Down to the bones...and a squirrel

We are through with tearing out insulation and drywall. Yeah!!

Butch has all the trusses reinforced and one more rafter to beef up and then we will be done with that little chore.

Butch says his back is better today. This changes frequently.

This little guy did not like to get his feet wet.

Trip to Cumberland

Yesterday we made a trip to Cumberland IA, a town Butch and I lived and worked in for the last twenty years of our work careers. Friends Jack and Denise went with us. Our main purpose was to meet up with my old friend Floyd Pearce. Floyd is a very interesting man who has led a multifaceted life. We had a great day visiting with Floyd.

Floyd is telling us about one of his printing presses.

Two more trusses

Butch has two more trusses to cut and "paste". Couldn't help myself. Just had to add that little computer reference. I hauled a bunch of fiberglass insulation to the dumpster. Ow,ow,itchy itch.
 Had my two week checkup from surgery and all is well.
Today we are going to Cumberland...pictures later. I am told I do not want to see our old place. It has been let go and looks really bad. But I assume we will at least do a drive by.
Butch's back is bothering him bad and he feels he is only days away from another (the 3rd) back surgery. When that happens all will come to a screeching halt. I will do what I can do but that will not compare to what we have been able to do together. What will be ,will be. And if it must wait, it will. And if we have to find another solution, we will. More on that subject as I find it out.
Till next time...

Quiet 4th

Butch and I spent the 4th doing what we have been. But that is okay because it is what we want to do. We did take time out to go to Yale and meet up with friends to enjoy a great band. We were with Judi and Marv Smith, Jack and Jan Tallman and Don and Marilyn Scott. When Judi complained to the host of the party that the band was too loud he told her that if the band is too loud, you are too old. Could it be we are getting old?

On the house, Butch is putting reinforcing trusses on the joists. I took out the batt insulation in the side walls of the closets. And the beat goes on... Photographer-Leo Brooker

Butch and his niece Emily. He is showing her what plans we have for the future.  Emily, her friend Joe, Leo and Keri went for a bike ride on the RRVTrail to Winkelman's Switch and back. Nice ride!

Grandpa Gary and his girls

Small parts from the 4th of July weekend. I missed today due to illness.

Say Cheese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7uK9rP3rxw

Ornery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBDQh2sjQ1k

Sleeping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT-5R87PP7o

 

Sistine Chapel

Link of the Day

Here's an amazing bit of technology that you'll  probably never see in
person, and you would never be alone in the room.

It is always very crowded and of course you can't see Michelangelo's
artwork close up as you can here.  This is especially spectacular if you
have a large high-definition screen!

The Sistine Chapel:  Virtually view every part of Michaelangelo's
masterpiece. Just click and drag your arrow in the direction of the part
you wish to see. In the lower left, click on the plus (+) to move
closer, on the minus (-) to move away. Or Scroll to move in closer.

AMAZING!   MOVE THE ARROW AND YOU WILL SEE EVERY PART OF THE CHAPEL.
This virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel is incredible. Apparently done
by Villanova at the request of the Vatican. Thought you would enjoy the
quality and a bit of Rome on your computer. Amazing what can be done
with technology.

http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html

Goslings

Photographer- Leo Brooker
These goslings were being escorted by their parents this spring. They are on a creek that runs through Leo and Keri's place north of Jefferson IA.

I delivered a bracelet to classmate and friend Denise yesterday morning.
This bracelet was a stunner. Loved it.

I walked to Denise's place and chose early morning to do so. The heat has been oppresive the last few days. I haven't minded one bit staying in the AC and beading bracelets. I have another one about 3/4 finished. When you are hot- you are hot!

Butch has been working on the support boards-getting them ready to install. He needs a helping hand on this part so may have to wait for someone to come to his rescue. We have said from the beginning we were not going to get into a toot about any part of this process. If we have to wait for people or circumstances to become more favorable, that is okay. I could be in there working on the last room of insulation (closet) but the heat has held me back. Things are coming along quite nicely despite any complications.

Yesterday on the walk home I spotted these mushrooms.

 They were in a yard that needed mowed. I suspect the house may be a repo. The mushrooms were enough of a distraction for me to come home, get my camera and return for photos.

Today it is cooler so we may return to the construction/destruction zone and put in a days work.

Webster City RV and Tri County Lumber

This morning Butch and I were up bright and early heading to Webster City RV to have a new fridge installed. We arrived at 8:05 AM. They took the old fridge out and the new one in through the passenger side window. We had wondered how they were going to do the transfer. They finished up at 10:40. That seemed like pretty quick work! They did a good job and we have only good things to say about Webster City RV and the people who work there. It was a nice little trip with the RV and we are so glad to have our fridge back.

Another little commercial: Butch has been shopping for 2 x 6-20 foot boards to reinforce the rafters in our ceiling. We had seen some in a Menard's ad for about $13 or $14 each. This afternoon Butch went to our local lumber yard-Tri County Lumber. Those same boards were $8.80!!! And they delivered them within an hour of purchase at NO Charge. It sometimes pays big to shop local. We had decided when we moved here to shop locally as much as possible. It was sure a good call this time.

Jason's Scoreboard

Mid-State Steel, where Jason works, have been putting this scoreboard together for several months. It is a Biggie.
http://www.kcci.com/r-video/28396051/detail.html

Friday the fridge quit

Friday the fridge quit working. We had a strong smell of ammonia and in an RV fridge that is not a good sign. So we have been wheeling and dealing ever since...rather Butch has. Bottom line is we drive the motorhome to Webster City RV to have a new fridge installed tomorrow. We have an extended warranty and they will pay part of it. They would have put in a new cooling unit but Butch felt we should have all new so they will pay part of it...the part the cooling unit would have cost. Be glad to have all that todo behind us.
Yesterday I finished up with the black insulation. Still have one room of fiberglass insulation to go. Insulation is ugly stuff to deal with and I am glad we are done with most of it. Butch has been doing some on the electrical. Mostly taking out old outdated stuff we will not be using yet keeping enough so we have power to work with. He has run into some very funky electrical nightmares. In two places he found where they had used an electrical outlet as a junction box. Butch was incensed! People will do crazy things and sometimes without realizing the dangerous situation they are creating.
 I would say the demo part of it is perhaps 80% done. It is starting to look like a shell, one we can work with.
So there is a heavy agenda today. Getting ready to roll early in the morning. Getting laundry caught up. And that is the two things I can think of fast. I know there is more.
More as it happens...

From Grandpa Gary

Elise spent two nights with us this weekend. Whoo hoo! Lots of great Grandma and Grandpa time. Here are two short snips (there is a LOT more raw video) from the weekend.

 

Sing Pretty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdMX4w-23LI

Outdoor Walk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeYcj7Ap3b0

The Big Blow

While Leo, Keri, her sister Lori and Butch and I were in the basement wild things were happening outside. There were two big blows and this one probably happened on the second one. Big mess! Good thing Leo likes landscaping, huh?
By the way, forgot to mention that Lori, Keri's sister was in on the cooking done this weekend of which we were the grateful recipients. Lori was visiting from eastern Iowa.

These two were at our place. We got off easy.

Lexi wonders what Leo is up to.

Two major trees were affected.

Patio furniture blown askew.

Big Storm

We had a big storm last night. The first we have been involved with for several years. We have branches to pick up in the yard. Leo called to tell us his yard is a war zone. Will go out and take pictures. The tornado siren went off and we went out to Leo and Keri's to get in the basement. High winds and heavy rain. It did not go into its twirly pattern. Thank God! But then we returned home and there were winds on the back side of this storm stronger than the first ones. I do not think it settled down until about 1:00 AM.
We used to take these type of storms in stride. After all we lived in the Midwest. But after you have had peaceful weather for about ten years it takes some getting used to all over again.
Pictures later...

Sea Salt? What is the big deal?

I wondered about it. Have you? This is from a friend.

 Salt of the Sea

FRIDAY FOOD THING

To most folks brought up in my generation and beyond, when it rains, it pours: Morton’s“iodized” table salt is the tableside norm. Years ago, someone decided many humans weren’t getting enough iodine in their diet, so that same someone convinced the government to add it to everyday table salt — kinda like that questionable someone who did the same thing with fluoride in toothpaste. An added benefit of adding iodine to salt is a more free-flowing (and marketable) salt product. Hence Morton’s advertising slogan, “when it rains it pours”. Very clever.

One day — in my ongoing search for culinary curiosities — I tried Kosher salt, which excludes iodine from its formulation. What a difference. No more Band-Aid aftertaste. On yet another day, I experimented with sea salt, and — I gotta tell you — what an amazing BIGGER difference! I will never go back.

Sea salt is as varied as the seas around the world from which it is produced, and the taste and color and texture vary wildly. If you need proof about how much better sea salt tastes than the iodized variety, buy some at your supermarket and perform your own taste test, side by side. Your taste-buds will know the difference.

It’s only fair to point out that Morton has kept up with the times and has seriously increased their product line accordingly with many sea salt offerings. However, to truly understand the available differences in taste, I highly recommend expanding your culinary curiosity to include the virtual smorgasbord of imported varieties readily available on the Internet.

And then...

Yesterday- Saturday- Butch and I went back to work on the house. He to a greater degree than I. I did my best to go at it in a very conservative manner. I was successful. I removed the sidewall insulation in the kitchen. Not a hard job really as there isn't much of it and it is somewhat enclosed in black paper. Has a seal on it that says balsam/wool. It bags up fairly easy.
Butch took out some inner walls. His job was much more strenuous.

Our RV refrigerator quit. And of course it was on a Friday night. Butch went to talk to the RV dealers in town but nothing will happen till Monday. We have an extended warranty and thank goodness for it because RV refrigerators are very costly. Much higher than home refrigerators. We will see what can be done about it tomorrow. In the meantime we have the little refrigerator that was in the house. It works just fine. It just means we have to run to the house every time we want something out of it. One of the petty inconveniences of life, they happen to all of us now and then.
Keri helped me out by bringing us a wonderful breakfast casserole and muffins this morning. Saved me several trips to the house.
Finally went for a walk this morning. The first 3 blocks had me wondering but soon all the kinks were walked out. We walked downtown to the post office and back. About an 18 block walk all told. Felt much better after we returned home. I needed to get out and moving.

I never stop seeing things worthy of a picture...the latest.

A Civilized Cat

I could not decide which was a better picture. The sunlight illuminating the squirrels tail intrigued me.

Feeling Good

I would say I am feeling A-1 Okay today. Of course I haven't attempted anything as yet. I am still in my P J's . But I feel as if pulling a few nails or going for a walk would be something I could do and feel good about it.

Yesterday our Georgia son Rich and his wife Donna came for a visit. We spent the day together. Took a tour of the town. Ate at the Chinese restaurant. It was a very good day.

Below are pictures of Nina Grace who is Rich and Donna's granddaughter and the light of their life. I snipped these from Facebook.

And here are house pictures. There has been progress since these were taken. I am a little behind. These pictures show all the bagged sacks of loose insulation. They are all gone now plus further progress on the walls and ceiling.

Butch had a conference with Russ Cosens a local contractor and longtime friend. Now that we have the bones of the house exposed we wanted to know form an expert, and we consider Russ an expert, what we could safely remove and what may need reinforcement etc. We were very pleased with what he told us. He pretty much told us it was safe to do most anything we wanted to do. Butch does plan to reinforce the roof in the living room/ kitchen area but the remainder of the house is firmly supported and needs no further bracing. We are good to go!

So now I need to get dressed and on with the remainder of what looks like a beautiful day.

From Papa Gary -Elise at Taco Bell

Papa playing with his new father's day toy.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYLNSyUY5oc

From Mom Barb: Ya'all did notice she says HIGH FIVE  a couple of times near the end? Tell me you noticed?!

 

Behind me

The surgery is over and they tell me successful. Yesterday was a long day even with sleeping through most of it. I was home by 10:30 AM today and have slept a fair amount today as well. The surgeon says I can do as much as a I feel like doing but really that is a trick answer. I assume I will heal quickly and be back to normal activity quite soon. But today is not the day.  Normal is a ways off yet.
Till next time...

Gertie

 I found a garter snake in my flower bed. Needless to say the weeds are still there. But my mother in law would never let anyone kill a garter snake because they eat bugs and rodents. We have found NO mouse droppings in our renovation so I think she may be right. The garter snake is staying. We named her Gertie.

From Grandpa Gary

I bought a Sharper Image "Flip camera wannabe" for father's day. The quality is not as good as the old sony 8mm but it sure is easier to use and upload. Old one I had to record into a TV card in my computer and convert it. Now I just plug in the SD memory card and go.

 

My first 2 videos are from Friday when Elise came to our house and we visited a brand new park that city built that is a mile west of us. Later that day she went swimming at the pool. Elise loves the outdoors and she loves water so I think she had a real fun day.

 

First one I think we should have a counting contest. Who can get the right number of eeh's and (da\That)'s?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTOSalY-lu8

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpd64K9MsTs

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Went to the doctor Tuesday and now have surgery scheduled for Tuesday the 21st. It is to repair my lady parts that have become misplaced due to childbirth. 'nuff said. Will be in the hospital (Jefferson) overnight. Women I have talked to who have had this surgery tell me it is not too bad. I can be back to remodeling and construction in no time. Won't be able to lift much but that was true before the surgery. 
Wednesday we decided to get as much done as possible before next Tuesday so we have been working a little longer and harder than before. We made great strides in removal of insulation and drywall. This is one part we will be very glad to have on our done list...and that could happen today!
We have living room and bathroom ceilings to get down and then bag up the insulation from those two rooms and that is on our agenda today. Butch got an invitation to play golf yesterday but we got lots done when he got back. I pulled nails while he was gone. We burned up some wood scraps and cleaned our work area getting ready for today.
I talked to a new Kindle owner (Susan Van Houweling) and found out something new. With my Kindle I do not need an Internet connection to use it. It is completely independent from my computer. The new $114 ones are not. You need a wireless connection to use them. I would not want one like that. To have the features I have on mine you need the next step up. I think it is $149. I was about to buy Butch his own so this info was very good to know. It kept me from making a mistake. Susan is sending hers back and getting the next one up  
the line. You will love it Susan! Those two websites for free Kindle books are http://www.pixelofink.com/ and
http://ereadernewstoday.com/. And I am still reading " Bubba and the Dead Woman"

Another Kaleidoscope

This time you make your own...when you have nothing to do-Right?

Link of the Day:

Kaleidoscopes are such fun, creating symmetrical shapes anywhere you
point them and this one is part of the 'brain training games.'

It is a digital kaleidoscope where you can draw the image the
kaleidoscopes sees. After selecting your brush type, thickness and
color, begin drawing in the left-hand window. The rotate wedge
shows you where the kaleidoscope is looking.

http://www.zefrank.com/dtoy_vs_byokal/

Mapping the 2010 US Census

I know you have all been waiting with baited breath to know how the 2010 census turned out. Really I did find it very interesting and thought you might too.
Just click on the link below

- NYTimes.com

Bell Tower Parade

Butch was the photographer for this album. He took the last picture so you would have no doubt about that.

Class Reunion weekend

yesterday

Butch and I were back to work yesterday. Drywall and insulation are now removed from the bedroom ceiling. As I write Butch is working on the side walls in the bedroom removing dry wall. With insulation removal I would say we are about half done. Our age is dictating the speed at which we progress. I was almost certain it would. We overdo a bit and then we must pause and heal up. Overdo- pause- heal. It is a cycle we have established. So it will most likely take us at least twice as long as someone younger. But for the most part we are enjoying the process.

Doreen Wilber-Jefferson IA's Olympic Gold Medal Winner

Doreen is shooting at a target placed across the street. I thought that was a clever idea.

Big Weekend for the Class of '61.

With lots of things done. My 50th class reunion was this weekend. Started off with a gathering on Friday night at John and Alice Hamilton's place. Rozetta Renner Fiscus has plans for a signature quilt so Mickey Sanders Starr is giving Rozetta a signature.

Bonnie Strunk Campbell visits with Donna Kafer Lawson.

Saturday Morning we were riding a Class of '61 float in the Bell Tower Festival Parade. (Pictures provided by Joan Conroy)

Saturday night we were hosted by Keith and Joan Conroy and the event was catered by a caterer from Lidderdale and the food was excellent. And the stories told by and on classmates were worth the trip. It was a fun, fun time.

Sunday we enjoyed brunch and much conversation at the boyhood Jim Hanson home. Pictured here are some of the male classmates in attendance. L to R, Keith Conroy, Jim Hanson, James Willmore, Steve Melson, John Hamilton. Tom Clause and Mike Vincent in front.

It was a great reunion and I came away feeling like I knew many of my classmates much better.

Butch's Birthday Party

Leo and Keri made a big deal out of Butch's birthday yesterday. We ate at The Howling Coyote in Panora. Very good food by the way. This was followed by birthday cake and it was wonderful too. There were gifts and cards and a suitable notation of Butch's 70th. That is hard for either of us to fathom. That number has always seemed far, far away. And now it is here. Thank God it is only a number.
I forgot my camera but I tried a couple of shots with my phone. I have never mastered getting good shots with it so they are okay but I am far from proud. While getting the pictures from the phone to the computer I notice a couple taken last winter in Magnolia park. One is Butch trying to figure out what was wrong with Pecan Bills golf cart and the other is Pecan Bill and Kay's geraniums

Keri, Butch, Leo and Norma

With my Verizon connection I have noticed every day at the same time my connection gets cranky. It grinds away, taking forever to connect and gets quite annoying. So we have learned to leave it alone when it is cranky and it seems to work itself out and be okay again. We are in a cranky period as I am writing this so I may have to wait to upload pictures.
I endured my annual checkup yesterday and all my numbers were good except the weight of course. So that little visit is over for another year. Butch's were okay too when he went on Tuesday.

Been doing same ol' stuff

And getting caught up on details. Sometimes the details of life pile up and they need attention. The annual check ups, mailing in rebates,running out of band aids, getting address changes made, cleaning house, doing laundry etc. And those are the things we have dealt with so far this week. Butch has continued demo on the house in between these details. So progress is being made and it is satisfying to see things move along. I would guess you could say demo is 1/3 done.
We are settling in. Just like we do in any new location. It takes awhile but pretty soon a routine becomes discernible and you find you are doing the same things on the same days and thus the routine in established. We are creatures of habit and that is a good thing. Some order in life is necessary and welcome. It has a calming effect. So we are calm and settled and we hope you are as well.