One day all I'll have are the memories...

I try to get my dad out for a drive once a week.

We like to go for drives in the country, 

we always stop for lunch, usually a diner in a small town.

Our favorite is "Home Sweet Home" in Lanesboro MN

Dad grew up on a farm in rural Canton in southern MN, dad calls the area, "God's country". 

 I know all the schools he attended, and sometimes just the spot of land where it used to be. 

I know about the farmsteads from both sides. I know where the creamery is that grandpa hauled his milk to, and the fields that he farmed. I know where the windmill is that my Maternal grandfather built and it's still there today, it's takes a four wheel vehicle to get to it, an overgrown dirt path, but worth the short drive into the field. 

I love the country as much as my dad, we never tire of these views

Lots of horse and buggy's on this day. 

We were standing in the Henry town cemetery as this one traveled by us. 

The Amish are plenty in this neck of the woods. My dad and his twin were actually born in an Amish home. I've been in it once or twice.

Rain coming down behind this farm....so pretty

We ran across this old school house near Dorchester, Iowa. 

(Just on the border of Minnesota and Iowa)

Dad says it's a threshing machine.

One day all I'll have are the memories, 

so I try to make time to be with my parents as much as I can.  

Getting dad out is both good for him and my mom!

 Dementia is a hard a tiring thing for both the person who has it and the caregiver. 

I often think of questions for my dad, thinks I wonder about and that often come to mind when we are driving in little country road with corn fields on both sides. I this day I asked,

"Dad, how do they make Straw?" His answer, 

"It's made from the stalk after the grains are harvested" 

Now I know!

I noticed that the parents large flower garden was getting overrun by weeds, 

so I came back a few days later to work on it

The "Before"...

Mom and dad cant help themselves, it's hard for them to just sit and watch, 

they worked a little but sat more. 

It's good for them to more a little and feel helpful.

The "after"

 what a difference a little time grooming makes.