How to Spend a Holiday Weekend

It's Labor Day weekend, and I'm not at the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. (That's kind of a big deal.)

I haven't missed an OT since 1999. It's where our family has spent this holiday for 15 straight years. It's the longest-standing tradition our little group of five has. We've attended (and camped, many years!) through cold, heat, torrential rains, and knee-deep mud. We've been to OT in learn years, and prosperous years. Through Democrat and Republican presidents. Through sickness. Through three pregnancies. Through babies and toddlers, and even the early part of the teens years.

To say that this historic reunion means a lot to us is an understatement. But, God means even more, which is why we were in Xela, Guatemala on this fine day, instead of in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

BUT - we weren't about to miss out on a bit of fun over the Labor Day weekend - even if it wasn't our usual fun, and even Labor Day is not even a holiday here. So, we did the next best thing to looking at antique tractors and eating food on a stick - we visited a ramshackle, lovely Guatemalan farm and picked berries, and then headed off up the mountain to the hot springs.

It was lovely.

The farm belongs to the family of one of my students. From the outside, all you can see is a ten-foot wall with a metal gate, with a few tangled berry bushes draping over the top. But, once you drove inside the gate, it was like a forgotten paradise. The family hasn't used the farm much for the past decade or so, but the remnants of its former glory are still evident in every turn and corner.

The property had a small house up front, and another one of about the same size (for the guard/caretaker) further in. There were chicken houses and a few other outbuildings, an abandoned little swimming pool, and lovely, half-hidden paths that meandered through the property. But, my favorite part - the part that took my breath away - were the plants. A few big oak and pine trees. Flowers I've never seen. (Never even dreamed of!), as well as stunning examples of some of my favorite blossoms. Endless rows of berry bushes taller than my head with the biggest blackberries I've ever seen. Apple trees. Peach trees. Fig trees. Other trees with fruits I've never even heard of.

The plant behind Rebecca (which was the same height as she is) was a poinsettia.

The roses - though they'd been left unattended for years - were stunning.

Happy berry pickers in front of enormous berry bushes!

What a haul! :)

 We spent a very happy two hours there, and sincerely hope to have the chance to go back again sometime.

After our agricultural adventure, we hopped into the Jeep, stopped off for a quick bite to eat (McDonalds - what can I say?) and then wound our way up the steep mountain road toward Fuentes Georginas - the hot springs. The drive is truly breathtaking - sometimes literally, as everyone in the car held their breath while we passed an oncoming vehicle while trying not to drive off the sheer dropoff just beyond our windows. The views were stunning, until we got high enough that we were above the clouds, and were enveloped in a dense, moist fog.

It was lovely.

We were similarly spoiled while at the hot springs - enjoying the chance to soak in natural, volcanically-heated spring water, even as the clouds rolled in around us, and a cool, light rain began to fall. There was something transcendent about the experience. It was, truly, like a little slice of paradise that we were getting to experience together - almost unbelievable in just how perfect it all was.

It's so beautiful here!

Believe it or not, there are Farriers in this picture. They're just hard to see!

Farriers in the Mist

Unbelievably beautiful place

Words (and pictures) just can't do it justice.

After a good, long soak, we dried off, changed clothes, and headed back down the mountain - enjoying the view even more since we got to drive on the inside of the road, and NOT closest to the edge! :)

You could see for miles (most of it straight down!) :)

I can't say that it was the same as Old Threshers - or even as good, since we didn't get to be with our family and friends - but today certainly was a blessing, and might just have been the start to a different tradition that we'll treasure for years to come as well.