Hello New Person!

We traveled to St Louis to meet our new grandson Reece David Goldsmith a few days ago. Yay! He's a much-loved addition to our family. Big sister Nell Marie is okay with him so far. She likes to pat his cheeks and kiss his head. Just wait until he starts messing up her stuff! 

Who knew I'd become a granny who loves holding infants? Not me! Reece makes lots of dramatic faces and squeaks as he sleeps. When he's awake, his bright inquisitive eyes gaze about - they look all-knowing. I can't wait for that first smile. 

His parents Jud and Kara work for European-based companies that extend generous leave benefits. They don't have to stress about getting up for work after a night of little sleep. The two do a wonderful job of tag-team parenting with Reece and Nell. Of course, Kara, as food supply, has the hardest job. Parenting is a challenging job - but the rewards can be great! Like watching your child be an awesome parent. 

Visiting grandparents have the best jobs. Play with the grandkids, help with basic upkeep, feed the dogs, and hold the baby. Nell is at a mostly delightful age. It's hard to be 2 1/2 and to share your parents with a tiny attention hog! We're amazed at how much she changes between our visits. She greets us with a huge smile each morning when she wakes up - amazed that we're still there. 

Paul is recovering from recent knee surgery and Nell was very worried about his leg "booboo". She and I played on her tumble mats downstairs and I taught her the "the floor is water" game. She loves jumping and tumbling. Geema (hard G) still has it - I performed front and back somersaults! Nell said "oh my gosh". I did too!

Nell loves to learn new things - evidenced by a video Jud shared of Nell and him reading the book 1 2 3 with the Notorious BIG, sent by Aunt Amy Park. I'm proud of how quickly Nell mastered each of the many rappers' faces/names. She loves to dress up, so I try to find small accessories to add to her collection. This time, the purple bedazzled sunglasses were a hit! She makes a great superhero in bracelets! 

I have to admit I not only love visiting the grandkids and their parents, I also love seeing the dogs, Archie and Charlie. They seems to enjoy our visits and like to snuggle during TV time. One problem with new HD TVs - Charlie and Archie can see dogs on there - and bark accordingly. Loudly! Good thing Reece heard them in utero and pays no attention. 

The kids and I took Nell and Reece to the playground. Reece snoozed the whole time, but Nell enjoyed swinging - "higher, higher"! She can be a bit of a daredevil at times. I'm amazed at how observant our girl is. She was delighted to identify a wispy afternoon moon high in the sky! After we drove home from the park she found the moon again. Once the sun went down, Nell and I checked the moon status from the deck. We were awed by the stars and moon. A priceless moment - remembering my mom, who taught me the song: 

"I See the Moon, The Moon Sees Me. The Moon Sees the One I want to See. God Bless the Moon and God Bless Me and God Bless the One I want to See."  

Special times with special people - the ones I want to see. 💖

For All the Chairs I Loved Before

Hello dear readers! It's been a while since I routinely put words on laptop for this blog. Why? I've asked myself that for the past couple of years. I used to squeeze writing in between working, activities, and parenting. Now I'm gloriously retired! What's up with that? 

Writing (along with reading) is something I've always enjoyed. When I found my employment dream career at age 40, I parlayed writing into part of my job as Recycling Coordinator in three SW Iowa Counties. I approached the Creston News Advertiser about submitting a monthly 1,000-word column on waste reduction and recycling. It turned out to be one of my favorite things I did (I loved it much more than public speaking, haha). When I moved on to my job at the Department of Natural Resources at age 50 I no longer had that writing outlet. So I started blogging. I was prolific! I had a lot to say, mostly about nothing important. 

Fast forward ten-plus years. Changing technology enables me to "read" audiobooks and podcasts pretty much anywhere these days using earbuds. I rarely do a chore or walk without some audio input. It's hard to ponder blog topics and turn phrases while constantly filling my head with other people's words. 

2020 was my first year of retirement. What a strange year in the life (for almost everyone on the planet.) Thanks, Covid! 😒 Though I had plenty of alone time that year, it failed to translate into any kind of joy of writing. I was out of words. 

I miss writing and want to find the joy of writing again. I've decided to cut back on audiobooks and true crime blogs. I'll get back in touch with music to see what happens. Thanks to our friend Connie and others who have asked about my blog and have encouraged me to write again. Maybe it will help keep me sharp - like Wordle does (haha). 

Today's inspiration started with an early morning sleep house remodeling dream. In the dream, each room I entered in the house contained a recliner chair from my past. Paul and I just visited Homemakers Furniture on Sunday. We looked at rugs, not chairs, but that place is full of recliners!   

Sorry recliners, I've always been more of a chair with ottoman person, like my mom. I'm the only remaining Bullock living in our home state of Iowa. Through the years, when my parents and grandparents were living, I benefitted by being gifted furniture. Ethan Allen cabinets, couches, chairs, and more. I've recently learned my DNA says I'm 26% Scottish, so that thrifty side has appreciated free stuff!  

Betsy and Max in Dad's chair - home place Atlantic

One of the first chairs I inherited was Dad's chair - seen above. Dad traveled the state of Iowa Monday through Friday repping ladies' lingerie, so the chair was available on weekdays. On weekends, Dad had dibs. His beautiful leather briefcase could be found tucked beside it.  

As you can see above, the chair was gold before Mom had it reupholstered. Atlantic Upholstery was operated by the parents of my classmates, twins Steve and Judy Boots. The Boots did fine chair work. Mom went with a vertical stripes pattern - with blues, reds, gold, and white (below). That's the color it was when Paul and I got it. It must have been 20-plus years old by then!  

Paul and sleepy Judson

The wear and tear with two kids, a cat, and a dog took a toll on the chair. No amount of Woolite upholstery cleaner would perk it up.  I found an upholstery shop in nearby Mackburg, and the chair was reinvented yet another time with a darker red, blue color that covered spills better. It lasted another ten years until the springs were just shot. I hated to get rid of it. We put it downstairs with my grandparent's plaid fold-out couch. 😁 

I replaced Dad's chair with my first brand-new chair/ottoman combo selected carefully at Coen Furniture in Creston. They matched prices with all the big guys like Nebraska Furniture Mart and they delivered. 

Greenish oversized chair/ottoman. Room for Kitty and Odie, along with my Bullock-sized bottom

That large taupe green chair served me well. On my telework days (every Friday morning throughout my DNR career) I put in many hours crunching trash numbers and corresponding with program participants in that chair. It was sooo comfy with wide soft arms that supported plates and laptops. My chair made the move to West Des Moines in 2012 and served through the Odie years. She liked to dig the seat (snagging it) and sleep on the back like a cat. 

Odie passed in 2018, and I still miss her. But old Green was looking a bit ragged by then. I shopped for a long time to find a replacement - finally settling on one at Redekers in Boone. Thanks to high school classmate John Krengel for fixing me up with my chair - he worked at Redekers for years. 

This is where I rest my bones these days. I remind myself of Mom in her nice wingback chair at my parent's condo in Atlantic. I still have the matching ottoman in my room - that chair wore out! And my grandma - Zora Bullock (Momo to us) in her beautiful blue wingback chair. Or in the antique rocking chair she always sat in at our house. 

Momo - in the rocker (I think Susi has it now), Dad is on our oversized blue couch. Mom had it recovered more than once and Dad still had it at their condo in Atlantic when he passed. We had to toss it off of the deck to get it out. 

So that's my walk down furniture memory lane today. Don't even get me started on couches! 

I hope you have some beloved furniture pieces in your lives (or not). I know, it's just stuff. But for me, furniture memories are like certain songs - memories of a bygone era and people and pets I love. 

Moms and My Last Best Trip With Mom

Mom and I on the Cassville Ferry 1996

Another Mother's Day has come and gone. We weren't able to be with our kids in person again this year - and settled for a Zoom video call with all five. Darling granddaughter Nell, already 8 months old, was yawning and went down for a nap soon after we started. That baby is a good sleeper! I know many people are tired of Zoom meetings, but we're still delighted that technology can put us all as close as we can without physically being together. 

Happy 1st Mother's Day to Kara - here at a wedding with Jud and Nell

As a Mom, I love my special day - and appreciate seeing social media posts - people giving it up for their Moms. I also appreciate the acknowledgment of other non-birth mom nurturers. I can think of several wonderful women who have been influences on younger generations. 

A "file photo" of Jeanie with her husband Bruce

Our Aunt Jeanie, Dad's sis, has been a special person in my life, from when I was a kid and she'd visit her parents, my grandparents in Atlantic. We'd hang out, driving around in my grandpa Bubba's VW Beetle. 

One of my sisters still talks about the time she spent in Denver with Jeanie and her husband Bruce, during a summer when she was a teen, struggling to figure out how she fits in. High School can be brutal and it's nice to get a different perspective and to know there are people like Jeanie on your side. Additionally, some of my besties have special relationships with nieces, nephews, friends' kids, and godchildren. I tip my hat to all of you! Keep up the good work and support.   

During Mother's Day week I think of my mom more often than usual. Now that I'm closing in on the age she was when lung cancer took her I identify with her more than ever. This year I dug into my photo bank for one of Mom and me to post on Facebook. I found one taken on our last trip together, our best trip. 

Mom at Beringer

Mom loved to travel. She planned and took overseas tours with each of her daughters. Betsy went to England, Cindy to Europe, Susi to Greece. I got to go with her to Scandanavia in 1983. Our tour included stops in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. It was fabulous! 

Mom at Chandon Champagne

In the early 1990s (1992?) we flew to Betsy's house in SE Washington and traveled Highway 101 down the coast all the way to San Francisco for my cousin David Lamm's wedding. Mom said she'd always wanted to take that trip. She planned memorable stops in Oregon and California. We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, stayed in a motel made from 1 redwood tree, and went to wine country to visit Beringer's winery, and Chandon Champagne. 

In San Francisco, Dad and Betsy flew in and we stayed near Fisherman's Wharf. We cruised out by Alcatraz, took a tour of the area including Chinatown and Golden Gate Bridge. Then we attended Lisa and David's lovely wedding - riding with the wedding party on a cable car open-air bus. It was a gorgeous day and a great way to finish up our trip. 

Mom and I had a memorable time together on those trips, but our last trip together was our best in August of 1996. We went to an exotic location - Northeast Iowa and places nearby. Wannabe Travel Agent Pat, pre-Internet mapped out a route that started in Galena, Illinois for a night. During the day we visited General Grant's home there. Galena is a beautiful town - fun to visit as it has many shops and restaurants to go with beautiful views. 

Next, we drove North from Illinois, barely into Wisconsin. There the photo above was taken at the Cassville Car Ferry, just a tiny spot on the map. You only need to push a button to notify the ferry you want a ride and await its arrival. A group of 50ish women from Dubuque was also waiting. They'd been on a quilting trip together. Or maybe they were gambling!  

We next drove up to the tip of Iowa - Marquette, close to the most NE point in Iowa. We stayed at a hotel with a Mississippi River view. The hill it was on was home to Pinky the Elephant. Mom and I ventured into my very first Riverboat Gambling experience. Casinos were new to Iowa and there were none near Creston at that time. I wasn't that impressed. I'm still not a fan. Loud, smoky, and a money pit. It didn't take long to lose my $20 stake in the slots. 

The next day of our adventure led us to Spillville to see the Bily Clock Museum a fascinating place filled with the Bily brother's hand-carved fabulous clocks. Then we headed to Montauk Historic Site in Clermont Iowa. It's the former home of Iowa's 12th Governor William Larrabee whose family lived there until 1965. The home and grounds can really give you an idea of life "back in the day".

On our last night, we had a room at a motel at Independence, Iowa. I found out that Mom spent summer weeks there as a child. She had fond memories of spending time with aunts, uncles, and cousins - the Griswolds and the Weepies. We stopped at the local library to find out to get information about the cemetery. No close family members lived in the area then. 

Then it was time to head home - me to Creston and Mom to Atlantic. Car time was special - it allowed us to really talk. Mom was a heavy smoker. She tried to stop smoking a few times through the years but could never get it done. Mom had a hoarse cough that summer that she couldn't shake. Little did I know that when she got to her beloved Florida that fall, she'd be diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. It's a deadly form of cancer and despite battling it with chemo and radiation, she was gone by the next July. 

Mom with niece Leslie and dolls she bought for several grandkids

The older I get, the more I love getting together with my sisters. We each have memories about our mother - some good, some not as good. She was a fabulous role model in many ways. I see how similar my sisters and I are - strong work ethic, caring for others, not afraid to lead. And fun! My sisters and I do laugh about some of the things she did. I only need to look in the mirror to see her legacy. Happy Mother's Day Mom. Never forgotten! 

Sisters! 

Writer's Block redo - Coffee

This post originally ran in 2013. I have updated it and am now reposting for your reading pleasure. I don't know if it's retirement, isolation, or lack of dedicated effort - but I'm having a hard time coming up with Blog topics that I haven't already covered. Plus we don't really do anything, so a diary blog is out. Here goes on the redo: 

Coffee Jones

Age 12 with Momo, Bubba and Charlie the dog

I think it was my grandma, Zora Clayton Stewart Bullock - aka Momo, who introduced me to coffee. She "babysat" a few times when Mom and Dad were out of town. Momo drank coffee, just like Mom, but at breakfast time she encouraged me to try it. She added lots of milk and sugar. Instead of my usual Cap'n Crunch, I had toasted Wonder Bread, slathered in butter dipped into a marvelous concoction of coffee, milk, and sugar. It was a fun and different treat for when Momo stayed with us! It made me feel so grown up. 

Mom enjoyed coffee too (with her morning cigarettes). Remember those perking coffee pots? We had one -just like everyone did in the 1960s. Those pots made interesting noises, indicating that something important was going on inside! They took forever to brew coffee. If you forgot to put the top on the pot, the coffee perked all the way up to the ceiling! Leslie the kid thought that was really funny. 

In the 1970s Mom when through her "Zen" age. She got a funky coffee press with a filter and a decanter that sat on the stove. It was all very complicated. I don't know if it tasted any better, but she thought she was very sophisticated! Many years later, our daughter Amy got this same system. And she's lefthanded like Mom. So even though I attribute Amy's gentle personality to Laura Goldsmith, Paul's mom, there is some Pat in her. haha. Once drip coffeemakers came out, Mom went to a Mr. Coffee system. You just couldn't beat the convenience - AND that name. A dude was making you something! 

I never became a big coffee drinker in my early years, despite that yummy coffee, milk, sugar concoction. In college, roomie Vicki and I picked up some Folgers instant coffee crystals for late-night studying. It was before the microwave days - so we still had to boil water! I remember when Vic and I took Zoology together. We stayed up so late before a test that we became "slap-happy". I still smile today when I hear the scientific words for the various secretions the body makes as we had to memorize them. We laughed until we cried. Those college years were magical! The coffee wasn't.  

I didn't start drinking coffee again until I got married to a guy who has a real coffee jones. Paul can't help it - it's in his genes. Nature and nurture really. The Goldsmiths are farmers. They drink coffee 24/7. Recently we had a family Zoom and we talked about who drinks coffee. Most still do - some all day. Paul amazes me - he can drink the stuff (black of course) until midnight and still sleep. He'll even drink cold coffee after it's sat in the car all day when we're traveling. We take the thermos everywhere. 

Me? I'd better not sniff caffeine after noon or I'll be buzzed for hours. Sometimes I can get jittery from just one cup! My Creston bestie Deb and I used to get coffee drinks at True Value in Creston. Yes, in that town the coffee place is in a hardware store - they can multi-task, and it's good. We'd go on Sunday afternoon, then I'd lay awake for hours that night. Nancy Drew finally figured it out. It was the caffeine. Duh! I had to go to decaf. 

In 1986 we moved to Creston, the home of Bunn-O-Matic an international coffeemaker company. Since then, we have been spoiled by coffee brewed instantly. I know the real experts look down on this method, but we lived and worked with the Bunn-ites! I toured the factory, which is the largest employer in town. Their employee break area has all of the good beverages - coffee, tea, hot chocolate. Okay, probably not as good as the break area at Coors, but close! We had three Bunn-O-Matic brewers in our 26 years of living in Creston plus a few in West Des Moines. Finally, a couple of years ago, our most recent Bunn gave out and we went with a different brand as we were buying retail. We went with a Cuisinart drip coffeemaker that doesn't require a paper filter. We like it. But I still enjoy checking out restaurant coffeemakers to see if they are Bunn people. 

Paul used to think Folgers was the "best part of waking" - except for another day with me (haha). After moving to the (not so) Big City, he has learned to grind his own beans (since we bought Starbucks beans by mistake one time and I purchased a grinder). We've tried lots of types of beans, but he's a Starbucks fan. Since he grinds it and drinks it black, he gets to pick.

Some people swear they can't function without their morning joe. There are lots of cartoons, memes, dishtowels, and decorations based on coffee. Beyond Starbucks, in Des Moines and everywhere, fancy coffee has never been more popular. I do enjoy a coffee drink like a latte but have to admit I am somewhat intimidated by some of the hot and cold beverages available today. Today's people have taken "special orders don't upset us" to a high level. It turns out we like that. 

I'm still getting used to this new personalized way of life. In the olden days, families like mine had more kids and less time for personalization. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the number of choices available. At coffee shops, I usually stick with skinny vanilla lattes. I'm sure there are lots of other delicious possibilities - but what if I choose unwisely? The problem is real y'all! Paul always sticks with black coffee at those places. 

During the pandemic, and just over one year of retirement, it's amazing how much enjoyment I've gotten from my morning cuppa with Cinnamon Dolce creamer. I usually just drink the one cup with a warmup partway through. Caffeine jitters you know. A friend of mine lost her sense of taste/smell after getting Covid-19. Coffee is one thing she really misses. We don't know how much we rely on daily rituals until they're gone. I hope you have something to help get you through each day - a beverage, snack, snuggle, TV show, or exercise. It's all good. Be kind - to you and others. I'm working on that every day. 

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Carry On Camping II

Oops, I did it again! Paul suggested that we go to Lanesboro, MN to a Bed & Breakfast last weekend for another outing in 2020. It's been a year of hunkering down for all of us. Like many of you, we missed out on some planned trips - Marco Island and France to name two. In my first year of retirement, the United States were calling! That was before the dreaded Covid made travel higher risk.

I couldn't get in the spirit of a Lanesboro trip. Maybe next year during warmer kayaking season. Instead, I suggested tent camping (oops!) at Backbone State Park in Delaware County. TENT. Crazy, right? So many people are shocked and amazed that I would consider such a thing. The old girl still has some surprises in her! 

Neither Paul nor I had ever been to Backbone before. Kinda surprising since it's in Paul's home county, camping isn't high on most farmer's to-do lists. Backbone (originally the Devil's Backbone) is Iowa's oldest state park, dedicated in 1919. It's in the the Maquoketa River valley and boasts several hiking trails, a trout stream, and limestone bluffs. We booked the last spot available in the "rustic" - no electric hookup Six Pines campground. Yes, I was leery of sleeping on the ground in a tent. We had planned on camping Labor Day weekend, and that didn't work out as the campground didn't have toilet facilities. We needed to get it done!

Paul and I took off Friday morning - first stop, Independence, Iowa where long ago relatives on my mom, Patricia Nelle Bullock (her mother was Nellie), lived. In 1996, the year before she died, Mom and I spent time in the town during a wonderful trip around NE Iowa. She told me how she'd spent summer weeks in Independence with her maternal grandparents John and Millie Weber and lots of cousins. I looked up their burial sites on FindaGrave, but we were unable to locate them as there was no map available. There are many Webers in St. John's Catholic Cemetery. More relatives are in another Buchanan County cemetery. My family boasts many generations of Iowans on both sides - I think I'm going to be the last one. 

After a stop at Casey's, we pulled into the cool restored train depot in town. I'm glad communities take care of these treasures. 

In this photo, Paul is filling me full of flora and fauna knowledge

We arrived at Backbone mid-afternoon and located our little home away from home campsite - not far from the pit type potty and water source (not drinkable). Thumbs up! I didn't want to totter far if I needed a late night potty visit. There is another campground at the park that boasts showers, sinks, and real flush toilets. It didn't take long to set up camp. Then we drove around to see the park sites and check out where we wanted to hike the next day. We'd brought along firewood, but no lighter fluid. Paul used leaves to help get the campfire going. Paul grilled a couple yummy filets on our small grill for supper. There's nothing like sitting around a campfire. And, for dessert - toasted marshmallows. 

We had poor cell reception - helpful towards my goal of checking out. My best friend and I just talked. We decided politics were out - we get enough of that at home. My favorite topic was "places we'd like to go". There are so many. It's fun to dream. It was also a great time to be thankful for all things great and small.   

We went to bed early as it gets dark early when you're away from artificial light. Our neighbors were quiet early too. They did get up early - before 6:30 am and talk in normal voices. Grrr. Even though I was awake, I would have liked quiet time a bit longer. Their dogs barked at night - answering coyotes! 

On Saturday morning we had a great scrambled egg/potato/steak breakfast. Why does food taste better outdoors? Oh, and the tent/sleeping bag - could have been better if I'd remembered my pillow! Argh. I stuffed towels into a canvass shopping bag. Not recommended. The pad under my bag was also not adequate. If we do this again, I need a better sleeping package!  

We drove up to Backbone Trail on a gorgeous sunny morning. The trail was marked "medium" difficulty. The trail is aptly named as it's set right on a ridge between the riverbed and another gulley. At times I had to use my hands to scramble up the path. The vistas and light were fabulous! It's nice to have my very own tree guy with me to identify them. Huge pines not usually seen in our state. We didn't see many people until near the end of the trail that loops back to the parking area - there we came across a large group of teen students. 

We did some more sightseeing after that. And shopping! We needed pillows. Strawberry Point, the nearby town, only had a Dollar Store. So we visited WalMart in Manchester, driving the scenic route. We also picked up more firewood, lighter fluid, and beer, as we'd gone through our small inventory in night 1. There is something about a campfire and beer! 

After a cold lunch of charcutarie. In my day was called "cheese and meat tray". That was followed by rest and reading. Then we hiked an easy grass trail - followed by pulling over in a high spot to listen to the end of the ISU/TCU football game. The good guys won! We stopped at the fancy campground for showers. 

The Cyclone fans in the campsite next to us (ISU lawn chairs were the clue) were happy too. That night was quiet - dogs and kraut, chips, salad, and oh yes, marshmallows. That night I had one more pad under my sleeping bag and a real pillow. I can't claim fabulous sleep, but better! 

We took off fairly early Sunday for home. I was ready for flush toilets and McDonald's oatmeal. Still, our first camping experience as a couple in forty years was really good! I made a list of things we should remember next time. Pillows are on there! And air mattresses. Carry on! 

 

It's My Sappy Grandma Post

I haven't even seen her in person yet, and already she has a huge place in my heart. I'm talking about our brand new granddaughter Nell Marie. She was born to our son Judson and wife Kara on Saturday, September 5th - weighing in at 7 pounds 14 ounces, 20 inches long. She surprised us, arriving one week early! We talked to Jud on Friday and discussed that the doc would allow Kara to go as much as a week past the September 12 due date. Yeah, right. Nell had her own ideas! 

On Saturday Paul and I planned a camping trip at a remote site, Stephens State Forest near Chariton. That's the town where my grandmother Zora Clayton Stewart was born and raised. Yep, in a weak moment the weekend before, I'd let the offer slip out. "How about tent camping I said?". What was I thinking? Yet it made me smile to see how happy it made Paul. He was planning and puttering, scouring maps, and gathering the gear. 

Friday was a busy day as we had new carpet installed at home. The crew of four was efficient and they finished up quickly. Paul and I had some fun and laughs the night before moving some of the furniture not covered in the carpet deal. Have you ever noticed how similar king-sized mattresses and Jello are? We got the giggles trying to move it into the dining area. Friday was a lovely day and I was able to open up the house to air out that new carpet smell (and hopefully installation crew germs). We were able to sit on the deck most of the time they were here. We even talked to Jud who told us he and Kara took the day off and were going on a picnic. It turned out to be their last outing before parenthood!  

Paul and I tidied up that afternoon - replacing furniture etc. That night I got sidetracked by looking through a box of photos from a closet we'd carpeted. I was feeling nostalgic - some were of the kids. I sent an adorable Jud baby pic to Jud and Kara. So I take full credit for Kara's water breaking early the next morning. haha

Paul and I actually slept in on Saturday. Imagine my surprise when I saw Jud's text just after 7 a.m. - Kara's water had broken, and they were at the hospital. Kara was being induced. Holy Schnikes! We had talked it over with Jud and Kara earlier and knew that due to Covid, there was no use rushing to St. Louis. Kara's folks get "first baby dibs" for a few days and we get to visit next. We could sit around and wait or continue our adventure together and Carry On Camping. So off we went.  

Nell Marie makes her entrance! 

We got a couple other updates along the way - then just after noon, while driving south, we got the text with a photo - Baby Girl G is here! Paul and I high five. He was driving - so no chance for a hug and kiss. My eyes drank her in! She looked a bit like Amy, Jud and Patrick had as newborns. But not quite. Jud said her hair had a ginger look (but now says it's blonder). 

Meanwhile, Paul and I arrived at the campsite. First problem. No restroom. Now that's a problem! We could see where one had once been - now a concrete pad. I could tell Paul was still willing, but not this old girl. It was disappointing as even I had prepared myself to snuggle in a tent. 

So we were on to Plan B - at least to go kayaking at Lake Rathbun. At Lake Rathbun we found an armada of big boats, music blaring. No thanks! We drove east trying to find lake access in shallow water where big boats can't go. Iowa's dry weather seems to have dried up those areas. Googled showed water, real-life showed weeds. We even ventured down a closed road. I was starting to hear Deliverance banjos. We laughed! We're grandparents. 

Plan C. We headed north. Did I mention that during our travels south we cruised dusty gravel roads? Our kayaks and much of our gear was in the back of the truck. When we arrived at a county park just outside of Knoxville, Iowa we found that all of the camping sites were full. So we secured a lovely picnic area instead. By then we had more pictures of the baby with Jud and Kara - so nothing was going to get us down. Even all the gravel dust coating the grill, potato chip bags, sleeping bags - everything! Ugh. 

Our picnic included a toast to being grandparents with a shot of Apple Pie/Cinnamon liquor. It was fabulous. The menu was grilled hotdogs, chips, and a couple marshmallows. I'd had my heart set on one of those delicious white pillowy bites toasted to perfection! 

Then we packed up and drove home. Our campout was a washout. We had a lot of cleanup to do when we got home. It didn't matter. That baby! 

On Sunday night we were overjoyed to learn Baby Girl G's name: Nell Marie Goldsmith. It's perfect! When Kara and Jud told us they were expecting, Jud asked for the genealogy information I've gathered from many generations on both sides of my family tree. Kara did the same from her side too. Jud and Kara also perused name lists online. They did their homework on name selection! 

I would have like any name bestowed upon our beautiful granddaughter but I was especially pleased that they selected the name Nell. It's a version of a name that shows up many times in my family tree and it's in Kara's tree too. My grandmother on my mother's side was Nelle or Nellie. Nelle is my Mom and sister's Elizabeth (Betsy's) middle name. Kara's great grandmother was a Nellie. 

Yes, I'm a softee for family names. I have a cousin Amy and we have lots of Leslies, Pauls, and Davids. Judson's name comes originally from my great grandfathers George Judson Stewart and Adnah David Bullock. He is Judson David. My dad name - David Judson. And in Dad's tradition, she'll likely have several nicknames! Just like I am Looseleaf. Betsy was Lizzie Borden. Cindy = Forsythia. Susi had several - Suso-bean. Chuckle. 

In a week or so, I'll get to hold Nellbell in my arms. She'll feel just right. I can't wait! 

Days Go By - Coffee Memories

I have a routine. As a morning person, I'm usually up by 6:30 a.m. and putz in the kitchen and laundry, tidying up and starting washing any loads of clothes that have accumulated. Then I grab coffee and water and settle in for the Today Show that starts at 7:00 a.m. 

Mr. Efficient, Paul Goldsmith, grinds the coffee beans the night before. We only need to push the button on the drip coffeemaker to start production of the delicious nectar. Paul leaves for his job with the City of West Des Moines (WDM) Forestry Department at 6 a.m. My retiree is currently working four ten-hour days trimming trees, mulching and spraying - all while avoiding people. He says he misses sleeping in, but admits he'd be bored if he didn't have something to do to fill his weeks. Townhouse life doesn't leave many chores to do. The beauty of his job is that it's seasonal, and he can take off whenever he wants to. Sadly, like all of you, we've not traveled like we planned to so far this year. 

Back to coffee. I admit we are novice (we have not continued to evolve past grinding beans and being amazed) coffee snobs. Just above Folgers, really. One can get Starbucks beans at our grocery store, so we usually go with those - creatures of habit. I did go a little off-script recently and ordered Peet's beans for delivery. I'd had that delicious brew on my Homegirl trips around the country. DSM doesn't have Peet's stores. I may need to check Whole Foods for the beans - the Organic French Roast was fabulous. Paul liked it too. There are some local places in the area I could try when I'm feeling more adventuresome and less quarantinesome. 

I have always liked my coffee with creamer. I trace it back to the way I learned to drink coffee as a child. Those were the days of percolators. I loved that noise of the coffee churning through the pot. One time Dad started a pot and forgot to put on the lid - yep, it perked up to the ceiling! When I was in high school, Mom became more sophisticated and got a fancy pour-over outfit that she put on the stove.

Mom could be a bit exotic for her time - later daughter Amy bought this same system! 

When I was young, every once in a while, Mom would let us add milk and sugar (lots) to a bit of coffee and then dip in "buttery buttery toast". It had to be white bread for this breakfast treat. So good! There are so many fab creamers available today. I'm usually a one cup a day person. I try to avoid caffeine later in the day. 

I am surprised that in college we didn't have a coffee-maker. Instead, I remember little hot pot water boilers that would rapidly boil water. Then we'd add Folgers Instant Coffee crystals. I can't imagine now how that mixture tasted anything like coffee, but our goal was to stay up late to write a paper or study. We even purchased caffeine pills called "NoDoz". Hey, that stuff is still available! No Adderall or Energy Drinks back then - to keep us awake when we needed to re-type (yes type - but at least we had a cool electric typewriter my grandparents gave me for graduation) papers when we spilled Pepsi on them.

Pic from the Bunn website

I don't remember what kind of coffee-maker Paul and I had early in our marriage. I wasn't a big coffee drinker, but Paul, due his Goldsmith genes, is a guzzler. His wonderful parents George and Laura had a pot going all day. Paul can drink it all day, will drink it cold (not to be confused with Cold Brew) and with grounds in it. For sure, when we moved to Creston, we couldn't call ourselves natives until we purchased a Bunn-O-Matic, because Creston is the home of the Bunn plant! I've toured it several times, and one summer, Jud was on the refreshment crew there - pushing around cool water for workers during the sweltering Iowa summer. There was no air conditioning in the plant. Those things last forever! We only went through a couple units during a thirty-year timespan. Sadly, when we moved to WDM, we lost our Bunn connection and bought another brand. When I travel, I always check out the beverage area and smile when I see that Bunn name on their coffee/tea units. 

I'd love to hear your coffee stories. Even how much you hate it and what you drink instead. I know people who start the day with a big 'ol Diet Coke! 

Kitchen table - family with grandparents. I learned to drink coffee at this table

Childhood Playhouse

I was full of good intentions yesterday (Monday). I was going to do stuff! Over the weekend I even listed actions on my Google Calendar - lest I forget what good stuff I'd planned to do. I was afraid I'd slip into my usual non-action packed routine of Amazon Prime/Jigsaw Puzzle/Laundry, walk and other routine chores. Of course yesterday was frigid and windy so the walk was OUT.

8 a.m. I had set up a work-related chore. I'm helping a friend with an environmental audit. When the time came, I decided it was only Monday - that could wait - and pushed that to today. Ah, retirement, it's grand!
9 a.m. Time to organize the closet in our room. It's a smaller walk-in one. We rotate hanging clothes between seasons in there. It's also good for luggage and (thanks Covid) backup toilet paper and paper towels from Costco stacked - taking up floor space. So shelves needed clearing for books and my Wii. Some of the books went to our Townhome Little Library box and some will go to my STL kids when we get to visit.

Then there are the photos. I've tackled our photos before, taking digital pics of the photos, storing them on thumb drives. It's nice to get rid of multiple copies of yellowing photos. There are still a few small bins though.

Married 9/7/1950

Then I came across a large leather photo portfolio box with a lid that flips open like a book. Where did it come from? I must have gotten it when Dad passed away - and shuffled it here when we moved. Closet organizing was pretty much game over at that point! I was hooked on looking at these photos - a treasure trove of old photos that my mother saved in this special place.

Some of my favorite pics in the stack were from when her father, Herbert Leslie Morehead (Pops to us), delivered our playhouse he designed and built for our backyard. Pops was a general contractor in his hometown of Cedar Rapids. He had designed and built our home at 202 Crombie. My family lived there for around thirty years. The house has a flat roof. A bit of Frank Lloyd Wright influence? It also has built in cupboards and drawers. When I can't sleep I walk around the house in my head, remembering each room. Mom was a fabulous interior decorator - very creative.

202 Crombie - designed and built by HL Morehead Construction, watercolor by Marilyn Van Antwerp

The playhouse also had a flat roof, real opening windows, and a front porch.

Neighbor kids on porch

House/playhouse 202 Crombie

The photos depict a neighborhood of kids (and my parents/grandparents) gathering for the tiny house warming! Note the Hoola hoopsyu9. Back then our neighbors were the Germains, who lived next door prior to the Reinertsons. Right next to our yard was a narrow strip of trees known by all the kids as "the woods". I don't know who owned that property but we all treated it as ours, building forts and climbing trees. My folks put a sandbox at the edge of the woods (no lids so cats loved it!) The Woods put lots of kids near and in our yard daily. And we spilled into other neighborhoods easily too. It was the way of that era.

The Bullock girls and friends spent many enjoyable hours in the playhouse. As far as I know, there were no Fisher Price (maker of awesome kids' toys) kitchens back then. But there were cardboard kitchen sets and we had them! The neighborhood scallywags, the Mallon boys, burned our kitchen one year - likely when we were at the end of our pretend kitchen using era. At least they took the stuff into the Woods to do the deed and didn't fry the Playhouse! I'm sure our dog Jud barked at them, and they (and rabbits/squirrels) were his nemeses.

In my memory, we would forget about the playhouse for a while and then decide we needed it for some big thing we were doing. Then it would require a cleanup and set up - sweeping and knocking down spiderwebs. Betsy reminded me what a wasp magnet the little house was - perfect for nests! We likely spent way more time setting it up then we did playing whatever we had in mind. One year Laurie Reinertson and I decided we would open up a library in the Playhouse. Yes - the earliest Tiny Library - such an innovator! We even used envelopes cut in half to glue into book covers with a sheet inside for Checkout. Doug Younger, a neighbor down the hill actually checked a book out. Cindy remembers playing doctor there. Jeff Grayson was involved. It sounds like that was a bit more risque than Library!

As with anything, I don't remember the last time I played in the Playhouse. One day I left my childish things behind. Haha - fooled you! I never really did become that homemaker, so playing house didn't take. I do like taking photos though!

Dad/Mom - graduates! 

Mom in Cedar Rapids with Grandma Morehead

I was so happy to find some other great photos in the box too. Mom and Dad in their graduation gowns - they were married the fall of their Senior year when they graduated from the University of Iowa. I love seeing the styles - Mom always had us dressed up for all occasions. So stylish back then with hats.

Grandma Morehead Susan Cindy

Other family pics - one of me with my sisters when my parents when they brought Betsy home. I look delighted even though I wanted a baby brother! See captions for more.

Needless to say, I got sidetracked taking digital photos of these photographs. The closet can wait. Thanks for the memories Mom!

Baby Betso home from hospital. I gave her chickenpox 6 months later - she got really sick! Nice bangs Mom.  

Susan, Mom, Cindy - see darling dresses. I watch The Amazing Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime set in this time period. Love seeing the clothing. Wouldn't want to wear it now. 

Grandma Morehead (Nellie) when we remodeled our family room. I loved putting my feet on that fireplace. Later it caused a fire for the next owners. 

David Bullock Korean Vet - gone when Susan was a baby, Mom was on her own

   

HL Morehead (Pops) with Susan and Cindy