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!

Boom! Didn't make it to fireworks

Another successful Independence Day is in the books. I'm exhausted!

Our friends Bobbie and Jeff arrived Friday evening in time to eat at Legends at an outdoor table, prior to the Iowa Cubs game. The weather gets an A+ for the whole holiday. Perfection - much deserved after floodlike rains and below normal temps.

We sat above first base with our gazillion ounce beers with a crowd of over 13,000 people. The Cubs disappointed, frankly - scoring early, then fading. But the experience didn't. Bobbie and I chatted and participated in the whole fan experience - hooting and hollering. Jeff and Paul talked farming, while watching the game. With the last out, the lights were turned off and a barrage of fireworks treated the eyes, with piped in music.

It was over very quickly, and I must pay homage to the Creston Fireworks folks - nothing compares to their show in our eyes. But it was a great way to end the day. Too tired to party on Court Avenue, we retired to the Goldsmith deck for "just one more" before beddie bye. Still it was after midnight before I hit the sack. Pretty late for this old, injured girl.

Farmer's Market fun

The next day we were up fairly early, hitting the Farmer's Market by 7:30 a.m. Jeff wanted to try a breakfast treat other than our fave burritos, and I was game. I got a Bosnian cheese and something quiche like parcel. It was delish and only $3. The Brazilian Twin entertainers were there - I could have listened to them longer, but we were on a mission to bike, so we headed on. Jeff ended up with an egg roll and some type of pastry.

We headed home and loaded up the bikes. Jeff discovered he had a flat - with some issue that precluded fixing it as each tube flattened as well. We drove to the launch spot at Woodward - near the Whistlin Donkey bar. That was where Jeff and I hung out while Paul and Bobbie peddled to the High Trestle Bridge.

Paul and Bobbie at the trestle

In the meantime, Jeff and I made friends with a fun couple from Urbandale. My shoulder makes for a great conversation starter! Bob, the guy, has had 3 shoulder injuries from cycling. I plan on making this my only one...as I eyed cyclists riding in on bikes with 3 wheels. We hung out there all day, trading stories with Bob and his wife. Beer, wings and lunch were all good as we sat on the deck of the outdoor bar, under an umbrella. Perfect!

Paul talked Jeff into putting Bobbie's tire on his bike and taking the ride to the bridge - so off they went. Bobbie and I took a nap in the car as we awaited the wayward travelers, who decided they needed one more beer in the Quonset hut bar in Madrid. It's a good thing nobody wanted to carjack 2 old ladies sprawled out in a Subaru. Guess they were too busy doing healthy things like biking!

That is what I love about the sport - that I hope I can do again soon. As I observed from the WD deck, families came and went. There were couples - young and old. Some people had expensive equipment and others had bikes from the local hardware store. Everyone wore helmets. Biking is something that keeps people active and brings them together. Iowa should invest more in the infrastructure that helps Iowa's small towns and makes living in the state attractive to people.

Jeff had haying to do back in Creston. So about 6 p.m. they started their return trip home. He's probably out there right now making hay. Paul and I were in bed by 10 p.m. as neighbors shot off fireworks in the park across the street. Odie burrowed under the covers. It was a fun day. Thanks to all who make our freedom possible!

Creston kids grow up

Iris at the Farmer's Market Saturday - Mom grew them at our home in Atlantic

The Mostek Family - Natalie (signing) Jeff, Kit, and Maria (Photo courtesy Kendall on Twitter)

We made the trek southwest to Creston Saturday night to a party to honor our neighbor kids who graduate from high school Sunday. They were young girls in 1998 when we moved to our home on Park road - across the street from their house.

We mostly watched them grow up from afar as Kit and Jeff set them up with sidewalk chalk, little sports toys, and loaded them up in the car for dance lessons and sporting events. Amy babysat for the twins, sweet girls with very different personalities, she said. Amy liked to bump the volleyball with them.

I started commuting to work in DSM about the time Natalie and Maria hit junior high and didn't get the chance to follow their sports careers except in the paper. They've been spectacular! Both will continue their athletic careers in college. Natalie is seen in the photo above signing with Des Moines Area Community College to play softball. She's a fab catcher and hitter. Maria will run track at Northwestern Missouri State in Maryville. She's a long distance specialist.

The graduation party was such fun - reminiscent of one held 11 years just across the street. The girls appreciated fact that we'd made the trip down for the party and to deliver our gifts. (On the way there we'd also stopped at the Nielsen house around the corner - to drop off Alex's gift - his party is Sunday.) The garage was filled with tables of people, most of whom we knew - all asked about the Goldsmith cherubs. Dave Buck smoked turkey, pork and ribs prior to the event. Yum. Young people gathered there too of course - including Taylor Pettit, who earned the type of fame nobody wants at the State Wrestling tourney when his heart stopped. He's doing fine now.

During the trip to Creston, Paul and I talked about the fact that we're nearing the end of our invitations to such events in our former hometown. We're running out of kids we know. No worries though - wedding invites and baby showers will take their places.

Just prior to the party we stopped to see our friend Ryan's newly purchased home in town. He and his dad Don are working with a contractor to demolish some of the interior of the house to install the cabinets and doors Paul helped them load last weekend in Urbandale. Donnie found that stuff on Craig's List. Reuse!

Ryan ripped out this Lazy Susan cupboard - just like one we had in our first house. Our dog Moki loved to serve himself crackers from it...

Our first home! It's looking pretty good with new front steps.

Bobbie, Deb and me - I didn't get a photo of the guys

After the graduation party Saturday, we met up with friends at the watering hole to catch up. It's always such fun to see them. This is what I miss most about living in Creston - seeing friends and chatting with people we've known for many years.

Before the latest round of storms hit, we were off to the big city. A friendly face was there to greet us when we got home - it had a snout.

Reconnecting with Bobbie and Jeff

My grandfather was a gentleman farmer. Wallace Bullock used some of the proceeds of his job selling children's clothing across Iowa to purchase several small farms around Atlantic. I remember riding with him in his Volkswagon bug (a real farmer's vehicle...) to visit his tenant farmers. We'd smell the hogs (before confinements) and scrunch up our noses. Bubba (our name for our granddad) would say, "That's the smell of money"!

That is not the way our friend Jeff McFee, a cattle farmer work it. He's a real farmer, often working 7 days a week, rain or shine, hot or cold. This year Bobbie and Jeff had a vacation in September and when they got back it was harvest time. He's been running ever since. I'm glad he took some time off to hang out with us.

Paul and I started out yesterday fairly early at our fave breakfast place, the Waveland for sustenance for the day. We had lot of errands to run. We arrived home to watch the Cyclones get their injury-ridden tails whipped. Prior to the game, Paul dug out Christmas lights for the front and back of our town home.

Clark Griswold, Jr.

During the game, to distract myself, I heaped ornaments on the dainty Christmas Tree in our living room. Bobbie and Jeff arrived later in the afternoon after a bit of shopping. It had been many weeks since we'd seen the two of them so we had a lot of catching up to do.

I'd made reservations at Ohana Steakhouse. It is a Teppanyaki cooking house - where they cook on a big hot griddle in front of you. It's fun to watch and we had a good chef - he was quite intelligent and witty. And a good cook! My scallops with lemon sauce were delish.

Bobbie and Jeff check out the veggies

  It was a fun night with our longtime pals. We retired back to our place...and all had a hard time keeping our eyes open while the evening football game played out.

On Sunday we attended the ISU Women's game against Stony Brook University, thanks to free tickets from McFee's daughter Kristina. We met their other daughter Kim for lunch at the new Wallaby's. There I ran into my high school classmate Jeff Becker and wife Sharon with their son. Small world department. We made fun of Roger Underwood. haha

The Cyclones made the game closer than it should have been - but pulled it out in the end. Phew! One place we couldn't go this weekend was the best dive around - the Locust Tap. It's out of commission, shut down by the health department. I have high hopes that all problems will be remedied by the slumlord soon!

Health update: the shoulder continues to improve, I continue to take Methimazole to block the thyroid - I will have another blood test soon to see how the hormones are doing. I feel much better than I did prior to being diagnosed. Graves Disease is a journey and I'm now a warrior on that path.

Class reunions - a dying event?

Amy headed home on Amtrak - arriving Friday a.m. in Crestonia (late as usual - good job Amtrak) for her 10th high school class reunion. Hungry, she walked to S&K Café for a bit 'o breakfast. She recognized a few familiar faces and one smiling one especially. When she tried to pay Chuck, the proprietor, someone had already taken care of it...anonymously. That warms my heart. Good 'ol Creston.

Was it Darwin West auctioneer, bus driver, prom announcer and all around good guy? Amy will never know but is forever grateful. The Denver kid still loves her home town because of things like that!

Amy planned the Creston High School's Class of 2004 reunion from afar. She wasn't the Class president or anything, but hey...nobody else was doing it - and it seemed important to her. Maybe her business mentor, my classmate Roger Underwood (Atlantic High School Class of 1976) is rubbing off on her. He's been great at planning our Atlantic class reunions (except for the last one when I accepted the challenge). I'm glad it's important to Amy as well.

I totally understand it when some people choose to just walk away from high school and wash their hands of the whole thing. They had a bad experience, have become a new person and don't feel like revisiting that time in their lives. Or some people just don't have that much vacation time - and peeling off time for a reunion isn't in the cards. Others just might not want to see a certain someone in the class, or to talk about where they are in their lives at that point. But in my opinion they're missing out.

I'm intrigued by watching people grow up. I must admit, I didn't pay attention to some of my classmates as we moved through those high school years. I had my group of friends and the others were bit players in my eyes. After graduation - when classmates had matured a bit...and maybe I had too - it was fun to talk to them. I hope they didn't think I was a total idiot.

Maybe Amy will never come back to another reunion. Or maybe, like her momma, she'll go to many. She enjoyed this one. She wished more classmates could have attended, but what can you do? There's never a perfect weekend - you just have to pick.

Paul and I chose to chaperone part of the evening at The Lobby along with some of our homies. First we ate at A&G where the Class of 1994 reunion was happening. I wish I would have known that Missy Frank, daughter of our daycare providers Carol and Mark, was there in the party room. We did run into these honeys.

Hudek girls - Megan, Syd and Erin

 We also saw many other familiar faces including Stew Stewart and family and Troy Jay's parents. Katzers came in for a bite with Ron and Dottie Dunphy. It's nice to go where everybody knows your name.

Amy and Kristina McFee Carroll

The crowd at The Lobby was much younger. Tim, the Lobby Owner, had hired a DJ with karaoke capabilities - one of the guy singers was pretty darn good. The girls gathered in the corner so we could keep an eye on the people - a mix since the bar wasn't closed to just the Class of 2004. Just down the street the Class of 1984 had hired a band and they were celebrating in the alley. Wow - 3 decades of former students in town.

unofficial chaperones/stalkers

It was fun to chat with some of the kids from the class who chose to take time to speak with us parents. Soon however the fellas (Jeff, Paul and Donnie) felt the need to keep moving. They walked to the Elms Club to catch up with some of the folks from that class. 1984 was a couple years before we moved to town. Thane Glynn told a couple of hilarious stories and then they were off across the tracks.

When we first moved to Creston, Sidetracked was a dive bar right next to First National Bank where I worked. Then it got "selected" to move when the city decided the area was needed for urban development - Fareway went in there. Sidetracked (named due to proximity to Burlington Northern tracks, or because certain husbands get off course when they go there) moved to the south side of the tracks and has been there ever since. The establishment is run by a CHS classmate of Jeff's (Class of 1976) Randy Hagel. He's a big boy.



we were the only customers by this point...

When I got a text saying the boys were at Sidetracked we decided to join them. I didn't think we really needed to stay for the Class of 2004's whole reunion. Deb decided to head home - her husband Larry and sons (Brett is Amy's classmate) are in Cooperstown, NY at the Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony - trip of a lifetime! So Deb was flying solo.

On our way out of the door I stopped to say goodbye to Amy and chatted with Stormy Weis Wilson - longtime bff of Amy. What a sweetheart! Amy stayed at Stormy and Kyle's this weekend and I'm so glad they had a chance to catch up.



Don describes to Diana how to get him to listen to her...

Bobbie, Diana and I walked across the tracks to see what the fellers were up to. Of course when we got to Sidetracked...it was evident - the guys were up to no good! Soon Cheetos were had. Randy shot water at Diana from behind the bar when she tried to order just a water...so she had to settle on a vodka tonic. No limes at that joint...or diet tonic!

We shut Randy down and ended up back at the Elm's Club for just 1 more. Not for me though - I was driving. By the time we got back to B&J's Kristina was there and Odie was able to enjoy some Cheerios with Jeff and her. Bedtime 1:30 a.m. - late for this kiddo!

Bobbie served a lovely egg casserole this a.m. and we picked Amy up in time to do a rundown of the evening - who was there and who was a no-show who had said they were coming. It was a pretty good turnout for a Facebook Invite event with no real "buy in" required by anyone. Everyone there said they'd like to do it again in 5 years. Amy better get some tips from Roger...

Some say class reunions are dying out because people keep track of each other on Facebook. I say bah humbug.

Back blog - we Yankee Doodled with McFees

We left so soon after the 4th of July for our Cannon Beach vacation that I didn't have a chance to blog about the sparkly good time we had with our friends over the 4th of July holiday. This blog will remedy that. I write as I sit on my deck on a fine hot Sunday afternoon. Finally - some heat.

The City of Des Moines hosts an annual celebration on the 3rd of July called Yankee Doodle Pops. The symphony plays and of course, at dark, fireworks ensue. Paul and I attended last year and had a good time. This year we were delighted to be joined for the night by our good friends Bobbie and Jeff. My former roomie Joan came after work to the Pops.

Bobbie, Jeff, Paul and I headed downtown Thursday July 3rd - first stop:
Buzzard Billy's. Their chicken jerk nachos are good. We carried our chairs along as we walked east towards the Iowa State Capitol Building.
Next stop: Locust Street Tap. Yes...it's a dive. Bobbie and Jeff relished in the diviness. Oh wait - that was me.

Jeff talks farming at Lime

Then we went around the corner to Lime - where they mix a good martini. We sat outside because it was a great evening. By then it was 6:30 or so - time to go put our chairs down at the Pops location. We wanted to get a good spot. We headed back towards Locust Street only to see a male 60 year old cross dresser in a blond wig, heels, plaid shorts - was he shirtless? He was working it for a photographer with the brick wall of Locust Tap in the background. Wow! I yelled out encouragement but didn't stop for a photo. What was I thinking?

A salsa band was playing as we placed our chairs. We didn't have a cooler with drinks. After chair placement wiser heads prevailed. More drinks were in order. We walked back to Lime where the cross dresser was sitting on the patio - sans wig, now wearing a hat. And a shirt. Another man sidled by us on a wall and scrambled into a seat near us saying, "You didn't see someone who looked just like me walk by did you..."! It was getting interesting.

We went back to our seats at the Capitol after one more drink. Joan joined us and we found her niece and daughter. We watched people. Then the music started. When the fireworks started we figured out why our seats weren't very good - we were behind a tree! We started headed west walking toward to the car so we could see them.

We were very hungry so we headed west to Bar Louie - and had a bit to eat before retiring for the night. The next day we had breakfast casserole on the deck.

breakfast on the deck

After breakfast we went for a bike ride - going on the trail east of our house. I stopped at Saints while the others went farther. I was already in vaca mode - sipping a brew whilst I awaited my pals.

It was a good 3/4th of July. After B&J left we packed our bags - ready for the early flight the next day. I miss holidays and vacation.

Girl talk

I've missed girl talk. So when my sisters were here a couple weekends ago and last Saturday when I hung out with Bobbie and Joan, I was happy, I got to chat with gal pals.

Paul is a fab companion. We enjoy many of the same hobbies and can rant to each other about work stuff. But he's no girl! (thank goodness).

Yukking it up in the sculpture park

 

All my life I've depended on my girlfriends to fill me in on the important stuff. Health, hair, decorating, and fashion tips. We even discussed bushes and plants - I mostly listened... 

Art Festival with Bobbie and Joanie

Guys are fun, but one must have friends who have (or formerly had) ovaries. Paul is usually on a mission when we shop at the Farmer's Market. I get to look at stuff with my girlies! Bobbie should have earned a commission from the cutlery stand. A lady who was there when we were bought nearly $100 worth! We didn't buy any art at that festival but we had fun looking! I'm glad I got to hang with my gals.

Later on Saturday Paul and I headed back to downtown DSM after eating at Jesse's Embers.

Some of the vendors didn't open back up after the downpour that occurred about 4 p.m. But it turned into a beautiful evening. We walked across the river to hear Yonder Mountain String band fire up the strings.

The walking bridge over the very full DSM river is starting to accumulate padlocks - European style, for lovers and lost loved ones

It was a good day in the big city.

Tell it like it is

Words to Inspire the Soul is a Facebook site where people post sayings. This one describes me to a T.

Regarding asking for my opinion (or even when I give my unsolicited opinion...)

I won't say this is always what I do...but much of the time...

This is not a bakery.
I don't sugar coat anything.
If you ask for my opinion, then that's what you'll get.
Don't be mad when it's not what you want to hear.

I've always been like this. It's how I was fortunate enough to be born (is it in my genes?) and raised - my sisters are much like me. I'm not sure if it's due to nature or nurture.

I don't tell people that things are great when they aren't. I don't act like the sun shines out of someone's rectal opening when it's really radiating the same gas the rest of ours are. Eww. When I compliment someone - I mean it! I should do it more often, I know - I notice things about those around me often and I should tell them about it.

I can also be a harsh judge - another thing I learned growing up (my grandpa..."how much you weigh now, honey?). Or my dad..."her butt was as wide as 2 ax handles". Those voices in one's head never really quite go away. I finding myself making judgmental comments about people just to get a laugh...it's how I've always gotten attention. The curse of a #3 daughter - starving for attention.

Creston pals at Susan's wedding. What is going on with my hair?

Back to the the topic of friends. I blog often about how blessed I am to have many great friends! Today Bobbie McFee texted that she was coming to the Big City from Creston for a bit of shopping. Paul and I met her for lunch at South of the Border. She looks great! Several Crestonian pals are meeting for an independent weight loss group headed up by my bud nurse Nancy Anthony. They're all thriving under Nan's tutelage. Great job ladies! My Creston friends are true blue. (But I don't get to see them as much as I would like since I moved away from them).

Back when I was young - living places like Sioux Falls and Omaha  I was on the lookout for new friends. When friend shopping it's easy to be fooled by really good fakes. My natural tenancy is to be wary of people until they prove themselves over time. Flakes beware. I'm not talking about those people who are just unorganized and so therefore are kinda flaky about dates/trips/and other stuff - they just can't help themselves.

I mean the kind of somewhat conniving people who are flaky because they're angling for "better" options. They'd like to do something with you until someone cooler asks them out for the same night. Flake - screw you and your better option. (Let me be clear - I'm not talking about anything happening recently to me. Old wounds).

It takes self esteem to break up with "friends". I'm lucky that I'd rather sit at home with a good book than go out with people who just aren't that into me and my "tell it like it is" ways. Still, now that it's year 2 of living in the Big City, Paul and I do need to work harder at developing a local friend group. #I'manintrovert

Paint Gene and my funny Valentine friends

I didn't get it. The art gene I mean. My grandfather had it. Though you never would have known it to look at him or talk to him. He was kind of a crusty quiet guy as I remember - though I was his young granddaughter. So I didn't know him to chat.

After he retired, my grandfather, Wally, (Wallace Bullock) decided to take oil painting lessons in Omaha with his pal Louis Reinig. He turned out to be pretty good! He did his first pic for my sister Susi. Somehow I ended up with it. It's pretty basic - but is historical - and that's why I love it. So maybe there is still hope for me. Bub received awards in local art shows with his paintings - Mom and Dad had several. I chose this southern landscape.

My Aunt Marty is also a good artist. She has done pottery and painted a cute table - nothing along the more classical lines like her father that I know of. She did serve as a docent for the Denver Museum of Art and loves to collect pieces from around the world.

My sister Cindy was the "artsy" sister in our fam, no thanks to Mrs. Nebola the AHS art teacher. I was always so jealous at how easily she whipped up drawings of people. It was a struggle for me, second nature to her. Cindy attended Drake University, graduating in Art Education. Of course she headed right out to Vail,  Colorado after college graduation - refusing to teach art in Bumf#%@, Iowa. She produced some great pieces during her school years - paintings, jewelry and pottery. Lots of talent, my sis.

And then there's our baby girl, Amy Elizabeth. She was practically born drawing. When the local newspaper asked each Kindergartener what they wanted to be when they grew up, she said artist. She nailed it! In 3rd grade when other kids were stressing about poster content during educational fairs, Amy would add that flair to her posters to make sure they "popped". She made the font readable.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to paint. Flop. I do have my creative side...really! But it doesn't seem to involve acrylic paint. Bobbie asked me to go with her and Joan to a place called Social Canvas in Waukee. The place was full - canvas, liquor, paint what's not to like? I wasn't wild about the design but we moved right along - I'm not creative enough to come up with my own design. I'll be the first to admit it - I'm a copy cat!

I nursed a Stella Artois beer and was sad that I had to be so involved in my painting - so I really didn't have time to chat with Bobbie and my former roomie (landlady really) Joan. It took about 2 hours start to finish - $35. I'd like to go again sometime, but would check on the design first. I'm not a "words" person.

Bobbie, left, Joan in the middle - is Bobbie's husband Jeff's sis.

Couldn't go with Live Love Laugh...wish my flower was bigger - just had to go so fast! Are my dots shaped like a kayak? Subliminal...do love my pals and like laughing with them!

That night our friends Jane Ertl and Ken Root came over for Chili. It was great to see them - we chatted and watched the Olympics.

Odie keeps Jane's lap warm

Paul gave Ken one of his shed antlers for a knife hilt - can't wait to see the finished product!

Today Mother Nature let it be known that she's going through "the change". First, rain and 26 degrees. Paul was off due to the Prez Day holiday, so I commuted by myself - icy side streets but the Freeway was okay. After I reached work - where it was misting, it started snowing to beat the band - around 2 inches of wet stuff.

I'd gotten a text from my buddy Julia Hoilien - in town from Boulder on a $100ish airline ticket. She's got longtime friends up near Ames. We'd decided to do an early lunch before her flight home and I asked Jane Ertl who was still in town as Ken had an MCing gig (he's a radio dude -he's got a great radio voice) that day. We went to Smokey Roe for an early lunch together - a delightful time!

I'm the luckiest girl to have such wonderful people in my life. What a great Valentines weekend.

Yessir - that's my buddy! Love my Jules - we've become such good friends
 

Have known this kiddo since sophomore year in college - love and admire her greatly!

Honey Creek, Friends, Beer and Fun

It was just what the doctor ordered. And by doctor I mean me. I ordered myself to get away and have some fun with friends. That prescription was filled and I'd like to report the patient is doing better.

We left West Des Moines around 4 p.m. on Friday - dropping Odie of at Logan's house. She got to spend the weekend with teenage twin girls, a 10-year-old girl, a 75 pound boxer, a chinchilla. This group's mother, Leslee, is the daughter of Connie who lives in Diamond Brooke, our townhouse complex.

Then we were off on our South Central Iowa Adventure - to Honey Creek. (click link) It's the resort the Department of Natural Resources built on Lake Rathbun back in 2009ish. Yep - right when the economy bombed. It's been a tough go financially for the place - DNR just paid off the bonds this year, but it's yet to sniff a profit. It's still a pretty well-kept secret if you ask me. Remote? Yes...it's in the middle of no-where. I suppose that's part of the beauty of the place. It's a great place for family reunions and destination gatherings. There was a wedding reception going on this weekend.

There is a huge beautiful lodge with a full restaurant, bar and several meeting rooms. On the other end of the place there is a large water park - the kids were loving that place. The pool closes down for adults only from 9-10 p.m. Good thinking!

We met our longtime pals Bobbie and Jeff McFee there. We thought about asking other friends to go too, but some of them have their own cabins on a different lake, so we figured their lake places would be higher priority for them - not a jaunt to south central Iowa. I did dream about our fave south of the border lake last night - there was a bear involved. (not Bare Don).

I'd been to Honey Creek for meetings before, but not to stay. It had been a while though. I'd forgotten how impressive the place looks when you first drive in. The staff is friendly and we got checked in quickly. The rooms are nothing special, but were attractive and clean. We ended up in disabled friendly King rooms right next to each other. We dragged along enough liquor for 10 people - forgetting that we're now in our mid-50's.

The first night we ate at the HC Restaurant and sat in the spa after 9 p.m. when the cherubs were sent off to bed. We sent ourselves to bed shortly after 10. Breakfast was offered back at the same restaurant - and we enjoyed watching bald eagles swoop over the marina dock outside the window. We chatted long after our food was gone, enjoying good coffee and company.

McFees were in charge of BMs after that. Yep - Bloody Marys in their room. Later, on our way to the car for a tour of 2 area towns, I insisted we do a photo session "out back".  Nobody wanted to sit in the icy Adirondack chairs - so we stood by them.

Bobbie and Jeff



Wish the place woulda been hoppin'

First we headed north to the small town of Albia where the Albia Brewing Company had opened in late 2012. Few patrons were out on a chilly Saturday afternoon so we hogged the owners' attention. Brian and Barbara Lindberg and their daughter gave us plenty of love. (The daughter now lives in Prairie City and knows my co-worker Angie. Small world). We enjoyed 2 paddles of beer plus delish appetizers. We each selected our fave before Brian gave us a tour of the joint. He sells Shelter Insurance but has always loved brewing - so started this venture.

Brian brews on Sundays. I liked the beer called Black Betty

Next we headed to Centerville, 20 miles south in Appanoose County, in search of a bar with a TV so we could watch the ISU basketball game. We ended up at the historic Continental where again we received personal service and attention - until the oldsters started shuffling in for supper at 5 p.m. Bobbie and I walked around the square visiting several excellent gift stores and Browns Shoe Fit (I held back and didn't purchase shoes...so proud). The Cyclones came through with a bball victory. Yay! Maybe I should shop during games more often!



Continental - lobby

Making the turn on the square, Bobbie saw some unfortunate soul's butt crack - and that was our kinky high (or low) light of the day. I was lucky enough to miss it - she didn't shout out fast enough. And it was like a car wreck and she couldn't avert her eyes long enough during the brief view to see if it was a man or a woman. In this weather, I'd think they'd have felt the chill.



Love the sign

Next we walked a block to the Majestic Theater owned by the same group. A guy gives Arthur Murray ballroom dance lessons frequently there we were told. The theater must not be updated to digital. The bar and drink areas are delightful and would be a great place for a small wedding reception or party. We ordered bevvies from the lone bartender (it turned out he knew Creston's Mike Gerleman) and settled into the comfy leather couch/chair area.

Hungry, we ordered pizza from the local Greek joint George and Nick's. It was delivered to be delivered to us there and was quite yummy. I couldn't talk Paul into trying out the dance floor with our newly learned Foxtrot and Waltz moves.

Beautiful dance floor - it was calling to us

We headed back to Honey Creek by 9 p.m. and once again were in bed by 10. Hell, we're old!


We made ourselves at home..at the Majestic

The breakfast buffet this a.m. was great - it included an omelet bar. There were even more eagles than yesterday. We chatted by the fireplace before packing up and heading home. I'd recommend this trip to anybody and Paul and I plan to come back in warm weather with our kayaks! It was sure nice to hang out with our friends - I might make it through a few more weeks of winter now.