More Farm Show Pictures and Mike And Jodi Come For A Visit

Rantoul, IL.

63 deg. N. wind @ 8 mph.

Forecast - Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Light east winds.

They were doing field demonstrations in the field right next to the CG yesterday, so Jim walked over there a couple times and took some pictures.

These are a few of the pictures that Jim was able to get from the CG

This is an old single row picker that was picking the rows of corn right next to the fence.

A 4 row pull-behind picker

The 4 row picker going the other way and actually picking corn.

After the field was harvested it was time for the plowing demonstrations. This is a huge tractor that pulls a 15 bottom plow. Don't know how practical is actually is, but it brought a lot of attention.

Another picture of the huge tractor and it's plow.

This is the kind of tractor that Jim drove as a teen-ager when he worked out on the farms around Peotone during the summertime and after school. It's a Farmall model "M" tractor and was one of the most popular tractors in that area.

Back at the CG they were starting to load some of the tractors on trailers as this was the last day of the show and it was time to head back home or to another show. During the afternoon, I would guess that about 3/4 of the RVs here in the CG left. The show was over and it was time to head home or to their next destination.

Then, about 4:30 Mike and Jodi pulled up in front of me with their Motorcycle. You don't see too many cycles with side cars, so it was neat that they brought it here to show it to me. After they got their riding gear off, Jim brought them inside of me and gave them the "tour". They seemed to really like me and made some very nice comments. : )

After they talked for awhile, Jim fired up the grill and cooked some burgers and brats while Mike, Jodi and Linda brought the rest of the food out to the picnic table. Mike and Jodi brought some salad, and some beer and that along with chips, sweet corn and tomatoes made for a very nice meal.

After they finished eating they all came inside and talked for awhile. (The bugs were really bad outside). They hadn't seen each other for a whole year, but you would have never known it by the way the conversation picked up.

About 7:30 they had to leave because Mike had some things he needed to get done, so after h and h, (hugs and handshakes), they put on their riding gear and rode off on their Ural Motorcycle. : )

After they left, Jim and Linda were talking about how much they enjoyed having a meal and visiting with them. They're a really nice couple and I know I'm looking forward to seeing them again next year.

Oh, and guess what? Jim forgot to take any pictures of them so I looked back at last years photos and found this one of Mike and Jodi with their motorcycle. I'm pretty sure it was taken up in Michigan at the CG where Jim and Linda met them.

                                

Not a whole lot planned for today, but tomorrow morning, both Jim and Linda have an appointment with Linda's eye doctor. He has an office down  in Champaign so it won't take CLT (Cute Little Truck), too long to get them there.

Oh, Joe called from Virginia Beach. They had lots of wind and rain, but no damage and everyone is OK. When he called, the power was still out but they have a good supply of flashlights and batteries so they should be all right. Needless to say, Linda was very relieved to hear from them. : )

Thanks for calling, Joe.

Did you know that 1954 was the first year more tractors were used on farms than horses and mules?

A Nice Surprise, The Farm Show and Company Coming

Rantoul, IL.

62 deg. clear, N. wind@ 8 mph.

Forecast = Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.


About 10:00 yesterday morning, Louise stopped by and asked Jim if he and Linda would like to go over to the Farm Show? The show operators and the city had arranged for her to have 4 golf carts to use and also some VIP passes that she could give out to anyone who wanted to come and see the show.

Jim told her that he and Linda would like to go, so she let Jim and Linda use this cart along with 2 passes to the show.

Wasn't that nice of her?

So, as soon as Linda got ready they took the cart and headed over to the show to see what was going on.

On the way over there, they saw some field demonstration. Here, there's a bunch of old corn pickers picking corn. Click on the pictures to enlarge them so you can see them better.

In this patch of ground there were a couple old tractors plowing. This picture is of an old 2 cylinder John Deer pulling a 1 bottom plow.

Once they got over to the main show area it was kind of like a carnival or fair. There were people everywhere and tents and booths set up in rows with people selling everything from tractor and implement parts to food.

This old manure spreader and a Standard Oil tanker wagon were on display along with many, many other pieces of farm equipment.

This is billed as the "Largest Flying Flag In The USA It's 120 x 65 feet, weighs 200 lbs and costs about $7500. Because there is not a flag pole large enough to support it at the farm show site, it is suspended between 2 cranes. All money raised from donations go to toward the United Veteran Projects.

Jim and Linda were over at the show for about an hour and a half. Most of the time was spent riding around on the golf cart and looking at things, but they did stop at one stand to buy a corn dog. ; )

A little while after they returned here, Jim and Linda got a call from Mike and Jodi who live down in Champaign.

Now, Mike and Jodi are not to be confused with Mike and Jena or Mike and Sandy, or Mike and Terri. ; ) 

Jim and Linda met Mike and Jodi at a CG up in Michigan last year, found out they were from Champaign, had dinner with them when they all got back here to this area, and have become good friends. Some of you long time readers of Myrddin's Blog may recall that Mike worked here in Rantoul, and he has a Ural motorcycle with a sidecar that he and Jodi had ridden up to Michigan.

Anyway, Linda had called Mike about a week or so ago and asked him if he and Jodi would like to get together some time while we were here. Jodi was gone on a business trip but Mike told Linda he'd call back when she returned. So, yesterday he called and it was decided that they would come here to the CG today for a cook-out. : )

They should be here about 4:00 or 4:30 today and I'm really looking forward to meeting them. Jim is planning on cooking hamburgers, hot dogs and brats on the grill and Mike said that they'd bring something to go with them.

Hmmmm!! I wonder if they'll be coming on their motorcycle?

Did you know that the first rubber-tired tractor wasn't introduced until 1930?

A Few Pictures Of The Tractor Ride and Hurricane Irene

Rantoul, IL

64 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.

Here's some pictures that Jim took of that "Tractor Ride" that they had the other day. I don't know the make of all the tractors but maybe you can figure it out if you click on the picture to enlarge it.

This one I know is an old John Deer.

Have no idea who made this blue tractor.

This is just a picture of a bunch of tractors heading down the road. I would guesstimate that there were about 75 tractors that passed by the CG.

As you can see, this guy took parts of an old truck and mounted them on a tractor. (Looked pretty neat). : )

Can't tell what kind of tractor this is? (Maybe a ford)?

This is a Minneapolis Moline and it looked just like new.

There were many, many more tractors, but this gives you an idea of what it was like watching them go by.

Hopefully Jim will be able to get some pictures of the "field demonstrations" that they will be having today in the fields right next to the CG. If he takes some I'll post some of them here, so stay tuned! ; )

I'm happy to report that hurricane Irene has now been downgraded to a category 1 as it heads directly towards Virginia Beach where Joe and his family live. As of this morning the winds have dropped down into the 90 mph range which is much better than what they were.

Needless to say, both Linda and Jim are very concerned about the situation out there. : (

Did you know that the first gasoline farm tractors were introduced in 1910?

Before and After and More To Come

Rantoul. IL.

61 Deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Light north winds.


As promised, here are some pictures that Jim took here at the Campground. The first ones were taken this last weekend before any of the RVs started coming in for the Farm Show.

The main road in the CG.

Sites across the street from where I'm parked.

This is the street that runs along the West side of the CG and is behind me.

Another picture of that street.

The next pictures show what it is like here in the CG now, and when these were taken yesterday morning, there were still 30 more RVs scheduled to come into the park.

Sites across the road from me. Notice that the 5th wheels are parked back to back. One is hooked up to the 50amp circuit and the other one to the 30 amp circuit. A "Y" adapter is used on the water faucet and they take turns using the sewer connection.

More RV packed in. These are also 2 to a site but are parked side by side facing opposite directions.

These trailers parked behind these 5th wheels were used to bring golf carts and ATVs to the park.

Remember that empty street running along the West side of the CG? These RVs are all dry camping.

More dry camping

We even have a few tenters.

Looking down the main street of the CG

If you don't have a pick-up to haul your truck camper, Just load it on a flat-bed truck and come anyway. ; )

Speaking of RVs, there are all kinds here. All the way from Prevost Buses to pop-up campers to the tents.

Some of them are brand new but there are also older RVs like this classic Airstream MH.

The tractors that were in the "Tractor Ride" all went past here yesterday morning and Jim took some pictures of them as they passed by. I'll try to post some of them here tomorrow.

Oh, Linda called Joe in Virginia Beach last night. She wanted to talk to him before Irene hits the area. They've already got the windows boarded up and have put everything outside away.They're in the process of stocking up on water, food, extra batteries and all of the other stuff recommended. As of right now, the storm is fore-casted to pass right over Virginia Beach.

We're all hoping that the storm will turn and head out to sea before it gets up there.

Did you know that it was 1844 before the first mowing machine was patented?

The Appointment and A Visit With Adeline

Rantoul, IL

60 deg. clear, NW wind @ 8 mph.

Forecast = Sunny. Not as warm. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.


Jim and Linda left here about 8:30 yesterday morning to head up to Peotone for the appointment with their financial advisor. CLT said that the trip went well and they arrived about 10 minutes before 10:00. The meeting lasted longer than expected and so it was a little after 12:00 by the time they finished.

They had told Jim's cousin, Adeline, that they would be there sometime between 11:30 and 12:00 so Jim called her as soon as the meeting ended and told her that he and Linda were on their way. She said "Not to worry" as she was having Italian roast beef sandwiches and the meat was in a crock pot so it would be fine until they got there.

CLT said that it didn't take them long to get there and by about 12:30 he was parked in her driveway. : )

It had been a few years since Jim and Linda had seen Adeline so it was really good to see her again. I think I mentioned yesterday that she had lost her husband, Robert, recently but Jim and Linda both said that she seems to be doing fine and her 2 sons are helping her.

She is a little older than Jim and when he was very small, she used to play with him when they visited. Jim said that it was fun talking about the "Old Days" and all the things they did as kids. ; )

It was almost 3:30 by the time they said their good-bye's with lots of hugs, so it was almost 5:00 by the time they returned here to the CG.

I know that the CG had to look completely different to them when they returned because bunches of RVs came in yesterday. Most of the sites are full with 2 RVs on many of them and the road behind me is almost full, (on both sides) with RVs that are dry camping.

Jim took some pictures the other day of the CG before anyone came in for the farm show, and as soon as he can, he's going to take some "after" pictures to show you what it's like now. If he takes them today, I'll try to post some of them on here tomorrow.

Did you know that the McCormick reaper was patented in 1834?

Some Much Needed Rain, Hot Again, Lots Of RVs and Today's Plans

Rantoul, IL.

70 deg. hazy, SW wind @ 4 mph.

Forecast = Hot and humid. Mostly sunny. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent. Heat index readings 101 to 106.

As you can see by the forecast above, the heat is back. : (  We had almost 2" of very much needed rain yesterday and it didn't get too hot because of the cloud cover, but today is supposed to be a real scorcher.

Because of the rain, Jim and Linda didn't go out until about 3:00. Walgreen's had called and told Linda that her prescriptions were ready, (the doctor had called them in), so they headed over there to pick them up and purchase some other items.

Other than that, Jim and Linda didn't do much else. (Linda did some laundry but Jim just played with the computer and took a nap). That's not to say that it was quiet here at the park though. Bunches of RVs have been coming into the CG for the Farm Show. Many of them were pulling trailers with golf carts and ATVs on them, or there was another vehicle following the RV, either loaded with golf carts or pulling a trailer loaded with them.

At one point, there were so many RVs waiting to get checked in that they were backed all the way up out onto the road. (There had to be 7 or 8 of them).

Today, should be real crazy around here with many, many more RVs coming in because at 7:00 tomorrow morning the gates open and the fun begins. You can click here if you'd like to see the schedule for the show.

Today, Jim and Linda will take CLT and head up North to Peotone, IL. (where they used to live in a stix and brix house before they went full-timing), to see their financial advisor. They need to be up there by 10:00, so being that it's 80-some miles up there, they'll be leaving here about 8:30. Then after their meeting, they're going to stop by and visit with Jim's cousin, Adeline, who lost her husband not long ago. She lives in Manteno, IL. which is about 7 miles South of Peotone.

Jim says that he doesn't expect to be back here much before dinner time.

Did you know that America has almost one billion farmland acres?

A New Computer? and Going To Hoopeston

Rantoul, IL.

60 deg. clear, NW wind @ 4 mph.

Forecast = Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Light northwest winds.

I didn't know it, but Jim and Linda are considering getting a new computer. Their old desktop is really out of date and Jim is worried that it may die one of these days and they would lose all the stuff on it.

Yes, Jim backs it up once in awhile but the program that Linda uses for her family tree stuff is very old, and in fact it is an old "shareware" program from way back before I was made. Linda has hundreds of names, dates, places and details of family on that program and now the problem is going to be getting it to run on a new operating system. (I think it was originally designed to run on Windows 95.

Anyway, while Greg from Geeky Guys was here removing the virus from this laptop a week or so ago, Jim and Linda started talking to him about getting a new computer and the problem they may have transferring the program. You see, Greg builds desktop computers and sells them. Since Linda would really rather have a desktop, they told him that if he could get the program to work on a new operating system, they would purchase a computer from him and pay him for transferring the programs.

Greg has been doing some research and yesterday, he stopped by here and copied a bunch of files from the old desktop to a flash drive. He has found that the author of the family tree program is still around and there are some newer versions of the program that "should" work on the latest systems. So, he's going to contact the author, download a new version of the program and try to transfer all the data that Linda has put into the old program to the new one.

Hopefully it will work. If it does, Jim and Linda have made arrangements to have Greg build them a new computer.

Other than Greg stopping by, not much else happened around here yesterday. Some of the RVers that will be going to the Farm Show have already started coming in. I lost count, but I'm sure there were over a dozen RVs come in already.

Today, Jim and Linda are going over to Hoopeston to meet up with Linda's cousin Mike and his wife Sandy. They're going to meet them over there about 9:00, and since it's about 40 miles over there, they'll have to leave here around 8:00 or a little after. I don't know how long they'll be gone but I'm sure they won't be back here before 1 or 2 O'clock.

Did you know that Hoopeston is known as the "Sweetcorn Capital of the World ”?

Nothing To Write About and The Farm Show

Rantoul, IL.

65 deg. overcast, no wind.

Forecast = Partly sunny. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.


Everyone who writes a blog knows that some days there just doesn't seem to be anything to write about. Today is one of those days for me.

Very few RVs came into the park for this weekend. The only reason I can think of is that everyone will be coming for the Half Century of Progress Farm Show that starts this next week. It's over at the airport, (which is adjacent to the CG).

From what I can tell from listening to people talk, this is really a big deal in this part of the country and almost every farmer from the area and many others from across the country come to see the vintage farm equipment and  field demonstrations.  They're even having a "Tractor Ride" where many, many tractors drive through the countryside for about 50 miles before coming back to the show. Jim says it's kind of like a parade where everyone comes out of their homes and watches the old tractors go by.

Hmmm!! I wonder if they'll be going past here so I can see them?

Well anyway, (and I think I've mentioned this before), this CG will be completely filled, (actually overbooked) with 2 RVs sharing many of the sites.

Now, you're probably wondering how they can put 2 RVs on a site. Well, from what I'm told, the RVs will be backed up to one another, (or in some cases kind of along side one another facing opposite directions), One will be hooked up to the 50amp outlet and the other will be hooked up to the 30 amp outlet. "Y" connectors will be used for the water connections, and the 2 RVs will have to take turns dumping their tanks.

Along with all the RVs there will be many golf carts and ATVs in the park and many of the folks will have trailers (that they brought their golf carts and ATVs on), that will be parked someplace in the CG too. And Jim says that there will probably even be some tractors here in the park from time to time!!

Now, beside all the RVs in the CG sites, there will be many RVs that will be boon-docking along the side streets, both in and near the park. (Louise is estimating that there may be as many as 50 to 75 RV boon-docking, and possibly even more if the weather is good).

So . . . . this next week should be very exciting and probably pretty hectic at times. It'll be a completely new experience for me and should be very educational! ; )

Hmmm!! I guess I did find something to write about!! ; )

Did you know that in the 1930’s, 25% of the U.S.population lived on a farm, now it is less than 2% ?

Keys Made, Making Room and Doctor Appointments

Rantoul, IL

68 deg. overcast, NW wind @ 9 mph.

Forecast = Becoming partly sunny. A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Had a few storms go through the area, just North of here yesterday afternoon and evening. This CG and the surrounding area are in desperate need of rain, but here at Prairie Pines, there was only enough to make the street slightly wet at one point and then just sprinkles at other times.

Jim finally got hold of the locksmith yesterday morning, (called him on the phone), and made an appointment to meet him at his shop at 10:45. Then, at about 10:35 he headed over there and finally got the keys made. Now, he has 2 keys for all my locks and a few spare ones that he put into one of those magnetic "key safe" boxes that he stashed it away at a hidden location on me, known only to me, him and Linda.

Now, if he should lose his keys, he and Linda will either be able to use the keys that Linda now has ot at least gain entrance to me with the hidden keys. : )

He also worked on going through some of the totes in my basement to make more room and ended up with another empty one. I now feel pretty sure that I'll be able to handle the remaining totes and boxes that are still over in the storage room in the bath house here at the park.

Oh, speaking of that, Jim says that as soon as Paul and Louise have time, he wants to get all of that stuff out of there and bring it over here. He says it either has to fit in me or he and Linda will have to get rid of some of it.

Linda called her doctors yesterday and made appointments to go see them. She has to go get a blood test tomorrow morning and then in a week or two will see her regular doctor after she gets the test results. Then, on the 30th of Aug she and Jim both have appointments with Linda's eye doctor/retinologist. Linda will be going for her yearly check-up and Jim will be going back to see him so he can check on a problem he has had with one of his eyes. Jim says that he doesn't think the problem is getting worse but wants to have the doctor check it.

Nothing much exciting happening here at the CG. In fact, it's pretty empty right now. All of that will change on the 25th of this month though. That's the beginning of the weekend when they're having a big Farm Show over at the airport and I'm told that the campground will be completely filled. In fact Jim says that if it's like it was 2 years ago, many of the sites will have 2 RVs on them and there will be RVs boon-docking on the surrounding streets.

Wow!!! That should be interesting!!!!

Did you know that Kermit the Frog is left-handed?