I can't believe its true, that summer is really over. It feels like a landmark to me though. Like Fall is a starting place, a new beginning. The pleasure of a sharp pencil and a new school year feels good. When I look back at the summer it feels incredibly long and incredibly short simultaneously. But the end of summer is always marked by Labor Day and for people who have lived in Mt. Pleasant, the annual Old Thresher's Event.
My mom lives really close to the Old Thresher's Fairground, so its easy for us to go over for just a few hours. We can walk, and avoid the parking nightmare. For us this year it was really just a great afternoon.
We arrived and went straight to the train ride where by sheer good fortune landed ourselves on the train where a robbery is staged. Will loves "bad guys" and he enjoyed the robbery immensely. I learned after a few trips on trains that the loud noise can really ruin a trip; so earlier in the summer I got Will some headphones...and they made Old Threshers far more enjoyable! I saw lots of hands over ears and tears, but not Will this year. I felt like a good mom. After the train ride and robbery, the three of us headed over to the church tent to gorge on meat loaf sandwiches and a plan for strawberry short cake. We were too full for cake. Some day we will learn, eat dessert first.
After lunch we headed over to a child's play area where Will rode a pony, twice. And, then, a tractor! He was adorable and continues to be thrilled with his new t-shirt that declares he drove a tractor at Old Threshers (a gift from his mimi). We finished the afternoon at Old Threshers with a ride on the carousel.
But the day was not over. Oh no, we picked granny up and headed to nearby New London for some ice cream. Will was a doll the entire day and promptly fell fast asleep on the return ride from New London, only to awake eventually in Ottumwa.
I didn't feel any sadness on this particular year, on this ceremonially end to summer afternoon. While it was tremendous to have time with my family, and to not have to balance work and play, there is pleasure in a new beginning.
Just as a reminder, don't forget the Polar Express train ride tickets at Old Thresher's MicMillan Park go on sale soon. In fact if you go to the above link, on October 15 there will be a mail in reservation form available for printing. If you wish to buy tickets you can mail this form in by October 28 for your tickets. November 1 you can call to make reservations. Old Thresher's boasts that their tickets for the 5 days of rides has previously sold out in 10 days. Train runs December 3,4,5, 11 and 12.
My mom lives really close to the Old Thresher's Fairground, so its easy for us to go over for just a few hours. We can walk, and avoid the parking nightmare. For us this year it was really just a great afternoon.
We arrived and went straight to the train ride where by sheer good fortune landed ourselves on the train where a robbery is staged. Will loves "bad guys" and he enjoyed the robbery immensely. I learned after a few trips on trains that the loud noise can really ruin a trip; so earlier in the summer I got Will some headphones...and they made Old Threshers far more enjoyable! I saw lots of hands over ears and tears, but not Will this year. I felt like a good mom. After the train ride and robbery, the three of us headed over to the church tent to gorge on meat loaf sandwiches and a plan for strawberry short cake. We were too full for cake. Some day we will learn, eat dessert first.
After lunch we headed over to a child's play area where Will rode a pony, twice. And, then, a tractor! He was adorable and continues to be thrilled with his new t-shirt that declares he drove a tractor at Old Threshers (a gift from his mimi). We finished the afternoon at Old Threshers with a ride on the carousel.
But the day was not over. Oh no, we picked granny up and headed to nearby New London for some ice cream. Will was a doll the entire day and promptly fell fast asleep on the return ride from New London, only to awake eventually in Ottumwa.
I didn't feel any sadness on this particular year, on this ceremonially end to summer afternoon. While it was tremendous to have time with my family, and to not have to balance work and play, there is pleasure in a new beginning.
Just as a reminder, don't forget the Polar Express train ride tickets at Old Thresher's MicMillan Park go on sale soon. In fact if you go to the above link, on October 15 there will be a mail in reservation form available for printing. If you wish to buy tickets you can mail this form in by October 28 for your tickets. November 1 you can call to make reservations. Old Thresher's boasts that their tickets for the 5 days of rides has previously sold out in 10 days. Train runs December 3,4,5, 11 and 12.
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