Saturday, May 15
Updated photos
Working
Update on explosion: Back in the day it would have been big news but these days the news is so much more dramatic that it pales. But...there wasn't any loss of life or limb! I hope no one loses their job over this because the co-op will be out of commission for who knows how long.
But moving on...Last year we bought a new shade for the windshield of the motorhome. This was to lessen the need for a ladder and we all know why that's important! The new one fits on the inside and I can put it in place without assistance.
The purpose of the shade is twofold; blocking the sunlight and keeping anyone from seeing us too clearly from the outside. By too clearly I mean at night you can see shapes and perhaps movement but that about does it. On the other hand, we can see out.
So after getting the new one what does one do with the old one? It was made purposely for our RV so resell isn't likely. So enter the pool hall and three windows. If you know me well you know I am not fond of curtains, drapes, etc so I decided perhaps I could cut the old screen to fit the windows and put them on tension rods so they could be placed or taken down easily. So that is what I did yesterday. I have a sewing machine that has been under the bed for a few years because it is hard to get out plus space to set it up is at a premium so now it has a new home in the pool hall, also known as the WE SHED. The new space for the sewing machine makes it very easy to get out and set up. Photos later. The multi-purposes of the Pool Hall are Pool, of course as well as a Game room, Craft room, etc.
Another subject:
There is a wren who comes each season to the wren house we have under the eave on the west side of the house. The way wren's work is that the male finds a suitable home furnishes it and makes it nice and cozy. Then he warbles his little heart out to have the female come and look at it. If she finds it suitable she will take up residence with him and start a family. So our little guy has found a taker! She has lighter coloring and is larger than he is, so it is easy to tell them apart. I have such a hard time deciding which photos to keep! These are all photos of the male.
This guy, we need a name for him, is a good mate. I made this determination before she got here because he was dive-bombing the squirrel whenever it was in the feeder. So he is helping Butch out with his squirrel battle! We haven't seen much of the squirrel lately.
I may tackle my flower beds this weekend...did you catch that, Karla? Karla likes to do yard work and she lives in an apartment. And she had her second Fauci Ouchie yesterday!
Friday, May 14
Elise's 11th Birthday today!
This photo was taken on Elise's 1st(?) birthday? I think so. I snipped it from facebook because I like the look on Gary's (our son) face. He is a very happy Grandpa!
Here is a more recent one. She loves to cook!
Explosion!
Butch was still in bed at 8:04 am when I heard a big boom! It shook the house and I asked Butch what happened and he didn't know. Then rescue vehicles started going north on our street at high speed. The Landus co-op is north of us and also Sparkys gas station and we figured it had to be one of them. Keri texted me soon after and then she sent this picture.
That is quite a hole! We do not know the details.
It might be similar circumstances like the one in 1974 that killed Gary Pevestorf, the husband of a classmate of mine. Here is an article about that explosion.
Jefferson, IA Grain Elevator Explosion, Aug 1974
- Iowa |
- Explosions |
- 1974
BELIEVE JEFFERSON ELEVATOR BLAST CAUSED BY EXPLOSION OF DUST.
Jefferson, Iowa (UPI) -- State Fire Marshal Wilbur Johnson said after a preliminary investigation late Thursday that he was assuming the fatal blast at the Farmers Cooperative Elevator was caused by an explosion of dust ignited by a cutting torch.
The explosion which blew apart the elevator Thursday killed three workmen and seriously injured another three.
Dead are:
GARY L. PEVESTORF, 34.
CHARLES P. DOWLING, 28.
MICHAEL L. MOORE, 24, all elevator employes from Jefferson.
The three dead men were killed almost immediately by the effects of the explosion and burns, according to Dr. Robert Burke, Green County medical examiner.
The injured are:
GEORGE A. TURNQUIST, 47, of Schaller.
STEVEN LAMB, 21, of Glidden.
JOHN NIELSEN, 66, of Holstein.
The three are employes of Younglove Construction Co. of Sioux City and all suffered burns.
TURNQUIST was listed in critical condition while LAMB and NIELSEN were listed in satisfactory condition at the Greene County Medical Center here.
"We're assuming there was an explosion of dust," Johnson said, "probably caused by a cutter torch."
"There was a cutter torch in the area but we don't know right now that it was in use," Johnson said.
"The escalators and elevators were running and grain was being moved from one bin to another."
But, the state fire marshal said he wouldn't know the definite cause for about two to three days.
The silos of the elevator are about 120 feet high and 27 feet in diameter.
There are at least 20 of the silos with inner storage bins all made of steel-reinforced concrete and capable of holding from 12,000 to 20,000 bushels of grain.
Elevator officials said the men were "putting the finishing touches on an expansion project" when the explosion occurred.
The blast blew off the metal head house at the top of the elevator and part of the long, low corrugated Texas house which runs the length of the silo tops was flattened.
The damage was estimated around $250,000 and one official said the complex was totally worth about $5 million. Officials said the elevator, which was set to receive new grain crops next month, will probably be out of business for maybe one year.Ames Daily Tribune Iowa 1974-08-22
- Iowa |
- Explosions |
- 1974
BELIEVE JEFFERSON ELEVATOR BLAST CAUSED BY EXPLOSION OF DUST.
Jefferson, Iowa (UPI) -- State Fire Marshal Wilbur Johnson said after a preliminary investigation late Thursday that he was assuming the fatal blast at the Farmers Cooperative Elevator was caused by an explosion of dust ignited by a cutting torch.
The explosion which blew apart the elevator Thursday killed three workmen and seriously injured another three.
Dead are:
GARY L. PEVESTORF, 34.
CHARLES P. DOWLING, 28.
MICHAEL L. MOORE, 24, all elevator employes from Jefferson.
The three dead men were killed almost immediately by the effects of the explosion and burns, according to Dr. Robert Burke, Green County medical examiner.
The injured are:
GEORGE A. TURNQUIST, 47, of Schaller.
STEVEN LAMB, 21, of Glidden.
JOHN NIELSEN, 66, of Holstein.
The three are employes of Younglove Construction Co. of Sioux City and all suffered burns.
TURNQUIST was listed in critical condition while LAMB and NIELSEN were listed in satisfactory condition at the Greene County Medical Center here.
"We're assuming there was an explosion of dust," Johnson said, "probably caused by a cutter torch."
"There was a cutter torch in the area but we don't know right now that it was in use," Johnson said."The escalators and elevators were running and grain was being moved from one bin to another."
But, the state fire marshal said he wouldn't know the definite cause for about two to three days.
The silos of the elevator are about 120 feet high and 27 feet in diameter.
There are at least 20 of the silos with inner storage bins all made of steel-reinforced concrete and capable of holding from 12,000 to 20,000 bushels of grain.
Elevator officials said the men were "putting the finishing touches on an expansion project" when the explosion occurred.
The blast blew off the metal head house at the top of the elevator and part of the long, low corrugated Texas house which runs the length of the silo tops was flattened.
The damage was estimated around $250,000 and one official said the complex was totally worth about $5 million. Officials said the elevator, which was set to receive new grain crops next month, will probably be out of business for maybe one year.
Ames Daily Tribune Iowa 1974-08-22
Thursday, May 13
Birds lately
We have been blessed with a good supply of Warblers lately. There was a bright yellow warbler but I didn't get a photo of him. I still hope to.
Monday, Tuesday and then...
Monday we went to Atlantic Iowa to pay a visit to a dentist. For most of the years we lived in Cumberland IA we went to Dr. Kreifels in Atlantic IA. He was the Dentist who saw me through my implant journey in 1999. Through the years he also provided me with new O-Rings for my implants. The new dentist in his office is Dr. Chet McNeely, and his office person was able to get some O-Rings ordered for me. I think if people live in the area they will be flocking to him to get their dental work done, particularly female patients because he is very handsome as well as being personable.
After my O-rings, we stopped in on our friends Bill and Bev Gunderson and then Sherri Clark. These are friends we made during our 20 plus golfing years at Nishna Hills. After that we stopped in at Oinkers Bar and Grill for supper and had a delicious tenderloin; it was just the way I like them having more meat than breading.
And then Tuesday happened. We had appointments with Dr. Poag in Ames who has been keeping an eagle eye out for any possible skin cancers and both of us have had a few in the past. But today Butch got off Scot free and I had a few places frozen as suspects.
After that, we went to Lowes to get a cabinet to hold supplies in the Pool Hall. Stuff like games, puzzles, cleaning supplies as well as things relating to pool; chalk, brushes, covers etc.
We had our traditional meal at Hickory Park. When you have a favorite restaurant it is hard to pass it by.
And then we stopped in at the place Myrla's pool table was purchased in 1999, K D games. We picked up a few items but for the most part, the prices seemed excessive.
Home again and it was time to assemble the cabinet. It is mostly done but way too heavy for the two of us to lift so we will have Zach stop by sometime today to help Butch put it in place.
I do not envision any more heavy lifting. When we become older it is the one thing that hits the most that the strength isn't there as it used to be and that we have abused our bodies in the past and they are going on strike. Also that our peers are in the same boat we are!
You are now caught up! Hopefully, we will be too before much longer!
Tuesday, May 11
Foxy Fox!
Butch hollered at me to come look quick! This fox was in our neighbor's yard across the street. Then it crossed the street, Cedar, went between our house and the pool hall to the back alley, hung a right, headed toward Reed street.
These are the pics I got.
Monday, May 10
Up To?
You might wonder what we are up to these days but the answer is probably not as much as we should be. We intersperse a bit of work into every day but we also play a few games of pool in between. I find if I slow my pace on getting things done I am happier and hurt less for a shorter period of time afterward.
We do have a busy week coming up. I still have basically four areas that need to be decluttered and/or set up for the season; yard, moho, house, and pool hall. And for once the pool hall is last on the list. I plan to get at least one of the four done each day this week. You know the saying about "best-laid plans"? Cross your fingers for me.
I do get a photo taken now and then. This is the latest one that meets with my approval.
Sunday, May 9
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)