Everybody knows the mister

who drives around me and my sisters. He did well. The Bullock Girls (minus sister Suso - we missed her) rocked around DSM and southwest Iowa. That is after Betsy finally arrived. Cindy's flight last Thursday was right on time. She spent the whole afternoon carousing in the East Village, ending up at the Historical Building.

As a matter of fact, she learned that Iowa had problems during the Civil War - trying to make their own fashion statement by dressing in gray, instead of blue like the other Union Soldiers. Oops - friendly fire. Were they using up a large shipment of gray fabric? Interesting. I work right by there - I think I need to swing through the Civil War exhibit and read up.

Anyhoo....I arrived back in town from a day in Iowa City ready for a beer in a not-so-nice dive bar. Locust Street Tap fit the bill. Paul met us there. A text arrived from Bets - her flight was running late. Argh. By the time we were done - 1:15 a.m. was the ETA. We went to bed and set our alarms. Yikes. Finally both sisters were in the house.

Friday morning came too soon, but was a beautiful morning. We headed to our Mother Ship - Atlantic.

Stop at the cemetery

We met our friend Kay Harris for giant pork tenderloins at Oinkers for lunch.

We headed to Walnut to antique after that. I scored a great box that had once stored rubbers (the feet kind...). Check out this cool bear.

Love the dove-tailing on the edges

Jud tells a story Friday night

And that was Friday.

Sisters' weekend

My sissies are coming - well, two of 'em anyway. Susi had other plans involving husband Jim's army buddies. So she couldn't make it. Those other two girls I grew up with are coming. Cindo came to Iowa to visit us at our new home in WDM (that's West Des Moines Richard Lamm) last year. Now Bitsy Betsy is coming!

We have a busy agenda - I sent them a spreadsheet. Putting that together helped me organize meals and feel like I'm somewhat prepared for the visit. It's not like I will fall a part if we don't follow it exactly...but it's  a starting place. We purchased groceries tonight.

• Cindy arrives first - Pablo is picking her up at the DSM airport as I'll be in Iowa City doing an audit of the solid waste agency's Environmental Management System. He'll be waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs at the International (what...are there 6 gates?) Airport. He said he'd be holding a sign that says "Lafave sister" (her name is Lefebvre). Of course then we'd need to hold a sign for Betso that says Other Fave sister - and her name is Kohan.
• Paul needs to go back to work, so Cindo is going to knock around downtown DSM and the East Village. I'm printing her a map of the joint. http://eastvillagedesmoines.com/site/assets/map.pdf
• I'll be back around 4, and then we're getting some drinks. I think Locust Tap is in order - because there is no place like that. I don't want to go overboard...because
• Betso arrives about 11 p.m. That's like 2 p.m. her time. (really it's 9 p.m. - cuz she's from Washington). She'll be travel tired though - after flying all that way.
• Friday we're traveling to the mother ship. Land of our birth, the Big A, A-T-L-A-N-T-I-C. Atlantic. We will stop by the cemetery - our peeps are there. No...not them really. But we like to stop by there. Last year Cindy sprinkled some of her husband Bolder's ashes there. He loved my parents, and he cried when Patrick passed away.
• We're having lunch with our friend Kay Harris. She was a special person in our Dad's life.
• On the way back we're swinging by Walnut - to check out the antiques.
• Friday night is steak fry night at our place. Gateway Market filet Mignon's. Jud and Kara are arriving later from St. Louis - their friends are getting married in DSM this weekend.
• Saturday - you know what day that is. FM babay. Farmer's Market. We need some rhubarb - Pablo plans to make a pie. Damn we forgot the secret ingredient at the store. Pudding.
• We're hoping to see our cousin Bob after we "market".
• That night we're going out - to Jesse's Embers or Centro? Not sure
• Sunday is Father's Day. I hope I remembered to prepare and start the egg casserole Saturday night. Jud and Kara will be there. I'm glad the bestest daddy in the world will see 50% of his living children.
• That night - Queen will Rock Us at the Civic Center. We have tickets to the live event. I think we'll head downtown for appetizers first.
• Monday I'd planned to head to Ames to tour Reiman Gardens, lunching at Hickory Park. Rain may derail those plans though...
• We're having burgers that night with smashed red potatoes, a Facebook recipe that is so good!

last year - sprinkling Boldie at the Atlantic Cemetery (some of him got on my lips...)

So those are the plans - pretty simple. Mostly I'm looking forward to hanging with the girls!

Pot O Gold Bread (Pat's delight)

I might have mentioned before that I pledged my head, heart, hands and health to those wonderful gals, the Glad Girls of Grove 4H Club. Is that for life?

Better living through the letter H!

When I was fortunate enough to get a horse, I joined a 4-H club in order to show that horse and win ribbons. Sally Rodgers and Jennifer Deter were in my club. That organization had rules. Tough love for this girl. To be in 4-H and show my horse I had to, gulp, also be in Food and Nutrition. That meant cooking. And other stuff like decoupaging a recipe box.

Last weekend I frantically dug through all my recipes looking for one for beans. No luck on that - but I did find this.

It's cheese bread - baked in seasoned clay flower pots. Mom cleverly tied a cloth ribbon around the pots - to make the loaves attractive when serving the bread. Yeah - Mom did more of the work. As I said - I was in it for my horse. The bread (and Mom) earned a blue ribbon but no purple and no State Fair. I didn't come from the right "family" for that. (4-H Mafia) haha. The horse show was fun!

I don't look all that happy

Warm homes

As I traveled with work pals this week, somehow the topic of housewarming gifts came up. You know how conversations go...one thing leads to another to another. Soon I was regaling the group with one of my many stories. I'm a walking font you know.

When Paul and I purchased our first home we were at that age. Lots of our friends were purchasing first homes too. Vicki and Fred had bought one in Ames - they were always the "test pilots" for everything - marriage, homes, babies.

We waited until we moved to Creston to buy a house. We were in our late 20's and were ready to take on the joys and heartaches of home ownership. By week 2 we figured out we needed a new furnace. Hello heartache!

We were tapped out by the home purchase and therefore had to take out a very special loan from the manufacturer of the furnace unit, through the local installer Holt Plumbing and Heating. All for a mere 20% interest. What a deal! I didn't have a job yet so it was stressful. We sure loved that house though - not a typical starter home, it had belonged to Dr. and Mrs. Brom, longtime Creston residents who apparently loved green. The whole house was that color head to toe, inside and out. We quickly moved to make it more blue - ah, the 90's.

Our college friends eventually came to our home to help christen it. We had a hot tub party on the patio - it was quite fun, though it was Memorial Day and people gathered around the gas grill for warmth. Brrr. When Behrs and Wilts left to travel back to their homes, Paul and I noticed our yard had some new additions. Pink flamingos and plastic yard bees - so funny and what a surprise!

In that house I found a treasure. I wish I had a photo of it...because a description doesn't do it justice. I discovered the Rose Bowl (nothing to do with football) on the back shelf in the walk-in closet in our bedroom. It was hideous. A heavy glass orb filled with murky water and a blackened (likely once beautiful) rose. It sat on a gold metal base. I'm not sure why the Broms kept it, until they didn't - conveniently leaving it behind when they moved.

What to do with the object d'(not) art? I couldn't bring myself to toss it. Hmmm now I know the dilemma Broms faced. Then our friends Moose (Steve) and Kay Wilt purchased a home just outside of Chicago. They needed assistance roofing. Light bulb moment. Wouldn't that rose be lovely in the Wilt home?  Along with pink flamingos and a bee. We had fun sneaking it into the abode and found a perfect spot right in the entryway for the orb. It took them several hours to spot the beautiful gift. I still smile thinking of it.

Later, when we moved to our second home in Creston...I do believe those darn Wilts gifted the damn thing - in even worse shape by now - back. I tossed it. #stinky. Good friends do warm a home!



Love the DSM specialty stuff

Friday I spent the afternoon with my sis-in-law Carol in my favorite place (not) quilt stores! I'm sure they make her heart go pitty pat. Just like the Columbia Store does for me. Or a book store. But it was all for me - as she has agreed to make a quilt for Paul and me for our quilt rack. It was hard to figure out what fabrics to put together - I was flummoxed! Luckily at the Valley Junction store I found a kit I liked and she was happy with it - so it was a go. Can't wait! There are such cute stores in Valley Junction - need to take my sissies (Cindy and Betsy are arriving next Thursday) there.


So cute...don't know where one would put this and it would be impossible to dust
 

Saturday we met Carol and daughter Barb at the Farmer's Market before the rain started. They snagged rolls for Barb's daughter Mandy.

Roadtrippin' to NW Iowa

I'm so mad! I forgot to take a picture with Mary Faber! I thought of it at odd times - when she was driving and when we were eating. Idiot. She looks great for all of you Crestonians out in Blogland.

I went on a trip to NW Iowa with 3 co-workers Tuesday to Wednesday. They are fun peeps to travel with.

• Jeff - is a newlywed (and he's in his late 50's...even older than I am). His husband Nick is a sweetheart who was home trying to get an antique store ready for a big sale this weekend.
• Scott - is someone I travel with quite frequently. He's 35 and is fairly serious and has a sense of humor so dry it needs its own humidifier. Wicked! He's married and his wife is gorgeous.
• Becky is our mommy. Mother of 3 youngsters, I love hearing the stories about the fam as they take me back 20 years. She left her husband home with kids: ages 9, 4 and 8 months! Good for the guy.

Who knew there were this many trees in NW Iowa???

We did a couple site visits on our way to our ultimate destination, Spencer. First we went to a sawmill in Armstrong, Iowa.

sawmill
 

Next we stopped at New Horizons - a sheltered workshop in Emmetsburg. The recently received grant funding to refurbish the belt for their cardboard recycling system. They also operate the can and bottle redemption center - which is tough because those places haven't gotten a raise since the deposit was put into place in 1978.

all have to be sorted by distributor



This Bud's for you - cans awaiting collection by the Bud man
 

I was pleased to hear about the inroads they've made with the casino in the area - they are good recyclers and want to tackle food waste next. I'm betting on them!

We headed to Spencer in the rain after that stop, and Mary came over after that. The McCann children - Jake (Phoenix), Will (Chicago) and Megan (Waterloo) are all doing great. Mary took the DNR gang out to eat at a barbecue place in Spencer as our hope to head to Okoboji were dashed by the rain. I'm a witch and didn't wish to melt, you see...

On Wednesday we met with the folks from the Northern Plains solid waste planning area. They are making progress on their Environmental Management System- yay!

Becky, Jeff and Scott look on as staffer demanufacture electronics

On the way home we all got a bit sleepy and slap happy. We needed to drive 3 more hours...so we played car games. First: car alphabet - name something that starts with an A, but you have to see it. We were lucky when we got to X and were near Webster City. They have Xavier Ave.

Next we played a memory game. I didn't win - but was handicapped by driving. That takes some of one's mental capacity. Right? "I'm going to the zoo and I'm taking" Applesauce, Scott said. Then I had to repeat that and say my "B" thing and Scott's Applesauce - until we go all the way through the alphabet. Doing the alphabet backwards was the hardest part. And remembering - especially when Scott thought of dumb long things for his turn. Jeff was very helpful acting out clues when it was my turn to remember everything. #I'macheater

I got home last night at about 6 p.m. I'm still tired. Next week - 2 day trips and then my sissies (Cindy and Betsy) are coming. Can't wait! 

Wedding Crasher

Pablo and I have exactly no wedding invites this summer. We watched the movie "Wedding Crashers" last night. Slim pickins' on TV during the summer. It's been a while since I've seen this one.

If you haven't ever seen it - the movie features two 30ish guys (played by Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn) that "crash" weddings, large lavish ones. They pretend to be invited guests and have a ball eating, drinking and getting chicks. At the end of the wedding season they hit "the wedding" - the daughter of a big wig. It's a hoot when Vaughn (in character as Jeremy) is showing off his balloon animal making talents at the reception. A bratty kid demands that he craft a bicycle for him out of the balloons. I laughed out loud when the kid walked away with a full sized balloon bike. Ride that sucka.

The movie is making me pine to be at a good old fashioned summer Iowa wedding! Tent reception, buffet and beer. I've been to a few in my day. I was even invited.

Paul and I had a summer wedding. that's probably why I'm a bit partial to them. We didn't have a dance or a tent - we did have an second reception (after the formal one at the Country Club) at our house at 202 Crombie in Atlantic. My parents' friends helped by preparing and serving a fab beef brisket meal. Beer was served. Some of the wedding party got a little drunk - sitting in the front yard and garage with our friends. Grass stains were found on the white tuxedos the next day...

Krissy and her daddy - before the partay

It's been about four years since Krissy McFee married Caleb Carroll in Creston. That was a damn good summer wedding! The reception was at Crestmoor Country Club and there was a chilled trailer for beer - the kegs kept coming. There was a dance floor set up in the tent and people were having fun. A good time was had by all. A couple summer ago the Peterson boys (Deb and Larry's sons) got married here in the DSM area. Those were fun times.

the dance - Brett Peterson's wedding. I had all my moves that night...

I'm not saying non-summer weddings aren't fun. They can be a warm respite during chillier times of the year. Wedding Crashers just made me feel like celebrating love on a hot summer night. Any takers out there?

Homesickness can make you puke

I'm listening to a book on CD where a character lays on a mattress "like one finds at summer camp." It made me think about the summer camps I attended. First, Bar-L Ranch in Guthrie Center. Cindy and I talked about Bar-L last week. I have so many great memories from that place.

The summer after I graduated from fifth grade - I graduated to a camp my mother and my aunt had attended. Camp Cheley in Estes Park, Colorado.

Like they say in the song - It Was the Summer of '69. I was 11 going on 12. A month is a long time to be gone when you're that age. I arrived at camp with my friend Sally Rodgers  - fresh off the plane from Omaha with my trunk of camp clothes. We took a bus from the airport up to Estes Park. After about a day - it hit. I'd never really been the homesick before. I could stay all night with friends - or go to camp for a week, without much thought of my family. But I got it bad.

When we arrived at camp, Sal and I were assigned different cabins - what up with that? In retrospect, probably a good idea. To an 11 year old, why isn't my friend in my cabin? For young person development - split them up and let them grow as people. Issues for me: The showers/restrooms were down the road - my bladder burst one morning before I could get to the latrine. How embarrassing for someone my age. We had to help with meals, but I was afraid I'd drop the plates. Psych!

A prized possession - I made this owl at Cheley. They fired it before I could paint the eyeballs...Pottery Class

All of the sudden I didn't feel well - vomit. I guess needed a little TLC in the sick bay. I think they'd been through this before...the camp has been around since the dark ages! Reassuring words were said, hands were held. Sick Bay was boring. After a while I decided to suck it up and get over myself. And just like the Camp Grenada song - after the emotional rain, I had a blast!

We rode horses, hiked, did shot 22 rifles, did archery, did crafts and went tent camping. We learned awful camp songs that I can still sing today. Campers could earn awards by learning names of the mountains in the range near Estes. Or the parts of a saddle and the horse. We were constantly challenged physically and mentally, but gently. I became attached to my cabin counselors Colleen and Nancy. I especially liked the overnight trek we went on somewhere in those mountains near a place called the Baldpate Inn. I remember seeing the keys hanging all over.

At camp Sally and I would walk up to the canteen at break time for a nice cold Coca Cola and a Snickers bar. We also liked the paddle tether ball game for excitement and hanging out with a few choice campers from each of our cabins. They were from all over the country - including Hawaii.

By the end of four weeks I couldn't believe how time had flown by. But I was ready for my fam to come get me so we could head back to the flatland. Where I didn't vomit.

Meanwhile back in Iowa, in present day...

Brazilian Twins in the background

We a great day Saturday! Deb visited from Creston and we hit the Farmer's Market. A fave musical group from last year - Brazilian Twins were there - electric violin. We enjoyed a nice bloody M outside at a corner bar. Then we headed to Mullets where the Flack girls were breakfasting with Susan's fiancé Denny. Always fun catching up with the Flacks. And we learned Deb's Fonda classmate was Susan's Colo High School bball coach. #allofIowaisonetown.

Finally Deb, Paul and I rode bikes out to West Glen - stopping at Bike World to drool over bikes/equipment. We saw Crestonites Mike and Traci Tamerius outside testing couple bikes.

On to Wellman's Pub for a bit of lunch. And a Mojito. Of course Deb and I are talking a mile a minute the whole time - we had a lot of catching up to do! When we left to ride back to our house, it started sprinkling. By the time we turned south - it was a downpour. We stopped at an underpass but we were already soaked. Onward! I'm glad I didn't wipe out. Riding in the rain was kinda fun. #squishyshoes

That's Deb and Paul leaving me in their mist...