Monday, March 29, 2010

Our Trip to Fargo

It's hard to believe it's been a little over a week since part of our family headed to Fargo to attend the North Dakota Home School convention.

We had a very busy time of preparation, and then the day we were to leave the Bartlett Family had to play for Bottineau's Marketplace for Kids at the local college. I recorded some of it, but the children talked through most of their playing so it didn't turn out very well.

The guys played for approximately 20 minutes, and then played the Star Spangled Banner. I thought they did a great job.


This was the scene that greeted us in Fargo ... Lots and lots of water. We drove around our old neighborhood and then checked out the Red River. I'm sad to say our old house has not been taken care of; someone must have driven into the garage door, and they cut down my beautiful rose bush!

The National Guard was very busy with traffic control and helping with the building of dikes.



The Salvation Army was doing a wonderful job of providing meals for people who were sandbagging.
We stayed with a very close friend of mine, and the next morning Jim and I had to be up at 4:00 a.m. in order to get Jim to the airport in time to check in and then fly to Washington, D.C. for a Home School Legal Defense legislative forum. I felt a bit glassy eyed as I drove back to our friend's house and my sleeping boys. David and Andrew made the trip to Fargo, but Jonathan and Peter stayed behind to care for the animals.


I was very thankful to have the opportunity to visit our old neighbor, Mrs. Nelson. She will turn 103 in April! She is an amazing woman. In spite of not seeing Andrew and David for 3 years, she called both of them by name and gave us all big hugs. What a special lady. Not quite 2 years ago she moved to assisted living.


Mrs. Nelson took us on a grand tour of the facility, and then treated us at the coffee shop. We had a great time visiting!

Mrs. Nelson has a computer in the lounge area on her floor, and the boys showed her our family's farm web site. She was very interested in learning how to use the computer to check us out. I wish we would have had more time to give her a better lesson. Hopefully someone else will show her how to find our website again.


Thanks, Mrs. Nelson, for such a special visit! It was the highlight of our trip to Fargo!


That evening our friend Bonnie and her faithful friend Dora took us to the Pizza Ranch for supper with Bonnie's parents. It was a lot of fun, and the pizza was great! After supper we went over to Bonnie's parent's apartment and learned to play Zion Check. We all enjoyed the evening.



Thursday night the opening event of the home school convention was the used book sale/small business sale. Andrew spent much of the fall and winter crafting various guns out of wood, and had neat display holders for them. He even created individual carrying boxes for each gun. He didn't sell as many as he would have liked, but was satisfied with his profits.
I neglected to get a photo of David's trucks and a ship he had made and was selling and had made out of wood.


Some of the larger items Andrew had made, and the boxes of handguns he created.

Thursday afternoon during setup I met with my friend Marie, and we talked farming, healthy eating and cheese making. She took me out to their van, where she gave me a dry run of how to make farmhouse cheddar cheese. She is a great teacher, and I hope to have an opportunity soon to try her recipe.


Marie is very ingenious, and created this cheese press.

Kevin Swanson was the keynote speaker for the convention. I was impressed with his topics, and was encouraged as well as challenged.
Buddy Davis from Answers in Genesis was also a speaker at the convention, and did workshops for the children and also had a concert for us on Friday evening. North Dakota encourages families to bring their children to convention.
We were anxious to get back home to relieve Peter and Jonathan from some of their duties. They did great, and Peter spent lots of time with many gallons of milk -- making Mozzarella cheese. He offers his recipe on his blog .

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI Lynn, it's always good to read your blog. Looks like you had a great time in Fargo. Does it feel like 5-1/2 years you have been gone? Thanks for always taking time to update us on your life there, it's always so interesting!

Lori

Kimberly said...

Lynn, I so regret that we didn't meet in person! Once, I did see you sitting up front with your husband after he introduced the speaker (at least I assumed it was you :). Since we had our two young children with us we always sat in the back as it was easier. By the time the session ended I forgot to watch for you. I did see your husband in the hall after a main session and right before a workshop. Since he looked like he was in a hurry I didn't ask about you though I should have. Convention is just such a busy time.

After seeing the photos of your son's guns I do wish we could have made it to the used book sale. Maybe next year will work out better for that and for meeting you!

Thanks for all the photos. We didn't go look at the Red though we were amazed at all the water from the Maple River by the interstate. It's hard to believe your former neighbor is 103! She looks great.

Kimberly said...

Oh, I wanted to say that I used to have two poodles that would ride on my shoulders while I was driving. Loved that picture of your friend.

Marci said...

Wow your friend looks really young for her age. Good for her!! Sounds like it was a good trip.

TNfarmgirl said...

Hi Lynn!
Gotta share more information on that cheese press! I'd love to hear about the farm house cheddar too! Looks like y'all had a great time!
Blessings,
Cheri

Tracy said...

Our state homeschool convention comes up at the end of May -- my kids are all grown now (24, 22, 20) so I have no reason to go anymore, but I always almost wish I could just to see everything and hear the keynote speakers..

Kelle at The Never Done Farm said...

I'm thinking of going to our HS convention, even thought we're finished, I'll miss it if I don't. I have a book addction too and this is always a good place to go see books!

Andrew is talented, all of you are! I have the guns Jon made from wood in a closet upstairs. One even has a scope he made out of PVC, with plexiglass lenses and flip up scope covers( whisperers) I'll email you a picture of Jon all in camo with the gun with the scope, it's fun to look back on. He was always so creative and your young men seem to be as well.*wink*

Looks like it was a great convention. When you ge this cheese making down, please share won't you?

Blessings,
Kelle