August 10

77º here in Clarinda, IA at 10:30 am Monday, with predicted high of 83º. Think it rained Sunday morning and we did get .45" of rain Sunday morning. Humidity up, so A/C back on.

Spent time in Oskaloosa, IA at a Bluegrass Festival starting Thursday. Don't think there were over 40 or 50 people there, but some good music---and some other music.

Sunday we were able to attend a gathering of the Heuer clan at the shelter in the city park. Rusty had returned from Arlington, Washington for the weekend and all of his family in this part of Iowa, and his mother and her sisters were there.

Rusty with aunt Jan

Rusty with cousin Lori, & Aunts Jan & Joyce

House we have been watching being built

GROANER'S CORNER:((    The European Union commissioners have announced that an agreement has been reached to adopt English as the preferred language for European communications, rather than German, which was the other possibility. 

    As part of the negotiations, the British government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a five year phased plan for what will be known as EuroEnglish (Euro for short). 

     In the first year, "s" will be used instead of the soft "c". Sertainly, sivil servants will reseive this news with joy.  Also, the hard "c" will be replaced with "k". Not only will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have one less letter.  

    There will be growing public enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome "ph" will be replased by "f".  This will make words like "fotograf" 20 persent shorter.  

    In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkorage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of silent "e"s in the language is disgrasful, and they would go.  

    By the fourth year, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" by "z" and "w" by "v".  

    During ze fifz year, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou", and similar changes vud, of kors, be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters.  Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German lik zey vunted in ze forst plas.

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More later, Lynn

Still cool in Iowa

71º at 2:30 pm on Wednesday in Clarinda.  This has been a quiet many days--the air conditioner hasn't ran for almost a week now.  Not hearing the electric meter running is a nice sound.  Had a brief shower just before sunrise this morning, but didn't amount to much. Temperature in the low 60's this morning.

Some of the last photos taken of the new house being built north side of Clarinda.

Some photos of the ceiling in the shop.  After almost 12 years, I might get the insulation and ceiling all in place this summer!

Still spending time chipping the branches cut off trees last week.  

After a doctor's appointment here in Clarinda tomorrow morning we will be heading out with the travel trailer for the first time this summer.  A bluegrass and country music festival in Oskaloosa, IA

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It actually starts today, but won't be able to go until after the doctors appointment near noon.  Hope to stay until Sunday morning.

Hope to have some photos when we get back.

Lynn

August - and cool in Iowa (after a really hot July)

77º here in Clarinda, IA at 5:00 pm Sunday - 2nd day of August 2020.

With the cool weather now, we ate lunch on the deck.

In a little while this small, I think young, butterfly hovered around me for some 3 or 4 minutes.

It sat on my arm for several minutes.  I decided maybe he was waiting for lunch, so offered a few kernels of corn.

The youngster spent some 10 minutes working his little "probe" "antenna" whatever it is, in the liquid and down around and under the kernels.  He finally flew off.

Here are some photos I took today of some of Phyllis' flowers around the place.

This tomato plant is almost 8' tall

I drained the fresh water tank of the trailer, as well as the hot water heater.  Then filled with water and some Bleach and let it sit overnight.  then pumped through the system through the faucets, and finally drained everything.  Refilled the 30 gallons with fresh water, plus the 6 gallon for the water heater, pulled it through the faucets and finally drained all again.  Put about 2/3 of the tank full, ready for a trip this week.

Spent some time Thursday watching a new home being erected on the north side of Clarinda.  Came in on several trucks.

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Have been continuing to trim trees and chip up the branches for mulch.

Our next-door neighbor Jan passed away this week.  We had had a contentious relation with her for the last 10 years.  When we got home from Texas this spring she refused to talk with us, even when face to face out near the mailbox.  We didn't know it, but her cancer had returned and she was pretty much mad at the world.  She passed away in Lincoln after a quick trip thee and surgery.  

Our cruise with Country Reunion show and the Larry's Diner show for December has been cancelled.  So many things we usually go to in the summer cancelled.  Would be on the way to State Center, IA soon for the annual Kenwood RV summer meeting, but it, too , was cancelled.

Slow summer.  -- may write later

Some Covid-19 info

This was some info I was not aware of, so I thought I'd share ... and it's a public post, in case you'd also like to pass on the information.

 From John Hopkins Hospital regarding the Covid-19 virus…

        *  This  virus is not a living organism .   It is a protein molecule (RNA or DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular (eyes), nasal (nose) or buccal mucosa (mouth), changes their genetic code (mutates) and converts into aggressor and multiplier cells.

    * Since the virus is not a living organism, but is a protein molecule, it cannot be killed. It has to decay on its own.   The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.

      * The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat, and that is the reason why soap or detergent is the best weapon. The foam CUTS THE FAT (that is why you have to scrub for 20 seconds or more, to create lots of foam).  By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down.

    *   HEAT melts fat; this is why it is necessary to use water above   77   degrees for hand washing, laundry and cleaning surfaces. In addition, hot water makes more foam, making it more effective.

    *   Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ALL FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.

  *    Any solution with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaking it down from the inside.

  *    Oxygenated water increases the effectiveness of soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein.  However, because you have to use it in its pure form, it can damage your skin.

  *    NO BACTERICIDE OR ANTIBIOTIC WILL WORK because the virus is not a living organism like bacteria; antibodies cannot kill what is not alive.

  *    The virus molecules remain very stable at colder temperatures, including air conditioning in houses and cars.  They also need moisture and darkness to stay stable. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade the virus faster.

  *    UV LIGHT on any object that may contain the virus breaks down the protein. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin.

  *    The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.

  *    Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.

  *    NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is only 40% alcohol, and you need a minimum of 65%.

  *    LISTERINE is 65% alcohol.

  *    The more confined the space, the higher the concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.

  *    You have to wash your hands before and after touching any commonly used surfaces such as: mucosa (mouth area), food, locks, knobs, switches, remotes, cell phones, watches, computers, desks etc… and don’t forget when you use the bathroom.

  *    You have to MOISTURIZE YOUR HANDS due to frequent washing. Dry hands have cracks and the molecules can hide in the micro cracks The thicker the moisturizer, the better.

  *    Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.

 

Haven't anything new

Tuesday - July 21, 2020   I got nothing

Some much needed rain

78º here in Clarinda, IA at 11:30 am Thursday, with predicted high of 90º.  Dumped 1.6" of rain from the gauge yesterday morning from storm that went through overnight and until about 11 am.

Daughter Michelle with Dawson

Cam, Pat & Emily came Sunday evening and left Tuesday morning.  Patty's dad had 85th Birthday on Monday and she and Emily went fishing down at the bridge early that morning and had fish for a late lunch.

Think there are only two little baby robins in this second setting for the summer

Took several photos while riding the recumbent trike one evening of all the clouds.

Burned trash down at the farm - managed to burn a little area around the barrel - at least downwind. 

With the Covid-19 thing still around, we haven't ventured too much from home.  Spending time on the computer, or working in the shop.  Think Phyllis is about done with another quilt.

Till later, Lynn