Boys (and girls) and their toys!

Last week we took a family "vacation" to Canandaigua, NY for a national tractor show. I'm using the terms 'tractor show' loosely as there were antique steam engines too and the term "vacation" as I did do some work remotely in the mornings and let's face it, looking at antique equipment for 4 days is not my idea of a vacation! But it was time together so that's all that mattered.

My husband brought his newest project along, his 1932(?) CAT 25 crawler tractor. He literally finished painting it a week before we were to leave. My husband is an avid CAT crawler tractor collector. He owns about 15 of them. This one is by far the prettiest. I think he is now going to re-paint all of them as he got many compliments on it. Amelia loves them too. Loves to get rides on them.


Here she is with Daddy - going for her first ride of the day; we had just gotten there and she was ready!

Oh no! What's this?? Grandpa giving Daddy a TOW?? Yup. Daddy's tractor didn't like the 300+ mile ride on the trailer and it wasn't working quite right. See Amelia peeking out there on the left on the tractor?

We saw some other cool machines there. This is a CAT D9. Don't ask me the year. But this isn't the biggest tractor I've seen. I stood next to a CAT D11 6 years ago. That one is a monster. I wanted to take a picture of Amelia in the cab of the tractor but Chris didn't know who owned it.


Okay! We made it to the green! Chris looks very proud of his work.

Amelia next to an antique steam fire engine...

Enjoying some ice cream...

We stayed at the Ramada Inn Lakefront in Geneva, NY. We had an awesome view of the Finger Lakes. It was our "backyard" for the week. I want to go back there and explore some more. It's a beautiful area.

We had wonderful weather on vacation. Sunny but cool. Got a bit hot if you stood in the sun for too long but there was always a breeze.

Chris and I drove up ourselves on Tuesday. Amelia went up Tuesday morning with my in-laws since Chris and I both had to work before leaving. Chris and I stayed overnight in Utica and on Wednesday, he took me to do some fabric shopping. Come back tomorrow and I'll show you what I got!

Enjoy your day!

Jen

Me, My Daddy, My Grandpa and Tractors

Amelia loves machinery. LOVES it. If it has an engine, she wants to drive it (as long as she has her ear protection on). If it has a horn and you let her play with THAT, she will be your friend forever.

My husband and Father In Law collect antique CAT crawler tractors. The rustier, the better. They love going on the 'hunt' and driving through towns looking in people's yards, in the tall grass. There's usually a tractor hidden. A 'gem' in their eyes.

A few weeks back, there was an antique construction show over the border in Rhode Island and my husband and FIL brought some of their 'gems' there to show off and play. I took Amelia to the show to break up our day and she can feel special getting a tractor ride when all the other little boys just watch. LOL.

My FIL and Punkie are driving the tractor while Daddy is working the grader behind it, smoothing out the road.



And here's a REAL antique grader... horse drawn! - That's how they did it in the WAY BACK (Little House on the Prairie time!). LOL.

I don't see the thrill. I'm sure he feels the same way when I go ga-ga over a new fabric line coming out! LOL.

Enjoy your day!

Jen