Getting ready for another big birthday in Iowa

We're in LaDonna's home town in NW Iowa. Seeing lots of old friends. You know, OLD as in many years ago. Not as in, OLD as "Was around when Moby Dick was a minnow". It's fun driving the back roads and sharing those roads with farm trucks, tractors pulling grain carts, combines with picker heads attached all driven by farmers who wave when we cruise by with Old Gold. The corn harvest is in full swing and the local elevator has their blowers cranked up on high speed. Sort of drowns out the sound of the coal trains that go through town on the way to Port Neal power station.

While we were going through the next town to the north, we thought we'd try to find our friends, Emery and Sharon. It's been many years since we met these fine folks. Emery was the pastor at a church near us when we lived in Oregon. Sharon goes back even further in our history since she and LaDonna went to summer church camp in western Iowa. Remember when Moby Dick was in church camp?

Here is one of many snapshots to help celebrate Grandma's birthday. Yes, it was the 90th for Lela or "Grandma Clink" as the locals know her by. Here are Doug, LaDonna, Grandma, Kim and Michelle behind the center piece and in front of the ice cream machine. Both were big hits!

While we had Grandma Clink posed, we added Jose and Linda to this snapshot.

Here are Staci, Alexander, Grandma, Evan and Loyal. Loyal is also known by family as Travis. He answers to either one. The picture that 'Zander is holding was created especially for Great Grandma!

Here's a four generation shot with Mom Laloni, Great Grandma Clink, Grandma Linda and the youngest of this group, Hailey.

While we were in Iowa, we were hosted by Bryan and Roxanne. We truly enjoyed their hospitality and treasure their friendship. It was fun to give each a ride in Old Gold. I tried to get Bryan to give Roxanne a ride so they could experience the close bond you get when you drive a Corvette. Couldn't talk them into it so, they each got a ride but, one at a time.