D.C., The Grill and other randomness

Dad and Mom Zimmerman were going out to Washington D.C. for minister rotation in April. I was blessed to get on a new schedule at work where I don't have to work weekends anymore - yay! So it worked out to hitch a ride with them for a Thursday-Monday trip to D.C. We stayed at the church house and visited Mount Vernon, the Holocaust museum, and the Air and Space Museum.

At the Church house.

Riding the metro - my first time!



Our Mount Vernon tour was really neat, seeing how
George Washington was such an innovative farmer,
and gave up so much the life he loved to serve our
country in battle and government.

A working blacksmith shop.

The air and space museum with a display of the Kitty Hawk.

We got a call for a barn fire one afternoon,

and saw the flames all the way out. But when we

pulled in, there was not much left. So we hung out

for a while and made sure it didn't spread.

Trying to get the fire out in the tree.

What happens when you take your husband grocery shopping....

The Grill

So...David goes to Dave's grocery store with me one day and sees a

Big Green Egg for sale. He thinks he can make one cheaper.

He bought some clay, some green egg accessories,

and made some forms. The first attempt didn't work

out so well....But after a little more research and different

clay, we were back in the basement once more!

Remake of the grill.

We coddled the top and bottom of the grill over

to Dad Z's shop where the kiln was. This was

David's other project...taking an old oil barrel

and wrapping it with super insulation, and piping

in gas for the fire. A modified thermometer showed

temps around 1,000 degrees.

AND...it works!

All put together and in our shed, we can now enjoy some good smoked food :)

Oakville girls: Janae Stickling, Emily Sinn, Betsy and Lexi Endress. We met at the Denhart Bakery in Washington, IL to share some good food, laughs, and catch up on life :)