Miss Angel

Sometimes the Swedish weaving gets slowed up by Miss Angel 

J.I.G.'s

Some Jefferson Iowa Girls (J.I.G.'s) get together every Friday for a potluck. Mickey and I, official members rode our bikes from Yale to Jefferson to join the group. We rode to Russell park in this wonderful jeep for great food and conversation. Pictured from L. to R. Colleen O'Brien Clopton, Mickey Sanders Starr and Chris Henning. 

Butch and I went to Mickey's in Clive IA on Saturday. Enjoyed a delicious meal and played Mexican Train with the grandkids. On the way home at 9:00 PM we saw a bicyclist on the bike trail! Sure hope he didn't run into any raccoons.

Ledges

At the Ledges State Park near Boone Iowa
Old Rock Face...Looks like he was blowing a bubble and it popped on his face.
This fountain is at Jason & Laura's place in Boone

Sister Myrla sent this picture. I think it is excellent and even more so if you know the story of these two cats. The one nearest to the camera is Tippy rescued from a life of hardship and crime by Myrla and Scott. The one outside is Scrappy, Tippy's brother who was somewhat rescued by a neighbor but does not have the same sort of life that Tippy enjoys. Write the rest of the story as you see it from the picture.

Yesterday I did not leave the house all day. It was a rainy chilly day and one made for staying inside. We listened to a book. 'The Kite Runner', I did some Swedish weaving and took a nap. Spaghetti and meatballs for supper. We do not often have days like that and they are nice for a change but not ones we want frequently. We will be in Yale until the 10th or 11th. Butch has his pre-surgery physical on the 11th in Atlantic so we will have a one or two day stopover there before going to the East Pottawatamie County Fairgrounds at Avoca IA., where we will be for the upcoming month.

Surgery Date ...Butch's surgery date is Friday,September 15th at 7:00 AM, Bergan-Mercy Hospital Omaha, NE.

Chuck Woodbury'sRoadside Journal

Chuck Woodbury's
Roadside Journal

I have been terribly neglectful lately but we have been in a holding pattern. It has been a weird summer all around! Butch was diagnosed with prostate cancer about a month ago so we have been involved with tests and lots of research. It was caught very early so the prognosis is good but still something that needs tended to. After to talking to lots of folks and reading lots of medical info he has decided on surgery. The actual surgery is two to three weeks off so we continue to be in a holding pattern but at least at this point we have a plan. I like having a plan. ;-) So instead of heading east and south this fall we will be staying put until the ol' guy heals up and is back to his usual hyper self. Then we will head back to the old stomping ground in south Texas to hole up for the winter. It looks like we will be in Avoca Iowa shortly before and after surgery. We need a place with full hook-ups as near to Omaha as we can get and that seems to fill the bill. Actually it is the only one that fills the bill! Maybe now that I do not have quite as many question marks in my head I can be a little better about posting. I had hoped to fill this space with the new and wonderful sights we were seeing as we traveled east and south but it will have to wait for awhile and maybe the fuel prices will go down. Yeah Right!!!

Another view

Another view of the overgrown bike trail 

My friend Sherri Clark took about 10 of her current and former daycare kids on a bike ride. She is pictured here with Parker. I went along as back up. It was a 6 mile ride on the T-bone trail and all but one made the entire trip. We did have one ,Sara, who crashed and ended up with some nasty scrapes but she too was a trooper.

Hannah has made the turn. 3 miles down-3 miles to go

Whoops!! I wanted to get this picture in with the ones about Floyds winemaking. Too good a picture to merely pass over so here you go even though it is out of sequence.

Matt is starting back

Overgrown T-Bone Bike Trail near I-80

A close up of a pine cone at Floyd's place

Went to see my old friend Floyd Pearce who we discovered has added winemaking to his numerous other pursuits. He is pictured here with grape, peach and rhubarb wines in the works.

Rolling Hills of Southwest Iowa

On Lake Anita- Butch's co-worker Marty Mills used to call it Lake of No Bites.

Butterfly

Chicory

A Crane on his perch and Swans

Butch didn't golf so well. Decided maybe it was too soon after his biopsy procedure and I must say I agree with him. Sherri and I biked twice around the lake. That translates to a little over 8 miles. We saw lots of deer in many different locations. There is one hill I do not feel up to so I walk it. Sherri was able to make it and waited for me at the top. Friends Sherri and Randy went to Fort Dodge this weekend and on the way home came through Jefferson IA to specifically stop at the A & W Drive-In. They called to tell me it has been closed!!! What a tragedy!!! This will disappoint many people. Till next time...

A great site for cloned recipes. Maybe your favorite is here.

Today we change location and will be at Lake Anita for a week. On Thursday, Butch will be having a prostate biopsy due to an elevated psa test. We are told there are many reasons for an elevated psa reading but to be sure he needs the biopsy. So we are on hold till we get some test results on the 17th. Till next time...

Fun Family Weekend We met the kids at Mozingo Campground near Maryville MO. It is also near the Mozingo Golf Course where Gary and Butch were entered into a golf tourney. Gary brought their camper trailer and Jason and Laura brought their tent. So the weekend was spent eating good-but-not-always-healthy food and playing Mexican Train. A fun time was had by all. It was extremely hot but from all we hear we may as well get used to that for weather. Till next time....

An August Sunset

A deer family visits the orchard on Lake Panorama

It has been a busy week. I did get a short bike ride in on Saturday. Sunday Butch played golf with Jason and Laura while I enjoyed lunch with some of my female classmates at the Hotel Pattee in Perry IA. We all had a good visit for 3 hours! Jason and Laura brought Butch home and we grilled Iowa chops. Monday I got another short bike ride in before cleaning house. It has been so hot that early morning is the only time to ride. I had reached my intolerance level on the cleanliness of my living space. It always feels good to get things in order once again. Tuesday Butch played in a golf tournament with his brother Bill in Newton while I visited with my long time friend Mickey in Clive. That evening we went to a weinie roast at the Tallman's on Lake Panorama. I labeled it the Days of Wine and Weinies. ;-) Today I enjoyed the morning with my Swedish weaving friends in Panora and then my friend Peggy and I went for a dessert lunch at Chad's. This evening Butch and I went to Jefferson for supper and stopped in to visit with Jim and Colleen Clopton. Jim was at the golf course but we caught up with events with Colleen. Tomorrow we plan to go to Maryville MO so Butch and Gary can play in a golf tournament. It will be the first time that most of us have been all together all summer. It has and will be a bit busy. I guess we will have to run away from home so things can slow down! Do you think that will work??

Bike shadow

Sunrise this morning as I was preparing to ride to Panora

Interesting pattern on a foggy morning

The pump still works

Adam Kelley's Place-Rural Terril Iowa The old chicken house

Adam Kelley's Garden-Rural Terril Iowa Squash Blossom

Waiting for Watermelon

Back in Yale

We are back in Yale! Call or come see us! I am ready to line up a trail ride but it will be in the cool of the morning so lay-a-beds need not apply.

Ragbrai Hills 2006 See Sherri's viewpoint below

From friend Sherri of Atlantic IA: Hi Barb,
Well, I was able to ride RAGBRAI, I started in Sgt. Bluff and rode to Ida Grove, 54 miles.
It was hard and very, very hilly. I had a lot of chain problems, as did a lot of other people. Everyone was so nice by asking if I needed help, ( I always said thank you but unfortunately I have had so much experience I can now do it quite easily!) We really climbed in altitude! My wrist held up pretty good, It is difficult to ride with a brace on but it wasn't painful. (Until the end of the day.)
The second day was a little different, I had reservations about even trying it. I had Dave wait for 30 minutes just to see if I could go on. It was still pretty hilly, but more rolling than ups and downs.
I was struggling right after that. The wind came up and the cloud cover went away. I ran out of food and really needed more energy. We stopped a lot, but never long enough for me. We finally made it to Arcadia. That was 47 miles. That was where Dave was waiting for us. We rested a little longer, but I knew I was not going to make it to Manning, that was our destination. I rode with Dave to Manning, Rosie said I made the right decision. It took them 2 1/2 hrs, to go 14 miles. My total trip was 101 miles! Not too shabby for my first ragbrai with a broken arm. It certainly was a wonderful experience and I will do it again.
I wore my heart monitor just for fun, to see how I was doing. I peaked a few times the first day, but after that the highest was 80%.
Now I have more time to come and see you, but think I will rest up for a while. Still in Yale?
Later, Sherri

Ragbrai Crowd 2006

Myrla and her baby Hewy

Myrla's 7 month old puppy Hewy places his paw in her hand.

Wal Mart has a decorator Pillow that stands up well to Swedish Weaving. This is the front side.

This is the back side. I kept it simple.

Queen Anne's Lace- I have been on the trail these hot days but as early in the morning as possible. I ride if I can but if the wind is too strong I choose to walk instead. I get more pictures when walking.

Plums-not yet ripe- the trail is a natural garden with many fruits.

Grapes to be...Less than one mile south of Yale on the trail

Iowa = Corn & Beans

A natural arrangement

Clear Cool Water

This morning on the bike trail south of Yale.

This used to be our house.

Last Friday Night on Lake Panorama