FEBRUARY THIRD 2012

FEBRUARY THIRD 2012 .................................................................... Some how this didn't get posted last year February 3rd. I am putting it in now. .................................................................................................... We stopped early at Dad's. Denny had an early meeting in IG. Front door was not open and Mandy didn't come up to see us before we went to work. After school I worked on power point. Just keep plugging away. There is a flock of 20 wild turkeys that hang out at the folks. The picture around the table is from February 4Saturday am. The day of Anabel's birthday. Little Anabel joined us for coffee at Dad's.

................... I miss them so much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hair, Nails, ready set go!!! Tomorrow to Denver

Up at 5:30 for One a Day. Looked at chrome book, but I really need a tutorial to walk me through all the steps. Uffta!! I am so computer understanding needy. I picked flowers for CSA tomorrow and put them in the refrigerator. At 9:30 I headed to Wall Lake to get my hair cut. Then past Thistledown. They are not going to be open in August. Then to Spa Nail. Sa really like the flowers I brought her the last week. I also brought up vegetables. I wish I would have gotten the recipes that she is going to use with a dip for steamed green beans and a cucumber salad. I shopped Walmart and Goodwill for vases. Then to Arthur by 4 and stopped to say hi to Denny. When I got home I called and set up meeting with Kathy, Susan and Teresa for August 6th. Happy face!! We had creamed cabbage and cheesey eggs for supper. Denny went uot and high pressure sprayed the bunk house. I mowed. the lawn. We printed off our boarding passes. Flight leaves at 8:40 and arrives and 9:15. Denver, here we come!!!! Pictures of some of the flowers from my garden

Water flowers ... rain would be nice

Slept til 6:30... Denny was up before me. In am I worked outside picking some green beans and watering and rototilling. Anabel and Missy came back from Denison, with one front tooth gone. Earlier this spring she had fallen on the slippery tiles behind the west garage door. The tooth was loose for her and she kept wiggling it with her fingers. The dentist yesterday said there was an abscess at the root and he should pull it. So out it came today, plus he took care of a cavity. Uffta. Later in the morning Evan wanted me to read. I would read a chapter of Boxcar Children then work for 10 - 20 minutes. Then read another chapter. At noon I went in to swim. I saw S. Brown walking the trail while I was at the pool. We visited a little. Two weeks ago he had 2 vertebrae in his neck fused. It has felt like a slow recover process for him. After swimming about 3/4 of a mile I ran 3 miles on the trail. At home I was so tuckered I took a nap. Then back outside to weed and rake. When Denny came home he started spray painting the south side of the bunkhouse. I would hear whistling. The paint sprayer would run then whistling would start, then quiet, then I could hear the paint sprayer running, then whistling, then quiet... that was strange. When I asked him about it later he said it was pretty high up and he kept thinking about his fall off the ladder in St. Joeseph. Plus the tall ladder was not very stable. Kinda scary. He got the job done, and it looks great. I grilled burgers and veggies and started a fire in the pit. Nice night It was hard to go in to go to bed.

Actually the only thing I accomplished today was finish 12 chapters of Box car children

Slept until 6:30. Quite late for me. Hung around while Denny got ready for work. I read to Grands before they headed to Denison for dental appointments. In am I tried to fill out a form for goals for 1213-1214 school year. It took me forever, but I think I got it done. Jensens shared a slice of pizza with me for lunch. Then I finished the Boxcar book during Brook's nap time. I spent time today looking for recipes of kale, cabbage, and how to roast green peppers. When Denny got home we had a quick bite, then he spray painted and I brushed the windows in the coop. We chilled on bistro on deck and watched 24 before going to bed. Pictures of the painting.

Wilder Sunday

I thought I wrote this post before, but who knows where it went. I picked dahlias in an for 2 side bouquets at church. Z.'s are leaving this am. I took pictures of the crew at 9. Then we took Grands to SS. There were donuts, etc. and a missionary speaking. Jackie and Duane Wilder were at church and so we invited them out for lunch. I borrowed some of Missy's sliced meat and had corn, watermelon and ice cream. They left about 2:30 and Denny and I went down for a Sunday afternoon nap/rest/movie. I got up at 4:50 and realized I had missed Art at Olde Town. I went late and visited with Wilders, Taylors, Bachs, Lovetts, Wells, and Newquists. Then down to ride 12 miles on the bike and run 3 miles. Denny went to prayer time at church.

Painting started ... 4-H auction

I was awake lying in bed from 2-5. Then I slept til 7. I marked stuffed animals that were all over my living room floor with masking tape tags telling the share amount that they could be bought for at the Awana store. Boiled the sweet corn, Outside I watered a couple of flower beds and began to move some tables in CSA shed. I fixed a tea party for the 2 girls out on the deck. One of the pretty tea cups got broken. Bummer. Watered and fertilized some of the flowers. Girls came out and helped me pick some and put in a basket for church tomorrow. Denny went into town and bought paint for painting two or three sheds. He tried a spray gun, but got frustrated. So he went to town to buy one. He had just gotten a good start when it was time to clean up the sprayer and himself to go to Sac county fair. We left about 3. We had to come back and get his bank folder with names of 4Hers and suggested bids. Before we left I listened for sleeping Asher, the girls colored, and Missy and Ranessa ran about 3 miles. At the fair Denny got the bid for 4 4-H’ers livestock bonuses for the Odebolt bank. This afternoon Phillip and Ryan took 4 boys canoeing on Maple River. At home we watched 2 episodes of 24 from Netflicks.

Day in IG ... Z's come to visit J's

Started to fix some of the CSA share, and began the clean up of fried green tomatoes. Didn’t get either job done. I headed in to town to take my bike for repair, then realized I didn’t have my checkcabookas. So back home. Eye appointment at 9 am. Then checked out Dose garage sale again. $26 later I came home with treasures; I’m sure Denny might not agree. Ida Grove Family Drug has been bought out by Lewis Family drug. They had 75% off on everything. Didn’t but anything the first time through. Dropped off the bike at Zach’s house. Headed to borrow Amy’s bike. Met Missy at pool at 12, I swam for 45 minutes, she swam for 20 then biked for 20 then ran for 20. At one I biked 7 miles then ran 2 miles. I went to high school to put liners in my desk drawer. Then to get vinegar in case I have time to make dill pickles someday. I bought sweet corn from Bengfords. At Bomgaars I bought a bistro table for the southeast corner of the deck. Denny and I ate supper on it. At home Zurbriggers had arrived. Lots of fun kids running all over. Caleb, Micah, Hope, Josiah and Asher. Such fun to see them run from bikes on cement by CSA to Cowboy hide out to barn to see chickens. Hope and Anabe sorted the 75 stuffed animals I got for Awana at Family Drug. Mandy called while we were sitting finishing supper. on the deck. Fun to visit. We had a fire in the pit after supper and for the first time of my life I saw Denny light fire crackers and Roman Candle fireworks. Always some thing new even after almost 40 years. So much to be thankful for.

Laura to Storm Lake

Up early and had One a day. Went to Dose by 7 am. Half price sale on most of inventory. Spent $30. Lots of good stuff, though Denny might not agree. Picked up Laura for class in Storm Lake. We were there by 8:45. Her speech class lasted until 12. Then we made a bunch of stops, ate Mexican at La Junta’s, at SOS I got blue glasses to go with Mom’s dishes and Laura bought 2 t shirts for Stephen. She bought a dress on sale at Orange blossom. Wal Mart run, then back to IG by 3. I rode 7 miles on Cutshall’s bike and ran 2 miles. Next … home for CSA pickup. Denny was making green fried tomatoes. Tasha brought cucumber salsa. I gave one bouquet to Nick H. for his folk’s 40th anniversary. One vase went to Morgan for her new little girl, one to Mindy for her boy, and sold one to Peck’s. We cleaned up the shed and it started to rain a little bit, so we sat with Missy and Phillip in the CSA shed and watched it rain, but it didn’t rain very much. Bummer….

Kids to vacation Bible school

Up for one a day. Actually it was kinda a do nuthin day. I straightened out the bedroom in am. Picked flowers and put in refrigerator for tomorrow. Read some from Boxc Car. Went with Missy to swim at noon. Swam about a half a mile. Ran 2 miles. Came home. Read some more Box Car. Couldn't stay awake, so napped and then when Evan woke me up read some more until 3 when they could watch Hello Little Kitty. Fixed chicken enchaltas for supper with Lime ice cream / sherbet with 2 cups of Bossy cream, limeade, and powdered sugar. Denny came home: we watched the news and ate supper. Then he went out and power washed the coop and started on the bunkhouse. He plans to start painting, perhaps this weekend. I put together flowers for CSA tomorrow. Denny sent pictures to kids of me and flowers. Phillip isn't feeling very good. Missy took kids to Bible school again, but it really wasn't a part of my life. It did make a good title for the day's activities. Tomorrow Denny is planning to make fried green tomatoes for CSA. I think I'll put a roast in the crock pot. Saying is what I deal the every time I run. Pictures are from trip back from Kingsley. Such beautiful blond hair ... no longer ... now two buzzes. Still love those goldie locks. Flowers that I arranged for two gals that had babies last week who are in CSA. And one to take to the gal who does my nails in Storm Lake. And two that I put together with extra flowers. I really enjoy doing this.

Started book and finished book

Up for devotions, then back to sleep for 1 hour. Ran section, Missy was running and biking. Weeded with Missy for a while. She and Stephanie took the kids to Lakeview biking and swimming. Called Odyssey and set up Aug 7th at 9 am for an informational meeting at HS. Planted plugs from Cathy at Miss Effies. Started book ...See you at Harry's by Jo Knowles. It was good, but hit very close to home with a three year old who dies. Sure love our little Brooks who woke up before his mom was back from running and got dressed, turned on the light and was reading a book so sweetly on the love seat in the kid's bedroom. I fixed hamburgers, beets in foil and cooked cabbage from the garden in crock pot for supper. Went to swim for 20 minutes. Talked to Zach about looking at the bikes. After supper I drove the 4 wheeler while Denny sprayed roundup around the barn, etc. Phillip finished putting up the trellises for tomatoes. They look really good. Pictures from Miss Effies.

Home

Had one a day on deck. After Denny left for work I started catching up on the blog. It takes a long time. Went in to swim from 12:15- 1. I stopped at the library, school, drove past Laura's mulch in her front space and picked up Buss's kitchen set for bunk house. I finished reading a book Mandy gave me ... The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. It was a good read about a survivor of a dysfunctional, but loving family. I started to read The Box Car Children #2 to the Grands. Then it was time for them to head to Vacation Bible School. After a supper of grilled pork chops, Denny drove the tractor mower around the place, I pulled weeds. Chilled out by the CSA barn at sunset. Pictures of Miss Effies. UFFTA!!! I think I am caught up with about 3 weeks of Blogs. :)

Miss Effie's U pick flowers Donahue, Iowa

Met Nancy, Jean and Arlan at motel lobby for continental breakfast. Then Dirk and Diane for breakfast at 8:30. Great to visit. Denny drove east to Donahue, Iowa. We got there about 1 an stayed until 3. Lots to think about at Miss Effie's U pick garden. We left about 3 and I drove home and we got home about 8.

Wet suit trials and ... Roller derby in Cedar Falls

First ride in Jensen’s “new” car. An Accord from Shelby S. that has been up at Warren’s to get the air conditioner fixed. We went to Crawford Creek to try out Becky V’s wet suits. UFFTA!!! The pond looked beautiful; there was a haze over the water. The water must have been warmer that the outside temp. So pretty early in the am. Then to put on the wet suit. Now that was work. Missy laid my suit out with the zipper up and said Becky said to put them on like you put on nylons … So I did. More like a very tight girdle that goes from your ankle to a low crotch and threading my large arms back through the sleeves. I was just trying to zip up the gap when Missy laughed and told me I had it on backwards … UFFTA!!! Of course Missy had to take a picture, and later I found out that she sent it to Mandy. Now I’m sure that made her day and she headed off to work. Time for me to reverse the operation, uffta. Take (peel my self out of the wet suit) and then put it on again, inhale deeply and barely get it zipped. Now to get to the water, all the time feeling like I had been poured into the suit. Being in the water did not loosen it up at all. But we persisted. “Swam” for about 25 minutes. My swimming consisted mainly of a modified breaststroke. I couldn’t do my usual frog kick, because the crotch was low and constricted the kick. Wearing the wet suit was buoyant, but my body’s position was mainly vertical, not a floating horizontal. Don’t ask me why … I have no idea why, but it seemed the most comfortable. I lasted the 25 minutes and did get my heart rate up. And it was warm … We laughed a lot … and decided not to use the wet suits for the triathlon. I think I would do better with a suit that did not have sleeves and whose length was above knee length and a size XXXL. We peeled the suits off, changed, put on our tennis shoes, and ran for about 20-25 minutes on the trail that goes around Crawford Creek. The Creek area was beautiful in the am. There were about 3-4 groups of fishermen. Hopefully, we didn’t disturb the fish as much as we felt disturbed by the wet suites. Life is a learning process. Home by 8:30. Denny worked in Odebolt this am. I was not there to see him off, guess he made it okay. Packed, fixed lunch and packed a lunch for Sunday. Denny played with Grands after he got home. I was spreading dirt, and watering flower beds. Stuart U. brought out some 2x4’s from his work to make more tomato trellises. 2 youth were out to work with Phillip. We ate a quick lunch of cauliflower and broccoli soup, finished packing and left for Cedar Falls about 1:45. Denny listened to you tube roller derby and I have been writing posts for my blog. Jean and Arlan are on their way to Cedar Falls also. Looking for “Storming da Castle” fun time. We met at Day’s Inn. For supper we shared a huge tenderloin at Newton’s Paradise Café. Then to the bout. We were at the check in booth and were directed to the man in a black t shirt. What a surprise when it was Denny’s cousin Dirk. He helped us find a place to sit and explained the bout to us. It was a lot of fun to root for the Brew City Bruisers. Our tickets could be used at a place so we didn’t have to pay a cover charge. We went there, but it was not our style, so we left when Nancy got there. Then back to the hotel room where Nancy, Arlan, Jean and we sat and visited. Great day.