It was the second annual girls day out and in attendence were cousin Sherry, cousin Phyllis, sister Teri, neice Tara, neice Karla and the star of the show Karla's son Devon aged two.

Sister Teri and neice Tara came to visit.

On the bike trail: A Wild Rose

On the bike trail: Another committee meeting and this time there is a Jackass in charge. L to R Horse,Horse,Horse,Jackass

Yesterday it was finally calm enough and warm enough and dry enough to get on the bike trail.And true to form it was a unique experience. Very near cousin Sherry's place and Winkelman switch I encountered a weasel. At least I think it was a weasel. We surprised each other and as soon as I reached for my camera he was gone. I thought to myself, "Wow that was unusual!" Shortly thereafter I turned around for the return trip and darned if I didn't see the little weasel again! This time he was being chased by birds. I did get a picture of him but I would have to tell you where in the picture he was located so hardly worth the effort to post it.

The frog finally got his hat!! And son Jason bought and potted this mosquito plant (aka scented geranium) for me. Cute!!

I told Butch that a few flowers around our place would make it look more like we actually live here. They are a little hard to see but look toward the sides of the picture.

This is an Iowa Mourning Dove, one that gently coos. Not one of those raucous South Texas doves that talks all the live long day in Spanish at high volume. hehehe

Another view

When I was a young girl my main mode of transportation was my bicycle as it was for most of my friends as well. When I would visit my friend Mickey I would have to return home by crossing the railraod tracks on N. Maple street. Once the tracks were crossed there was a sidewalk on the left side of the road and beside the sidewalk was a wire fence with a very husky fence post in the corner. One time when I was returning home I flew over the tracks and aimed to ride on the sidewalk but missed and hit the fencepost about as square as possible. The frame of my blue and white bike was hopelessly bent and forevermore unridable. I was heartbroken and in tears I left the bike and walked the 3 blocks home. So what does a thistle have to do with a biking accident? Today I went for a walk by the scene of this long ago disaster and the fence post that I hit is no longer there. The post has been replaced. There is however the stump and the cement the original post was set in still remain as a silent memorial to my blue and white bike that is no more. This thistle was blooming about one foot away.

dMarie Time Capsule

dMarie Time Capsule
Try putting in your birthday or the day you were married. Talk about a trip down memory lane! This is a sweet little site.

Jefferson Iowa water tower. It is located in the neighborhood where I grew up but it wasn't there at that time. The neighborhood where I grew up is much improved from what it used to be.

I went for a walk this morning. Too windy for riding. I took my camera with me. These horses were having a committee meeting.

Bell Tower Festival in Jefferson Iowa.

View three of the ceiling in the Greene County Courthouse

View two of the ceiling in the Greene County Courthouse

View one of the ceiling in the Greene County Courthouse

Horse and carriage at the Bell Tower Festival in Jefferson Iowa.

This little gal reminded me soooo much of our granddaughter Amanda a few years ago!

1926 Avery Tractor

Class of '55

Threshing Bee

Jefferson musicians are the best!

This "youngster" Had his candy bag all ready for the parade during Bell tower Festival in Jefferson Iowa.

This young cowboy was working on his grub at the Firemens Breakfast during Bell tower Festival in Jefferson Iowa.

My ironing board with an Angel on it.

Needle Threader

When I started Swedish Weaving I didn't have a needle threader so I used a piece of fish line and I liked it so well I stayed with it.

Butch on number 14 at Nishna Hills in Atlantic on June 5th

Catching Up

In a weak moment I said "Yes" to playing in a 2-ball tournament with Butch at the Nishna Hills course in Atlantic. I hadn't played since in April on a course in S. Texas. What was I thinking??!! Oh well, I lived through it. We had a terrible score (100) but we did win our entry fee back and we had good company on the course. Randy and Sherri Clark and Dave and Mary Jones.

Saturday I had a meltdown in the grocery store. Jefferson has one grocery store and it is a Fareway. I went over for a few items one of which was a delicious ham salad that I could eat with my mouth problems. They didn't have it. Yes, I had purchased it there before but apparently they did not restock it. We like muffin bread. It is real iffy that it will be there. We may have to make several trips just to see if it is there! I was out of cream for my coffee. They had it but it was all outdated. They can get it cheaper if they take outdated stuff I am sure of it!! They are the only game in town and they know it. If I could get by with it I would never spend another dime in that store. This morning Butch poured milk on his cereal and it was spoiled. You guessed it, we bought it at Fareway. Thanks for allowing me to vent.

Friday June 3rd Yesterday Butch went to Des Moines with Bill Gunderson who was working a big
time golf tournament(Allianz). So Bev came here with me and we ate at Angie's Tea Garden for lunch and then walked it off on the bike trail. We walked to the Raccoon
River bridge and back which is over 5 miles. Damn near killed me. Then we
went to the A & W for a tall root beer. We were real dummies and forgot to
take water with us so were very parched by the time we returned to the
depot. We had fun.

I have been fighting a blocked salivary gland so I am just finishing a round
of antibiotics and keeping my bottom teeth out most of the time. I am on the
mend but it has been a bummer! I like my food and the teeth out really slows
me down.

I am scheduled to man the depot at the Raccoon River Valley bike trail head on a volunteer basis for at least one day
(June 18th). It should be fun.

Gee, I guess I am busy!

Stress Buster

Eric Grohe - This guy is incredible!
Appearances can definitely fool you, especially with expert help, as you
can see at this website -- go there and enjoy...aren't these amazing?!

Angel has adjusted to her new digs.

Finished first bike ride of the season!!!! 9.58 miles. It was wonderful. Lots of pretty Spring flowers along the trail, light northerly breeze, overcast sky.

Free Campgrounds for RVs

Free Campgrounds for RVs
A fantastic resource for us frugal RVers. And as people add new ones it is getting even better. If you know of a campground that is $10 a night or less please add it to the site. Also please pass this on to your RVing friends!

Just completed Swedish Weaving project number 4. Number 5 has begun!!

Memorial Day Peony- Our current walking route includes a stroll through St. Joseph Cemetery in Jefferson Iowa.

Taz and Tippy...the odd couple that resides with sister Myrla in Rockwell City Iowa.

More adventures of Taz and her cat Tippy

Put your own caption on this one!

Butch and I went to a square dance in Des Moines last night. Jerry Story was the caller and he was as great as ever. We visited with Don and Marilyn Scott from Yale IA and the McCoy's from Creston IA and many other square dance friends. Marvin Ludwig, our club caller from days past, will be calling a street dance in Creston on Friday, June 3rd at 5:15 PM. We have plans to be there.
The Roadramblers

North America maps countries landforms lakes rivers mountains cities and more by World Atlas

North America maps countries landforms lakes rivers mountains cities and more by World Atlas

Nicole Morlan 2005 Graduate

L to R Gary,Amanda, Susan, Barb, Butch,Nicole, Jason,Michael and Laura

Brad and Amanda

Jason & Laura

Virtual Magnifying Glass 2.35

Virtual Magnifying Glass 2.35

A big help for the visually impaired

Jason and Laura are busy preparing for Nicole's graduation party this weekend and wouldn't you know they developed a plumbing problem. The problem was solved and this is Jason getting things put back together.

Computers generate a great deal of heat and laptops are no exception so I put some extra legs on mine to get it off any surface it rests upon allowing free flow of air beneath it. These were stick ons and I stacked them two high. I believe we purchased them in a hardware store.

This picture was taken by Bill Brooker. Trout in the river that runs by their backyard in Arkansas

Recipe Manager - Your Cooking Companion! (Freeware)

Have you been looking for a program to organize your recipes. This looks like the one..... Recipe Manager - Your Cooking Companion! (Freeware)

Well, our little Angel has settled in and settled down. Each night gets better and I think she is now as good as she is going to get. She has sniffed out and inspected every nook and cranny. And now on to us....If this weather ever settles out to something decent I need to get an exercise routine established. I feel like I have lost ground in that department. We have done some things around the house, window cleaning and such. I have hopes that tomorrow we may see the sun. That would be different...

Last fuel purchase for the Motorhome was in Atlantic Iowa at Wal-Mart on Saturday May 14th with a shopping card and we paid $2.04.9.

Links of the Day:

Do frogs have teeth? Some strange facts about frogs.
Facts about Frogs

How about


The Frogzilla Files?

Plants are like people

Garden Tip
Plants, Like People (Yeah, they are.)

Plants are like people. Here's a list showing which plants (on
the left) don't get along with their neighbors (on the right).

Planting: Keep away from:

Beans -onions, garlic, shallots, and leeks
Beets -pole beans and mustards
Broccoli -strawberries and sunflowers
Cabbage -strawberries, sunflowers, and grapes
Carrots -dill
Corn -tomatoes and sunflowers
Eggplant -potatoes, tomatoes and peppers
Garlic -beans and peas
Lettuce -cabbage family and sunflowers
Onions -beans and peas
Peas -onions, garlic, shallots, and leeks
Peppers -eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, and fennel
Potatoes -eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and
sunflowers
Strawberries -members of the cabbage family
Tomatoes -corn, potatoes, peppers and eggplant


These planting guidelines come from a government publication.

This was taken while Angel was still at her "Winter Home". She is now with us in Jefferson IA and not very happy about her situation. We put in quite a night with her crying and bouncing off the walls. I have disturbed her sleep several times today in hopes she will settle down tonight and sleep so we all can! She is really quite adaptable but it does take awhile. We are getting settled in and catching up on news and events in the old hometown...till next time.

We are sitting on our spot in Jefferson Iowa. The trip up here from Atlantic was one of the windiest trips we have ever made. Sure glad it was a short one! It is 71 miles from the Atlantic Wal-Mart to Jefferson Iowa for your info. We welcome company so hop on by anytime.

Well, these two cats have been to the doctors for our 'annuals' and it seems we are healthy so we are heading out this morning for Jefferson Iowa parking in the same spot we were last summer. We do plan to take side trips from there throughout the summer, like up to Marlene and Bernard Kelley's place in northern Iowa. Looking forward to seeing friends in the Jefferson area and getting our Angel back. She may not be so happy about it because I think she has enjoyed her stay in the Jason Brooker household. She adjusts very well to new situations and I am sure she will this time too. Bike trail, here I come!!!

We are staying at friends Merlin and Bev Meyers horse farm west of Lewis until Saturday when we will go to Jefferson Iowa for 3 months. Our address there will be 108 E Central lot #73, Jefferson Iowa 50129.

We are currently in Atlantic Iowa at Sunnyside Park campground. Not a bad little park to be in but this afternoon we are headed for Merlin and Bev Meyers farm west of Lewis and will be there till we are finished with our annual doctoring.
I have called Jefferson and we will be on the same spot we were last summer. 108 E. Central Lot # 73, Jefferson Iowa 50129. Probably for the months of May, June and July. We have "commitment issues" so I wouldn't set that in cement.

Recipe for Cleaning Clothes

1. Build a fire in the backyard to heat kettle of rain water.
2. Set Tubs so smoke won't blow in eyes if windy.
3. Shave one whole cake of lye soap in boiling water.
4. Sort clothes, make three piles: one pile whites, one pile colored
and one pile work britches and rags.
5. To make starch, stir flour in cool water till smooth, then thin down
with boiling water.
6. Take white things, rub dirty spots on washboard, scrub hard and then
boil. Rub colored, don't boil, just rinse and starch.
7. Take things out of kettle with broomstick handle, then rinse and
starch.
8. Hang old Rags on Fence.
9. Spread tea towels on grass.
10. Pour Rinse water in flower bed.
11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
12. Turn tubs upside down.
13. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs, brew cup of
tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

Hang this above your automatic washer and when things look bleak, read
it again and again.

Golfing at Nishna Hills in Atlantic IA...Before the rains came

Butch

Golfing at Nishna Hills in Atlantic IA

Tip on resizing pictures

Here is a handy little program for resizing pictures. http://thundercloud.net/infoave/answers/toys-tip-170-a.htm