Des Moines

We had a really nice day and night in Des Moines yesterday. Or I should say * I * had a nice day in Des Moines - Bill had an ethics class for his insurance license from 1-4:00. He has to do this class every 3 years and has been to it before - says it's BORING.

While he was in class, I went to Kohl's and Walmart and a really nice grocery, Dahl's. Dahl's has anything you could want from fresh ginger to walnut oil. I just enjoyed looking there. Now that I have someone to cook for, it's more fun. While driving around, I saw the capitol building - beautiful with its gold dome and copper covered domes at each corner of the building. The corner domes are decorated with vertical lines of gold. Wish I could've gotten a picture but here's a link to see one (scroll down to Iowa).

Des Moines has a new Bass Pro Shop so we checked it out after Bill's class. Most of you have probably been to one but if you haven't, you need to just to see one. With the name including "bass", you'd think it might be all about fishing but they sell boats, camping gear, guns and ammunition, clothing and more. This one has a bowling alley in their restaurant, fudge shop and huge aquarium with huge fish!

Then we headed to Ankeny where our hotel was. We ate at Outback, always a treat. This is the closest one to us which is about 2 hours away. This morning we had breakfast and headed home.

Sunny and Cold

Yesterday's blizzard is over and it's sunny and cold (8). This picture was taken at Peggy's after the Christmas storm. Bill says the drifts are bigger now.

He moved snow today everywhere including for other people. Seems like it didn't take too long, and the roads weren't too bad. This snow was fluffy. He did postpone the cemetery board meeting until tomorrow since everyone was digging out.


I'm working on some Stampin' Up! business and taxes again. (see Sale-A-Bration brochure to the right, also post below re: donation to Haiti)

Snow covered bales at our neighbor's house.

Colts Headed to Miami & the Super Bowl!!!

This picture of the train going by was taken a few days ago when we had fog.

We've had much whiter/blizzard conditions today (again). It's been blowing harder and whiter than I've seen since I've lived here. No school today in the area. People are saying the kids are going to have to go to school until June to make up all the days they've missed already.

Bill has been home since late morning, and people left work early to get home. Don't think Diane & family will make it home tonight. Too much drifting. Our Tues. Bible study is canceled if school is closed so I'm sure we won't have it tomorrow. The plows don't even start until the wind quits, and it's not supposed to quit until sometime tomorrow.

The ice missed us for the most part the other day but hit counties just south of us with 1" of ice. Some are just getting their power back on.

Had an exciting day of football here yesterday!!! I missed having the boys here to watch with me though - Bill could care less about football! Our Colts are going to Miami for their 2nd Super Bowl!!! Manning is from New Orleans so it's interesting that we're playing them. Their coach seems to be a nice guy like the Colts' coach. It's nice that 2 teams that haven't been in the Super Bowl over and over are playing this year!

GO COLTS!!!!!!!

There will be no other post today - this COLTS fan has a game to watch!! Besides being from a suburb of Indianapolis before moving to Iowa, we live near the hometown of Dallas Clark, one of the several great receivers on the Colts team, soooo GO COLTS!!!!!!! (Mom tells me that Indiana has been a sea of Colts blue all week)

Stampin' Up! Helping Haiti

In the past, when terrorists attacked the Twin Towers, when a tsunami struck Indonesia, when a hurricane destroyed New Orleans, and when wildfires ravaged Australia, Stampin' Up! has helped its Demonstrators make a difference.

From now until February 28, 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (above) that you order will be donated to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

Product Name	Item #	Price
I {Heart} Hearts – clear-mount (block D recommended)	118571	$18.95
I {Heart} Hearts – wood-mount	117010	$26.95

We are in the midst of Sale-A-Bration - click on the brochure on the right to see the options for free product that can be chosen for every $50 order.

To order, click on the Order Online 24/7 picture (on the right) or the link to my Stampin' Up! web site (above right) and then Shop Now.

Snow Issues

No sunshine yesterday or today so these pictures are kind of dark. The first one shows what some of the firemen did at their meeting Tues. night - dug out and marked the fire hydrants in town!

The 2nd picture is of the dairy here that had the roof collapse. I was by there today. They're working on repairing it.

The guys came yesterday and braced the roof of the machine shed at Peggy's. New rafters are ordered.

Getting excited for the Colts game Sun.!! I'm already starting to wear BLUE. Saw our friend Kyle today when I was in Laurens, and his brothers from here may be flying to Indy to go to the game! Lucky guys!!