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."

Trivia Treat

The trivia group has been functioning for about a year now and they have accumulated a sizable amount of winnings. 3rd place gets $10, 2nd place gets $20 and 1st place gets $40 in HyVee gift cards. We are often in 3rd place. Modern song lyrics usually trip us up and most other teams have some younger folk who are into that but 3rd place does okay for us over time. Over $500 had been accumulated and it was decided to use it for a HyVee catered gourmet dinner.
Last night was the night and it was all very fine and very rich. Beef loin, lobster, baked potato, and salad was the main course. Wine, cheesecake, ice cream were all a part of it too and I almost left out the appetizers before the meal, shrimp, and brie with crackers.
It was all very nice and delicious but this low-rent body of mine said, "What the hell are you doing?" and I had every intention and indeed tried to take it easy

It's a Post

I have seen many Indigo Buntings on the trail but when they land in a tree they disappear! This morning I resorted to taking a shot of a fence post.

I rode out to Bullhead Farm again. 9.4 miles

First photos

We have finished the front side of the house, getting things back in place. You can see how bad we need rain.

 And then Peggy Cunningham sent me these photos she took when Eldon was fighting with the wrens. Thanks, Peggy!

House is painted

Eldon was putting on the last bits of paint when I took this photo. He was dive bombed by the wrens because they are feeding babies now. Eldon said she warned me yesterday and she had enough of me today and pecked him on the head. 

The house took 5 gallons of paint. We purchased it at Diamond Vogel in Fort Dodge. Permacryl Exterior Latex semi-gloss. For the record.

Not in the mood...

...to herd cows. Beautiful calm day, moderate temperature, abundant sunshine and a bike trail that beckons. I planned to ride to Winklemans Switch but as I approached the trestle bridge this is what I encountered.

And I was not in the mood to herd cattle. I have in the past. I ring the bell on my bike and they trot along in front of me until they can find an escape route. I had visions of getting them on the trestle bridge and then what!?
So I turned around and came home with the idea of getting busy. That didn't happen. It was a day of fits and starts. Maybe tomorrow can be more productive.

Bullet hole update

Butch calls it my bullet hole. This is the biopsy scar and it is healing okay but there is more to come. Surgery date is set for September 1. It is an in-office procedure. I thought I might have surgery this summer but this is not the one I thought.  But I consider it a small bump in the road. Or maybe a small bump to the head. On the upside, the plastic surgeon told me I didn't have many wrinkles for my age. Not something I had thought about.

Donn's birthday celebration

Our friend Donn Gordon celebrated his birthday with son Adam and grandson Austin. That birthday treat sure looks good!

Leo and Keri's Okoboji vacation

Leo sent me some pictures he took while vacationing at Lake Okoboji. Marlene and Bernard live near there so it makes it easy to get together with extended family.

Baby time at the lake. Bernard with his great-granddaughter Reagan Kelley.

Marlene with Clara Davis, Leo and Keri's grandaughter.

Marie Kelley and her youngest daughter Reagan.

Marlene and Clara share a laugh.

Leo and Keri's daughter, Erin holding Reagan

And finally Leo's first tomato. It does look yummy!!