We asked Dale and Mary Kay DeVries for their reflection as first time PV Evaluation/Hoe down Weekend attendees, and they very generously obliged. Enjoy their thoughts on the weekend.
We have heard many glorious tales about the annual hoe down in Kansas, but until you experience it for yourself no words can really tell the story. Since we had never attended one, we decided to do just that.
We traveled with Chuck and Kathy Koller and Amy O”Dea to Kansas Friday, March 23rd, which is a wild and exciting undertaking in itself. For those who know Amy and the Kollers' no explanation is required.
We have stayed at Bed and Breakfast places before but none can compare to Dan and Lucy’s. They don’t stop with a bed and breakfast… Oh no they also have lunch, dinner and constant entertainment. Webster’s Dictionary description of hospitality is “ The act or practice of one who is hospitable; reception and entertainment of strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.” We think Mr. Webster needs to redefine hospitality that should include Dan and Lucy in his description.
When we arrived Friday we were greeted with the usual warm PV welcome. We had been told there would be food but honestly we had not planned on the bountiful amounts of food. If you want to loose weight do not go to the hoe down.
Our daughter had asked us where are you going to stay? We had wondered that too but in PV fashion it all fell into place. Lucy is very creative in finding room for everyone to sleep. Thanks go to Dave and Jeremy too for sharing their homes with us. How about taking a shower? Again… it all works like magic. We did not even have to request a time slot to shower.
After breakfast Jenny and Jill conducted a short meeting regarding the PV’s.
Saturday afternoon Dan and Jeremy treated us too a wonderful hay rack ride of the area stopping along the way to explain different points of history. The weather was perfect. We did not know you could order perfect weather but apparently Dan and Lucy know how.
We again traveled by hayrack to Dan’s barn where Lucy and her helpers had set up for the community event. The hoe down was a hoot! We have not square danced since grade school and it was so much fun. Never let it be said people in Kansas do not know how to cook or dance. There was so much delicious food and drink. Everyone was so friendly and generous. Someone said there were around 110 people in attendance including the PV’s, neighbors, and good friends.
We were greeted to bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes, and fruit Sunday morning. What a way to start the day. Some of the PV’s had to say good-bye before the rest of us walked across the road to attend church. After church we shared a spaghetti dinner with the church folks.
Then it was back to Illinois.
This was our very first PV hoe down and hopefully it will not be our last. We cannot say thanks enough to Dan, Lucy and their family for a marvelous and remarkable weekend. It is a truly fun, fun weekend.
