Happy Halloween!

No trick or treaters and no candy for me this year. I do have wonderful Halloween memories of ghost costumes and a tearful kitty-cat who didn't get the whiskers quite right. I remember witches with green make up streaked from the rain and many years of bum costumes and black capes. I hope your Halloween was good with just the right amount of candy! Dale and I carved these pumpkins earlier this week, before my fall and broken bone. I have enjoyed the smiling glow. My pumpkin is on the left, same every year, triangle eyes and nose with a big smile. The only variable is the number of teeth. You could call it tradition or lack of creativity on my part!

one handed blogging

Ouch! I broke my arm. Technically I have a radial head fracture which means that the break is right below my elbow. I got to see the x-ray but I already knew that this was a very foreign sensation (nice word for pain.) Dang, it hurt! I was walking across the parking lot and tripped on an uneven spot in the cement. I guess that this is why mom said that I should "pick up my feet."

There are many reasons to be grateful.
1. It's my left arm!
2. It happened at work so I had great nurses immediately available.
3. This break does not require a cast.
4. It's my left arm!!!

I have been to two doctors in the last 24 hours. One was occupational medicine required by workman's comp. They agree on the diagnosis and treatment. Although I cannot use my left arm, my pain is well controlled. If I had to break a bone, I suppose this was a good break. I do feel so fortunate that it was not worse. I guess I need to be more careful (at my age.)

Go Drake Bulldogs!

I have grown to be a fan of the Drake Bulldogs especially Spike, the mascot. In the three years since I moved to Des Moines I have enjoyed the offerings of Drake University. I have not taken a single class there. I took my classes at Wartburg College, UNI and NIACC. It took me twenty-eight years to finish my bachelors degree, so I have not been in a big hurry to do any post-grad classes. The offerings that I enjoy are not so educational. Basketball and football are my favorites. The photo above was taken on Saturday with Spike at the football game. Dale and I have gone to lots of men's and women's basketball games over the last couple of seasons and enjoy both. We have also attended the "most beautiful bulldog contest" each spring as well as several theater productions that are very well done by the students. The campus is beautiful and has been a great place for photography also. I appreciate being so close to a great university and respect the education they offer. It's also fun to enjoy the sports and theater as a fan and spectator.

Two Game Saturday

It was a gorgeous day for football on Saturday. Dale and I had planned to go to the Drake game. We go to most of the Drake home games. Early in the week Dale's friend, Greg offered us an invitation to go with him to the Iowa State game on Saturday night. He had a couple of tickets to share. We enjoy going to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames and the forecast was good, so we said, "Yes."

I have never been to two football games in one day, but I felt up to the challenge. It is a very different atmosphere at each stadium. Drake stadium is more intimate and quiet. There are fewer spectators and plenty of room to move around. Dale and I often move from one area to another to get a different photo angle or get more comfortable depending on the sun and wind. Drake won their game on Saturday and it was a good game.

I went to my first ISU football game in 2002 when Ashley was a freshman and I traveled to the Iowa State campus to visit her for parent weekend. I enjoyed the atmosphere and energy. The stadium is often packed. The fans are vocal and sometimes very loud. The marching band does a great job and add greatly to the atmosphere throughout the entire game, not just half time.

I try to go to a football game at Jack Trice Stadium each year and Greg's invitation was a perfect opportunity. The game started out great but in the end ISU struggled and lost the game. We were surrounded by very vocal fans who had lots to say about the coaching and the plays. I learned some very interesting phrases but most should not be repeated. They were passionate about their football. The people watching was excellent.

Dale and I survived our football Saturday and had a great time. We wore our Drake Blue for the first game then added a layer for the ISU game wearing the appropriate colors and logo. The evening did cool off but not as cold as the forecast predicted. We were comfortable. Well, we were not cold. I do admit to a case of "bleacher butt" that was cured by the walk back to the car. It was a great October day.

Rainy Friday Afternoon

I have an apple pie in the oven and it's just 2 pm. It's a rainy day and I have the luxury of a Friday afternoon off work. I dug out my favorite pie recipe. It's printed on notebook paper with yellowed wrinkled edges. The recipe is hand written by my friend, Michele and dated by me; September 1987. Amazing that I am old enough to have yellowed recipes that were written by me! This pie is typically an annual event for me. I enjoy getting out the rolling pin and making a mess with flour. It's also fun for me to try to peel the entire apple while keeping the peel in one spiral. I have passed the recipe to family members and it has become a favorite. I am going to make a pot of chicken tortilla soup and Dale is coming over. It's a very good Friday so far. Here's the recipe in case you are interested:
Apple Crumb Pie
Single Crust:
1/3 c. flour
1/2 c. crisco
1/2 t. salt
3 T. water (iced with a touch of vinegar)
Mix first three ingredients with fork until pea sized then add water a tablespoon at a time to form ball. It may take more water. Roll out on flour.
Pie:
5-7 apples peeled and sliced. I often use more. Place apples in pie shell.
1/2 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon (I use more)
Pour cinnamon and sugar on apples.
Topping:
3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. butter
1/3 c. sugar
Mix with a fork and sprinkle on pie. Bake at 400 degrees for forty minutes or more.

Waterloo Weekend

Last weekend Ashley and Travis invited us to visit. Our plan was to go to a hockey game and do a family photo shoot for Ashley. Dale and I love both activities and enjoy visiting the kids and Mowgli. We did have our photo shoot but the shots are not on my camera, so I do not have many photos on my computer. I will get more from Dale and Ashley. The Blackhawk hockey game was very good and the people watching was excellent. I am so impressed with how well Ashley and Travis are doing with Mowgli who is just four months old. They are very consistent and loving while working together on discipline and training. Mowgli is sweet, affectionate and well behaved. Dale and I do enjoy playing with him. It's nice to have a puppy in the family.

Hiking

Although I seem to have a sensitivity to poison ivy, I still love to be in the woods. It was worth the risk to go hiking at several parks last weekend including Pike's Peak State Park and Effigy Mounds National Park. I did stay on the trail and had my eyes open for the now familiar plant that has caused my itching and rashes. I took my pills and ointments with me and enjoyed the trails. This is the last of the photography and posts from our river trip. My skin has continued to heal in the last week and I look forward to decreasing my drugs in another week or two.

Wyalusing State Park

The first time that I went to Wyalusing State Park in Wisconsin I loved the beauty and knew that I would return. It has been twenty years since my first visit and there have been many since then. I was so excited to share the experience with Dale and bore him with stories of being there with Jay and Ashley when they were little. I have vivid memories of the hikes, the camping and photos taken from each lookout. Hiking to the caves brought back images of being with the kids in those very same spots. I have taken these photos numerous times over the decades, but could not resist to take them again. I enjoyed the glorious beauty and the trip down memory lane. Jay talks about going back there together for an October camping trip some day. I love that idea.

Wisconsin Apples

It is apple season. The orchards of Gays Mills were high on my list while we were in Wisconsin last week. We got to explore several orchards and taste apple slush, apple cider and fresh apple donuts. We brought some apples home and I have been eating them as a substitute for my cookie addition. I still prefer a cookie, but the apples are good. Yesterday was cold and damp so I was motivated to find an apple dessert that is not as heavy with the large quantities of butter and brown sugar that I love. Surprisingly, I have never made baked apples, but I found a couple of recipes, combined them and warmed up the oven. I stuffed them with raisins, cinnamon, and small dabs of brown sugar and butter. The baked apples were yummy and a much lighter version of my favorite apple dessert.

Decorah

We spent the entire first day of our journey leisurely traveling to the Mississippi River. One of my favorite stops on that day was in Decorah, Iowa at Seed Savers Exchange, where they are dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds. We bought a few seeds and enjoyed the chance to photograph and explore their beautiful gardens that had recently suffered their first frost. The true highlight of my experience in Decorah was Mabe's Pizza. They are well know all over the state for great pizza and we were not disappointed. Every single bite was delicious. We did enjoy our time in Decorah. You may notice that the entries from this trip are not in chronological order. I am just posting photos that catch my eye when I take time to blog.

Vineyards

Vineyards were a wonderful surprise on our trip. While visiting an apple orchard in Wisconsin, the owner graciously invited us to walk across the road and walk through the vineyards as well. The grapes were heavy on the vines. The aroma was amazing and the visual was beautiful. I have to admit to pulling a full purple grape off the vine and popping it into my mouth. The burst of flavor was incredible and added to the entire experience. I especially liked the sight of the small abandoned bird's nest that had become a home to a couple of fallen grapes. Although I could have lingered for hours we did have other orchards and parks on our agenda that day. Our other vineyard stop was the next day near Bankston, Iowa. It was very nice but we did have the luxury of a private stroll through the vines.

River Trip

Dale and I just got home from a wonderful four day road trip to enjoy the fall season, each other and our photography. Although I have mostly adjusted to the the digital world, I still love the feel of my old camera in my hand and the nostalgia of film so I decided to pull out my 35 mm and a few rolls of film. My digital point and shoot was my backup but since I forgot my digital battery charger, it was good to have Dale's point and shoot backup too. The trip is well recorded and I will post more photos this week.
Most importantly we enjoyed our time. We loved the beauty of the Mississippi River, Northeast Iowa, Wyalusing and Gays Mills, Wisconsin. We do remember that it is important to take the time to feel the experience not just the photography. We saw beautiful rivers, farms, fields, barns, bald eagles and cows as well as hills and bluffs covered with a palette of amazing color. Many miles were covered over the course of four days. Some of the sights were planned and others were wonderful surprises. I am grateful for the opportunity!
Galina Illinois was on the route too but it didn't take long to realized that thousands of people had the same idea. The small river town and it's parking were packed so we headed quickly back toward Iowa. There were many less crowded towns and country roads to enjoy.
It was a gorgeous weekend. The autumn colors were at their peak as we headed northeast. We hiked a national park and state parks in Iowa and Wisconsin. I have a couple of sore muscles, some dirty laundry, fresh apples and lots of wonderful memories. This was a great fall road trip! Apple orchards, vineyards, sunsets, fall foliage, rivers, barns and fields will be showing up on this blog very soon.

Chrysanthemum Color

Chrysanthemums say autumn to me. I love the colors and the warmth of the fall blossoms. This is the mum that I purchased at the farmer's market with Linda a couple of weeks ago. I enjoy the view of my pumpkins and mum daily on the patio.

I am seeking out more autumn color this weekend. I just love the second weekend in October. It is the best! I plan to use my camera to capture some of nature's best. Although I am highly medicated, my rash has improved. I feel lots better. and even took a couple of days off work to enjoy the beauty of the season. I am so excited!

First Week of October

Today marks the end of the first week of October.The colors are getting brighter but I am getting less time outdoors. This plant is not poison ivy! This is not the plant that is making me miserable. I took this shot near my garage. It is about as far as I have gotten to enjoy the October outdoors in the last couple of days. My time outside has been a trip to the doctor, a trip to the dermatologist and then to the pharmacy. I now have a dermatologist who happens to look like he is about twenty years old. I also have two new ointments, two new antihistamines, a new dosage of my steroids and new hope. This creepy, crawly, itchy, blotchy, bumpy swollen skin must heal soon. My sanity is at stake!

Happy Anniversary

Happy October Sixth, Ashley and Travis!

It's been an entire year since your incredibly meaningful and beautiful wedding day. The ceremony and the entire day were filled with very special moments. I was so very proud of both of you on that day and continue to be filled with pride and love. On a selfish note, being the mother-of-the-bride was one of my all time favorite experiences ever.

You have created a home together and continued to shape your lives and marriage with faith and respect. I am impressed with your growth as individuals and as a couple. Your family has been enriched by Mowgli, a lovable new canine. It's fun to watch you work together to be good puppy owners.

Happy anniversary to you today. I wish you a blessed second year of marriage. At the risk of being repetitive, remember that I am very proud of you!

Poison Ivy

It has been more than two weeks since I was probably exposed to poison ivy. I expect that is was poison ivy. The doctor also affirms that. I was hiking in the woods, off the trails and I am not very careful! I got the usual rash on my arms, guess I could have worn long sleeves, but I did not. Then I got rash on my neck and legs, guess that I should have worn long jeans and a turtleneck but I did not.

I used my usual prescription cream and after no relief I went to the doctor for a stronger ointment. Several days later I had to call in for the next step, oral steroid. Obviously this had become a systemic reaction. After more than a week on the medication, when I thought I was almost safe, I woke up with hives on my face and chest! I went back to the doctor and got more medication then ended up having to call him again a couple of days later when the hives has spread and the swelling had deformed my face. I now have prednisone, atarax, zyrtec, singular, triamcinolone, ambien and tylonal. A coworker who does healing touch offered her help with a session and a quick walk into the woods to help me identify the guilty plant variety! She also suggested a mixture of baking soda and arrowroot for warm moist areas. (I will spare you the details!) So after all this attention, medical advice, medication, ice packs and itching, I still feel awful and look monstrous. I took a photo in the mirror and considered adding it to this entry but did not want to risk scaring small children who may be surfing the Internet without supervision. The doctor says that I should call him Monday and may need to go to a dermatologist, but that just sounds like more medication and expense. I will just plan on feeling lots better tomorrow!

Historic Stadium in Knoxville

Friday night we traveled to Knoxville, Iowa to enjoy a beautiful evening of high school football. No, we don't know any of the players or parents, but we do enjoy the opportunity to experience something new. For Dale and me, the star of the evening was the historic Ken Locke Stadium which was built in the late 30's as WPA project, a part of the New Deal. I had seen a news story about the renovation of the stadium and the passion of the community to restore it without changing the original design. We had driven by when in Knoxville but both of us had a desire to go to a game when the weather and schedules cooperated.

A gorgeous October evening and my desire to be outdoors every day made Friday a great chance to go to a Knoxville High School Football game. The players shown in the photo are the opponents from Centerville. Both teams had a nice crowd but the people from Knoxville were out in full force wearing black and gold and cheering for their team even when they fell way behind.

The stone structure in the photo is actually the ticket booth. There is a castle-like feel to the stadium. The seating is terraced stone and block carved into the side of the hill rather than the traditional bleachers. It is a historic treasure in Knoxville.

It's a Classic

This old blue bike was a gift on my 26th birthday. Back in 1985 there was a baby seat mounted on the back of my brand new bike. Ashley rode for miles around Mason City on the baby seat with a little bonnet over her baby fine hair to protect her from the sun.

Although some have laughed, I like the protection of my fenders. They kept me dry many times on the sometimes flooded bike trails during my years in Cedar Falls. I especially love the extra wide and well padded seat that I got from Jay and Ashley for Mother's Day one year in the 90s.

The bag on the front holds a couple of dollars, some change, the reflector from the back, Ashley's little hair brush, a tampon from the 90s, a screw driver and a map of the Des Moines area bike trails. There is a lot of history in that bag and lots of history on the bike too. I rode trails in Colorado, Wisconsin and Minnesota on this bike. The bike always crossed the state lines safely packed on a vehicle. I do not do ride far enough in one day to leave the state! I have had a couple of other bikes but always come back loyally to the old blue bike, my classic.

Happy October!

October is my favorite month. I love the crisp cool weather and the gorgeous fall colors. For several years I have made an effort to spend some time outdoors every day in October. This year I plan to do the same thing. Maybe typing these words will add to my accountability.

I am thrilled that I am able to leave work about 90 minutes earlier since I changed jobs this year. That gives me more daylight and much for time to bike, walk or just be outside. It also gives me more opportunity to photograph fall colors. My camera will be in my pocket and ready to go. Now that I have a blog, I have a place for all these fall photos. You must be excited now!!