Ride through the country

Butch and I met my sister Theresa today. We had meant to get together all summer but kept putting it off. We had a nice meal and caught up on lots of stuff. On the way to meet her I didn't take any pictures even though I saw many I would have liked. But on the way home I took several while on the fly. Harvest is in full swing as was evident everywhere.

Iowa's new trademark. It is even on the new drivers license.

Harvest Happens

Butch and I have names we have created for some places we have been. Today we went by dead woman exit. A few years ago a naked dead woman was found at this exit and we think of her and the situation every time we are near this exit. As far as I know this is still an unsolved murder.

Just Hangin'

We are doing some fall housecleaning of the motorhome. Going through some things trying to decide what to leave here to lighten our load. We have carried lots of things around simply because we didn't have a place to leave them and we might need it sometime. So we are leaving some things here and hopefully we will not need it till next summer whatever it might be.
Butch says his back feels better while he is walking so we took a nice long walk this morning. Trouble is we do have to stop sometime but maybe we can get another walk in later today.
There are several very beautiful fully colored trees in Jefferson right now. The difference between here and Michigan I am told is the variety of trees. There is a wider range of different varieties thus the wider range of colors in northern Michigan.
Yesterday the wind blew "like sixty" as my grandma used to say whenever anything was going really fast. But literally at times the wind was in excess of 60mph. The smarter farmers stayed out of the fields because of it. Combine fires are always a danger in the fall due to the dry weather suitable for combining corn and soybeans, but then you add the wind and the danger increases considerably. There were lots of field fires yesterday and this kept the firemen as well as the farmers very busy. As far as I know no lives were lost but lots of crops were.
I am taking this down time to catch up on my bracelet making. I have finished 4 and have 9 to go. I hope to stockpile over the winter to give me a head start on next summer. Friends in the valley are mostly beaders rather than buyers so they make their own. I have been so busy making the 3 or 4 most popular styles that I have not been able to branch out with some imagination. I am really itching to do that. Lots of new ideas and color combos swimming around in my head.
Till next time...

MRI -No surprises

They called Butch after his MRI with preliminary results. He has a bulging (herniated) disc and a pinched nerve. After going through this two times previously he had that figured out. He has an appointment on Oct 3rd in Ames with Dr Brandenberg (sp?). So for now you know as much as we do. It will all boil down to timing and healing as to when we head south.
Concerning the house,we have things wrapped up and stored for the winter as much as we can. There will be a few more things to take care of but cannot do much more until departure is imminent.

Other things: Neighbor Bill across the street gave me some iris. He says they are a pretty blue color and very large. If any of you would like to share them with me I will be happy to do so. I have a big box full. Bill tells me there is no hurry getting them in the ground and it could even wait till spring. With some nice days coming up I might get some of them planted yet this fall. Leo calls them old lady flowers. I can wait...they will come back into fashion someday.
Butch and I walked up to the last Farmer's Market for the season. I delivered a bracelet to a customer and we enjoyed a chili supper provided by the Central Christian Church. It was very good. On the way home we came by an apartment house where a young mother of 4 was trying to ride herd of her young'uns. The oldest 3 were boys and the youngest was a girl and still in diapers. She walked up to me with her arms extended and saying, "Gramma".  She acknowledged Butch and I as a couple because she called him "Grandpa" too. I picked her up. She would have come home with us in a heartbeat. She was a cheerful little thing and pretty too. Her brothers were pretty darn cute as well.
I like the show American Picker Sisters. It is normally on  Lifetime channel Tuesday at 9 PM. It wasn't on last night. Bummed me out. I hope it was a one time thing.
Butch and I got a two mile walk in yesterday. Yes, he can walk. As long as he stays medicated he can do almost anything but use a shovel or spade. We planned a bike ride today. I plan to take my camera because the leaf color is about to get as good as it gets here. Sorry Iowa, when it comes to leaf color you cannot hold a candle to upper Michigan.
later...

Finished

The path is finished and is looking really good. It needs some rain on it to settle it out. It is really nice to be able to get to the house without muddying up our shoes.

I think this Monarch is also finished. He was still alive when I snapped this shot but he didn't have much get up and go.

A Flurry of Activity

Saturday afternoon Butch and I attended an Alliant Energy Annual Picnic at Spring Lake. Lots of good food and conversation.

The leaves are beginning to turn and in another week should be fully colored.

Seeing this picture reminded me of an interesting story. Alliant Energy is changing the way they do health insurance for employees and retirees. There was a couple attending the picnic who have been living together for 42 years. Due to the changes they now have to get married! Or she would be without health insurance So on October 8th these particular seniors will be getting married. Isn't that a hoot!!

It was a beautiful fall day at the lake.

On Sunday we decided we had better get a move on finalizing the work around here. Fortunately Jason and Leo helped us with several tasks, especially those involving shovels and spades.

1. Butch and Jason buried the Satelite cable.

2. Butch emptied the rain barrel.

3.Jason smoothed out some ruts in RV site number 2  and moved Gary's camper back on it.

4. Barb and Butch loaded up Leo's tools and returned them for the winter.

5. Jason helped Butch get his tools, ladder etc. back in the motorhome.

6. Barb put two coats of paint on both the east and west side of the breezeway.

7. Leo and Jason finished up laying the path to the house.

8. Leo put some fill dirt in holes around the yard

Like I say- it was a flurry of activity.

Elise Videos

Bouncy Ball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuqqI2z5PWk

Diaper Dog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuqwRYA0Kgw

Elise keeps growing

Elise keeps growing even when we are not looking. I reminded Grandpa Gary that we hadn't seen any shots of sweet Elise for too long. So he sent me some... All the items Elise is pictured with are items from Amanda's childhood.