Odds and Ends

A cartoon I thought particularly appropriate.

My friend Denise who started the bracelet avalanche. The hat is not hers although it looks quite dashing. It was one she saw at an auction. 

This cartoon gal reminds me of Denise. Can anyone else see the resemblance?

Sweet Elise. I did not remember if I had posted this picture before or not but it sure is a cute one. Her mother, Amanda was not all that fond of water. I do not think Elise has inherited that factor.

Butch's brother Bill sent this picture of the river on which they live in Arkansas. It is one of those top ten pictures. Good job, Bill!!

Henry Wallace Farm

This morning was pretty in pink. It didn't last long.

 Butch and I were scheduled to meet square dancers at the Henry Wallace Farm near Orient Iowa. Since I had that pesky head cold we were not at all sure we would go. I still didn't feel top-notch but I didn't think I was contagious any longer so we made the trip. If you are curious about who Henry Wallace was and why he was famous you can visit the links I have provided above. It was great seeing everyone even if I couldn't give hugs. These are people we spent our Iowa winters with for about 20 years.

Don and Marilyn Scott

Judi Smith and Carolyn and Morris Wilson

Looks like Jack Tallman and Butch are in time out and Jan Brahms is giving them a talking to.

Henry Wallace started the Pioneer Seed Corn company among many other things like running for president of the USA.

Soil erosion demo

There were many more people there who I did not get photos of and the farm has many neat things too but the wind was blowing "like sixty" and the dust was heavy in the air. Maybe we will do another reunion next summer and get more pictures.

Waiting Game

Butch is waiting to be pain free and I am waiting to get over my cold. I am much better today. The combo of Neti-pot and Zicam came through once again. I am also in bad need of a haircut so in a few minutes Butch is going to trim me up. The last time I called a hairdresser I had to wait a week so it is just easier to have Butch cut it short enough to get to sunny South Texas where he turns the job over to Yolanda at Alicias. Gotta go as he is all set to shear me.

Headcolds

They come out of no where and disrupt everything. I have one. I hate it. I am getting better. At least today I can get air flow through both nostrils most of the time. I am trying to stay as far away from Butch as I can. If he gets it the surgery would be delayed until he was over it. It is hard to not contaminate someone when you are in close quarters. As always doing the best we can. It isn't always easy.
The sun is shining on my keyboard highlighting the need for a good cleaning. It is always something...

Back Surgery Next Tuesday

Butch is having Back Surgery in Ames Iowa at Mary Greeley Hospital on Tuesday October 11th. He will be in the hospital overnight. Post Op checkup on the 26th followed by a week of physical therapy. And with all things going right we could be on the road November 1st. But when we do leave here we do not plan to go more than a couple hundred miles per day so it will take us awhile to go the 1400 miles to South Texas.

Ride through the country

Butch and I met my sister Theresa today. We had meant to get together all summer but kept putting it off. We had a nice meal and caught up on lots of stuff. On the way to meet her I didn't take any pictures even though I saw many I would have liked. But on the way home I took several while on the fly. Harvest is in full swing as was evident everywhere.

Iowa's new trademark. It is even on the new drivers license.

Harvest Happens

Butch and I have names we have created for some places we have been. Today we went by dead woman exit. A few years ago a naked dead woman was found at this exit and we think of her and the situation every time we are near this exit. As far as I know this is still an unsolved murder.

Just Hangin'

We are doing some fall housecleaning of the motorhome. Going through some things trying to decide what to leave here to lighten our load. We have carried lots of things around simply because we didn't have a place to leave them and we might need it sometime. So we are leaving some things here and hopefully we will not need it till next summer whatever it might be.
Butch says his back feels better while he is walking so we took a nice long walk this morning. Trouble is we do have to stop sometime but maybe we can get another walk in later today.
There are several very beautiful fully colored trees in Jefferson right now. The difference between here and Michigan I am told is the variety of trees. There is a wider range of different varieties thus the wider range of colors in northern Michigan.
Yesterday the wind blew "like sixty" as my grandma used to say whenever anything was going really fast. But literally at times the wind was in excess of 60mph. The smarter farmers stayed out of the fields because of it. Combine fires are always a danger in the fall due to the dry weather suitable for combining corn and soybeans, but then you add the wind and the danger increases considerably. There were lots of field fires yesterday and this kept the firemen as well as the farmers very busy. As far as I know no lives were lost but lots of crops were.
I am taking this down time to catch up on my bracelet making. I have finished 4 and have 9 to go. I hope to stockpile over the winter to give me a head start on next summer. Friends in the valley are mostly beaders rather than buyers so they make their own. I have been so busy making the 3 or 4 most popular styles that I have not been able to branch out with some imagination. I am really itching to do that. Lots of new ideas and color combos swimming around in my head.
Till next time...

MRI -No surprises

They called Butch after his MRI with preliminary results. He has a bulging (herniated) disc and a pinched nerve. After going through this two times previously he had that figured out. He has an appointment on Oct 3rd in Ames with Dr Brandenberg (sp?). So for now you know as much as we do. It will all boil down to timing and healing as to when we head south.
Concerning the house,we have things wrapped up and stored for the winter as much as we can. There will be a few more things to take care of but cannot do much more until departure is imminent.

Other things: Neighbor Bill across the street gave me some iris. He says they are a pretty blue color and very large. If any of you would like to share them with me I will be happy to do so. I have a big box full. Bill tells me there is no hurry getting them in the ground and it could even wait till spring. With some nice days coming up I might get some of them planted yet this fall. Leo calls them old lady flowers. I can wait...they will come back into fashion someday.
Butch and I walked up to the last Farmer's Market for the season. I delivered a bracelet to a customer and we enjoyed a chili supper provided by the Central Christian Church. It was very good. On the way home we came by an apartment house where a young mother of 4 was trying to ride herd of her young'uns. The oldest 3 were boys and the youngest was a girl and still in diapers. She walked up to me with her arms extended and saying, "Gramma".  She acknowledged Butch and I as a couple because she called him "Grandpa" too. I picked her up. She would have come home with us in a heartbeat. She was a cheerful little thing and pretty too. Her brothers were pretty darn cute as well.
I like the show American Picker Sisters. It is normally on  Lifetime channel Tuesday at 9 PM. It wasn't on last night. Bummed me out. I hope it was a one time thing.
Butch and I got a two mile walk in yesterday. Yes, he can walk. As long as he stays medicated he can do almost anything but use a shovel or spade. We planned a bike ride today. I plan to take my camera because the leaf color is about to get as good as it gets here. Sorry Iowa, when it comes to leaf color you cannot hold a candle to upper Michigan.
later...

Finished

The path is finished and is looking really good. It needs some rain on it to settle it out. It is really nice to be able to get to the house without muddying up our shoes.

I think this Monarch is also finished. He was still alive when I snapped this shot but he didn't have much get up and go.

A Flurry of Activity

Saturday afternoon Butch and I attended an Alliant Energy Annual Picnic at Spring Lake. Lots of good food and conversation.

The leaves are beginning to turn and in another week should be fully colored.

Seeing this picture reminded me of an interesting story. Alliant Energy is changing the way they do health insurance for employees and retirees. There was a couple attending the picnic who have been living together for 42 years. Due to the changes they now have to get married! Or she would be without health insurance So on October 8th these particular seniors will be getting married. Isn't that a hoot!!

It was a beautiful fall day at the lake.

On Sunday we decided we had better get a move on finalizing the work around here. Fortunately Jason and Leo helped us with several tasks, especially those involving shovels and spades.

1. Butch and Jason buried the Satelite cable.

2. Butch emptied the rain barrel.

3.Jason smoothed out some ruts in RV site number 2  and moved Gary's camper back on it.

4. Barb and Butch loaded up Leo's tools and returned them for the winter.

5. Jason helped Butch get his tools, ladder etc. back in the motorhome.

6. Barb put two coats of paint on both the east and west side of the breezeway.

7. Leo and Jason finished up laying the path to the house.

8. Leo put some fill dirt in holes around the yard

Like I say- it was a flurry of activity.

Elise Videos

Bouncy Ball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuqqI2z5PWk

Diaper Dog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuqwRYA0Kgw

Elise keeps growing

Elise keeps growing even when we are not looking. I reminded Grandpa Gary that we hadn't seen any shots of sweet Elise for too long. So he sent me some... All the items Elise is pictured with are items from Amanda's childhood.

Great party

Went to a great party last night at Pat Limburg Rusnak's home. Notice how I still use her maiden name. It is difficult to make the switch when you knew them 'back in the day'. It was a great time with old/new friends and great food.
Butch is doing fine as long as he is medicated. It makes him loopy and sleepy. He was able to stay awake and not appear loopy at the party last night. But the minute he gets home he is ...well, you know.
I heard someone comment at the party last night that the last two weeks have been especially busy and I had to agree with them. It seems it is much like in the Spring in South Texas. As time draws nearer to leave the pace seems to pick up. I do not know what it is here. Maybe it is as it gets cooler we all know summer is winding down and it is time to get the parties in before we hibernate for the winter. I hope they do not hibernate all winter! They will all be loopy and sleepy by Spring.
I do not know any more about how long we will be here etc. Maybe I will know when we get the results from Tuesday's MRI.
Today we have another party at Spring Lake. It is the retirees of Alliant Energy annual gathering.
Till next time...

Butch's back

Butch's back has given him trouble all summer-off and on. The other day he took  4 hits with a spade and messed up his back again. Yesterday we went to the doctor...again. He is scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday and most likely is looking at his third back surgery. The first in 1985, the second in 2000, and the third most likely in October of 2011. This may change significantly our schedule for going to Texas. Only time will tell.
So Butch is reading the Kindle. I am still knee deep in bracelet orders and we are getting a walk in now and then. Work has stopped on the house and will resume next spring. So being in the holding pattern that we are not much happening.
Todays plan is to do some laundry and perhaps look at getting the house put up for the winter. Return some tools to Leo. Move some stacks of lumber around and batten down the hatches. I plan to go through things in the Moho and leave some unnecessary items here and I know there are a few items in the garage we plan to take with us.
We do have a party to go to tonight. That will be fun.
More later as I know it.

Bracelet Page

The bracelet Page above has been updated. Check it out

Visitors and visiting

Tuesday I had a previous appointment for a J.I.G.S. gathering. Lisa and Gail were willing to come with me. I am going to post what classmate Denise wrote about it.
From Denise:
 "Dear Jefferson Iowa Girls (JIGS)...About 20 of us had a wonderful get-together today at the tea room in Jefferson...Our honored guest was Jean Toal Brown, whom many of us hadn't seen in more than 40 years. Jeannie is the same beautiful, funny, peppy and feisty girl she was when she was a JHS cheerleader, and we were all so happy to see her. Jean and her husband Berry (who took about a  million pics of us) live on Lake Tahoe.

Here's who was there (going around the table) Donna Kafer Lawson (who made the arrangements for the lunch), Janet Smith, Dorothy Wilson Salisbury (Class of 1960), Wanda Freeman Richards (who has recently moved from Muscatine to Altoona and will be able to become a JIGs regular, we hope);

Ellie Stougard Brown, Pauline (Dona) Saba Borst (Class of 1963), Andrea Sigenthaeler Blume, Denise O'Brien Van, Pat Limburg Rusnak, Sue Durlam Lucht (Class of 1962), Judy Peacock Wills (Class of 1962), Mardi Thomsen Stream;

Rozetta Renner Fiscus, Jayne Owen Tomes, Jean Toal Brown, Colleen O'Brien Clopton (Class of 1962), Mickey Sanders Starr. Barb Brock Brooker, Toni Averill Roberts and Bonnie Strunk Campbell. (Hope I didn't miss anyone!)

Mary Nipps Hanson Harrison started JIGS (and named it) following the Class of 1961's 45th reunion. We central Iowa Class of 1961 girls have been meeting monthly for lunch ever since (and we've invited other JHS girls to join us). We always have a great time, no matter how many show up. It was so fortuitous that Jean Toal was in Iowa and could join us at today's lunch. Just so great to see her!

I've put all the girls on my Class of 1961 e-mail list on the JIGS list, so those of you who live far away can see what we're up to!..Be sure to let us know when you'll be in central Iowa, and we can get a get-together organized while you're here.

Best to all of you from Denise..."

Sue, Pat, Denise and Andi

Donna, Wanda and Dorothy

Janet,Lisa, Bonnie,Toni

Mickey, Judy and Colleen

Jean, Jayne and Rozetta

Jean and Jayne

Rozetta and Mardel

Sue and Pat

Jean and Sue

The meal was great as always at the Tea Garden and I was glad that Lisa and Gail were able to enjoy it with me. After the Jigs gathering we returned to the SummerTime RV Resort otherwise known as Barb and Butch's place and just hung out for the remainder of the afternoon. At about 5:00 we walked uptown to the Farmers Market. After returning we gathered in the yard for a joke telling session that lasted till after dark.
We had a great time with the first time visitors to the SummerTime RV Resort and we hope they return. They pulled out this morning heading south to their home state of Texas.