Perfect Love

Today we spent Thanksgiving with Family. It was so wonderful. All the little people there, the next Generation. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it. My Dad was there too. He knows what he started, lol. My Brother and Sister In Law. My Nephews and Nieces. My Daughter and her Son. My dear Husband.  It really can't get much better than that. Well, yes it could, my other 2 Daughters and their families, plus my younger Brother and his Wife and the rest of their families could have been here too, but I guess that would just be frosting on the cake!
You see, as the families grow larger, it becomes more difficult to get them together very often at all. My children live clear across the entire State of Iowa. We even have some family in Nebraska and Missouri. This said, we still try to get together for as many times as we can. On Birthdays. On Christmas (though the weather rarely co-operates for that one). For the 4th of July. For Summer Picnics. And we seem to have the best luck at Thanksgiving time.

This morning we traveled North about an hour and a half to my oldest Nephew's home, stopping along the way to pick up my Daughter and her Son. They rode along part of the way with us.  My Nephew and family  tend to get the honor of hosting the celebrations now days simply because they have the largest home. They are so welcoming and loving. I am very proud to call them family.

Our newest baby in the family was there today. Her name is Macy and she is a doll. She is a bit over 5 weeks old now. She will be six weeks Saturday. The Photo above is of my Grandson Hunter holding her, with help from his Mom. As you can tell in the picture, he is in total adoration and love with her. You see, he just lost his sister this year. She died in March. She had problems from birth and we all knew she would only be here with us for a short time. He has always been so good throughout the entire 4.5 years we had her. Her name was Ava. Now she is our little Angel and I like to think she comes to visit us when the breeze tickles our cheek. Or when a bird sings nearby. Hunter was not very old when Ava was born. He was still a baby himself. He grew up quickly, however when he had to learn to be patient and to wait for Ava to be cared for first. He never seemed to mind. He would often snuggle with Ava as she and he lay on the couch. He always gave her little kisses on her cheek whenever he could. I think her face was constantly washed with them from one of us or the next.

Where am I going with this story? I just felt the Love bounce from Hunter to Macy today, so had to write it down. Macy does not know yet about Ava, but she will as soon as she can understand. We miss our Ava, but we know she is in a better place and looking down to watch out for us all the time. The good part of this story, other than the beauty in it, is that Hunter is in practice. He is to get another sister some time in February. We all know she can never replace Ava. But having her in our lives will help the bittersweet pain we will always have, hurt just a little bit less. I am so glad I took this photo today. It really captured the love in bloom.

Thank you Craig and Danielle and Max for sharing your new daughter and sister with all of us. It really means a lot. We love you.

Thank you for the wonderful day of food, companionship, and love. It was a fabulous day.

I love you all so much.

Aunt Kathy and Grandma Kate.

After the storm

 Just before 8 o'clock last evening the Tornado warning went off. It seemed like it sounded for forever. We did not know if a Tornado was coming or not because of the change in the Warning system a while back. So, we turned on T.V. network channels, no news of the storm yet. A few minutes later, they started scrolling what was going on. It said that it was a storm warning with winds of possibly as fast as 70mph. We ran around looking out of windows to see what was happening. In such a short time to see the weather change rapidly was a sight to see. My husband was watching out our east window when we heard a terrific cracking sound. He saw this branch fly through the air after breaking off. It went about 15 ft. before it landed, just brushing against the tin roof of our garage on the way by. No real damage was done. Just lots and lots of cleanup. A few minutes after this happened ad dh went to the front of the house to see what was happening there. He heard another loud cracking noise and then a clump, screeching sound. Yep, another tree hit. He got there just in time to see the two major branches of this tree break off, hit the roof, and end up on our large window air-conditioner. We have not used this air conditioner since putting in central air a couple of years ago, thank goodness. We spent the entire morning cleaning up branches, limbs, leaves and other debris. Last night after the main part of the storm moved through, we were able to drive around town to see the damage. It was a mess everywhere. I have a feeling it was more than straight winds, but cannot prove it. There are places out in the cornfields that are like crop circles with the corn flattened in a circular area and the rest of the area is flattened. You decide, I cannot. This tree branch down does not look nearly as large in the photo as it was. Dh had to get the chain saw and trim the downed branches so that they would fit in the back of our pickup. We made 4 trips to the burn pile north of town before we got finished. Then raked and cleaned up the rest of the debris. I just learned that some folks had trees break clear off. I am sure the dry conditions contributed to the damage. The fields around are a total loss. What the drought did not get, the storm did. I doubt they will have a crop now. Corn laying flat to the ground cannot be good. The corn was so dry from no rain that it was an easy target for the wind and rain. We only got about a half inch of rain total, but there was a lot of run off that did not get counted, I am sure. We were glad Hunter had not had a sleep over at our house. I would have been much more scared had he been here. We would have spent time in the basement, for sure. We had a bad storm go through last summer when our other grandson was here, and that made me a basket case. I don't worry so much about myself, but when they are here, it is frightening. This time I was smart enough to know to grab my purse and medicine, and the flashlight and to be ready to hide if need be. Oh, and I got my shoes on as soon as I heard the sirens. Can never be too prepared. I will have to make up an emergency kit to have down there waiting. Have always meant to do that, but have never done it. Bottled water, bandaids, etc. That is it for now. What a night!

Today

 Today Ragbrai rolled through our little town. We knew that it was coming, but did not realize the magnatude until it happened. I have known about this Ride Across Iowa for many years, since it began, really. It has in fact come before, in 1998. Wow, have things changed since then! Wow! Did I say, Wow? Larry and I went up town to see what was happening. This was shortly before 8 a.m. I meant to wake up earlier to go riding my bike, but alas, did not make it up by 6 a.m. Anyway, when we got up there, it was already hopping. There were more vendor stands than I expected. Somewhere I read 27 in all. That in itself involves a lot of people! As we stood there, the bikers were coming in. Some were buying, some kept on going, some just wanted a cup of coffee. (which no one seemed to have at the time, but went and made some soon after.) Why no one had thought to make coffee is beyond me. We should all know that there are always people who drink coffee, warm weather or not! I hope that woman that asked me about it got to have a cup. Then there were many visits I got to have with the riders as they walked their bikes, parked their bikes, or put them behind a bush or under a tree. The main shock to me was the average age of the riders. I talked to one of the support vehicle drivers and was told that the average age this year was about 54.2 Wow, not too far from my age group. Amazing! And good news. We heard that 2 riders had gotten hit by a car leaving Lake View or Auburn, I can't remember which for sure. The entire day is a jumble of memories right now. Perhaps I will be able to get it straight in my mind and this story later on. I stood there watching in total Awe as the various riders came in, stayed a while, or left. The people I connected with were respectful, polite, and very willing to have a conversation along the way. There was more sweat than I have seen in my Lifetime so far! As we watched the people milling around, I glanced up at the clock near the Bank. It was already 78 degrees shortly after 8. It was going to be a hot one as everyone predicted. I had thought to grab my camera, but when I went to take a picture the first time, blah, no SD card! I had left it in my laptop. So, home I went to get the card and get back to get some photos. I wish I had thought to get a photo with some of the people we talked to. Hindsight! I am not much of a person to get into a crowd, but I have to say I was flabbergasted and enthralled. Since dh and I have been riding our bikes for a while now and are riding somewhere between 6 and 10 miles 2 to 3 times a week, I began to feel a kinship of sorts with the folks as they entered town and stopped for a while. I am still in a bit of an euphoria from the entire day! As the day went on, more riders came. Then more, then more. Pretty soon they were 4 or 5 deep walking their bikes down the street! It was a sight to see. A good one. Every person I talked to was polite and respectful and seemed genuinely glad to be there and to talk to us. I did finally get some good pictures, and so thought I would share one of them here. I will probably get some more posted soon. Probably on Facebook. For now, it is late and I need to get some rest. I am a tired woman! Encouraged, reved up and happy. Maybe riding across Iowa should be on my Bucket List that I plan on writing soon. Goodnight all.

Wednesday wanderings

The wandering being my mind and the thoughts going through it.
The Sun is finally making it's way through the clouds here.

I hope the temperature will rise some too, its been a dreary
few days again...no sun makes me tired and sad.

Truly it becomes a "job" to get through winter these days.
As I look outside, the snow is melting as the sun shines
brightly on the new snow.

This is the pretty time. The time when the storm is over...and the
winds did not blow...so it can look like, and does...A Christmas card.

Not that I think about Christmas this time of year, not as a rule.
I did accidentally play some Christmas music this morning.
My son in law copied off 2 cds for me...and interposed upon this cd
are several Christmas songs. For some reason, I do not want to think
of Christmas in February....so I skipped to the next tunes. I
often work to music. It calms me, and is better than TV nowdays.

I have been looking online for furniture....we have begun a
tedious redo of our bedroom. The room my husband added on to our
tiny house back when our oldest daughter, now 30 was about 2.
Several things had happened over the past 28 years that had to be
corrected at last.

Like the floor settling. Like the foundation shifting.
Like the damage the roof leak he fixed last year had done.
I knew it would be a huge undertaking, and quite honestly never
thought it would be fixed. I thought I would be walking on
a warped floor till forever, or untill I moved away
from this home.

About 6 months ago he began to talk about fixing it. I just
poo pooed it, and forgot about it. Then when I figured our
income taxes, and saw we would be getting a good refund this
year, he moved forward and started the repairs.

I think I am still in shock!

He then laid out the plan, and began to tackle it, with me
watching from the wings and helping when I could.

We are about half done now. He has to do some more work in
the closet, finish the sub floor, then we will paint. I like
to paint, but not ceilings...I hope he will invest in one
of those neat long handled paint rollers I have seen. The
glitter will be gone, but to be honest, I never was that
crazy about glitter on my bedroom ceiling when they did it.
Aaaah trends! After the paint comes the carpet which is
waiting behind this chair.

Such a mess this house is, but I am wading through the
clutter and getting ready to deliver several loads to the
local Charity.

Anyway, time for me to wander back in to help hubby some more,
Hope this finds you all well and enjoying each day as the special
day it is! Remember, we never know how many days we will get,
ENJOY!

Katie

Back in My Day

Do you remember hearing that?

My Grandpa could tell the best stories. He would mesmerize
us grandkids when he would start in.

He would tell tales so vivid, you were there.
I know he recorded some of them on cassette tape,
but I have not heard them since I was about 20.
I hope they did not fade away. Dad still has them,
I asked him recently.

Grandpa would squat like an Indian crouching
looking at tracks in the dirt. He would sit there
like that for what seemed like hours telling tales.

We never got bored or wanted to leave. I am sure
now as I remember this, that it was only a few minutes,
but when you are a little kid, it enthralls you so
and you become the person in the story. It was better
than TV. He used our imaginations as much as we did
because of that.

I hope as I write these ponderings, that more of the
actual stories themselves will come back to me. They
say that happens...I hope so.

I will have to ask Dad if I can listen to those
tapes again next time I visit with him. I know he
will let me, as I have already inherited some of the
tapes in his collection.

We used to go to my grandparents about once a week.
Mom was taking adult ed. classes and I suppose Dad
was at work. He usually worked a couple of jobs in
those days just to get enough to pay all the bills.

Grandpa would take us fishing. We would watch the
brook babble...they really do, you know....and listen
to the birds singing overhead, content to be alive.

He made us bait our own hooks and take the fish off the
line, said we needed to learn how to fend for ourselves.

I still remember that little dirt piddle they left when
you took them out of the container. Grandpa would
chuckle when he saw me being squimish about the worms.
I loved that about him...he paid attention to me.

On Sunday mornings, he would make the homemade syrup
while Grandma flipped the pancakes. It was always
a treat to stay there. They had indoor plumbing.
That bathroom was a fantastic treat for me. Our
house still had the Outhouse.

Whenever we would complain or turn up our noses
at anything at all, Grandpa or Grandma would
speak up and say...you should have seen things
"Back in MY Day".

Hugs till next time

Katie

Music

I sit here listening to my Don Juan DeMarco cd and go many places
in my mind.

Many times, and often I think about that, how lucky I am to be
able to hear such beauty.
This leads my mind to thinking and my passions begin to flow.

I can dance the tango from my chair.
There are many beautiful dresses I can envision with my listening.

I see the Black Stallion running across the western plains,
still free and spirited.

This vision lets me become the Beauty I always wanted to be...
Will I be blond or Brunette today? Let me conjur up my dreams today.

Thinking of these things lets me travel in the same way reading books does.
No longer am I chained to one place, here in this small town in Iowa.

I travel...I move forward, Yes! I can even soar above the ground as
I see the horses run and myself riding bareback on the leader
of the herd.

That used to be me when I was little. I would pretend so vividly,
I could actually almost really travel to that place, wherever it existed.

I climbed mountains. I flew across the air like a bird soaring,
landing rarely. Taking in the beauty of lands I had never travelled
to, yet still saw in my mind's eye. I am working to get back there...
to that wild imagination.

The mind! Another wonderful thing....what it can do when we let it go!!!
There are truly no limits when you think about it....look at the
amazing wonderful positive things that can come from ones deep
dark, vague,untested mind. Books say we use only a tiny
percent of the Brain Matter we are given at Birth.

Memories of youth. Information about things we wonder about.
Replaying a movie we have watched, or a place we have travelled.

People used to use those memories more. They used to tell Stories,
hand them down from one generation to the next. They used to visit
each other in their homes and create memories. Now some of us
rarely take pictures and throw them into a box or someday put
them into a book.

Playing. Children excell at it when allowed. Adults choose artistic
careers to play. All People should do that more....it really is
a good thing for our well being. Let the imagination out of that
box you keep it in...I promise I will.

Escape. Soar, Roar... SING!

Next!

Hugs from Katie

Blogger Help : What is BlogThis! ?

Blogger Help : What is BlogThis! ?

I stumbled upon blogging one day when visiting another website about writing.

This has been a wonderful experience so far in that it is helping
me become creative again...something I resolved to do this year.

I realize it matters not what I write, only that I do write, every day....put something down...thoughts, memories...jokes, poems...something to keep my mind alert and working.

Just thought you would want to know....

Remembering When

Remember Sen Sen?
I remember a teacher I had in Seventh grade that chewed it.

He was my English teacher...but that is all I remember of
his teaching, how that stuff made his breath smell.

Remember times before TV? Going to the Friends and Neighbors
on Friday or Saturday nights because we could not afford one yet.

How about the old General Store. My Grandpa owned one.
He and my Grandma did it all until 1968 when they
"sold a town". It was a very small stop by the way place.

Most small town general stores are gone now. Some buildings
still set there, doing nothing,
gathering weeds, dust and probably moths inside.

I remember this little step stool they had in the store
that I loved to sit on/in. The top folded back so it had a back rest.

I remember the Candy Case. It was a very old one, about the size
of a small trunk, all glass with a wooden frame. The back side
folded out to get to the candy. Grandpa had a Treasure trove in
there of every kind of penny candy you could imagine.

Remember when Families sat around the Radio? Or listening to
Mom or Grandma read stories from a real book?

Remember Canasta and Pinochle?
My family got together for card club.

The Ladies dressed up in high heels and lace.
They wore those pop bead neclaces and some even
wore real, not fake, pearls.

There was candy and peanuts and sometimes even Caramel Popcorn.
Dessert later with coffee. Real Conversations.

Remember the Victrola? I remember looking over those 78 speed
records trying to decide which ones to listen to first.

Mom later inherited those records, but didn't seem to enjoy them
after my Grandparents were gone. Guess that happens. Now after
losing Mom last Spring, I understand.

My two Brothers and I and my Dad part of the time, took the time
to go through all the collections of a Lifetime my folks had
accumulated from over 20 years of living beside a small lake.

They decided to move into town after a sick spell my Dad went
through made them realize it was a long way for the Ambulance
to come. It was only to be a move for the winter in my Dad's
thinking, but all of us Kids knew it would probably be
permanent. It was the best choice in the end...but difficult.

Remember when times were simple? You could Rely on them.
They stayed the same. People and things...you knew what to
expect from them. Now I respect Routine. It is more than
just doing the same things every day. It is calm. It is safety,
it is knowing what Normal is. It is Life. It is great.

Next!

Hugs from Katie