Out Ioway: August 2008

Daughters Do the Chainsaw

Today was more crabbing for Ma...pulling up crabgrass, that is, while letting others do the heavy work.

I wasn't born yesterday, ya know.

Kendra wants her brothers to especially take note, that she has now used a chainsaw and they haven't. Probably the most exciting thing that has happened to her other than getting her driver's license and wel....being born. Unfortunately, I was just coming back from a quick trip to town and missed getting a picture of her, but I did get one of Sharon. Yes, sweet Sharon got to slice through a big trunk, also.

My whole world view is going to change, no doubt. And Kendra and Sharon are very thankful for an indulgent uncle.

Tonight we'll be heading over to Doug and Cindy's house in Goshen. Should be a grand time. Tomorrow it'll be church with Mom, and then taking Kendra down to Grace. Sharon will be assisting inn the moving of Kendra's....*cough*...very small pile of stuff up to her puny dorm room.
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I've called home several times over these past days and everything seems to be going along swimmingly on the Iowa front. I tempted to extend my stay another coupla weeks (heh,heh), excepting school is supposed to start on Tuesday.

Can't Sleep

From deep in the basement of a home in Indiana, Ma posts through the magic technology of dial-up.

We had a pretty good day, in the clean-up department. My brothers have all been over here to Mom's during the day (Kendra and I are staying here, as well as my brother, Solly) to get at some major clearing chores.

Several trees had been cut down and are needing to be resized by way of a chainsaw.

Also, five pickup loads were hauled off to the landfill, including one old shed that was torn down.

I personally facilitated in my small way by unbolting some hardware to a leaf raker, to make it smaller to fit in a load.

You should have SEEN Ma wielding the pliars and wrench...a thing of beauty to behold. So what if my brother had to finish the job.

Kendra cut down two saplings that were growing out of the old trampoline bed. It's always satisfying for us ladies to destroy something, ya know. Makes us feel self sufficient and...I don't know...sorta manly, I guess.

We did a fair amount of moving good things to a better storage shed and dumping old stuff, though in truth, my brothers had done a lot of this before Kendra and I arrived, yesterday.

Also pulled a lot of crabgrass out of the roadside edge of lawn, which had deteriorated due to civilization's march across the front third of Mom and Dad's yard. But at least there are those purdy houses to look at in the new addition across the street. And the extra lane where people can whiz by at 50 mph, the legal posted limit.

Not that I'm complaining or anything. One certainly enjoys the breezes blown by passing madcap drivers. The fact that they were only a foot away from my curbside weeding merely added to the excitement.
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In the evening, we had a super picnic supper at Oxbow park, after which certain ~~crazy~~ energetic people played soccer on full stomachs. Those of us with more reason and deeper attachments to our health, stood on the sidelines and took pictures.

Sharon came up for the last part of the parkish fun and then we headed over to an ice cream joint which was serving it's last frozen concoctions of the season.

LINES OUT TO THE ROAD!

They ran out just as we were coming up to the window, but all was not lost...we found another ice cream place and that's when I glanced up at an in-store TV and saw McCain's VP choice for the first time...

...and suddenly, I'm feeling really sleepy...

'Lo, From Indiany

Ma here, comin' atcha from Ma's Mom's house, hee, hee :-)

Yes, Kendra and I made it safely here, and I only missed the right exit by one instead of the usual three, so I'm definitely getting better.

Hey, it's not MY fault they put in all these new-fangled roads since I grew up in these here parts. The 20 Bypass definitely makes the end of the trip faster, though. I guess I'll let them keep it.

Short post, since Mom is on dial-up. Besides, we're watching the last night of the Democratic Convention on her nifty new thin TV screen "it's-only-one-inch-thick" monitor...which brings up the point:

Why does my son have a nice LCD monitor for his computer, my mom has a thin-screen TV, yet poor Ma has this huge, archaic computer monitor on her desk in Ioway?

I'm just sayin'.

Oooo, look at the time. The big O-man is about to come out at the Grecian temple and Ma really must go and give a look-see and hear-see.

More details to come, including Ma's stop at a Wal-Mart--yes, already--and her amazing discovery that this one does NOT carry her Hershey's Dark Bliss Chocolate, but they DO have a new 65% Dark, by Dove.

Change we can believe in, baby. Change we can believe in :-D

The Last Details

Well now, won't be long till we're off for Indiana.

I'm basically ready but Loren's in the shower and I thought it would be mean to run off...

Got my church work done even though I slept in until 5:45.

Not that it made much difference...the sleeping in. Much lightning and thunder during the night.

Now the kids are rustling the cereal packages and Trevor just came up to me with a slightly forlorn look on his face...I thought maybe he was going to say how much he missed me already, but no, he wanted me to set the timer for his game time.

Well, I miss everyone already and I haven't even left, yet.

There is a cricket chirping behind my desk though, and I definitely won't miss that.

Just a few dozen lists to go over with the girls and then we'll be on our way...

Pray that we shall stay awake :-p

Crunch Time

It's official....Ma is runnin' on adrenaline, assisted by dark chocolate and Diet Cherry Coke.

Yesterday I got a lead for an oral surgeon for Derek's wisdom teeth. (he has to be under telemetry for the procedure) The first doc couldn't give us consult time until mid-September, but then I got another referral from our dentist and they had a cancellation for 2:30 today! So I called back and canceled the first consult, then ran to Iowa Falls and picked up a copy of Derek's X-ray to take with us this afternoon.

His wisdom teeth are bothering him, especially while eating, and I want to get those babies out and him healed up in plenty of time before the SAT in early October.

*takes breath*

We are receiving blessed rain, at the moment! It sorta messed up the last of my mowing, but I'll live, since our section of Iowa REALLY needed the moisture. Got done half of what I wanted, but I can always leave the rest for Ethan.

Starting to pack for el trippo biggo, which begins tomorry. I'm taking Kendra out to college a few days early, so I can get in on a bit of reunionizing with my side of the family :-D

Should be mucho funno, with pictures aplenty after I return.

Around 8:30 tonight I'll take Carolyn and Ethan over to the church to help me start the cleaning. Don't know if the folks meeting there will be done by then, but, uh...once I start sweeping they won't be able to hear and may as well go home, hee, hee. (just kidding, Pastor Jack :-)

Then, it'll be a "simple" matter of getting up at 5:30 tomorrow to finish the church cleaning before we leave.

Kendra's dorms don't open until Sunday afternoon, so once our visiting is over and I drop her off at college, I'll have to beat it for home, with a stop in Waterloo to pick up milk and meat for the grill.

Don't suppose the kids would survive unless we had a cookout on Labor Day. Haven't ever grilled milk before...

Trevor (sort of) Learns to Ride a Bike!

Welp, another milestone. Click on pictures to get the full effect.

Carolyn's been working off and on with Trevor and his bike. After more than a week or two off, this afternoon was hard at it.

First they go up to the top of Mr. Lupkes' drive, which has a slight grade down...

Older brothers watch with bated breath.

Then she runs along and finally lets go!

"Are you watching me, Mommy?"

Hmmmm, something seems to be missing...

Aha! Ma goes in and gets the helmet. It's from Goodwill and only has one pad missing on the inside.

YAYYYY! Everyone cheers for Trevor-the-Wonder-Bunny :-D

Time to get pushed back up the drive (he can't pedal back to the top, yet).

A green-shirted interloper wants to prove he can ride with no hands.

While others still have trouble with hands.

See, Trevor? THIS is why you wear a helmet.

This crack-up was rather spectacular, in that Trevor flipped completely over one time while falling. I missed that part due to temporarily blacking out...

*remind self to leave kids' insurance cards with Loren when I go to Indiana*

He's a tough cookie. Got a little skinned up but never complained.

Carolyn's pretty worn out, though.

"Mommy, you never made us wear helmets..."

"We didn't have them when you were learning...and...and, your weren't such widdle bunnies."

(and no, I do NOT have thousands of pictures of Trevor on the blog)

Everybody's a Truant Officer

Deliver me from taking kids shopping during any part of the traditional school day.

Never mind that the academic year never used to start until after Labor Day.

Never mind that maybe I want to spend time with los kiddos AND get the groceries.

Above all, we cannot break convention and have children show themselves in public during the last two weeks of August.

*sigh*

Since I'll be away from home from Thursday morning until Sunday evening, I thought it appropriate to take Nolan and Trevor with me for the Monday errands and shopping.

This serves several purposes:

1) Keeps them out of trouble. I don't return home and have people running out to the car squealing on their younger brothers.

2) Gives those at home a break. If nothing else, they don't get tired from running out to the car and squealing on their younger brothers.

3) We three get to spend "quality time" together...whatever that is.

I could tell things were going to follow a theme when at the FIRST PLACE I STOPPED the lady behind the counter looked at "I'm-short-for-my-age" Trevor and asked, "Are you in....preschool?"

"No, he'll be in 1st grade. He doesn't start until next week."

"Oh?"

"We home school and we start later since we don't take off snow days."

"Oh...well, that makes sense, I guess..."

Then Trevor proceeded to recognize and read off half the days of the week from a vertical calendar...hee, hee :-D

From there we went to Prairie Bridges Park where we broke out a packed lunch of items from home and the local deli. It was your basic bonding-time-for-all and we got to take a little walk together where Trevor and Nolan had vast amounts of fun throwing pebbles into the ponds.

Still, not enough time was used up, for at the next store:

"My, aren't they in school, yet?"

"Their school doesn't start until after Labor Day."

"You're kidding! Where are you from ?"

*tortured explanation involving homeschooling and not taking snow days*

By the time we got to the grocery store it was almost 2:00, but apparently that was not late enough. A man shopping with his wife keep looking over at us while I was picking through the Golden Delicious apples. Ever have that feeling that someone is STARING AT YOU?

I was pretty sure it wasn't because I was a foxy almost-50 babe. (if a guy ever DID gave me trouble I'd just show him my varicose veins and call 911...by then he'd probably have keeled over in a dead faint)

ANY-way, I got tired of the "why-aren't-those-boys-in-school" feeling and so I shot him a purposeful look and he immediately averted his gaze.

Hey...NOBODY messes with my apple-sorting karma.

Still, I suppose that'll be the last time I take anyone shopping outside of traditional school hours.

Too bad. We had a really nice time, too.

But at this point in life, I'm trying to weed out unnecessary stress.

The Last Summer Swim

Friday was the day before Jason left for college and an excellent opportunity for one last gasp of summer fun.

Hot and humid, it would be the final chance for Pine Lake before a cold front passed over Iowa. Even though the website read "swimming not recommended," we felt there wasn't much choice.

Had an super time, with 43 pictures to prove it :-)

Pine Lake August 08

Oh Hurrah

Just got word from the son...Jason has made it to campus :-)

Guess I can start breathing, again.
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To paraphrase a bit of repartee between Kendra and myself:

" 'Safe' at college....*chuckle*...."

"Yes, if in-deed that be safe."
________________

A tremendous THANK YOU to everyone who prayed.

Good News on el Trippo (so far)

Jason pulled into Aunt Elizabeth's around 8:30 or so. Everything went OK albeit a little longer than expected.

Not bad for his first solo flight since getting his license three days ago. (reminds me of how Galen used to teach the boys to swim by throwing them into the pool, eh, Elizabeth?)

Tomorrow will be close to half the time of today's drive, which means Jason should pull into LeTourneau around midnight...heh, heh.

Praise the Lord for safety thus far :-)

And don't forget to lift Jason up in prayer for tomorrow.

(still glad you didn't fly, dude?)

Back to the College Routine

We appreciate any prayers for Jason's safe travel today and Sunday.

We got to have him home for all of 6 days, but that'll have to do, I guess. At least Jason got his driver's license, and now he won't be bothered by our Iowa allergens.

The first leg of the trip is down to Tulsa...Loren utilized the new weed eater to insure Jason's safe passage out of the driveway.

Then there's the awkward, stand-around-"what-do-we-do-now?" stage...

...where Trevor tries to put on a brave face.

The critical starting of the '89 blue Toyota

Getting ready for the traditional run-along-the-driveway sendoff.

No one's run into a tree, so far...

The final wave, and....

Farewell Jason...we hardly saw ye.

(this picture post has been brought to you by photobucket, due to Blogger's extreme lameness)

The Old, the Egg and the Lovely

It's time to check in with the Cucumber Family.

Herbert: After six days, the effort of holding that dazzling smile is beginning to show in Herb's left eye. Behold: a large, yellow tear. Ma fears an emotional breakdown is imminent. Perhaps 'putting on a happy face' is not always the best medicine.

Magnolia: Increasing age has started to take its toll. No amount of moisturizing cream can hide the wrinkles encroaching upon her brow. Maggie's countenance appears jaded. She begins to wonder, ever so slightly, if there is more to life than make-up.

Curbie: The passing of time has not lent the look of maturity to this young cuke. If anything, willfulness and evil ingenuity seem etched even deeper into his soulless being. Despite his mediocre size, one would hate to meet Curbie in a dark row of the garden.

Baby Melonie: Ah, little Mel...so small and yet so shrimpy. You, alone seem virtually unchanged over the past week (one week in human time equals 40 years for a cucumber). The light of increased awareness is evident in one of your eyes. Too bad about that camera lens smudge...
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Moving on to reality, Jason has always had this odd proclivity for 'well done' foods.

This morning's egg was no exception...

..."Did you want it to turn out that way?"

"Yes! I like them to pop and sizzle in the pan."

"What? I can't hear you over all the popping sound..."
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Jason's leaving tomorrow to drive himself down to LeTourneau. He'll be taking the little blue Toyota and stopping off at Aunt Elizabeth's, in Tulsa, overnight, and finishing the last 5 hour leg on Saturday.

In honor of Jason's last day here, I'm taking the kids and myself for a final outing of the season. I won't say just where, but the day is appropriately hot and humid.

Aye....the end of summer is most bittersweet.

Our Glorious Tripartite Victory

Jason's never been overly anxious to get his driver's license, but with the approach of another collegial trip to Texas, and oodles of co-op cash to pay for the insurance, the time seemed propitious.

When KENDRA found out he'd be taking the driving test at 9:30 this morning, she said, "You know...maybe I should try for my license, too...I mean, since you're going over there (Hampton) and it would save gas...."

Not that she's competitive, or anything.

So we managed to schedule her in at 8:30.

Weeks ago I had mentioned to Melinda that it might be good--if she so desired--to go for her driver's permit before school started and other studies monopolized her time.

With Jason and Kendra's appointments settled, I reissued my invitation and Melinda began studying the manual on Sunday.

When KENDRA heard about this development she said, "WHAT!? There's no way she has time to get ready for the test!"

(like I said, Kendra's not competitive. At all.)

"What's the worst that can happen?" I replied. "If she misses too many, she can take it over, later. Besides, Jason says there are practice tests online..."

"WHAT?! That's not fair..."

(as I may have said....oh, never mind)

So Loren showed Jason and Kendra the finer points of parallel parking, took them over to Hampton to get familiarized with the streets, and Melinda diligently studied the Iowa Driver's Manual. She also did several of the online tests and Kendra even gave Melinda an oral quiz, last night.

Since Loren had a previously scheduled appointment with the heat pump guy, it was up to good ol' Ma to get up early and chauffeur the crew to the Franklin County Courthouse.

I kept them all loose and relaxed by cracking a few jokes and giving last minute tips..."Offer to stop by McDonald's and buy the tester an iced coffee."

There is no doubt that my attempts at levity were just the ticket, since....

THEY ALL PASSED :-D

Yes, in one fell swoop, we have two, new drivers and one trainee.

I is glad.

Naturally, this calls for celebratory chocolate.

Trevor, pointing out his 'C'-shaped bagel, this morning.

Oh hey...what's not to love?

Shopping for College

Yesterday was time for the annual 'shopping-for-college-but-really-we-just-wanted-to-eat-at-Arby's' trip to Waterloo.

With Kendra.

We gals did stoop to take Derek along, dropping him off at the John Deere's Product Engineering Building.

Hey...I know he's only 17, but it's never to early to submit your application!

Or, he could have been on a pre-arranged job shadow with two engineers who go to our church, hee, hee :-)

With gas prices so high, it made sense to combine the two endeavors.

So, after ~~dumping~~ dropping Derek off, Kendra and I headed over to the Goodwill SUPER Store. Through an unfortunate mental lapse on Kendra's part, she went towards the clothes and I made a beeline for the books, where I picked up most of these beauties before she realized her fatal blunder...

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (just a bit of wear)
The Riverside Chaucer (I couldn't be-LIEVE this find...looks to be a college text, in mint condition...costs 107 buckaroos at B&N. I paid one dollah)
Tales of O. Henry (great shape)
The Grapes of Wrath (Reader's Digest Edition...but still, looks never to have been read)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (found this in the children's department)
The Beloved Works of C.S. Lewis: Surprised By Joy, Reflections on the Psalms, The Four Loves, The Business of Heaven

There's a bit of a story behind the last book...even though we had almost THREE HOURS at the Goodwill store, apparently this wasn't nearly long e-NUFF, so after picking up Derek from his John Deere thang and debriefing him over our lunch, we dropped Kendra off at Goodwill and Derek and I headed over to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore :-D

Naturally, cheap Ma headed for the closeouts and bargains, where I found the lovely four book volume of C.S. Lewis.

*happy sigh*

Got one or two Christmas presents, but folks'll have to wait on that.

Another very gladsome purchase for Ma was four bags of black colored mulch for my roses...

...here are two of my 'Knockout' roses, which survived transplanting fairly well.

(by the way, I got the mulch at Wal*Mart, not the bookstore)

This might be a good time to describe Kendra's methods of shopping at Goodwill: she takes the WHOLE CART into the dressing room...complete with 15 pairs of jeans. (no, I am NOT kidding)

We're talkin' SERIOUS SHOPPIN', here. Kendra harbors dreams of us taking a motel room for the night and making a two-day project of the Goodwill Superstore.

I would need to bring boxes for the books, though...

Adventures With Ma

'Twas another day of grocery shopping for our intrepid heroine. Displaying amazing self-control, Ma bought nothing....as in nada, nunco, zippo at El Storo Goodwillo.

Upon finding the 'good ice cream' on sale, our humble matron bought two cartons, vowing to save them for herself and the patriarch. That's right...none for the kiddos. It is, as they say, "Los Breakos."

She makes a mental note to try and remember to tell her husband...

On the way home, our consumate shopper spies the gas prices and takes a picture...

...only to find it is exactly the same as one week ago. Briefly, Ma contemplates buying gas to stimulate a price reduction, but she decides the money can be applied more profitably toward Almond M&M's.

Hark! What noble creature is this?

'Tis the Great Blue Heron, carefully checking for frogs and toads in the ditch.

Ma is thankful for the brief yet pleasurable sighting of Ardea herodias.

Returning home, our nearly exhausted procurer of foodstuffs enters the kitchen to find...

...Herbert Cucumber trying to interact with some distant relatives.

More than simply distant, they seem downright uncommunicative.

Ever the buoyant alpha-cuke, Bert gives them his finest smile and then...notices the label...

OH DEAR! They too, are buoyant, but for a different reason!

His countenance freezes in a permanent display of sanguine shock. Briefly he considers trying the Vulcan mind meld, but then there would be the whole problem of stealing a Klingon Bird of Prey, racing around the sun to go back in time, and well...it could get involved.

Herbert chooses instead to slip quietly back into his bowl and think cooling thoughts.

And that's all,

of Adventures With Ma...

(and Herb)

Meet the Cucumbers

Joining the blog this week...the Cucumber family!

On the left, Herbert Cucumber. Herb is an esoteric kinda guy. Oh, he can get the day-to-day jobs done, but what he really loves is to float upon the clouds of metaphysics, particularly its more abstruse aspects. Don't let that seemingly silly grin fool you...great thoughts are wheeling behind those vacant eyes.

Next we see Magnolia. This comely matron divides her time between eating chocolate and refreshing her lipstick. Not an easy job, considering she's an inanimate object. Maggie is undaunted though, and knows she provides a vital service to the economy by purchasing cocoa products by the gross. In her spare moments she provides a guiding hand to...

Curbie Cucumber. If this lad looks disgruntled it is only because his mother won't let him read Calvin and Hobbes. In the meantime, Curbie concentrates on polishing his computer game skills and secretly picking off scabs. His friends think he'll join the Teamster's Union when he grows up, but what Curbs really wants in life is to be just like his dad...if only he could figure out what---that---was.

Last is Baby Melonie. So cute, and yet so tooth challenged. Nonetheless, little Mel is adored despite dentate irregularities. While her long-range goals include oral surgery and braces, Melonie's immediate concern is to increase her vocabulary, which to date includes, "Goo," "Gah," and "More chocolate, please."

We trust you've enjoyed meeting this happy family. It is hoped they will join us again in the future, barring schedule conflicts and untoward decomposition.

Cornrise

Events

Concerning the Olympics, could that race of Phelps last night have been any more exciting?

I still can't quite believe he won. (frame by frame finish)

Of course the two American gymnasts winning gold and silver in the woman's all-around were spectacular. 'Spose I don't need to remind people that Shawn Johnson comes from Iowa?

:-D

I've tried hard not to make a big deal about it, but hey...

SHE COME'S FROM IOWA, fer cryin' out loud!

I have to say though, the grace and beauty of Nastia Liukin was simply exquistite. She certainly deserved the gold medal.

The gymnastic outcome on Thursday night helped negate the frustration of perceived underscoring and 'youthful' Chinese gymnasts.
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Today I will finish up work at the church (two hours) and then come home to a boys' bedroom cleaning project.

Jason arrives Sunday night for one week before heading down to college, and I want to remove several sources of allergens. Namely, a old floor rug that was here when we bought the house, and about....oh....5 years of dust.

Burning the rug--and who knows HOW many years of buildup--should produce a nice black cloud, but I figure it will smell no worse than the local hog lots and the recent omnipresent crop dusters.

Even more perilous than releasing the dust of ancient civilizations into the air....we are dangerously close to running out of chocolate! Somehow I must find the strength to hang on until Monday and shopping.

Until then, I shall eventually be forced to 'slum it' with cheap grocery store chocolate chips.

Imagine, cheap chocolate chips...known for the spread of disappointment in their tiny, drop-like wakes.

Oh, the inhumanity.

{Update...UPDATE! Loren had to run into town and brought back a bag of chocolate!!}

*weeps with relief*

Loren Turns 57 !

Or as I like to think of it...only 33 years until I retire.

Loren picked grilled burgers for his birthday meal. Then he left the rural electric co-op magazine open on the kitchen table to the page where the co-op cooks had "Best Burgers" recipes. The first one was "Tasty Burgers," and that's what Ma tried. Recipe to follow at bottom of post.

Here is Derek's plate, complete with strawberries and sour cream cucumber and onion salad.

(try getting that into your mouth, Derek...)

Loren, immediately after singing, "Happy Birthday to ME." He looks right pleased with himself.

The rest of us sang the more traditional version.

Notice the Green Tomato Pie in the above picture? Oh dear, it is almost gone, already...

(it WAS gone before the evening ended)

Not to worry, there were still two more.

(Well, only the smallest pie and one extra piece are left, now)

Sorry for not getting this out sooner, but what with critical Olympic events to keep track of, and one of the kids coming down with nastyish gastrointestinal symptoms, Ma fell behind.

Here's the winning recipe for "Tasty Burgers," contributed by Andrea Enderson, who gets a 50 dollar credit on her power bill. Hmmm, I should send in the recipe for green tomato pie...)

Tasty Burgers

2 pounds ground beef
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1/4 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs
1 egg
1 tablespoon mustard (I used less)
2 teaspoons Heinz 57 sauce (OK...first time I bought that)
1 teaspoon horseradish

This post has been brought to you by the excitement of the women's all-around gymnastics and a third Coke, drunk too late in the day.

It's TIME for....

"Bring Down the Gas Price With MA!"

Your favorite game show.

In today's episode we see that Ackley gas prices have fallen...

...ten cents since Monday!

That's an average of five cents per day, but basically they waited until just after I filled up on Monday afternoon and then whipped down the ol' price, all at once.

Look for more exciting gas revelations in the future. And as my alert Texas brother-in-law pointed out, the 'Super' is cheaper than the 'mediocre' gas. That's because, here in good ol' Iowa, they add Ethanol to the Super Unleaded. And because of all the corn we grow, and because Iowans are just so down to earth and humble, we get the 'good' stuff, cheaper.

Now, we can't use the ethanol type in our mowers, 'cause it wrecks the motor. But I'm SURE that wouldn't happen to your car, heh, heh.

Oh hey....it's also time for....

Loren's birthday!

Yes, the old man is 57. Ma started making the obligatory green tomato pies this morning, and they have only just come out of the oven, around 1pm. That's because when I opened the shortening container there was nowhere NEAR enough for three pies.

Hence, the trip into town for pie crust fat and a glance at the gas prices.

We may have pictures of the birthday meal, later. Ma is even grilling special burgers from a recipe out of the rural electric co-op magazine.

(I always knew living in the country would pay off, someday)

Just so you know, Loren shares his birthday with some very esteemed personages:

Annie Oakley,

Alfred Hitchcock,

Fidel Castro, and

Don Ho.

Yes, it's a pretty exclusive group. The first three shot things and the last guy sang songs that drove me nuts.

I'd have to say that Loren compares rather favorably.

The Wild Side of Life

Re-lax....Ma's just talkin' wildflowers :-D

Today is most momentous. I have finished my year of cleaning house for a very nice neighbor lady. It's only been once per month, but I hadn't realized it would take 5-6 hours of each cleaning day per month. So with school starting (and additional tutorial duties--"grrrr"--which I may get into at another time) I felt it was best that I discontinue this 'job.'

Anyway, upon returning home and guzzling a Diet Cherry Coke, snarfing Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, reading a bit of C.S. Lewis and taking a wee snooze, I felt the need to get outside.

There was a beautiful purple flower growing up out of the driveway rocks, and I determined to save it before an untimely vehicular demise.

I also traveled down the road to get 3 or 4 additional specimens of it, the...

Woolly Verbena Verbena stricta (also called: "Hoary Vervain")

It is said that the Plains Indians treated stomach aches by making a tea out of its leaves.

The roots can grow down to 12 feet, but I'm pretty sure I didn't get quite that much...

Not far from where I performed my verbena ditch rescue, I checked and saw that there were still a few blooming...

Yellow Toadflax Linaria vulgaris (nicknames: "Butter and Eggs," "Wild Snapdragon")

Supposedly, these can be hard to eradicate, but Ma just hopes it survives.

Now, for my prized plant! Obtained several days ago after Melinda noticed it on one of her walks. I'd spied it two years ago but it was mowed off as part of the regular ditch-edge maintenance plan carried out by local farmers :-)

Ma despaired of ever seeing it again, but my botanically-minded daughter found 3 plants, in the rough vicinity of my previous sighting.

Without further ado, Ma presents...

Button Snakeroot Eryngium yuccifolium (nickname: "Rattlesnake Master")

Oh yeah, baby. Ma definitely goes for the Rattlesnake Master name. Big, bold...intimidating

This plant was used by both Native Americans and pioneers for medicinal purposes. Just chew the stems and leaves if you have a nosebleed.

Kidney problems? Neuralgia? Toothaches? Mix up an infusion from the plant and hold it in your mouth.

And what about that name, 'Snakeroot'...well, an infusion of the root was actually used as a remedy for snakebite.

Of course, if you get bitten by a snake, don't come runnin' to me. This fine plant is stayin' in my garden, see?

Go get your own.

To sum up my collection, I now have the following (former) ditch plants located on the 'acreage:'

--Wild Prairie Rose
--Solomon's Seal
--Wild Sunflower
--Rue Anenome
--Spiderwort
--Scouring Rush
--Button Snakeroot
--Yellow Toadflax
--Purple Vervain

I is happy.

Shopping Day

Another trip to the big/little city. Not as thrilling as the swimming relay last night :-D (WHOA...what a RUSH!) but we got 'er done.

And I only forgot to buy one staple: paper towels. Guess we'll have to rely on those old fashioned things called hand towels. Not as sanitary but unless I can convince the kids to dry their hands on Puffs tissues, we're stuck with cloth.

Here is Trevor-the-Wonder-Boy smiling through the driver's side window before I leave to spend 25% more on food than just a few months ago.

He usually gives me a parting blessing of, "Don't forget to go in the ditch!"

Crazy little snickerdoodle :-)

I noticed the needle was on empty, so I stopped for gas despite my husband's boast that he has the blue Toyota getting 50 miles per gallon.

Ah...the price is down. Only $3.25 more than when I was a kid.

Oh hey....I learned tonight that Michael Phelps gets to eat 8-10,000 calories per day.

I start my swim training for the 2012 Olympics,

tomorrow.

On Sweating, the Olympics and Letting it Rain

It has been SO dry. But a wonderful shower came up in the night, washing the dust off the lawn.

I'd almost forgotten grass was green. When traffic went by on our gravel road, the dust would roil up and start floating, ever so slowly across the yard, billowing about and just hanging in the air.

If I was mowing at the time, grit could be felt entering the eyelids. And at the end of the day, one's hair has that special feel that only a mixture of sweat and gravel dust can produce.

But hurray for the rain!
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Yesterday I pulled/cut up all of the large ragweed on the other side of the fence to our south. I didn't ask the farmer if I could, but I'm pretty sure he won't mind.

The weed seeds won't explode into a million allergens for my kids, plus, it makes that side of his cornfield look tons better :-D

And just to show you how one thing can lead to another, I was picking beans for supper and remembered how dry the red raspberries looked, so I dragged the hose ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE SOUTH FORTY and started letting the water run along the row, going back and forth to pick a few beans, run over to move the hose...

Then I noticed how much grass had grown up through the dwindling mulch, and I pulled at a clump...and then another, and pretty soon I was picking beans and watering and pulling out all the grass :-)
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Today, after cleaning at the church for over two hours, I fertilized the raspberries and then transplanted the necessary strawberry runners. I lost about 15 plants this spring and so I let some go to runners for replacements.

That being done, let it rain! I'm sure it will because:

1) It is VERY humid
2) I washed the glass doors at church this morning, veritably ensuring that it will rain. And I did it with that in mind because I gotten tired of mowing up clouds of dust.
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Ma is very happy with the way the yard and garden projects are shaping up this year. Pictures to come after just a little more cosmetic work. All that sweat and toil have finally paid off!
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So we watched the opening of the Olympics last night, and all I can say is WOW-WEE!

I think every host country from now on will produce a letdown. Don't see how they can compare to China's display.

The kids are watching off and on throughout the day. I won't let them watch constantly because, "We are not going to be glued to the TV, even if it IS the Olympics..."

Also, I have this thing about beach volleyball. Ma has nixed beach volleyball viewing.

A sport, huh? Give me a break. Even the men's version have 'cheerleaders.'

*gags*

Unfortunately the women's track and field is almost as bad, attire-wise. I do like to see those events though, so Ma usually makes a few exceptions, on a race by race basis.

I can't spend too much time complaining or blogging, however, as I am in training for the Church Janitor Olympics (which coincidentally takes place round about the same time as the Summer Olympics).

This will be my last year to compete, but my age gives me a psychological advantage. I am very tough when it comes to mindless work.

Years of practice will do that to a person.

Ah iz SO Egg-SITED !

Ma is agoin' back to skool :-D

I know...I can't believe it, either!

In reality, Melinda and I are going to take the Master Gardener classes being offered this year at our county extension office.

As I understand, the class meets twice weekly for 6-7 weeks. Should be fairly intensive for a geezerette, like me. I figure my smart high school junior can help me study :-)

After that we'll be Master Gardener Apprentices. To complete the program and become an actual 'Master Gardener' requires putting in some volunteer hours. But I think these can be fulfilled by traveling to the orient and working on the 'Flying Carpet Bonsai Plant' Program. I'm a little hazy on those details....

So folks, starting this fall, Ma will be toting the books again, if only for one quarter. Word on the street is that one class takes place down in Ames, at Iowa State University.

Woo-hee...can you picture Ma in a sorority?

Hot Doggies!

(and did I tell you I was excited ?!!)

*bounces off into the sunset*

Interesting Phenomena

The weather peoples tell us it's much less humid...and yet stinging sweat still drips into my eyes while mowing.

My right arms falls asleep every night, even when laying on my left side.

It also goes numb while mowing and while sweeping at the church.

(I'm pretty sure this is God's way of telling me not to do housework)

Ya know, I could go to the doctor, but I read on a blog about this same thing happening to another woman. Her doc said it was carpal tunnel syndrome.

So there...I have a free diagnosis :-)

Life in the Yard

This pink beauty is something I picked up at Ace Hardware a long time ago.

It flops all over the grass, making it hard to mow, so I snipped these blooms for indoor enjoyment. This photo was taken before I transplanted all of my specimen roses.

Red Spotted Purple

I always want to ask, "Red spotted purple what ?"

Nolan's birdhouse gourds are taking over the garden...

...but they do have striking white flowers.

The Good Old Summertime

Ma has been havin' SOME FUN outside :-)

No, really. I LOVE to work in the yard, particularly if there are no looming deadlines.

Yesterday I went out to mow the lawn but then decided to weed around my roses, instead.

After getting several tiny thorns in my fingers--this always happens since there are just some jobs you can't do wearing heavy gloves--I switched to a project started before family camp and whaddya know....I finished it and was able to transplant all seven roses into their new home!

So glad I did that weeding for nothing, heh, heh.

Still haven't started mowing the lawn, but this morning I DID drive down the road and dig up a bunch of Scouring Rush to put in as a backdrop behind my new curvy rose bed.

Lovely clouds have rolled in to protect my precious new transplants. That alone is enough to make my day :-D

I'll try to get pictures up later, if our network doesn't go on the fritz, again.

In the meantime, there's something about noontime wherein children's thoughts turn to food, which totally messes up my landscaping plans, but I should have thought of that before I had ten kids, right?

Hah! That's where you're wrong. I was barely able to think at all during the childbearing years, so there.

After lunch's interruption I should have time to go out and commune with the mower...I'm sure it has missed me.

OK...here she is....

I worked on it most of the morning. 64 pictures, with mostly amusing captions. I suppose my older ones will be the only people who want to see this, but skip it at your own risk :-p

Allison Bible Family Camp 08

Family Camp Snapshots

Picasa album to follow, but here are 17 quick looks at Family Camp 2008. (click on photos to enlarge)

Pastor John demonstrating the grace of wearing reading glasses