Farewell to the Farm

 

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Lisa, Kate, Andrew, Benjamin, Noah, Lydia and GPD (Grandpa Dave, Kate’s Dad)

   We just finished the last day that we’d ever spend at “The Farm.”  The Gamel farm has been up for sale for about a year and a half and since the death of Grandpa Gamel.  The buyer will close on Thursday, so we came out to get a few photos and maybe bring home a few things that may be sentimental.

  

We drove down the field where Benjamin shot two of his turkeys and visited the old railroad bridge over Joachim creek. According to the bridge’s cornerstone it was built in 1898.

  

   We climbed up onto the top of where the rail used to be and found a few old railroad spikes.

 

Talking about whether an Ak-47 is better than an AR-15.  You know, just one of those typical conversations that we have in our house.

There are two springs on the property that were really the deal-maker for the buyer.  It’s been estimated that over 300,000 gallons of water a day flow into Joachim creek that really begins here.

The is so cold and fresh…it tastes really good. 

On this rock in the creek there is a natural cross made from abrasions of the stone:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey Eggs

   We read aloud a letter they had found that was written by Kate’s Grandpa and told about a few of his WWII experiences.  In the letter he articulately shared the thoughts that were going through his mind and when the letter was over we were left wanting to read a whole book by him.

 

The kitchen cabinets were made from a tree on the farm.

 

2011 Chef Conference-Speakers

 

  Herb Titus is a constitutional attorney and gave lessons on how to correctly interpret the Constitution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture taken to the right of me….

…picture taken to the left of me….

 

…picture taken in front of me.

Bill Potter presented excellent historical lessons that were very helpful in understand why the South seceded and why the Confederate Battle Flag is important.  He also gave a lesson on the “Secret Six: The Rise of Abolitionist Terrorism” and a lesson on the regiment that suffered the worst casualty rate during the war, the 1st Texas Regiment.

 

 

  Doug Phillips gave great lectures about instilling manhood into our boys.  He talked about the Hazardous Journey Into The Amazon that he and 0 other men took earlier this year and also about the Final Farewell celebration they gave to the veterans of WWII in Normandy just a few weeks ago.  He also gave a lesson on the Christian Character of Stonewall Jackson and presented him as the best Christian general history had ever seen.

 

 

Dr. Voddie Baucham gave fantastic lessons on how to look at marriage, college and education through a Biblical worldview.  I am always amazed at how he can delve into the Word and make even complex ideas and interpretations very clear and make very simple, but powerful conclusions.

Dances from June 10

Opening Dance

As Mr. Ramsay explains at the end of this video, this dance is great to use as an opening to a ball. I don't know the name of this dance, but it is fast paced and can be a bit of a fun challenge trying to find a couple to dance with.

     Spanish Circle

Hanging Out with the LaMottes @ Embassy Suites

    We arrived at the St. Charles Convention Center a day early and helped the vendors get their booths set up.  We had a fun time with some of the other boys who were also working and got a good game of Dutch Blitz going with them.  Playing Dutch Blitz is a tradition of our family;  we always play a game at the CHEF Conference.

   One reason why I really enjoyed this year’s conference is because the LaMottes attended the conference with us for their first time.  We also knew a lot of the attendees from the dance lessons we’d taken.

 

Six Flags with Friends Part 1

   Today we went to Six Flags again with Megan, Grandma & Glenn and we had a great day at the park that did bring beautiful, cool weather and did not bring people!  We were able to ride a lot of roller coasters because there were virtually no lines and you could ride the coaster multiple times.  At the end of the day I had ridden 18 rides and 4 of them I had never been on before.

Below are few videos, photos and stories from a few of the rides that we rode.

 

 

Sky Screamer

This ride opened just a few weeks ago [scary] and is basically a really tall swing that lifts you 236ft into the air and spins you around.  There was a bar that went over the seat and a seat belt, but other than that you’re just hanging by chains with an amazing view of the entire park and some stiff breezes upon your face. 

 

Pandemonium

Another fairly new ride that spins in circles as you fly along the track.  Benjamin doesn’t like spinning so only Megan Noah and I are in this photo.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Freeze

   We rode this for the first time with the suggestion of my Grandma (who loves this ride by the way) and I think it is the most intense I have ever been on.  It is an electromagnetic ride that shoots you 0-70 in four seconds and shoots you up over 22 stories into the air…then falls back down and goes through the rest of the track backwards!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Log Flume

A classic ride that I really enjoy.  No, you don’t get too wet on this ride, but….

 

Thunder River

…you do get wet on this one. Just take a look at Glenn.  He got so wet the first time that he had nothing to lose and rode it again!

Megan put on “Mama Lisa’s” raincoat to warm up after getting so wet.

Six Flags with Friends Part 2

The Mine Train

Megan had a lot of fun riding this smaller coaster, in fact she liked it so much she rode it 4 times. After the second ride she said that she liked the part where you twist around, but after the third ride she said that the hill was the best part.

The Boss

Track Length: 5,051 feet

Lift Height : over 12-story

Maximum Drop: 15-story double-down, double-drop

Maximum Speed: 66.3 mph

Other Features: Four drops (150'/112'/103'/72'); helix/570o spiral; series of rabbit hops; 6 crossovers; numerous 52-degree high-banked turns

We rode it: 3 times in a row

The Boss is definitely one of our favorite rides and is a huge wooden roller coaster that is one of the top ten in the country. The lines (or lack thereof) were so small we got to ride it 3 times in a row..which may not sound like much until you’ve ridden a wooden roller coaster this size and have felt how much it jerks you around.

Bumper Cars

However, apparently we hadn’t been jerked around enough and we rode the bumper cars. What a smile on her face! Mom probably got that picture after she had just rammed herself into the side of my car.

Rushstreet Flyer

Superman Tower of Power

Ever wonder what if feels like to fall 22 stories at 60mph? We found out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antique “Moon” Cars

Megan got to drive a 1911 Cadillac, however she was a professional working on a close course.

The Joker

See how the person in the row behind us is giving Benjamin rabbit ears?

Batman

We finished up the day with one of our favorite rides that is a looping roller coaster with a lot of flips and corkscrews at 50mph.