Iowa Reunion

One of the houses at Ramsey Farms at dusk

Every year about the same time the Beede family converges on a little place called Ramsey Farms to get to know each other a little better and pay tribute to those we love that are no longer with us.  Ramsey Farms is a working farm with several houses that they have turned into a Bed and Breakfast, located halfway between Kellerton and Mt. Ayre, Iowa.  It works for us because it's within driving distance for a lot of people and those of us who have to travel a long distance enjoy being in proximity to where our parents, grandparents, etc. lived.  For instance, our favorite activity is Saturday afternoon at Lefty's bar in Mt. Ayre - family lore states that my dad and his brothers hung out there.

Lefty's Bar!

I don't know if we were just especially tired from staying up too late Friday night playing Pitch (a card game our family has played for generations and I'm just starting to understand) or if it was because our usual waitress, Judy, wasn't working due to a broken leg, or the AWFUL mold smell that permeated the whole room.  Anyway, it just didn't seem the same this year!  There were normal people in there just hanging out watching the golf tournament on TV - why would they subject themselves to the smell?  Probably because it's the only bar in Mt. Ayre?  This is also the 1st year I've been to the reunion since my Aunt Loni died 2 years ago.  It just didn 't seem the same without her and Uncle Ivan is still very sad. 

To break tradition of eating lunch Saturday at the farm, we opted for eating at a small diner in the Mt. Ayre square called Peggy Sue's.  Well, the Beede family showed up in droves - do you know how long it takes to do short order for 42 people at one time?  It was fun anyway up until the point where somebody (won't mention any names - Tim) scared Uncle Ivan with a fake rat in a box.  Didn't go over too well with our crowded table.  We also celebrated Aunt Gertie's eighty oneth birthday - yes, that's right - eighty oneth.  She is truly my inspiration!  I hope I look and act as young as her when I'm that age.



Melvin (my cousin), Uncle Ivan, Uncle Duane, and Gary (my brother)
in front of Peggy Sue's diner, Mt. Ayre, Iowa



Uncle Duane, Aunt Gertie, Jennifer (my niece) and Connor (my great nephew)

 After a little shopping at Aunt Jenny's attic, we returned to the farm for dinner, of which the highlight for me was the homemade ice cream.  Lots of visiting, looking at pictures, and numerous showings of Aunt Linda's Alaska voyage - ha (just kidding Linda - it's great to watch), we went to bed much earlier.  One of the things I liked best about this year's reunion was that there were so many children and they had so much fun playing together.  I think they had more fun than we did!  As usual, I didn't take enough pictures AND THEN must have deleted them before I downloaded since I can't find them now!  Thank you Jennifer for sharing your fabulous pictures.  Somewhere there's a picture of most of the group and one of me & my siblings.  If anyone reading this has more pictures, please send. Thanks!



Russell (my long-suffering brother in law) - just kidding!, Linda (part of the cause
of his suffering) - ha!, Rivers (my sister in law/long-suffering as well), ME, & Mike (cause of everybody's
suffering). I'm SO funny! You KNOW I LOVE you guys!