First week in Iowa in 2015

Clarinda, IA  50 degrees with sunshine, after rain in the night.  Think I heard something about a half-inch on the radio.  Area is dry. 

We had returned from Des Moines on Sunday and I covered the yard with a fertilizer carrying crab grass control (if it is young enough) and it needed rain, so this worked out well.

Since we hadn't seen Roberta Rarick over the winter we went to her place Saturday for a visit.  Though age seems to be creeping up on her, she seems to be doing well.

With weather finally sunshine and warm, finally got around to putting the recumbent trikes back together.  Missed riding them for about 2 weeks, but did get 3 miles in Sunday afternoon.  Definitely could feel it in the legs, and--the hills here in Clarinda compared to the flat riding we had done all winter in La Feria, TX. 

On Friday we had attended funeral for son of close friends of ours.  He was only in his early 50's.

We had gone to Clarinda Circle 8 Square Dance Wednesday night and they encouraged us to go to the Iowa State Square and Round Dance Convention in Altoona, IA (Near Des Moines).  We hadn't been to state convention since 2010 so decided to go up on Saturday, sharing motel room with friends who had registered some time ago.

Got to catch up a little with old friends.  Photo at left is with the Whiteheads from Perry, IA

Photos above are people from the Clarinda Club dancing.  At left is Bob & Joyce Cooper from Creston.

Sunday afternoon started getting things out of storage in the shop and garage to put on back deck.  Will get the Softub out today so water can be warming.

More Later, Lynn

At our Clarinda, IA home!-

Clarinda, IA 56º and rain,

Arrived at our Clarinda, IA home about 4:30 pm on Tuesday.

Had driven, on Monday morning, from Marengo, IA east to just north of Walcott, IA to Cheyenne Camping Center where we were shown our new trailer and after the paperwork began transferring our "trailer stuff" from the U-Haul trailer into it.

Was cold outside, so glad they had space inside for us to do this.  They also had one of their technicians add a "dauber cover" to the furnace exhaust and a cover to the vent near the front of the trailer.  Then one guy helped mount the Hensley Arrow Hitch that we have used the last six years and wouldn't pull a travel trailer without it being a part of the hitch.

 They let us hook up to electricity and water just outside their main building and we spent one night, testing out water pump, shower, stove and oven, TV, etc.  Dumped the grey tank next morning so pretty well went through much of the things we will use.  Due to the wheels being a little closer together on this unit had some difficulty in getting the wedge-type levelers

 under the tires - the one between the wheels.  Did manage, however, by pushing one wedge between the wheels as Phyllis backed the trailer-slowly.

Phyllis baked some muffins in the oven to give it a try.

An uneventful trip from Walcott.  Stopped at a Pizza Ranch in Altoona, IA (Near Des Moines) at noon.  Drove in mist most of the trip.


In photo at left you can see the ring and part-ring of extra high grass.  This pattern has been in our yard ever since we bought the place.  Don't know why it is like this.

Last night went to choir practice at Church at 6:00 pm and then Circle 8 Square Dance at 7:00 pm.

Raining this morning.

More later, Lynn

In Marengo, IA

 Packed up last Monday at our winter-home in Kenwood RV Park in La Feria, Texas.


Click any picture to enlarge..

Didn't get everything in Ford that we wanted.

Had 5'x8' U-Haul packed with things that will transfer to our new Travel Trailer when at Walcott, IA.

First stop - at What A Burger in Kingsville, Texas for breakfast

Ran in quite a bit of drizzly rain over last few days.

Stopped at brother Don and his wife Vicki's place in Cape Girardeau.  They just moved in to it last fall so first we had seen it.  A house in a retirement community only a few blocks from hospital that Don had worked in since 1982 and they both do some volunteer work and he does some massage work there yet.

 Front of house on garage side.

Back door off their sun room, where they take dogs out for walk.

Back yard where dogs walk.

Front of their house - photo take just as we arrived, before backing U-Haul and Ford in front of garage.

We ate at their central eating building first evening we were there.

Ate breakfast on Thursday morning at IHOP

Drove north several miles to a Nature Center and spent several hours there. Very interesting pictures and stories of how the area was almost a swamp many years ago and much of it has been drained to make some of the best farmland in the country.

Gourd birdhouses outside near a pond.

Ate at a fine restaurant in small town of Gordonville and Don's daughter Jenny drove out to join us.

         Jen and Don

Don & Vicki

Thursday evening we played a game of Manipulation at Don & Vicki's and then went back to where we were staying.

Headed on up the road on Friday morning towards Marengo, IA -- stopped for breakfast/lunch about 10 am at a Waffle House.

Spotted this car advertising their dog training business "Sit Means Sit" Dog training; with note on the bumper that "Sorry, we don't train husbands, wives or kids".

Made it back to Iowa, first time since mid-October of 2014.

Ashley was at her folks place, and they wanted to take Phyllis out for her birthday -- which was last Saturday -- and let me go along.
Granddaughter Ashley Long, Phyllis, and daughter-in-law Patty Miles.

 Son Cameron Miles and meinself, Lynn Miles.

Back at their house, still celebrating Phyllis' birthday.

 Today we went over to granddaughter Ashley's house for lunch.  Granddaughter Emily and friend Vince came up from Missouri for the weekend since we are here.  At left is Vince and Ashley.

At right, Cameron, Patty, and Vince.

At left, Meinself, Emily, Phyllis and Grand-Son-in-Law Heath.



Nice weather today, temperature is 57 with bright sunshine.  Cool if you are in the shade.

Kids and Phyllis just took off to Tanger Mall to shop and Cam & I are loafing at his house.

More later, Lynn