• Iowa, simply beautiful…

    August 16, 2014 / 4 Comments

    Lately, I’ve spent more than my fair share of time in the dentist’s office.  Each time I’m there, I actually hope I have to wait for a while in the waiting room since that gives me time to browse through a wonderful photo book entitled Iowa Simply Beautiful.  The photographs by Larsh K. Bristol and Curt Maas are absolutely amazing.  Some are breathtaking in fact.  I looked on ebay hoping to find the book there but could not.  What I did find though is Iowa Simply Beautiful II by Larsh K. Bristol, Curt Maas and Kent Foster.

    Paging through some of the photos, I have to look twice to be sure that I am not looking at photographs of Vermont, Virginia, parts of Kentucky or the hills of the Tennessee Cumberland Plateau.  Beautiful rolling hills, exquisite squares of patchwork green farmland, rivers, waterfalls…all in Iowa!  For those of you who think Iowa is “flat farmland”, think again!  It’s time to start traveling and see as much of this beautiful state as I can.

    I’m reconciled to the fact that it is going to take a while for me to get to the British Isles, France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland.  I may never get there, although I hope I do.  In the meantime, I’ve decided that there is very little standing between me and some of the places I’d really like to see in Iowa!  This is not an exhaustive list by any means! So here goes…

    • The Amana Colonies    Their 2014 Oktoberfest sounds wonderful.  I will actually be in Memphis the first two weeks of October this year but there’s no reason YOU can’t make it!  I definitely want to see The Amana Colonies.  Check out the link – it looks like a terrific place to visit.
    • The Iowa State Capitol  Here, I’ve been in Des Moines for almost two years and have not scheduled a tour of the historical, 23 karat gold leaf-topped, Capitol building!
    • The Blank Park Zoo   Also sad to say that this animal lover from way back has never been to Des Moines’ wonderful Blank Park Zoo
    • The Bridges of Madison County.  Have you seen the movie by that title with Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood?  I’d love to see and photograph these famous bridges.
    • The Danish Windmill and The Danish Museum.  Just about an hour from here is The 1848 Danish Windmill and Danish Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa.  Since I love the old classic movie Foreign Correspondent, partially filmed in Holland, I’d love to see this authentic windmill!
    • Field of Dreams.  I enjoyed the movie and would like to see the setting for it in Dubuque County, Iowa.

    This post may have to be without photos until I have and/or make time to wander the beautiful Iowa countryside and farmlands and capture some of what I see and love on film!  On my Pinterest site (Click Follow Me on Pinterest sidebar at right).  On the site, there is a board of photos for the Amana Colonies!

    Note:  Sadly, I read that Curt Maas passed away on September 7, 2005 and Larsh K. Bristol died in 2006 in an automobile accident on one of his beloved Iowa river roads.

  • Valley Junction, Iowa…

    August 14, 2014 / 2 Comments

    Today was a perfect August afternoon.  84 degrees, blue skies and a few scattered clouds.  My friend and neighbor Susan and I ventured over to Valley Junction for the weekly farmer’s market.  She had been telling me about the Farmers’ Market for weeks and, today, we finally made it.  Early June, I had been to Valley Junction to wander through the antique shops and especially browse through my favorite shop, Sisters,  on 5th Street.  It had been quiet that day and not too crowded, but today the village was alive with all the activity.  For all my Tennessee friends, it rather reminded me of the square in downtown Collierville.  Someplace each of you would like to visit!

    Each Thursday afternoon, there are over one hundred vendors  selling fresh produce, fresh baked goods, unique arts and crafts, plants, flowers and delicious looking prepared foods.  Next time, I’d like to try some of the specialty foods.  I came home with two large red, ripe tomatoes, a loaf of  Asiago Italian Ciabatta by Big Sky Bread Company in Urbandale, Iowa and a large container of very fresh green beans!  All reasonably priced too.

    Had we stayed later, we would have been there for the live music and I’m sure I would have loved that as well.  There was a young woman singing in one of the store doorways.  At first, I thought they were playing a CD by one of my favorite artists, Norah Jones!  She had a lovely voice.

    All in all, a very enjoyable August afternoon…

     

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    Loved the hand carved birds below by Whirlythings!

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    My favorite shop is Sisters!  Hmm…I see a cowgirl hat I like!  

    And lots of other things as well…

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    Below:  Sisters also has a wonderful selection of bedding, laces, baby things and so much more!

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    Spotted this old fashioned washer in the window of one of the antique shops.  

    Reminded me of one Mama had many,  many years ago.

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    Below:  A few more random pics from the Farmers’ Market this afternoon…

    Will definitely be headed back and enjoying the selections and the music!

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  • Peace and happiness…

    July 30, 2014 / 2 Comments

    I confess that yesterday’s post took it out of me.  When the heart knows that there is so much to be done and so many children hurting, it is painful.  I want to scoop everyone of the hurting children up in my arms and soothe them.  I want to feed them and clothe them.  I want to be a loving grandmother to them.  But, of course, that’s impossible.  So, I began the search to see what I could do here…on limited resources and energy.  I would love to sit in the nursery at the hospital and rock babies who don’t have enough visitors.  I am a Registered Nurse but I don’t want that role with the babies.  I just want to comfort and cuddle them.  I haven’t looked into that one yet.  There is a possibility I could work with young adults with special needs.  I think it would also be fun to work in a soup kitchen.  I am researching and praying about it.

    In the meantime, I needed some endorphins!  I needed a sense of well being and the reassurance that not every child in this world is in harms’ way.  So, I invited myself to an afternoon of play and dinner at my daughter’s house (I have an open invitation).    I picked a good night because she was preparing Ree Drummond’s lasagna and fabulous homemade bread from the Amy’s Bread cookbook.

    While my daughter and my sixteen year old grandson ran some errands, I stayed with the other children and finished rotating the homemade chocolate chip cookie batches through the oven.  My five year old grandson wanted to play but I was manning the oven, so I suggested that I introduce him to a little 50’s and 60’s music.  His dad has introduced him to the 80’s music, so he thought that was a cool idea.  We began with Rockin’ Robin.  Remember that one?  Try standing still listening to that!  Then Splish-Splash, I Was Taking a Bath!  Then I wanted to introduce him to one of my lifetime favorites:  Elvis Presley!  I knew to choose wisely of course.  He is, after all, only five but this sweet grandson has more than his share of rhythm…just like Grandmommy!  😉  So we listened to Teddy Bear, Don’t Be Cruel and then the movie clip from G.I. Blues where Elvis sings Wooden Heart in a puppet booth.  We had a good time and, about that time, my daughter and grandson were back.

    I returned home refreshed with leftover lasagna and bread…and a sense of peace and happiness.

    Bryce

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    KandM

  • Cool air…

    July 27, 2014 / 2 Comments

    It takes very little to make me happy.  Precious time with my sweet family.  A slow, steady rain or warm sunshine with a gentle breeze.  Blue skies overhead with white cotton clouds.  A comfortable place to call home.  (Notice I did not say large or extravagant…just comfortable with a few of my personal touches.)  My books and time to read them.  Sustenance of course.  My morning coffee, good food, good water and maybe some Sweet Tea.  Warmth for the winter here in this cozy condo…and cool air for the summer.

    The A/C unit that came with this condo that I rented almost two years now was original to the building.  My sweet “landlady” had previously had refrigerant added to it – twice.  However, there was a leak and no amount of refrigerant (which is expensive) would last that long.

    It has been hot and humid here – think Memphis.  The condo had become very warm and uncomfortable.  So, thankfully, she ordered a new Lennox central air conditioning unit.  I was so glad!

    Last Friday, they arrived with a very large crane.  All the central air units are on the roof – although I’ve never noticed them from outside.  The A/C unit was unpacked and securely attached to a sturdy-looking harness.  Then the crane did its work.  The unit literally dallied back and forth in the air.  I held my breath.  The next thing I knew it was unloaded and the crane lift was coming back down.  It took a few more hours and then all the work was done.  Installation successful.  Sweet cool air surged through my cozy home.

    I wished my grandsons had been here for the show!  When my now sixteen year old grandson was less than two years old, he knew the names of all the earth/heavy moving equipment.  He couldn’t pronounce them completely, but he knew them.  All John Deere…of course.

     

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  • Lemon Banana Bread…

    July 13, 2014 / 8 Comments

    I spent late Thursday afternoon in the dentist chair for – what turned out to be – a marathon session:  two crowns, one filling and a last-minute wisdom tooth extraction!!  It’s just as well I did not realize before the fact that the wisdom tooth would have to be “pulled”.  It’s easier to be brave when you don’t have days to fret about something.

    So, for the past three days, I’ve read, watched a little TV, napped and taken it easy.  After three days and torture to my stomach, I am giving up the antibiotic!  Yes, I’m an RN and I know better…but the side effects are worse than the cure.  I’ve eaten lots of greek yogurt and soup, but this afternoon I decided I was actually hungry.  Hungry for some warm banana bread!  Thankfully, I had three ripe bananas in the fruit bowl.  So I followed the recipe below for a delicious loaf of warm lemon banana bread…with a drizzle of Iowa honey.  Yum…

    Lemon Banana Bread

    1 stick of butter, softened

    1 cup sugar

    2 eggs, lightly beaten

    1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

    3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

    the zest of one fresh lemon

    1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1 scant teaspoon baking soda

    1 teaspoon baking powder

    3 ripe bananas, mashed

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease & flour a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.  In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar mixing well.  Add eggs.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.  Pour into prepared pan and bake approximately 50 – 55 minutes depending on oven.  Enjoy warm with a little butter & a drizzle of honey!

  • A thank you dinner…

    July 8, 2014 / 1 Comment

    After a few days of stifling heat with unbearable humidity, today has been cooler.  Presently, it is up 81 degrees – warmer now than it has been all day – but it comes with a strong breeze to temper the heat.  I’ll take that.

    My downstairs friend and neighbor was kind enough to feed me for a couple of nights when my neck/arm pain was so unbearable.  Tonight, I am having her for “supper” by way of a thank you.  It’s still a little too warm to crank up the oven but I’ll turn down the A/C and do it anyway.  We’re having homemade meatloat, fresh green beans, rice and fresh fruit salad.  Dessert will be Weight Watchers ice cream sandwiches.

    I hope this post finds you well and staying cool – or warm if it’s cold where you are!  Below is the meatloaf recipe.  If you try it, let me know what you think!

     

    A Really Good Meatloaf

    1 & 1/4 pounds very lean ground beef

    1/2 finely chopped Vidalia sweet onion

    3/4 sleeve crushed Ritz crackers

    1 egg, beaten

    1/4 cup milk

    1 teaspoon Kosher salt

    1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

    1/2 teaspoon black pepper

    1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce

    1 tablespoon Toasted Onion Herb by Victoria Taylor’s Seasonings

    Mix well and form into a loaf.  Place in glass dish.

    Meatloaf topping:  1/3 cup Ketshup, 3 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard.  Combine and spread over top of meatloaf.

    Bake at 350 degrees about 55 minutes or until done.