2021 - In Review~

 Five years & how fast they've gone.  December of 2020, we had three snowstorms.  Nika was in her element!  Even so, there were some beautiful days with plenty of sunshine. 

12-31-2020 Nika~

January continued the trend with a blizzard mid-month.  Snow was added to piles of snow. Between storms, I took Speedy out & with Butch watching, tried peddling.  I could make a full rotation.  All the weeks of physical therapy & work at the Y paid off.  Nika & I enjoyed our winter woods walks too.

1-11-2021 Taking Speedy out for a trial run~

This February, I had no ambition to visit WA.  Having spent most of last fall there recovering, I was happy to be home.  I asked about adding color to the walls in the house & Butch took on the project.

2-4-21 The office wall~

To celebrate our birthday's - we made a road trip to Glenwood Springs, CO.  Our home in the early 80's.  Soaking in the pool & watching the snow fall, had always been one of our favorite things.  We hiked at Rifle Falls & enjoyed a long weekend.

2-6-21 Glenwood Hot Springs Pool~

Back home, we hadn't missed another heavy blast of snow!  

2-21-21 The Cabin~

Enough already!  Shoveling had been an everyday routine for way too long!  Late February & into March, the weather moderated & the snow started melting.  Mari Jo & I took walks with our dogs out on the Wabash Trace.  I rode my bike for the first time with Butch, around Lake Manawa!

3-6-21 Connie & Speedy~

It wasn't easy, but it was sure wonderful to be out on two wheels!  By the end of the month, the grass was green again & my little daffodils were blooming!

3-30-21 Color!

By April, all the wildflowers were in bloom & spring had arrived in a big way!  In the marsh, I found new wildflowers - Dutchman's Breechs.  I was riding up to 17-miles on the Wabash Trace & visiting Butch at Agriland!

4-15-21 Speedy at Agriland

May, I was ready again for a different bike.  I really enjoyed riding the Townie, but thought I needed more gears for the long grades of the trail.  Most of my shopping was done on-line.  The Trek bike in the size I needed, was in Kansas City, KS.  I made the drive to pick up a Verve 3 Lowstep,

5-3-2021 Trek Verve Bikes~

Butch ended up buying a new Trek too & soon was outdistancing me on the trails.  Memorial Day weekend, we stayed over in Creston, rode our bikes & attended the Memorial Day services at the Greenfield Cemetery.

5-21-21 Creston Quilt Show

Once June arrived, I spent the days I wasn't riding, working outside. Butch worked to finish the ceiling in the cabin.  He put up the steel panels, while I sanded & painted the trusses.

7-26-21 Cabin finished~

July, daughter Courtney & grandson Mason came for a visit!  We would have kept them for the summer! :-)  We did all the fun things we could think of & a few more.  Mason loved his tour with Papa & checking out the big tractor.  The weather couldn't have been better.  Not hot, not humid, as perfect as a July could be.  Things were too quiet when the two of them left for home.

7-8-21 Mason in the John Deere~

August, with Butch laid off from Agriland, he had time to install the new windows for the house.  The difference they've made is incredible.  The installation led to removing the vinyl siding, adding vapor barrier & painting the shutters.

8-19-21 New windows, painted shutters~

The marigolds I'd planted in the usual spot along the south fence, provided us with color all summer. Butch put in a block wall along the west end of the house.  He also cut shutters for the Cabin windows.  We planted a new row of Emerald Greens along the north split rail fence. (Our second attempt at getting something to grow there.)

8-20-21 Marigolds~

September, Butch was driving a dump truck part time for a local company.  He was also back to driving the school bus.  We took an extended weekend trip to Mason City.  A town resplendent with Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.  Butch finished training & received his Class A driver's license.  (He also passed the test for hazmat certification.)  The bikes went with us, we rode the High Trestle Trail north of Des Moines on our way home.

9-18-21 High Trestle Trail Bridge~

October was mild & beautiful!  We had the big Walnut tree out front trimmed to clean up the damage from the August Derecho.  It produced a bumper crop of walnuts!  I hired the neighbor kids to help with the continual pickup.  It kept me busy for at least an hour a day for weeks!  I used the chips from the walnut to cover my trails.

10-11-2021 Walnut

November second, we had our first hard frost.  The leaves fell from the trees like rain.  It was totally beautiful out on the trail.  After a season of over 600 miles on the Verve, I came to the conclusion it was more work to ride, than fun.  Butch took me bike shopping again.  The Bike Rack put together a Cannondale Adventure in my size & I loved it.   It was not only fun to ride, but much easier to get on & off!  

11-2-2021 On the Wabash~

 After an extensive search & many phone calls, Butch found one in the size & model I needed.  The only problem was that the bike was in Seattle!  I called Alaska & changed my February flight reservations.  Right after Thanksgiving, I left for the Pacific NW.

I don't need an excuse to visit the Grandkids - staying with the Peters is always fun family time!  Courtney took me to pick up the new bike in Ballard.  We added a shopping detour to University Village.  The following day, we drove over the pass to Ellensburg.  Cassidy was returning to CWU after Thanksgiving break.  I really enjoyed seeing how she'd personalized her dorm room! 

11-28-2021 Cassidy & Grammy~

I tagged along with Courtney & Mason for Mason's doctor visit at the hospital.  Followed by ice cream!  It rained almost every day of my two weeks stay.  Courtney & I worked on craft projects & shopped at some of our favorite stores.  Lynn & I fit in lunch at the Maltby Cafe.  Afterward, we took a tour of the new housing construction around Monroe.  We went to see the horses, then ended the day at Lynn & Jack's new home in Sultan. 

9-5-2018 Butch with Farah, Iowa ~

After almost a year of positive texts from Farah's owner, she told me Farah was acting up on the way back to the barn & had scared her.  She was going to list Farah for sale.  I started checking with friends to find her a new home.  

Within just days, a sale happened. I wasn't told who to - until after Farah had been picked up.  It didn't take long before I found out it was a woman; I'd had a falling out with years ago.  She was well aware I would have stopped the sale, had I known.  I can only hope those who understand my ongoing commitment to Farah's welfare, will keep me posted as to her future well-being.

12-9-2021 Loess Hills~

Iowa from the air, is always such a welcome sight.  As difficult as it is to be so far away from our family, a couple weeks in the hustle & bustle of the Pacific Northwest is enough for me.  Seeing the Loess Hills come into view feels so right.

The second half of December was mild enough I was able to get Smokey out for a first ride!  I'm hoping for at least a few rideable days this winter. 

12-11-2021 Smokey ~

The beginning our sixth year & another New Year!  We appreciate more than ever, our home & life here in the Midwest.  If we could just convince the kids to move here too! :-)

Happy New Year - 2022!

Past Year - 2020~

Christmastime ~

 Merry Christmas!  

This holiday especially, it's difficult to be so far from the girls & their families.  Both are so good about calling. Butch received the cutest Gnome ever, handmade by our youngest Granddaughter's Skyla & Josie.  

We enjoyed a truly beautiful Christmas Eve & Christmas Day has dawned sunny & bright!  Perfect December days to enjoy, before the upcoming shift to colder weather more fitting for the time of year.  Taking the early trip to WA, made me a little late with our holiday decorating.  Even so, with Butch's help, we did more than I'd planned.  I was so happy he would be home with me for Christmas!

The Cabin~

The cabin always looks festive with holiday lights!  My favorite little tree adds cheer!  The swans are happy to be out again.

Inside~

On my walks, the blue sky, sunshine & yet green grass makes the days feel more like early spring than early winter.  The warm temperatures & no wind helps too.

The Marsh~

Only the Santa flag flying by the swing gives a clue to the time of year!

The swing~

I do keep it simple, especially since the weather can do about anything.

Front Porch~

We found the pine swag at Earl May's, early in the season.  I'd had the ribbon for years & it worked perfectly for the bow. 

Front door~

I did do some baking!  Frosted sugar cookies & of course pies.  

Our two favorites, pumpkin & southern chess~

We're both enjoying Butch's time at home.  The longest the two of us have been home together for many years.  Soon, that will change.  Butch will be leaving for Joplin, MO to start over-the-road training, while I hold down the home front! 

Happy Holidays!  May your New Year be filled with happiness, health, family & friends!

False Fall~

 The title of this post is new-to-me term, but it proved to be 100% correct.  Our Omaha weatherman gave the name to last weeks stellar weather.  We had some totally beautiful days.  Temperatures in the 70's, a light breeze, blue sky, I marked several as perfect on the calendar.

Edge of the woods~

The problem is, it didn't last through even the weekend. By Saturday we were back to 90 & it's stayed that way so far this week. I was so happy to be spending September at home for a change, but 90 is a full fifteen degrees above our seasonal norm...

Volunteer Marigolds, with my Red Germaniums~

When I didn't get home last fall, Butch left the marigolds in the ground.  I didn't get them pulled until well into this spring.  To my surprise, I had marigolds sprouting everywhere!  Yes!  No complaints from me!  They've done incredibly well all summer!   

Mid-August~

 The hanging basket at the cabin provided months of colorful blooms!  Finally, though it stayed green, flower production came to a halt.  It came down when the fall decorations went up. The beautiful variegated lavender is now planted in the ground.  I can only hope it survives winter.

Flower bed~

I didn't plant the germaniums along the front of this bed, this year.  The trees have grown & there's now too much shade.  They did fine, a little further down the hill.  The first flower bed I planted, it's a reminder of where I started with this property.  

The Cabin, dressed for fall~

Two of the seven emerald green arborvitae we planted, died.  Luckily, Home Depot had received a few more that weren't totally dried out.  We replaced the two & they all now look like they'll survive.  With the heat, I'm back to watering.  Today, I cut down the echinacea & tossed the seed heads in the woods.  The butterflies were a constant visitor all summer.  

Fall is here!  Our sixth in Iowa on the Home Place!  We had one morning where the temperature dropped just below 40.  I loved the brisk feel in the air & look forward to many more.  Even so, we've had snow flurries in October before!  The days, that go on forever in summer, are quickly shortening as dusk arrives earlier & earlier...  One of my favorite times of year.  

A Very Sultry August!

 It's been a full week since I've been out for a bike ride.  The temperature, combined with high humidity, brings the dew point into the 70's.  Almost every morning I put on old clothes & go out to either mow, weed whack, or spray weeds.  I've got the upper hand on the weeds, at least for the time being.

The Hosta's - in full bloom~

Butch is not going to drive a dump truck.  On his second day, a motorcycle cut in front of him as he was going down an off ramp.  The cars ahead came to a sudden stop.  Butch with a full load, thought he was going to squish the bike, along with the less than intelligent rider. 

So, another week of job searching.  His time at home, played well into my plans though!  I was determined to get the new windows for the house, that have been in storage, since 2017, installed.  What a job it was!  The old windows must have had 100 staples holding them into the frames.  Getting them out - took both of us & a crow bar.  The siding came off too, there was no vapor barrier. Once the windows were in, Butch added new vapor barrier & we decided to paint the shutters.  

New Windows

When we weren't working on the house, Butch cut shutters for the cabin.  I did the sanding & painting.  We'd seen some similar on a house at the edge of town.  I used the same blue we painted the interior trim.

New shutters~

The little AC unit works great.  Combined with the ceiling fan, it cools the room down quickly.  We turn it on when we're working outside & go in to cool off.  

In 2018, we planted Serviceberry bushes all along the north side of the cabin.  They had such wonderful fall color & white blooms in the spring.  Sadly, every year, they died off a little more.  They weren't much more than sticks this summer.  We checked with Sherbondy's, where we'd purchased them.   They are no longer selling them.  For whatever reason they don't do well here, even though they are a native.

New Emerald Greens~

  When Home Depot got in a truck load of Emerald Greens, I talked Butch into giving them a try.  They had just been pulled out of the field & jammed into pots.  With the heat, they were already fading & stressed when we bought them.  We watered them in the pots overnight, then soaked the holes.  If they don't make it, we can get a refund.  We've been so lucky growing them.  All the ones we've planted here are doing well.  I hope our luck holds.  

If the weatherman is correct, after tonight's storm, we're to have a cooler day tomorrow.  Hopefully we'll get in a ride!

Cabin Finished, Summer Woods~

 When we received news of Courtney & Mason's upcoming, early July visit, we had just enough time to get the ceiling in the Cabin finished.  It was a lot more work than I anticipated, when I came up with the idea...  Many thanks to my husband, for all the ladder time it took to complete my vision.

Blue jar collection above the door~

We added a small window AC unit we use on the warmer days.  With all the insulation, once it's cool inside, it stays that way for a long while.  The red bow saw has been with us forever, the green one was my Dad's.  

Wood Shed & Saw, 9-28-2007

The CO license plates were also from Dad's, he had one for his birth year & another for Mom's.  Our last WA State Parks plate  found a spot too.

Swan collection out of boxes!

Most of my swan planter collection is finally out of the boxes!  It was almost like Christmas, unwrapping each one.  It was Mason & his sister Cassidy who helped me wrap & box them prior to our move.  Mason was also happy to find the jar of butter mints on the dresser :-)  After Mason's bout with cancer, it had been three-years since any of the Peters family had visited us.

Timber Trail~

We're now well into our hottest time of year...  Mid to upper 90's with crazy high humidity.  On last evening's local weather - it was reported that one acre of corn sweats 4,000 gallons of water a day!  That sure explains our humidity!

Looking West~

I had some catching up to do in the woods after Courtney & Mason left for home. Good thing, since keeping busy kept me from being so lonely for them... I've spent the last couple days weed -whacking along the creek. Then, there's the mowing. It's been great that our neighbor has taken an interest in keeping her portion cut down too!

Day lily's blooming at the Lowlands~

The red Day Lily's I panted last season are in full bloom now.  They add such a bright spot of color to the green landscape.

View from the bench~

Butch bought me the little bench for Mother's Day & I love it.  Nika & I will have a place to sit on our winter walks too!  (Stall matts do come in handy for a variety of purposes!)

North on the Cabin Cut-off trail~

I've been watering again too.  Not a lot, but enough to hopefully keep just a little moisture in the ground.  The far left end of the photo is the last section of the hillside I planted, along the Cabin's north property line.  It's a year behind the rest, but catching up quickly.

HoT!

Squirrely isn't happy about the heat, but the ferns love it!  I'm watering my outside flowers once in the morning & again at night before bedtime.  We've been promised some moisture by the end of this week & cooler weather for the first of Aug. 

Breezy had been at the Bike Rack in Omaha, since Sat. for new tire liners.  We finally picked her up yesterday, only to find out they were short one liner, so only one tire was done.  Now, it's another wait for the additional liner to arrive next week...  In the meantime, I hope to get in a ride at least by the weekend!

Speedy waits ~

 Warm temperatures have arrived!  Yesterday started the trend, but we had enough wind that it still felt cold.  I changed out my winter décor to spring!  With the sunshine & warmer temperatures I was more than ready!  In the afternoon I walked Nika to Doris's - we returned home going up the Big hill.  My leg was worse on the downhill.  Butch & I sat out on the front porch, when he came home from work last evening!  It was that nice!

 Today, we soared into the mid-60's!  No wind & the bluest of blue skies overhead!  After matt-making Doris & I decided the day was Way too nice to go to the Y!  

At the Cabin, I opened the doors & windows.  Speedy was staring at me...

Soon - the Cabin will have a ceiling!

I haven't ridden for almost two-months.  The Wabash, is now a defrosting mess.  But Speedy was persuasive...  What the heck - I took her out to the street & rode up the block & back.  I felt more strength in the leg than last time.  Enough ROM to peddle, but far from the leg I once had.  (I tried to go off the Gabapentin last week & lasted three-days.  By Monday, the misery was intense.  My lower leg still feels like a burning club.)  

Speedy, fit & ready~

I have to constantly remind myself the expected recovery is a year.  Next week, will be six-months.  Some say, the ROM you have at six-months is what you will have.  I hope not - but as hard as I've worked, I don't think I've gone beyond 120°.  My PT schedule is now complete.

The melt is on!

I took a bucket out to pick up all the rock from the Cabin driveway, scattered from the plow.  I ended up with the rake & shovel & broke a sweat!  The streets are a mess with all the sand, dirt & ice melt.  I used the blower to clean the drive-way & walks.  We still have ice along the curbs in front.

I'm going to try to talk Butch into taking the bikes up to Lake Manawa this weekend.  It's pretty easy going & it would be so fun to ride again!

First Snow ~

 Yesterday started out cloudy.  But by mid-afternoon the rain came; a nice, slow, soaking rain.  Temperatures dropped, the wind picked up & last night - the snow started.

The Cabin~

Butch had to drive the wrestlers to Sioux City, two hours north. Since they left early, he didn't have time to clear the walks. I walked out front to find ice from the rain beneath the snow, just about impossible to shovel.

Sun dropping behind the hill~

Later this afternoon, things started to drip a little.  I managed to get my foot into my boot, put on gloves & decided to do what I could do.  With only maybe 2-3", it had gotten wet enough to be heavy.  I did our walkway (Butch had taken down the ramp last weekend!).  

100% weight bearing, doesn't mean my knee is working yet.  But the repair is healed & I can load the leg.  It's tight, painful & I constantly try to stretch it out.  My 90+ degree angle had not changed since last week.  I now have PT twice a week & try to meet Doris at the Y twice a week too.  I'm going to keep on keeping on - until I can get full rotation on my stationary bike & walk without a limp!  

Edge of the woods~

I started down the sidewalk & worked my way over to & past the Cabin.  Butch has the materials now to do the ceiling.  Possibly a project for the first of the year.  I have the little tree up & we go out at least a couple evenings a week.

Cabin cheer~

It was cold enough my hands were getting numb.  I'll be getting out my insulated gloves next time.  It feels so good to get any kind of outdoor exercise.

Cabin porch~

Crunching through the snow, this is the first year I've had clear views of the woods, with snow.  Last season there were still piles of cut honeysuckle.  We didn't have any snow until January.

Sunset~

With the sun so far to the south, I love watching as it moves lower over the ridge.  Of course the temperature drops with it - so I gimped my way rapidly back to the warmth of the house!