This should be standard equipment in the Midwest

So I just got back from a quick trip to Iowa. My wondrous Aunt Gerry passed away. We spent so much time at her house growing up. She and my Uncle "Dick Clark" Bob had been married 62 years this coming Saturday. I called them Mr. and Mrs. Dick Clark because they never changed, never aged. She will be so missed, but I know she is giggling with Jesus and I'll see her again! 

It is winter in the Midwest. It wasn't bad. Hovered around freezing while I was there. No snow. The biggest pain is wearing a coat. And taking it off in the car. And putting it back on to go into a store. And taking it off because it's hot in there. And putting it back on yadayadayada. As I was leaving my favorite state, I stopped to get gas at a very busy little station. Wish I could remember the name of it or where it was. The restrooms were amazing. (Very important.) Each stall was it's own little washroom with sink, etc. When I turned to sit, I discovered the seat was plugged in to the wall. With instructions.

                

                    

I didn't try either. I was still warm from the trip into the heat. But really. The heater part should be standard throughout all snowy, cold regions.

Don't know about the other. 

The latest in Fall Fashion Footwear

No. It was not a sprain.

Yes. It is a stress fracture.

And yes, those are my cute gnome pajamas.

And no, I'm not getting out of them today.

LuLu's Maiden Voyage

This is LuLu. I've been waiting for her some time. Cuddle Buns brought her from Waco on his way home from Houston.

I got ready, Mike drove me down,  and I took her out.

Beautiful Proctor Lake.

Rudy wasn't quite sure what to do. I invited him aboard, but he decided not to come.

I puttered around for a bit, trying to get a feel for her.

I discovered what I already knew….I'm terribly out of shape. But I had fun!!

I also got a little trolly so I can walk her down from the house. It just arrived.

Tomorrow I solo.

A Pickle

We had awesome rain last night. Over an inch. 

We also had awesome winds.

So awesome the pontoon was moved from under the carport a bit.

An attempt to hitch it up and pull it out…made it worse.

Plan B.

Success!

We have a new occupant here at Burke's Corner

Just Dance

Ok…terrible video quality…but Just Listen.

I love kid giggles.

Going Home Today (by Zoey)

I'm going to miss Dublin. I will miss camp. I am going to come back next summer for camp. I will be so excited to see my class again. I can't wait to see what we are going to do for projects. I can't wait to show Daddy the projects I already did.

Thanks Ms Carole and Mr Homer for letting me pet Boo.

day2 of art camp.

today i hope we do tie die t-shirts at art camp cuz  it look's fun. cuz yesterday we were painted on canvases and we glazed a fish.

barkleyblog written by Zoey

me and barley are at my Grammas and barley is playing with his brother rudy. and this after noon i'm
going to craft camp. and he loves playing with a fox toy. he is a chouch and char potato he sits in both of them. and barley is the best dog ever.

Happy Fourth!

Pinterest rocks.

Let the games begin

Vintage suitcase circa 1980.

Can't we just play in bed?

Rudy likes lounging in the morning. We often have to get him up with the promise of squirrels on the fence. Some mornings nothing really works.

Wait for it...

This came to me when I needed a good laugh. Turn the volume up.

Still cracks me up. 

I know I said I'd fill you in…..

But….now that winter is finally over here, what in this is at all interesting:

??

It was April in Iowa. They had 8 inches of snow the day after I left. Let's call it over and move on.

Because spring is finally here!

Things are blooming!

We even have bluebonnets again in the orchard.

The bugs are out. (No grasshoppers yet THANK YOU VERY MUCH!)

And we're sleeping with the windows open.

I love spring in the country. Sneezing and all.

OK, OK!

Both of my readers have asked for an update. I'm telling you, country life is QUIET life. Not much happening around here. HOWEVER, there have been developments. I'll start with the latest and then save the earlier events for later posts….maybe.

The Pileco Crew came today to install the sign that Mike was given when he retired.

I expected it to take the better part of the day.

I don't know why.

The concrete was poured well before lunch.

And the sign hung shortly thereafter.

We're official.

The crew.

Come visit! You can't miss us now!

I love planes

They take you places. Logistically, the whole business is amazing. Scientifically as well. I mean, I haven't fallen out of the sky once!

Cuddle Buns doesn't like to fly. Doesn't like waiting at airports.  What's not to like about airports?

On my way home from across the pond I chatted at length with a very nice young man who was on his way home from Sochi. How cool is that? He had been at the Winter Olympics with the news corp. I never found out who he worked for, but I did find out he lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, so of course we talked of the MidWest. He said it was warmer in Russia. He reassured me that most of what I read on Facebook about the accommodations in Sochi were false. (WHAT? The Internet lied???) He said security was amazing.

Then on the last leg of my trip from Dulles to DFW, I sat next to a Grampa who had been with his daughter and two young grandkids for a couple of weeks while his SIL was deployed. We talked grandkids. Best topic in the world.

And yes….there were two screaming kids on that flight, but I felt so sorry for that young couple. I mean, those kids couldn't have been more than 10 months apart. I remember flying with babies and toddlers.

And if not for airports and airplanes I would have missed:

The Forest of Dean

And The Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Westminster Abbey

And teaching Care Bear how to crochet. And reading The Phantom Tollbooth to the boys. And seeing "The Lego Movie" with Care and Hayden (something I wouldn't have done, most likely, without them, and I would have missed out!).

My most disappointing thing?? (And it pains me.)

Just for Gramps....

Who continues to hunt down skunks trying to burrow under our house. Seven so far.

I'm embarrassed

You'd think I'd be ashamed of myself for not having posted anything for well over a month. There is a very good reason.

I've been too cold.

That is why I'm embarrassed.

I grew up in the north. Not the north like New York. North like straight up almost to Minnesota, where, they will tell you, winters are always colder than New York. Where wind chill really means something. The HIGHS have been near ZERO. So, even with our "wind chill", we're still 40 degrees warmer.

With wind up there, snow blows. You can't see. But you shouldn't be outside, anyway, because when you breath, your lungs freeze. It isn't pretty.

But I've been cold. Here in central Texas. Unable to get warm cold. I'm thinking maybe the hormones are aligned now. Because I wouldn't mind a good hot flash.

In other news, the THIRD skunk to take residence under our house has had babies. She just left. We saw her go…and there is now little squeaking under the living room. I'm thrilled. Do you know what a pier and beam house smells like when a skunk is near? Do you know how afraid I am to let Rudy go outside?

Rudy is beside himself. He is trying to get behind the armoire because he thinks something is there. I sure would trade what is under there for the squirrel that took up residence last winter.