Monday, September 1, 2025

Rainy Labor Day in SW Iowa



 63º and raining at 1:55 pm Monday in Clarinda.  Little over 2 hours ago we had 1.6".

Rain last couple days has kept me from doing any more tree and brush clearing.

Here are some photos of our 9-year old Great Granddaughter Jessica on a climbing wall at a celebration in eastern Iowa this weekend.






















While this program is working, at least for now, I will add the photos from our visit last week in Kansas:













Visited a bit with dear friends Leland & Bonnie Brown Sunday afternoon here in Clarinda.


First day of school for our
4th grader GGD Jessica Long




Saw this picture of stacking hay similar to when I
was young.  We only used one horse, though, and
we had a back-board on the back side and stack
was not nearly that long - more square.












Is this a sales pitch, or what?










Will post more later, Lynn


Sunday, August 31, 2025

August 2025 is about done

 68º with piddly rain here in Clarinda, IA at 10:30 am Sunday.  Got just under .1" rain in the gauge from overnight.

North of gate, looking north.



Most days I have spent an hour or more cutting brush and trees by fence along highway at the farm.


Phyllis' flowers by front door.









I am putting Tordon RTU on all stumps


I put another rubber coating
on roof of trailer.  Ready to pull
south for the winter.

















I got the deck covered with it's annual coating of Thompson's Water Seal.  Looking pretty good for being over 30 years old.

Well, I can't get this damned Blogger program to work right now.  Was trying to post some photos from visiting with LaRhoda Neher at her place near Hiawatha, Kansas this week.  Patty Steckelberg went with us.
Will sign off for now -- it is raining harder outside now. 

Click HERE  to hear duet Phyllis & I sang at last week's church service.

LCM

Monday, August 25, 2025

48 degrees this morning in Clarinda, IA

 64 degrees now at 10:20 am on Monday.  Highs to be under 80 degrees for several days now.


I have spent several hours working on cutting brush and trees on the farm.  Making some headway, but don't expect to make much of a dent in it yet this year.  I have a possible Carpal Tunnel surgery coming up in a few weeks that will bring things to a stop, maybe.

Phyllis helped by clearing the smaller
branches for me Saturday morning.




As it was in garage for years.







Moved to shop building to work on.
For some 13 years we have had this trailer in the garage storing boxes, etc.  We made one trip to Texas with it in 2011 or 2012 and haven't used it since.  So, I am going to strip the box off it back to the original lawn mower/golf cart trailer it was when we bought it and sell it.



Trailer backed into shop building




More later, Lynn

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Warm weather continues in South West Iowa

 86º with "feel like" of 90º here in Clarinda, IA at 5:10 pm on Thursday.  Have had some foggy mornings and some rain during the night a few times.

Don & Vicki Miles at Chateau Girardeau - August 8, 2025
I intended to put this picture at the left in this blog some time ago, but just realized I had missed it.  My brother Don with Vicki (facing camera) dining outside with other residents of the Chateau on a Friday.




I have been spending an hour or so on many mornings cutting trees and brush on the inside of the fence line at our farm south of town. On right is the whole rectangular 80 acres with Highway 71 to the left, running north and south.  Buildings used to be about where the dark brown circle on left side of photo is.  This photo taken from Google Earth Pro.

At left is the highway 71 side of the fence at the gateway that used to be (some 35 years ago) the driveway to the house.  This photo is taken from "street view" off Google Earth Pro.




These photos are on the farm side of the fence near the entrance gate shown above.


Have piled up quite a bit, but have quite a bit cut down and not piled up yet.  Taking my time as the heat is something else.  Drink lots of water and quit before I get too heated.


Lots of brush and some large trees.  Think it will help usurping some of the moisture from the crops.



I have some "stump killer" ordered and will treat them to keep regrowth down.  Photo at right shows what I had trimmed with the lopper, will finish with chain saw next trip down, probably tomorrow morning early.

This morning I donated my 16th unit of blood to the Red Cross here in Clarinda.  The workers come from Omaha.

We are planning on taking Patty S with us and go visit LaRhoda Neher next Wednesday near Hiawatha, Kansas.

Sunday, August 17, 2025

TAPS

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps was played; this brings out a new meaning of:   

We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, 'Taps...' It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. 
But, do you know the story behind the song?  If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.   

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when  Union Army Captain Robert Elli was with his men near Harrison's Landing in   Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. 
During the night, Captain Elli heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field.  Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment..   
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.   
The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock.  In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out..  Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.   
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.   
The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.   
But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. 
The Captain chose a bugler.  He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.   
This wish was granted.   
The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps' used at military funerals was born.   
The words are: 

Day is done. 
Gone the sun. 
From the lakes  
From the hills.   
From the sky. 
All is well.   
Safely rest.   
God is nigh. 

Fading light. 
Dims the sight. 
And a star. 
Gems the sky. 
Gleaming bright.   
From afar.   
Drawing nigh.   
Falls the night. 

Thanks and praise.   
For our days.   
Neath the sun   
Neath the stars.   
Neath the sky 
As we go. 
This we know.   
God is nigh 
I too have felt the chills while listening to 'Taps' but I have never seen all the words to the song until now.  I didn't even know there was more than one verse .  I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along.   


--

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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Back in Clarinda, IA after 15 days on the road!

 90º here in Clarinda, IA at 12:42 pm Sunday, with a "Feels like" of 102º

Well, I haven't posted since Wednesday--we covered a lot of ground since then we were in Columbus, OH.


This is Helen Miles' sewing room - Urbana, IL

Helen fixed coffee & rolls Friday morning












Phyllis with Helen



Michelle had a lighted harness on her dog Mouse




Our last evening with Michelle we drove to
Grove City, OH for a delicious meal at China Bell









After some 430 miles on our last
day on the road, arrived home about
5:30 pm Friday











After taking in groceries we had bought in
St Joe, MO, I got on mower to cut the grass
that had grown for 2 weeks. Was done by 7

























































I took a few more photos than I have posted here.  

Now to rest up and get back in to "home" routine.

Lynn

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Wednesday in Columbus, OH

 73º here at Ohio State Fair Campground at 9:05 am Wednesday.  Rained during the night and really high winds when the storm came through.  Trailer shook a bit.


I posted yesterday with the phone and this program just does not work well on the phone.  Will put some photos on from our visit to the Columbus Zoo on Monday.















Last evening I went on a walk with Michelle and Mouse on the Olantangy Trail near her apartment.  Unusual bridge across the river with the type of overhead support.






Well, it is time we take off to meet Michelle for breakfast, more later, lynn

Rainy Labor Day in SW Iowa

 63º and raining at 1:55 pm Monday in Clarinda.  Little over 2 hours ago we had 1.6". Rain last couple days has kept me from doing any ...