7-30-15

Me: Advice from a Dragonfly…

- Spend time near the water

- Appreciate long summer days

-Travel

- Enjoy a good reed

-Keep your eyes wide open

-Sometimes just wing it

- You are beautiful, delicate & unique. :-)

Photo of Bob holding a dragonfly poolside.

7-29-15

Me: Happy Harley, Happy Husband, Happy Home. :-)

Even if it's averaging 108 this week…it's nice to be back in our AZ routine.

7-28-15

Me: This little piggy went to the post office!!

This is my fun find from an Elk Horn thrift store, The Egg Crate. It's an old school letter holder. I have it sitting on our "catch all" cabinet near the kitchen. This little piggy is ready to hold some letters & run them to the post office. :-)

7-27-15

Me: I didn't get photos of all the family we saw in Iowa but here are a few…

Bob, Me, Kennley, Ashley, Mom, Jerome, Monte. Jerome is #4 of Monte & Emily. Jerome, Ashley & their 10 mo old live in Haywarden, IA.

Kyler, Clint, Daira, Ashley, Tyler, Danielle, Brooke & Mom.

Daira (Rod & Susan's #5), Clint & Kyler live in Des Moines, IA

Danielle (Rod & Susan's #2), Mike & their 3 live in Denver. CO

Daira's, Danielle's, Mom, Bob & I toured the Hitchcock House. We've been there before but it's always interesting. Pastor Hitchcock hid slaves in his basement that were fleeing from the south & heading to Canada. They called this route the underground railroad (though it wasn't actually a railroad…it was the code system they used). There were safe houses in Lewis (above), Des Moines, Grinnell & other towns across Iowa.

7-26-15

Me: Class of 1985 (in 1985)

Elk Horn-Kimballton Danes & Lady Danes.

Class of 1985 (in 2015)

17 out of 33 made it back for our 30 year reunion.

One of our classmates, Scott grilled us big & delicious Ribeye steaks. He & his wife made the whole reunion meal. PS: They own a successful catering business outside Des Moines (lucky us)!

It sure was fun to visit & find out what everyone is up to. Many have children & some even grandkids!!

A few of the guys in our class…

Todd (Walgreens executive in Chicago), Mike (in Elk Horn tourism - grinds flour at Elk Horn Danish windmill), Gene (animal & Ag researcher at Univ of Lincoln, NE), Troy (lives in Elk Horn & sells insurance. Talented with home renovations & car restoration. He & his wife hosted our party & have a beautiful 1914 home), Scott (was a farmer, then restaurant owner & turned it into a catering business 5 yrs ago), Troy (farmer - Elk Horn).

Being goofy.

So glad Bob & I made it back to Iowa for my reunion. It has been a long time since I've seen many of these childhood friends. Most of our class have known each other since kindergarten. And for those who couldn't attend our 30th - it was still fun hear about where they live. Carol, our MC for the night was good to be in the know on everyone!

7-25-15

 Me: Garage Sales here we come!!

1985 Classmates Carol, Jenifer & I (along with Bob) searched Elk Horn & Kimballton during their annual city wide garage sale! Jenifer wanted to buy this retro camper. 

At the Egg Crate; a cool thrift store in Elk Horn. Carol bought these glass dishes to create a decorative window like the ones I've been making in AZ. Jenifer is showing an old elementary school chair (very likely one we used in 1st grade)!

We found some old plastic Halloween masks. Remember this kind? The ones you couldn't breathe under! Carol's mask had the name "Ann Esbeck" inside. Ann was 3 years older than us in school (too funny).

It was really neat driving around our hometowns, shopping & seeing folks we knew. This rock is displayed in Kimballton. Someone is painting a rock in every Iowa county (or maybe town?). This one has The Little Mermaid on it. BTW: I bought 3 vintage juice glasses, a retro letter holder & a 1960's lamp. :-)

After garage sales it was back to the farm for lunch. Then Jerome dreamed up an activity for himself & these guys!

 Rappelling off of Monte's tractor lift. 

Monte raised them Up, Up, UP! :-/

Then Jacey came down.

Next was Bob!

Thumbs up from Jerome! 

They said it was a pretty cool view up there. :-)

Tonight is my 30 year class reunion!! Yay! I'll post pics from that tomorrow.

7-24-15

Me: Piggy Love

@ the Shelby County Fair.

Mom, Bob & I went to the county fair this morning. The fairgrounds are just 3 miles from mom's house. We ate breakfast at the fair & walked around. There was rabbit judging. Is that new?! I don't remember that when I was in 4-H. There were a lot of rabbits.

There was also goat judging (above).

Horse Judging (waiting their turn).

And Gidget…who already has her blue ribbon hanging on the stall!

Of course there is calf judging and pigs (which we didn't see this time).

Surprise visit from our Denver niece, Danielle & her 3 kids (Ashley, Tyler & Brooke)! They have been in IA this week visiting Danielle's folks, siblings & their children in the Des Moines area. They stayed at my mom's for two nights while we were home. 

Bob & I spent the afternoon with them at the Elk Horn swimming pool. It was a hot & humid day (heat index showed 111 degrees) so that was the only thing that sounded fun - and it was! Not only did we get time with Danielle & kids but her mom, Susan was there plus Laura (nephew Reggie's wife) & their 3 kids from Des Moines. BTW: I was a lifeguard here during high school & practically lived at the pool every summer growing up.

7-23-15

Me: Bob & I flew into Omaha last night & stayed in the city with Aunt Sonja & Uncle Dick. This morning we had breakfast at La Peeps (their fav cafe') & took a nice walk. It was really nice catching up as it's been a while. Sonja is my mom's youngest sister.

From Nebraska to Iowa! It's just an hour drive from Omaha to the farm. We arrived in time to have lunch; sweet corn & rhubarb crisp….mmmm (thank you, Emily!) We got to see Janna, Andrew, Kavan & Riley since they are still in IA (though flying back to AZ tonight). After lunch Mom, Bob & I did some touring around Elk Horn & the countryside. We made a stop at the field to see Monte, Jacey & David baling hay.

David (L) is Carol & Paul's oldest & has been in IA since mid-May. He's hired help for the summer & is getting a great experience working on a farm!! Jacey (center) is Monte & Emily's youngest. He graduated from college last year and is now a full time farmer with his dad, Monte. Jacey lives on a farm between Elk Horn & Atlantic. Great to see my nephews working hard & having fun! Monte is doing great! He's an awesome host to a lot of family who come to get in on rural liv'n. Monte even gets help ;-) from his grandchildren who love to ride in the tractor with him. 

No heavy lifting for Bob but he did take a short ride on the hay wagon. :-)

Back on the home farm Chad was working on the barn siding. Chad is Monte & Emily's son-in-law (Jaime's husband). They live in Denison, IA & have 3 boys. Chad is a teacher & football coach & Jaime is a stay at home mom & photographer.

At least Bob could hold the siding in place while Chad drilled. The barn is looking great with the new makeover! It was nice to see Chad & his 2 older boys (Jaime was in Denison with their youngest, Lincoln). Tonight we hung out with mom at her home in Atlantic. It's good to be with her again!

7-22-15

Me: Yay!! I found my 1985 yearbook yesterday. I'm gonna have fun looking at it on the plane trip to Iowa today. I haven't been to a high school reunion since my 10 year. It will be wonderful seeing those who are back for our 30th!

We had a class of 33…almost all I've known since kindergarten.

Well…can you find me????????

Remember it was the 80's!!!! 

Which means I used a lot of SUN-IN & a lot of hairspray! :-)

7-21-15

Me: I found this COOL COW today! It's from World Market & I had to buy it. :-) It shows what area of the cow your steak comes from. Even though I grew up on an Iowa farm I learned some things from this diagram! :-/  You can hang this decorative cow on the wall & use his clip for your daily grocery list.

I'm gonna take this cool cow back to Iowa tomorrow & give to my mom or farmer brother, Monte. It's my 30 year high school reunion on Saturday so that's why I'm heading back! Bob is also going & we're excited!! PS: Painted my toes orange for our school colors; Orange & Black. We were the Danes & Lady Danes...Go Elk Horn-Kimballton!! :-)

7-20-15

Me: "Have Courage and Be Kind."  Cinderella

So I saw Cinderella in the theatre yesterday (the 2015 Disney movie). It was outstanding! Even though you know the story well…please see this version (you will be so glad). Cinderella's inspiring words to live by: Have Courage and Be Kind.

Cinderella knick knack above is my garage sale find from a few months ago. I like it even more now!