Humdinger of a Day

It has been.

I managed to get off on time. The Green Dragon Lady Lincoln cooperated by actually starting (ever a tenuous prospect), but I can't say as much for the Diet Coke in Webster City's McDonald's.

Weird flavor from the Coke machine and Ma will make certain she never stops THERE, again.

I only drove past Kennedy Park once, managing to arrive slightly before start time. The people in charge had not received my check, but knew it was somewhere in the system, so....*sigh*

There were probably 40 people at the workshop, and very informative, it was. Mucho informationo. Had the top entomologist from ISU, as well as the head horticulturalist. Actually, I don't know if they are the HEAD people, per se, but they are tops in Ma's book! I call them "Bug Dude" and "Tree Dude." Very knowledgeable and interesting fellows. Almost makes Ma want to go back to school! But that would curtail my weeding and mowing so, maybe not...

Lots of power-point goodness and plenty of bug and tree damage pictures.

Oh yes, I did find out that officially, Iowa has not been infiltrated by the Emerald Ash Borer, as of yet. The area where the larva was found has been searched and searched and there is no sign of infestation. Probably another conspiracy at work.

I won't go into all the details of the workshop, but it was very helpful, and after I complete a few educational modules online (yeah, I didn't know about that, but they should be easy), I can be an official First Detector! No doubt, a nifty uniform and badge are in the offing. And don't worry, I will not let this additional authority change my simple, humble self. In any way. Probably.

Managed to do the weekly shopping on my way home through Iowa Falls, and thanks to Ethan and the innovation of frozen pizza, supper was ready upon my arrival :-)

It was also good to hear that, miracle of miracles, NO ONE GOT IN TROUBLE WHILE I WAS AWAY! The kids followed through with my instructions to: 1) have an early lunch, 2) process all the cherries that had been picked and stored in the freezer (I think this kept them occupied for quite a while, heh, heh), and 3) watch The Great Mouse Detective.

Not so good to hear--and you're not gonna believe this--a bat...yes, a BAT had been found caught in a mouse trap, up in Derek and Ethan's room! Derek said it looked like it had just sat down on the trap, which, by the way, was on the floor and not hanging from the ceiling (the ceiling being the obvious place I would have set a mousetrap, IF trying to catch a bat, IN one).

After supper I went right to work with the handy-Ma's secret weapon, duct tape. Hopefully, all the cracks and holes have been taped over.

This pest control business just never ends.

(sleep well, tonight, guys....)
 

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Lookin' Forward to Tomorrow :-)

But first, today.

Got out in the garden before breakfast and starting working on the quack grass between Ethan's potatoes and the strawberries.

Breakfast, and then school with Nolan and Trevor (yes, STILL doing that...Trevor finished his math today, and Nolan has one more chapter in science and a couple short chapters in history. Plus, his memory verses) Then we will be free-and-clear, school-wise, except for the math drill that continues throughout summer.

After that, I continued making progress digging up wicked grasses.

Speaking of the garden, it's not been very productive, as of yet.

A few strawberries, but marauding deer have been nibbling.

Nolan's peas have been eaten, too, with only a few pods showing at this late date.

Bunnies ate off the beets, TWICE. I finally gave up on them for this year, and plunked in some yellow day lilies from the courthouse cull.

The one corn bed looks pathetic, because only half the seed germinated. I pulled another packet off the shelf at Wal*Mart, just to see what would happen, and THAT stuff sprouted real boffo. I'm beginning to lose confidence in Jung Seed Co.

But enough of that!

TOMORROW Ma is going someplace, all by her lil' ol' self :-D

Through the county extension agent where Melinda and I took Master Gardening classes, I found out about a First Detector Training class for the Emerald Ash Borer.

The EAB hitched a ride from the far east, about 12 years ago, and has destroyed millions of ash trees, to date. The little killer was located recently in southern Wisconsin, instigating an intensive watch in Iowa.

Word in the woods is that a larva of this beetle has now been found in Clayton County.

ANYWAY, I get to go to a seminar from 1-4:30, tomorrow, just north of Fort Dodge. I'll just be a Volunteer First Detector, but it should be quite interesting learning all about the situation.

For one thing, Dr. Donald Lewis will be there from ISU and let me tell you, he can make bugs interesting!

I've been doing a little homework so as not to be completely ignorant before the sessions. And basically, I need a lot of repeating to remember!

So after I finish some morning school with los kiddos smallos, I'll be heading west, around 11, or before.

Can't wait!

Things are pretty bad when a 50-year-old looks forward to a bug seminar, no?

But you have to remember that I've been working in pest control for a long time.

Sure, there's the garden and all. But...ya know...10 kids and a husband...

Years of experience, baby.

Years of experience.
 

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A Decent Day

After transplanting extra flowers gleaned from thinning at the courthouse, we managed to get everyone, sans Loren, out the door and off to the libraries by 9:30am. When asked if he wanted to go along, Loren replied, "Well, I thought this would be a good time to turn off the water, while everyone's gone."

And there you have it. The secret dreams of a mad scientist heavily involved in hydrological experiments...with everyone away there is nothing to hinder the workings of pumps, motors and the copious exchange of water, from place to place.

Personally, I'd rather go to the library. Even with Derek driving. Which he did.

All things accomplished and in good order, we returned home to have sandwiches for lunch. Then we had sandwiches again, for supper. BLT's to be exact (I had to get this last greasy meal out of the way before starting Loren on his lower cholesterol food-thingy-regimen).

___________

It's been too long since I've posted a picture, so here's one of my favorite June bloomers, the red Knockout Rose.
It's practically florescent, it is.

Oops, time for The Red Green Show...
 

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Halfway There!

As in, Melinda and I have now completed 20 of the 40 hours needed to become Master Gardeners :-)

Put in some more time at the courthouse, this morning. Took care of the younger kids by chaining them to the TV.

It seemed to work. They got to watch Seseame Street and then, after a small break to take care of mundane things like getting dressed and brushing teeth, they watched a real life version of The Secret Garden.

Talk about your theme days!

The Loren Report: he got back early from his check-up at Mayo...around 3:30. Not all of the test results are back, but his cholesterol is up a bit, so we have to be more careful of his diet.

I got out (again) and finished the lawn. THREE DAYS, it took. I lie awake at night thinking of methods to destroy the mower, without making it look obvious. I'm open to suggestions...

Also drug out the ol' weed whacker and worked on part of the driveway. Again, I'm thinking about alternatives, like....massive amounts of weedkiller, or massive amounts of more stone. As with the above, I'm willing to talk other options...

Tomorrow we'll be heading for the libraries, and after sitting next to Trevor during the news, this evening, I believe Friday night baths might be in order. It's been a sweaty week and hey, I love the kid, but really!

And speaking of news, I find it totally amazing that the entire world has apparently come to a stop due to the death of Michael Jackson. Except, it has NOT come to a stop, it's just reported that way.

I say we keep a close eye out. This would be an opportune time for extraterrestrials to invade Earth.

By the way, I spelled that big word right, the first time :-D

BONUS POINTS FOR MA!
 

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Today's News

First of all, I am dead tired. Other things have probably happened, today, but one always starts out with the most important, doesn't one...

Mowing in Iowa humidity: taxing.

Mowing with a mower that doesn't cooperate: exasperating.

Chance of Ma ever using that mower again? you couldn't PAY me.

There, I got that out of my system.

In other news, Ethan-the-good-lad is hustling and bustling around the kitchen tonight, fixing the ENTIRE meal :-)

Hot dogs, green beans and grapes.

WORKS FOR ME.

Ethan also cut up hateful onions, sautéd them, and heated up a can of sauerkraut.

AND set the table.

He-was-the-very-model-of-modern-major-cuisinier.

PLUS, Derek does the dishes tonight, not me.

"Heav-en...I'm in heav-en..."
________________

Loren is getting up VERY early tomorrow, about 4-ish. He has a routine check-up at Mayo and has decided to forgo the non-sleep of a motel, and chosen the never ending day, instead.

Word on the street is, it's supposed to be quiet by 8:30, this evening.

Maybe I'll just send the kids to a motel...anyway, I foresee someone's wife going back to sleep, after he leaves in the morning.
 

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FYI

Don't know if anyone's tried to call us in the past couple of days, but the phone has not been working properly.

A lightning strike during that last storm did some damage. It sorta works now, but still buzzes.

Similar to me, when I sleep.

Shopping accomplished, I now go to do battle with the lawn...
 

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June Windstorm

More pictures, to totally annoy my poor sister, Nancy, who spends hours pulling up the blog on Mom's modem enabled computer.

"HI SIS!"....*waves toward Indiana*

Now for the storm report. And I didn't mean to build it up too much, but there were impressive winds and rain moving sideways.

At one point, Loren came up from the basement where he'd been working and said, "Uhhh, are we under a tornado warning, or something?" "Hmmm, I don't know. The kids are watching a cartoon so I can't see any TV alerts..."

Yes folks, THESE are the comments of concerned parents. Actually, Loren usually is the one to say, "Let's get to the basement!" I'm the one who tries to figure out a way to sneak out and storm chase. However, after sweating like dogs under a heat advisory for over four hours, earlier in the day, I'm not sure we would have had the energy to even go to the basement.

After the initial stuff passed over, Derek commented that it looked like something big had fallen behind Mr. Lupkes' bin. Then he went out and came back, "A TREE blew over!"

Yep, that baby just snapped.


I hardly ever let the kids over there, since it's not our property, but we had to have a look-see. Soon they were galloping about like crazy little puppies that had been let loose.
We picked up the smaller stuff, today, just to be neighborly. But I don't think my bow saw could take on the whole tree.

We also had to inspect a large branch that came off of Sap tree.

(Sharon named all the trees quite a while back)

Then they started a game to see who could make someone fall off the branch, first....
...this is basically not a good idea, as I soon found out. Nolan can walk normally today, however.

I got out before breakfast and cut that baby up. Maybe it's called Sap Tree because it is very hard to cut through the sticky branches. However, Ma figured out on the big stuff that you just start cutting around and around, turning as you go, and then, when approximately half the total circumference is compromised, you get some large object to apply pressure. The behind of a 50-year-old woman works quite well.

Honey, we might as well put these 150 plus pounds to good use! (who am I kidding, I'd LOVE to get down to 150 pounds. Maybe for Ardith's wedding...*makes note to restart diet after 4th of July*....

Despite my advantageous use of lardage, I was still quite tuckered out from the sawing. That was just before breakfast.

After a decent interval to eat in front of my computer, I got Nolan started on the rest of his history and science and verse memorization. Praise be, he is done with math!

I hope to have him all finished off--minus the usual math drills over summer--in less than two weeks. Oh hey, July sounds like a good time to be done with school, doesn't it?

Then it was on to mowing, with humidity dripping out of every pore. There were a few breaks: a cloudburst, the need to cool off my hot feelings against the recalcitrant mower.

But I finally got done.

You know, I could really use another month in here, somewhere...
 

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Strange Day

It's hard to concentrate.

Iowa is buzzing with the news of a local football coach--well loved and a pillar of the community--shot to death, this morning, by a former football player.

Pretty bad when we make CNN. Here's an article from The Des Moines Register.

______________

Anyway, I did promise pictures of yesterday's work project.

Carolyn and Trevor inspect the evergreen bushes and clip off the dead parts.


Marj Krull, a Master Gardener, came over from Clarksville to help.
I could just kick myself for not getting a stand-up photo of her.

Sharon asked for "before and after" pictures, but I sorta forgot. Here's a little taste, however....this ring of daylilies had been infiltrated by phlox, coneflowers and also binderweed, of all things.


This photo is actually from the opposite garden, which also had a ring of daylilies. This picture was taken after we were done with that side.


Here's my crew, all red-faced and sweaty.
It was a long day for them, and cold drinks from Casey's helped revive us, as we were drooping pretty badly, by 2:30. I could have easily downed 3 grapefruit juice drinks, but limited myself to one.

After returning home, we all crashed. The kids watched cartoons and Melinda and I snoozed on the couches. Thankfully, I ended up taking my hot bath before the power went off. Then I lay down and snoozed some more. We probably stayed out in the heat longer than advisable, but no one seems worse for wear, today.

I cleaned up all the dead branches in our yard and had to cut up the large one with the trusty bow saw. Pictures of the storm damage, later today (I hope).

Now, back to mowing between downpours.
 

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The Very Large, Very Hot Day

Alrighty!

We made it through today.

That's all, folks.
______________

Just kidding.

I'll have a few pictures tomorrow, but here is the synopsis:

I took Melinda, Carolyn, Ethan, Nolan and Trevor with me for the big project at the courthouse.

Another Master Gardener, Marj Krull, met us there and we commenced taking out about 75% of the phlox and coneflowers, which had pretty much run riot in the original garden plots.

Melinda and I logged in 4 hours (not counting lunch), but they were very tough, very sweaty hours, indeed. When I got back I discovered there was a heat advisory out, as the index was supposed to be over 100.

We had a fair amount of water bottles, donated by the extension office, and we would have been dead duckies without them.

It was oppressive, but we almost got the two main gardens thinned out. Melinda and I will have to go back for another hour or two to finish that part, and there is potential for more workage around other sides of the building.

In the end, a speedily diminishing supply of water bottles helped us decide to call it quits for the day. Different people going in and out gave their words of encouragement as well as incredulous looks at our choosing this day to work (hey, I didn't know, last week, that this would be the hottest day of the year).

The kids were all good troopers, within reasonable expectations. Carolyn and Ethan helped out a fair bit, and I even got Trevor and Nolan to do some work weeding and clipping dead bits off the yews.

And then, some of Ethan and Carolyn's job was to keep an eye on the two youngest. It all worked out but I wouldn't want to have to take that many, every time.

Afterward, we headed right over to Casey's where we bought out half the beverage section of their convenience store, and then proceeded home, driving into gathering storm clouds.

Of course, the kids wanted me to take the longest route, so we could get caught in what looked to be a significant weather occurrence. But I am happy to say that wisdom (that would be me) prevailed. We arrived home 15-20 minutes before the winds began roaring and clouds unleashed their buckets of drenching rain.

We lost a large limb, the neighbor lost a tree, and then we lost electricity.

For the next three hours we sat in blessed silence, which I found refreshing but several of the kids interpreted as menacing. One particular person--ever ready with helpful suggestions and awful forebodings--suggested we go to our church to spend the night. This same person announced that we ought to call Kendra at work and tell her not to come home, as we were without power.

HELPFUL AS THIS WAS, we did not. The three-hour outage coincided nicely with supper, in that I could not POSSIBLY cook anything, which I was working up the nerve to deny them, anyway.

We had cold cereal, in case the milk went bad. Thirty minutes later, the power was back on but TOO LATE, supper was over :-D

If that isn't proof of God's existence, I don't know what is.

The only remaining problem was reprogramming the clock on the VCR, which I did within a breathtaking time of 15 minutes, and that means I only pressed wrong buttons 72 percent of the time.

I'm improving.

As I said, pictures tomorrow, and hopefully, this feeling in my brain of a full-blown boil will have subsided to a low simmering.

However, I don't think we were out in the heat too long. I'm still in my right mind, after all.

It was very close, though...very close.
 

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Ma Joke # 7

 
A Worship Leader, somewhere in the Bible Belt: "...and that concludes our morning worship hour. Let us bear in mind the truths we have learned from today's scripture. As pastor so ably taught us from Luke 10:38-42, we can all learn a valuable lesson from Mary. Unlike Martha, who was distracted and busy, Mary chose what was better; sitting at our Lord's feet and hearing the WORD.

Now, there will be a short break while the womenfolk make preparations for our potluck dinner. And may I say, 'Thank you, ladies!' You provide a wonderful ministry which we appreciate very much! Isn't that right, fellahs...?"

"A-men! (GLO-RY!)"

"While we're waiting on the food, men, why don't we put our time to good use and gather in smaller groups to discuss the sermon....alright then,

We are dismissed."
 

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Rain and Squirtage

We had a few storms roll through, last evening. The worst of it developed or passed just south of us. We had our share of downpours, however.

The clouds were a bubblin'. And then there would be blue sky, right next door.



A rainbow or two made their appearance.


__________

Enter this morning, still very humid and Kendra had the day off from work.

Naturally, one has to interact with the younger siblings in such a way as to keep them in line.

I do believe that Kendra and Trevor were ganging up on poor Carolyn.

"Not in the ear...NOT IN THE EAR!"
At one point, Ethan came in because he was too cold. He regretted it later when Kendra appeared on the scene and confiscated his weapon.
______________

This afternoon, Melinda and I went to the Butler County courthouse to identify plants, make notes and get a plan for tomorrow....

...for TOMORROW is the big work day! I only managed to find one former Master Gardener to come, but then, I have my own source of slave labor, the kids.

I won't make Derek go, but everyone younger is required, either to help Melinda and I or supervise Nolan and Trevor at the nearby playground. Hopefully they can keep themselves amused for five hours....? I can't exactly leave certain savages at home and concentrate on my work project (course, they could be a significant distraction with me, but....*sigh*...).

It's gonna be another sweltering day. High of 94 and tough humidity. Perhaps the younger kids will get so hot I can just set them under a tree to nap...
 

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Late Night Goodness

Yes, I know I shouldn't be up this late, but I was watching the last half of Pride and Prejudice with the older kids.

Here's a more complete set of pictures from Saturday's mini-outing to The Big Marsh.

Little Boys - Big Marsh

FYI, we had some raucous weather in Iowa last night...lotsa rain and a few reported tornado touchdowns. They were all small, I believe. And we didn't even get any wind or hail at our place. The twisters were just south of us; a home and hog lot were damaged near Dike.
 

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Little Boys - Big Marsh

I fall behinder every day, in blog posting. But I'm determined, despite many crazy things happening, to put up something.

Seeking another opportunity to bond with my two youngest (read: take them with me so I don't have to worry about trouble while I'm gone), Trevor, Nolan and I went to a really cool place, today....the dump.

We call it "the dump," but in reality it is just a transfer station where people discard their things and it is picked up by trash trucks and carted out west where there is very little of anything...probably Wyoming.

Imagine the thrill of riding in the blue van, without air conditioning but with a folding metal chair in-between the captain seats, for Trevor (yeah, let's not spread that around, OK?).

Theoretically, one could play the radio, except it's hard to hear with the windows rolled down. Plus, they immediately picked up their little plastic recorders--which somehow made it into the van--and started playing along with the classical music station. There are not a lot of things that will make me turn off the radio, but small boys hooting on plastic tubes masquerading as musical instruments, are two of them.

However, the trash was taken care of, two juice boxes were inhaled imbibed, and then I told them of my secret plan, "Hey, let's go back by way of the Big Marsh, OK?"

*massive cheering*

And so we stopped and saw,

Marshy places,


Los froggos numerosos,

And flowers, more frogs, a deer, and also a number of frogs.

A certain person got weary and claimed the need of a piggy back ride.

(don't worry about that weird, hunched-over has-been lady...I just take her along for extra help. She's perfectly harmless)

When we got back to our starting place, the men who'd been fishing had moved, and the boys decided to try and catch fish by throwing stones at them.
We couldn't actually SEE any fish, but you never know...one could have been hit and floated to the surface, providing food for the rest of the year.

On the way home, Nolan and Trevor waved at every passing car and Nolan "honked" at several people working in their yards, with his recorder.

Ah, good times.
______________

In other news, with the trash delivered and the van now empty, Loren recruited the three youngest in a father/son activity reminiscent of the ancient pioneer days: loading the log sections from the locust tree into the back of the van, by way of a board ramp.

(I like to think the early settlers would have used an old Dodge van, had they not been so attached to their mules)

That loaded, they delivered the firewood to Weikerts and picked up a stack of salvaged barn boards.

There are more pictures...enough for a Picasa album, but with weeding and all the day's events, I'm just too tired.

Basically I need to rest up for watching The Red Green Show :-D
 

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Air Conditioning, Ants and Plastic Recorders

These past two nights have been pretty miserable, with the heat and humidity, but as of this morning, the air conditioning is ON!

It is most glorious.

Besides the so-muggy-I-can-hardly-breathe feeling, one simply cannot sleep well while sweat is trickling down the neck and collecting in one's ears.

In fact, it's been SO rainy and humid, the ants at the foot of the mailbox decided to move to drier quarters.
Unfortunately, this interfered ever so slightly with Ethan's collection of the mail...he was bitten most unmercifully by one, possibly even TWO ants, the woe of which he retold with great drama and agony.
__________________

Later that day, I took the three youngest on my weekly shopping trip. It may be pure coincidence, but the local crime rate does seem to recede if I make this sacrifice. Despite missing out on my blissful times alone, I've found it preferable to returning home and being bombarded by, "Mommy, I'm sorry to have to tell you this ("Oh SURE you are..."), but so-and-so did such-and-such while you were gone.

That tends to put a real damper on the whole get-away experience.

My mistake probably lies in coming home...

ANYWAY, I did indulge in more cheap toyage at Wal*Mart. Little plastic recorders, to be exact.

Yes, of COURSE I knew I'd regret it.

The above picture was taken by me, while driving. I would hasten to add that only a professional should ever try this. And by the appearance of blur, it is obvious I am not a professional.

I let Ethan, sitting in the front seat, take this next picture.
Nolan and Trevor regaled us ALL THE WAY HOME, mostly with various renditions of "Jingle Bells," played in differing modalities and rhythms, all atonal.

This was probably a good experience for Ethan, to get one small glimpse of what I have gone through over the years.

Ethan had the good grace to leave his recorder in the trunk of the car until we got home. No doubt, three people playing those plastic mechanisms of torture would have pushed me over the edge.

I kept my mind calm by reflecting on the Coconut Macaroon CRUNCH Ice Cream residing in the cooler.

There's no amount of stress that cannot be soothed, tamped down or even eliminated,

by food.
 

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Ma's Literary Corner

Foreign Policy and Giant Peaches, but not all at the same time.

James and the Giant Peach was read to our 4th grade class when I was...in the 4th grade. All of us thoroughly enjoyed it. I later read it as an adult and thought, "Hmmmm, maybe not such a good influence on los kiddos...wonder why I liked this so much when I was a kid?"

Then I got older and shed some of my self-righteous pomposity and decided, "Hey, this is just a ripping good tale, and that's that!

It was Roald Dahl's (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) first published children's work, and a right goodn'.
____________________

As for, From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1776 (Oxford History of the United States), by George C. Herring, it will be a LONG time before I choose another 1000 plus page book. Let's just say, Ma owes a bit of overdue fine-age. It was fairly interesting, though, especially as I got to the parts that I lived through (No, kids, I wasn't alive during the Revolution, or World Wars I and II).

Here's quote from the very end of the book. Obviously, the bulk of the text was repeating historical data and adding analysis. The last two paragraphs, however, were the authors own thoughts/advice. Said thoughts I found "right on," but I'm only speaking for myself and do hope no one starts hating on me...

"Americans must also 'disenthrall' themselves, to borrow Lincoln's apt word, from deeply entrenched ideas about their country and its place in the world. They must 'think anew, and act anew.' They must cast away centuries-old notions of themselves as God's chosen people. In today's world, such pretensions cannot fail to alienate others. They should recognize the historical truth that the United States in its dealings with other people and nations has not been uniquely innocent and virtuous. It has done much good in the world, but in its drive to superpower status it has often violated its own principles and inflicted harm on other peoples. Unilateralism served the nation well for its first century and a half, but in the vastly shrunken and still very dangerous world of the twenty-first century, it is simply not viable. Most problems are global in scope and require multilateral solutions. The United States cannot resolve them by itself and on its terms, and efforts to do so, as the Iraq war has made clear, will likely be counterproductive. The United States must be more prudent in the use of its still quite considerable power. In the aftermath of Iraq and Afghanistan, it must not withdraw from a seemingly hostile and ungrateful world. But it must also recognize that power, no matter how great, has limits. The nation cannot rid the world of evil, as it defines evil; it cannot impose its way on other peoples by military force or diplomatic pressures. 'The American idea can still resonate,' columnist Roger Cohen recently observed. But, he adds, U.S. 'leaders must embody it rather than impose it.' They must lead by example and especially by listening to other peoples and nations. The United States cannot dictate the shape of a new world order, but the way it responds to future foreign policy challenges can help ensure its security and well-being and exert a powerful influence for good or ill."

George C. Herring, From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1776, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), pp. 963-964
 

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Whee Doggies!

Was it ever hot, today.

Ma was sweatin' like a raccoon with a hound hot on its trail. "Must....keep....mowing..." I mumbled to myself, while pushing, restarting and filling the recalcitrant machine with gas every few minutes.

It was so humid it was hard to breathe. Guess I'm not used to this season yet, 'cause it twernt all that bad compared to say, July.

Anyway, as promised, here are a few pictures of my ditch rescues:

Newly acquired last year, these Scouring Rushes returned with vigor, this spring.
They're planted directly behind my rose bushes, as a sort of curtain, if you will.

I know the farmers hate this invasive plant, but Ma loves the Yellow Toadflax.
You can see why it's called a wild snapdragon.

Solomon's Seal will always be a favorite. It has a graceful drape to its shape, with the little flower bells hanging down, sorta quiet and shy-like.
Reminds me of myself, hee, hee.

I saved the best for last...a white version of the Wild Prairie Rose, which may or may not be on our property.
Hey, at least it's getting a chance to flourish and spread. It's my way of perpetuating the state flower.

With great clouds of lightning off to the northeast, we wait with sweaty breath to see what the overnight brings.

Remind me not to mow in the hot, humid heat, next time. I have a rip-roaring headache. Can you say, "MIGRAINE?"

This lil' Ma is sayin' "hello" to ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
 

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Must See Video

I know this piano at Mayo. And Loren and I have spent time in this atrium, waiting between appointments, eating lunch or just snoozing.

The video's very cute and I dare any heartless person to not appreciate...



There...was I not right?
 

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The Garden Report

Is there anything more satisfying than the sound of dripping rain on the morning after one was outside until 10pm, frantically putting mulch on the garden?

Not hardly!

Except, now I'm stuck in the house.

Yesterday was pretty great--despite an unwanted interlude--and I have the scars on my thumbs to prove it.

First off, I went out before breakfast and finished digging grass out of a path and pulled up the rest of radishes, which were flowering.

Radishes: not good, this year. Forgot about them for a while, but some went to flower without even developing the radish.

Eggplant: another less than stellar product. I started these from seeds, in early April, before I went out to visit Mom. They took more than three weeks to germinate and then apparently held a conversation amongst them selves: "Well guys? Whaddya think....should we live, or die?" "I've got it! Let's just grow REALLY slowly and drive her nuts!" I nurtured those pitiful little things. I tended them and wept great tears when they wilted and EVERYTHING (I may not have actually wept, but they don't need to KNOW that...). Finally the day of transplanting arrived. I even covered them up with little styrofoam cups, INTO WHICH I HAD PUNCHED AIR HOLES, to shield them from the burning sun. At this point I would be hard pressed to say whether they will survive. I am sorely tempted to take them into a greenhouse and point out what they are sup-POSED to look like.

Everything else is doing pretty goodish. And thanks to Mr. Lupkes mowing by the bins on Saturday, we have lots of lovely, thick mulch on most of the beds. I---is---so---happy :-D

I don't mean to brag--it being totally against my nature and everything--but I PERSONALLY raked up most of that grass, minus a little still left around the back of the bins. There are three blisters on my hands to attest to my hard work and raking skills (these blisters always come, despite the use of gloves).

Still left to plant is the summer squash. I'm waiting a bit to miss the bad beasties who love to eat upon their vulnerable stems. By planting late, I hope to totally interrupt the squash bug cycle, or at least confuse them quite a bit.

If my eggplants don't make it, I can always replace them with squash. And I might just tell them that, too.

Coming up after it rains, pictures of some of Ma's blooming wildflowers, rescued from the ditches of Iowa.
 

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McDonald: Park Alternative When it Rains

I have been a bad Ma. Not because of all the chocolate and chips lately (though there IS that...), but due to not posting as often as usual.

All I can say is that May and June are frenetically busy.

There is the end of school--which isn't done, yet.

And there is getting in the garden--which is close to finished.

AND there is mowing and stuffs--which as we all know, is never really done until about November.

Today, after doing mucho yard worko in the morning, I was chauffeured to Derek's job interview, hitting the bank first and also taking along Carolyn, Ethan, Nolan and Trevor.

I promised them some playtime in the park.

It would rain, though. 20% is pretty definite if you're underneath it.

Enter, Plan B. I took them to McDonald's for ice cream and a chance to play in la placeo playo.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Trevor on the slide, after eating approximately 1/4 of his cone.


Ethan and Nolan found the two computer game consoles compelling.


Bubble Boy


Ethan demonstrates superior slide technique, which apparently involves yelling REALLY LOUDLY.


And what is Nolan up to, during this time?

Huh. Figures.


I allowed Carolyn a rare privilege...that of taking a picture.
She captured Trevor in mid-leap.

Nolan. Still glued to the computer consoles.


We finally got him to stop making Bugs Bunny get hit by cars and join the lads in a "train" down the slide.


In other news, Loren borrowed a trailer, today, and drove down to Cedar Rapids to pick up the old Toyota that had conked out on Jason....that reminds me, I haven't posted about Loren fixing up Jason's Toyota Camry and how that got down to Cedar Rapids, but...*sigh*...maybe soon.

ANYWAY, Loren and Melinda (only one left at home) should be arriving back soon, to a simply stunning supper of frozen pizza and homemade applesauce, the latter of which I'm pretty sure makes up for the Red Baron entrée.
 

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Planted Field = Art
 

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Last day

 

Here are the kids, trekking off to the last day of Bible School. That's Ethan, waving, Nolan is in-between skip-frolics, and Carolyn is generously allowing Trevor to lead the way.

Tonight is the program and that means Ma will be taking her camera to provide documentation, yet again.

Whilst the above were so suitably engaged, Melinda and I drove off to Allison. I've been running down leads for Master Gardener work projects and I think I've hit the mother lode!

We met with the Butler County Extension Coordinator, who walked with us down to the county courthouse. The beds around the building haven't had a thorough going over in about 8 years. They need cleaning up, dividing of bulbs/perennials, weeding and mulching.

I now have IN MY HANDS, the original master schematic. Soon I will be receiving names of fellow Master Gardeners and garden enthusiasts. Then, THEN, your humble Ma will head up the project to organize a couple of workdays and get the job done :-D

Should be fun. We are also supposed to identify some of the plants that are missing their identification markers. I'll probably let Melinda do that, since she's much better at intellectual things, than moi. I'm right there for any grunt work, though. Love to get the ol' hands dirty.

After that, we headed over to our church and watered a few of our plantings.

Back home now, lunch is over and I'm faced with a difficult dilemma: start mowing the lawn? or take a nap...
 

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Blade Runners

Ma went shopping today and noticed they are making good progress on the wind turbines, northwest of Ackley.


I took a rough count of the remaining posts and it looks like there will be 40, easy.

But Loren informs me it will be more likely close to 100, since they are putting them in 5 miles either side of highway 65.

We are such an up-and-coming community, out here in the middle of nowhere. Oh sure, we don't have a lot of places to go, but one thing we do have is wind. Lots and lots of wind.

This would be a great test market for hair spray, though it would have to be industrial strength.

Later that same day, I was out in my natural element, digging up quack grass, when I heard a low thrumming sound...


It was actually four of them, probably from Ft. Dodge.

They most likely heard about my cooking and needed to check it out for the potentiality of terrorist activity.

I don't know why the last picture came out so funny in editing. It's always possible they saw me with my camera and initialized radio wave interference in case I was tracking them with a heat-seeking missile.

I really need to get some rest...I'm starting to think like some people I know.
 

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Another Potential Garden Destroyer

I spied this fawn along the gravel road, while driving home, yesterday.


First it went into the ditch, where I heard much splashing about, and then up to the edge of the field, where it looked at me and thought of its future garden-stomping activities.
______________

Today was a busy day. Started laundry and worked like a dog out in the garden, digging up muchos quack grassos.

Had to come in for lunch, because....*sigh*...people have to eat. I guess. Then I sat with Nolan, urging him on to finish half a math lesson while he tried very hard not to fall asleep from the rigors of Bible School.

THEN, I finally got back out to the garden and fixed up one of my old beds into a new curvy shape, and later was able to put all my precious egg plants, started from seed, into the ground.

I don't know if they will grow. I don't even know if they will taste good. But man oh man, the bed and path sure look sweet :-)

Then there was the little matter of writing a two-page Hoyt family letter (it comes out every month, and anyone who wishes to can contribute. I write the most often because I have so many mental problems and writing and digging in the garden keep me from going off the deep end).

Now I am almost done with the day, for once the 4 1/2 loads of laundry are folded, I'll be free to do anything I want.
 

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Showers Abound

It rained yesterday, and then the girls and I went to a bridal shower at church.

Following is a 31-picture Picasa album. But first, a few explanations that you won't get from the photos...

It was a photographer's nightmare, in that the lighting was dim. Fortunately, Ma is not a real photographer, ha, ha!

But I got in a few shots :-D

Thinking I had come merely to relax, eat and shoot people, imagine my consternation when I was asked to be on a "panel" up front, answering questions about marriage for the bride-to-be!

Yes, you can bet I had to do some quick and creative thinking.

Kendra tried to sneak a few pictures of that part, but they turned out blurry and I'm afraid that means there will be no observance of my triple chins.

So sad.

But just to give you a LEETLE idea of things, here are a few:

"What was the first meal you served to your husband?"

MA: "I don't exactly remember, but I'm pretty sure it was bad."

"What have you and your husband enjoyed doing together during your marriage?"

MA: "Well, we've had so many children, we haven't done all that much together...other than having children."

(for some strange reason this brought about more laughter than I'd anticipated)

"What was the most memorable thing that happened during your wedding ceremony?"

MA: (oh this is SO easy!) "It was a very hot, muggy evening. The church windows were open since there was no air conditioning. Just as I was saying the phrase, "I promise to honor and obey (or something of that nature...who can remember, at this point) a very loud motorcycle went roaring by, totally obliterating my words....*holds hands outstretched, in feigned helplessness, amidst laughter*....it was 'of the Lord.' "

Thankfully for Sarah's sake, there were also more seasoned and reasonable wives on the panel.

So here's the album, and I make my usual disclaimer that not everyone said exactly the words I attributed to them. And maybe not even everything happened as I stated, but the people in the pictures were actually there and I stand by that!

Sarah Currier Wedding Shower

 

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Bible School 09

While lying in bed, dozing off and on around 6:30, I had the vague realization of movement in the house. I went downstairs and found Ethan and Trevor, all dressed in the clothes laid out the night before, peacefully waiting until the start of Vacation Bible School in a mere 2 1/2 hours.

In another hour, there was decided milling in the living room. Milling of three boys in large, clodhoppy tennis shoes.

There were statements such as, "I'm only going to eat a little bit for breakfast...I'm so excited! Can we pack our lunches, now?"

By the time of actual departure, a light rain had resumed, necessitating Ma driving them down and depriving them of the heady thrill of walking on their own.

This would never have happened if I'd only had the foresight to let them start on their 5-minute walk 55 minutes early.

E'en so, they did arrive at the church, via the Green Dragon Lady Lincoln.
Ut oh...looks like Nolan is trying to worm his way inside, first...

Oh, my mistake. He wants to hold the DOOR for everyone.
Nolan must have been listening to the SS lesson yesterday when Pastor went over Romans 12, verse 10, "Outdo one another in showing honor." (ESV)

Finally. A Biblical concept a 9-year-old can sink his teeth into.

The three boys are the only ones still young enough to be enrolled. Carolyn is going along this year to be an auxiliary helper, floating around to assist at crafts and the playground. She's also been given the task of helping Trevor find his room and handing over the craft supply money.

Hmmm...this will give me three and a half hours without any possibility of trouble arising.

Perhaps I'll use this time to check out a few boarding schools.
 

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Life in the Yard

The kids found two baby grackle fledglings this past week. Here we see one clinging to a branch, held by Nolan.


Fern uncurling in the morning light


A small spider and bee fled the scene when Mr. Bumbly visited a Rugosa rose bloom.


We were eating lunch a few days ago when Ethan spied these two over by the field.

 

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