I've been away from the office for a few days at a family reunion.  I'm told we are unusual in doing what we do and how we do it, so maybe I should describe what has been going on.  Let me start with some family background.

My grandfather was raised in southern Illinois.  His grandfather moved there from Kentucky. Things were tough southeast of Mt Vernon in the early 1900's. I've heard stories of how great-grandpa lost 20 acres because he could not pay the loan for it.  I think if  he had $40 he could have saved the ground.

Two of Gramps brothers had gone north to work in the flatlands of Illinois between Mattoon and Arcola,   When he was about 16 Gramps had completed his education (all 8 grades).  So pretty much carrying everything he owned Gramps went north.  Today it's not a big deal, if we want to travel a hundred miles or so.  We jump in our car or truck and in a couple hours or less we are there.. Back then it was a grand adventure.  In todays society they might have well moved halfway across the country.  It was a whole different world. Gramps moved north, found work, married, and started farming with one of his brothers.

I have trouble imagining life back then.  For instance ... and I'm not sure if this was before or after he married ... the farmer he worked for hired a crew to harvest.  Corn was picked by hand, thrown in a wagon, pulled by horses to the crib where it was scoped off.  The farmer had taken a liking to Gramps, so when they got down to the last 40 acres he dismissed everyone else and told Gramps he had a job all winter picking that 40 acres by himself.

Imagine picking 40 acres by hand by yourself being a good thing.

Gramps and Grandma worked, struggled, and saved.  I'm not sure about this, but I get the impresson Grandma's Dad was not necessarily impressed with his young guy from the hills of southern Illinois.  His parents (grandparents?) had come to the US from Germany.  They had planned on settling around Memphis, but when they got there their horses were stolen so they decided to come on north where there was a German community and settled north of Mattoon.

Like I said, Gramps started farming with one of his brothers.  They saved up enough money to buy a tractor.  They ordered it, and before it came in the bank failed.  Gramps had to borrow the money (I think from his father-in-law) to pay for it.  Saving the money was hard enough without having to pay for your first tractor twice!

Gramps got the chance to rent part of a farm on the edge of the Wabash River bottoms.  200 acres of flat , mostly developed ground a little over 60 miles away.  I remember Dad telling how Gramps had rented the farm but the folks living in the house didn't have to move until almost Spring.  Gramps came down with his tractor and plow and slept in the corn crib while he did fall work.  More of that stuff I have trouble imagining.  He rented a farm a full days drive on an old tractor in a place he didn't know anyone! They lived there a few years (2 or 3 I think) and then moved back north.  A couple years later the farm came up for sale.  600 acres in one spot.  Mr Buckner (the lawyer ...from Decatur I think) urged him to buy it.  Gramps had to take out a second mortgage to buy 200 acres he bought.

Anyway, I am wondering away from the family reunion, but I had to tell you most of that to get here. Grampa had 5 brothers.  My memory is a bit fuzzy, but 40 years ago the brothers and their families met for a reunion in a city park in Charleston, Illinois (close to where most of them settled) At some point they decided to have it back home.  When Great-Grandpa died they inherited the farm together.  Rather than sell it they decided to keep it. for the family.

I won't get into the current ownership, it will be a confused mess one of these days.  But we come back every August for a family reunion.   The old house is still here.  It really isn't fit for habitation but it's OK for a few days.  Several years ago a "bath house" was built.  It has shower, toilet, etc with a men's side and a ladies side.  We have a pavilliion )in other words a small tool shed with no side walls and a concrete floor.  Over the years projects have included wiring pedestals for campers and running municipal water to hydrants strategically placed near the camper pedestals.  There is no internet, almost no cell phone service.  A couple years ago we were down here  painting the house.  I was 40 feet up in a bucket truck and could not get a signal,

As I set writing this early Friday morning we have 6 campers, a tent, and one family in the house,  By Saturday evening I expect that to triple.  You can't imagine spending several days with your extended family?  I told you we were weird.

Right now there are 2-3 wheelers (ATV's), 2-4 wheelers, and a Mule (not the 4 legged kind) here,  I remember 30+ yeas ago having over 30 motorcycles here.  I have to run.  I'll write more later