Decisions

I have been known to deliberate far too long over some very simple decisions; most recently the placement of a newly purchased tree! I have moved this flag many times to determine what might be the best location for the tree that I choose a couple of weeks ago and paid for on Friday. Before the flag I was using a wooden pole to help me visualize where the new tree would look best. I looked as I drove up the street, as I backed out of the driveway and as I backed up on the street to get one more look. I looked from the guest room window, from the sewing room window and from the living room window; sitting on the couch, on the love seat and standing! Yes, this may be one of those times that I have deliberated far too much about something quite simple but I have good reason. This tree will not be moved. It will grow in this spot for years. I am so thrilled to get the tree that I want that I want to be very sure about getting the maximum pleasure from the tree...from every angle! I should just leave the flag where it is. I should just let go but I will most likely take another look and possibly move the flag before I go to work tomorrow. The tree will be planted one day this week. I am not sure which day but sooner might be better so that I can just quit the decision stress and enjoy the tree and it's placement! Seriously, I am moving it like 3-4 feet at a time...not going to make that much difference. I have been told that I think too much, this could be evidence for that claim.

Meatloaf and Panthers

 On the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of his Bat Out of Hell Album, I got to see Meatloaf perform right here in Cedar Falls. Jay and Briana treated me to a ticket and a fun night filled with music from 1977; a very good year! I loved singing along with those songs that I know so well! Briana was a great date. We found comfy seating, sat back and enjoyed. It was even worth staying up past my bedtime. Thanks, Jay and Briana!

Saturday was Panther football and volleyball games and the Panthers were victorious! It was so fun to be back in the unidome for a football game. I spent lots of time on the UNI campus this weekend...always fun to live in a college town...or very nearby!

Butternut Squash Soup

I just spent almost an hour chopping vegetables for soup. A co-worker gave me a recipe and since I had purchased a butternut squash from a little Amish lady, it seemed like the perfect meal for tonight. Lincoln is coming for dinner while his mommy and daddy have a date. It's mostly squash with a little carrot, potato, onion and celery. I didn't realize what I was getting into when I started but its a very good thing that I made the soup this morning, long before Lincoln arrives. I have never peeled and cubed a butternut squash. I probably didn't do it the best way, but that was hard work. I am sure that I burned more calories wrestling with that squash than I did when I was cleaning my kitchen floor this morning! That hard squash is very difficult to peel...and plenty of work to cube! I know my knives aren't very sharp and that didn't help one bit. Now I have this huge pot of veggies that is simmering. There is enough soup for eight people. I will blend some of it but leave some chunks later when its time to eat. I hope that Lincoln likes it a lot and I hope that Dale is very hungry when he arrives later in the evening.
Update:

The soup was good and full of good nutrients but I am not sure it was worth the sore wrist. Lincoln ate it very well and I sent lots home with him. It was an good experience...nice to try!

October Harvest

 What a wonderful October afternoon harvesting carrots and onions with Lincoln! When I planted the rows of veggies this spring I imagined that Lincoln would be old enough to eat the carrots and sit outside with me for the harvest. I could not have imagined that it would be more meaningful for me and fun for both of us.

 It brings me great boy to teach this boy and introduce him to the wonderful things in life...dirt, plants, and even nightcrawlers. I don't think it was a good experience for the worm but Lincoln was enthusiastic with the entire process. He loved pulling the long stems on the green onions but digging in the dirt was probably his favorite part of the experience. He also enjoyed the sink bath and baked apple snack that followed!

Piano Baby

 I thought I had seen the last of this piano when Ashley got married and took it to her home. It had been the childhood promise that if they stayed with piano lessons they could have the piano some day. Ashley stuck with it and got the piano but it came back to me when Ashley and Travis moved in September and I am surprisingly happy to have it back. Some day they may have a spot for it again but until that time it can live at my house and be a source of entertainment for little ones and anybody that might know how to play a song or two.

 I love photos with the black and white piano keys and you will see more of them. I need to get better at it! Ashley took most of these photos. I only took the one with Travis. Isn't there something precious about baby fingers on those piano keys?

Jake's Football Fans

 Senior Night at Mohawk Field was extra fun with lots of family to cheer for Jake and the Mohawks! It was a last minute decision to make the trip to Mason City. Dale left work early and we walked into the stadium as Jake, Dan and Jill were being announced. . . just in time for Dale to snap this photo!

 I absolutely loved  seeing the little ones at the game. Izzie, Weston and Brecken are Jake's niece and nephews and my great niece and great nephews. This next generation brings me great joy! Just look at those precious faces! Yes, there was a football game too. Jake's number 34. Right after half time the rain started to pour down and we all left very quickly. The Mohawks have had a very rough season but it's almost time to look forward to hockey!

Happy Beads

 Last weekend I had the pleasure of heading to northern Iowa and visiting lots of friends and family. Breakfast with Kelly was a huge treat and getting to find some of her beads to call my own was so fun. Today is a rainy Saturday made brighter by wearing my yellow bead earrings AND starting a Christmas stocking using my new bead stitch marker! I love the beads that Kelly makes and truly enjoyed my rainy Saturday. Thanks for bringing more beauty into my life, Kelly!

North Shore

I posted lots of these photos on facebook but I still want to have record of them in my blog. It really is a log for what I have done and photographed. I look back often to remember when we went somewhere or what we did in a certain city. It's a great tool for my aging memory.

Two years ago Dale and I visited the North Shore and we knew that we would return. The falls colors are amazing and it's a great area to explore. We hit peak weekend this year and had a hard time finding a room but it turned out great! We stayed at a ski resort on Lutsen Mountains and enjoyed a gondola ride over the tree tops the next morning.

Our northern most point is Grand Marais (above) and it's a great little town with the "World's Best Donuts," wonderful pizza, fun little stores and a beautiful shoreline. I always feel that we have arrived when we hit Duluth (below.) We always enjoy a walk around canal park, watching the boats and the aerial bridge and taking the same photos that I take each time! We always eat at Grandma's too. It's so good that there is no reason to search for something different since we don't go often and we don't stay long.

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.