End of April!

Yumpin' Yimmini -- I just realized it's been 4 days since I posted.
41 degrees here in Clarinda, IA at 8:30 pm as I start this -- with rain.  Has rained much of the last 36 hours.  Dumped .7" of rain yesterday morning, imagine maybe another quarter to half inch.

Went to Circle 8 Square Dance here in Clarinda last Wednesday.

Good turnout - quite a few from Missouri came up.

Jerry Junk, at left, is a great caller, from Wayne, Nebraska.  With him are Al & Carolyn Ruhde who are presidents, and at the right is Mary Jo Herzberg who is celebrating an April birthday (actually today - Saturday).

This was one of the higher temperature readings earlier
in the week.  Has been in the upper 30's or lower 40's for last
three days.

Rain on the deck.

Rain on the driveway.

Haven't been doing much last few days, reading books and messing with computer.

Later, Lynn

Books

72º here in Clarinda at 11:45 am as I start this -- predicted high is 70º.  The wind blew hard and gusty all day yesterday out of the south.  Didn't end up with much rain though some had been predicted.

Have read several books over last few weeks - this one on 10 Downing Street in London, England was interesting.  History of the building and how it was used over the centuries as well as all the re-construction and maintenance.  It is actually several buildings behind the rather drab front.

Below are several photos I captured from Earth Google showing it near the Thames River.

The entrance is at the circled cross-hair.

A broader view of this Westminster area of London

Thames river to the right and St. James Park
to the left of the building

I am currently reading this detailed account
of the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944

This was a very interesting story of Gene Autry
and several other entertainers.

This detailed description of a Neurosurgeon's
experience during a 7-day coma was
very interesting into the afterlife (at least
from this Near Death Experience)

I am currently reading this -- a little hard
to follow, but some insight into Islam.

Finished this book some time ago -
story of a "only for the winter" trip into
British Columbia for a new Portland, Oregon
wife that turned into 40-some years of homesteading.

This story from the perspective
of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor
was interesting.

Sunday we went with Leland and Bonnie Brown to Maryville, Missouri to the Northwest Missouri State University Campus and enjoyed a Choral Program by The University Chorale and The Tower Choir.

Their Program included words to most of the songs.

The larger University Chorale

The smaller Northwest Tower Choir

Though there were quite a few in both groups, only about 10 total seniors were introduced.

              

More later, Lynn

Sunny Sunday

While it is 69 degrees at our home in La Feria, Texas, it is 71 degrees up here in the north in Clarinda, Iowa. at 1 pm as I start this Sunday noon.

With daughter Emily

Some pictures I just copied off "Facebook" -- today is our son Cameron's 52nd birthday.  Here is what I put as comment on his page - Happy Birthday, Cameron Miles - I recall the uncomfortable orange vinyl chairs in the waiting room next to the delivery room at the hospital in Omaha back in 1965 from about 12:30 am until around 7 am

With Jessica

, when I started down to the cafeteria to get some coffee and when the elevator door opened there was your Mom's doctor. I asked him how Phyllis was doing and he said "I don't know, I am just getting here" This was back when the dads weren't allowed to be in the delivery room or even wait in the rooms with the Moms. I had assumed he had been there all night, but the other doctors at the hospital had been checking things and decided it wasn't time for you to arrive yet so hadn't called him in. Dad

With Jessica

Line dance during square dance in Creston Friday night

Phyllis and Patty Steckelberg at square dance in Creston

It was crazy hat dance, though most of us took off the
silly things after the first couple tips.

1

Saturday I went down the the farm to get some dirt for Phyllis to put in the big tubs I think she is going to plant tomatoes in.  (I gave up on growing tomatoes after the 5-month long growing in Texas this winter).

 Filled quite a few 5-gallon buckets and some waste baskets I had taken recyclables to the recycling station on the way to the farm.

These were cattle molasses tubs that I got from Sharlene Stivers out in Callaway, Nebraska last summer.  Had two of them in Texas this winter and left these two in Clarinda.  Spray painted them to be a little less bright.  (When they are filled with dirt and the sun doesn't shine through from the inside, which I didn't paint, they won't be so "orangish".  Here is one already filled with dirt

I drilled two holes in the bottom for drainage, and these rocks
were picked up at the farm where the driveway and the
buildings had been.  I put some small bush branches over them,
and then the dirt -- hopefully this will keep the holes from
plugging and keep draining going.

Picture of the "old" Methodist Church in Clarinda.

The new Methodist Church that they hope to move
into during the month of May, or June.latest.

We went to the Lutheran School at noon for lunch at a fund-raiser
for friend who has cancer.

There was a good crowd and we left just before 12 noon and
they were serving until 2 pm.  Lots of items on silent auction
as well as some items that were going to be for live auction later.

Bright sun shine today - will be going to Maryville, Missouri with the Browns to a College Choir presentation after bit.

Just want to mention that I always enjoy when Doris makes a comment on one of my posts.  It is set up now to make it easy if anyone wants to comment.

More later, Lynn

Friday

55º and overcast in Clarinda, IA - forecast high of 62º at 12 noon on Friday as I start this.

Leaves budding high on tree in back yard April 13th.

Same tree April 20th.

These plants on north side really growing.

A flower daughter-in-law Patty gave Phyllis 

Couple of tubs ready for me to get dirt from the farm to fill for Phyllis

 Some photos
I took out doors
over the last few days.

Two bird feeders up by Lilac Bush

Lilacs in full bloom.

A few birds have shown up to use the bird feeders!

Phyllis cut some for the table.

More later, Lynn

Tuesday evening

69º here in Clarinda, Iowa at 8:00 pm Tuesday evening as I start writing this.  Has been overcast most of the day with a bit of a shower earlier.  Forecast for rain overnight.

A wooden snowman - at Patty's

I'm supposed to see if I can
make this - then cut the wood so
can be used for craft class in the Valley

Our meal at Winterset Monday

We were only customers in this rather quint cafe

Lot of unique things hanging on walls

More stuff on walls.

On Monday we again used our "Our Iowa" book on Ma and Pa Restaurants in Iowa to locate this restaurant on the square in Winterset, Iowa -- had a $5 coupon from the book..

The owner/waitress/cook was a young, quite outspoken gal glad to tell us all about her place and the history of it.

We got there about 12:15 pm and were the only people there until about 12:40 when two gentlemen came in to eat.

An interesting painting on the wall in the restroom at the cafe.

We had stopped in Des Moines at both Sam's Club and Walmart to pick up groceries and stuff.

As soon as we got home -- around 2:30 pm -- I went on the prowl for these bright yellow flowering weeds, probably popped about a dozen from the ground.  Spray has been put down for them, so they are not wide spread.

Taken at 7:30 am - damp deck.

I dumped a 1/2" of rain from the gauge from the weekend on Monday.  A little shower gave us a tenth inch in the afternoon.  These pictures are taken this morning - .3" of rain through the night. It is now 11:30 Wednesday morning as I finish this - 70º outside with overcast skies.

Damp back yard

Just for the heck of it -- here are number of days since:
My dad born - 41,133 days ago
My Dad died - 14,272 days ago
My Mom born - 40,130 days ago
My Mom died - 11,089 days ago
My sister Louise born - 24,556 days ago
My sister Louise died - 3,263 days ago
My brother Roger born - 29,285 days ago
My brother Don born - 28,450 days ago
Don's daughter Jenn born 17,038 days ago
Niece Jenn died - 140 days ago
I was born 26,977 days ago
My brother Darrell was born 26,061 days ago
My wife Phyllis was born 26,685 days ago
My son Cameron was born 18,989 days ago
My daughter Michelle was born 18,008 days ago
and our only Grand Daughter, Jessica, was born 300 days ago.

More stuff later, Lynn