Story Time

I loved reading to my children when they were little and was anxious to get to read stories to grandchildren someday. The love of reading is something that is so important to me and sharing it is wonderful. Lincoln is enjoying our story times almost as much as I enjoy them. I have lots of the kid's books from 20-30 years ago. (Has it really been that long?) But Lincoln's two favorites are books that I bought just for him. He loves "Snuggle Puppy" which we bought together on our day in Decorah. He also likes the "Little Crab" book that I bought for him in Baltimore. I just love that he has favorites and can express that! Thanks to Dale for taking these photos on a Saturday morning. I love the way the light from the window bounces from the book to Lincoln's face!

Touch-A-Truck

I am fortunate enough to go to lots of fun and interesting events and Touch-A-Truck was right up there! It was so much fun. My niece, Kaley drove up with my adorable great nephew, Brecken to join us for the big event. Many trucks, tractors and other fun vehicles gather in one place for the kids to explore. They can sit in the trucks, honk the horns and even hear the sirens. There were cement trucks, army vehicles, fire engines, police cars and even race cars! If Ashley and Kaley were taking the boys, Dale and I didn't want to miss out on all the fun so we went along for the morning.

These two boys are the reason that it was so much fun. We all know that Brecken loves trucks. . . especially garbage trucks and knew it would be fun for him. None of us were disappointed. Brecken was intrigued by all the vehicles and soaked up lots of new things. He really loved the school bus too which was lots of fun. Lincoln enjoyed all the people and the opportunity to climb around and see new things.

I really did love Touch-A-Truck and look forward to going next year. I hope that Brecken can come again and next year he will have a baby sibling along! Maybe some more cousins, great nieces and nephews can come next year too. I plan to be there...but it would be kinda silly without a little boy along.

Oh, September

We are into the second half of September and it's going quickly. I have taken advantage of the beauty of the season and enjoyed some cooler temperatures. The day before the baptism I was in Des Moines with Dale. We enjoyed a perfect patio lunch and a quiet respite at Moffit Reservoir. One of us even fell asleep.

This is part of my September harvest. It's actually about half of my potato harvest. I didn't get lots but when I pull a few carrots and onions I can actually make a garden meal! I hope to get a fall crop of spinach but it's not looking good.

We were passing through Independence on our way to Amish Country when we stumbled on a farmers market and decided to turn back to check it out. The market itself was quaint but it was held in the shadow of this very picturesque mill by the river. It slowed us up a bit getting to the Amish harvest but the morning light was beautiful on the Wapsipinicon River.

I love this time of year and was a little confused when my heart felt extra heavy this week. It didn't take long to realize that I was missing Randy even more than usual. It's Randy's birthday on Thursday and I have many Autumn memories of Randy including trips to visit him in NYC. I also remember vividly my phone call to him on the morning of 9-11. He was surprised that I had been able to get through but told me that the city was bruised but not broken. That was less than an hour after the planes crashed into the World Trade Center. I was relieved to find that Randy had not yet gotten into the city and was watching it unfold as he stood on the NJ side of the river. His attitude that day comes back to me this time of the year. I have many memories of Randy and miss him terribly. I guess in September I miss him just a little bit more.

Cattle Congress

It has been years since I attended National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. I think I took the kids once when we first moved but "fairs" are never my favorite thing. Yes, there were plenty of cattle and a big carnival, but we found lots of other things there on Saturday too.

 I was especially looking forward to the PRC Rodeo and I was not disappointed. It was indoors so we couldn't get good photos but I did appreciate the shade. It was good rodeo and fun entertainment.

 After the rodeo Dale and I walked over to our very first Motocross race...ever! It was fast pace, fun and a little scary. There were adults and little kids racing (in separate races.) Paramedics were called out twice while we watched for just 30-40 minutes but they only had to carry one off the track. It doesn't look like a safe sport but the participants were certainly having fun and we had fun watching too. This probably will not be my last motocross event. I really enjoyed Cattle Congress. . .more than I expected. I will go back next year too.

Amish Harvest

Saturday morning before sunrise it was obvious that it was going to be a pretty day. Dale and I decided to jump in the car and head to Amish Country to see if we could catch some fall harvest in the pretty morning light. Since it was Saturday it was also bakery day so I bought a few things to make my own contribution to their community.

I love going into the bakeries, which are really just a back room on the house lined with tables heavy with pies, breads, cookies and jams. We were lucky enough to find several men out working on their harvest with their team of horses and often a dog along side. The shocks of corn and beans were a beautiful September sight. Twice we saw groups of small children out with a wagon drawn by one or two small horses. They were near the farm house and the driver was usually a boy about 8 or 10 years old and the wagon was loaded with the younger siblings. I didn't photograph them but thought, "this is so much better than kids watching Saturday morning cartoons!" It was a very pleasant Saturday morning for us too.

Baptism

A week ago Lincoln was baptized. It was a very special occasion and Lincoln seemed to enjoy it as much as the rest of the family! Again I thank God for this precious baby boy and his parents!

Hosta Helper

 It may slow down my gardening but I just love showing Lincoln how to dig in the dirt! I was moving hostas this week because I want some changes and I think that the hostas will be happier out of the front yard anyway. Lincoln came over as I was working on the project so we spent sometime getting dirty together.

Wisconsin Afternoon

 On Sunday Dale and I decided to head for Wisconsin. Typically I would make this trip in early October but since we had a long weekend we decided to go now. We knew that there would be very little if any fall color but thanks to the drought I am not expecting much color anyway. We stopped along the Mississippi for lunch then headed to Gays Mills for apple orchards and vineyards. I just love the smells!

Of course it was beautiful scenery. I love the rolling hills covered with trees and the bluffs along the river. The little farms along the way, the dairy cattle and the early fall crops made for a very pleasant drive. Of course one of the best reasons to get to Wisconsin was the fresh cheese curds! We came home with apples, cheese and full stomachs. It wasn't the usual October trip to the river but it certainly got me in the mood for fall, which isn't easy when it keeps getting up over 90 degrees!

Des Moines Favortites

Last weekend I was in Des Moines with Dale and we were able to hit many of my favorite spots. Above is the Saturday morning downtown farmers market. We also made it to the zoo, twice! It's a great place to go for a walk and enjoy the animals with these cooler summer days.

I love going to Trader Joes even if I don't need anything. I am usually able to find something I need!

We tried twice to get to an I-Cubs game at Principal Park but it didn't happen We had a schedule issue and a rain delay. It's still one of my favorite places

 Gray's Lake is another favorite spot. We didn't walk around the lake this summer but a rented paddle boat is a great way to get out on the water.

 Patio dining is a favorite of mine. It always feels a bit like vacation whether it's a sausage sandwich at Mullets, Mexican on Jordan Creek Pond or breakfast at Wellman's on Ingersoll. The weather was perfect for patios and so many other outdoor activities.

The Fleur is a favorite theater in Dale's neighborhood and it's always a treat to find a movie. In the six years that I lived in West Des Moines I found lots of favorite places in the city. It's great fun to get to spend time in those places when I visit Dale.

Teeth!

 No more gummy smiles. Lincoln has four teeth. Look closely and you can see two on the top and two on the bottom. That sweet smile is changing quickly...but still melts my heart!

Summer Evening

Who would have thought that a summer night in August could be so very pleasant! My friend, Joanne asked me to teach her to knit months ago and now that we know that she is having a granddaughter it was time to get started! We spent the entire evening on the patio with wine and yarn. It was perfect. . .no bugs, quiet, comfortable. . .just a simple dinner and lots of basic knitting instruction. I am so happy to be outside again more often and it was extra fun to spend a summer evening on the patio with a friend.

Garage Reveal

After six weeks I can say that the garage project is finished...for now. I hope it's obvious that the photo above is the finished project and the one below was a starting shot taken during the first days of July. I put lots of hours into this project but could not have done it so well without lots of help. James covered the bare studs and built the work bench. Dale mounted the shelves and helped with quite a few odds and ends. I can work the drill but I am not very good at it! Travis and Ashley helped with some adjustment and Mowgli kept me company! I did spend some money on plywood and shelving but the paint was a mix of all the left over shades of white that I found in the basement when I moved into the house.

I hung posters from ISU, UNI, Drake and CFHS along side posters from Broadway productions, hockey and Sturgis Falls as well as some clay art projects that have been in my house for twenty years. I bought hooks to hang yard and garden tools and bought a couple of baskets for storage. This is the smallest garage I have ever owned and it was my intention to have a "place for everything and everything in it's place." Being organized should give me more room! I still want to trim out the window and expect that there will be more posters added over the years but I have certainly put my own stamp on the garage and I think it's a big improvement. Actually since this is the first time I have been single when purchasing a home this is the first garage that I have organized and arranged on my own. It's kinda crazy that it feels so good!