Three Rivers Trail

Today is our 2nd anniversary already and wow, the weather is really nice like it was on our wedding day! (we got married on a yacht on the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa so we were thankful to have a beautiful day!) Now that Bill has sown grass seed for our temporary yard, there is no rain in the forecast for days!!

The start of Three Rivers Trail is just down the road about a mile from our house. It's a really nice 33 mile trail that was a railbed. People use it for walking, biking, snowmobiling and riding horses. As you can see though, no people on it!! Several of us would like to walk on it regularly but we're kind of afraid to walk alone. Otherwise, it's a very peaceful trail!

We got the schedule in the mail today for the Greater Rolfe Days events coming up soon. ATV pull which is new, firemen's omelet breakfast, water fights (with the fire hoses), parades, rodeo, church service at the park, book sale, salad lunch by VFW.

No Pizza Delivery

Last night as I was going to pick up our pizza, I realized that for many of the readers, our rural Iowa pizza situation would be something I could blog about! There is no delivery here! I know some can't imagine that! We can order pizza from our Pronto gas station/convenience store that's only a little over a mile away but it's just ok on a good night. The kitchen closes at 7:00 too. Or, we can order it from one of two Casey's gas station/convenience stores - and we like theirs better. Either one of those is about a 16 mile round trip! That's ok with me though. In Carmel, by the time they found my house the pizza was cold so I usually picked it up anyway. I won't go too much into how Bill likes the Meat Lovers and I like more of a pepperoni, green pepper & onions pizza. Sometimes we get half & half but Bill thinks his half is always contaminated a little with my stuff.

I hadn't taken a good picture of our house since it's been finished because the old house is kind of in the way and the tree in the middle is going to come down when the old house does, but some wanted to see it. I hope to plant a couple of redbuds and other dwarf type trees that bloom pretty in the Spring and/or Fall, but that will probably be next year. We have to figure out how we're going to landscape around the house first and especially our stairs from the screened porch in back and the patio there.

Nice Weekend!

Yesterday I went with Rob and a group from church to Adventureland near Des Moines. We have a nice church bus which we went on so I didn't have to figure out where Adventureland was! It was a hot day but the park has trees and there was a breeze. Rob loved all the roller coasters especially and Space Shot. I've decided I'm getting too old for roller coasters and spinning things like Silly Silo! Seems like they jerk your neck a lot more than they used to! Another kid from our area was by himself so we asked if he wanted to hang with us. We all decided this Sky Ride would be a nice, calm ride to do after Silly Silo! It was nice - and calm.

We got back to the church and my Pilot had a totally flat tire. Several from church stayed with me until Bill got there including 2 guys that lived across the road who came over on their 4 wheeler to air up the tire so I could make it home. But it "spewed" air when they filled it up so Bill had to put the spare on.

His project today was borrowing this seeder to plant perennial rye grass for our yard! (farmers have toys for everything!) It'll look nice this summer, then he'll kill it all with Roundup this Fall and plant the real stuff. By then he'll have the old house torn down and we'll know where the yard needs to be!

We went to Pocahontas for lunch today. Poky had their Heritage Days celebration all weekend and today there were several churches doing various things. Our church did the lunch which was a fundraiser for the youth group, Ignite (grilled pork loin sandwiches, chips, a bar and drink). Then our group of Puppeteers performed. They are really good and have won several awards at competitions. It was a nice day today but with wind gusts so they needed some people to hold the poles that hold the black curtains that they are behind. So Bill and I were volunteers for that. Bill got the place I wanted though - he could see the kids working behind the curtain! I've always wanted to watch that! I could see a little from where I was - very fun!

I'm on my way now to pick up our weekend pizza.

Another Warm Day

It was hot here again today - looks like these cows have the right idea for keeping cool. This is down the road from Bill's Mom's house.

Today was a mowing day for me but there was a breeze so it wasn't too bad.

Tonight I'm getting ready to go with nephew, Rob tomorrow on the church bus to Adventureland. It's near Des Moines and I've never been there. It's been a long time since I've been to an amusement park!

I made 2 pans of Scotcheroos today. Pocahontas (next town to the west) is having their Heritage Days this weekend. There is a church service on the courthouse square Sun., and then our church is doing a lunch to benefit our youth group, Ignite. They asked for donation of bars. Each bar had to be individually wrapped with your name & address on them!

ww.CindyKCreations.com

Gone Until Next Spring

Our little ditch asparagus patch by our house went to seed while I was in Indiana. I found another bunch about like this just down the road a little bit! I'll look forward to picking at both spots about next May! Interesting that in Indiana we looked forward to going to the strawberry patch in the Spring. Here it's asparagus. (check out the height of the corn!)


I had a hair appointment with Diane this afternoon and was happy to see that Lacey skipped day care today! While I was waiting on the hair color to do its thing, Lacey gave me a pedicure and manicure! As you can see, the first hand wasn't toooo bad but got progressively worse as she did the second hand. I won't show you my feet!

Very hot & humid here today. We're waiting on our builder to arrive this evening - he's bringing our final bill which we're not excited to see and wants to know anything else that we have for him to do or fix. We really only have two things to ask him about!

Plumbers are Done!!!!

I got back from Indiana last evening.

Bill's cousin, Paul, his wife, Terri, and daughter, Riley, came by this morning to see our finished house. They live in MO and had been here when we barely had walls. They really like our cabinets - both the style & stain color and our 2 burgundy walls in the great room/kitchen area!

The plumbers came later this morning and left around 4:00. They had about 4 things to do and are now DONE!!

They got the faucet in this garage utility sink and put in the water softener chute to the right of the sink! Who likes to carry heavy bags of water softener salt to the basement!

Our plumber had put one of these in for someone else - kind of his own idea. It's a recycling bin with lid and then PVC? pipe goes through the wall and down to the water softener (hmmm, need a picture of that too). What a great idea!

My new Stampin' Up! catalogs came today so I'm getting those addressed and mailed out to anxious customers. They can start ordering from them July 1.

Another Nice Day

Today's my last day here so Mom & I went to my favorite breakfast place - The Original Pancake House (where I get the blueberry waffle). Then we were out and about around lunch time so we picked up salads at When Eddie Met Salad. This is a bronze outside of it. Carmel is trying to be artsy.

This afternoon I walked on The Monon Trail with my friend, Erin whose bridal shower I went to Sat. We used to walk on it together regularly.

Yesterday I went back to my church here in Carmel and got to see everybody for the first time since I moved. Lots of fun!

I happened to look out this evening and saw the trees being reflected in the pond! We've been seeing a mother duck with 9 babies floating around. You can see why Mom loves where her house is!

Bill tells me that it's been very hot & humid at home too - and that the plumbers will be there to finish on Wed.! Then we should be DONE except for tearing down the old house and doing the yard!

Fun Day

Mom & I started out the day by checking out the Farmers' Market. There are 6 rows of booths with 50 vendors. Then I headed to a friend's bridal shower/brunch west of Indianapolis. Bill & I are coming back to Indiana for her wedding in early August and I'll do 2 stamping events ("business" trip!).


This evening Mom & I went to see a stamping friend's new house and then on to a fish fry. Here in Indiana, various denominations of churches have them throughout the summer usually outside under tents, and it's usually fish sandwiches with sides of potato salad, cole slaw, fries or baked beans and pie or cake. In Iowa, they're usually during Lent, done by the Catholic churches, inside because it's still cold out, and they're meals of pieces of fish with sides of corn, baked potato, roll and a bar or ice cream.

Maybe Someday

The Kings went to school with Mom. They had kids our age and lived down the road from us 1-2 miles. At the time, we could ride our bikes down 146th Street between our houses. Today it's a 4 lane busy road and you're lucky to not get killed in a car! Our families were always together. We went to a lake in Minnesota with them a couple times and us kids remember riding in an old RV going somewhere. Their daughter and I rode our bikes all over, laid out in the sun using baby oil for our tanning lotion and all that. Lots of fun times. Don used to farm and likes to read my farming stories from Iowa and wants to visit us sometime. :)

Last weekend I got to go to their son's daughter's graduation party so I got to see all of them and his house so that was nice.

Kings rode with us to Alumni last weekend and when we dropped them off, I got to see Marilyn's new toy - A GATOR~!!! She loves it! Last year I had kind of mentioned to Bill that I "needed" a Gator for when I pick up sticks and do things in the yard! He says it's not gonna happen. (I used to want one of those cute little blue New Holland tractors!) He has lots of big toys . . . Guess I should just be happy with a new house! :)

Friends/Anniversary

Deena, Cindy, Dana & I all worked together at a Carmel law firm. I was there 5 years and quit in '92. Deena & Dana were secretaries, Cindy was a paralegal and I was the office manager/bookkeeper. Deena & Cindy still work at law firms. We've been going out to eat together regularly 15 years and our first dinner was at Charleston's.

That's where we were last night and our waiter brought us free desserts to celebrate the anniversary!

Today, Mom & I went to Mooresville for me to get our porch swing. We also had lunch at Gray Brothers Cafeteria and then stopped to see what Traders Point Creamery is all about on the way home (last picture). They have organic cheeses, honey and milk, ice cream and a restaurant. Had heard of it for a long time but had never been there.

Relaxing Afternoon

Last night, Mom & I went to see cousin Scott's girlfriend Kim's daughter, Kaleigh (whew) sing karaoke in the IndyIdol contest. Right now there are 12 of them left with 2 being eliminated each week. 1st place gets $1000! Her outfit was perfect for the 80's theme last night and she did a great job with her song, Hit Me With Your Best Shot! Uncle Neal, Aunt Jan, Jodi and Myron were there too.



This is where I had lunch of crackers & cheese, fresh pineapple & strawberry shortcake. Ahhhh. Maybe I can get Bill to add a pond behind our house? We have room! I think I've mentioned it before with an unfavorable reply. Mom had a lunch church committee meeting.
Her doctor apptmt. has been rescheduled from Fri. to Mon. but she's called to see if there are any cancellations.

I'm going to be with friends I used to work with tonight.

My House Before Bill

This was my house I built here in Indiana - a couple of years before I met Bill - back when I thought I'd be here forever! The new owner hasn't changed any of the landscaping around the house - all looks the same except bigger.

This house was laid out very similar to our new one with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom on the left side and master bedroom & bath and laundry room behind the garage with the great room in the back in the middle. There was an entry at this house which we don't have and an office or dining room in the front. The kitchen and eating area was not vaulted like our house is. No basement here but did have a bonus room/attic area with stairway and floor above the garage. I really missed it until about a month ago when we moved into ours. :)

I had lunch today with long time friend, Marie. We needed a lot longer than her one hour lunch hour to talk! We'll try to get together again the next time I'm back.

Uncle Neal in CHS Hall of Fame!

Since I had heard that Uncle Neal was going to be given a surprise Hall of Fame Award at the Carmel High School Alumni Sat. night - I went with mom - since I did graduate from there. I had never been. Less than 10 of us there above about 1960! Nice to be there to see Neal get his award though and see other Carmel people that had been customers at Union State Bank where I worked and people from 4-H.

Mom & I had lunch outside at Bub's today. Nice! Bill will be jealous. It's next to The Monon Trail so you can sit and watch people walk, bike and roller blade by.


This 2nd picture is looking south from Bub's at the trail and outside seating at Bazbeaux Pizza.

Bill says he's been moving dirt at our house between rains and Greg & Bill F. have finished filling the holes in the concrete of our garage floor and painting it. Bill says it looks good. Now we can get our old refrig. and small freezer moved over to the new garage. Bill will be anxious to start tearing down the old house. We've told everybody that we would give it free to anyone who could move it but no takers.

My Craft Room

I went to church with Mom this morning. Then came home and made a cake for the stamp class this afternoon. I'm allowed to have my Indiana meetings and classes at Mom's church which works out really well. It's close and the space is perfect for us. I forgot to take a picture of those ladies stamping. Was nice to see one of my customers who started with me back in 1996 and now lives in Wisc. and Carol came down from Monticello.

Have had several of my stamping friends that have been anxious to see my completed craft room. The carpet was installed about a week ago and I got things moved in and somewhat organized so this is about what it will look like. In this picture I have my favorite retired stamps on the left shelf section and my current ones including ones I'll give as door prizes on the right.

This is the roomy closet and some card stock storage.

I'm in Indiana

I had a good trip to Indiana on Fri. This is the view from Mom's back deck. She has a screened in porch that she enjoys this view from too.
She has a tree full of cherries that I might have to make a pie with before the birds eat all of them (picture on right).

Had the Stampers at Heart meeting this morning. It was what we call a shoebox swap. Each person designed a card and brought the supplies cut and ready for 12 people to make it.

I was really lucky to be able to call our UPS man at home and ask him if I could pick up my Stampin' Up! box Fri. morning at their office which is right on the way out of town for me! It had our brand new catalog and some new products in it that I needed for this weekend!

Tonight mom & I are going to the Carmel HIgh School Alumni dinner. I've never been to one. Our class had over 600 kids so we weren't close and the classes just don't attend this alumni or the reunions much. Mom was in the Carmel class of '55 and had 38 in her class. They've always done quite a bit together.

Driving Today

I'm headed back to Indiana today to do a stamp class for my Indiana customers and a downline meeting for the demonstrators under me (the Stampers At Heart).

Also want to pick up a porch swing I've seen in MooresviIle, Indiana while there. Mom & I may have to eat at Gray Brothers while in that area. It's one of those restaurants that people drive from far and wide to eat there with their pies being very popular. Mooresville is not too far south of Indianapolis. There is also an apple orchard outside of Mooresville that I went to every Fall. They have lots of varieties of apples, pumpkins, gourds and in Oct. they have the usual caramel apples and the best fried biscuits and warm apple butter. Mooresville is a neat, pretty area - hillier than around Indianapolis.

While I'm driving 600 miles today, I thought I'd send you to check out my friend and long time stamp customer, Denise's blog. (click on her name to go to her blog). She's the one that kept saying that I should start a blog! I really enjoy reading hers. She blogs about the books she's reading, cooking, baking & recipes, her beautiful stamped cards, her faith, gardening and more. Leave her a Comment and tell her Cindy sent you!

PS - Happy Birthday Suetta & Happy Anniversary Kathy & Ron!

Kitchen Fun!

Have had several comments that you love the kitchen pictures so putting a bunch on today. This is one of my favorite new things - my big utensil drawer! We saw this at someone else's new home before we got started and I made a note to have one of these! I have another drawer like it next to this one but without dividers. It's filled with MORE utensils. But this one makes all the spatulas and things used a lot so organized.

Lower cabinet pull out drawers for the baking dishes.

Love these 2 pull outs - one has my mixing bowls, strainers & some Tupperware and the other my pots & pans.
Upper cabinet with various types of glasses & mugs and the cookbook cabinet.




Upper cabinet on the other side of the sink and above the dishwasher with all the plates and bowls.

Bill was not home for lunch today so I got to just have fresh asparagus and strawberries.

More House Pictures

Don't think I've posted a picture of my favorite part of the laundry room - this cabinet with 4 laundry baskets. Bill is already sorting into the jeans basket, whites, shirts & towels. Love it!
Bill was scraping paint from the garage floor and power washing it today getting ready for Greg & Bill to work on it tomorrow night. The electricians did get the ceiling fan put in the garage (came from our bedroom in the old house) but didn't have the right parts to move the box for our generator (needs to be done before tearing down the old house) or the box for the outlet outside the garage. They did get the doorbell in the basement working.

I got the exercise equipment cleaned up that we got from Glenn's shop and we got that into the office today - yeah! This is my desk in this picture (left).
This is Bill's desk which used to be his dad's. This is a south window and the other one faces west so lots of light. There's a TV mounted up in the corner above my desk to watch to make exercising more "fun".

Be Careful With Ice Melt

This is a picture of some of the concrete in our garage - the result of the workers putting some ice melt on the ice outside the garage and then it got tracked inside. Wed. night Greg & Bill F. will be here to clean the garage floor really well and then they're going to fill the holes and then put one of those heavy duty paints over that. I'm not excited about it since those always seem to peel off - but they don't want to leave us with a floor like this either.

Tomorrow morning we're supposed to have electricians back to finish a couple of things. I have a P.E.O. meeting at 9:30.

Today Bill had a grocery meeting, and I had a physical in Humboldt. I worked in the stamp room the rest of the day.

Decorations for the 4th

The motel in West Bend, Park View Inn & Suites, has someone decorate their entry for every season. I posted the Christmas decorating on Dec. 20th, missed the Spring/Easter one and this is what they have now for the 4th. I was happy to find out from a friend about a year ago that they have a water aerobics class and Pilates!

It was raining this morning so we slept in and had a big breakfast.
Bill serviced the sprayer and I unpacked more boxes in the basement.

Yesterday the phone co. finally came to bury our phone line.