239 Ears

Well hello family.

We had a pretty eventful day not too long ago, so I thought I would share it via photos and a little explanation.

On the second of August Mom decided that it would be pretty nice to have some sweet corn for eating right now and in the future. So, she and I headed out at 3pm to a friends farm to get the corn. We decided that we would pick 12 bags worth of corn, one for each month of the year. We had no idea how much corn that actually was. What started out as an enjoyable afternoon turned into a corn freezing marathon. And when I say it was a marathon it means that it was exhausting and lasted forever. One which was so exhausting Dad simply lay down on the living room floor at the end and took a nap. It was a lot of work, but we were finally done at 10:30 pm.

So, does anyone want any frozen corn?

What a full summer we've had, and now the day of the dead approaches, and the frost is on the pumpkins and the flowers are dying.



I went on a crop walk around Lake Cornelia today with Jon and Karl in the group, but I talked mostly with others. We rushed back from a game in Iowa City (against Michigan - it was very close) - we did stay the night in Andrea's home, but we left right after church without talking to sleeping Liz or doing any shopping in order to be in time for the walk.

Ahh the lake was like glass and it was a nice day to be out. Tonight I helped Karl memorize lines for the Musical he's in - I'll let him tell about that.

So, our summer started out with a bang of buying a house. Andrea and her friends from college needed a place to stay and a couple weekends were spent searching earlier in the year and it was decided that no apartments fit the bill and this house at 1505 West Benton in Iowa city would be the best solution. Connie and Trale have had a chance to visit. And since our Library has finished its construction we've been able to get some furniture from there for their use.

I got to go along with the Spanish trip to Costa Rica in June. It was action packed. Swimming at a state park beach was interesting. it was the summer solstice and the tide came up especially high- driving us off the beach. Add to that the hermit crabs, monkey, Raccoon and large lizard that were curious about us. I do NOT have fond memories of monkeys.

This one didn't jump and growl at me like the one in an Australian zoo did, tho. There were lots of Sloth there to gaze at, too. Zip line, and white water rafting were fun there. And Mt. Arenal has taken over the perfect cone award from Mt Mayon. .We stayed overnight at a resort that gave a view of it in the morning without any clouds.


In July, Jon and I and Karl went to the Lutheran National Youth Conference in New Orleans. It was called "Jesus, Justice, Jazz". There were 36,000 youth that were there. They divided us into 3 - the conference lasted 3 days - so 12,000 did service on each day. The other 2 days were divided between learning sessions and experiential - hands on interactive time.
I'm so glad to get first hand connection with the Katrina issue, because hearing the news is not the same as being there. We stayed in an old "French Market Inn" . Each hotel had a leader that helped us feel welcome and led us in worship in the mornings. In the evening the was a "final 15" devotion time of reading scripture, sharing and prayer that our own groups did. We were supposed to stop wherever we were at 10:45 p.m. and have these devotions. Some did that. it was a good witness to us, but we just made the effort to meet together in the boys' room even tho we were all tired.


In August, Jon had a meeting and invited me along to visit New York City. That was fun to stay by Central park (as Michael had suggested at the House of the Redeemer retreat center) we got bus passes and hopped on and off easily to get to see ground zero, ride the staten island fairy, see the art museum, and the sex museum. There is so much more we both want to do. We loved seeing the puppetry of the Lion King live on Broadway. we checked out Grand Central station and all the libraries i could find.


I enjoyed working at the farm with 2 graduates of Grinnell College - A german and anthropology major. And a third graduate of a Missouri College. We eat together, and they took turns cooking. One had gluten allergy and another had allergy to beans so we learned ways to meet both needs, and survive without wheat or beans.

thanks

1. I'm thankful for a loving and forgiving God.
2. communicationability with family (travel to St. Louis, talking with Connie, Alice visit, this blog to name a few)
3. a warm home despite cold, windy weather with a fun, and a lively kitty (I guess his name's Kalvin now) to greet me at the door and climb in my lap when I sit
4. health to run/walk, play ping pong and hula hoop!
5. pumpkins to cook up into pie, bread and custard!!

Speaking of exercise, I read "A Walk in the Woods" by Bryson, about his attempt to walk the Appalachian trail. That's about as close as I got to exercising.

Not really. I went to healthquest a week before election, and walked all over clarion and Eagle Grove, running up to houses. Sometimes talking, but usually just leaving literature. Our county is very republican, but initial counts showed that Obama only trailed McCain by 100 votes. I'm hopeful for our nation with his Leadership. I'm listening to "the Audacity of Hope" that I downloaded from Our Library website onto an mp3 (as I do dishes and drive).

I'll work gathering veggies tomorrow, from a hoop house, despite (predicted) snow outside.

I better get in shape for the Living History Farms event the weekend before Thanksgiving. it's 7 miles. It goes down through a creek as an option. Our whole family is going to Des Moines for this.

I would like to do a little bit of the Appalachian trail sometime... This is an urge I got a long time ago. Highschool? any body game to come along? The trouble is, we'd have to get equipment. The "Walk in the Woods" book was funny, and somewhat educational about the history of the trail, National park system, smoldering coal that ruined towns, hotels built in the middle of nowhere as vacation destinations (great gatsby time?), soon to be abandoned. The funny part was his perspective on the friend who went with him.

Becky

family visit

It was great to have Connie come and visit on her way back from San Diego. We watched the Obama speech during the Democratic convention at Nancy's home, and swam in the lake.

I made Karl's vest from a green top, and those purple pants so he could be a joker twin during homecoming week.

For our Rally Sunday we had a hayrack ride at Riverside Campgrounds, where the sunday school offerings will go.





We had a nice trip to Nebraska this last weekend of Sept.- Jon's nephew, Chris (Jon's sis: Jan & Jim's son who lives in Rhode Island) told everyone he and his wife (Jen) planned to be camping at Mahoney state park (between Omaha and Lincoln) and he'd welcome seeing anyone that could also make it there.

It happened that Karl & Martin's Friday game took us 90 miles west, so we decided to keep going west and south and get together with them for Saturday. Andrea and Liz came along. I enjoyed getting to know Jen's family as we paddle boated, and painted ceramics, and ran up and down a grassy way to a beautiful view of the platte river. miniature golf, and throwing a football around. enjoying the changing fall colors. Martin and Karl got a tour of Offit AFB and went to an air and space museum with Jim. They lost the game by a couple touchdowns. this was Martin's first time to kick for varsity. He kicks on Monday nights in the JV games and has been just standing on the sidelines watching on Fridays. Jon's sister, Alice, was there, too.

This park had cabins, that were pricey, but an option for camping, too that was only $18 per night for a tent.

I'll be memorizing lines for a funny play again... "Christmas Belles" 1st 2 weekends in Dec.

We've decided to do some water proofing to our basement, so that will take some moving of stuff to put in 2 sump pumps - one in andrea's closet, and one in jon and mine. In Oct. After I'm done working 2 days a week at the farm, I hope. We're lucky the cold air missed us in sept. I'll miss working with Jan and Tim and their crew.

Construction has started on our Library expansion. Our new temporary location is working out OK. check it out a www.clarion.lib.ia.us ... scroll down for the latest picture and also see some on the blog within that site.

I love you all, and like reading your posts.
Love,
Becky

Mama Mia

We (who can see movies for $3/person) saw "Mama Mia" and laughed at the far out antics of the leads and supporting cast. Having seen the play a few years ago, and listened to the music often, imposing it on the rest of the family as we travel, it was hard for me to stay in my seat and not get up and dance on the stage. I went with Nancy, a librarian and Chorallair member, who couldn't get her husband or her mother to go with her.

We keep the Olympics on every night, and cheered for Shawn Johnson from Des Moines.

wheat and zucchini bread, tabouleh, sweet corn and chocolate chip muffins are filling my thoughts and my tummy! ahh the fresh foods of summer!