Behinder I Am

It is a rare day when I am not at my computer keyboard but this weekend was one such time. Saturday morning bright and early Butch, myself and Colleen drove to Redfield Iowa with my bike to meet up with my friend Sherri Clark from Atlantic Iowa. Colleen drove Sherri's car back to Jefferson and Butch went on the Highway 141 garage sale excursion while Sherri and I happily rode our bikes from Redfield to Jefferson (40 miles) with a side trip to Jamaica Iowa for their famous tenderloins. That is the short of it.

The trip was perfect until it heated up and the fact we had not ridden that far for many years invaded our muscle memory. But we endured and quitting was never an option. The first half was really the best as that was the coolest time.  I called Butch when we reached Herndon so he could meet up with us in Jamaica. Herndon was where my Grandma Zimmerle lived and where we and my cousins went for Sunday dinners for many of my childhood years. Her house is no longer there but the spot where it was and the memories of those times lingers on and always will.
 The tenderloin was great! Sherri and I shared and I do believe we could have shared with two others besides. I know Sherri took a picture so the second edition of the trip story may include a picture of a whole one for your viewing pleasure. Make your way to ToJo's in Jamaica Iowa to enjoy one for yourself. They will happily split a meal and put the toppings each person desires on each half.

The scenery is always a pleasure on this section of trail especially when the river is close by as it is in the beginning and the end.
In Panora we happened to meet up with a friend of Sherri's that she had rode on Ragbrai with a few years back and had a pleasant rest and conversation.

Colleen and Butch joined us at Tojo's and then we were off again for the second half. We stopped more often on the second half and by the time we reached Jefferson we were very ready to be home!
We started off a bit past 8:00 AM and arrived back in Jefferson at 3:00PM.
Here are the biking pictures:

Believe it or not we only had 2.5 miles left to go when this was taken and we could both smile!

This is when we started out and the section from Redfield north has always been a particularly pretty part of the trail.

 This part runs alongside the Raccoon River.

 The water tower at Linden Iowa. This town has memories for the Brooker side of the family.

 An interesting old log along the trail

After we returned to Jefferson Sherri wanted to look over more of Jefferson that she had missed the last time she and Randy were here two weeks ago. So our first stop was the Mahany tower. We rode to the top to get a whole different view. It had been many years since I had been to the top. and here are the pictures I took from up there.

Okay, the picture of Lincoln was taken before we went to the top.

This is the new Jefferson Garden feature in Jefferson. Many of the seeds were from the original home of Thomas Jefferson. He is a bit hard to see but there is a bronze figure of Jefferson seated on the bench.

This is a northward looking shot and the new overpass is visible if you know where to look. The white patch in upper center is where the new Hy Vee grocery store will be located. Our house is out of picture on the right but it will be a mere 3 blocks from the new store.

An east side view.

The Jefferson Water tower.

Looking out the window and up to the top. 168 foot tall.

Our next stop was the RVP1875 woodshop. http://rvp1875.com/ Robby Pedersen and his wife make furniture with the tools of 1875. Robby explains why it is 1875 and not earlier but you need to stop by and ask him for yourself. It is a fantastic place and has recently had state wide recognition for their tourism facilitation.

My words cannot do it justice so please put it on your bucket list of things to see.

 This kitty is a year old and they picked him up at the threshing bee in July of 2013. Sorry I do not remember his name but it was also the name of the saw he is sitting on. He is a big boy!

 They also have the History Boy Theatre and put on 3 productions a year. We DO plan to make it next June.

 Robby demonstrated how all the machines worked. They all work by man power of course.

Sherri will have to return again because she once again did not see it all by a long shot.

And there you have it for this blog entry. When Sherri sends me her photo's I will share her version with you.

41 bike miles tomorrow

Sherri and I are riding 41 miles tomorrow from Redfield to Jefferson with a side trip to Jamaica for a tenderloin. We will take a turn east at Herndon with a 3 mile ride to Jamaica. Then a 3 mile ride back to the main trail to continue on to Jefferson. It is 13 miles from Herndon to Jefferson. Not a bad go after eating a huge tenderloin. I am sure we will have many photo ops and we will be stopping for them.
later...

Trailside shot of the day

Latest addition photos

We have started on the siding. Unfortunately Russ has a prior commitment so there will not be any progress in the next few days.

 But it is starting to have a finished look about it.

Butch has the insulation finished.

A finished wall still needs to be built on the inside above the door. And then Butch can start on the tongue and groove carsiding to finish it off.

It has been a few days...

...since progress has happened on the room but that is happening today as I write this. The following pictures are ones taken on Butch's room endeavors while waiting for Russ to come back.

The inside is insulated and the door is installed. There are three things for our friend Russ to do to complete the room. 1. the siding 2. wall above the inside door 3. the exit platform and steps out the outside door. The remainder after that can be handled by Butch and I . So it is all starting to draw to a close. Being near the finish line is not the same as being through the finish line but as Confucious says..."It does not matter how slow you go, it only matters that you do not stop." I first used that quote when biking but it also applies to many other situations. So Thank you, Confucious!

Unusual

This morning was unusual for a morning in July. 57 degrees. We walked first and then I rode to the first bench past the bridge hoping for it to warm just a little and it did. Beautiful sunshiny morning and my only wildlife encounters were bunnies and squirrels who did not want to get off the trail.
After returning home I received an email from Sherri from Atlantic and she wants to do a Waukee to Jefferson bike ride. I am sure I could do it physically if it is a low wind day. Free next weekend? Anyone wanting to join us is more than welcome. How far is it you ask? 55 miles. I have done it once with Connie from Cumberland but that was more than 10 years ago. I think I will wait for the forecast. It will be fun having Sherri for another weekend regardless if we do the Waukee trip.
More later...

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

***Biscuits & Gravy Casserole***

Ingredients

1 pound sausage

1 1/2 ounces pork gravy mix ( 1 package of Pioneer Brand Peppered Sausage Gravy Mix )

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

6 eggs

1/2 cup milk

to taste salt

to taste black pepper

1 Can (8 oz) biscuits ( 1 can Pillsbury Grands Biscuits )

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degree's. Take a 9x13 pan and spray it with Pam or whatever you like to use. Then take the Biscuits and it into 1" pieces and line bottom of pan. Brown Sausage and scatter over biscuits. Sprinkle with Cheddar Cheese. Whisk eggs and milk with a pinch of salt and pepper and pour it over the pan. Make Gravy mix per package directions and pour over. Bake in the oven for about 30-45 minutes.

I can see this becoming Butch's very best favorite dish.

Time passes!!

Last post was Friday. That is how quickly time can slip through your fingers. Keri has joined Colleen and I on our morning exercise/therapy/meditation sessions the past two mornings. I sure miss it when this morning routine comes to an end in the fall. My self discipline in other parts of the country and in our travels is not as strong as it is here. But I do the best I can!
This morning a fellow rider on the trail pointed out a Mama deer and her babies on the other side of the river at the bridge. I was able to get a picture but without my assistance in finding it it may be difficult to pick out of all the greenery.
Clue-lower center

Yesterday the JIGS met at the Hotel Pattee in Perry for lunch and conversation. The next one will in September at 209 Main in Paton Iowa. For those who do not know 209 Main is the name of the restaurant. Paton is a town of less than 300 people but you need to call for reservations or have a 2 hour wait to be seated. Its a success story beyond the imagination. Butch and I went for our anniversary celebration. The food is oh-so-yummy and we are up for a return trip anytime.
Here is a website where you can learn how it all came about.
http://www.iowalivingmagazines.com/2013/07/10/small-town-surprises/#comment-52510

Friend Mickey is getting settled in Jefferson. It will soon be time to welcome her with an official celebration. As soon as we have our extra space completed I have lots of plans to enjoy the company of different groups of our friends.
Next time I will get some update on the room pics for you.

Happy Anniversary to US!

Today is our 55th anniversary!! And we both nearly forgot...again!

Ketch Up

The door is on and now we are secure against the elements and any possible intruders. Russ and Butch worked on the fascia yesterday and will start on siding today. After the siding I will GET to help because the painting will be part of the process. There really is not much surface to paint so it should not take long.

Last night was the first beginners computer class. There were 4 people in attendance and none had a computer. Now that is taking it from the beginning!! Two of them will have theirs by next Thursday. They are purchasing Chromebooks. The school system here uses Chromebooks for their students for all the same reasons I encourage new people to go that way.

1. They are trouble free. There are no moving parts thus eliminating many of the issues of a regular laptop, like overheating, virus invasion, hard drive overload or malfunction, updates and maintenance. And they are very inexpensive. $200-$250.

2. Sharing a computer has never been easier than with a chromebook. Each person has their own sign in identity. Now that has been true on a regular computer for a long time but what is different is that if you went to the library and signed into your google account everything would be the same as when you signed in at home on your Chromebook. Everything syncs because your account and all your computing files etc are in "the cloud".

3. 95% of all the things you can do on a regular computer can be done on a Chromebook. The exception being specialized software such as a farm program where the software must be loaded on the computer.

4. And if all students are using either the Chrome browser on their own laptop or the Chromebook they are then all on the same page as far as teaching is concerned. It makes it much easier to teach when everyone is using the same system. It eliminates the need for such questions as "What operating system are you using?" Everyone has access to Chrome no matter what kind of computer they have or the operating system on that computer.

So everything went smoothly last night and I was pleased with the start.

While I was talking computing Butch and Russ went to the girls softball  finals in Fort Dodge because Jefferson is in the competition. The weather kind of screwed things up and made for a delay so they did not start until very late. The guys came home and then Butch listened to the game on the radio long after I was in bed. Jefferson ended up losing 4-0 but none of the girls are seniors so they should be a force to be reckoned with next year. They will be playing for 3rd or 4th place today. It has been an exciting week for Jefferson fans.

And that about sums things up.

Windows are in!!

Between 3 and 5 PM yesterday Russ and Butch installed 8 windows. Blew me away!! I could hardly believe how that went. The door should go in today and then they will begin the siding. Once the door is in we will no longer concern ourselves with weather. However we have been blessed with superb weather for the past two to three weeks. We are happy!!....but then we always are so this is just more happy!

Farmers Market Night

Greene County Iowa Courthouse

Each Tuesday night from 4-6 PM the farmers market is on the square in Jefferson and one of the organizations around town will be selling a meal for a fundraiser. We always go to see what's offered and oftentimes eat our meal there. Last night it was pork loin sandwiches, baked beans, chips, dessert and water for $6. And it was very tasty.

Lifelong friend Estel Ott- We joined Estel for supper.  Estel and his late wife Joann were friends with my parents. They used to take fishing trips together and played cards. Those were the days they did activities that didn't take a large layout of cash. Many of my earliest life memories are warmly wrapped around Estel and Joann.

More weekend stuff

Mickey got mostly moved in. She says she is a bad judge of space so she will have to go back to get what wouldn't fit.
Russ has been sidelined by another project and the fact the Jefferson softball girls made it to state and are competing this week in Fort Dodge. Their next game is Thursday. Our windows have been delivered and are sitting here waiting. Butch doesn't think it will take him long to do but sometimes Butch is not a good judge of time.
Butch just returned from talking to Russ and he will be here a little later.

Ethan takes up golf!

Sherri and I left home on bikes at 6:15AM and rode to the river bridge and back. And then met up with Colleen for our regular walk. We had prepared a crockpot breakfast casserole so the guys ate breakfast while we were gone.
Here is the recipe:

Slow Cooker Egg Brunch Casserole
Ingredients -10 servings
 6 slices bacon, or more to taste
 1 onion, chopped
 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
 1 clove garlic, minced
 1 (2 pound) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
 12 eggs
 1 cup whole milk
 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
 salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Spray the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray.
Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels and crumble.
Spray a skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat; cook and stir onion, red bell pepper, and garlic until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Stir potatoes into onion mixture. Spoon 1/3 the potato mixture into the slow cooker; add 1/3 the bacon and 1/3 the Cheddar cheese. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, ending with cheese.
Whisk eggs, milk, dill, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; pour over ingredients in slow cooker.
Cook on Low, 8 to 10 hours.



 These photos are also ones Sherri took. You can see we share an interest in a certain subject for photos. Barb rides!!

                     This first one is a big red sunrise!

                             This is the foursome who used a Groupon at the Cedar Pointe golf course in Boone Iowa. L to R Jason Brooker, Randy and Sherri Clark and Butch Brooker

                                Randy and Sherri Clark

                                       Hi you all!!

After golf  we enjoyed a great meal of Iowa Chops, green beans with onion and bacon, sweet corn, salad followed by pie- Key Lime and Pecan

 provided by Keri Brooker!

While the golf was being played we enjoyed the company of Ethan who is staying with Nana Laura and Papa Jason this week.

It was a full and fun weekend but this old lady wears out much faster than I used to. The bed was yelling very loudly to me last night and I could hardly wait to get there!