Hot August Weekend

It is another hot, muggy night on the Plains.  The heat and thunderstorms have been relentless lately.  Last night, we had a huge storm that flash-flooded roads and houses all around where we live. Thankfully, our basement has stayed dry!  Despite the heat (it felt like 112 degrees yesterday), we managed to get out and have fun last weekend. Saturday morning, we left the house around 5:30 to head to Indianola, to see the last morning of the National Balloon Classic.  Last year, we went to one of the evening mass ascension flights, where everyone takes off from the balloon grounds at the same time.  On Saturday morning, about 70 balloons took off from different places around the countryside, then tried to fly in over the balloon grounds to drop beanbags on a target for points.  The balloons were beautiful, and it was fun to watch.

After the balloon classic, we headed to the Route 141 garage sale.  Route 141 heads northwest away from the Des Moines area, way out into the country. One day every year, all of the towns and farms along and near the road have a huge garage sale.  Lines of cars drive up and down the road, trying to find the best bargains.

We did pretty well, and the drive was nice. One the way back, we found out that our county (Dallas County) has a little museum.  We checked it out, and it had a pretty cool snake exhibit.  I liked the historical stuff:

Eva liked all the flowers outside:

On Sunday, we went to church.  Our church has been having "grill-outs" in the front yard every other Sunday, with free food for the whole neighborhood.  It was my turn to man the grill yesterday.  Here is Asher with Olivia, one of his very best friends.  They are goofballs:

After church, we went to the zoo.  It was fun, and we were able to keep cool.  Sarah and Eva got up close with a lion!