Horse nettle 

A run-down shack in Cooper Iowa. My mother was born in Cooper where her father was a barber. Butch was born on a farm a short distance from Cooper. He also pitched softball for a Cooper team for many years. Cooper holds many memories. The bike trail goes through Cooper. 

A former business building in Cooper Iowa 

A House in Cooper Iowa. It looks so very small but I am sure there was someone living in it not that long ago. 

Cone Flowers 

Common Mullein 

Burdock 

Black-eyed Susan 

Purple Cone Flower 

BellFlower- Taken July 29th 2004 on the Raccoon River Valley Bike Trail 

Friends Dave and Marge Scott sent the following message about the flower pic. I didn't have time to relate the whole story yesterday. There are many flowers in bloom along the bike trail and this Wild Bergamot is one of them. I have always liked to find out the names of flowers. On a ride last week I noticed that the trail was abundantly abloom but I didn't have my camera with me so I decided to ride again the next day with the specific purpose of photographing the flowers as I happened upon them. The mower beat me to most of them but I did manage to get a few good ones.


" Marge looked the plant up and it is a BEEBALM, also called Wild Bergamot, Oswego Tea, Horse mint. They vary in color from scarlet red to Pale Lavender. Many different types mostly native. Some brought from Europe. Indians and earlier settlers brewed a medicinal tea from the leaves."

Can anyone tell me what these "Fancy Hat" flowers are? To me they look like fancy hats... 

Jason is doing fine by the way. He will be having more tests tomorrow. He is back to work today and they are still planning on moving this weekend.

This was from a friend and I appreciated his boyhood memory. Enjoy!
Barb

As three barefoot neighboring farm boys, we spent considerable time together when we weren't working. On occasion we had what was considered barn yard competition.

We took turns....
Two of us would sit on the fence and watch the third who was blind folded. The challenge for the one with the blindfold was to keep walking and not step in the fresh cow manure.


The two on the fence were to watch for the bull and shout instructions to the third. Those instructions on how to avoid the piles, could be either valid or bogus. Except .....when the bull was actually coming or the one with the blindfold was about to fall in the water tank.

A trip to a nearby creek to wade was usually necessary after the competition.

We couldn't afford to do anything else.

Jason has had a bit of a health scare and is in the hospital. Jason and Laura have been busy working on their house, painting and cleaning etc. Early Sunday morning he noticed his heartbeat was irregular. He went to the emergency room and it seems he has or had atrial fibrillation. They were able to regulate and stabilize it with medication but kept him in the hospital for tests this morning. We will know more today hopefully.
Yesterday Butch did some electrical work for them and I cleaned cupboards in between visits to the hospital.

Taken in Boone Iowa on 7/9/04 at Jason and Laura's house 

Keep Movin' On

Jefferson Iowa has three funeral homes and one grocery store and I find that interesting and pathetic. It seems the city fathers made a bad decision which led to the loss of the competition. Unfortunate and not likely to be rectified.
Anyway...on to a lighter subject. It has been many years since I have shopped for groceries in the old home town. I kept running across familiar faces and they would look at me and try to figure out how and why they should know me and I would look at them and try to come up with the name. I was successful on a few.
It isn't any wonder that people would not recognize me. I have changed considerably in the last 30 years if you can believe it.

Well Glory Be! We have made a decision. We will be staying in a Mobile Home Park on the north end of Jefferson IA for a month or two. The price is right (dirt cheap). We have a full hook-up. It is about 1 1/2 blocks east of the new Fareway store. An easy little ride on paved streets to the Raccoon Valley Bike Trail. I am tellin' ya it meets all my needs and I am pleased as punch.
So if you are in the area drop on by and see us sometime.
Till next time...
Barb

Longview Lake.  

Our Angel 

The bravest one 

Leo and Keri's Place 

A Crane on the Little Red River in Arkansas. This picture is in 'Some Favorites' on the webshots site. I am now using it as wallpaper on my laptop. 

http://helpmebubby.blogspot.com/
Bubby, known offline as Lillian Tashlik, is an 88-year old, American-born great-grandmother who began her career as an award-winning blogger eight months ago at the behest of her granddaughters. Good work, Bubby! (and family).
She dispenses advice to those who ask her. An interesting read.

Jefferson Iowa has three funeral homes and one grocery store and I find that interesting and pathetic. It seems the city fathers made a bad decision which led to the loss of the competition. Unfortunate and not likely to be rectified.
Anyway...on to a lighter subject. It has been many years since I have shopped for groceries in the old home town. I kept running across familiar faces and they would look at me and try to figure out how and why they should know me and I would look at them and try to come up with the name. I was successful on a few.
It isn't any wonder that people would not recognize me. I have changed considerably in the last 30 years if you can believe it.

http://helpmebubby.blogspot.com/
Bubby, known offline as Lillian Tashlik, is an 88-year old, American-born great-grandmother who began her career as an award-winning blogger eight months ago at the behest of her granddaughters. Good work, Bubby! (and family).
She dispenses advice to those who ask her. An interesting read.

We are in Missouri now at the Longview Lake Campground. We will be back in Cumberland to mow lawn on Wednesday and Butch has a dental appointment on Friday to get another crown. After that I think we will be in the Jefferson and/or Boone area.

Till next time...

Looking over a memory book put together by Bill and Jo's kids 

Bill & Jo celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary 

And this deer is fed by Bill Brooker. 

There is an abundance of wildlife along the river and it is all well fed! This hummer is fed by Bert Shipley. 

We had a great time in Arkansas with the Bill Brooker's and descendants. Maggie is giving me a wary look out of the corner of her eye however. 

Butch worked today wiring and rewiring Gary and Susan's basement while I took this lovely photo of 20+ pound Whiley. Whiley is Angels son and while there are some genetic similarities Whiley is much, much larger. 

Peculiar Park Place RV Park. It is located near a Flying J Truck Stop on Highway 71 where gas today was $1.65.9.  

Friends Gay and Ed Hightshoe are new young retirees. This picture was taken Friday June 18th at Ed's retirement party. We will party with them in Texas next winter.