Standiford Family Web Log

What a great day. Jamie and Kelsey slept in the camper with us last night while Kelly, Jordan and Austin slept in the tent. After breakfast they went in the pool for a while. About noon, Beth’s bro and sil and their three kids came out for a visit. They stayed about an hour and then left to move more stuff from the farm to their new house. Kelly, Jordan and the kids left about 3:00. It was hard to say good-bye since we are leaving for MO tomorrow morning and won’t see them again for a while. We had invited some friends and family out for a cookout and they started showing up just before Kelly left. We had quite a few people in the camper because it started to rain. We did have a backup plan since they have a pavillion here and we could have used it if we needed to. We had Scott and Colleen, Carl and Sue, Ron and Thelma, Tom and Linda and Ashley, and Cindy. A few of these people we had not seen since we moved to MO. Had a good time even if we did have to sit in the camper most of the time. We finished off the evening by getting ready for the trip back to MO. We drained the holding tanks and put the hose away. Moved the license plate on the truck back to the front. Put the flags away. Cleaned the grill. Also did some work inside the camper to get ready. The less time we take in the morning the sooner we can get on the road. Long trip. I’m signing off for now to go to bed. More when we get to MO.

Got up this morning and went to the Reunion. Met some old friends and some new friends. Had some re-enactors come in and talk about what it was like 125 – 150 years ago. Then came back to the camper with Kelly and the kids. They went swiming for a while. I watched Austin sleep and then he woke up and watched me nap for a while. Going back to the reunion in a few minutes for a catered dinner. Beth just tried to fix a slice of toast and flames shot out the plug on the toaster. This was the toaster that Mom and Dad had in their camper. I don’t know if it is shot or if it is just the cord. I’ll take a look at it next week when we are at the campground and have a few spare moments. It has been a great toaster. Makes better toast then any other we have ever had. Kelly and the kids are going to pitch a tent out here tonight.

Slept late this morning and then went and had lunch with Kelly and kids at Fish of Stroh. Then went and picked up matress for Kelsey. When we left there we drove over to Preble to register for the reunion but no one was there. We called one of the organizers and they said that when no one showed up by 5:00 pm they packed it up and went back to their motels but were meeting at the Back 40 for dinner. So, we drove to the Decatur Cemetery and visited a few graves. There were flowers on many of the Standiford graves. We then went over to the Back 40 and ate with the group. After dinner we drove over to a cousin’s house (Janet Torson) and sat around a campfire until almost 10:30. The evening really went quickly. Couldn’t believe it wsa 10:30 already. Drove back to camper and getting ready for bed but thought I would update the blog a bit before turning in.

Got up this morning and went to Kelly’s. Beth started a load or two of laundry. We went to Mr. Coney for lunch and then stopped at Hobby Lobby. It was raining at the time so I said I was just going to sit in the truck. Jamie stayed in the truck with me and boy, do I look funny with only one ear. He is quite the chatter box. That evening Ron and Thelma came out to the camper and picked us up for dinner. We went to Richards Restaurant in Bluffton. I can highly recommend the grilled Alaskan salmon. It was great. Came back to the camper and sat and talked for a while. Had a really good visit. Just about the time that Ron and Thelma were getting ready to leave, Kelly, Jordan and the kids showed up to go swimming. They got there about 8:00 and the pool closes at 9:00 but the lady told me if I would lock the gate we could stay later. They swam until about 9:30 when it started to look like a storm so we got out and they headed for home. Just after they left the wind really started to pick up and the camper started to shake so we went up to the shower / restroom area in the building. The owner showed up and opened the store and most (if not all) of the campers showed up. When it finally cleared up we went back, checked the radar on TV and went to bed.

Went to Shipshewanna today. Kelly and the kids went also as did Tom and Linda. We stopped at Kelly’s and she followed us. We pulled in and parked and there was Tom and Linda. They got there exactly the same time we did and parked next to us. As always it was hot and crowed. I’m guessing we stayed about 3 hours or so and then headed back to Kelly’s. Jamie and Kelsey rode with us so we dropped them off and headed back to the camper for a little R&R. We were not very far from Kelly’s when a Ft. Wayne police officer pulled me over. It was because we don’t have a rear plate on the truck. In Missouri they only give you a front plate if it is licensed for over 16,000 lbs. I explained that and he checked the license and registration and checked to make sure that it was not stolen. When he gave it back he asked if we had two daughters – April and Kelly. Turns out he went to high school with them. Anyway, while we are in Indiana we took the plate off the front and put it on the back. We will move it back before we leave for home. Just going to chill out tonight.

We got up Sunday morning and got on the road about 7:10 am. Took 146 to I-57 up to Effingham and from there took I-70, etc. It was 427 miles and took about 9 hours. Drove between 60 and 65 the whole time. Took plenty of rest stops and ate at a rest stop picnic table. Averaged 9.1 mpg for both tanks. Got to the KOA and got set up. We were pleasantly surprised by the KOA. This is only their second season. We expected sunshine lots but it is lightly wooded.

Monday morning we got up and drove to the farm to load some more of the furniture that Beth got – the bedroom suite that belonged to her mom and dad and the old ‘monitor top’ refriderator from the basement. Tom and Linda came out to help us. Had to take a window out to get some of the furniture out of the house. Took most of the day. We took the furniture in to Kelly’s and stored it in her shed since we cannot haul it back this trip. Then Tom and Linda came out to the camper and had supper with us. Kelly, Jordan and the kids came out to swim in the pool but did not swim very long because the water was very cold. I put on my suit but didn’t go in because of the cold water. Going to Shipshewana tomorrow.

Just got back from the air show. It was really good. Left about 1:00 pm and drove over to a school and took the bus from there. Saw some really interesting stuff. There was a wing walker (crazy lady) and aerial acrobatics. The best two portions of the show were the Golden Eagles parachute team and the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels are amazing. Got some video of them plus some good pictures. Will post the pictures later to the same link I sent earlier. We didn’t have to drive. We rode with the couple that organized the rally. They live here in Cape Girardeau and know their way around. Tonight we have a pot-luck. Heartland is supplying the meat and the place settings. Each couple then is bringing something. We got assigned the salad. Tomorrow we will hitch up and head to Bluffton KOA where we will be staying for the next week. Probably won’t post again until Sunday evening. Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers.

Well, we got some pictures. We are not going to the air show until after lunch. The Blue Angels are going to perform and they are the last ‘act’. So we went downtown this morning and took pictures of the flood wall. Will post them when I get the chance. Also got fuel $2.89 per gallon. Not too bad.

Went to an eyetalian place to eat last night. Beth and I both probably ate too much. There went the diet. Back on it today though. Also walked the flood wall along the Miss. river. The river is really high and they have all of the flood gates closed except one. They have painted the flood wall with historical murals dipicting historical events. Also have a section with the pictures painted of famous people from Missouri. We don’t have any pictures because I didn’t take my camera because Beth was going to take hers and then found out the battery was not in hers. Had storms last night. The wind really blew and rocked the trailer and caused the slide covers to flap. Rather hard to sleep but we managed. Overslept this morning though so we are running around trying to get ready to go to the air show. Gonna be a hot one. More later.

We are on vacation. We drove down to the campground last night (Thursday) and spent the night and got up this morning, hooked up and drove to Cape Girardeau MO. It was supposed to take less then 3 hours but ran into two sections of construction that slowed us down. We left about 9:00 am. Stopped at a rest area on I55 and had a quick lunch and a stretch. Got here about 1:00 or so. The spring loaded pin for the driver’s side jack came loose so we had to tighten that up before we could set up. Oh, by the way, all this in 92 degree temps. A charger fell off the counter and got caught in a section of the molding around one of the slides. It doesn’t appear that it did any damage. We had to run that slide back in a bit to get it out.

The campground here has cable and wifi. The wifi is very strong and fast. Cable is OK. Of course, it is daytime tv so not much on. We have a ‘meet and greet’ tonight with the rest of the attendees (only four units). Tomorrow we are going to an air show. Don’t know how long we will stay for that since it is supposed to be hot again. More later.