Busy week continued...

Monday's computer class went well. We were a bit down in numbers and I am aware by now that it is a natural phenomena on occasion. It is working well to take the smart TV and hook my computer to it. Everyone can see that way and it works well all around.
Wednesday we went to the audiologist in Carroll and Butch pays up deciding he likes to hear.

Thursday we went on an early morning trip to my Atlantic Iowa dentist for a bottom plate repair. I really thought it would be an all day deal because it always has been in the past but I suspect he has new whiz-bang equipment and we were only there for an hour. Great fix, good news all around and the price was right. Made an appointment for next July to have my implants cleaned.
We found we had extra time so stopped in on the Gundersons, visited and then went to lunch. After lunch we headed home so Butch could mow.

A couple days ago on our early morning walk I told Colleen I was mildly thinking about a trip but could not think of where I might like to go. She said, Wow! How about Denver, Chicago or Atlanta? I said, That is where we differ. I was thinking more like Death Valley. I am an introvert and proud of it. 

Busy week-But aren't they all!

Our squirrel decided he wanted a bit of variety in his diet. We had a container of stale peanuts, that we now and then threw a handful on the ground for the birds. We left the container on the 3 season room back step and it was on the platform. One day I noticed it was down a step or two but didn't think too much about it as Butch has been known to move things a bit, then one day I caught the culprit. Resourcefulness is definitely in their DNA so I know in time he could get the lid off and enjoy the peanuts. We seem to interrupt his progress just often enough to keep him from his treasure.

John and Alice Hamilton Party

I know you may find it hard to believe, but John is another member of the class of '61. Big surprise huh? John didn't leave Jefferson. He stayed and created a very successful concrete business. 

Pictured below from left: John, Jack H., Dwight T. and Butch.

 Darrell Millard and his wife Linda and Mickey.

 Jerilyn Denman and Judy Peacock Wills

 Pat, Judy, ?, Jayne

 Mickey talking to Jerilyn and Judy. Ed Lawson, Mardel getting a short nap and Kay Taylor.

 Jack L. waiting for John to finish up with those burgers.

 Colleen enjoying her cone.

                          And visiting with Darrell.

And last but not least this morning try at getting pics of a beautiful morning and a spray plane.

This mornings walk...

I checked the radar this morning and I thought it would miss us once again. Fooled me! Colleen and I were walking and Mickey was riding her bike. She met us on her way back and told us to turn around and look. That little spec is Mickey and this is the view we looked at when we turned around. We decided we had better pick up the pace and we did. We got about halfway back when Mickey came in her car and rescued us. A friend indeed!

The heat and humidity persist. The good news about this is that we are getting much good use out of our new room.

I am fairly certain I have posted  this before, but  it is good enough to post again!

Give this another star-It is what's for supper!!

Creamy Burrito Casserole

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

1/2 onion, chopped

1 package taco seasoning

6 large flour tortillas

1 can refried beans

2 -3 cups shredded taco cheese or cheddar cheese

1 can cream of mushroom soup

4 ounces sour cream

Directions

Brown beef and onion; drain.

Add taco seasoning and stir in refried beans.

Mix soup and sour cream in a separate bowl.

Spread 1/2 sour cream mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish.

Tear up 3 tortillas and spread over sour cream mixture.

Put 1/2 the meat bean mixture over that.

Add a layer of cheese.

Repeat the layers.

Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake, uncovered, at 350°F for 20-30 minutes.

Barb Battles Bugs!

We were invaded by ants, teensy weensy little brown ants that were barely visible. They were in the kitchen all over the counter. When Mickey saw them she said she had never seen such a heavy infestation. I first tried Terro, feeding the little devils all they wanted. After 3 days, I gave up on that and went to google. There were many different solutions. Two of them captured my attention basically because I had the items on hand. Peppermint oil and borax. So then I mulled over the application process. Also, I remembered I had a new product that is supposed to be safe that I have found most effective for keeping mosquitoes at bay and wondered if it would also work for ants.
https://www.simplysoothing.net/bug-soother/natural-insect-repellent-deet-free-for-kids-and-pets/


It is an Iowa product. So along toward bedtime,a couple of nights ago, I cut up a coffee filter into strips and sprayed them with bug soother. I then laid the strips all the way around the counter top. Next morning? NO ANTS!!! Or at least they were down to less than 10 hardy survivors! But then I decided to tackle the bigger problem of keeping them from getting in to begin with. I sprinkled borax around all door openings inside and out working it into all cracks and crevices with the broom. This morning I went on the search for bugs, ants or anything resembling them in any way and found not one solitary insect of any kind! I was gobsmacked and pleased.
Of course, I talked to Mickey and Colleen about this on our morning jaunts on the bike trail.

Colleen does this to keep bugs out of her house in Florida and I have written it down so I will remember. She assures me she doesn't have bugs in her house. If this keeps them out in Florida it should certainly work here.
1. Borax all around the outside of the house.
2. Bay leaves in kitchen cupboards.
3. Fresh Rosemary sprigs in the remainder of the house.
I plan to follow her formula. I am so tired of fighting insects in my house.

But I also do not want to poison us!

Hearing aids

Butch picked up his demo hearing aids for a test drive last Wednesday. His life has been different this week and along with that so has mine. The first thing he did was decide the hinges on the back door were too noisy. They have been too noisy for several months, but they could not wait a second longer, so he sprayed them with silicone spray and big black runners dripped down the white woodwork and wiping it off made it worse. Finally used GooGone and got most of it off.

And then he has decided I am screaming at him. It is my normal tone of voice. I do know how to talk loud because I have had to for several years now so he could hear me. But now I am not trying to be loud. And frankly if I hear how loud I am one more time he will be leaving his DEMO aids at the audiologist because obviously he doesn't need them!

So we are on a learning curve with an adjustment period for both us. We will see what happens Wednesday. That is when the big check will get written...or not!

One of those days

Finally was able to fill my empty rain barrel with life-giving water for my plants. It rained during the night. .7 of an inch! That is enough to fill the barrel. My plants prefer the rain water. They thrive on it and I do hate to force feed them city water. So now we are both happy!
So it was not certain we would have dry skies for our walk so we passed. We do need a day off on occasion. I rode to the river bridge and back. Picture taking was not very successful. After I crossed the bridge I stopped to turn around and spotted a crane on a sand bar. Looked like a great photo op. But then I tried to get situated to take the shot and the crane spotted me and that was all she wrote. They are the spookiest birds I have ever tried to photograph! To back up a bit, as I was approaching the bridge I spotted a herd of black cows spread out on a hillside and thought they would take a nice photo. I decided to catch them on the way back and of course by then they were all bunched up at the top of the hill under a bunch of trees! It was not a good day for photos.
Here is what I did get...see my point?

I was stumped!