May be a perfect world!

The AC guy called and is coming today! Too soon to say it IS perfect but we are closer.
 I need some art work on the walls and a roman shade in the bedroom but we are so close to done we can nearly taste it. As many have said..."You will never be completely done." And that is very true. The projects I have in mind from here on are small by comparison. We do have a guy coming tomorrow for a quote on the screen room but we are thinking next summer for that project unless of course he comes up with the perfect plan and the perfect dollar amount. Hey, Miracles happen!

Neighbor kids project. My best guess is that it is a table.

Our new ANTENNA.

Kitchen

Dining/living room

Bed

Bath

and Beyond

Pieces are falling into place

Russ stopped by tonight and finished up the cabinet installation. After he left, Butch was in the bathroom and I noticed the one above the refrigerator was upside down. I am thinking,"Oh, Crap!" I want that fixed. I expected a big reaction from Butch but he said pretty much what I did. Well, we fixed it.
Yesterday Butch hooked up the main TV in the living room to Directv and bought an Antenna to hook up the one in the bedroom. I put a big A on Antenna...on purpose...It is a Big Antenna. I protested the size but it is now on the roof and we are pulling in 16 digital channels. More than enough. So I am not sweating the small stuff even if it is the biggest Antenna I have ever seen.
Now if we lived in a perfect world the AC guy would come tomorrow. May get some pictures tomorrow.

Weekend

Yesterday we putzed a bit. Butch played golf with Jason and then we drove to Boone and had lunch and a visit with Laura and Jason. Colleen had a lamp that she really liked and it fell over and broke. I told her it looked like a job for Jason so we picked up the lady lamp and entered her in the Jason's Handy Hospital for some intensive care. Jason called a bit ago and said the lady is fixed!
While we were in Boone we also bought our new TV's. You knew it had to happen. So Butch spent the better part of today working on getting the TV's set up and operational. I had obligated myself to hostess one of the garden's featured on the Jefferson Garden Club's annual Garden Walk. My time slot was 3:15 to 5:15. It went quickly as we had over 40 people take the tour.
Russ stopped by this morning and said he would be here tomorrow night to finish up our cupboards. Sure hope nothing puts a crimp in that plan.
As it happens I have about 10 pans in the fire. I sure hope I can get them all cooked up real soon.

Calm, quiet and HOT

We have to be in the motorhome if we want cool. The AC in the house is not working. We have a guy coming next week to fix it for us we hope. You will get the full story when we know the full story. It isn't unbearable in the house but it sure makes a difference when you can get the humidity out of the air.
We are in the phase where I set a chair somewhere, leave it there for a bit and see if it works for me. The one room I have never had clear in my mind planning is the living room so lots of experimenting is taking place.
Colleen gave me the perfect recliner yesterday.  It is perfectly per-portioned and has a small footprint. She also gave me a couple of  area rugs. Things are coming together nicely. We are still checking out auction dates and content but our needs are diminishing rapidly. Pictures will be coming soon.

RVing Tip of the Day

Use bicycle water bottle racks for rattle-free holders
by Greg Illes

I've been using bike bottle racks for a variety of purposes for several years now. They're cheap, solid, rattle-free, easy to install, and they fit a surprising number of different objects that you typically find in and around an RV. Also, once installed, they look tidy and neat whether empty or full.

Currently, I have a wasp spray can, a fire extinguisher, some bear spray, and yes, even a few water bottles, happily parked in these handy little racks.

For stuff that's taller than a standard water bottle, like the big wasp spray products and the small-size fire extinguishers, you'll need to cut off the top strut of the bottle rack. Since this projection is just to keep the bottle from bouncing out while riding the bike, it can usually be dispensed with.

Find a handy place to mount the rack, make sure you have room to insert and extract its contents, and then just use two short screws to fasten it to the wall or cabinet. (If you change your mind later on, those two small screw holes are easy to fill and make disappear.)

Once you start using this trick, you'll probably think of a surprising number of ideas. Why have a nighttime glass of water to knock over in the dark when you can have a secure bedside water bottle instead? Run out of cup holders up front? A couple of bottle racks will extend your ability to "stock" a variety of drinks while underway. Do you like to use solvent in your windshield washer, but hate carrying a giant bottle of the stuff? Put a bottle of concentrate in a behind-the-hood bottle rack, and it will always be there when you top off your reservoir.

Barb says: I do not have a usable cup holder on my side of the car or the Motorhome. I think I have found a solution. Now to get Butch to go along with the idea. Always the toughest part.

More Elise and Leo

Their Mama writes: Leo was fussing so Elise got a book and decided to read to him since I was cooking. He hushed down right away and started listening to her. I love the love between them, hope it will last!!

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Brownies with Walnuts

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Brownies with Walnuts (Grandma Willey's Brownie Recipe)

(Makes 12 large brownies; recipe adapted from Dot's Brownies, the favorite brownie recipe of Grandma Willey.)

Ingredients:
1 cup melted margarine (or use half margarine and half coconut oil; do not use margarine that has water as the first ingredient)
7 T cocoa powder
4 eggs, well beaten
2 cups of sugar, Splenda, or Stevia in the Raw (use Splenda or Stevia for South Beach Diet)
1/2 cup brown sugar (optional, but recommended if you're using Splenda or Stevia, or use another 1/2 cup sweetener)
1 1/3 cups white whole wheat flour
pinch of salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup walnuts (hand broken)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Use a microwave to melt the margarine or margarine/coconut oil combination in a large bowl (big enough to hold all the ingredients.) Stir the cocoa powder into the melted margarine.

In a separate small bowl, beat the eggs well, then stir in 2 cups sugar, Splenda or Stevia in the Raw. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar (if using) and stir again.

Stir the egg mixture into the cocoa mixture. Then add the flour, salt, and vanilla and stir to combine. Use your fingers to break enough walnuts to make 1 cup, and then gently stir them into the batter.

Spray a glass baking dish with nonstick spray and then add the batter, pressing down so it's evenly flat. (I used a dish that was about 8" x 11".) Bake 30 minutes, then let the brownies cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before cutting.


www.KalynsKitchen.com.

These are on my want list.

Like Running a Race

This house and it's construction has been like running a race...always one more task or obstacle. But now as we near the end there is a winding down both physically and mentally. I am hoping for renewed vigor. Maybe today.
I have been fairly faithful about my morning walks with Colleen. We have had a few misses due to weather and we thought the mosquitoes might drive us off but we spray ourselves down with anti bug spray and so far it is working. There is lots of standing water for mosquito breeding grounds. So far it has not been the best weather for outdoor activities of any kind. All you can do is say "Maybe next Spring will be better." Summer is soon to start and it sure would be nice to see a change in this wet weather pattern.
Till next time ...and a more cheerful mood...

Snipped Elise and Leo

I just had to snip these pics of Elise and her baby brother Leo from Facebook. I love these pics! Elise is 3 and Leo a bit over 2 months old.

Taking it easy...

Taking it easy this weekend. My stiff neck is better. The answer was to keep it warm. I have had a problem for quite some time of being unable to have a cool breeze blowing directly on me and I think that was a large part of the problem. Probably an old lady thing. Getting more of those little irritations all the time.

We sure had a wonderful summer of weather last year but we are paying for it this year. Cool and wet with lots of bugs and mosquitoes. Of course many didn't like the drought last year. It's always something as Rosanne Roseannadanna used to say and if you know who that is you are showing your age.

Butch is in the motorhome watching the US Open golf tournament and as many movies as he can handle switching back and forth. Now you know why I am in the house fussing around on the computer.

Our next project is the garage. It caught all the stuff we did not know what to do with so it is now time to sort and create order from the chaos. But today is not the day. That is a chore you have to work up your nerve to tear into. Maybe tomorrow...

More Auctioning

Last night we went to an auction again. This one was a few miles out of Jefferson. I really felt bad for the owner. It had rained much of the day and the wind was blowing like crazy so combine that with plenty of mud and threat of more rain and it was not conducive to a good auction for them. The crowd was sparse. On the other end of  things everything went very cheap, dirt cheap, below pennies on the dollar. For $2 we bought a toaster,iron, citrus press,wastebasket, casserole dish,portable fan,4 cup coffee maker. Of course we really did not want most of it but that is how it goes. For our other $13 that we spent we bought 2  side tables. There were a few other items that we were considering but the lightning started and we left. There were many genuine antiques there that went for a little bit of nothing. It was sad.

Before we went to the auction Colleen went with us to a new restaurant in Paton (pronounced PAY-ton) Iowa. Sounds odd doesn't it. It sure does if you are from this area because Paton is a tiny dot on the map of Greene County Iowa and they have a brand new semi-fancy sit-down restaurant. The name of it is 209 Main. It is not hard to find! The food was excellent and the place was full of people with others waiting. If you cook it well they will come.

I have been struggling with a stiff neck the last couple of days. A heating pad is the answer for relief if you find yourself suffering with a stiff neck too. I am not completely free of pain but it is getting better.

Note to self: There is a very neat old barn at the auction site and I would like to get a picture of it.

Colleen's Colorful Touch

My request of my friend Colleen was that she do what she does, which is to colorfully enhance things. I did not have any specific instructions. Subject matter, colors, technique etc. was all up to her. Here are the wonderful results! Two mismatched file cabinets are now colorfully coordinated and the inside of our bench is holding a surprise for anyone who pops the lid. I love it.

BLT Roll-Ups

BLT Roll-Ups

8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
8-10 slices center cut bacon, cooked and crumbled1 cup chopped tomatoes
4 eight-inch flour tortillas
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce

Mix cream cheese and mayo in a bowl. Add crumbled bacon and diced tomatoes. Spread mixture on tortillas and top with lettuce. Roll up tightly and refrigerate for an hour. Slice into 1/2 inch slices.

Settling in...

We have been getting settled in and taking care of the details of life the past few days. It takes awhile to get used to new digs and where things are or will be. It is a mixture of fun and not so fun but this too will pass.
I asked my friend Colleen to put her special touch in our house and she has been working the last  couple of days doing just that. I am loving what she is doing and will take pictures on completion of the project.
Here is one of her at work.

Butch has worked on the motorhome after getting the big stuff done on the house. He has washed and waxed the roof and decided that from here on out it will be time to hire it done. I hope that resolution lasts. I have promised to help him with the rest of it. He has been getting more golf in. Not happy with his game but it should get better soon. It always does.

Someday Soon

Someday soon I will have many things done in the house and just the way I want them and all cleaned up real spiffy like and I will take some final house pictures but until then you will get the crappy pictures just as the house looks this very minute.
 Saturday we went to the auction in Guthrie Center. Sunday we went to one in Yale Iowa (16 miles south of Jefferson). The lady of this house passed away about a year ago and her husband was selling to go to a retirement home. This nice husband did not put any restraints on his wife's spending and she liked nice things. She was fond of Cuisinart as many of her appliances were that brand. She was a quilter and had many different machines, probably each one being an upgrade. It is interesting to look into other peoples lives through their possessions.
It threatened rain all day and sprinkled on occasion  and the auctioneer adjusted his path accordingly. We most likely would not have been there but Butch had his eye on a John Deere mower. He didn't get it...too much money. We bought a loveseat, a 6 drawer dresser, a drill press and a couple of outdoor ornaments for a grand total of $120.
We panicked a bit after buying the loveseat as we were not able get it in the car because it already had a dresser filling it up and it was threatening rain. So we called Leo and he being the nice brother that he is came and picked it up for us and even delivered it into the house! Later Keri came by with a pecan pie for Butch since it was his birthday. Butch is enjoying it tremendously and I have had too much of it myself.

 Today Butch bought a used mower locally for less than half what the John Deere went for. He is tinkering with his new toy as I write this. He did me a "favor" and wind rowed the grass so it would be easier for me to pick up. Isn't he just the sweetest thing?

POOR MAN'S COBBLER

POOR MAN'S COBBLER

1 cup of all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 stick of butter
Fruit of choice-2 cups
(You can use canned filling or fresh fruit)

Heat oven to 350
-melt butter in a 9x? Baking dish...
- mix flour, sugar and milk together by hand until blended
-add fruit to dish right on top of melted butter
-pour batter over fruit mixture

Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown

My grandma would pour milk into each corner of the dish before putting into oven to keep the corners from over cooking....

I always double entire recipe to ensure having plenty for everyone...

It's easy, cheap and delicious... I hope yall enjoy it as much as we do

Auction Time

We have always planned to furnish our home with things from auctions. It has been our experience that buying furniture is the same or worse than buying cars. When you buy it the value drops significantly once you plant your butt on it and claim it as your own. So yesterday we went to Guthrie Center to an auction where we planned to buy a round oak pedestal table and chairs. And we did for $240. ( I tell you that because I use this blog as a reference point many times to review the past.)
Here is a picture taken at the auction shortly after our purchase and an unknown lady has perched her hiney on the edge of OUR table.

We were lucky as this auction was indoors. We plan to go to another today and it is outdoors. We will need to plan for rain...raincoats, umbrellas etc.

Below are a few pictures from the last week that I haven't had time to post.

Once in a while Butch and I will go for a walk. And we have been walking over the new overpass hoping to catch a picture as a train is approaching. So far our timing has been off

Jefferson's water tower located in northwest part of town.

Looking south while at the peak of the overpass.

My sister Theresa's art work displayed at the Jefferson Museum during Bell Tower Festival. The festival this year was a sad deal due to rain, rain and threat of rain. We missed it because of an auction.

Spotted these iris as we were walking home one day.

Progressing

I have been holding off for THEE finished project for pictures but I do believe it is going to be happening in tiny little bits from now on. So... here is the current status. Have you noticed the missing TV? I know!, I cannot believe it either.

At Emily and Joe's Wedding...

Dr Cates and her daughter Izzy.

Counter tops- DONE!

 Russ and Butch got the job done yesterday.

Butch has some plumbing hook ups to get done under the sink before we are fully operational but that most likely will happen today. Then the moving in process will begin.

June 1st, 2013-Brooker/Davis Wedding

Yesterday we attended the wedding of Joe and Emily (Brooker) Davis in Omaha Ne. 

The only snafu in the day was the weather as it was supposed to be, and was even forecast to be, a perfect Spring day but Mother Nature decided to test all concerned a bit by adding rain, cold and wind. Everyone,especially Keri and Leo, rose to the occasion and made the very best of it. It was a wonderful day...a perfect day... as you can see on the faces of the bride and groom.

Butch's Big Golf Tip of the Day

Butch changes his golf grips frequently.  He takes off the old grips and wraps the shaft with masking tape, then pours paint lacquer into the grip also spraying some on the masking tape followed by quickly pushing the new grip onto the shaft. Tricky job and you have to work fast. Well he discovered the other day he just cannot get it done anymore. Naturally he blamed the lacquer thinner. "They must have changed the formula". I suspicioned  and told him so that he may not have the power in his hands he once had. He didn't want to think that was true but gave it some credence. He planned to have Jason help him get the new grips on. The mailman came by today and remarked on the weather saying the course had dried up enough to play golf. Butch told him his tale of woe. He told Butch it was an easy job and he would do it for him if needed. He said he uses an air compressor. Blows those babies off with it and blows the new ones on with it. Slick as a whistle! Butch still has Leo's air compressor here...we also have one on the motorhome...so he blew those things on slick as a whistle and he is pleased as punch!

Be careful what you wish for...

Butch called the homeowner of the place next door and asked him to divert his sump pump water to another location, preferably the street and the storm drains. After learning that we could not go to our motorhome without wading in water he agreed and 20 minutes later his son showed up. Both father and son felt the need to discuss property lines etc. We ignored that part of the conversation because we have checked at the courthouse and we are within our boundaries and rights even though they do not believe it. I assume at some point in our lives a survey will be necessary. Anyway they extended the pipe from the sump pump and aimed it somewhat toward the street but not all the way. So then our front yard started flooding instead of the backyard! Finally Butch took pipe of our own and extended it to the street and it soon corrected the issue. I am assuming that we will need to monitor it each time it rains. The house is a rental and the renters do not give a rats patootie and the owner really doesn't either.

Still no Russ...but we keep hoping. Not yesterday...maybe today.

Smiling Leo

More Rain and other stuff

Jason did come over and helped Butch get the microwave installed. Then they moved on to finishing up the plumbing in the crawl space. Jason will be very glad to come over someday when he doesn't have to spend time in his "Man Cave". So will we. He said he is not fond of the decor down there at all. So it is a done deal now. Butch will probably have to check for leaks one more time but then we hope no one has to go down there for a good long time.
BUT...it is still raining...EVERY STINKIN' DAY!! Yesterday it rained 1.10 inch. And then it rained during the night...another .6 of an inch. So the sump pump is still needed and our neighbor still has his aimed at us. Back yard is flooded as much or more than ever so we are once again wading to the motorhome.

Sure would like to see Russ show up tonight. Countertop and installing kitchen faucet should take care of it. A few small things like installing cupboard door hardware, towel rings, rods and hooks etc. but then we can have our  day to day life happening in one location and that will be a good thing. I am not fond of wading in ankle deep water to the motorhome to cook supper.

Birthday Girl is a hoot!

Yesterday and today...

Yesterday we went to Clive Ia with our Hyundai for a recall fix. That was handled with speed and efficiency and then we went to our store of choice these days- Menards! Picked up a few items- not many- and then we went to Patricks in Adel Ia for lunch. Lunch? You might as well say feast. Their portions are huge and mighty tasty. Butch had their meatloaf special and I had a 1/2 order of chicken salad. Neither of us were disappointed. Very good place to eat. This was followed up with a stop at Alco in Perry. I worked at Alco for about 6 months in 1982 or 83 and enjoyed it very much but then I was offered a job at the Panora Medical Clinic so I made the switch. I had not been in the Alco store for many, many years but it is still a nice store to shop.
When we came home we saw that we could now go from the house to the motorhome without our Crocs. Before we had left in the morning we stopped at City Hall to complain about the next door sump pump situation but we were told it was a civic matter and we would need to discuss it with our attorney. So plan B is being mulled over...in our minds...at various hours of the day and night.
Today we are working on getting the microwave installed and laundry caught up. Jason is coming over when he gets off work to help us. Butch will need some muscle to get the microwave in place but he hopes to have all the details done right up to that point. He hollers at me now and then to hold something.
Russ said he would try to make it back some night this week to finish up. The countertop is what is left for him to do. Butch and I along with another helping hand now and then ought to be able to do the remaining things after that. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but it is not a full beam just yet.
I called my friend Mickey yesterday to wish her happy birthday and we had a nice visit. Not quite long enough but a nice visit none the less.

And we are still waiting...

Russ said there may be a chance he would work today but still no sign of him.

Saturday I went to Nick's Bar and Grill in Clive Iowa with Pat and Donna for a J.I.G.S. gathering. There were 8 of us there and we had a very good time visiting and catching up. Next months gathering will be on June 29th at the Mexican Restaurant in Jefferson. The following month (July) I hope to be able to host a gathering in my new kitchen/living room. A few things must happen before I can but not many. I tentatively have my plans set for July 27th.

Butch just came in and said he talked to Russ and he will be here in a bit.

Today we have other issues as well. It rained over 4 inches during the night and our backyard is a lake. Not all of it is God Powered as our "neighbor" to the south has a sump pump in his basement with his discharge aimed at us. That will be a-changing I say with conviction. So we currently have to wade through 4-6 inches of water to get from the motorhome to the house and vice-versa. So for now sleeping in the house and  cooking in the motorhome is not working very well. Butch is currently at Bomgaars seeing if a sump pump purchase is feasible and I have evil thoughts of seeing ours pumped into the neighbors basement. Right back at ya "friendly neighbor".

 In this photo below you can see the running water at the corner of the garage.

 Neighbors house in the picture below. Beneath the window a ditch is visible and that is where the water from their basement is gushing out and down the hill to our house.

 Here is a closeup of the ditch and the water gushing out. Water expelled from their place last summer during a drought so you can imagine what it will do now.