Walk through this world together

We are pleased to announce that our beautiful daughter Amy is engaged to be married to Corey Park. He asked for her hand in marriage (all of her, really) right after Jud and Kara's fabulous wedding, at a breakfast meeting he'd requested. Corey phoned Paul that week prior, to request the meeting, calling him Mr. Goldsmith. We keep telling him Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith are our parents - we're Paul and Leslie! ;>).

Anyway, we met him in the hotel after Jud and Kara's big event. We had an inkling about what he might ask us - so I stopped at the bank that week, busted into the lock box and picked up the "family jewel". It's my mother's diamond. I ended up with it when Dad died because Jud is the oldest boy. Lucky for Amy, Kara's family had their own beautiful diamond, so we saved Mom's diamond for her. I believe it was originally my Dad's grandmother's diamond - so the gem has some family history.

Have I mentioned that we really like this young man who has become an important part of Amy's life? I especially appreciated getting to know him last Thanksgiving, enjoying how he interacted with our family so well. He met several of Paul's family members that weekend. At Jud's wedding he met the rest of my sisters and more. Thumbs up! I guess he was on best behavior or something.

Anyway - we said yes and passed along the diamond. I must admit I got a bit choked up when we talked that morning. He said some pretty nice things about our girl. She deserves someone who adores her. Then the poor guy had to carry the "rock" around STL for the rest of the day. He told me later that he doesn't know how we women do it - wearing diamonds around...

And then I had to carry around a HUGE secret for several weeks. It was like a pressure cooker. Don't worry - I let off steam by telling people at work. They don't know anybody, right? haha. On Mother's Day, Corey sent a teaser email saying that Memorial Weekend would be the big day - on Saturday, so we've been waiting excitedly. He had that diamond set into a ring - after finding out just what Amy might like. (Gold of course - it's in the name). She's wearing Mom's ring, but has a personality more like Paul's mom - gold.

pretty simple - like Mom's

We went to a movie that evening, and then couldn't stay up late enough for the whole big event. Can you believe it? They tried to call but we missed it. We didn't talk to her until Sunday morning. Amy's said that night before, her girlfriends announced that she was going on a scavenger hunt of her favorite bars. In the end she was blindfolded and arrived at a place that smelled suspiciously like the Mansion where Corey lived when they first met nearly two years ago. At the top of the stairs, Corey awaited. Sneaky!

romantic setting

surrounded by their friends

Paul and I are smiling. Our children have found their partners. We love them all! Jud met Kara in college. Some cute stories were shared at their wedding about their early relationship. (That story sounds familiar = Paul/me).

Amy has taken a different path - one where chance caused Corey to take room in a mansion for a 6-month work stint in Denver. That just happened to be where Amy's friends lived. From a friendship, love grew.

Life is good.

From Marc Cohn's Walk Through This World With Me

Won't you walk through this world with me
Walk through this world
Over the miles of mystery
Walk through this world with me

Walk through the world with me
Walk through the world
Over the mountains and the shining sea, yeah
Walk through this world with me
Come on, now

Hanging at home on Memorial Weekend

I'm feeling a little sad that we're not heading to Colorado this long holiday weekend. My Facebook feed has been torturing me with photos from trips the past few years. Alas, we decided to stay home after such a busy spring already. Plus we will see my sissens in Oregon in July. Yippy!

Pennsylvania residents, Amy and Corey are visiting friends in Denver now. Amy is actually working too, so she's staying a couple weeks to visit several graphic design clients. It's hard to believe she moved away from the city nearly a year ago already. It was the place she'd called home for something like six years.

Colorado in the springtime is fabulous. Unless it snows - and that's happened before when we were there, even in June for my nephew Colby's high school graduation. Colorado is my second fave state - probably because of all of the people I love that live there (even after Amy moved away).

Pablo and I have figured out a few things to do in DSM this weekend. Farmer's Market (snagged some more rhubarb for you guessed it - another pie) and a movie and bike ride and plans for kayaking. The weather has sucked less than the talking weather heads lead us to believe.

David (he was prom royalty) and his prom date

There have been and will be a few milestones this spring. High School Graduation - Baby David, the youngest Bullock grandchild will receive his diploma from Kennewick, WA high school - that last of 5 Kohans. My sis Betso now knows exactly how Pat Bullock felt when she graduated from AHS the last of four Bullock girls. Phew!

Betsy has been through all those fundraisers. Their 5 children went through 9 years of Catholic School prior to entering public high school. Plus dances, athletic competition and various other school activities.

Two children wore me out. I can't imagine five. I tip my visor to you Betso Bean! David will attend the U of Washington this fall, following in brother Paul's footsteps. Way to go Dave!

Brownlee family (Kate, Tom, new grad Matt and Amy)

Meanwhile, in Denver, my cousin Amy's son Matt graduated high school too. I'm disappointed he'll not be attending Drake (he visited there with Amy on a soggy fall day last year), but I'm not surprised that he'll follow sister Kate to Colorado State University. DSM is a cool city, but still - no mountains. Atta boy Matt!

Memorial Weekend

This weekend we especially recognize all of those who gave their service to this great country.

It's been a long time since I walked in a cemetery. When we lived in Creston I walked up the hill from our place to Calgary Catholic Cemetery quite frequently. I became quite familiar with the much loved ones buried there. What a peaceful place.

We used to go to Atlantic frequently when Mom and Dad lived there. We'd visit our Bullock cemetery plot directly across from the Nishna Golf course (or the Super Bowl bar). Paul and I would hang items on the shepherd's hook there by our son Patrick's grave. Dad used to take great pride in placing live flowering plants by the family graves each year, but that became impossible for me to take over living an hour away from town. Another family tradition fell by the wayside.

I take comfort in knowing that while special, a cemetery is just a place. We visit when we are in town - and especially enjoy the lovely maple tree planted with Patrick's memorial funds.

Jud and Kara are visiting uber cool Austin, TX this weekend. I can't wait to hear about how they enjoyed that city where my good pal Paula lives. I was there a couple years ago and like it immensely!

On Monday we drove south to Indianola with the kayaks and met friend Deb to paddle Lake Ahquabi. That lake was crazy busy. We chatted and paddled, then followed up with a beer and chips at a Mexican restaurant in town. I miss our frequent get-togethers. We didn't even have time to discuss politics and too soon it was time to go home. At least this work week will be a short one!

My boat got nudged

My friend Jane is lacking in life experience. She doesn't know how to properly identify a "dive" bar. I need to have her hang around with my pal Donnie for a while. That guy knows a dive!

Jane and her husband Ken have been inviting us to their family's vacation home near Guttenberg for the past couple summers. Between their schedule and ours, it just never worked out. This summer, when the invite came - I jumped right on it! We piled the kayaks on the Subaru and took the 4 hour drive to the NE part of the state. Their place is on a little island that most people wouldn't recognize as Iowa. Instead of cars, people drive modified golf carts around the 'hood.

Full moon over the campfire

When we arrived on Friday night, we hopped on the golf cart (Odie too) and drove to Jane and Ken's friends' house for pizza and a fire. A priest even joined us for the campfire. Hey, I need all the help I can get.

What is so therapeutic about fire and water? I got a dose of both this weekend - plus medicinal friendship with two great loving people. Jane and Ken are still relative newlyweds - having married a year and a half ago. They are fun to hang out with - though their level of activity wears me out!

On Saturday morning we drove an actual car to Guttenberg for donuts. First we checked out the barge going through the lock. It is an interesting process to watch.

Viewing platform at the lock

Then we hiked up a huge hill above the city, working every calorie from that donut off! Guttenberg has a nifty Farmer's Market - lovely along the river, featuring honey, syrup, flowers and plants. Later this summer there will veggies. Ken picked up fresh eggs.

No elevator - we walked up there

Next we drove to Frenchtown with the kayaks - where there was no town and no French. But we did take a picnic and paddles. It's backwater there - not the main channel of the Mississippi. It was fabulous getting out on the water again. Have I mentioned how great it is not having a broken shoulder? After a half hour or so, we scoped out a likely spot for a picnic. A snake swam by but he didn't want any of my food.

After lunch I lined up behind Ken as we went through a swampy area - and a fish jumped nearby, making me somewhat nervous. I have a phobia about a fish jumping into my boat. That would be bad! Heart attack, most likely. Then something nudged my boat (I'm picturing a sea monster) and I let out a shriek that scared Ken so badly he mentioned soiled shorts. I paddled quickly to get out of that area. Now that sport gets one's heart pumping! It was challenging going through a low water area and then across the channel to get back to the house, but the weather was great and I enjoyed the kayaking immensely.

Jane played guitar at church in Garnavillo that evening. We got to witness a lovely baptism ceremony during Mass in a church that had an altar that reminded me of SS Peter and Paul in Atlantic. And then we went to Bill's in Clayton - the bar Jane considered a dive. Um, nope. It had umbrellas on a deck. Immediate disqualification. Dinner on the deck with a cold one. It doesn't get any better!

There is a silica mine there. It was interesting to drive around to look at the mining activities, though some might view it as devastation. You can also see piles of sand dredged from the river. Clayton County is very rural - and could easily hang with that southern tier of counties in Iowa.

We spent the rest of the evening cruising the island on the cart. We ran into an old friend, Deb Enzler (don't know her married name) from college. Her parents are friends of Jane's. What a walk down memory lane! We saw a cart that is hacked to look just like a Jeep. How cool! On the island there are shacks, trailers, nice homes and mansions. At the end of the evening we sat in the screened in porch with Odie, while somebody shot fireworks. Odie vibrates when sparks fly.

Ken made us a hardy breakfast Sunday before we took off. We would have loved to play again that day, but we had errands to take care of back home. We swung by Paul's home place on the way back to DSM - boy has it changed! And the cemetery in Earlville. In case you're shopping. Payment plans!

Now that we know the way to Guttenberg, we need to go back. That was fun and I envy that sweet summer lifestyle those two can enjoy through this fall. Thanks for the invite buddies. Come back to DSM soon.

Bucket filling

Relationships fill my bucket. This weekend it came pouring in! First my longtime pal Mary traveled to town from NW Iowa with her friend Henry. The bond we have stretches back to my first year in Creston, 1987. Mary was the "welcome lady" for a women's sorority Beta Sigma Phi. Yeah, that sounds a little bit snooty. Mary likes call it "girl's club".

I've mentioned before that I'm an kind of an introvert. Mary's warm personality broke through and an instant friendship formed. I much admire Mary's easy way with people - so empathetic. And she never forgets anything, asking after relatives and friends, your job and health. People like that in a friend. Mary was by my side when I lost my infant son and later my mom.

Friday night we got to show Hank and Mary a couple of places (4) in our little city. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy living here? You can probably tell. One reason is - people come visit us! Our first stop was our "go to" spot, the Stuffed Olive. The food is good there, and the martinis are excellent.

Next we walked in the cold Iowa spring wind over to the Iowa Taproom - the newest bar in town. We were able to secure the end of a table to sip the delectable brew. We discover that Mary had never been to one of the East Village's oldest venues - Locust Tap.

Yes, that's the Capitol emerging from Hank's head.

A server at the Taproom clued me in on a joint I've been wanting to visit in the Sherman Hill area. I'd scoped it out - a bar with no name outside, just neon beer signs. Challenge accepted! Carl's is a little nicer version of Locust Tap. They like the Cubs there. I'd go back - it's homey.

Back home we dug into the desserts I'd picked up at Whole Foods. A lime tart, crème brulee, and some kind of chocolate thing that even the checker assured me was delish. It was nearly 1 a.m. by the time we hit the hay. Late for this girl.

The Farmer's Market was on the menu for Saturday. The weather didn't cooperate - cold and windy. We did snag burritos before I got out of the wind. Our friends Kevin (recently retired from John Deere) and Kari with their pal Lori joined us at CABCO. It was nice to see them. That was where my head nearly exploded with the connections - Kevin and Kari know Don and Diana, and Mary does too. Poor Hank - he must have spent a lot of time pondering his next paddling trip as we chatted about mutual friends. I value my time with Mary and it was nice meeting a new friend Hank - who like to kayak.

And just like that, tag, the next group of friends were here. We met Bobbie, Jeff and my former roomie Joan for lunch at On The Border. It was fun to catch up with Joanie - someone I used to spend so much time with when I called her house my part time home. I met Bobbie at the same time I met Mary - she was in my sorority "pledge class". As part of the sorority heebeejeebee (sp) stuff, we pledged ourselves to loveliness. I think it worked out swell! Our husbands have become the best of friends as well, but they are not as lovely. We have had some fun with this couple, and they have been there through thick and thin with us.

That night we took B&J to the Iowa Taproom. Yep, now we're "regulars". Bar flies. We put our name in to actually eat there (1 hour wait). We ordered a variety of appetizers along with salads. The food was pretty good.

We saw the peddle-mobile pull up while we were there and Bobbie got the card from the driver for future reference. That will be a chance for more bucket filling. 

Today my college roomie Vicki called from Minnesota - with husband Fred, and our friends Steve (Moose) and Kay in the room. They were celebrating the graduation of Alyssa Wilt from the University of MN. She's the youngest child of our little group. Aww, they are growing up. Wilt's oldest daughter Jaime is now Dr. Wilt, PT. Kelli Behr Hoskins is expecting her first child in August. Jud is married. Lauren Behr and her BF are going to Peru this summer. Amy and her BF are settling in to life in PA. They all turned out pretty darn swell, despite us!

Aw, I try, but somedays I shouldn't be allowed to girl

I've come a long way baby! (eew - that phrase came from a cigarette commercial). Anyway, I do feel I've made fashion progress since my mom jeans days when I was dressing three people. Okay 2 were small and wore Garanimals - those cute mix and match outfits. But still, I really wasn't a fashionista back then.

just bad - ugh.

Then came the landfill years - when long johns and a hoodie were were appropriate. I didn't wear my steel toed boots every day, but they did look hot. As in clunky and warm. I used a space heater back then and hey, now I use one at the Wallace Building too!.

I ditched my hoodies when I started working in the Big City. There is no dress code at DNR, so I do wear jeans nearly every day - especially since it is so cold there. I've talked before about how I stepped up my game when it comes to my hair. A couple friends introduced me to Sarah Darby at Sahar and I've been going to her ever since. She takes care of me - realizing my limitations. I've even learned to use a blow dryer and a flat iron (a little bit).

The flower girl knew more about makeup than I did...

My makeup still fits in a small container in a drawer. (I'm amazed at my friends that whip out elaborate kits). I no longer really have eyelids - victim of sag. Mascara and eyeliner are part of my daily routine, plus I have to keep track of my unruly eyebrows. Moisturizer with sunscreen is my friend. I use a bit of foundation sometimes.

Mrs. Elming - 1971

I mentioned before about how out of my element I feel when I'm around a bunch of women doing girl things such as hair and makeup like during the morning of Jud and Kara's wedding. I was glad the stylists and makeup artist made me feel right at home as they plied their trade. 

I ponder - how did the other chicks learn all this stuff and I missed it? Was I just not interested when knowledge was being dispersed? Did I fall asleep at the slumber party when they went over this stuff?

Mrs. Elming did try to import makeup skills upon the girls of Atlantic Junior High. She was our Home Economics Teacher and I give her credit for taking me under her wing when it came to girl things. Corduroy jumper during the sewing section, failure. During our cooking segment I was doing some allergy testing and couldn't even eat the food. Yeah. Failure. I passed the class alright, but both of us knew that I wasn't planning on life as a homemaker. Hah!

Life has a way of pulling a fast one on us. I have used Mrs. Elming's button sewing method more than many other things I learned at school. I wish I would have received more training on every day life skills prior to high school graduation. Paul took shop and he uses and enjoys those skills a great deal. May we should go back to requiring at least a semester of that type of class for everyone! I wish I would have encouraged our children to take shop and home ec.

Back to my girlie point. I would not feel comfortable sitting at some Younkers in front of all God and shoppers while a makeup artist applied products to my face. That makes me feel very uncomfortable just thinking about it!

Therefore I'm resigned to my style. I don't wish to wear a bunch of makeup. I've improved (and wrinkled), but will never be super stylish. Or girlish.

Sometimes I have to laugh at myself. Like yesterday. I wore a necklace I'd purchased for the  wedding rehearsal dinner - bangles. When I took it off so it wouldn't jangle on my lunch walk I noticed I hadn't even put it on "right side" out. Failure to girl. Sigh. I'll keep plugging away.

the other side is just plain silver

It's Farmer's Market Time Again!

The first time I ever attended the Des Moines Farmer's Market was the result of another event - the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure. It was a long time ago! I walked the route with Deb and Patti on a chilly Saturday morning. The start/finish line was near downtown Des Moines. We had heard tell there was good food at the Farmer's Market. That morning I scored one of what was to be many in a long line of breakfast burritos and other delicious edible delights at the market.

The DSM Farmer's Market is one of the largest in the country. Today was opening day for 2016. Yippy!

Oh how I've grown to love it. Paul and I take advantage of living so close by attending a couple time a month during the May through October timeline. We especially like to go early, before it gets crowded with strollers and slow walkers.

I don't mind the dogs though (Some people continue to complain about dogs at the market in the DM Register's $.02 worth section. Get over it!). I don't usually rush up to pooches to pet them and find out their stories. I like to see them, large and small, on leashes and in little doggy strollers.

I'm usually one of those people walking with a purpose. Too bad I have to look down so I don't fall on my face. It's the sad result of a couple spills I've taken (#imaklutz). I miss a lot that way - but feel safer, scoping out sudden changes in pavement. If you are there looking for me - look for the top of my head.

Paul is even more "no nonsense" than I am. He actually sees people's faces when he walks - which is great! I drag him around to hear the music at the FM more often than he'd like. He's all about buy and leave. It's fun when out of town visitors want to go to the market. That is when we actually take more time to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds. The smells are worth the trip!   

breakfast burrito!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I've been a mommy for 30 years! It's been fabulous and scary. Wonderful and torture. The most joyous thing and the hardest thing in my life (RIP Patrick). I must say, knowing what I know now - I'd sign up for this again in a heartbeat.

We just enjoyed a big milestone when Judson married Kara a couple weeks ago. Our family came together to witness that momentous occasion. Nothing makes this mother happier than being surrounded by her family and watching them interact. I can't wait for Christmas in Vail with the Lefebvres!

Post Honeymoon

Jud and Kara are fresh off the plane from their honeymoon in Cancun. They had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect - though a bit windy. The all-inclusive resort catered to their every need according to Jud. They para-sailed, body surfed and saw turtles.

Talking to Jud about his honeymoon made me feel nostalgic about ours.

Paul and I went to Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver for ours nearly 34 years ago. I know - not quite as exotic as Mexico and a beach, but we enjoyed visiting places we had never been before. In Seattle we stayed in a downtown hotel and we purchased a 35 mm camera at a store there. Our trip was arranged through Grayline Tours. As part of it we were supposed to have a romantic bay tour with a meal. In reality it was more like a boat with a picnic table and clams with sand in them....but at least we had each other!

We took a day trip to Mr. Ranier, which was gorgeous. We still laugh today about the car we saw at a scenic overlook that was rocking suspiciously. We newlyweds figured out quite quickly what was happening in that back seat, but a teen boy on our tour went over and stared in the window. Hello!

We took a giant ferry to the beautiful island of Victoria - back before one even needed a passport to cross over into Canada. While we didn't partake in high tea a the beautiful hotel on the bay, we did pop in and look at the people sipping on tea and eating crumpets. We were transported to Butchart Gardens - a place where newlywed husband and wife could enjoy spending time with blooms. It was enchanting.

Next we bussed it to Vancouver and Grouse Mountain where we rode a tram and I discovered my extreme fear of heights on a swinging bridge over a gorge. That night, at a hotel in downtown Vancouver (if you think I'm spilling any naughty details you're crazy), Paul received word that he'd been hired by the federal government for the Soil Conservation Service position in Oakland, Iowa. He'd already been working in that office as a county employee - but that was fantastic news! A big raise and better benefits. The start of a great career.

I don't think people need to go anywhere exotic for their honeymoon. They can go to Wiota (a little town right outside my hometown of Atlantic) or Omaha. You could even stay home.  You just need to act like you're on your honeymoon - beyond the obvious. Breakfast in bed, walks in the park, bike rides - fun stuff! We all need a honeymoon.