The Dairy Barn Moos

Indian Summer

2011-10-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again... Indian summer arrived after an September frost. A bit early for the first frost this year. The combines are sooo big, it takes no time at all to harvest the fields. I am enjoying the return of my countryside view from the kitchen windows.

Corn was the crop grown next to our yard this year. It was fun feeling all cozy tucked behind the corn for the summer. It is true that on a hot summer night you can hear the corn growing. It squeaks and pops as it works it's way skyward. Very entertaining experience for our city guests. Sitting on the patio, talking on their cell phones to those back home "What are you doing?" the person on the other end of the phone must be asking, "Sitting on the patio listening to the corn grow" they answer.

I had forgotten how closed in I was feeling, until I looked out this morning and could almost see New Hampton, 7 miles east of my kitchen.

Just when I thought I could no longer breath, a nice rain came along and washed all the harvesting dust out of the air.

Life is good.

Frost! the start of Fall 2011

2011-09-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ready or not, it is here. Fall came a bit early for this part of Iowa. We had our first frost Sept 15!! Donya saw the frost and hit the deck running to get the entrance to the patio decorated for the season. This is her favorite season, although she does it up pretty good when spring comes calling.


We picked up the windfall apples for a treat for our horses, Dude, Skipper, Red and Bud. The horses will soon be moving into their newly repaired barn. The wind had almost destroyed it so the horses have been lounging in the old cattle shed while the repairs were under way.

   Yum! apple pie will soon be on the menu for our guests.

Moving in.

2011-08-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

YUM, if you are a horse.

Great weather for hay making, IF you can beat the rain. Rain was forecaste for the next afternoon

So what if the barn is not completely done. The roof is on, and that is way better then trying to put a tarp on the hay to keep the rain off. Fred worked in the new hay loft stacking the hay while Don loaded it on the bale conveyor.

2 loads done, with 3 more to unload. They can wait until the barn is finished since there was room to pull them in the cattle shed before the storm.

2011-08-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Howdy everyone,

I've been told that it has been a long time since I updated my blog. How did that happen?!! Lots has happened, but we survived it okay.

We are thrilled to announce that our silky chickens have successfully hatched out 7 little chicks. One of the hens is still sitting on a clutch of eggs, so there will be more to come.

We were unfortunate to experience a 'micro burst' that damaged our horse barn. We housed the horses in the lower cattle shed until we could 'get around' to repairing the damage. Happy to say, it is almost completed.

Don's new hip is working great, and is almost 6 months old. Waiting for the hip (did you know that when you get old they put you on a waiting list?!!), and then the therapy so he could learn how to use it, kind of delayed the progress on the barn. He certainly is NOT climbing on the roof, leaving that up to Fred.

I've misplaced my camera, (they are so very small) and no way to call it. Donya used her iphone for these photos. It is convenient to call the iphone when it is misplaced. I hope to locate the camera before we leave on our much anticipated vacation next week. We are leaving our animals and pets in good hands with Donya, Fred and Michelle.

Beautiful snow

2011-01-24T09:51:00.000-08:00

We left during the start of this blizzard in December, to meet some friends in Branson Mo. A good thing we had 3 people left behind in charge of any chaos this storm might cause.
The aftermath was absolutely beautiful. Our 3 caretakers did call us with a bit of whining about how cold it was. Hey! It was not all that warm in Branson, either.
I can't think of anything more beautiful then the sun shining on snow covered branches.
I am thankful Michelle, Fred and Donya kept the home fires burning while we were gone.

This was just the start of the snow season in December. We have had many more snow storms, wind blowing and drifting the snow, and way more below 0 days this winter then I care to remember. I'm very anxious to see a January thaw... just 1 week left for it to appear. The garden catalogs have arrived !!! yea !!! Spring must be on it's way.

Difficult week?!!

2010-03-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

Just for fun I read Cainer's horoscope on the internet. Last Friday a difficult week ahead for everyone was the lead paragraph. I think I may believe he was on to something. The computers (every one of them, and we have 7 of them around our businesses and home) seemed to be running sluggish and slow. Even the computer at the library seemed to work harder to get the information up on the screen. Talk about cars breaking down... Fred's garage was surrounded with cars that suddenly had something go wrong with them. Good for Fred, as that is how he makes a living, but bad for all those people that needed their cars 'right now!'. He would get one car off the hoist and put another one on it, while 6 more people were needing their car to be next.

It seemed a bit difficult for me at the shop as well. I found a truck seat for Allied construction that I had missed getting done. Yikes!! I'll bet they were wondering where their seat was. I am behind on the cards I promised to make (my hobby) and card club is in 3 days with me being the hostess. That means refreshments. hmmmm How will I ever get it all done.

Anyway, just for fun I am letting you all see a scrapbook page of my room mate when he was a child. It is a photo that he hated and did not want his mother to purchase from the school photo people. I love it. Rhonda, our daughter, made the page... and she has such a dry humor. The page makes me laugh.
Yep, that is Mr Donald Etter, mad at the world because they would not give him time to comb his hair before the picture was taken. (He's given me that look a couple of times, in the 50 years we have been married). Good thing looks do not kill.

2010-03-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

We found a new bed for one of rooms in our B&B (Rosie's) while wandering around in Ikea, Minneapolis. Yea! Just like I imagined for that room, and here it was.. for real. And a price I could afford. I was happy it was very sturdy, after Fred put it together. Now I can install the rest of the decorations in that room. I just need to find where I stored everything while waiting for just the right bed frame.

Florida was cold

2010-03-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

Back to work, again. It took me 3 days of feeling like I was in lala land after returning to Iowa last week. A week in Orlando, another week in Miami and 3 days in Kansas. Add to that some interesting side trips and .... I could get used to living like that!!!

I was excited to make contact with a cousin I had not seen in 55 years (she hadn't changed a bit), enjoyed playing with my 2 grandchildren (my goodness Emily has grown tall since last year), visited the town and battleground where my mother's Great Grandfather (Samuel Kee) was killed during the Civil War (Iuka Mississippi) and finally found the place where I had bought that awesome ham 25 years ago in Arkansas (St Joes in the Ozark Mountains.) I've been trying to remember where we had gotten it, and took a different road home each year trying to find it. The Ham is just as good as I remembered it. Yea!!

Don located a couple Allis tractors he had seen sitting in a grove a couple years ago in Kansas, so felt he had a wonderful vacation as well. It is his and Fred's new baby, but they have not committed to buying the big brother yet.
India graduates from High School as well as Junior College this spring. Fred plans on taking India's graduation car down on a trailer and bringing back the new baby tractor when they go for the celebration. The tractor is almost in Oklahoma/Missouri but actually on the Kansas line. It will just be too bad if he feels the need to buy the 'big brother' Alles tractor as well, when he only has room for the baby on the car trailer. Little boys grow up and their toys just get bigger.

I'm back!!

2010-01-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

I feel as though I have been in another country for the past 2 months. I was greedy and came out of semi-retirement from the upholstery shop to accept another commercial job. When I inspected it, I thought it would be a 3-4 week engagement. Even with working 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week (I even worked New Years Day) it took me almost 2 months to complete the job. When I first met with the owners, they were not going to have all the booths redone. They did not tell me they had changed their minds, just started bringing them over as fast as I had room to unload them. I had to order more fabric and foam, as well as rearrange my schedule.

I visited the completed restaurant yesterday. It looks great!! They did a wonderful job with their designs and colors. The building had been neglected for many years, so it is great to see it back in service.

One of the fountain booths was on the front page of the newspaper, only because the owners were standing in front of it.
Well, Christmas came and went without me hardly noticing. I did take Christmas off from the job. But hardly stopped long enough for the Christmas parties that were booked at the barn. Donya did a great job filling in at the barn for me.

Now I am looking forward to a brief visit to Florida in February. A few things are booked at the barn between now and then, and several jobs at the shop must be completed before I go. (They were pushed back while working on the restaurant.) It is really good to sit down long enough to write on the blog again.

Artisan Bread

2009-10-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

We finally received our new baking tools. Thank you Lisa for sending the Pampered chef stone. It is wonderful. Donya slipped in a pizza peel on my last order to Amazon. $25 extra added to the order, but no shipping costs.
We already had the artisan bread cook book. Wow, look at what we can do !!
Having the right tools really does make a difference. We had tried cooking the bread on a cookie sheet. Not satisfactory. I am hoping to get used to the new stone, so I can remove the 'note to me' I have taped to the stove hood, to be sure to put the stone in the cold oven when I am starting to preheat it. And to remember to put the shallow pan below it for the cup of water that is added after you get the bread on your stone. AND I SHALL NEVER FORGET !! Don't open the oven until the time is up, because you will get a scald burn. My hand is almost healed ;-). Still a little pink on thumb and pointer area.

Our bed and breakfast guests LOVE the artisan bread. One recipe makes many versions.

Now I must get back to my paper arts and scrap booking. We will soon be hosting the annual fall scrap booking retreat. Menus to make, bread to bake, and lots of tools and supplies to move to the barn. This year we have a waiting list, in case someone has to cancel. Yea!!!

Does this make me a Great Great Grandma?

2009-09-24T19:47:00.001-07:00

Donya purchased some baby silky chickens at an animal swap a year ago, and had hoped to get at least one rooster. As luck would have it, she did get just one rooster and the rest were hens. Last night when she was closing the little chicken coop, the little white hen refused to go in to roost. Donya got her Grandpa to help her lift the tiny pen so she could put the hen in the door. After the hen went in unwillingly and clucking all the while, Donya heard 'cheep cheep cheep'. There were 2 tiny little silky chicks left in the pen. They had to lift the pen again and move the babies in with the mother. Donya was so excited.. she came in exclaiming 'I'm a Grandma'. So that makes me a great great grandma, right? To some chickens.
If you are wondering what a 'silky' is, it is a small chicken (banty size) that has feathers that look more like fur then feathers. It grows on their feet and legs and they look like a tiny llama.
Mama with her babies. Tonight Don and I had to close the chicken hut, and the mama was sitting in the yard up close to the door of the hutch, all fluffed out with her babies under her. They are so tiny they can not get up into the hutch. It is about 3 inches off the ground. She pecked me when I grabbed her (didn't hurt) and pushed her in the open door. Then I had to feel around in the grass for her babies. My, they were tiny.
That is mown grass those little darlings are hiding in.
The rooster is in the back, by the hut. Actually this is our 'chicken tractor', we built it to fit between the rows of the garden, with wheels on one end so we can move it along each day. The chickens then can scratch and eat the weed seeds and bugs in the garden. The chicken house is under construction and will soon be ready for a photo. We will move them to the chicken coop for the winter.

Silkies make excellent mothers and even the rooster will help set on the eggs. Lots of fun for a cheap hobby. IF you can get someone to build the little pens and huts they need.
Donya brought home a new basket and Gabby took it over. Makes a real cute photo, AND it keeps her off the chairs and sofa.. and that is not a bad thing.

Company from Colorado

2009-09-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

Surprise !! Fall has arrived. Never mind it comes every year at this time, it's still a surprise when it arrives. We had to replace all our mums, due to an icy winter. Sure missed having them the year we skipped setting out the new plants. Now, to the business of setting these new plants.
The birds must have 'planted' a wild grape seed. I might be making a mistake by leaving it to climb on the trellis. It looks nice there, right now. Don't know how big of a job it will be to remove it when it gets too wild.
Have you ever seen a sorrier looking tomato plant? This has not been a very good tomato year. It has been way too cold all summer. I have plenty for canning because we had set out so many plants. I am so mad at the jerk that messed with our global warming. Give it back !! We need that warmth for our plants.
We were happy to have Harold visit for a few days. Don took him to an auction (Don and Fred's most favorite hobby). Then the 2 brothers traveled to Wisconsin to visit their sister, Darlene. I remembered they would be going through Gays Mills (the famous apple orchards in Wisconsin) so called Don on Big Red's phone (his pickup) to ask for a couple dozen cider doughnuts that are made at Sunrise orchard in Gay's Mills. Yum! He also got a half bushel of his favorite apple, honey crisp, and a couple gallons of fresh cider.
Here are some Etter boys looking for trouble. Brothers Don and Harold, with Fred and Alfie. Too early for snomobiles and only one Harley motorcycle, not enough to share. Guess they could have gone canoeing if they would have had time.

Harold left for Colorado this morning, anxious to return home. Time always seems to move by so quickly when vacationing. It felt like Harold had just arrived and then he was heading out with his suitcase, already.

Davis Rally 2009 part 2

2009-09-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Lou Ann's photos are much better then mine. She was kind enough share them using e-mail.
Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri all represented in this photo. Packed and ready to head out. The weather was perfect this year, for the rally.
I TOLD Lou Ann the camera hates me, when she asked us to come on out for a photo. Alfie's picture is good, the rest of us ?!!!
Meet Red. He demands our guests to pick an apple from the near by tree and give it to him.
And this is Bud. He is a pen mate with Red. These 2 ponies have not been broke to ride. Anyone interested in playing rodeo??

Our saddle horses are named Skipper and Dude. Their home is in the lower corral.

Thank you Lou Ann for the photos.

Davis Rally 2009

2009-09-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

A motor cycle gang visited our bed and breakfast this past week end. I had to chuckle when I thought about them all being baby boomers, riding trikes. One couple arrived in a corvette! Most have stayed at the Barn before, and helped welcome a few first timers. I took some photos this morning after breakfast. FANCY trikes..and corvette.

I am grateful that everyone reserved a room for 2010 rally. hmmmm I better start working on the menu.

The day ended with Don's brother, Harold, finally arriving for a nice vacation/visit. It has been over a year since his last visit.

End of summer is close

2009-09-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

Fred likes to attend the Mennonite auctions that are near our farm. When you bid, it is on a pallet full. The grocery stores are there bidding against you, so you rest assured you are paying wholesale. The local farm wives have decided to buy their vegetables for canning at those auctions. Well, me too... next year.

I heard Fred had gone to the auction last Saturday, so I made a call to him to bring back mums for fall planting. It is a good thing his friend's mother in law was also interested in mums. She took 2/3 of the pallet and I got 1/3. It was lovely to see Fred drive in with a pickup load of blossoms. 12 huge mum plants. I had to take two photos to get them all in.(well, only because the sun was on the East side so most of the plants were in the shade.)
I think I am finished canning green beans. I made some dill green bean pickles, too. I hope they are as good as my mother in law's. My mother had never made any, so they were new to me. We had to rip and pillage a lot of our wild plum bushes when we put tile in that part of our farm this spring. So I made 'enough' plum jam for this year, and did not feel guilty for letting extra plums go to waste, there weren't any. I could not resist taking the photo when the morning sun flooded my counter top this morning.
More goodies brought in from the garden. The trees are starting to turn bright colors, as well.
The neighbor to our scrapbook shop told Donya and Michelle to help themselves to the pears. They were starting to fall off her trees and call flies. I plan to can them as soon as they get ripe.

A funny story: When Don and I were married 3 short years, we made a trip to the "Western Slope" in Colorado to get tree ripened peaches (they are the best! yum). I also wanted to get some tree ripened pears. The orchard farmers got a good laugh at me for that. Said there is no such thing as a tree ripened pear. They fall off before ripening. Besides , there is absolutely no way to transport ripe pears.

Highway 127 2009 adventures

2009-09-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

Don can not help himself, he is attracted to 'junk'. He ran onto this pickup that is for sale, sitting near a few yard sales. He was tired of looking at my kind of 'junk' but got a kick out of this one. This is the good side.
This was the other side of that pickup. It was turned toward the trees, so the only way you would see it was to get out and walk around the thing.
Don spent a lot of time just watching people. He is the only one of us that did not carry a cell phone. I made the girls hunt him down when we were ready to move on. I wish he would agree to carry a cell phone, but he a stubborn old farmer. He sure counts on mine when we travel together.
There were quilts for sale. These were hanging on a porch rail.. and if you look closely you will see the kitten laying on the porch floor below the blue skirted girl quilt. The quilt makers were sitting in a row on the porch behind the quilts. They were looking at us, while we were looking at their quilts.
Donya is a gourmet cook, and has made the best pizzas on our grill at home. She brought all the makings for a couple pizzas, but had to experiment with cooking them on Fred's tripod over a camp fire. The first one came out a bit dark on the bottom side but still tasted great. Rhonda stood over the second one and it came out perfect.

It was a nice end to a busy 'sight seeing, shopping yard sales' day.

More highway 127

2009-08-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

Just look at those lush trees. Anywhere there was a vacant place to put your stuff, someone would open their trunks or unload their stuff from their pickup and they were in business. Donya was thrilled to find a game she has been wanting for years. She was almost ready to order it from Amazon for $50. $2.50 at this yard sale. It was like new... Scrabble on a turntable.
The oddest thing we found for sale was a mounted pig. Not just the head, but half the pig.How would you like to have that hanging over your fireplace?!! We did not even check to see how much they wanted for it. Afraid they might think we were making an offer.
The antique fire engine made into an ice cream server was a hit with all of us. They made the ice cream right on that truck, put it into a bowl and slid it onto a conveyor belt that brought it through a trough to us. Yep, India had peacock blue hair in honor of the yard sales.
Donya was a good little shopper. She is collecting white firestone dishes and cookware. She found many to add to her collection. I think her favorite was the small tea cups and saucers that were at a booth where a nice man had an East African accent when he talked to us. We were not sure if it was New Zealand, but it not quite right for that.. we will always wonder.
Donya rode with Don and me, while Rhonda, India and Mike were in her van. (She had a pretty full van when she headed home.) This is the back seat where Donya had her nest. Fred had put a storage (or huge tool) box with a lid in the front of our pickup bed. It did not interfere with the 5th wheel hitch for the camper.. and we filled it. And we filled out camper... but not so full that we had to rent a motel on the way home. We heard there were shoppers that did that very thing. More in the next post.

Highway 127 yard sale

2009-08-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

We did it !! We finally took the trip to follow highway 127 for the yard sales. We did not go the complete 640 miles, but did cover 135 miles. We went as far South as Chattanooga.

Rhonda, husband Mike and daughter India,(from Kansas) met us at Wallyhoo campground near Crossville TN. Don, Donya and I had camp set up by the time they arrived. Not the best campground in the area. Could have been, but the owner/operator bought the campground and moved from Michigan about 3 or so years ago. He is letting it run down something awful, and cares not for his campers comfort. He opened the office about noon IF he felt like it. The only way to get wifi was to sit right outside his office, in the sun, and try to see the screen on your laptop. Swimming pool was out or order along with all the other things promised on the web site. The shower and bathrooms were in great working order and kept clean. We will choose a different campground for next year.

Yep, we had so much fun, we decided to go next year. The food was so much fun. India and Donya had real fried green tomatoes. I missed those. But the cajun boiled peanuts were done to perfection. Home made ice cream, fried pies, beans and corn bread, smoked chicken and ribs. yum !!! One of the best hamburger and french fry plates I have ever had.

We took advice from people who have been going to this event the 22 years since it was started. Take plenty of water to drink, toilet paper (those portapoties run out of paper, then what?) and baby wipes. You put your hands on grungy and sticky stuff, while sorting for the 'good stuff'. And then you sometimes get sticky eating the fried pies and ice cream. Baby wipes are a must have.

I was happy just to have a nice vacation, go camping, be with family and see some great scenery. It was spectacular, looking off across the hills and into the valleys. We went down some very narrow roads in search of another yard sale or two. Some were very memorable, and funny. We made sure to buy at least one thing, if we were the only shoppers down that lonely road and at the yard sale. Sometimes it was difficult to find at least one thing that you would even load in your truck. Other times we needed a trolley to haul all the good stuff back to the truck.

Don was hoping to find Alles tractors, instead he found a farmer that told him there were no Alles dealers in the area.. so it would be rare to find one. Don did find one, imported by that same Tennessee farmer, from Minnesota. The farmer said he drove up to get it after making the deal for it on the internet.

I have a couple regrets of things I saw and did not buy, but I really did not go to buy a lot of things. My place is too full of things as it is, but boy!! that sure was a pretty tea set I didn't buy. And those Christmas dishes (service for 4) were just perfect for the barn. Had there been place setting for 8.... they probably would have come home with me.

Want to see what I did bring home? Well, here are a couple things..
This little wooden box is covered with leather. Not sure what kind, but the wood is very aged and looks a lot like the Belgian cabinet I bought from an antique shop about 15 years ago to use as a china hutch. Paid $900 for the cabinet (a new china hutch would have cost more then $1500) and later discovered it was valued at $3000. I love it and would never part with it. I gave $4.00 for this box.
I'll bet you would like to know what it is. So did I. I had no idea what it was or what it was used for. Rhonda told me it was a Samovar. I still did not know what it was. The instruction book is in Russian. Donya studied Russian when she attended OU. (Oklahoma University) and translated a few of the words in the booklet. The seller did not know what it was, so they were no help. But I thought it was very pretty, so bargained them down to $30.

It is a Russian Samovar, used in tea making. You make a very strong, usually sweet fruity tea, in the little teapot on the top. It sits on the 'chimney' and stays warm, with hot water in the bottom of the pot(that big round part at the bottom). You put a little of the strong tea from the little teapot in your cup, then run hot water out of the spigot in the bottom pot to dilute the tea. That way the tea in the top pot does not get bitter and strong by boiling too long.

This pot is electric, but the antique pots have a tube that goes down the middle that charcoal is put into and kept burning.. to keep the bottom water hot. I will need to get an adapter as the electric is for European outlets.

I'll show you some more 'stuff' on the next post. Lots of our stuff is still in the camper. Got to find somewhere to put our treasures before we can unload them. Hope we find the 'place' for them before we go next year, or the camper could get a bit crowded. heh heh

July 09 quilt reteat

2009-07-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

Material Magic, New Hampton Iowa, held their quilt retreat at the Dairy Barn Bed and Breakfast. The 3 days seemed to fly past yet many of the quilters completed their projects. Table runners, quilts and purses were on the agenda this year.

Some of the photos (45) I took are in the album. I had a quick lesson on loading photos in an album that I could attach to my blog. Hope it all works right.

Cold July 09

2009-07-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

Out side my front door... flowers and weeds. Don is Mr Chemical Man and got out his sprayer and took care of the weeds in the rocks and between the cracks in the patio. Donya and Don went berserk at the Mennonite green house this spring, and we have lots of flowers across the front of the patio and in containers everywhere. Alfie has been ever so good as to not dig them up. If we were having normal hot July weather, I'm sure the story would be much different.

This is a record setting cold July for Iowa. The high was only 61 degrees a few days ago. The flowers are huddled up trying to keep warm.

I am preparing for another quilt retreat, getting menus made and food prepared as much ahead of time as is possible. Discovered I had forgotten to buy a couple items when Don and I went to town yesterday. It is a pity that we drove 50 miles to the store and forgot 2 important parts of our meals. grrrrrr This retreat starts Thursday and ends Sunday afternoon.

Summer on the farm

2009-07-15T19:56:00.001-07:00

After healing from the terrible antler scruffing a deer gave our baby Linden tree,(Don announced he did not think our Linden tree was going to make it, due to all the bark being 'eaten' off by some animal) it survived and was loaded with the sweetest smelling flowers this summer.
I did not have time to make tea with the blossoms this time, but look forward to leisurely cups of tea next season. Woo Hoo! I no longer have to make hay. I guess that is one thing good about getting old.

Fred collects Alles Chalmers tractors, and likes to play with them in his 'big sand box'. He was cutting and baling our water way grasses, and several farm folks with small bits of hay and grass ground asked him to cut and bale their hay. Large operators want no part of dinking around with small patches of ground, so Fred has found a nitch to play around with his old equipment.

He feeds some of his hay to these guys. Perhaps they will be big enough for the freezer late this fall. He feeds some of the hay to our (his) 4 horses. But he seems to have a little left to bargain with. It is a nice hobby and would be better if he did not have hay fever.

During our farming years I really hated hay making for the herd of Brown Swiss Dairy Cows. It seemed a lightening and thunderstorm would come up as we had all the wagons loaded with baled hay. No way could we leave them out in the yard to get rained on. Many times I would be on the wagon, throwing those bales into the conveyer with lightening much closer then I had ever wanted to see it. Yep, I am ever so glad those days are behind me, and I survived.

Moving in

2009-06-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

Finally !! The walls are finished and the carpet is installed. I finally get to use my private family/sitting room. It is much needed, so Don can spread his magazines and papers around without worry that we will have some unexpected guests call for a room.

I restrained myself from putting books on the shelf before Don had installed the last book case. His complaint about me, I always start moving in before he gets it half done. As you can see, I have a couple shelves to put in place in the book case and the media cabinet. There are some things I would do different, and it would not be hard to change.. except.. with Don there is NO changing anything, even it is done wrong. Someday, when I am home alone...... perhaps when it is below 0 and snowing outside .....
I am happy to see one of the rummage sale lamps fits in that little alcove, perfectly. I love the soft look of indirect lighting from lamps. I need to put a doily under that lamp. I know I have some around here, somewhere.
We made a trip to Menards for more sheetrock and insulation, yesterday. Donya finally decided it was time to set up her massage studio and got her National license.. so we gave her a 20x12 ft section in my old workroom at the shop. I will no longer strip and refinish furniture (I'm retiring that part of my shop, right now.!!) We are dividing up that 40x20 room into 3 sections, her studio will have the best part with a large window and private entrance door, the center part will be used to expand the ever growing scrap book/paper arts shop, and the small remaining room will be office. Fred already has the partition wall up and ready for the next step. He would have done more if we had not run out of sheet rock and insulation.

Our next project is to install this:
We found the fan I had bought a few years ago for the personal sitting room is too big, due to the angles of the roof (attic rooms cause that kind of problem). As I was shopping for a replacement, I found that Hunter does not make any fans smaller then 42 inches. I refuse to buy another low end fan, after using the Hunter in my bedroom. So I bought this 'cutesy' pink fan to put in one of the bedrooms that already have a small white 'low end'(cheap) fan in it, and move that small fan into the sitting room. hmmm how long do you think it will take Don to get in the mood to do that?!! Donya is excited to have the new fan in her room because it is shabby chic, her favorite way to decorate these days.

Fred is busy making hay (the sun finally came out and it is not supposed to rain for a few days) so he will not be available to help with the remodeling/building project for a while. He also complains that I try to move in before he is done. I guess I just get a little excited about getting something new.

First ripe tomato

2009-06-26T06:26:00.001-07:00

Don picked our first ripe tomato !! I had pulled it to the front of the vine so I could get the camera and take a photo with it on the vine. Don came along and decided to pick it before Alfie saw it and would come in proudly carrying the tiny little fruit. It is planted in a pot and kept near the front door of the Bed and Breakfast (we have acres to plant it in, but always start one in a pot to hurry up the process with one tomato plant.

Don's cousin, Mary, told me about planting a potato in a bucket near the back door.. to get potatoes earlier as well. I will put that on my to do list for next spring.

50 years celebration

2009-06-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

Don and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary June 7... with a little vacation to Kansas. I wanted to take my computer to Wichita to get it repaired and Don wanted to search for Allis Chalmers tractors. While in Wichita we visited 'old town square' where the cattle drivers would spend the night after bringing the herds up from Texas. The old buildings are built around an empty town square where entertainment was (and still is) provided. While standing there looking at the old buildings you can almost hear the hub bub from the old time visits to the saloons, hotels and brothels. Mrs. O'Leary's is in one of the more interesting buildings. It is an art store with supplies for scrapbookers as well as hard core artists. There is an abundance of gift items as well.

That took one day. The rest of the time was spent looking at this;
And this;
Then he found this;
Rhonda was a good sport and waded in the weeds taking the photos, even though she felt uneasy about snakes that might be in the grass. Don found the owner of this lot, in the little gas station down the road, (Don hangs around gas stations a lot, where ever he goes) and got his business card... just in case.

Rhonda, Don and I spent a day in Vinita Oklahoma researching ancestors. Mine, not his. We just love the gals at the library in the genealogy corner. They are so helpful and know where all our dead relatives are buried. We bought the book the 2 gals wrote, with names and dates and lots of other helpful information about the history of the surrounding area.

Then we went out the back door of the library into the museum. Oh MY Goodness. Don found a tractor like his grandfather Tigges owned. It is a Fordson tractor.

He had many stories to tell about his grandfather while he checked out that old piece of machinery.

We planned to eat at Cowboy Crossing, but decided to check out the famous chicken fried steak at a restaurant in town.It was a good choice as the steak was excellent.

I love Cowboy Crossing, it is a church and restaurant just outside of Vinita.. and I had planned to get decal from there to put in our pickup. It shows a cowboy on a horse and has a cross in the background.. I just have to get one next time we go down. We still have more ancestors and stories to find in Vinita, so we WILL go down again.

June quilt retreat

2009-06-21T16:38:00.001-07:00

June 17-18-19 and 20th our rooms at the barn were filled with quilters. My photos should have been better if I would have charged my camera instead of being forced to use a camera I was unfamilier with, Donya's. She told me I had hit the movie button while trying to take still photos. Oh well, this will make me see to it that my camera is charged and ready to go.

This quilt has dresses with embellishments sewn on it. Some little girl is going to be so pleased to have this for her bed.
These are the photos that were even half good enough to put on the blog. I felt bad about all those that were not usable do to the movie button that got under my finger..
Mardell taught a technique to the quilters.

June quilt retreat page 1

2009-06-21T16:23:00.001-07:00

June quilt retreat page 2

2009-06-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

June quilt retreat page 3

2009-06-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love show and tell?!! A chance to enjoy art at it's best.

We had a lovly visitor on the patio and then on the door frame for a couple days during the retreat. A Lunar moth. We usually do not see then this far North.. they are mostly South, like in Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. We wondered if the moth hitched a ride home with us, as we were visiting Oklahoma Kansas and Missouri a few days earlier.

Next retreat is July 23-26. Material Magic, a quilt shop in New Hampton, (641-394-2461) has had us host their quilt retreats for 11 years. They really know their stuff when it comes to fabric art and quilts. Beginners and those that have been quilt makers for years attend, and always go away with new techniques and ideas.

One person's trash, another person's treasure

2009-05-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Donya and I wanted to support Paws so we attended their spring rummage sale. We passed 2 or 3 rummage sales on our way to Paws, and decided to stop on our way home. I have no idea why we decided to load up with dolls.. perhaps it was the price offered to us. We were admiring a table full, trying to decide which one to buy. They were priced from $2.00 to $5 each, which we thought was pretty reasonable. The owner spied us contemplating, and came over and offered us all 14 dolls for $1 each. hmmmm mmmmm you got a couple boxes to put them in?

This is number 14
I found the pretty lamp at Paws, along with 5 more lamps (4 Brass and 1 crystal) The silk boquet was from another rummage sale. And of course, since I live in a dairy barn, the milk can cookie jar needed to come home with me as well. Just a dollar, so why not?

We took my van, and brought it back very loaded. Now... I'm like the previous owners ... where will I put all these treasures?!!

Bluebells, dandylion and art

2009-05-22T06:19:00.001-07:00

Donya is so talented with photography, and took this photo of the bluebells the day we went to the Devonia Swap Meet. It is such a lovely piece of Iowa.

I used her camera to snap this nice shot of Donya in the bluebells field. I had to take about 6 shots, as I kept holding the camera a bit wonky.
Mmmmm dandylions. This was our first harvest of blossoms this year.

And a photo of the goodies cooking after being dipped in the thin pancake batter. The dandylion was brought to America to keep the first settlers from starving. My ancestors arrived on the second 'shipment' of pilgrims. It is probably good that they were made of sturdy stock and cheap to keep.. did not require much food to survive. Unfortunately, I definately come from that stock and although I do not need much food to survive, I eat it anyway. If there is ever a famine, I have enough stored up to gaurantee I will be a survivor !!

Donya designed this lovely card, using the Cricut, Door County Stamps and Copic markers. She is a certified Copic instructor and teaches how to use all the materials and tools in the shop. Many times guests at the Dairy Barn B & B will have us open the shop after supper and they receive personal help and instructions.

Devonia and Bluebells

2009-05-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

Devonia swap meet and Bluebell fields

It was sooo cold for the Devonia Swap Meet. Anyone that had blankets or quilts for sale in their booth, as well as sweatshirts, sold out. I wish I would be ready for the pair of peacocks that were for sale. They were so beautiful, but Alfie is a bit too young to teach not to chase the peacocks. I'm sure he would have pestered the life out of that male, by chasing those impressive tail feathers.

As I stopped by Mike's Chicken Place, the caged goose had just laid an egg. The kids hovering around that booth was so excited, they thought a photo should be taken. If you look closely at the cage, you will see that egg near the rear end of the goose. Cute little kids, hunh?!!

Mike is pretty good at promoting. He set up a contest that would end the swap meet with lots of memories and excitement for the kids. He duct taped a $5 bill to the leg of a guinea hen, clipped her wings so she would not fly away, and planned to turn her loose and let the kids chase and catch her. Who ever caught her got to keep the hen and the $5. If mom would not allow them to take the hen home, they could bring it back to him and he would buy it from them for another $5.

About the last thing before ending the swap meet was a hillbilly auction. I had never stayed long enough to see one, so this time I decided to stay. Let me tell you, it certainly was hillbilly.. the red capped lady was a perfect example. They were selling her left overs from the 2 day swap, and she was running the show... big time. Usually you leave that part up to the auctioneer. I reconized him as a professional that sells machinery and parts to Don and Fred. He does a real fine job the first Monday of every month. The rest of the auction went rather normal, selling a mtorcycle, books, knives, what have you. I must say, that red capped lady was VERY entertaining.

There was a very friendly goat there, but I decided not to ruffle Don's and Fred's feathers by bringing it home. Lots of dogs, of every variety. It was fun to see the new owners looking lovingly at their new pooches and telling them how handsome or beautiful they were. And the little red hen I almost bought turned out to be a rooster. He sure was handsome, but not a good thing to try to put him in with our grey silky rooster.

The next Devonia swap meet is in the Fall. It is usually pretty cold about that time as well.

The Bluebells were in full bloom, so we stopped by a favorite feild of them on the way home from the swap. It was not very sunny, so the blue flowers do not show up too well in the photo.. but they were absolutely stunning in person. I caught Donya taking a photo of Sally, so snapped one. The photo Donya took is just beautiful. And one I took of her, using her camera, was perfect as well. I must borrow her camera so I can download a few photos to share on my blog.

Till later... got garden to plant, you know.

Allison's tea party

2009-05-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at the barn: It was fun to watch a tea party that was planned by the hostesses as a shower for soon to be newly weds Allison Scoby and Justin Becthold. The menu was cucumber sandwiches, cheesecake with raspberries, heatshaped cinnamon crackers, creamy lime punch, coffee and of course, tea.
Hats were offered and a lesson in tea etiquette was provided.
From my office I could hear many complimentary comment about the cucumber sandwiches. I must find a recipe and try that when I have fresh cucumbers from the garden this summer.

Rainy day

2009-04-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's been raining for 2 days and nights. The rain brought the farming to an abrupt halt. Sure is good to see things getting green after such a long winter.
With yellow of the jonquils shining so brightly in spite of the dark cloudy day, who can be grouchy? Donya and Don.. that is who !!
As soon as the weather will permit, we will have to hustle to get the weeds pulled.. while the ground is still soft by not mushy. Those pesky stinging nettles decided to move in with the flowers again this year. I must find that recipe for cooking them. They are such good greens to eat first thing in the spring, as they are a blood cleanser. Get all that winter clutter out of your system. They are only good for eating when they are very young. Let them get mature and they will get you instead of you getting them!
Fred left his goat wagon parked in the front yard. I like the way it looks there, perhaps I will have him leave it there. It looks good in the snow or when the grass is green. The Devonia swap meet is a couple weeks away. Wonder if Don and Fred will be unhappy if I come home with a goat to hitch to that wagon. heh heh heh

Happy Birthday to me !!!

2009-04-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday. My dear friends, Sally and Marilyn, surprised me with a lovely bouquet of a dozen roses... a plaque that could be used as a garden stone as well.. and a couple pairs of corduroy jeans. Wow! Thank you gals.
I waited till the morning of my birthday to open the gift Rhonda sent... A lovely box with compartments full of scrap booking and card making supplies AND an album. Donya added some cherry items, a bird feeder with a blue bird to hang it from with the saying 'life is just a bowl of cherries', and a new night gown covered in cherries AND a new case for my camera, with cherries.

I can't show you the special (favorite of mine) lemon cookies Fred and Michelle brought over. yum !!

As much as I love the gifts, and the kind thoughts that go with them, it is a reminder of having used up another year and not really feeling like I have made it count.

I ended the day with bed and breakfast guests from near Fargo ND.. on their way to Missouri for a college reunion.

It was a fun day .. life is good.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter !!

2009-04-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

I almost missed Easter. I was working on a job in the sewing part of the shop, that needed to be shipped as soon as possible. I finally finished the project, got it packaged, and headed for Clear Lake(that is the closest Fedex terminal) Saturday morning. They closed at noon, so had little time to spare. The shipping bill came to $35 for the 2 parcels, and let me tell you, they were heavy as well as large boxes. They are on their way to Parker Colorado. I've not met the client, we use the phone and e-mail.

Donya had Saturday off, so went with me. We decided to make a day of 'shopping' and visited the thrift stores in Mason City. I found a nice straw hat and Donya found books. We picked up texture at the lumber yeard, for Don to finish the room project (will he ever get it done?!!) and then shopped at our favorite grocery store, Aldi. We like that store for their real German Chocolate candy. The kind that melts in your hand.. and oh so smooth. yum!!
Aldi had only 1 'Chocolate fire egg' left. We snatched it along with some packages of truffle eggs and headed for home. The fire egg was wrapped ever so pretty, it was a shame to open it. After taking off the outer wrap, there was the shape of an egg wrapped in foil and sealed with a pretty sticker on each side. When you broke one seal the other seal acted as a hinge. It was filled with German chocolates. Some with nuts but all were truffles.. my favorite. I'm sorry we forgot to take a photo before we all dived in on those chocolates. And just look at the thickness of the chocolate egg!! REAL chocolate, no wax in it.

We had chili for Easter dinner, and our wonderful egg. Donya and I spent the rest of Easter at the scrap book shop getting our cards finished for card club (due tomorrow), Michelle decided to work with a scrapbook client for the afternoon, and Fred and Don spent the whole day moving things around with their tractors. (You know how everything gets put on a dining table instead of being put away? The guys do that to our yard.. and that is a lot of stuff when your yard is 5 acres.) The snow is gone, so their clutter really shows.

We were blessed with a lovely sunny Easter day, with a breeze that turned into WIND and a temperature of 58 degrees.

Yea! working on the walls again!!

2009-03-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

I bought a bunch of book cases at Ikea in Minneapolis a couple weeks ago, to put in the personal sitting room on the 3rd floor. (I love books and have many). So....

Yea ! The spirit(me) finally moved Don to finish the room. We have been using it for storage all this time, because he really does not like to tape and mud. Doesn't mind the texturing and painting, but is such a perfectionist he feels he can not tape and mud 'good enough'. At this point in time, ANYTHING is good enough.
The 10 foot high ceilings makes it more difficult. It IS an attic room, so there are many angles to have to deal with as well.
It is my job to put the trim on the door and get it painted. I was relieved to finally get the latch on the door. We keep our 2 cats in this area when we have guests .. and they were getting way too smart for us to just wedge a block of wood to hold the door shut. They figured out how to get it open and suprised us with a visit downstairs from time to time.

I hope the next photos I take will be of the finished project. But that might be a while, since Don can find many excuses not to get back to work on it.

Scrap booking weekend.

2009-03-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

March 13-14-15 was the annual Spring Fling Scrapbook Retreat planned by Back Roads Plum Crazy Scrapbooking shop. They plan one for Spring and Fall. It is 3 days of fun and learning and food, with comfy beds.. all at the Dairy Barn Bed and Breakfast. As proprieter of the Bed and Breakfast, I get to clean and cook. I LOVE to scrap book and make cards, but did not get to cut or paste paper on that weekend.
Lisa brought her new Cricut so Donya and Michelle could give her instructions on operating it.

Michelle gave Jo some pointers and techniques for her scrap book page. Jo completed that scrap book at the retreat.
There are 8 guest rooms at the Barn, and all were filled except 1. The Back Roads girls had make and takes as well as some technique classes. Judging from the laughter I could hear from the kitchen while I did the dishes (poor abused little me) everyone had a great time.

Donya is a semi-famous cupcake baker. You can always count on the cupcakes to have an exotic filling of some sort. She made 2 varieties for the Sunday brunch, one raspberry filled and the other was chocolate/peanut butter. I forgot to take a picture until they were almost gone. The pie is Key Lime Pie, made with key lime juice from 'Robert is Here', a fruit stand I visit every year at Homestead Florida. There was much more on the brunch table then just dessert.

The cat standing guard over the vittles is a flat piece of wood painted by an artist that lives in Waverly Iowa. She signed it 'Miller' She does a fantastic job painting animals on wood. I would like to meet her someday.

The girls from Back Roads Plum Crazy Scrapbooking are already working on the Fall retreat that will be in October.

The dna results are back

2009-03-15T18:32:00.001-07:00

Maternal lineage test results for Geraldine Etter shows that I belong to the Haplogroup T, the Agrarians.

The interesting thing about this test: My sister and any daughters she has will have the exact same results, as well as my daughter and her daughters. Also, my female cousins from my mother's sisters will test the same. It goes all the way back 50,000 years of mother to daughter mtDNA. And forward as long as there are daughters.

There is a test for men with the same type of results, except it will test the same for all the fathers and sons.

I have discovered that my mother's group emerged around 50,000 years ago in the Near East, not long after the first modern humans left Africa. They likely remained in the Near East until about 15,000 years ago. They probably moved into Europe via present day Northern Italy. Today's Syrian, Palestinian and Turkish populations still have notable numbers of Agrarians.

To find the group my father would be in, I would need to have a brother or male cousin on my father's side, take the test. I would, indeed, belong to both groups even though I can not personally be tested for my father's Haplogroup.

Although I have just shown the front page of the results, the report is 6 pages long. There is mention of Vikings in my report. Since it is maternal, I doubt my ancestor had anything to do with raping and pillaging. heh heh heh

dna test

2009-03-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

For Christmas '08, my daughter Rhonda, laughed as I opened the gift she had for me. She said it was the oddest gift she had ever given anyone. It was a dna test kit. Fred asked her if she was trying to make sure I was her mother. She had ordered it from Ancestry.com. This month I finally opened and read the instructions.
The test was pretty simple. Wait at least 1/2 hour after eating, so you do not contaminate it with food. There are 3 long handled swabs and a special package to put them in after doing the test. First you stick a swab into your right cheek and rub it firmly for 30 seconds. Then the same with the second swab in your left cheek. About then Fred walked in and asked 'where do they tell you to put the 3rd swab?!!' Smart Alec. Actually, you rub inside your bottom lip for another 30 seconds. Then package it all up.....
And take it to your friendly Post Mistress and mail it. Then wait........

Tea etc.

2009-03-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

I got carried away at the Family owned Oriental shop near Jeff's home in Florida. It is a good thing I did not see the push around cart when I went into the little store, and used the little shopper's basket. I got as far as the tea isle and stopped. My basket was filled to the top and running over by the time I got to the counter. I found coconut vinegar, sesame oil, fried sea weed, coco jam, horny goat weed tea.. and lots of other teas.

The fried sea weed is a snack that is eaten in place of potato chips. It is tasty, though a little fishy tasting. However, after you eat one of the strips.. in a little while you want another one. It is very healthy for you, unlike potato chips. Jeff's wife, Cindy, was at work when I made the buying trip and was interested to see what I was attracted to at the store. She laughed when she saw the sea weed and brought out her bag that was opened so I could taste it without opening mine.

After I arrived at Rhonda's in Kansas, I let her go through my box of goodies from the Oriental store and shared a few bags of the different teas. She spotted the sea weed so we opened it to share a taste. Mike and India also wanted a taste. Okay, I can spare a taste. The next morning while packing the tea back in the box so we could head back to Iowa, I could not find my bag of sea weed. So I asked if they knew where I put it. The look Rhonda gave me was 'deer in the headlights' before she told me "we ate it". They REALLY liked it. That sure makes it easy for me to know what to bring back to them from the next Florida trip.

Old photos

2009-03-04T20:55:00.001-08:00

Don't you just love old photos? I borrowed this photo from my Aunt Susie. It was taken in the late 1940s. The happy little girl standing with her brothers is 'moi'. We have been researching ancestors (kind of like to know where I came from). We have many ancestors listed on ancestry.com, but no photos to put on their data pages. I was so excited to find some needed photos in Aunt Susie's photo box, so we have a picture to put with a name. History has become very exciting, now that I have relatives in those places, at those times, doing those things.

2009-03-01T17:40:00.000-08:00

Before leaving warm and sunny Florida, we helped Jeff harvest his coconuts from the 4 trees in his back yard. There were 2 wagon loads, and we piled them all in our pickup box. We had many people ask us what they were as we traveled North. I have plans of using them for coco frio. yum!! To serve coco frio, the coconuts are put in a tub of water that has lots ice in it, husk and all. After they are good and chilled, drill a hole to the middle large enough to stick a straw in. Some like to add a spoonful or 2 of rum, through the hole. Then... walk around carrying your big ole cold coconut, sipping through the straw. When the 'milk' is gone, split the coconut open and peal out the coconut meat and eat it fresh.

Emily and Colin

2009-02-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

Homework is not always a happy time. Emily did not want to be tied down doing homework instead of playing Candy Land with me. Legs are all you can see while she was fussing about too many pages to do. Colin finally decided no one was going to do it for him... so... might as well get to it. Dad sitting over him might have had a little something to do with his change of attitude.

Then supper outside on the 'patio' (Steaks on the grill, yum) and fun in the pool. Darn! sure wish I would have remembered to pack that swimming suit. I really do hate to try on clothes in the stores, and I have 2 perfectly good swim suits at home in my drawer. grrrrrrr!!!!!

The kids have more fun playing with the pool cleaning hose then all the floaty pool toys.

Bender won't jump into the pool, but sure wanted the ball that Don accidentally threw into the water while playing fetch. It was fun to watch how Bender brought the ball over to him. He used his paw to pull the water toward him until the ball finally followed the water over to the side. He is 1 1/2 years old and a lot of company for Don and me while everyone is gone to work and school.

Florida Verses Ionia

2009-02-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

HA! Miami 77 degrees, Ionia 9. Before I headed out for Miami I repaired a seat for one of Fred's snowmobiles in time for him to take it on a group trip to Minnesota for a few days. By repaired, I mean completely rebuilt it.

I spent 2 days in Atlanta on my way South, with my Aunt Susie and cousins Glenda, Nancy, and Gary and their families. Mary Jo was unable to come over, so I talked to her on the phone. I took my camera in the houses, lay it down, and forgot all about taking photos. Perhaps because I was so excited about going through Aunt Susie's boxes of old photos... but... aarrgggg!! How could I have forgotten to use the camera to take new photos?!!!

This morning in Miami I looked out at the pool, thinking, as long as no one is around... but in my haste to pack I forgot my swim suit. grrrrr !! Don is in hog heaven. Jeff gave Cindy cable TV with 1000 channels to choose from. I do not know when they ever have the time to watch TV but Don will certainly get their money's worth while he is here. He complains about the time I spend on the computer and internet.. and I reminded him that he stares at a screen(TV) much more then I do(computer). They are both a screen, so what's the difference?!!

Philippine Missionaries

2009-02-12T17:16:00.000-08:00

We felt blessed to have the Bannning family choose to spend a couple days at our bed and breakfast for their winter break. We really enjoyed learning about the Philippines where they were missionaries as their children grew up. Daughter Mary Beth continues as a Missionary in the Philippines. When Darrell described a honey from bees using cocoa blossoms I knew I had to try to find a Philippine grocery store in Miami Florida next week, to purchase a jar. I NEED to taste it.

Thank you Bob, Elaine, Darrell and Mary Beth .. it is almost as though we visited the Philippines without leaving Iowa. I really enjoy our bed and breakfast guests because we learn so much from them.

Big Red

2009-02-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

Big Red is Don's pickup. Don used to sit in the corner in his wing back chair and thumb through a special magazine. He would turn the magazine sideways to stare at the center fold. I would slip over to see what he found so attractive in that magazine. There was Big Red. A shiny red 1 ton 4 door dually pickup. Big Red resides in our machine shed, now, and is invited on many vacations.

Big Red was taken to Colorado by son, Fred, and daughter-in-law, Michelle last summer. I will have to admit, he does give a very fine ride. You sit up high and the seat adjusts to what ever you find comfortable. We each have a control for heat and cold (that sure eliminated arguments).And many plug-ins for computers, gps, and other necessary electronics. He's all shined up and ready to be packed for the trip to Miami Florida to visit grandchildren Emily and Colin. God willing and the creek don't rise too high, we will begin our journey Saturday morning.

Must face Feb. reality

2009-02-08T17:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, I will stop day dreaming and show you what looking out my front door really is. It will be a while before my flowers will be blooming! The ice is finally melting, and weather forecast is a thunderstorm by Wednesday. You all can thank me for bringing in the warmer weather, because no matter when I plan my little Florida get-a-way, the weather in Iowa gets warmer. We are driving 'Big Red' starting Friday, to Southern Florida to see our grandchildren. It usually takes 3 days to drive there, but I am planning on stopping in Atlanta to see my Aunt on the way down. That will probably add a day or so to the trip. We are not taking the camper this year, since we only have 3 weeks we can spare to be gone. This will be the first time Donya will be in charge of hosting and cooking for bed and breakfast guests. She is such a good cook, I know she will do a super job. I haven't started to pack my suitcase, yet. And I have work at the shop to complete ... oh! how will I ever find the time to get everything done?!!

Dandylion recipe

2009-02-01T17:23:00.000-08:00

I am so tired of winter. It came in October and has tried to freeze us to death for the past 4 months, and it isn't through with us yet. I decided to share a photo of the flowers that will be blooming by my front door if spring decides to come. Tomorrow is ground hog day, so that means about 6 more weeks to spring. I listened to the gardeners on WHO radio at work today. Sure gives you spring fever. I am so anxious for something fresh from the yard, the dandylions are in danger of being eaten as soon as they get the nerve to poke their yellow heads out. I like to dip the flowers in a thin pancake batter, then fry them. Add light sprinkle of salt..yum!(Do not sop them with water before you dip them in the batter, just knock the ants out and check for other critters, though it would not hurt you if you happen to eat one.) The young greens are great as a salad, or they can be cooked like spinach. If you have enough patience to dig out enough crowns, steam them, lightly salt and pepper and add a little butter. Oh! I can hardly wait. A word of caution.. do not harvest dandylions where they might have been sprayed. Not healthy to eat any of that poisen. I have my dear husband convinced his life is in danger if he gets near our lawn with weed killer. I use many of the 'weeds' growing in the grass. Some as herbal remedies, other for food. Enjoy the Dandylion Recipe.

Alfie is back home

2009-01-29T08:39:00.001-08:00

I thought the clip and chip trip to the vet would slow Alfie down a bit. Don and Michelle picked him up this morning after his over night stay at the vet's. He was so happy to be home, he came in bouncing all around. While Don was putting on his coveralls to go out to care for the horses, Alfie almost glued himself to Don's leg. He absolutely loves helping with chores. So, $175 later, Alfie lost his manhood, got his rabies and distemper shots, and received his identification chip. Not that he is so valuable to anyone except us, but we want to make sure he is returned if he chases a rabbit too far and can't find his way home.

Hoar frost

2009-01-23T11:25:00.000-08:00

Alfie has grown! Friends now, since he was taught NOT to chase the horses.

Donya waited for the fog to lift a bit and headed out with her camera. Red and Bud posed perfectly while waiting for their apple wafer. They enjoy their treat each morning.

Woke up to hoarfrost. Beautiful! Such thick fog, visibility was less then to the end of our driveway.

Meet Alfie

2009-01-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

This is Alfie, our Labradoodle. He has grown a lot since I took this photo when he was 3 1/2 months old. He traveled in a cat carrier when he came to live with us 5 months ago. My small tabby cat, Gabby, was bigger then he was. Today we made an appointment at the Vet to have the unmentionable done, and when asked how much he weighs I had to guess. I sure hope it is less then 50 pounds, because that is where the price changes to higher. We had planned to schedule it for December, but the weather was so frightful all month, I was sure we should not make an appointment we might not be able to keep. We had so much snow, ice, wind and 30 degrees below 0. Anyway, next Wednesday will slow him down for a little while..poor "little" guy.

Greetings from Dairy Barn!

2009-01-21T09:57:00.000-08:00