A Free Day and with Photos

It is rare these days to have a free day with out somewhere to go. But today is one of those beautiful days! Butch is golfing and I rode my beautiful bike to Winkleman's Switch and took a few more photos than usual along the way. As I was riding along I was musing on how old my bike actually is and I figure it is at the very least 27 years old!
Today was a gorgeous day on the trail. 10:00 AM start- No breeze, or very little-sunshine overheard- moderate temps in the 70's. Could not be more perfect!
I stopped in a few places that were different for me, stood in one spot and took photos all around me.

At Winkleman's Switch- Soybean field

As I came back to town I spotted these quail on the trail and they seem to have very little concern for me although they did keep their distance. I was very happy that they slowed up enough for me to get their picture!
Northern Bobwhite Quail
And then after researching, I find out this quail is relatively rare!
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Bobwhite/id

Pantry Project Completed

These are pictures of the new pantry. This tiny house of ours is packed with storage!

Eclipse Light

The eclipse in Jefferson Iowa was supposed to be 94.4 complete and that was enough to suit us although a total would have been completely cool, of course. As it turned out it was a stormy, rainy, cloudy day with only brief bits of sunlight shining through. You could tell an unusual event was taking place but it lacked pizzazz. Jason provided us with a welding plate that allowed us to look at the sun directly and that was indeed spectacular but the moments that we could see the sun were very quickly over. When the light was at its weirdest I took a couple of photos and that is what these are.
Untouched:

A new trend in underwear!

Take note Grandmothers with Grandsons. When little Leo was here, he was bragging on his new underwear. He had new boxers and was showing them to anyone who showed even the slightest interest. They are kinda cool because they look like shorts instead of underwear and they usually have a super hero theme of some sort. Leo loved his boxers. His Nana Susan said they had lessened his
 "underwear adjustments" and that is always a good thing.

Keri was going to take her oldest Grandson Brady on a school clothes-buying expedition so I was telling her about the boxers. She picked up some for Brady to see if he liked them and it seems he does. Here is a picture of Brady in his new boxers. So if you Grandma's want to be a different kind of hero pick up a package of boxers for your Grandsons. (Age-appropriate, of course)😁

Yesterday.

I planned to put this at the bottom of the last post but hit the button too quick!

Yesterday I rode to Winkleman's Switch in the early AM and was treated with a view of the geese again. This time there were only five and they were in the open but still flying low. It was a foggy, misty morning so I had not brought my camera but they would have been too quick for me anyway.

I have been finally getting to the pantry Butch made for me. It is sanded, painted and has one coat of polyurethane. A couple more coats of poly and I will be ready to put it to use.
Mickey texted me yesterday and asked if I wanted some rocks. I said yes if I could get Butch to help me. He was at the golf course at the time and when he came home I told him I planned to make his favorite casserole, Runza casserole. And that cheered him up enough to say yes to the rocks. I can always find places for rocks.

A Day for Pictures and other stuff

 Miniature Hollyhocks. I do not think that is exactly what they are but was told that a long time ago.

Looked at this shot a few days ago and thought I should get a shot of it. Done!

And then I looked up.↑

Both of us have seen this toad on occasion. Butch saw him in the garage one day.and I saw him in the iris. Today he was near the geraniums.

A walk around the house (outside)

West side of house. Otherwise labeled backyard

Northwest corner. Hosta's planned for L shaped area.

Southwest corner. Revamp flower bed on west(back) side of garage

 Front side of house. Faces east.

Updated list

ToDo list:
1. Make a list
2. Sand and paint new pantry
3. Repaint little bicycle yard art.
Painted it the same color (pink) and it made that todo much easier.
4. Redo west side of garage flower bed

5. Prepare north side of 3 season room and house for planting of hostas
     a. Dig holes for hostas
     b. surround holes with landscape fabric
     c. Plant hostas
     d. Mulch around plants

6. Lay out path for walk to 2nd RV site (Spring/Summer 2018)
     a. Determine number of pavers needed  
              (26)
     b. Cut sod out of path
     c. line path with landscape fabric
     d. Bring in sand
     e. level out spots for pavers and lay them
     f. fill in with sand.

A Form of Zen by Colleen

It has been awhile for me to share one of Colleen's column. Knowing her as I do, this one made me smile.

http://greenecountynewsonline.com/2017/08/09/a-form-of-zen/#more-38879

Winklemans Switch Day

We have been lucky to get a bit of rain the past two days. Not nearly enough but every bit helps. My rain barrel did get filled again and it had become bone dry.
It was foggy this morning so not a good picture day so I rode directly to Winkleman's Switch without stopping. On my way, and shortly past the trestle bridge, I heard a goose honk and then honk again and I thought it sounded very close. I looked up and there was a formation of geese directly overhead and just above the tree tops. What a treat! They do not make a sound unless they honk. It didn't last long because they were traveling much faster than I was but it will be a sight I will remember.
I then turned around and rode directly back home without stopping. 😊

Ahem-Alive and well!

We have had a very productive summer so far and every time that happens I think the next summer will be more relaxed and laid back and each time I am wrong. But we all live in hope, don't we?
I looked at the week ahead calendar yesterday and the entire week is free, except for Thursday nights trivia, of course! It will magically fill up as it always does.
We have had a tiny sip of rain the past two days. I do mean tiny as the rain gauge is holding 1/10th after both "rains". We desperately need the rain. We let the yard go dormant so it hasn't needed mowing most of the summer and it is very brown and crispy.
Friends Brian and Mary Carlson were here over the weekend. Mary Ellen (Minnehan) Carlson was a classmate of Butch's. We enjoy their company and touch base with them a couple times each winter as they also go to Texas. We hope they will stop again sometime. Our second RV site has had more use this summer than ever and that is what we had in mind from the beginning.

Butch is headed to Boone this morning to play golf with Jason. I have hopes of getting to some garage projects. Sanding and painting.

 Horse that lives by Winkleman's Switch.

Jorgen getting serious about the playground that Grandpa Leo and Grandma Keri brought him to enjoy. 

 "Can I get a little help here?"

 Teaching Jorgen how to "pump".

 More of a cycle guy than a ladybug passenger.

Apricot Cocktail Poppers

Apricot Cocktail Poppers


Everyone loves finger foods for camping. Gather ‘round the potluck table or patio and dig into these sweet and tangy bites. Serve with toothpicks plus napkins to catch the finger-lickin' drips.

2 bags, 16 ounces each, small meatballs, thawed
16-ounce can of tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 packet apricot gelatin dessert mix
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon each cinnamon, ground cloves
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
10-ounce jar of apricot jam

Pile the meatballs into a slow cooker or other container for heating and serving. In a saucepan, whisk everything else together and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, stir to dissolve gel and sugar and pour over meatballs. Heat through.

See more of Janet Groene’s RV-ready recipes at http://www.campandrvcook.blogspot.com

Busy doing not much again!

It does seem as age creeps up on us that it takes longer to get anything done. I am sure my peers would agree. Maybe it is because we have the time and wherewith all to let things go. I am a big list maker and I am ready to make another one. There is a great deal of satisfaction putting it up on the fridge and marking off the projects as they are completed.

ToDo list:
1. Make a list
2. Sand and paint new pantry
3. Repaint little bicycle yard art.
4. Redo west side of garage flower bed

5. Prepare north side of 3 season room and house for planting of hostas
     a. Dig holes for hostas
     b. surround holes with landscape fabric
     c. Plant hostas
     d. Mulch around plants

6. Lay out path for walk to 2nd RV site (Spring/Summer 2018)
     a. Determine number of pavers needed
     b. Cut sod out of path
     c. line path with landscape fabric
     d. Bring in sand
     e. level out spots for pavers and lay them
     f. fill in with sand.

This morning I rode the trail instead of walking. It was cool and still so it was easy riding. I planned to go to Winkleman's Switch but a truck was coming as I was ready to cross Roger's Road so I turned around instead.
On my way south as I was approaching the trestle bridge a bike was on the bridge so I stopped. I pretended I was taking pictures. Well, actually I was but it was an excuse none the less because I do not like to share the space on bridges. Yes, I know logically there is plenty of room for two bikes to pass. I just do not like it.
Here are the pics I took.

Momma and Poppa wren are getting the babes set to live a life of their own. Flying lessons were not going particularly well for this wee wren when it got a grip on the window screen. It wasn't too keen on letting go of it either.

Wanted!

For being the very best grandfathers of all!

Crazy Days of Summer

This has been a wild and crazy week. Wednesday, Classmate Bob Maddux and his wife Kay touched base with Denise Van who sent out the word that we could meet and greet at the Uptown Cafe. So a few of his classmates visited for an hour or so that morning.

Bill Figenshaw, Dee Van, Carol Zwicky, Pat Rusnak, Bob Maddux and Kay Maddux

 Barb, Bob M and Mickey

On Friday our Missouri kids came with the camper for a mini reunion with the Iowa kids and other family.
Nana Susan was playing SlapJack, Go Fish, and Concentration with the kiddos before their cousins arrived on Saturday.

 Rich and Donna Fetterman, Ann Cortes and her children Nina, Scarlett and Skylar arrived and the fun began!
The guys all played golf in the morning. The five children met for the first time and it was a perfect match. They hit it off big time and played nonstop until long after dark!
Skylar, age 3 soon to be 4 took a few minutes out to watch TinkerBell.

Aunt Myrla brought Silly Putty for the kids to play with and Scarlett got it in her hair so her mother Ann was trying to remove it with Mayonaise. It was slow going.

 Patio conversation

GreatGrands- Elise 7, Nina 8, Leo 4, Scarlett 6 and Skylar 3.
(Four Strong Women and a Ladies Man)

The kids had the best time of all! Leo taught them how to get anything they wanted from Papa Gary and Papa Jason by making big puppy dog eyes or big kitty eyes like the cat in Shrek. It did work a fair amount of the time and soon everyone was doing it, including Jason and Gary.

Nana Barbara, Papa Butch and Skylar.

Ann making big kitty eyes.

Laura

 Skylar with Nana Donna

Ann

 Scarlett

The girls work at getting Jason to twirl them

 Gary, Rich, and Jason

Karla was here for the afternoon and Leo and Keri stopped by in the evening. It was a great and memorable day.

Leo was asked how he was doing with all those girls. He said, "Fine." " How many are there? He said, " There are 3 friends and oh wait, my sister so that makes 4."