May is about over

 59º here in Clarinda, IA at 6:15 am Wednesday.  Received a little over .2" of rain late yesterday and through the night.

Yesterday, just as the rain came through, contractor unloaded shingles and supplies for the crew to install today.

I had a few pictures a few days ago of the Butterfly House we visited in Columbus, OH with our daughter.  Here is link to an album I made of that visit - CLICK HERE

Must put here photos of our great granddaughter Jessica - one on left taken first day of school last fall and on right last day of school this spring.

Here is brace I made a day or two ago for the door on our travel trailer.  It has an arm on the inside of the door, but if we are parked with any wind and door open, it tends to swing.  With bunge cord underneath to keep it tight and board to keep it in place, this will take a lot of stress off the hinges.

The street in front of our place was cemented with curb in 2012 when the Clarinda Hospital was built across the street from us.  The curb was proud to the lawn at that time and I have added some dirt, brought from the farm, nearly every year since.  It is gradually coming close to being even with the curb.  The house next door to the east, now owned by the hospital, has never been added to and the lawn is over 2" lower than the curb there.

Taking dirt from just-planted no-till soybean field.

Every year

we have some

robins make nests

on bend in downspout

to gutters in the back

of the house.  Here

is one sitting on eggs.

More another time.

LC

Memorial Day 2023

 81º in Clarinda, IA at 9:00 pm Monday - Memorial Day.

Went to Cemetery here in Clarinda Saturday.

Saturday all of the Guthrie kids - Larry Guthrie, Joyce Guthrie Tornholm, Judy Guthrie Heuer, and Jan Guthrie Freye along with the two Cabbage girls, Beth Cabbage Gregory and Phyllis Cabbage Miles, along with spouses, met at Judy's place.  Lots of visiting and lots of food.

We had met Larry & Linda and Jan & Lynn when we were out at the cemetery.

The rose bush in front of the house

is doing well this year.

Peonies in back yard.

Flower in back yard.

More later, LC

Sunshine in Clarinda, IA

 81º with bright sunshine here in Clarinda, IA at 3:45 pm Tuesday.

Bushy plant that we put in the ground last summer isn't growing very fast.  One on other side of the rose bush is much taller.

We had neighbor mow the lawn while we were gone, but the short hedge in front of the house really grew while we were gone!  Below is before, at right is after.

1

Peonies by the deck really grew while we were gone.  Many have bloomed and many are ready to bloom.

If left to their own devises, the maple seeds would have a complete forest growing.  Spent time cleaning the roof valleys and gutters.  

Have new roof lined up to be put on next week.  Includes removing all old shingles and replacing with new.  The roof is going to cost about the same as we paid for our first home near Omaha, NE in 1965!  Shocking.

Pulled all the maple seeds out onto the lawn and then shredded and scattered them.  Those that grow will get cut down regularly.

Sunday we sang with the Methodist and Presbyterian combined choirs at both churches.

At left is at the Methodist Church during the 9:00 am Service and below is at the Westminister Presbyterian church during the 10:30 am Service.

Dug Dandelions and trimmed some vines out of the hedge along north side of our property this morning.  This little flower showed up.

Will post again sometime, LC

Back in Clarinda after 3+ weeks on the road

 72º here in Clarinda, IA at 6 pm Saturday as I start this.

Got up yesterday morning in our trailer in the driveway of Helen Miles (No relation) in Urbana, IL and drove the 464 miles to Clarinda in time to be at the visitation of Evelyn Whipple - our neighbor when we lived west of town for 38 years, and just across the highway here in town the last couple years).  Her husband, Jim, passed away this last winter and we were in Texas so missed his funeral.  We had intended to only go a ways in to Missouri on Friday and then spend some time in an Historic area in Memphis, Missouri and drive to Clarinda on Saturday.  But due to the visitation, drove all the way to Clarinda on Friday.

We had gotten to Helen's after the 300 mile drive from Columbus, OH about 3:30 pm on Thursday.  

We were able to park our travel trailer in the driveway at the place where Michelle was house/dog sitting and spent time in the back yard, playing Pegs & Jokers and watching the dogs.

We dined one evening with her friends Bob & Judy.

And, we lunched one day with her friends Ron & Marty.

One afternoon we got to spend time in Blooms & Butterflies at the Franklin Park Conservatory Click HERE for website  Lots of flowers, vegetation, as well as butterflies.

This is just one of the many Chihuly Collection that is on display throughout the Butterfly area and other portions of the Conservatory.  Click HERE for their website  

We spent four days with Michelle and had a good visit.  

Will be talking with a roofer from Shenandoah on Monday, hopefully lining up to get new shingles on our house.

Look close at this vehicle.

Later, Lynn

Last day in Columbus

 61 degrees and sun going down in Columbus Ohio at 8 pm Thursday.   Has been cool last couple days with rain yesterday and sunshine today but temp only got to 66 degrees today. 

Played Pegs and Jokers yesterday afternoon 

In evening met and had supper with 2 of Michelle's friends from church Bob and Judy.   Today noon we met and had lunch with 2 other friends from church and Marty.

Did some shopping and then went to Franklin County Conservatory where spent time in a Butterfly House and Botanical Garden. 

After eating leftovers from lunch for supper tonight we played some more Pegs and Jokers and are heading to bed now--about 11 pm.  Will hook up in the morning and head west. 

Will post many pictures from this week when home this weekend and have good internet for the computer.   These last few posts have been on the phone. 

Lynn