A sad day

Today is a sad day. (It was also sad when Laura G had to leave last week) Sam G left this morning to return to Iowa which marks the end of our road trip that we just took to Maine. It was a glorious time and we all bonded so well. Laura G is going to send pictures soon since she took most of the pictures and we will be able to tell some of the vivid adventures that we had together. This week we will be working for Grandma and whatever odd jobs we can pick up as well as getting ready to move Aug sixth weekend to Upland. Well, must be off to go to the bike shop . . .
Dan P

Almost there

Almost there
Originally uploaded by Farmer3.

Here is a recent picture of our Pilgrimmage in Spain. I am working on inviting you all to flickr where I have begun the process of loading all our Europe pic on there. I am just getting started but you can take a look by clicking on below this pic. Thanks
Dan P

Check out the pic

Hey check out our blog profile pic to the right. We are in Amsterdam at a youth meeting and I am wearing Laremy's aviator glasses. A little big for my face . . .

I just got a coat for 5 dollars that is worth 100

The picture to the right is a recent jacket that I purchased while at Goodwill in Maine. I have spent the last one and a half years riding my bike to work, church, and for errands. I calculated that I saved 27 gallons of fuel just on my riding to work. I saved 54 dollars assuming 2 dollars per gallon. This also prevented 540 lbs of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
All this riding was done with my brother's cold weather jacket from the 8th grade. Julie commented the other day that "the jacket really looks like it is from Matt's junior high years." It keeps me kinda warm against -20 F and it was free. However, I have been looking for a replacement jacket that could handle rain as well. Looking to me means about one year of researching my options and prices. It must be my Puritan blood, plus Julie's Dutch blood mixing into a most wise buying beast. I will be riding my bike to school everyday for the next two years so my need of good gear will continue. I found it today for 10 dollars. Can you believe that? It is priced for one hundred

Actually, the collar was stained and I found a small hole so I got it for 5 dollars. It sure feels good to find a good deal.
Dan P

Blueberries and Our Roadtrip

Dan and I are in Maine now, hanging out with our good friends Laura Groen and Sam Gutierrez. We left Indiana on Saturday morning and camped out in Allegany State Park in NY that night where we played lots of frisbee and couldn't sleep at night b/c there was a party a few campsites over where people got very drunk and then made lots of interesting noises - just thrilling. :)

Sunday we traveled to Caretaker Farm where Dan once apprenticed and camped out there and even got up at 6 am to work on the farm for an hour Monday morning. You can tell we were with Dan. :) We got to South Portland (Dan's hometown and where his parents live) Monday afternoon and went to the beach. When we got home we were all really excited to take showers and eat dinner but! the keys were locked in the car. Yes, my keys were in the ignition and Dan's were on the seat. Brilliant. Fortunately, Dana (Dan's dad) called AAA and saved the day. Yippie! Today we slept in and then walked around Portland. We just watched the matinee of Crash, a really intense movie about people in LA. It was really good.

As a side note, it's blueberry season in Indiana right now. I love blueberries! I grew up picking blueberries every summer and just can't get enough of them. So during the three days between Iowa and Maine, Dan and I went to one of DeMotte's local blueberry farms and picked about 35 pounds of berries, ate lots, froze some, and made and canned lots of jam. Our first time canning together! We'll post pictures in the near future so you can see how much fun it is to can jam. :)