10/29 Wed pm 2

The stew was excellent.  I had beef, potatoes,peas, baby limas, okra, a few of Leroy's dried hot peppers, onion, carrots and red peppers in it.  I always make thing up as I go along but the flavors blended and it was so good I even liked it and I am past being a big stew person.  So it was a success.
Did I tell you when we were in Park Rapids we met some little (middle school age) girls that were holding up a sign on the corner for a hot dog and drinks at the high school for the basketball team.  I talked to them thru the window and they informed us the high school was the opposite way we were turning.  So we went around the block and up by the girls again in the other lane, asked for directions (she came out on the street to give me directions) and headed for the school.  Who could not like those girls and Leroy is such a sucker for kids trying to earn money.  We went up there and the hot dogs were exceptional, fries, and drinks for nothing (just donation) which Leroy found some money to give.  Then they gave us 3 sacks of potatoes (10 lb bags + or -) and carried them to the car for us besides.  The potatoes were free and were donated by the big potato grower up there, they even gave me 3 potato peelers too.
We gave away lots of potatoes but still have plenty for ourselves so trying to find lots of ways to use them. If you don't know what to fix for a meal just give Leroy a potato and he is happy.
Had to share that with you.

While we were sitting there eating a younger man sat down with us, and his dau.  He started a conversation and we went along.  He seemed like a young farmer to me, Leroy thought a teacher.  I asked him what he did and found out he was the superintendent.  We had a nice long discussion then on the roles of the superintendent and the school boards and etc. Leroy gave him his idea that is a take off from a commercial where kids say use the paid vacation days that go to waste each year.  Leroy's idea is if everyone would contribute one days vacation pay to their school district or school of their choice just think how many programs we could save. Anyhow, he thought about it and we discussed how it could get started and he said he might see what he could do with that.  So if you see the ads for that and that promotion, remember it came from Leroy.  He figures if you don't take your vacation day then put it to charity and write it off.  You really wouldn't even notice it.  Good idea huh?