Visiting Grandma

 

My Grandma is 97.  She was born in Iowa and has lived within 20 miles of the farm she grew up on her entire life.  When we go visit there are a few things we always do. We always go and visit Jesup High School where she graduated in the early 1930's.  A couple years ago Jesup school has expanded and since then the front of the school has been moved to a local man's yard.

I wish I could go back in time and be a fly on the wall.  My Grandma, "Tommy" was quite the girl :) I think she had a few boys who sure liked her a lot. 

And if those old walls (those are the only original ones left) could talk, I am sure they have some stories they could tell. 

The next stop is always to visit the Amish shops.  It started raining so we decided to take a lunch break instead.   Tristan was thoroughly enjoying himself. 

Once the rain let up we headed out to a few of our favorite stores.  Well, most of them.  We missed the general store to go to Anna's Bakery.  Since the bakery is off the route a little I have never actually been, although I have always noticed the sign.  That's OK. We didn't need anything so it really didn't matter.

Grandma saw the tomatoes and just about died at how pretty they were.. so ripe and full!

Tristan noticed the candy on the shelves and decided that they needed to be rearranged.  Thanks, babe.

As we were leaving the store one of the buggies came by.  Amish people do NOT like their photo taken.  I couldn't help myself though and just took one as he went by. 

Tristan was in love with the horse and buggy.  He watched them til they were out of site.  It was pretty cute.  I love driving through Amish country!  Their farms are so well cared for and it's fun to see buggies running down the road.

The last stop on the way home is always the old cemetary.  It sits up on a hill, about an acre from where my great grandfather had his black smith shop, and great Aunt Elma had her farm.  My Great Grandparents and others are buried there.  We always stop to pay our respects and make sure everyone is doing alright.

This is quite a few generations present :) Thank goodness for self timers.  Yes... I know I look fat in this picture, I'd like to thank the people who pointed that out.  I can't be beautiful 100% of the time, I gotta let other people have a chance!

The flowers had fallen over on Grandpa Neith's grave.  Tristan had seen Grandma fix a few other flowers, and my sweet boy bent down to fix the flowers all on his own.   I tried to get a few pictures really quick, but didn't notice my shutter speed was WAY off.  Problem of using the camera on manual. *sigh*  I will have to get better at that.

Overall it was a beautiful day.  I love hanging out with Grandma.  I love hearing how things were when she was younger, hearing how she met Grandpa, listening to her recall her memories of Jesup and the old farm.  She is getting pretty forgetful in her old age-don't ask her what she had for breakfast but when you get out to her old stomping ground she remembers every dirt road and turn.