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

No Slow Ride

It was retro night in Creston when Foghat came to town. It was a fundraiser for McKinley Park - the beautiful city park perched across from our home. A few years ago park board people came up with the idea to host a big concert at the old band shell that's been somewhat refurbished. Funds go towards fixing up both the park and the lake - a great cause. Amazingly, they've been able to attract some pretty good but, yes, past their prime bands to our little burg.

Last year it was Marshall Tucker. We were in San Antonio with McFees and Higgins, but I heard they weren't all that great. This year? Foghat! Okay - there was only one original guy, the drummer. And when interviewed for the article in the paper he said something like "rock and roll is slang for copulate and nobody is unhappy when they're copulating" Um, Kyle (article writer), did you look up that word? I hope you don't get a bunch of nasty letters from old folks.

The event day didn't start out too promising, weather-wise with rain. But that put all the farmers in a good mood. That makes everyone else happy because they don't have to put up with mopey farmers asking my husband, "When are we going to get rain"? Like he's the dang rain god...We went to evening Mass and Bobbie and Jeff came over for a drink with munchies after. We could hear a warm up band playing as we sat at the kitchen table and chatted. Odie was nervous - the music sounded a bit like thunder!

We headed over about 7:30 p.m. Mayor Woods took our tickets - there were lots of volunteers helping. Sponsors had forked over $ to help pay for the band. Fareway and the Knotty Pine were cooking up sannies. There were a couple bevvie booths and for those with special wristbands, beer and hard lemonade was available. For $3! Take that DSM...it's not $6! And we didn't pay to park. I got a Summer Shandy tallboy and we made the rounds to decide where to park our chairs. We saw Deb, Baileys and Stormy's Mom. It's fun to chat with people you haven't seen for a while.

McKim's hometown buddies came to visit

McKims were parked at a sponsor table as Don had purchased 10 tickets, so we set up our chairs in front of that area. The band wasn't bad - played some Collective Soul and some other recognizable stuff. Foghat was due at 9 p.m. Deb's hubby Larry was heading back from DSM where he'd been for son Keith's bachelor party dinner. Jud was at the event along with many HS buddies. Larry didn't stay for the party bus part of the night. Jud did! Can't wait to hear about it - not too many details though...Keith and Jud have been friends since age 3.

Keith, Jud - First Communion - thus the ties

I wasn't expecting all that much from Foghat frankly. Despite the fact that there's only one original guy, the good news is that the band has filled in with a bunch of talented musicians. The bass player - excellent! Guitar player could rock. Vocalist could play guitar and sing. None of them were spring chickens either - probably in their 40s and up. A big bouncer stood guard on the stage, and a ring of volunteer stage guards helped keep the drunks off the platform.

We started out sitting in our chairs a decent distance away. A nice couple from Marshall town was near us - they said they'd come to celebrate their 29th Anniversary. He was a Lennox Heating/AC guy and his wife commutes to work in a downtown DSM bank. I told them it's our 30th this year, and Deb and Larry just passed theirs in May. We bumped knuckles! The guy said the secret is to keep having fun together - and doing stuff like this. I have to agree! They didn't know any of the Marshalltown people I know like Pam Blake and Casee Piel. He said if Casee is a cop he'd like to keep it that way...anyways...fun to talk to them. (On a funny note, my new friend said he'd found Southern Iowa to be..."different"). Ha! We like it that way.

view from afar

view up close

Jeff decided we'd better go down close to the stage to get the "whole experience". So we did. There were a lot of drunks down there, but it was a fun way to see it. I enjoyed watching the band members work their instruments. And during the instrumentals some of the dancing couples were working it too! We had to move for a fight at one point. A small shaven head guy in leathers and tats was drinking Mike's Hard Lemonade dancing by himself near us. I got a kick out of that...c'mon man. Harley guy can't choke down a Bud? A group of nerdy young guys took of their shirts and gyrated together - yep that's going to attract the chicks. Susan Dunphy came over and yelled, "I'm having a flashback!" Agreed!

rockers

crowd was crazy

There were a lot of people I didn't know. And many I did. More of my homegirls showed up - Pat and Susan. The band played songs I didn't know so well and then the faves - Fool For the City, I Just Want to Make Love to You, and lastly, Slow Ride. Flashback for sure. I love live music!  Fun night in Crestonia.

Shoulder and Peg - it will come back to you *(politics)

One of my favorite peeps was visiting Iowa this week. It worked out nicely into our schedule - the most excellent Bruce Hornsby concert Wednesday night - Paul rode up with Petersons and stayed all night with me at Joan's. I'm so lucky to have a nice roomie! ;>)

The next morning, we had a quick breakfast at Panera (did you know there's such thing as a French Toast bagel?) before my appointment with the shoulder surgeon at DMOS. That's the same place I went for the removal of Imelda, my shoe loving tumor (see my blog from March for more on this...). Unfortunately, the arm surgeon doesn't do shoulders. So that day I saw Dr. Kary Schulte.

First, because the computers at DMOS don't speak to the computers at Southwest Fam Physicians I had to have more X-Rays. I don't like that, but what are you going to do. At least I didn't have to disrobe and it was quick. Dr. Schulte reminded me a lot of my Doc Bro-In-Law - Betso's husband, Wayne Kohan. He's probably in his late 40's, soft-spoken, but someone you listen to. He put me through a series of movements and poked around. It didn't take him long to decide that scar tissue is my problem - not a torn rotator cuff, which I had feared.

I had a few options, but as bad as it's gotten, I've decided to have him put me under in mid July (as early as our schedules allow) and he'll crank that sucker and pop the scar tissue. Yeah, I know - sounds very painful. Paul had that done after his knee surgery and it was worse than the surgery! The same day of the procedure I'll begin physical therapy to prevent new scar tissue from laying down. This time I'll have to work through the pain instead of babying the thing - which is what I must have done that cause this whole problem. When it got sore, I quit using it. How are you supposed to know? And I didn't go to the doctor until it was too late - it was frozen by then. So a lesson to you all - treat injuries early! In between now and July 18, I'll Advil will be my friend and sleep hard to come by. Now that I know nothing is torn in there I'm going to get back to working out - no more whoa is me.

After my appointment (I was glad to have Pablo there for moral support and to ask questions), Paul dropped me off so I could work for a couple hours and he stopped at LifeServe Blood Center to donate. Yes - I turned him into a donor during our time living in the East Village. (Score one for me). I tried to donate at Valley West later, alas my blood pressure was too low. I hate getting rejected!

Dave Fox, Jean, (with Kelli - Denny's wife - not in this blog...)

Then we headed to Webster City for a mini-Goldsmith gathering - a chance to see my girl Peg Fox, who was coming back for her 25 high school reunion and to see family of course. In addition Paul's sisters were visiting: Pat, with husband Dave from Freeport, IL, Carol from Northwood and of course Peg's folks Paul's sis Jean and Husband Dave who have lived in Webster for a long time. Peg and her wife Brooke and twins Alex and Logan, age 4 arrived around 5:30 p.m. Sib pictures from last summer's fam reunion. Didn't seem to get one of Pat and Dave...

Carol and Jean

Peg is the second oldest of the Fox clan. Steve her bro lives in San Diego, Peg in New York City, Kris in Houston and Annette just west of the Twin Cities. So they are spread far and wide. When Peg moved to NYC in the mid 1990s, Jean and I went to visit her there. She attended the New School and worked part time. She had already gotten her undergrad and masters at UNI. It was then when I began to suspect that she was gay, but it was unspoken - I don't think I even said anything to Paul about it.

In 2000, Amy, Jean and I took a trip to NYC. Peg was temping at an insurance company and got us their box seat tickets to Tina Turner at Madison Square Garden. How's that for your first concert experience, Amy? We saw Lion King at the New Amsterdam Theater and had a great time throughout the whole trip! I love talking to Peg - she's a caring, intelligent, funny person. She always asks about our family and takes a true interest in their lives.

I can't say I was surprised a couple years later when Jean told Paul and me that Peg had come out to them - that she is gay. It was hard on Jean and Dave. I don't wish to bring this up every time I talk about her - the fact that Peg is gay certainly doesn't define her - but so many people still don't get it. I can't remember how long ago Peg and Brooke got married in Canada. Four years ago Peg gave birth to the boys - with the help of donor sperm. They are a committed couple raising their family just like any other couple. Oh wait - lots of children don't have 2 parents raising them...

Brooke, Logan, Alex, Peg

Anyway, for all of you out there who are against gay marriage - I wish you could meet Peg and her wife Brooke. Peg didn't choose to be attracted to women - she was born that way. The same with Brooke. Would it make all of us feel better if they faked it and married men? I'd prefer happy people marrying the ones they really love. If Dave Fox can accept this (he started out very conservative and his mind changed through the years), I think many of you out there can. When you have people who have been married and divorced multiple times arguing about the sanctity of marriage....

I'm glad we got to see them. The boys are full of energy - especially after a day of traveling. Like any good auntie I took sidewalk chalk - they enjoyed drawing "ant traps". It was a busy day, but paid off in hugs!

*Peg It Will Come Back to You is a song by Steely Dan

By request - my homegirls

We made it home to Crestonia last night in time to see the homegirls at The Lobby. We breezed into our house where son Jud was watching NCAA games. He'd taken the afternoon off from his job as a buyer in St. Joe, Missouri at Altec, a company that makes specialized service vehicles. Girlfriend Kara is in Vegas on a chick trip.

Paul and Jud decided go along for a beer. After all, The Lobby has TVs - NCAA games could be watched there. We were celebrating Patti's birthday. 55! Holy shit, how did that happen? Seems like we were just 40, 45, 50. Insert age here. It sure helps having your girlfriends on this path of life!

Nancy asked about my elbow - mentioning that she reads this blog. Just fine thanks, now that Imelda, the shoe-lovin' tumor has been removed. She also told me that it's high-time that the girls get some blog lovin'. Her wish is my command.

Our cast of characters: (left to right)
Patti - the birthday girl. Lost her husband to a brain tumor when she was in her early 30's and had 2 young sons. I can't imagine how tough that must have been. For the past twenty years or so, she's made her life with Dean Leith, whom she calls her fiance. We joke that they should get married as we want to be bridesmaids! I first knew her aunt - Lamona Bilderback before I met Patti. I worked with Lamona, a wonderful woman, at First National Bank. Then I met her sis Jeanne, who I worked with at Gits Manufacturing. Another swell person who would give you the shirt off her back. I didn't have the privilege of meeting Patti until the late 90's when I began to workout with Deb and her at the Y. It must be a family trait as Patti is another nice and caring person.

Susan Grose Weinheimer - was one of the first people I met in town. Susan was new pledge of Xi Beta Psi - the sorority I was asked to join when we moved to Creston in 1986. We never really hung out though, until recent years. I've enjoyed getting to know her better. We sure had fun at her wedding reception last spring as she married handsome Brian Weinheimer. Susan's daughters are a year younger than Amy and Jud. We're looking forward to daughter Lindsay's wedding this summer. Small world department - Susan lived at 230 Campus Avenue in Ames when we did, but we didn't know her. She's a social worker - so you know she's got the patience of Jobe.

Pat Moeller - didn't really get to know Pat until Jud and her son Steven were in class at St. Malachy together. But we ended up seeing a great deal of each other through those years - as the boys participated in every sport together and Paul coached many of them. Plus my fave story. One time I traveled out of town for my work at Gits. Jud (was about 8 years old) had Steven stay over night. During the night (Jud was a very sound sleeper) Steven had a bad dream and woke up scared. So he ended up sleeping with Paul part of the night. I could imagine that line of questioning at Moeller's house the next day. Pat, "How was your night, Steven?" "Fun, but I slept with Jud's dad." "What???" Pat is a serious person, but with a lighter side when you get to know her. She's a hard worker who has volunteered for many things around town. It's nice to see her beam when she is asked about her granddaughter.

Next up - Deb Peterson - my bestie. Everyone needs one! I originally met her because of our children. We felt a bond right away. She and Larry moved away once, and to my great fortune, they moved back. That's when we really started hanging out and got to know each other very well. We're both from families of four girls and are simpatico on nearly every issue. (Except the whole Cyclone/Panther/Hawkeye thing) Love our kayak trips together, she's who I want in my corner when something goes bad. Gotta have my Debbie fix, or I get the jitters. I look up to her - she leads the way (but age isn't everything...haha). Naw, I can't ever keep up to her, but she drives me to try.

Diana McKim is another of my sorority friends and we've always had our Cyclone love in common. Just like Petersons (and McFees - though Bobbie is missing in this picture, due to the fab weather and her taking advantage of deck time), McKims have children the same school grades as Amy and Jud. That meant carpooling, birthdays together etc. McKims (she and Donnie are a package deal) have always been so wonderful to be there for us when times are tough. We've grown especially close to them the past several years thanks to our tailgating (and pre-tailgating) escapades. We share joys and sorrows. Just not politics...don't get us going on that as we're oil and water on that topic. We've talked about retiring together, and I could see it. Donnie is going to drive us around, Diana will enable us with drinks, Paul will grill. I guess I need to come up with a talent...

Nancy Anthony - the new kid. Okay she's lived in Creston probably 15 years or so. So she's a relative newcomer compared to the others. But it seemed like she fit in instantly. Cuz she's one of those people with such a warm personality that you feel like you've known her. People like to be around Nancy because she exudes good attitude and vibes. Presently she's studying for her BSN degree, which I think is cool - we old chicks need to keep learning.

She and spouse Jim have been presented with family situations that others might not have handled with such grace. Oldest daughter Kelly married an African American man. I'm sure that raised some eyebrows in Creston - but Jason is such a wonderful guy, I think he's done wonders for race relations in town. People who had never really met a black person before have had a chance to get to know him. Now they realize that they're people, just like we are.

Youngest daughter Kendra is gay. I'm sure wasn't an easy situation to come to terms with for anyone in the family - mostly Kendra. Just like for any young person who discovers they don't quite fit the mold, it had to be tough. Hell, it's hard enough getting through puberty as a straight kid. And sometimes I think it's even harder on parents guiding children through the landmines of childhood than it is on the child! I myself stressed when Jud wet the bed longer than most kids - worried about what the other kids might think if he had an accident at a sleepover. We just want them to "fit it". So learning your child wasn't going to have the white picket fence with a husband and 2 kids had to lead to a few sleepness nights.

Son Kyle is a free spirit who still likes to play baseball and in a band in his free time. He just married his longtime girlfriend. All three kids live in Kansas City, so Jim and Nan spend lots of time there. Four grandkids (Kelly and Jason's kids) might have something to do with it.

I'm sure the Anthony fam has its dysfunctional moments as we all do. But you can tell - Nancy is proud of her diverse fam and acceptance is the word around their home. I like it.

So there you have it. The homegirls, at least the ones who showed up at Patti's bday celebration. You asked for it - hope it's not TMI (too much information). Just know I love you all, and appreciate having you as my friends!

Gotta go - time for some hoops. March Madness ya know.

McKinley and the Magic Paintbrush

I walked around Creston's McKinley Lake and Park yesterday as I took the day off. I was recovering from our wonderful trip to Galena, Illinois with HS homies Paula and Chris along with Chris's hubbie Larry. When one is a commuter, it's brutal to get home on a Sunday and pack up once again to leave at the crack O'dawn the next day.

Monday a.m. I got to spend my morning with my good friend Chuck at S&K Cafe. And my homegirls Deb, Susan, Patti, Pat, Diana, Bobbie and Linda. They all brought me birthday cards - yes, it's my birth week! I got to kick it off in style. After breakfast I headed home to hang out and relax on my day off. Odie was overjoyed to see me. It doesn't take much to please that little wiener!

That afternoon, when the autumn sun was beaming down, I decided to take a walk around the lake by our house. I took the camera along to capture some of the sights of my neighborhood and hometown. Creston is at its finest this time of year! It's as if some higher power dabbed beautiful fall colors around town, making even the most mundane areas flashy and handsome.

She looks very pissed off about being in a bun

It was Halloween of course so I dragged out Odie's bun costume. She hates it, but I talked her into leaving it on long enough to get her photo taken. We only had a few trick or treaters. Mmmm more candy for us