20170819 - Family and Friends

20170819 - Up in the am and we all jumped in the car and headed up to the Farm. We got there and met the family at the Farmhouse and then headed over to the Chestnut Grove Church where many generations of our family are buried for a memorial service for Martha. Roger gave us a history lesson of everyone buried there and our connection to them. There was a nice service, with nice things said by some of of the family, very sad. We all then headed back tot he Farm to have a nice lunch. Everyone chatted and caught up for a bit and then headed out. After everyone was gone GmaW, DJG&I went and got a couple of plants to plant across the road from the Farmhouse. We got them planted and then LDJ&I headed home, G is spending the night.

We stopped at the store on the way home so J could get a present for his buddy and then we dropped him off at the bday party. D headed to DGF7's and L&I headed to the Jamborleapley, a party a guy I use to work with has every year. Kevin had put in a big pond and told me all about it, it was amazing. We had some food, hung out and chatted and relaxed a bit. Home and had some issues getting the big TV working, but eventually watched the movie 'Life'. To bed, but up VERY LATE arranging things for D's bday.

20170708 - Sunny Days Ahead

20170708 - Up early and LDJ&I drove to the service for Aunt Martha. They had a very nice display of all of the things she loved with pictures and her things everywhere. The rest of the aunts and uncles were there and many cousins. A lot of tears. The service was very nice. 3 of Martha's dear friends got up and spoke of her, aunt Jeanie read a letter Roger wrote, and John C read a letter Mary wrote. There was some very nice music and L&I couldn't sing a note :-( As we headed to the lunch after the service there was a very sad emotional moment with Roger. Jim was strong but in shock from the horrible event and Ann was ready to have her baby any second. We sat with a couple of the Kohler girls fro lunch and after we ate headed home. VERY SAD. Martha will be missed so much.

home and L&I dropped D&J leaving them at home alone for the first time ever :-o L&I headed to Mason OH to meet up with G who was swimming when we found him. He had 2 games today and they lost both miserably: glad we missed it. L&I hung out with the adults outside the pool. Randy & I ran to get beer and food and I stayed out front of the hotel with the guys till late.

20170703 - Aunt Martha Eubanks 19520904-20170703

20170703 - Up in the am and in to work.  It was a FAST day with a new program starting up and I spent a lot of time on the floor helping get orders out.  I got a text from GmaW about noon letting me know that my Aunt Martha has passed away.

With all that happened today I wanted to get out of the office so headed out a bit early to headed to Canal Winchester to watch D play baseball.  L&DGF7 met me there.  We chatted and watched the game.  D played the last 3 innings at 2nd and only had 1 at bat where he drove a ball down the 1st base line.  After the game I headed back to work to get the paper work from the orders we processed today.  L headed home to get J&G and then we all met back up at the McClain's for dinner and bday party for Bill and some fireworks.  It was a nice party, but I wasn't in a party mood with the days events so just hung low.  We headed out not too late, got home and everyone to bed.

Aunt Martha,

Throughout my life I have had an extraordinary support system made up of a wonderful and sometime crazy family.  My Aunt Martha was a key ingredient to that support and helped make me who I am today.  Of my Aunts and Uncles she lived in West Virginia so I didn't get to see her as often as others, but when the family got together she was always there.  She was always very kind and supportive, not only to me, but my wife and children as they became part of our family.  Martha always had some craft planned for the ladies of the family that would give them something to do as they sat and chatted.  She loved my boys and they loved her.  The shock of hearing she had cancer and shortly after a major surgery and only days later she was gone from us is unreal.  As I went to bed tonight I made the rounds to say goodnight to my boys and when I walked into Grant's room it was obvious he was praying.  When he looked up I asked him what he was doing, he said 'I was praying for Aunt Martha'.  We all are praying for her and we will miss her kind and generous presence whenever we gather.  What a horrible loss for this world.

20170415 - Maple Syrup Day @ the Farm

Up in the am and down to the  Farm House to meet Roger that had the sap boiling down already. Soon friends and family started showing up for the most beautiful day we have seen for one of these events in many years.  The sun was out the sky was blue and it was definitely time to get outside and start this Spring. Because it was Easter weekend we thought the attendance would be low, especially without the Scouts, bu about 100 friends and family showed up to stand around the fire to relax and catch up with a bit of maple syrup making mixed in there too.

No matter where you travel from.

When you get to the Farm, 

you know you're home.

Thanks to all who helped prepare, those who came to share, those that came to play. Because of all of you, it was a wonderful day. See you next year!

See all our Maple Syrup related activities. 

After the festivities we had everything cleaned up in no time.  We went out for a nice dinner at the Texas Roadhouse.  Home and watched some TV and relaxed

20161124 - Thanksgiving @ the Farm

20161124 - UP in the am and DJG&I got dressed warm and orange and headed out with the hunters: Roger, Johnny, John 3, Sierra, John C, Greg, Christopher, We walked the usual route and D got a bird, J&G hit the brush with sticks and found bones, I got a bird and we all learned we are pretty horrible shots... Back to the farm house and I cleaned my bird and D helped Christopher clean his first bird. 

Up to the house to get cleaned up and then down to the Farmhouse where the Family gathered around the large tables for grace, fellowship and stories like we have for generations. It was a great meal and put most of us to sleep. 



We then mustered up the energy to head up to the Falls for a brisk hike.

Back to the Farmhouse where the ladies worked on a craft and the boys headed out for some more shooting. 

After everyone left we got cleaned up quickly and headed up to Gma&paW's to hang out and watch a movie. Very thankful to have such a big family.

20160806 - Scout Pickup and Family Fun

20160806 - Up and on the road to get D&J from Scout Camp. It was a fast ride over and once there I hiked back for the closing ceremonies. I had quite a few of the adult leaders come up to me and tell me D really stepped up this week as a leader and made the week go very smooth :-) I got my boys in the car and we headed out towards the restaurant we all drop at on the way back. The boys talked and talked for the hour it took us to get there, telling me all about the funny things that happened (D and some of the older boys had a skit mocking the adults that was the 'pinnacle' of the week), and all about the kids that didn't do so good... It was great to talk to them and hear all the stories. We got there and made sure the tables were ready and then directed the troop as they came in. The boys ate a ton at the buffet and we were the first to head out as we needed to get to the reunion. Once in the car I gave them their phones and the new rules that come with them... With their phones in hand it was a quieter ride to the farm.

Back to the Farm, everyone cleaned up and G&I went swimming with the cousins from Germany. We got changed and headed up for the dinner and entertainment. It was a fun night with lots of stories and good times. It was good for the boys to be around multiple generations and a nice event.

20160805 - Farmily Reunion

20160805 - Up in the ma and in to work. Typical Friday. L&G left midday to head up to the Farm and Help GmaW get ready for the Reunion. I finished my day and fought traffic up to the Farm. Got there, got some food and settled in to chat with family from all over of all ages. G ground some corn the old fashion way and people shared memories and had a good time.

20160409 - Maple Syrup Day @ the Farm

20160409 - L woke up to find a clock in the hall, G was the 1st boy up and ready to go, he headed out with GmaW. J up and explained the clock was ticking too loud so he had to put it in the hall... D&I up and all out to a beautiful crisp snow covered Farm morning. We all headed out and met up with the frozen scouts that were busy making breakfast. D, directing the scouts and I helped GpaW get things ready and things look really good. Roger and Dale had the sap rolling in the old cast iron kettle and the steam melting the falling snow. 

Soon relatives and friends from near and far filled the yard, barn and house. Tours were given, maple syrup making lessons and stories of days gone flowed by while introductions and new connections were made. The Boy Scouts started their side dishes and lunch was prepared on the grill and inside. 

Soon the food was read and with the snow nearly everyone went inside to eat. I walked around and took pictures and thought how happy Great GmaW would be to see her house so full of wonderful people. We had 95 people here, 27 from Troop 98 that spent then night in the barn and tents on the South yard. 

After lunch the sap had boiled down to the right temperature to officially be Maple Syrup. We pour it off and filled the jars of the golden brown glorious goodness, we think it's the best we've ever made!

Things started wrapping up and the Scouts headed off on a hike up through the camp and to the falls peppered with continuous snowball fights. Cold and wet the hikers returned to the Farmhouse to warm up, eat some leftovers for dinner, play games and hangout.

We look forward to this day to start our Spring off with family and friends each year and this year despite the snow was no exception. We are ready for spring with our maple syrup reserves and hearts full ready for the warm weather and crazy busy schedules to kick in. 

No matter where you travel from.

When you get to the Farm, 

you know you're home.

Thanks to all who helped prepare, those who came to share, those that came to play. 

Because of all of you, it was a wonderful day. 

See you next year!

4/8/17

20151126 - Thanksgiving @ the Farm

20151126 - Up in the am and the all the boys and I got suited up and met Johnny, Roger, John 3 & John C on the hunt.  Only D&I carried guns from our group and we took a nice walk across the fields and through the brush looking for the pheasants we let out last night.  J found one walking through the woods at the end of the hunt and D chased him down, kicked him up and got a bird.  4 in total for the hunt.  After the hunt G wanted to shoot a shotgun, here is his first shotgun experience:

JG&I headed up to the house to get cleaned up and D stayed at the Spring House to clean his bird. We all met back up at the Farm House for a wonderful feast and fellowship with our relatives.  I love how everyone comes together for the holidays here. 

Several groups took hikes and GmaW, DJ&I took a trip to the Falls.  Soon everyone left and we headed up to Gma&paW's house and found a movie to watch and relaxed the rest of the evening.  What a nice day!

20150411 - Maple Syrup Day @ the Farm

20150411 - UP in good tim and down to the Farm.  Roger and Dale had the syrup well underway.  We finished getting thinggs ready and the Scouts helped.  Soon we had over 100 people at the Farm enjoying the perfect day.  The weather was fantastic and everyone explored, visited and played.  G made several trips to  the pond, a hayride to  the Falls and explored all over as the leader of the herd.  A nice slow day.   Things wound down, the Scouts helped clean up and we retreated to the house for a Chinese feast and review of the day.  G collapsed, J soon after.  G did wake back up for a bit and we watched Boxtrolls with GmaW.  Another perfect day at the Farm.  All to bed exhausted...

No matter where you travel from.

When you get to the Farm, 

you know you're home.

Thanks to all who helped prepare, those who came to share, those that came to play. 

Because of all of you, it was a wonderful day. 

See you next year!

20141127 - Thanks for a Great Day

20141127 - UP in the am and D&I out hunting with the guys.  I stepped on one and missed, thought I had the safety on, and had another fly right in front of me, pulled the trigger and nuttin....  I had an empty shell in the chamber... D thought this was hilarious.  Well with a shell in the gun te next bird to pass didn't stand a chance, BLAM got him!  D got one today too!  In all we got 6!  Back to the spring house to clean them and then up to the house to get cleaned up.

Down the Farm House for a Thanksgiving feast and to celebrate GmaW's bday.  It was a much smaller crowd this year, but the food and family were great.  Good conversations and no real melt downs by the boys.  We had a nice relaxing afternoon. playing games and talking with everyone.

We got the Farm House cleaned up and back up to the house for more food, conversation and a movie.

20140412 - Maple Syrup Day @ the Farm

20140412 - Up in the am, little boys already out of the house. I can see the smoke rising and the Boy Scout moving around down in the South yard. I have my cup of coffee and head down to help get the last things in place for the day. Uncle Roger and Dale are there, already hard at work boiling down the sap in the ancient cast iron kettle.  The morning is perfect, a bit windy but no chill, the sound of the fire and the running spring fill my ears with memories.  Soon family and friends start showing up and conversations, history lessons and new friendships are formed.  Kids are in the barn swinging from the rope, building hay forts, feeding the ponies treats and exploring in the woods.  The Scouts are cooking over open fires and the pot-luck food is overflowing on the table inside.  Tours of the house and building, friends all around and the sun blessing us with a perfect afternoon.  Lunch was served and everyone had plenty to eat; the Boy Scouts had their potato dish competition and everything was excellent.  Back out to the fire and the sap is almost syrup.  The samples demonstrate the pure goodness in the real syrup.  We pull the kettle from the fire at just the right time and pour the syrup through the filters, then take it into the springhouse to bottle.  Every family got a small sample to take home with smiles all around.  After the syrup event we headed up to Camp Mowana for a trip to Flemming Falls and a meandering walk past Hoppy's grave, the Indian fire ring and through the pines.  The kids stopped for a game of basketball and then back to the farm. Things wound down and friends headed home with memories they will have forever.  The Scouts helped us clean up and we relaxed by the fire as the sun went down.  The Scouts then headed out on a night hike and G came back a bit early scared by the coyote sounds.  The Scouts settled back in their tents and the barn for another night of camping out.  Up to the house and everyone exhausted. What a perfect day!

No matter where you travel from.

When you get to the Farm, 

you know you're home.

Thanks to all who helped prepare, those who came to share, those that came to play.  

Because of all of you, it was a wonderful day.  

See you next year!

See all our Maple Syrup related activities. 

20131229 - Winger Family Christmas Party

20131229 - Up and had a nice pile of bacon a spectacular salty casserole. Then GmaW&I headed to the nursing home where I checked out a guys laptop to see if I could fix it. Too slow and old to fix. Home and picked up LDJ&G, GpaW had gone ahead and picked up milk. We drove to Shelby and stopped to look at Ford Flex cars in the lot there. On to John & Mary's for the Winger Christmas party. The house was decorated very nice, except the beer bottles Tracy was leaving all over. There was good food, bingo, shrimp, which conveniently fit inside the sugar cube igloos the kids made, food, presents, conversation, videos of the past. It was a very nice, enjoyable and relaxing party. Back to the Farm after the party and GpaW got us pizza, not sure how we could have possibly eaten another things, but we did and we watched one of GmaW's new Roy Rogers movies while L gave GpaW a lesson on his new popcorn popper. Little boys to bed with GmaW and they read every book in the bedroom. We finished off the night watching the 'Hangover 3' and then 'This is the End', a couple hilarious unclean funny movies.

20131128 - Farm Thanksgiving

20131128 - Up hunting with D, Roger Johnny, John 3, John Christian. I'm not a very good shot, one flew right over my head. D got one, and a couple of the other men too.  We cleaned the birds up and then ran up to house to cleaned up.

Down to farm house for nice dinner, a lot of family and friends around. Took walk to falls, target shooting down by the creek. In the evening D&GpaW played chess GmaW LJG&I played some cards, J melted quickly, G soon to follow, little boys in bed. Stayed up to watch Red 2.

20130413 - Maple Syrup Day at the Farm

20130413 - Up early and down to the fire.  Uncle Roger was there boiling down already and the steam was gently rising through the air.  The weather was not the best we have ever had, but certainly not the worst.  But really for this day it doesn't matter, it is all about being outside, running free, exploring, sharing and being with the special people in our lives.  The people started showing up ad they kept coming all day long.  Some just popped in and left and some stayed all day, either way we were happy just to see them.  We had some Scouts, baseball team friends, work friends old friends and new.  We planted trees, took a hayride, explored the barns and attic, the reconstructed basement, the falls the pines, the woods and cemetery.  There were kids everywhere and no stone was left upturned.  The food was amazing and plentiful.  Oh and the syrup was just divine.


Once again the memories we made.  Our Dutch friends met many new people and others from not so far away kindled friendships as well with total strangers.  Odd how a fire and a love filled historic location can do that; every time your visit.  If you didn't make it this year, we hope to see you next year.

Special thanks to Gma&paW for all the hard work preparing, and all the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins that help make this a Family Farm and a great annual event.

After the fire died down and the last guests drove off, we quickly cleaned up (we have it down to a science now) and ran to Ashland to grab some dinner.  Back to Gma&paW's and we collapsed for exhaustion and joy.
This year Aunt Louise and Paulette were no longer with us :-(

20121230 - Winger Christmas

20121230 - Up and the boys outside playing in the snow, getting pulled around on the pug.  In, warmed up, changed and to the Winger Christmas party at Uncle John and Aunt Mary's in Shelby.  It was as always a wonderful time with way too much food, especially the chinese noodle candy :-P  This year I got my own tin of it, YUM YUM! and NO I will NOT share it...  On the way back to the Farm we tried to go through the Richland Co. Fairground Wunderland of Lights, but it was closed :-)  Back at the Farm we stayed up late, watched a movie and monitored ebay sales.

20121122 - Farm Thanksgiving

20121122 - Up early and out on the hunt.  Dylan got a bird and I did too.  It was a beautiful morning and a nice brisk walk all over the Farm.  Pheasants cleaned up and us too, we met at the Farmhouse for a wonderful dinner and tons of family and fun.  It is always great to be at the Farm with everyone around.  After the exciting full day we headed up to Gma&paW's to relax and watch the Michael Jackson documentary: it was a huge disappointment.

 

20120606 - Sad Evening

20120606 - Up and to the desk for a super full and fast day.  On the road with L&G up to Aunt Louise's calling hours.  Louise looked beautiful and had a pleasant little smile.  Lots of family and friends there.  Lots of people we didn't recognize...  Back to farm for dinner with Gma&paW.  GpaW was up and about and doing pretty good. He looks tired and weak and very upset about everything that has happened to him and Louise...  Stayed up talking.

20110820 - Family Everywhere!

20110820 - Up and down to the barn for my Dad's barn talk, where he went over the history of the barn and what he had learned from a guy that restores old barns.  It was a beautiful day and there were relatives ll over the barn and farm house just looking at things and talking about memories and getting reacquainted.  Ellen gave G a guided ride on Dusty, Jack got stung on the play-set and D played frisbee with his new found cousin from WA.

We took a break and headed up to Camp Mowana for lunch.  We then broke up into groups; some went on a hay ride to the family cemetery, some back to the Farm and some to the Falls and Pine Forrest.

After our walk we took a dip in the Camp pool and had fun throwing and dunking and messing around.  All cleaned up and back to the retreat center for a nice dinner and program.  There were poems read, memories shared, skits, pictures of people and the year they joined the family and this priceless classic of the Kohler family hoedown.



We stayed until late and then headed back to the Farm for bed.

20110422 + Adventure Day!

20110422 + Up early and to the hotel cafe for breakfast in shifts, DJ&I first, then G&I.  We got all packed up and called Aunt Martha and headed to her house that was only a couple blocks away.  We had a nice visit as the boys stalked her cats and then we kidnapped her and took her with us.  Our first stop was the 'Madonna of the Trail' and our fist geocache as well!

Then from there we took some winding roads and found the 'Prabhupada's Palace of Gold and City of God' where we took a nice tour and learned about their religion.  Martha was a good sport and i think learned a lot ;-)

Back on the twisty roads to Moundsville and the 'Marx Toy Musuem' the boys were in heaven, but wanted everything they saw.  We got the scoop on a local place to eat and had a great meal at 'Bob's Lunch', gravy covered fries is their specialty, YUM!

Back on the road and stopped at the 'Grave Creek Indian Mound' and museum, it was pretty cool and we found a geocache with cool stuff in it there.  The mound was directly across from the castle like old West Virgina State Penitentiary, they would NOT take the boys :-(


One more stop in WV for a geocache, we found it but it was soaking wet.  On the road and over the Ohio River to Bellaire where we found the 'Toy and Plastic Brick Museum' = LEGOs.  I mean I have never seen so many LEGOs in all my life.  We were all amazed at the awesome displays and things they had built.  This is a must see for anyone with kids that like LEGOs!!!



Back on the road and Martha directed us past the site of McColloch's Leap, which is a great story.  We got Martha home about 5pm and said goodbye, except for G who talked some much during the day wore himself out and was dead asleep.  We had a great day with Aunt Martha and hope we did not wear her out too much :-)


On the road heading home and made a stop at Buckeye Lake for a Pizza Cottage dinner and hot wings.  We got home, things put away and our 3 tired little fellas from a huge 24 hours adventure went right to bed.  This day was great and so much better than had I sat behind my desk...