On my walk...

Took a camera with me on my walk yesterday...As I was strolling down the side walk I spotted this squirrel having breakfast and snapped his picture. It is not a particularly good photo but I posted it anyway because just as I was taking the picture a woman came flying out of her house and said, "What are you doing?!" and I said "Taking a picture of a squirrel." She calmed down just a bit then but I was thinking 'get a grip, lady'. Geez. My camera was no where near getting her or her house in the shot. I still do not know why she had her undies in a wad.

And then as I was coming home I spotted Leo and Lexi sitting in friend Norma's driveway on the phone. Leo was on the phone, not Lexi.

Later in the evening Leo and Keri came into town to get their evening constitutional , a regular habit on their part, and we joined them for a walk to the Dairy Queen. One of the things I truly love about Jefferson is that it is a great place to take a walk at any time of the day or night. And it is pretty darn nice having family nearby as well.

Before and After-windows closed off

1.This is before the window was removed and closed in. The location is where our bathroom/laundry will be located. 

2. Closed in but no paint.

3. Finished!

No before picture for this location. You think you have every possible angle but...Wrong!

Closed in but needing paint.

Still in need of a 2nd coat of paint.

This is on the south side of the house and where the window was located will be where my stove and vented microwave will be set when we are finished.

Progress

It has been a productive week here at the little house on the Iowa prairie. We have two windows filled in along with other holes that needed filled before we can insulate. I have some annual and perennial  flowers planted. I am holding off on more till the new windows are in because they would get trampled in the process. It looks like electrical is next on the list. Butch has doubts about what is needed but I have it pretty clear in my mind where I want things located so it should go a bit smoother than he thinks. We need to get the electrical boxes and wire in place before insulation too. For me getting it insulated has become a goal of sorts as it should look a whole lot different when that is done. Let's call it a mini-goal.
The weather has been near perfect despite the fact we could use some rain. My rainbarrel was filled early on but I can tell it is getting down because I can wiggle it a bit. Cannot do that when it is full. I could also tell there was not much snow this past winter as the soil has a much different quality than last year. It is dry farther down than normal.
Must get on with the day...so till next time...

The work has commenced in earnest

Yesterday we both got down to business after our walk. Butch closed off a window on the south. It will be where the kitchen stove will be located so the window simply would not have worked in that spot. I helped him now and then when he needed a hand but in between I worked on the flower bed in front of the house. Oh yes, this was after two loads of laundry. So I feel like I worked my butt off yesterday but last I looked it was still behind me.
Today's plan is to close off another window. This one in the bathroom. Butch hates to have this one closed because the ventilation from it has been beneficial at times. But there comes a time when you just have to plunge forward. The sequence of things can sometimes be tricky.
Moving on now...

Papa Gary's birthday videos

These are all small videos.
Friends: http://youtu.be/0QyJjQVHgNc


Presents: http://youtu.be/qsQp8C3NVsg


Bike: http://youtu.be/UUeKC_Fvpes


Bubbles: http://youtu.be/cr9V5LA1rTQ


Slide: http://youtu.be/MyTdm4Ps680

From Papa Gary-Field Trip

School Field Trip to Deanna Rose farmstead


Goats: http://youtu.be/6rf9OF2fIXI


Hayride: http://youtu.be/yhWDx9RPgGk

Birthday video coming soon

Birthday weekend

Getting reacquainted with our great grand Elise on her birthday weekend.

Gary started off the weekend on just the right note by telling us he had a new job! We were all excited about this. Gary is a middle school math teacher and football coach at a small school 30 some miles from their place in Lees Summit as of last Friday.

Elise Colleen Teeter is two,
 What a surprise this little snippet is! Her vocabulary is astounding and there are many examples of this. Her Nana Susan was getting her dressed and she said she wanted to wear panties. I asked Susan incredulously if she was wearing big girl panties and she said that she was referring to pull ups. Although she is trained for the big job.  She told Elise they would have to see if her mom had sent any so a few minutes later as she was putting on her diaper she said "I want a different diaper."  A DIFFERENT diaper? That blew my mind. She not only has a large vocabulary she also knows the meaning of the big words she uses.
Later she was saying she had a hangnail. This "Hangnail" was on her sock and it was a loose string but she really does know what a hangnail is her grandma assures me.
Cheese is her favorite food and she still has a ravenous appetite. Yes, she is spoiled but that is what grandparents do. She has 'imprinted' on her Papa Gary and follows him around wherever he goes and the minute she is upset about anything she wants Papa Gary. Papa Gary is her go-to guy for everything.
Her birthday party was a big event for her and she handled it quite well with only little spots of upset. In the midst of opening gifts she wanted to do something else and started crying. Her Mom said, "Elise, there are more presents to open. She said, " I am crying". In other words, Mom I am busy right now, maybe when I finish. She talks all the time...and I mean ALL the time. Her mother was the same way but I believe Elise may have her beat. Everything she does she tells you. "Eating cheese. Now waffles and dip. Dip, by the way is syrup and just like her great grandpa Butch she likes the 'dip' better than the waffle. Go outside. Go inside. Vacuum. Fork. Heaven. (Wiley the cat went to heaven to be with God) and yes, she also says God.
I will relate more of her  vocabulary words as they come back to me or Nana Susan reminds me!
Below are birthday and other weekend pictures.

The skirt Elise is wearing is  a tutu...a craft project her mother found on Pinterest.

Part prep

Papa Gary and Elise

.

Gone, Gone then Home

Butch and I will be in Missouri this weekend helping wee Elise celebrate her 2nd birthday. So not sure I will be on the computer at all...most likely not. So you can skip a couple of days. OMG I am giving you a vacation! I really do need to send out a nudge because every now and then I think many of you have dropped off from keeping up and I would hate for that to happen.  That is said partially with tongue in cheek.
Butch and I are listening to an audio book so I am really looking forward to the trip. We are currently listening to Rush Road Home by Lori Lansens
Here is what it is about:
"When Addy Shadd was a young girl living in Rusholme, she was taught the history of her town, which was settled by fugitive slaves in the 1800s. It was told to her like a storybook legend - and although Addy is forced to leave her beloved home as a teenager, the place will call to her for the rest of her life. She thinks of it as a commandment: "Rush home, Addy Shadd. Thou shalt rush home." But the stories and memories of Addy's past have been buried deep in her 70-year-old heart - memories that are by turns dark and poignant, erotic and mysterious.
When five-year-old Sharla Cody is abandoned on Addy's trailer-park doorstep, the old woman doesn't know if she is up to the task of mothering the willful, curious child. But she takes the little girl into her home, and Sharla opens a door to Addy's past - to memories of the strawberry fields, the church graveyard, and the tender crust of her Mama Laisa's apple pies. The past returns to Addy Shadd, and as she sits in her trailer she can close her eyes and "see the county farms and city streets and recall each season of death and rebirth." Somehow, Sharla Cody helps Addy make sense of her long and hard life so she can find forgiveness - and finally make the journey home again."

                                         

J.I.G.S. Day

Yesterday I enjoyed a day with the girls, J.I.G.S, otherwise noted as Jefferson Iowa Girls. Really we are girls of long ago but girls all the same. We met for lunch at the Corn Patch in Grimes, Iowa. A nice place to eat by the way. It worked well for us as they were not rushing us in any way so we were able to sit and visit for as long as we liked...and we liked alot.
It is also a place to find out what is happening. A real, ' I heard it first here first' deal because my former classmates are involved in their community and thus know what is up. Jefferson had an A & W Root Beer Stand for many years. As a matter of fact I worked their as a carhop in my youth. Little known fact as they say.Well our dearly loved A & W closed a few years back much to the dismay of many people and not just locals. Well, we will once again have an A & W and that is cause for celebration! It will be open ASAP as I understand it and they are actively getting things done. Whoohoo!!
While I had a day away Butch managed to get a move on with the house and he made quite a bit of progress too. He has started on the pocket door area and will soon have it ready for the hardware part of it. He continued working on it today so things are moving along nicely. I will be taking new pictures shortly.

Kay Voss answers Kay Stilson

Hey, I will adopt you....bring veggies. haha Jim bought at least 50 new strawberry plants this year besides the 4 long rows we already have. One would think we had 15 children living here......He did cut back and only got 40 baby chicks this year. The "other Kay".... 

Bill and Jo Brooker's Fox

Bill and Jo have lots of wildlife come visit them as they live on the Little Red River, Heber Springs AR

Sent on May 6th from Kay S

For my friends who know Bill and Kay this will not be surprising...We need to reach out to our friend in this time of need. Perhaps we should consider an intervention.
Barb
From Kay:
"I have been home exactly 1 week today and already I am dreading the summer. Bill went up to his special little fruit market just across the border in Michigan. They had fresh strawberries for 25 cents a quart. His heart stopped, his eyes bugged out and he had thought he had hit the mother lode. He came home with 20 quarts. I am just now getting done. I ended up with 9 (16 oz). Red Neck wine glasses, 18 other jars of various sizes, but most were 16 oz, and 4 quart bags of sliced berries that I froze. I could give a s--t if I ever see another strawberry. Tell Butch there will be an ample supply of jam this winter on Peach Street. Also in this same trip he got a head of lettuce, a head of cauliflower, celery, and last but not least a bag (not small) of fresh green beans. Think of me, as it is only the first week of May. Somebody please adopt me QUICK"
Kay S.

Daddy is her hero

Storm Damage

Elise is looking over the storm damage to her new swing and play set she received for her birthday. She said, "Daddy fix it". And I am sure he will.

snipped from Facebook

Yesterday

Early morning we left for Atlantic...dentist and eye doctor...Went straight to our destination and stopped at the dentist first. I needed just a little adjustment on my bottom denture but he was extremely busy so that took up any extra wiggle room we had before our eye doctor appointments. We went straight from the dentist to the eye doctor with both of us getting eye exams. Butch is going to need a bit of laser work on his left eye and is scheduled in Ames for June 14th. He was told at the time of his cataract surgery that is not an uncommon occurrence.  On my exam he said I was needing cataracts removed but it was up to me how soon I wanted to get that done. However he did tell me it would be pointless to get new glasses as they would not do me that much good given the cataract situation. Night driving is out of the question for me right now but I already knew that. I am thinking of waiting till we get to Texas for more than one reason but I may change my mind.
After our appointments and with my vision totally messed up we went to lunch at The Farmer's Kitchen meeting up with my old Senior Haven partner, Connie Jones. Don't misunderstand, Connie isn't old. Actually she is near our kids age but it was a long time ago when she was the cook and I was the manager at Senior Haven. We had many good times together during that period of our lives. We had a tasty lunch too.
After that we moseyed down to friends Sherri and Randy Clark's house. Sherri has a daycare business so it is always interesting at her house. I was tickled when she told the children to leave the door open because "Somebody could get hurt." Grant, aged 2, said, "Who?"
That tickled my funnybone.
Sherry and Randy had plans to go out to eat with their friend Izetta Bopp and asked if we would like to join them. With nothing else on our agenda we agreed to meet up at 5:30 at Izetta's.
In the meantime we went to visit with golfing/squaredancing friends Bill and Bev Gunderson. Bev was just finishing up hostessing her bridge group and there were several people there we knew. However I did not know till later that another old bridge playing friend of ours was there. I totally missed Sue Schwanke being there! Duh! I am going to use the excuse that my vision was still messed up and it was but I really should have been paying more attention.
We met up with Randy and Sherry at Izetta's place. Izetta  lives at Heritage House, a senior housing place in Atlantic. It is the first time I had been in Heritage House and it reminded me of an upscale hotel. Very nice. Izetta will be 100 in August and her son has 3 big parties planned for her. She will be up for them too as she is still very sharp and agile. We used to play golf in tournaments with Izetta and her partner Jack so we reminisced about golf and enjoyed some wine then making our way to the Redwood in Anita for dinner. We had a great time with conversation and good food. We made our way back home after that and I was tired enough to not even think about doing anything on the computer...so this is a long entry.

This is a picture of Izetta Bopp and Sherri Clark. Sure lookin' good!

Getting started and other stuff

We have been getting a slow start to working on the house. Partly because of needing a respite from the hubbub of Magnolia Park life and partly just procrastination. But yesterday we made a start. I worked on the flowerbed out front and did some raking of leaves and other stuff. Butch mowed and started working in the crawl space under the house. He hates this part but it should be much better once this ugly chore is finished. I am his self appointed go-fer for this phase. Specifically what he is doing is moving out trash and rearranging dirt in preparation to lay down plastic for a moisture barrier. This is needed before insulation can be done. New windows, doors and electrical will also be done before insulation but we are taking the first step.


Butch took his bike to the new bike shop in town to get it repaired. Our bikes have suffered from their former outdoor life. His is now repaired and working great. Butch was pleasantly surprised at the reasonable fee to have the work done. So now mine is in the shop getting a work over too.

Last night there was a moonlight ride to Cooper (14 miles roundtrip) where Drew Sorenson, coincidentally the bike repair person, had his telescope set up for viewing the stars. I sure wish we could have done that. My night vision is lousy but I may have given it a go if my bike had not gone to the shop. I say that but we both were pretty beat after our days activities.

Where Did That Bing Toolbar Come From? Windows Updates — That’s Where

"Bing" is the sound it makes when it hits the side of the recycle bin. That and every other toolbar they try to unload on me.
Where Did That Bing Toolbar Come From? Windows Updates — That’s Where

It looks like

It looks like we will be keeping Verizon Internet...at least until our contract runs out or it screws up again. We do not mind as long as it works. And it seems to be. Although neighbors to the south A. J. and Megan, really great kids, have offered to share. I would like to see them stick around a while. But they are in a rental so as their situation gets better I look for them to move onward and upward.

Jefferson is in a big construction project. Actually more than one but the pictures below are looking north on Elm street otherwise known as highway 4. An overpass is being built over the railroad track. We have many, many trains per day and at times it is very difficult to get across the track. And our one and only grocery store in the county is on the least populated side of town, north of the tracks.

Pondering

Butch and I were in the house today and we measured and discussed and decided and made a list. We call it progress.
Later this afternoon we are headed for Boone to help Jason and Laura with an electrical problem. What they do not know just yet is that I have a potroast I am bringing with me. It is bubbling away in the crockpot as I write.
It is a good day....

Stop, Look, Listen and be grateful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gXDMoiEkyuQ#!

Thank You!