Hat Party

I was invited to a Hat Party last week. This wasn't just any ole hat party. Of course, I don't know what an ole hat party would be anyway as I've never been to one. This hat party was for my good friend, Judy, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and is due to start chemotherapy next week. Judy's friend, Jill, thought it would be fun to throw her a hat party so she could be prepared if/when her hair falls out. The reason to have to have this kind of party isn't good but a what a fun idea!

Twelve of us gathered at a beautiful old country estate for a dinner party and to present our hat gifts to Judy. The evening was not without a few tears but Judy is determined to find Joy in this Journey and this was a great start.

Judy showing some "hat-titude"


Judy & I modeling our hats.

3 words for the day...

Head colds stink!

Life markers

There are certain markers in my life that I refer to as my life's timeline.

Markers such as when we were married, when our sons were born, during the summer when we went to ______________ on vacation, when Luke was HS senior, when my mom passed away, when I received a cancer diagnosis, etc.
These markers are referred to as in “I remember that happened when the boys were 2” or “remember that was before mom died” or “that was before thyroid cancer”.

We, who live in this our great country have common timeline markers as well…the revolutionary war, the civil war, when Presidents Kennedy & Reagan were shot, when the space shuttle Challenger exploded and today now marks the anniversary of yet another timeline marker, September 11th when terrorist attacked on home soil in New York City, Pennsylvania & Washington, DC.

I imagine most people can tell you where they were and what they were doing as they first received word of those attacks. I was sitting here at the same desk I sit at today and received a call from our friend, Mike telling me to get online and see what was happening. It didn’t take long for the news to spread throughout the campus, a campus that was already reeling from the death of our college President in an automobile accident the day before.

Most classrooms that had a television were watching the news broadcasts. I can still see the stunned faces of the auto body students when I walked in their classroom. Here was a room full of fresh out of high school young men with their first real glimpse of a national crisis. I knew the thoughts going through their heads were “Will we go to war?” “Should I enlist and serve my country?” “Will there be a draft?” I know these were their thoughts as I had three draft age sons at the time and those were the questions that came up in conversations as well as thoughts that were going through my mind.

Where you and what were you doing?

My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected personally by the tragic events of 9-11.

photo courtesy of Flickr


“Heavens, raise the roof! Mountains, send up cheers! God has comforted his people. He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people.”
Isaiah 49:13

Apples and more

In a previous post, I mentioned Tanner's Apple Orchard in Speer, IL. We made our first trek of the season yesterday.




After playing with the goats, eating an apple cider brat, sampling dips and preserves, feasting on fresh apple fritters, drinking fresh cider and chowing on kettle corn, we did do what we went there for - BUY APPLES!

Isn't this morning's sunrise gorgeous?

It was supposed to be raining when I got up this morning and by the looks of the clouds it could, but the sun is still coming up beautiful.

And the wind comes whippin' down the plains

"Illl-lii-nooiis, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain
And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain."
Ok, ok, so I took a little creative liberty with the lyrics but I'm sure Rodgers & Hammerstein don't mind.

Seriously, these things are starting to pop up all over around here. This particular wind farm is about an hour south of where we live.


There is another farm with 67 turbines just starting to go up not far from us. We watch the components go by our house almost every day now. These blades are 155 feet long!


Controversy aside, they're neat to look at and are very calming to sit and watch.
Hey, it beats watching the corn grow!

A few more weekend pictures

Last Saturday we went for a hike (with Kristen's prodding and some puppy dog eyes - it was hot Saturday!) at Maquoketa Caves State Park near Maquoketa, Iowa.
We've made many trips out here over the years from the time the boys were young. It's a very "hike-able" park even for small children.


The largest cave is the Dancehall which has a sidewalk and light. You do have to stoop over to go through it but have the ability to stand at a few spots.

Bats and snakes you may ask? Not in a cave - uh uh, no way. Really? OK, I'm just not going to think about that!

Most of the other caves at the park you have to hands and knees or belly crawl through which is why I have personally never been in most of them as true spelunking is definitely not my thing. Can you say claustrophobic? Can you say slimy and wet? Nope, not me.


Stooping to dance with Dancehall cave


Please don't make me leave - it's so nice and cool in here!
and look at all of those steps! **sigh**


"Hey wait a minute while I put this rock back!"

The Old Depot

One of the places we visited while camping last weekend was the old Savanna Army Depot. It was decommissioned about ten years ago and has since become office space, warehousing, etc. so parts of it are now open to the public. There are many abandoned buildings and bunkers on the property. It's strange driving through it as it almost felt like we were treading on a burial ground. You can read more about the Depot here if you are interested.






About five miles back into the Depot, a portion of the land has been turned into a fish and wildlife refuge. Although the only wildlife we saw was a squirrel. At the Black Oak Dune overlook, a boy scout, as his eagle project built a great observation deck that sits on the sand dunes along the Mississippi River.



It's such a nice peaceful spot to sit and watch the river roll by.


Not especially happy when he saw I was taking his picture.




This picture has very little to do with anything, other than the name on the door. It was at the end of the bridge I don't like (see previous post) and it's JoJon's Pot business. It was funny to us as our sons' names are Joe & Jon and Joe just happened to be with us and told me to take the picture. Let me tell you, I got some strange looks from the car behind us as I was taking a picture of a porta-pot!

A few pics from the weekend...

We had a wonderful long weekend just riding and relaxing with no real plan or agenda. I enjoyed it so as much of my "real" life is very scheduled. It was great to throw it to the wind and do whatever.



We camped at Mississippi Palisades State Park over by the river. We had a great site back in a corner with no immediate neighbors. Of course, that meant that the mosquitoes didn't have as many people to feast on. Let's just say they should have their stockpile of blood for the winter now. scratchy, scratchy! They even bit me through my tennis shoes! Nasty little blood suckers!

Most of our riding, however, was done across the river in Iowa which unfortunately meant we had to cross my least favorite bridge in the whole world.

As luck would have it, they're beginning construction so we got stopped on the it every time we crossed.



This bridge is made of steel grates (that they are replacing) which pulls the motorcycle every which way as you drive over it, plus it's very narrow, plus as we sat there STOPPED and cars from the other direction passed us, you could feel the darn thing flex. The only thing that would have enhanced the experience even more would have been to meet a semi. God is good!


The view from the bridge is beautiful but I much prefer...


the riverbank instead.

I was honored to receive this award from Pam at Life on a Southern Farm.

I love cruising her site and reading about her goats and chickens(even though birds creep me out). Check it out when you get a chance.

The rules of the award are as follows:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs (this is the hard part as I read so many - it's hard to pick just seven to recommend)
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

I hope you get a chance to visit these great sites.

Stitchin by the Lake
Marlene has a great sense of humor that comes through in her writing hilariously.

Bayou Woman
After spending a fair amount of time in New Orleans, it's interesting to here about life in the back country.

Oklacookiemaker Quilts
It's fun to read about raising boys, her farm, FFA, etc.

Tallgrass Prairie Studio
I like her modern take on quilt designs. Simple but up to date.

NMB Photography
I work with Nancy. Take a look at her photography website. She is one talented lady.

At Home with the Farmers
Wife
This gal doesn't live more than an hour or so from me. She's got a great writing style. I love the old photos she features now and again.

Crazy for Primitive Quilts and Gardens
A fellow Midwesterner who gardens and quilts. Could it get any better than that?

There are so many more that I read, it's next to impossible to pick only seven. I'd like to keep listing but time won't allow it so, stop on by the ones I did and take a peek. I think you'll enjoy them.