Retracing Our Past Through Travel - Day Six and Seven

     This is a recap of the last two days. We were so busy yesterday at our cousin's house, we were literally too tired to do anything but fall into our beds. Here's the recap...

Note: The videos will be fixed later. It's midnight!

     We left Sioux Falls, SD and headed to Worthington, MN to have breakfast with a cousin. He is a historian and is interested in anything having to do with our clan. He found out that I had the branding iron that branded all the beer kegs at my Great Grandfather's brewery up in Marine on St. Croix, MN. He asked us to bring it so he could make an impression of it. He wants to have another one made.

Creating the Impression

Brand in the Goop

     After that, we headed to our cousin's house near Springfield, MN for a very busy day. Here are some of the things that we did: Lunch with the family, went to the nursing home to see her mother and our Aunt, went to the top of a huge grain elevator (her husband Lenny maintains all the antennas), drove the fields looking at all the crops that he and his family farms (1600 acres!), pulled out one of his huge tractors and drove it using Auto Steer coupled with a GPS, went back home for an evening BBQ, jumped back in the truck to see Anita's dance studio that she runs, visited the graves of some of our relatives, inspected the water damage from a failed sump pump in their basement and finally ended the evening with a fireworks display at their home. Whew! Are you tired yet? Here are some of the pictures and movies I took.

Me Coming Down in the Service Elevator

Lenny Coming Down in the Service Elevator

Me at the Top of the Elevator

 Starting the 8230 John Deere

Backing the Tractor into the Barn

Giant John Deere that was built using the Gold Key program

 (Case Combine in the back)

    

Steering Wheel Down for Driving

Steering Wheel Up for Exiting the Cab

Some of the Controls

Anita's Dance Studio Art

     Today we drove to Mankato, MN and spent time with our relatives there. Here is a picture after dinner at The Damn Store located next to a Dam.

At The Dam Store sign

Dee, Romaine, Jodie, Monnie

     And so ends our visits with all the relatives we could drum up. Tomorrow we're heading back home so it's off to Marinette, WI and more Mickey-Lu's!