[Ever wanting to be fair & balanced, in our continuing “there” series, here’s Basketball Dan’s visit to Germany this summer, shot out the window of his B&B.]

I did not tell you the whole story of the previous day.  It was so much fun for everyone, with great weather, we didn’t want to end on a downer.  Obviously, as people of age, we had hoped to be home before nightfall.  The excitement of Dorset delayed our return.  By the time we hit Carlos Corners and turned onto Co. Rd. 42, it was dark.  The supervisor was driving – and ever the worrywart told everybody to keep an eye out for deer.  Two minutes later, “Boom,” a small deer ran into the driver’s side headlight.  Ruthie was aghast – she never saw it.  All were fine inside the car.  We called 9-1-1 (I don’t think it’s required?) and the sheriff came out and wrote up an accident report for the insurance company.  There was damage to the headlight, right front fender, and driver’s side door – a mere $2,700 to repair (good thing it wasn’t a BIG deer). I took photos the next morning.

[Well, you get the idea.  The supervisor didn’t sleep well and was still upset in the morning.  Not a good time to show her the staining job we were having done while we were gone.  It turned out to be a lot . . . LOUDER than we thought.  So we were upset again.  Once it “cooled” off, we actually started to like and it looked better once the whole house was done.]

[Looked a lot like redwood instead of teak but now it’s OK.]

The groundbreaking for the new high school was at 1:00.  I wanted to go – cub reporter responsibilities and all that.  😉  We all had lunch together, then the ladies went shopping (just a guess?) and Scott and I went out for the ceremony.

[In two years a new high school will be on this site.]

[Assembling for the ceremony.]

[Do you have a hall pass?]

[The parking lot – the curbing for the green areas is already in.]

[While the speakers prepared, Scott reviewed the site plans.]

[Superintendent Terry Quist – a big round of applause for marshalling this plan through!]

[Goal posts?]

[Mayor Dan Ness, who noted he did not graduate from Jefferson . . .]

[But from Central High School, Jefferson’s predecessor!  (In the name of full disclosure, this correspondent went to Central when it was a mere junior high.)]

[School board member, Dave Anderson]

[High school principal, Chad Duwenhoegger]

[Teacher Sara Kosters]

[Teacher Tom Smith, who, like me, was almost overcome by the thought of finally a new high school.  This complete and total coverage provides the historical background for cyber-archeologists.]

[Let the groundbreaking begin!]

[Today’s sophomores, the first class to graduate from the new high school in 2015.]

[With teachers and staff.]

[Jill Johnson, the school communications coordinator, coordinating.]

[With the superintendent and school board.]

[OK moms and dads, get in line!]

[If only we could get them to do their chores at home?]

[Cub reporter showing off his photographer’s eye.   😉 ]

[The designers and builders.]

Although the Grape Stomp at the winery beckoned, it was everyone’s last afternoon.  As lake lovers, they decided a final cruise of beautiful Lake Darling was the best way to end their vacation.

[The “new look” house from the lake.]

[A first for me – a pontoon pushing a dock across the lake.]

[Scott and his moment of Zen.]

[Rita and mirror water.]

[Scott and his moment of sun Zen.]

[“House sold” name still did not have wine waiting for us on the dock?]

[The signature vacation photos as we wrap up the cruise.]

[Rita says, “I have to get back home to catch up on my sleep!  These vacations are killers!”]

[Ta-ta beautiful Lake Darling!]

[Packing to leave – spreading the blog over NE Indiana . . .]

[Rita thinks she knows the way to the interstate . . .]

[Time to start washing bed linens . . .]