Chillin' at the Lake

And I do mean chillin'. The first couple days...we wore our sweats at night. It was refreshing, really! Much different than two years ago when it was 100+ degrees each day. Life at the lake is like a box of chocolates - ya never know what you're going to get!

We were fortunate to again be invited to join our Creston pals at Lake of the Ozarks. It was a different kind of year - 2013. As we get older - we realize more and more how lucky we are to get to hang out with our longtime friends. They know all our stories and can help us finish them!

We're not getting any younger - or healthier. The knees are going, hips, shoulders - and worse. When I look at the pics of myself, I seem to look more and more like Pat Bullock. Who is that old lady and what happened to 40-year old me? This aging thing is not for the timid! But there's nothing to be done about it. (The alternative sucks worse!)

This I know - we must stick together for support. That was the only thing that got me through losing a son. Women are much better at this then men. Men are good at working on gutters together and talking sports and weather. But not at talking about their real worries. This is one of the reasons I'm glad I'm a girl!

Back to lake talk:

We stayed at the Higgins place - one they bought a different one a couple years ago. Al and Sharon have part of the place looking gorgeous and the rest...is still a work in progress. The location is very nice and the view - ahhh! (see above)

Then McKims got into the act. They purchased a lake place last fall - a real fixer upper. They're in the process of doing just that now, with the help of contractors and through their own blood, sweat and tears. Paul and Jeff got in on some of the fun, fixing gutters, mowing and more. I think Paul would have enjoyed spending the whole weekend there! He channeled his inner HGTV guy. Bobbie and I even helped a bit - touching up some paint. Then the girls tagged along to assist Diana in selecting sample flooring.

 



Al got Sharon this "Love the Lake" fire ring for her bday

One night we sat around a campfire - cooking marshmallows and singing camping songs. No - we didn't really sing - but we did discuss girl and boy scout stories. Bobbie and I recalled making "sit-a-pons" woven matts we tied to our waists, so we'd have an instant clean spot to sit on when camping. Don pointed out that boy scouts just chose not to sit in the dirt...smart ass. Man those Sharon cooked mellows were good!

 


Nothing like a campfire!

Love the way the lights shimmer off the lake

 

More tomorrow - tired...must go to bed 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Paddle at Red Rock

Last night at Mass at St. Francis of Assisi we learned that our pastor, Father Bob Hoefler passed away Wednesday due to prostate cancer. Fr. Bob Obituary

Father Bob was an interesting guy, and a nice man. He was a very good priest. If you read his obit, you'll find out that he came to the priesthood later in life. I'm sorry he passed at such a young age, and had to suffer through such a dreadful illness. He never sounded sorry for himself as he battled cancer. RIP Father Bob. Job well done.

This morning Paul and I got up early and strapped the kayaks on the Subaru. We headed East to Elk Rock State Park at Red Rock Lake and scoped out a place to put the boats in. I had checked out my paddling book the night before and saw there was a 2.5 mile trip east from there (5 miles round trip). The water was smooth and the wind to our backs on the first leg - not as much on the way back, as the breeze picked up a bit later in the morning. It's a beautiful lake - built by the Army Corps of Engineers - the dam was completed in 1969. There are giant boulders (that made me think of my departed bro-in-law Bolder), and sandstone walls. It was interesting to see the water marks.

early day light was pretty

my kayak partner of the day

There were caves like these

We paddled up to the next boat launch and headed back - roughly a 2 hour trip. I was glad we didn't do the 8 mile trip the other way! This is a great workout for abs and arms. I need to do it more often. It's very relaxing too, but getting the boats on and off is a bit of work. Later I went for a pedicure and that was heavenly...prep for my 6 hours of State Fair work tomorrow!


kayaking makes me smile!

A mile long bridge is off in the distance
 

After we got back - Paul worked on finishing up his big project landscaping near the front of the garage. I had purchased a little gift for him at the Farmer's Market - see if you see it nestled in the new area.

It's a lil iron deer...so cute! Plus he planted cone flowers, black eyed susans - and picked up rocks in his hunting area.

My brain is okay, I think...(after 3 days of headaches)

Pablo and I did the Iowa State Fair Thursday night. You see, I'll be working there the next two afternoon/evenings - so I knew I'd get my fix. But Paul - pretends not to like going. But I could tell he secretly was dying to go! He'd say things like, "I suppose you're going to force me to go to the Fair." Which wasn't the case at all...but I pretended, but so he could save face...When you've been married 31 years, you catch on to this stuff.

We rode the shuttle from the Capitol, which is slick! No worrying about where to park. We were both hungry so we headed towards the cattle barns, where we knew the beef sannies would be good. I wasn't disappointed! We trotted around after that just taking in sights and sounds. I forget that he doesn't know his way around like I do - just from my years working there. I was busy scoping it out - trying to decide what I'll it on my subsequent visits! We walked through the Varied Industries Building and talked to Mark Sedlmayer in the DNR building. Paul worked up an appetite to eat something on a stick (a state fair requirement!)

lemonade and chicken on a stick

I later talked him into riding the Skyglider - it was such fun - gliding over the fair with my honeybun. Blue Oyster Cult was playing at the Bud Stage - FREE. We rant into his workmates and hung out with them for a while. Then I talked him into hitting the 4-H building to see the projects - memories of my Glad Girls of Grove days...one year I made my Aunt Jean's recipe, buttermilk chocolate cake. Dang that was good! I was really in 4-H so I could show my horse, but suffered through the other stuff like cooking and record-keeping for the cause.

The woodworking projects were awesome - furniture like tables and desks made by teens! They sew outfits, do educational posters and more. I always come away impressed. After that we were both ready to head home.

An enterprising lad welded an painted the giant friggin' trike with a motor...why?

Friday morning, I awakened knowing the damn headache was gone - kaput! Its 3-day run was over. Phew! I'm always glad to say sayonara to a multi-day brain burner. I had to take some Advil to take the edge off, but that did the trick. I worked Friday morning and ran errands that afternoon. We spent a quiet Friday night - the Packers had a pre-season game, don'tcha know. I was happy reading a new book.

Saturday I headed to my usual haunt - the Farmer's Market downtown to meet a friend, Pam. She works in Paul's office and we've hung out a few times. (gee it sounds like we're dating...) Pam lost her husband a couple years ago to a heart attack. Pam is clawing her way back into life one step at a time - I admire her so much for it!

We walked through the market - checking out the merchandise. Pam hadn't been there for several years and was surprised at how big it's grown. I got a breakfast burrito and another of the workers asked me if I was from Creston and attended Holy Spirit there. It's nice to be recognized. Pam waited and scored a blueberry scone at another booth. There was a steel drum band we sat and listened to later, and she headed to the YMCA about 9 for a class - yep, she's an exercise fanatic like my pal Deb. If only I loved working out like I love books (and writing this blog...).

I had brought my bike downtown with my so I rode north on the trail past the Botanical Center (that is in the middle of getting a multi million $ facelift) on the John Pat Dorrian Trail. I didn't go too far though - even though my iPod was nice, it was a little lonely all by myself. I did get some cool shots of the city riding back south.

DSM looking south from the trail near Botanical Gardens

It was a beautiful morning! I headed home and got some deck time to read my book and drink iced coffee. Odie enjoyed barking at passersby. This is the life!

Happy Book Lover's Day!

August 9th is when America celebrates Book Lover's Day - but that's really every day for me. And it has been ever since Miss Casey introduced me to my first Dick and Jane book in first grade at Washington Elementary in Atlantic, Iowa. I recall how delighted I was to take control of those letters - making them into words and finding meaning in them. Reading opened a whole new world for me!

The world was first - our little library of books at the Bullock house - some of the books gleaned from Momo and Bubba's attic, from the stash that had been Dads, and my Aunt Jean and Aunt Marty's.

• Happy Hollisters
• Bobbsey Twins
• Nancy Drew
• Oz Books - by Frank L. Baum
• and other assorted books - like the Grimm Fairy Tales - those were some dark stories!
• Black Beauty

After I exhausted our supply of reading material, I began to order paperbacks from the school program. They probably made a bit of money on each paperback they sold for $.45. Mom was generous - I'd get up to 10 books sometimes. I loved Encyclopedia Brown - were I got to try to solve the crime along with the boy detective.

 

Then it was on to the Atlantic Memorial Library. I'd go with Mom, who was also an avid reader, or during summer months, I enjoyed walking downtown. I'd stop at the various dime stores for candy - enough to get a big canker sore later! Pixie sticks, purple bubble gum, Lemonheads, Pez - I liked it all! Even Giant Sweet Tarts - the kind that made your tongue bleed. It's no wonder I didn't go into a diabetic coma.

Once I had my little paper sack full of sugary goodness, I'd walk a block over to the library and load up on books. They'd only let me get four, but that was about as many as I could carry! I'd plod up three blocks to 909 Poplar, where my grandparents lived. Momo would be watching her soap opera - sitting in her wingback chair. If I was lucky she'd get me an RC Cola (I'm not sure why they didn't like Coke or Pepsi), and some ice milk with Hersey Syrup from a can. Yum.

If Bubba wasn't home (he was often out putzing around the county), I might entertain myself by looking at books in the bookshelf that was built into the wall as you walked up to the scary attic. (It was scary because I was told the insulation could kill me - I thought if I stepped in it I would sink like quicksand...I know now I was probably asbestos-containing). When Bub got home, he'd drive me up Chestnut Street to our house, where I could lay on my twin bed with a reading light and eat my candy and read. Or I could sit in our formal living room that nobody used...except when Mom had bridge club. Oh, and Betsy used it for tumbling. Cindy practiced cheerleading there, and we put our Christmas tree there too. Don't get me wrong - I wasn't a total bookworm! I liked to get out and do stuff - but just like these days, I can pick up a book almost any time and be a happy girl!

My other book memories are -

• Mrs. Tibben (4th grade) and Mrs. Kluever (5th grade) reading to us after lunch - I fell in love with listening to stories thanks to them. The Secret Garden is one of my all time faves from that era.
• My Aunt Jean gave my Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (aka Willy Wonka) which also became a beloved book of mine.
• When I went to Junior High, the library there opened up my world to a new genre of book - the "Young Reader". Gwen Kluever was the librarian - she was a friend of mom's. I was a little embarrassed but still found a way to check out "My Darling My Hamburger" and other books that clued me in on what teens my age were doing and thinking (I was quite naive). Heady stuff!
• In High School, I took a course where I got points for the books I read - with more points for classics. This was when I read books like 1984.

Deb with Thea

I can't think about books without thinking of my friend Thea Applegate who passed away just over a year ago. I met her through book club more than ten years ago, and we grew to be close friends through the years. I've thought of her often this past year, and miss her laugh and her insight. She was a social worker, and was very good at reading situations and people. She also was great seeing humor in her own laugh. Here's to you booklover lady.

Want to shout out to my former book club mate (and St. Malachy mom and sports mom mate) Barb Coenen as well. Barb donated a kidney this week to a stranger, as part of a deal to allow someone she knows from Creston to get a new kidney. I've known Barb for over 20 years - she volunteers for Appalachia Service Project and makes people happy with scrapbooking. I'm proud to say she's a friend!

I went to the West DM library today to refill my supply. I get a little jittery when I'm out - books are like crack to me! I started reading a book tonight called "No Regrets Coyote". I noticed on the cover it says "A novel so good you will want to throw a party for it" - it's a quote from one of my other fave authors, Dennis Lahane (of Shutter Island fame). Liked that!

I'm going to read now...

Paddleboard, Gonna Miss that Kid, Fair

When I was growing up, a paddleboard was a piece of foam you would hold on to when practicing swim stroke kicks. It was small and there was no standing on it! Now days there is a new type of paddleboard, called the Stand Up Paddleboard.

A friend asked me to attend a performance Sunday of dancing at Gray's Lake on SUP, along with a ground performance. The routine was done accompanied by live chamber music. Sunday was a beautiful day, with a light breeze. The dancers were strong and athletic - at one point one did a back bend on her board! They did two numbers. It was fun being there.

Pam - standing, JoAnne - hidden by the umbrella with daughter Alexa - or these could be people I don't really even know...haha

Before the performance Pam - a friend who works with Paul and JoAnne, another of Paul's co-workers, and JoAnne's daughter Alexa and I ate picnic lunches at the Gray's Lake beach. All sorts of activities were going on around us - people were riding bikes, swimming and throwing frisbies. It was fun to be out and with friends!


Musicians off to the right
 

Tuesday, my colleague Scott and I headed east of Cedar Rapids to the town of about 700 people called Olin. It's just north of Highway 30, right by the winding Wapsipinicon River. We got there a little early so we parked on main street and walked down to the river to stretch our legs after the 2 plush hour drive. It was easy to spy the derelict building we were to meet with a group of people about later.

Scott paces along the building

 We walked back up the street - and noticed many historical buildings - unfortunately mostly empty of businesses.


There is a bar in town - and it has an ape in front of it!

After our meeting - that included an asbestos removal contractor, a recycler that will take all the metal and several town folk along with DNR staffer and a landfill representative. We headed over to the former car dealership building to check out the inside. The town plans to take the old roof off the building after the asbestos is removed. Then they will put a new roof on and attempt to sell or rent the building - to a new business.

Some of the roof has fallen in - along with some asbestos material

This 1979 map shows when the place was last used

 

It was moldy in there! There is a lot of work to do but the roofing contractor seems to think he can handle it. I wish them luck with this project. On our drive back, Scott and I discussed the tough road small towns face in today's world. They've lost their schools and retails stores - it's a struggle to stay viable! At least Olin is a short drive to Cedar Rapids and Mount Vernon - but bedroom communities need to figure out how they will make it. We stopped in Lisbon for lunch - and had a good pork tenderloin and a bad piece of pie. Then we were on to the Tama County Landfill, to tell the director there about our programs. It was a worthwhile trip.

Besides Tuesday's trip, my week has sucked! I realized I lost my confirmation for my plane ticket to Austin, TX to visit my homegirls in October. I was in an email tossing mood recently and that must have been one I tossed. Worse yet, I didn't even remember who I bought it from - at least when I first hit panic mode on Monday...talk about feeling dumb.

I tried emailing Paula Bacon - I had sent information to her about my flight, right? Nope - she didn't have it. I spent my lunch hour scouring my gmail account. No luck! When I got home, I searched that computer and files - not there either. Paul couldn't find record of it on his computer - that's what I usually do - send it to him. I did recall that purchased it direct from American, and Paul found the record of purchase on our credit card bill. So I called American and they gave me a code.

By then it was about time for my ride to come for my monthly night out with the Diamond Brooke ladies. I hit the restroom and brushed my teeth. Then I sat on the front steps about 5:40 p.m. And sat...about 6 I gave up and came in. I found Connie's phone number and called and left a message - sorry I'd missed her. Later she called to say they had stopped and honked, then knocked on my door too! Geez - I must have been in the bathroom and missed by a scant minute! I was very disappointed. It's how my week has gone...

Tuesday night I ended up with a migraine at 2 a.m. in my eye - it lasted until 4 a.m. I dozed during it, and it was gone when my alarm went off. But I decided to stay home for a while this a.m. because I felt crappy. I still do. I'm not sure if it was the mold or the change in the weather yesterday. Thank goodness for Frova - my migraine med.

Today at work I text Chiya, my Little Sis from the Big Sis Little Sis program. She's been in Mississippi since early July - at her cousins. I wanted to know if she would be back so I could take her to the Iowa State Fair - it start tomorrow! And in case you don't know - our state fair is a GREAT state fair! I've been bummed ever since I heard back from her. She's moving back  to her Mom's house in Boston this year. She told me when I first met her she does that every other year - I guess I just didn't think it would really happen. I'm happy for Chiya though - she should be with her Mom!

I was really looking forward to all the things we would do together. And now we won't. I suppose they'll try to talk me into hooking up with another Little Sis - but I think I'll pass for now. I need to get over this one...

I was just getting her to share a little bit...with me - not the Zombie

Tomorrow night Paul and I are planning to go to the fair - it's supposed to be a gorgeous night. He pretends not to like the fair, but he actually suggested it. So we'll head out there after work - it will be fun, and I'd go just for the smells. Next week I get to work at the DNR Recycling trailer Monday and Tuesday. Then on Wednesday we're heading to Lake of the Ozarks for our summer vacation - I can't wait. I do need a vacation!



Life's just too short

Clint Bolinger RIP

Paul attended a work meeting in Corning Thursday and learned that the brother of two Creston friends passed away. Clint Bolinger, brother of Craig and Bill, had suffered from ALS for the past couple years, but very few people knew. That was how he wanted it.
Clint's Obituary

Paul and I didn't know Clint. He worked for an out of town contracting company - traveling and working on large building projects. We have known Clint's brothers and their families for many years. Craig and Ruth with their son Jesse, who is a few years older than Amy. Bill works as a technician for NRCS - so he worked with Paul for the past 20+ years. Since he's a huge hunter, they had lots besides work to discuss!

Clint was married to Amanda (Mandy) Berning - of the Bernings Hotel/restaurant in Creston. Mandy was the school nurse at St. Malachy part of the time the kids attended there. Clint and Amanda's two kids  Austin and Audrey attended St. Malachy, Austin is 5 years younger than Jud and Audrey a year younger than her brother.

Paul felt strongly about attending the visitation - to see his friends and express his sympathies. So after work yesterday we headed southwest to Creston and Powers Funeral Home. It wasn't something I wanted to do. I don't know Bill and Craig very well. I hesitate to put myself in painful positions if I don't have to. I'm selfish that way. But I decided I should go in support of Paul - and I was glad I did.

When we got to Powers Funeral Home, I got to see my dear friend Lamona Bilderback, who works at the Home part time assisting families at this difficult time in their lives. You'd never know she used to be a hard-assed loan officer at First National Bank, until she retired! Well..Mona wasn't ever really all that hard-assed. I loved working with her all those years ago though at FNB - and that was when we built our long friendship. It was fun to catch up with her.

We proceeded to line up to be greeted by the family. We spoke to several people we knew - some from Paul's former office. When we reached Bill, I could tell he was so pleased and surprised to see Paul. He told us his brother had not even told family about his illness - but when last year's tornado his and Clint was not around with his chainsaw, assisting with cleanup, they all knew something was up! By last week, Clint was having breathing problems and he went to the hospice just a day before he passed. A blessing really. Lou Gehrig's disease has to be one of the most rotten of all illnesses. His moved very quickly. Paul and Bill switched to a lighter topic - hunting of course after that discussion!

Next we moved on to talk to brother Craig, who is older than Bill. I'm not sure how we got to know him, but Paul bonded with him early during our time in town. He ran into Craig just last year in Des Moines at the Deer Classic - they really enjoy each other's company. Clint's children and wife Mandy were next in line. They were hardest to speak to! How badly I feel for them - to lose their father and life partner at this young age.

Austin has just finished a year at the Air Force Academy. I was surprised to see that as last I knew he was at Iowa State. I told him about my cousin Amy's daughter's boyfriend. He is attending there to play baseball. That caught his interest - and was a nice distraction from the usual death discussion...I told the kids who we were and who Amy and Jud were. Austin remembered being a buddy with Jud on some St. Malachy project. That is one thing we loved about the school - the mixing of younger and older students. Our kids enjoyed it when they were the young ones anyway. Austin probably remembers Jud as a kicker too as that was something he did. Audrey just finished her frosh year at NWMSU (Maryville) and she runs track.

All of them seemed to be holding up so well - but their lives these past few months - watching their dad/husband die a slow death had to be hell. This almost has to be a relief for now. The finality of it will hit them later. Prayers for this fine family are welcome!

As we headed out, we spoke to others we knew. Ryan and Jennifer Hoyt and their new baby boy - we had them as a marriage ministry couple, prior to their wedding. They recently moved back to town - Jennifer is a pharmacist at HyVee. She's a year older than Amy. It was great to see Mandy's folks - Bob and Frieda Berning - a couple we got to know through our church and through the St. Malachy Foundation. They gave us hugs and said they miss us. We miss them! Frieda laughed when I told her that we enjoy living together full time again - and still like each other! Paul got cornered by Rich Wenzig, a dirt contract before we got out the door. But he saw my look and didn't take too long!

Despite the reason for the gathering, the visitation made me miss Creston a lot. We're pretty anonymous in West Des Moines. That's our fault! I know we'll make friends and it just takes time. But we built our relationships there over 26 years - I miss and value that.

We headed to McFees and helped Bobbie and Jeff load their Suburban up. Kimmy is going back to school. She will pick up a 2nd major in Genetics - her goal is to do research. Jeff says this is IT for him and moving kids. We'll see! Donnie came over and we got pizza. Diana was off getting pretty (haircut). We sat outside on a gorgeous August evening - unseasonably cool. We got home to WDM about 10:15 p.m.

This morning? Waveland - I had a hankerin' for cinnamon French Toast. Then the Farmers Market. We saw Bob and Pam McKee, Mike, Judy and Maddie Moffitt - Crestonites! And my college roomie Jane Flack Conn and her daughter Morgan. We scored sweet corn and tomatoes are here! BLTs this weekend. Fresh bread, blueberries, and dutch letters for tomorrow a.m.

The Woods and other stuff

I went for a solo bike ride tonight. Pablo decided to stay home. He had flipped the channel to "deer porn" right before I headed out, and he couldn't tear himself away. Deer Porn - it's my phrase for those hunting shows where they whisper - so they won't frighten the game they're hunting. In this case it was really elk. He's going elk hunting in a month.

He was paying rapt attention to the show as I went out the door. I hate deer porn. He used to watch it when we lived separately (during my commuting years), but now he has to slip it in when I'm not around - poor guy - all sneaky like. If I catch him watching it - I slump into the bedroom and watch TV in there until he turns it off. I don't like to see animals die. Yet we've remained married for 31 years. Some things you just have to put up with.

So I rode my bike on a nice summer evening, down the bike trail along EP True (did you know the E stands for Elmer?) eventually crossing underneath near Jordan Creek School which is near the actual Jordan Creek. Running along the creek are some woods that remind me of our Woods - the Woods of my childhood. We called them the Woods - they were really just a narrow stretch of trees, bushes and brush in the middle of our block. I'm not sure who owned the space. Down the middle of the Woods, we kids had created a hard trodden path from our frequent walks through there. It was our path to school. Lots of kids cut through that block. Besides my sissies, the Tylers, Westbrooks, Lanes (Candy, Sandy and Cindy), Skoogs, Reinertsons and lots of others.

Besides a shortcut, the Woods was a heck of a playground! There were bushes available for forts and tall trees for treehouses. It helped that we had vivid imaginations. Along the side that rimmed our yard, there was a row of tall bushes that contained small berries - great for pretend pioneer food. My mom told us "Do Not Eat the Berries They Are Poison" so we never did. That's why I'm alive today! haha.

The Freeses lived across the back yards from us. Ed and wife Bev with their kids Barb, who was Susi's age and Kent, who was Cindy's age. Their yard lined the Woods too - but their end wasn't as thick as they had no bushes - so you could see right into the Woods from their yard. Their dog Pug would bark at you if he saw you cutting through!

For a while we had our sandbox right on the corner of the Woods and our yard, under the shade of a tree. It was the old fashioned kind - made out of wood. There was no lid so neighborhood cats left presents in it every once in a while. I loved making trails and roads in that cool sand. I bet I tracked a lot of it into our house. Bless my mother and her patience.

As I rode my bike I thought once again about how lucky I was to be a kid when and where I was.

Update:
Amy reports that she enjoyed hanging out with the Wilson family, she bought filters for her car and when she got to KC, she and her brother installed them! A bonding experience...and thrifty - awww.