8-30-12
My blog is on hold due to technical difficulties. I am unable to upload pictures into my blog.
Hummmmm????
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
This and That Friday
8-24-12 TGIF brain
I've been spoiled this week: I had my windows professionally cleaned, my one room with carpet cleaned, and my housekeeper visited. The reason is that I will be hosting a family from our sister Church in Hungary this weekend. Everything seems to be in order. I even washed some rugs and curtains.
Each morning I have been monitoring the emerging weeds in the garden and pulling them. Amy finished my back garden on Monday and I put down some more mulch back there..... it's been years since it has looked this good.
I saw this tree last night about a block from my house! Although the temperatures climbed back into the 90's this week, it still feels a bit like autumn is just around the corner.
I also saw this last night on my front tree. The Cicada are still emerging and making wonderful summer music in the trees.
I've been spoiled this week: I had my windows professionally cleaned, my one room with carpet cleaned, and my housekeeper visited. The reason is that I will be hosting a family from our sister Church in Hungary this weekend. Everything seems to be in order. I even washed some rugs and curtains.
Each morning I have been monitoring the emerging weeds in the garden and pulling them. Amy finished my back garden on Monday and I put down some more mulch back there..... it's been years since it has looked this good.
I saw this tree last night about a block from my house! Although the temperatures climbed back into the 90's this week, it still feels a bit like autumn is just around the corner.
I also saw this last night on my front tree. The Cicada are still emerging and making wonderful summer music in the trees.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
GUEST Blog part 2
8-23-12
We got there at 1 pm and left at midnight, walked from one end to the other, rode the sky glider, caught the Bill Riley talent show, sat on Dad’s bench, saw some animals and got to the Barn to see the cloggers. What fun!
By 7 pm, we were ready for the two evening shows, Streetcar Symphony (runner up on the Sing Off) and at 8 pm, WAR, 1970’s Funk group. Wow, they were more than good and as you can imagine, I danced my butt off. Go home at 10 pm? Nope, we caught the music of Racal Flatts outside the grandstand, saw a few more take-downs and danced outside The Depot, leaving at midnight.
Had another corndog, pineapple whip and tried a pickle dawg, deep fried ¼ pickle wrapped in deli ham. Well, I was not impressed, not impressed at all. By midnight, my dogs were tired, and yes … I did wear my Bozeman boots.
Can’t tell you how much I love the sights and sounds of the Fair. Only 360 days till 2013, gotta run!
Best Damn Fair In The
Land, Iowa State Fair- Part Two
So how do
you dress for a typical summer all-day at the Fair? Summer top and shorts, who needs a jacket or a
rain slicker? Well, I guess I should of packed one. All went well from 2 till 6
pm, then the rain started and the temperature dropped from 76 to 60. We rode
the Tram for 1 hour then I got smart and bought a polo shirt to cover up my
chest and arms, $10 for two shirts. Food, well I outdid myself with restraint,
1 corndog and my share of a bucket of cookies. Here is a pic of Lexi, Nat and
me, drakesmart sisters ’05 & ’06. Note what I’m wearing.
We passed on
the free stages to hear the music of Loverboy, Pat Benatar and Journey outside
the grandstand. They were great and the best part, we got to see a lot of
“take-down” action by the State Patrol. There was a “no tolerance for stupid
behavior” at the Fair this year. We left at 12:15 and I was chilled to the
bone, which accounted for my lack of appetite.
Sunday, I
went prepared: summer dress, western boots, dress scarf and rain slicker/jacket
in my bag. Here’s a funny pic of Nat and me.
We got there at 1 pm and left at midnight, walked from one end to the other, rode the sky glider, caught the Bill Riley talent show, sat on Dad’s bench, saw some animals and got to the Barn to see the cloggers. What fun!
By 7 pm, we were ready for the two evening shows, Streetcar Symphony (runner up on the Sing Off) and at 8 pm, WAR, 1970’s Funk group. Wow, they were more than good and as you can imagine, I danced my butt off. Go home at 10 pm? Nope, we caught the music of Racal Flatts outside the grandstand, saw a few more take-downs and danced outside The Depot, leaving at midnight.
Had another corndog, pineapple whip and tried a pickle dawg, deep fried ¼ pickle wrapped in deli ham. Well, I was not impressed, not impressed at all. By midnight, my dogs were tired, and yes … I did wear my Bozeman boots.
Can’t tell you how much I love the sights and sounds of the Fair. Only 360 days till 2013, gotta run!
Chat Later,
That Girl
Ann Marie
Ann Marie
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Wednesday GUEST Blog
8-22-12 missing brain
"Sure - I'll let Ann be Oprah" ~Judy
Best Damn Fair In The
Land, Iowa State Fair - Part One
Whew!
Exhausted after spending two full days and three evenings at the Fair. Yes, I’ve
written about the Fair and so has Judy, buy wow I love the Iowa State Fair.
Some ask “how do you afford going so many times and what do you do”? Well
here’s the answer in a two-part report.
When the 11
day schedule comes out, I make my own schedule to see who’s going to be on one
of four free stages, yep you heard me, free music with the price of admission
($10 or $5 after 5 pm). I picked five days I would attend. The budget starts
there.
Can you
actually go to the Fair without buying a lot of junk food? Yep, did that two
days, man what will power. Actually, I’m very frugal to a point of obsession.
Parking,
well I could take the $2 shuttle, pay $10 at the gate, $6 or so to park on
someone’s front yard or find a spot on the street. Yep, drove the Jeep, so no
problem with a free parking.
Other than a
few animals, the butter cow, chocolate moose, the beauty cakes and the
cookbooks at the Varied Industries Bldg, I saw a lot of great bands and heard
some great music. Here’s a pic from singer #1, Dia Frampton. Isn’t she cute?
Wednesday I saw Dia Frampton, runner up from the Voice – Season 1. She was coached by Team Blake Shelton. She did a great job and I got to meet her. After the show I read her bio, wow, she’s been singing for 10 years. She’s sweet as can be, loves cupcakes and Tom Petty and she kept saying “saddle up” to her lead guitarist when he stopped playing. This pic reminds me of Dia.
Thursday Judy and I went to the Beatles Band - Strawberry Fields, they were great (I caught them on Wednesday after Dia) and Judy was a sport to stay until 10:30. Here’s a pic from the Sergeant Pepper era.
Friday I worked at the MidAmerican Energy building, four hours of fun I say that with a smile. I worked the 4 to 8 shift then went home to clean, guests coming for two days.
You would think I would be tired after three evenings, but nope, I have 24 hours of Fair fun along with a pit stop at the Knapp Center for the Olympic Homecoming (more on that later) for the weekend. Gotta Run but I’ll leave you these three pics that sum up my love of cakes, stuff and friends. Cakes- John Wayne’s house in Winterset, American Legion for marine dude John and the peacock for Molly. Stuff- the glass art that I need to get back to, and of course … peas ‘n carrots eating healthy. Yep, Oprah has Gayle and I have Judy, BFF.
Chat Later,
That Girl
Ann Marie
Ann Marie
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Saturday a "fair" report
8-21-12 fun brain
Greg and I attended the Iowa State Fair on Saturday. It was such a great day weather-wise that we hung out for a good 5 hours and "splurged" a bit on food and activities.
We rode the sky glider this year.
I loved this wood carving. I didn't see it made, but wish I would have bought it for my garden.
I listened to the hymn sing.... the log cabin was full of singers, so some of us had to hang out side the windows. I thought this was an interesting photo.... well at least if I would have had a good camera. The guy reminded me our Greg's Amish relatives.
The most interesting thing to me was this couple we met and talked to in the Pioneer Building. They were from Jefferson Iowa and have a business there where furniture is made in the period of 1875, using old tools from this time period and old varnish techniques of walnut shells and raspberries.
The cool thing is that they have classes you can attend over a 3 day weekend and learn to make your own piece of furniture..... also couples classes. I want to try this in my retirement :)
They also have apprentices whom they train.... so if you know of any person who loves history and carpentry- check out the webpage.
Check it out HERE:
We need a road trip to Jefferson sometime .... I'm putting this on my bucket list!
Greg and I attended the Iowa State Fair on Saturday. It was such a great day weather-wise that we hung out for a good 5 hours and "splurged" a bit on food and activities.
We rode the sky glider this year.
I loved this wood carving. I didn't see it made, but wish I would have bought it for my garden.
I listened to the hymn sing.... the log cabin was full of singers, so some of us had to hang out side the windows. I thought this was an interesting photo.... well at least if I would have had a good camera. The guy reminded me our Greg's Amish relatives.
The most interesting thing to me was this couple we met and talked to in the Pioneer Building. They were from Jefferson Iowa and have a business there where furniture is made in the period of 1875, using old tools from this time period and old varnish techniques of walnut shells and raspberries.
The cool thing is that they have classes you can attend over a 3 day weekend and learn to make your own piece of furniture..... also couples classes. I want to try this in my retirement :)
They also have apprentices whom they train.... so if you know of any person who loves history and carpentry- check out the webpage.
Check it out HERE:
We need a road trip to Jefferson sometime .... I'm putting this on my bucket list!
Friday, August 17, 2012
This week's update
8-17-12
I woke up this morning grabbing the blanket and found the kitten snuggling with me to keep warm. The low was around 52!..... I found myself starting to crave pumpkin. It's hard now not to keep is it September especially when I saw this a few days ago.
Not weed free patio bricks! My "gardener" has been working out in back yard now this week. Since I didn't have to spend Thursday evening tending the yard work, I was free to join Ann at the Iowa State Fair... from about 5:00 to 10:30 pm.
We walked around a bit..... dinner was a "Beef Sunday" which is a scoop of mash potatoes in a bowl with beef and gravy on top with some cheese and a cherry tomato. That filled me up, but I had to have one dessert and I choose the Apple Pastry stick.
Our main purpose of going to the fair was watching a Beatles tribute band called "Strawberry Fields".... and to check out the painted Ice Cream Cones..... which Renee had been trying to get to to do one this year. We saw some cute ones.....
Here two of my favorite-creative ones. There were plenty of normal looking ones too.
I woke up this morning grabbing the blanket and found the kitten snuggling with me to keep warm. The low was around 52!..... I found myself starting to crave pumpkin. It's hard now not to keep is it September especially when I saw this a few days ago.
Not weed free patio bricks! My "gardener" has been working out in back yard now this week. Since I didn't have to spend Thursday evening tending the yard work, I was free to join Ann at the Iowa State Fair... from about 5:00 to 10:30 pm.
We walked around a bit..... dinner was a "Beef Sunday" which is a scoop of mash potatoes in a bowl with beef and gravy on top with some cheese and a cherry tomato. That filled me up, but I had to have one dessert and I choose the Apple Pastry stick.
Our main purpose of going to the fair was watching a Beatles tribute band called "Strawberry Fields".... and to check out the painted Ice Cream Cones..... which Renee had been trying to get to to do one this year. We saw some cute ones.....
Here two of my favorite-creative ones. There were plenty of normal looking ones too.
Then we did stumble upon the "largest Chocolate Moose in captivity"
It wasn't solid chocolate, but made like the famous butter cow.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Peace Art Virtual Show
8-16-12 artsy-fartzy brain
I'm so excited to be a part of a Virtual Art Show on Facebook. My Peace Art , via by peace blog http://onesmalldailypeaceofart.blogspot.com/ was discovered by Brad who runs a Facebook site called "The Peace Art Collective".
It was Brad's idea to feature some of my Peace Art and we worked together, thanks mostly to his graphic artistic talents.... and these photo's were created.
go HERE:
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Feel free to download, print off and hang this peace art for your refrigerator, file cabinet or locker. Brad and I both love spreading Peace, so we do want everyone who is interest in Peace to use these.
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