Nature – Page 8 – Asbery's Echoes

Photo #2

My February photo. It’s a little more panoramic than January’s. Definitely not as green. I wonder what the March photo will look like? We’ve had cold days and unseasonably warm days this month. I’ve even hung clothes out and been outside with bare arms and bare feet. Very unusual for this time of the year. It was so nice to be able to open up windows and let the fresh air in. Today is a nice sunny day with a high of 55. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 60’s with a chance of rain. Then Wednesday and Thursday looks like high 30’s and chance of snow. We could still be in for some cold, snowy winter weather. I never mind it so much this time of the year – we know that spring is just around the corner and I do love the snow!

Iowa weather

There wasn’t much to report last week. Just typical days. Kids to school, Joe to work, Eric to work and bowling practice and a bowling meet we couldn’t get to. I just can’t justify taking Drew out of school at 1:00 to go to a 2:00 bowling meet in a neighboring town although I hate missing seeing Eric. He understands and says we don’t need to go to any of them. But, we very rarely miss supporting the kids in whatever they are involved in. He has a meet this week in town – we will definitely be there for that one!

Joe and I did go to Coon Rapids Friday and stayed through Saturday. His dad decided after breaking his hip and being in assisted living that he wanted to stay there. He wants to sell the house and had a household auction Saturday. We went up Friday and helped set things up then stayed over to be there for the sale and to help with clean up. It went well. Joe’s dad is 91. He’s doing great – sharp as a tack and physically he does great with his walker – but he didn’t want to have the worry of a big old house to deal with. He’s living in a beautiful place where he can come and go as he pleases and has no worries. His meals are fixed for him and he has friends all around. No lawn to mow or snow to shovel. It’s perfect for him and he’s happy. Couldn’t ask for more for him.

A page from the Joe’s mom’s cookbook. I love the well used, handwritten pages. So much more personal than my three ring binder full of printed off pages. I’m going to start writing more down on recipes cards. Printing things off may be faster but there’s nothing personal there to cherish.

We didn’t come home with much. Joe bought a couple of tools. I bought an old stool that his dad used out in his shop. Old, chippy, colorful, perfect! A handwritten cookbook of his mom’s and an old glass jar – I think it held powder at one time. I’ll find the perfect homes for them here and they will be cherished for years to come. Hopefully the kids will cherish them someday too.

Drew was sick all day yesterday and he’s still not feeling the best today. You know he’s not well when he lays on the couch all day. Yesterday he wanted to be cuddled and loved all day. Today not so much. He didn’t want me around – so even though he’s not up and moving I know he’s feeling better when he doesn’t want his mommy!

We had ice last night – and rain today – fog tonight. You never know what kind of weather we’re going to have. This was our driveway this morning:

We have a few tree branches down I noticed. A layer of ice and then rain on top of the ice. Not fun. I was glad we didn’t have to go anywhere. School was canceled. Joe had a hard time getting up and out of the drive with the truck in four wheel drive. But – the highways were clear – thank goodness for that. I love living in the country and until recently I have wished we didn’t live along the highway but the older I get, the more I appreciate the fact that we can always get to town. If we can get out of the driveway!

Thanks for stopping by – Rhonda

Surprise visits are the best

Brrr – it’s been cold around here. For the most part I love winter, absolutely love it but I do struggle when it gets so darn cold. If only we would get some snow. I remember my childhood days – getting snowed in. Walking over the fences in the pasture because the snow was so high. I remember one year my dad walking to the highway and having a friend pick him up so he could get to work for days on end because we couldn’t get down our gravel road. Or riding home one night after a wrestling meet and dad getting the truck stuck and having to wade through snowdrifts in my cheerleading skirt to get from the road to the house. Brrrr – that was a cold night. But we don’t get that kind of snow anymore and I really miss it. I love the snow. I love how everything looks and sounds and smells when it snows. I keep hoping we will get snow like again sometime so my kids can experience it. Instead – we have cold. Even Drew, who loves to be outside, doesn’t want to go out when it’s cold like this. We still have a lot of winter left – I’m sure we’ll get some snow. Just not the amounts I remember from the past.

The truck windshield this morning – definitely had to let the truck warm up before we left!

The sunrise was beautiful this morning . This pic taken with my phone doesn’t do it justice. Everything was pink and the sun itself was a big beautiful round ball. It was breathtaking!

We had a surprise visitor this evening. My 25-year old son Aaron stopped by. He likes to stop by for surprise visits. He’s always so busy he never schedules anything but that’s okay. I love that he feels comfortable to stop by whenever he wants. We had a nice chat while his dad was out hunting. Then we had supper and he and Joe went out and changed the oil in his car. Now it’s time to get Drew in the bath and get settled in for the evening in my nice warm house!

2017

It’s 2017 – a time for new beginnings. And keeping this blog up to date. I don’t know why I stopped – life I guess. And not knowing exactly what I’m doing – it’s a lot easier to just not do anything than it is to figure it out! Anyway – our New Year was quite low key. Joe got a deer and spent yesterday getting it cleaned and in the freezer. Then a quick drive over to Dad and Mom’s. I took my camera along and took a few pictures:

A view of the sun setting down in the timber. Always beautiful!

A view from the timber towards the house.

On the way home we decided to go out for supper. Drew and Joe wanted to go to their favorite barbecue place in a neighboring town. We got cleaned up and headed out only to discover they were closed! So Drew decided Arby’s sounded good. Then home it was – for a little crafting, TV and bed around 10:00. We definitely didn’t see the New Year in. I’m not sure when was the last time I have seen the New Year in!

Today I’ve finished my craft project I started yesterday. I needed something to hang on the backdoor and didn’t want to spend any money. So Pinterest it was and here is the finished product.

So simple – clothes pins, scrapbook paper, an embroidery hoop and craft glue. I used some old weathered pins and liked the look so I kept some of them plain. The rest I glued strips of paper onto the pins using craft glue. I also put a coat of glue on the top of the paper for extra sealant.

And for Valentine’s Day I cut out a heart using cardboard from a cereal box and glued matching strips of paper on. Then clipped it on using another clothes pin so I can take it off later and maybe add something different. I might use different paper on the back of the pins and then I’ll have two wreaths in one. Maybe some Easter or springy colors. The best part – this didn’t cost me a thing. I just dug around in my stash (think hoard!) of old scrapbook supplies and I always have clothes pins lying around the house. Perfect use of old supplies!

The rest of the day should be quiet around here. Eric has to work. Joe is cleaning his shop and hauling wood in before it rains. Drew is going to Grandpa and Grandma’s for a sleepover. I’m going to finish putting Christmas stuff away and settle in with a good movie and some stitching. Either a new Jenny Hoffman pattern for Valentine’s Day or crochet some dishcloths. That’s a new one for me – crochet – I taught myself how a couple of months ago and gave dishcloths and hot pads for Christmas. Now I can’t seem to stop! I have some yarn ordered and am going to start on a blanket. I have way too many dish cloths now! I may never have to buy another one, ever! But they are so great to use. So much better than anything you can buy! They are the perfect project when I’m sitting in the van waiting for Drew to get out of school.

Just a small handful of hot pads and dish cloths. Nothing matches – just grabbed the clearance yarn at the store! I’m thinking I might make a few sets for some camping friends of mine – maybe try and color coordinate with their campers. A nice little gift on our next camping get together.

Thanks for visiting!

Paddle Boating

keomah We took Drew to Lake Keomah to go paddle boating yesterday afternoon. It was a beautiful cool July 1st. A perfect day to be outside. I plan to enjoy these nice cool days while we get them! Lake Keomah is just a few miles from our house. We used to camp there a lot but haven’t been there for years. We had heard they were doing some work to the park – the beach was open and they rent boats and have concession stand. It’s a small lake but very nice. We might have to try camping there again.

A nice peaceful spot to sit and watch Joe and Drew look for shells.

Drew enjoyed finding shells along the bank more so than the paddle boat ride – he has very little patience so sitting in a slow moving boat was not his thing!

I took some pictures with my phone while we were on the boat but I can’t get them to transfer over right now. The lake was so nice and peaceful. There was hardly anybody around on a Friday afternoon. It was almost like have the lake to ourselves! Spontaneous little day trips are lots of fun!

Busy, Busy, Busy …

I spent the last two days getting ready for the 4th of July. My son Aaron started a business while in high school selling shave ice. He took a class that helped him learn how to be an entrepreneur and he did very well. Last year his schedule didn’t allow him to sell so he very graciously allowed Eric to sell. Eric was needing to make money for a trip through his Spanish class to Costa Rica. Selling shave ice helped him tremendously. This year Aaron’s schedule again isn’t going to allow him to sell so he’s letting me sell – yeah! I want to save up some money for a vacation next summer since it will be Eric’s last summer at home before college. But, that meant a tremendous amount of work – I hadn’t realized just how much work those boys put into this. I know the selling side of it because we have helped them sell every year but I never helped much with the other end of it. I figured it was their project, not mine and they should do all the work! So, I cleaned, cleaned and cleaned some more. Mixed product. Organized everything. Ordered more spoons and straws. (Scheduled to be delivered tomorrow – yeah Amazon!) Organized again. Wrote down everything I’ve done – the recipe used, what flavors I have and when they expire. Anything I could think of to make next year easier for whoever wants to sell. And I am exhausted! But it’s a good kind of exhaustion. And nothing compared to how exhausted I will be after the actually selling part of it. Especially if it is a hot day. Of course we want a hot day – we will sell more – but boy does it wear us out! We will sell at the annual July 3rd celebration – there will be all kinds of fun things going on on the square – bouncy houses, kiddie tractor pull, local singers will perform, and a street dance. Then on July 4th, after the parade, we will head out to the park and sell at during the Cutie Kiddie Contest and greased pig contest. We will be busy!

Today Andrew and I picked up his room. That took most of the afternoon. Then I took some time to walk around the yard and check out what is blooming.

Moss Rose in a galvanized tub. These always remind me of my Grandma Ward.

I check this out almost daily. It’s tuberose and I have no idea what to expect. A sweet lady brought this into me at the office last fall. I’m so glad I remembered to plant it this spring! I just hope it blooms. She says it will smell wonderful!

Queen Ann’s Lace – a weed to some but I love it! I need to have Drew pick some with me and we can put them in colored water and see how they change color overnight. He would love that!

My little garden. We haven’t had a garden in years. Joe built this for me this spring. I have tomatoes, green peppers and a few herbs in there. This fall I plan to plant strawberries here and have a neighbor come over and disc up a garden for next spring. I want to plant peas, green beans, cucumbers, corn, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins and who knows what else. I can’t wait!

It’s quiet here tonight. Eric is at work and Joe is out of town for work. He hadn’t planned on being out of town but his schedule changed this morning. He should be home tomorrow. So it’s just Drew and I. Quiet evenings are nice once in awhile!

Potting Plants . . .

We finally got some rain last night – we needed it. Now we are enjoying a hot sticky day. I’m ready for cooler days already. I just don’t enjoy the hot muggy days we’ve been having. Although it’s not so bad outside this afternoon if you’re in the shade. I had some leftover potting soil from earlier this spring and decided to use some of it up by trying some indoor plants. As I was sitting outside on the patio in the shade potting my plants there was a beautiful breeze. It was so nice enjoying the cool breeze, with my hands in the dirt and Drew’s kittens playing at my feet. And being alone – it’s a very unusual day for me. Joe and Eric are at work and Drew is spending the day with my dad and mom. I rarely have time alone at home. I treasure these times but I’m always ready for everyone to come back home. The quiet is nice but I miss the noise and knowing everyone is home.

I found some McCoy planters at a thrift store in a neighboring town and went shopping here at home to find a few more. My history with houseplants is a little lacking – I have struggled in the past to keep anything alive. Remembering to water them seems to be a problem. I’m hoping that being home now I will be able to remember! Another issue I’ve discovered is Pierre. I’ve caught him chewing on some of these. And digging a couple of them up. Naughty kitty! Now off to find homes for them. And another issue – with two beautiful big old oaks outside I get a lot of shade throughout the day so finding sunny spots will be a challenge.

A few pictures from around the yard . . .

Lambs Ear – one of my favorites – I love how soft the petals are

My dad made me this bench out of old barn board – I just love it!

Love the bright pink and white combination.

Staycation Day 2

Day 2 of our staycation – on to Maquoketa Caves. We visited here last year and loved it so much we decided to take my dad and mom along with us this year. Unfortunately Eric had to work so he had to stay behind. First we ate our picnic lunch – PB & J sandwiches and chips! As you can see – at the visitor station Drew found a snake to make friends with. He loves all things creepy crawly and thank goodness I’m not too squeamish. I don’t know how I would have survived all these years with three boys if I was! Drew even let me pet this little guy before giving him back to its owner! (Again, I apologize for the poor quality of the photos. Forgot my camera again)

The view looking out before heading into the cave.

Mom was not sure about this. We didn’t realize how much she didn’t like caves until we got in here. Sorry Mom!

The other side of the cave - beautiful! — The other side of the cave – beautiful!

I am always amazed at how the terrain changes so drastically in Iowa. Just a couple of hours from here it is flat and you can see for miles. Here you find this. So many people seem to have the misconception that Iowa is all corn fields. Boy are they wrong!

You can hike for hours in this State Park – up and down the bluffs – down in the bottom along the water, exploring caves big and small. It was a little too rough for Dad and Mom so we spent a little time here and then decided to see what else we could find.

We headed towards the beautiful Mississippi River and the river drive. We drove past the American Pickers headquarters. It’s not much – a couple little buildings. We didn’t stop as there were lots of people. We kept on going – enjoying the Mississippi River.

Mom wanted to try and find Wildcat Den State Park. She had never been there but remembered Grandpa and Grandma Houseal talk about it when she was young. Talk about a hidden gem. It wasn’t easy to find, and we really had no idea what we were getting into. When we first found the park, we didn’t see anything too exciting – another pretty Iowa State Park to drive through. But we had been cooped up in the truck for quite some time and Drew needed to get out and run so we pulled into a parking lot that held lots of cars but no people and let him run. Of course, he found a trail and this is the first thing we found:

A pretty body of water – looked a little deep and was running a little fast. It would have been so relaxing to just sit along the bank and take a nap here! But not with Drew – we had to keep exploring! So onto another trail on the other side of the parking lot – and what a great surprise!

This time we found sandstone bluffs. It was so much fun climbing up and down the bluffs – sometimes between them! There was graffiti all over them – it doesn’t take much carve a name into sandstone. It amazes me that we had never heard about this park. It’s not too far from home. We even stopped for a potty break and mom asked directions and the lady at the counter had never heard of Wildcat Den – and it was just around the corner from the convenience store! I love finding places like this – so much better than anything commercialized.

Drew is not afraid of heights – he loves climbing!

Yes - Buddy the hedgehog went along too. Drew insisted on a picture! — Yes – Buddy the hedgehog went along too. Drew insisted on a picture!

The park had this beautiful, easy to walk trail. We walked and walked until we found the end and then back to the truck. So much to see, everything was so green and pretty. I hope to go back this fall when the leaves are changing and the air is crisp and cool. I bet it would be breathtaking!Two full days of hiking, up and down and all around. Hopefully this will keep this little guy content for awhile until our next “adventure”!

Memorial Weekend Staycation Fun

A beautiful barn outside of Solon. I enjoy looking at all the unique barns we have in Iowa.

Drew is always wanting to go on an “adventure”, so we decided to go on one on Saturday. I had seen an article about waterfalls in Iowa and one of the locations happened to be close to home so off we went! It was a beautiful day with a chance of rain but we took our chances. We had camped several times in this area in the past but we had no idea this hidden gem was so close to where we had been. (I apologize in advance for the pictures – I forgot my camera and was using my phone) We took off mid-morning on our adventure and this is what we found:

Lake Macbride from the dam. — Lake Macbride from the dam – just seconds before the rain!

We found the lake with no problem but it took a little trial and error to find the waterfall. Then as we were just getting ready to cross the dam on foot it started to rain, hard! So, we ran back to the truck, drove to town and treated ourselves to an ice cream cone to wait out the rain. It was worth the wait!

Drew, as usual, exploring ahead of everyone. The falls are just on the other side of this huge rock.

Eric just tolerates my picture taking - and his little brother hanging on his leg! — Eric just tolerates my picture taking – and his little brother hanging on his leg!

They weren’t really waterfalls – but were still neat to see. A fun way to spend the day, didn’t cost much money and we were home and relaxing by evening. A fun day spent with family! So much fun that we decided to take my dad and mom the next day on another “adventure”!

Heading back over the rock to find our truck and head home.