left ear.  It pours water into the pool just below it.  The view of the lake is nice at this time of year but will be chilly during the fall and winter months.  We tasted and purchased.

 The visit began VERY differently!!  Ron got a call while at ReStore about 10 am on Thurs from Bob who said they probably wouldn't make it to the lake as they had just had an auto accident about 10 miles west of Warrensburg on Hiway 50.  Short version-- a 73 year old man driving a pickup pulling a boat trailer pulled right in front of them.  He was attempting to turn back to the west and turned from the right hand lane of 50 Hiway headed eastbound across the left lane (where Bob was driving) and got hit in the drivers side door by the right front end of B&P's red 2009 Prius.  Pat suffered a neck strain (CT scan at Lee's Summit Hospital after a very uncomfortable ambulance ride) and bruises while Bob apparently escaped unscathed.  I said I would be there in two hours to help out.  I met Bob at Tip Top Tow in Warrensburg where their car was still on the tow truck.  We transfered stuff from the wreck to the back of the minivan and retrieved Pat from Lee Summit and drove to the lake.

Had a nice relaxed visit with visits to Shawnee Bluff and Seven Springs wineries.  Ron drove them back to KC on Sat afternoon.  They still have Pat's car for transportation and will be car shopping next week, as the car was totalled according to the insurance adjuster.  They have Travelers and the other driver has State Farm.  They had several phone calls from their insurance and have already been contacted by State Farm.  Don't envy them for the next couple of weeks.

We liked 7 Springs better than Shawnee Bluff even though the view is better at the Bluff.

Family on Vacation in Brasil

 

The group is jumping atop a mountain in southern Minas Gerias, Brasil.  Sara said it took a few tries to get them all off of the ground.
              Lucas, Sara, Max, Wem

Our Family, don't know why I can't type in body of post!!