Texas Visitors by way of Colorado and Michigan

Terry and Lisa Linder and Mel and Gail Morton of Texas are visiting us. We met these fine folks in Colorado at Snow Mountain Ranch while volunteering there several summers ago. This summer,after their stint at Snow Mountain Ranch they made their way to Hillman MI and workamped at Thunder Bay Golf and RV Resort where we volunteered last year. They are now slowly making their way back to Texas but stopped to see us and the progress we are making on the house they have heard so much about. Last night shortly after their arrival we treated them to some Iowa Ham Balls, Cheesy Potatoes, Green beans with onion and bacon and Lemon Bars. Keri fixed the cheesy potatoes and Norma Milligan had treated us to a whole batch of Lemon Bars. I can tell you I looked forward to this meal as much as anyone. These Texans had never heard of ham balls. No big surprise there. So it seemed the perfect thing to have and it was. After supper we played some poker and those Texans took these Iowans for a bit of a ride. We ate supper and played poker in our house. It is primitive but it worked.

And then this morning we took a bit of a tour around Jefferson. Showing them the town square and all the stuff around it. I think our courthouse is a fine example of one and that is where we started.

After our mini tour we came back to our RV's for a quick lunch. The guys then were off to the golf course. We women sat around and visited a bit and then we took off on bikes to check out the bike trail.

Lisa and Gail on the trail.

We did a 5 mile ride out to the trestle bridge and back on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. When we returned, Gail who hasn't ridden since she was a kid, said she had no idea riding a bike could be so much fun. I am sure you know that really warmed my heart!!

History of our country in a nutshell

Probably the best capsule of the history of our country ever put together.  It's fascinating to watch the evolution of growth from the 13 colonies up to the present, with dates, wars, purchases, etc. included.  As much as you may know about American history, I guarantee you'll learn something from this short video clip.

This “moving” map of the country, shows it from the beginning of the 13 states through the present. It includes the acquisitions from England and Spain, the Slave states, the Free states, a segment on the Civil war, it includes some mentions of Central and South America, etc.   It also shows the Indian Nations as they were during the Indian Wars: Modac, Miwok, Mujave, Nez Perce, Flat Head, Crow, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Navajo, Apache, Dakota, Sioux, Kiowa, Wichita and Comanche. A great site, especially if you enjoy American history, but have forgotten a lot of what we learned in school. Turn on your sound, as the narration is a significant portion of the presentation. Click on the link below. (When it opens, don't click on Go at the bottom .... click on Play at the top.)

http://www.animatedatlas.com/movie.html

Dan Kelley and his granddaughter Peyton Kelley. Look at that watermelon!!! It's a whopper!!

Give me a break!!

I am not going back to see where I left off so this might be a repeat of what I have already said. The fine folk at Webster City RV fixed the furnace in short order and then spent 4-5 hours hashing over the new washer deal last Tuesday. We were scheduled to go back up Friday to get a new washer- which we did. I knew it would take awhile so I took my beading and my purse to the waiting area. I thought if I tired of beading I could balance my checkbook. We came home in the early afternoon. Butch started on some construction and I dusted and vacuumed. At 5:00 the phone rang and it was Webster City RV telling me I had left my purse up there!!! Damn, damn and double damn!! There was nothing for it but to go right back and get it. They said they would be there a couple more hours. I called Jason to see if they would be home as it is on the way. Jason and Laura decided to ride with us. It sure made the trip go much faster having good company to visit with. After retrieving my purse we went to a local restaurant recommended by the guys who guarded my purse. The Grid Iron in Webster City Iowa. A very good choice.
It is no mystery to me why the little old ladies in nursing homes can be seen in their wheelchairs tightly clutching their purses in their lap. I understand completely.

Hewy and Peaches Videos

Video's of Myrla working with Hewy and Peaches. They were not in the mood to cooperate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKlyZS3_N9o

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

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

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Early Tuesday

Early Tuesday morning we were on the road to Webster City RV. It seems when they hooked up the new air conditioner something was overlooked with the furnace because on a chilly morning last week we decided to run it and it would not go. It didn't even show up on the thermostat. It was fixed in short order but Butch decided to ask them about our washer. It has made an awful sound for quite some time. Our warranty runs out next month and another extension on it is way up there in dollars. Like $3400 for a year. So we are not going to extend it. Well, after diagnosing, discussion and wrangling with the extended warranty folks they will pay part of the cost of a new one so we are progressing with that and will be headed back to Webster City RV on Friday morning for a new washer. Geez, I sure hope that is the end of it!! I am sure Route 66 warranty people do as well.
We came home about 4:00 PM and it felt really good to be here.
By the way, Keri ( I know she reads this every day) The folks at the fair would like the recipe for Crockpot Pizza that you so kindly sent with me. It was delicious! And the Pecan Pie was a died-and-gone-to-heaven experience. Keri's stove suffered a malfunction while we were gone and Butch is headed out there this morning to see what ails it. We do not want Keri without a stove!

Post Fair on Monday

We stopped in Rockwell City to visit my sister Myrla and her husband Scott partly because we hadn't seen them in a very long time and partly because we had an appointment with Webster City RV and Rockwell City is straight west of Webster City about 40 miles. We had a great visit with Myrla and Scott and their "children" Hewy and Peaches.

 Butch played pool with Myrla all afternoon. 

Rockwell City has a city RV Park with full hook ups and that is where we parked the motorhome. Then we walked to and from our house to theirs through the woods and city park. I took this picture on the way.

At the Fair- Part 3

They use horses and ATV's to park cars at the fair.

Kids and Lambs

 At Grandpa's Barn - One of the highlights for me at the fair. Be sure and let me know your favorite fair pictures.

Goats at Grandpa's Barn

I did not know I was getting a 'grinning calf'. It reminds me of the dog commercial about dentures for dogs.

Butch getting a kitty fix.

This pair loved to climb on the big equipment. The bigger the better.

"Come on up, Sis. This one is a two seater", He hollered at his sister.

The horse arena.

After the fair we went to Terril Iowa and the farm home of Butch's sister Marlene and bro-in law Bernard Kelley. This is Bernard's Resting Chair. Do you see him resting? Neither do I.

We went to visit Dan and Sara. They have some giant watermelons but I did not have my camera. You would think I would learn by now. When we returned we had some heated cribbage games. I do not remember who won or lost...ahem.  And this was followed by a scrumptious feast of all homegrown items. Steak, Tomato Spoon Salad, Green beans with bacon and onion, Newly dug potatoes , skillet fried and probably more that is not coming to mind at the minute.

Right now we are sitting at a campground in Rockwell City. Butch is washing the motorhome and when he finishes we will walk over to Myrla and Scott's place. More later.

At the Fair-Part two

We were pretty busy at the Fair so we didn't get much computer time and after the campground filled up the Internet would go wonky frequently. I did get some pictures though. I love taking pictures at the fair. Norma and I had entries in the fair and we both did well. She got a first place on her painting and a couple of firsts on her photo entries. I had only photo entries this year and I got a couple of first places too.

Dale C. reading the morning paper. He did not have any idea I took this picture.

The Guys

Norma & Butch

Headed off to the fair

Norma's painting

                                                                Sunflower Fair entries

Corn entries

Judging of Tomatoes

Greasy Fair Food

Left too long by a tree

At the Fair - Part one

Yesterday at the crack of dawn Butch was up and ready to go. I do not like it when he gets up too early. I have my things I like to do in the quiet and peace of the early morning. And when he gets up too early the day seems to get off on the wrong foot for me. Like waking up on the wrong side of the bed. So we were up and on the road by 7:50 AM headed for Spencer IA and the Clay County Fair. And so the rest of the day was taken up with meet and greets, visiting and too much food. You see the fair does not start till Saturday but many gather early for good camping spots and reduced price entry tickets and we are among such a group.
So perhaps I will get my ducks in a row today and be a better reporter of what is happening all around.

Tip of Texas

Drought picture of Texas. Looks like the tip is abnormally dry but most of the rest is exceptionally dry.
Click on picture for larger view.

September is a beautiful month

Reply

The temps get a little cooler and our thoughts turn to different things. Like cooking and wrapping up the loose ends of summer and heading south. Although the heading south is still a month away and my memory is good enough to know it is plenty warm down there yet.

We have the west storm door on and Butch has a few finishing touches to do to it. I know, I know, PICTURES. Maybe later today.

I have a funeral to go to this morning. A classmate of mine. Karel Johnson Bane. We share cousins. My Uncle Jack and her Aunt Gar married and produced our shared cousins. It took me awhile to figure out how to word that effectively and it will most likely take you awhile to decipher it.

The recipe below is a definite on my To-do list and I have the roast in the freezer to do it with.

Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast

8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1 large onion, cut in half and sliced
1 (2 1/2- to 3-pound) boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed
1 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (1-ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
1 (14-ounce) can beef broth
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
Hot cooked egg noodles

Place mushrooms and onion in the bottom of a 5 1/2-quart slow cooker.

Sprinkle roast evenly with pepper. Brown roast on all sides in hot oil
in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Place roast on top of
mushrooms and onion in slow cooker. Sprinkle onion soup mix evenly over
roast. Pour beef broth and tomato sauce over roast. Cover and cook on
HIGH 5 to 6 hours or until meat shreds easily with a fork.

Remove roast from slow cooker, and cut into large chunks; keep warm.

Skim fat from juices in slow cooker; stir in dried Italian seasoning and
tomato paste. Stir together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a
small bowl until smooth; add to juices in slow cooker, stirring until
blended. Cover and cook on HIGH 20 to 30 more minutes or until mixture
is thickened. Add roast pieces back to slow cooker. Cover and cook until
thoroughly heated. Serve over hot cooked egg noodles. Makes 6 servings.

Laboring on Labor Day

I have cleaned house and caught up on laundry while Butch is still laboring away on the west side storm door in the breezeway. We are in a bit of a push as we would like to get things tied up a bit before going to the Clay County Fair next Thursday. We really like the Clay County Fair. It has most of what the state fair has but it is so much easier to get around. I have a few photography entries, thanks to my friend Norma Cooklin who takes them to the fair before the deadline. We will be meeting up with the Cooklins and the Cleavelands when we get there. We have heard that Jefferson friends Bert and Everett Beebe will also be there. Keri is bailing me out again by preparing Crockpot Pizza for me to take for a joint meal contribution. I am so lucky.
Yesterday we went to breakfast with Leo and grandniece Anna Kelley who stopped by for a visit. She is new to college and was finding it lonely on campus as most of the students do not stick around for the holiday. She needed to stay due to a work study program she is in. But the distance to Jefferson was close enough to get back to campus before she needed to be there. We had a great breakfast and a nice visit.

I have been hot and heavy on bracelet making finishing about one a day. I took some photos of them yesterday but only one was worth keeping. This is the brides bracelet.

Elise at a festival

Santa-Cali-Gon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyQPvB2kyLU