Trip to Humboldt

I went to Humboldt this morning. Found another barn quilt and the watermelon/propane tank below along the way.

Does anyone besides me remember when this was in Country Woman magazine about 5 years ago? Probably not. It just especially caught my eye since I recognized the location: Gilmore City, IA and knew it was close to where Glenn & Amy lived.

I mowed this afternoon. Not sure what Bill was doing but the combine was out. Niece, Ryanne, was with us a few hours this evening.

Yesterday

This is the view from our great room now! We watched the sunset for a long time last night from the couch! Our old house had a porch on the front so we didn't have this show to watch lots of evenings.





I was with Lacey for several hours yesterday. She was very tired but we made cookies, played with playdough and she played with her dr. kit. She loves to play in the screened porch and pretended that she was working at a restaurant with drive up. But everything I ordered she was out of!




Bill's sister, Karen, & Dave & kids were down to get some more field rock for their landscaping project. Bill was glad to have them take more! Peggy took us to the Catholic Church's steak fry - steak, baked potato, bread, sliced tomatoes, salads, bars. I didn't get any pictures of the kids - they were pretty busy! Ryanne is staying with Memaw for the week. I think she's going to be here to stamp tomorrow night.



My playdough necklace.

Good Day

We both got a lot done today. Bill and Tim had gravel delivered to the bin site and then we got 3 loads here for our driveway. Bill said it was 250 tons total! The guy they like to use for hauling it does a really nice job of getting it down even - see video! Bill worked on it a little with the skid loader.

Glenn dropped Ross & Reed off here while he mowed their empty lot in town. I fixed lunch for all 3 when he got done. Good thing I always have extra down in my basement "pantry" and in the freezer! I made and froze spaghetti sauce and ham balls in the last few days. Getting ready for Fall. I washed some windows and cleaned up the screened porch and Bill cut the grass here. Other good news - our E Bay laptop arrived and I'm using it now! It's nice. We're still using the other one with a borrowed screen.

Looking forward to having Lacey about half the day tomorrow. Diane says she wants to make cookies. (I like that!) Karen & Dave & kids will be in town too. The Catholic Church's steak fry is tomorrow night which Peggy is taking us all to.

Another pretty Iowa sunset tonight.

Farmers Market

This is our little Farmers Market - today was market day which I look forward to. I think this is the 6th or so year we've had one. Today we had about 3 booths with baked goods - lots of caramel rolls which are popular out here (Bill likes them but I don't) - about 4 vegetable vendors including tomatoes, corn, green peppers, watermelons, cantelopes, etc. and a couple others. I go for the Hearty Cracked Wheat bread and the fresh vegetables. The grocery has been carrying Iowa wines for a while now and there was supposed to be wine tasting at the market today but the people were not there yet to do it at the beginning. One of the customers said that she rode her bike so that she could still "drive" after drinking. :) (Randy look close, you might be able to see your mom - her head is barely on the left side)

Dentist Today

Bill worked on paperwork today. I had a tooth pulled this afternoon. That was nasty but doing well.

Found out that I'll get to have Lacey on Sat. morning so that'll be fun!

Parts of Iowa have had several inches of rain already today but it's missing us. Saw a corn field today that was already turning brown - seems too early!

Cy

This is "Cy", the Cyclone - Iowa State University's mascot. Bill tells me he was built by a guy many, many years ago and was in town, then in the country, then back in town by the attorney's office (where he was when I moved here). Now he's in this special landscaped area of the yard of the guy that farms for the guy that built him! He's in a good location off of the main street into & out of town for all to see.

Out here everybody is a big time Cyclones fan or a Hawkeye fan (University of Iowa) - one or the other - big rivalry! Bill and I don't really care! I'm an Indianapolis Colts fan only, and Bill is not a fan of any team!

Today

Glenn, Ross & Reed came over this afternoon. Glenn wanted me to type a few pages for him since I can type fast - and he can't! He and I updated our resumes while we were at it. So much easier to keep those up-to-date! These 2 guys are leaving for college Sun.









Bill worked on the old garage among other things today, and I worked on the new one. Here he's moving dirt around again. He filled the old well the rest of the way so now that's done.

Makes Sense

This was the message on the sign outside our church today! We had missionaries who are working in Japan speak today - a couple. Interesting. They say the Japanese are intelligent, their economy is good, but they have a high suicide rate. He said that the Japanese will come to church at first just to hear and practice English but they are also looking for more.

Our church always has refreshments (or a meal) after the service. They do it alphabetically with 2 couples serving each week. You end up doing it about twice a year. Today our neighbors, Amy & John were serving. She had made cinnamon rolls - Bill's favorite - and they were very good. Saw another deer on the way to church - Hwy. 15.

We were startled awake this morning by the fire pager going off - a wreck on a corner north of town. Turns out a drunk kid ran off the road about 3:30 am, wasn't hurt so probably slept until morning, then called 911. Bill said a couple of the wheels were ripped off and he had jumped the ditch barely missing a pole. Now we'll see if there are 2 more calls - usually happens in 3's.

I messed with the laptop this morning with the screen going off right away each time I got it on - for about 6 times. The last time it came on, I quickly checked e mails thinking it would go off any minute but here it is at 3:00 and it's STILL on!! (we haven't turned it off!!) I think it knows we ordered a 2nd laptop fairly cheap on E Bay last night! Then we'll probably order a new screen for this one same way - that seems to be the problem after reading Dell message boards. So I've scheduled my upcoming stamp classes and e mailed re: that, e mailed my downline re: a Christmas card sample swap we're going to do, etc. while I have the chance!

NICE day here! (yesterday too) Bill is working on a friend's gun and cleaning up the old garage. I'm going to cut grass here. If we have time, we may go to Twin Lakes to see the lake house our neighbors are building there.

Rob is headed to college today to set up his room, with classes starting Wed.!

Hope the laptop keeps working - we'll see!

Bad News!

The laptop has problems!! Glenn & Bill's cousin, Paul, have been helping us try to figure out what's wrong. We think we need a new screen. Hope to get something ordered SOON!!

Glenn & the boys are over tonight for taco casserole, Aunt Jan's yummy hot corn dip and cream cheese cupcakes while watching the Bristol NASCAR race! I'm borrowing Ross's computer at the moment. Will try to do some blog posts when I can from wherever until we get ours running again!

www.CindyKCreations.com

Colts on FOX

I'm happy tonight that the Colts game is on TV here! Nice surprise!!! I don't get to see their games real often. Here they tend to always have the Vikings and cheeseheads on instead. Colts are ahead and just got a sack - good start!

We've had 3 rain storms today. Bill and other firemen are out right now storm spotting but it seems like it's already past us.

I called the electric co. today finally re: getting any rebates for all of the insulation, heat pump, new refrigerator, etc. we have now. It's going to be about $1500 with doing some paperwork and having an inspection. Seems like it should be more with all that it cost and what it will save over the years compared to the old house.

Thurs. is our Farmers Market day. One guy has really good peaches so that's what I got today. Beth, our market manager, was not there today. She grinds her own wheat and other grains to make really good bread that we love to have toasted for breakfast or make paninis with it.

You may see our town in the news: a 20 year old is buying our grocery! He bought his first one at 17. Guess he was on TV and all that back then. Being on the Board of the grocery is a job that Bill will not miss! We just hope it all works.

The End?

Seems like the things that had to be done to build a new house and get rid of an old one have been never ending but besides the yard, including a patio in back beside the screened porch, these 2 things may really be the last.

This is the old well that was finally filled in a few days ago. We had called the company to do it about a month ago.








Today, Mark D.'s guys came to get the pile of sand that was left.

We finally got some rain twice today and now the sun's shining. Maybe storms later.

Last Day at the Pool

Today was the last day for the Pocahontas pool to be open so Diane, Lacey & I went - one more time. It doesn't open until 1:00 so we were surprised when they announced at 3:00 that the pool was closing until 6:00! So we left and went through the drive up at Family Table to get ice cream and ate it at the park. They were going to get to go boating tonight with their friend who has a new boat.

Our church here is very organized, and this is cleaning week. All of the various rooms and jobs are listed and divided up among all the women with guys and families encouraged to help. Part of my group decided to do our jobs tonight. It only took us about an hour.

Bill had his insurance board meeting this morning and lunch with them. Tonight he had a fire dept. meeting. As I was driving home from the church, I saw that they were doing some practicing at an old house on the highway that they're going to burn eventually.

Forgot to mention that yesterday I saw what looked like the same 2 deer crossing our yard again about noon.

Mostly Lacey

After seeing Glenn, Amy, the boys, Diane & Lacey a lot while Mom was here, after she left this morning it sure has been quiet at our house today!! Bill & Tim went to Des Moines to meet with some guys they farm for. Their contract is up so trying to work out the renewal deal. I got caught up on mowing after being gone. Kinda like my last job - when I'm gone there is no replacement! The grass & weeds were kinda long but looks good now.

We went to Diane & Todd's house last night. Glenn swinging with Lacey.
Diane's pushing Lacey on her tire swing.

This was my favorite part of a swing set!







Diane with Lacey and her crab. In the background is a toy that she swipes a fake credit card in to "buy" things. Hmmm.

This is a new thing at their house - a chicken house(?). I think Diane said there are 14 chickens. It's really Todd's dad's project but I would guess that Lacey will be gathering eggs once they start laying them. I loved finding eggs at Grandma Dunk's when I was a kid!

We're having various weird, sporadic computer problems lately so if you don't see a new post for a few days, that might be why! In the meantime, I'm going to make sure everything important is backed up!

We Like Dell!

Glenn, Rob, Ross, Reed, Mom & I went to church and then on to the pizza buffet in Manson today. Then we all watched the NASCAR race. The boys are getting ready to head to their 1st year of college so Glenn was loading software for their printers on their new laptops - Grandma's graduation & birthday gift to them!

We were having wireless router problems a few days ago, and I spent over an hour on the phone with Linksys and we got it working again. It worked great this weekend with 6 laptops being used at the same time! The picture of all of us would be a good advertisement for Dell!

We're going to Diane & Todd's this evening so Mom can see Lacey one more time before she leaves tomorrow.

Deer in the Yard

Mom noticed the deer in our front yard but when I moved to get the camera, they started running.

Mom and I went to the pool with Diane and Lacey again yesterday and then brought her back to our house. We took advantage of having her to get some new pictures with her for our Facebook profile pictures! We both needed new ones.

Glenn's back from New Mexico until Mon. so we had everybody over for brunch today.

Fun with Lacey

Mom & I got to go to the pool with Lacey & Diane yesterday and today. This is Lacey after she saw Mom & I arriving.

I had on a long T shirt type coverup and here she is saying "take that dress off right now and get in the pool"! (Notice the finger pointing. :)









Here she's in her fort having a snack during the break and then at home eating more.







This is the first time she's played with this veil. I took a video of Mom putting her hair up and putting the veil on - will post it another time.

Indiana State Fair

The State Fair was going on while we were in Indiana, and Bill had never been so we went on Mon. The big thing there this year is chocolate covered bacon - or "Pigs in the Mud". As you can see, there wasn't a line to get it! I'm a bad chocoholic but even I didn't see the point of ruining bacon or chocolate by putting them together (that's what Bill said about it). Do they have it at the other state fairs this year??

This was the reserve champion sow and her litter. I always want to see the "world's largest boar" when I go to the fair. His picture wasn't very good and these little pigs are cuter.


This lady was carving these big blocks of cheese.

Bill had meetings in Des Moines yesterday. We got home last evening and have been busy ever since. Glenn, Ross & Reed are back from New Mexico so have seen them a couple of times.

Trip South

On the way back from the trip to the Freelandville/Bicknell area where dad was from, we looked for a farm that mom owns. It was off the beaten path and a nice drive. We saw a herd of these long horned steers close enough to the road to get a picture.

Had to stop at Gray Brothers again this trip - Bill had not been there. We were all hungry so when going through the line, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs as they say.

Southern Indiana

Our first day in Indiana, we went down to southern Indiana where Dad was from. Bill had not been there yet, and I wanted him to see where my relatives all live and the farm ground in that area. There are no wide ditches like we have in Iowa so the roads seem narrow. They're also not straight roads!

We stopped and visited with a couple of aunts. I wish I would've taken a picture of the view from Aunt Linda & Uncle Tom's house. They're avid golfers and built their house on the golf course next to green #16. Really pretty course with lots of big trees.
These pictures are all taken from the Walters' new house. They're friends of mom & dad from school days - and are some of my blog readers they tell me. They also have a nice setting for their house and shop.

And she too has a Gator type thing - and loves it!!

The Beef House

On the way to Mom's, we stopped at one of my favorite restaurants - the Beef House. It's on the line of Indiana and Illinois. Usually leaving our house in the morning, by the time we get this far, it's the perfect time and place to stop. Even though it's the Beef House, my thing to get is the salad bar, and everything comes with their homemade, huge cloverleaf yeast rolls with apple butter and/or strawberry preserves. This time of year they have Indiana tomatoes, cantelope & watermelon on the salad bar. I don't know why but they have this interesting giraffe outside the main door???

Last year when the triplets went back to Indiana with me, we stopped at the Beef House. They thought the hamburgers were soooooo good!


These are all flowers outside the restaurant. Usually we're lucky enough to get a table by the floor to ceiling windows and can look out and see all the flowers.

Blue Heron

We've been at Mom's this weekend to go to a friend's wedding on Fri. Will have several pictures in the next few days of things we've been doing.

Bill watched the blue heron (in the middle of the picture at the edge of the pond) for several minutes. It stands really still watching for fish.

One of the pretty pots of geraniums on mom's deck.

Hot Hot Hot

Very hot and humid in NW Iowa today! Heat index 102.

Barn Quilts

As of 2006, there were more than 400 quilt squares on barns and corn cribs across 63 counties in Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. It all started in Ohio. They are 8' square painted on the side of the barn or another piece of wood. Different quilt patterns are used. There are committees in the different counties to keep track of where they are and what patterns.

Here are just two of the ones in our area. The one with the clock on the barn is between us and Pocahontas. I'm sure I'll be taking pictures of and sharing more of them. More info. and pics are at http://www.barnquilts.com/links.html

Rum Cake Recipe

This is a recipe I used for small individual rum cakes two summers ago when I did the farmers' market booth. Kelly H., Bill's cousin in Kansas, requested the recipe.

RUM CAKE

1 box yellow cake mix
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1/2 c. water
4 eggs
1/2c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. light rum

Grease and flour a tube pan. Sprinkle bottom with pecans. Beat together thoroughly cake mix, pudding, oil, water, rum and eggs. Pour into pan. Bake at 325 for 1 hour or until cake tests done. Pour glaze (below) over bottom of hot cake still in pan. Let set for a few min., then remove from pan. Cool before cutting.

Glaze

1/2 c. butter (1 stick)
1 c. sugar
2 T. water
2 T. rum

Melt butter in a saucepan with water and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and add rum. Spoon over warm cake.

* Glaze runs into cake better if you poke holes in the cake.

More Storm Damage

We had a nasty storm the night before last at about 1:30 am. This crumpled grain bin is at the neighbor's just to the south of us. Bill didn't think the wind was that bad at our house. We didn't even have any tree branches down. They're saying that the Pocahontas area had quite a bit of damage.













I like this picture of our house! The brown area/bare dirt is where the old house sat. This "clear view" of the new house looks good! Mark is going to come get the pile of leftover sand within the next few days. I think this is our last pile. Almost totally done!