It's 11:00 p.m. and I can't sleep...

I'm having one of those evenings when I can't seem to shut off the thought process and go to sleep so I'm doing the next best thing....1.) I paid my bills (that just may lead to nightmares! and 2) I decided to update my much neglected blog.

Life around here has been in a bit of turmoil. Since returning from Des Moines last weekend from our great camping trip...things have deteriorated. Dorothy Voparil passed away on Saturday, May 27th at 1:30 in the afternoon. The whole situation seems kind of surreal. We all suspected Richard to continue to have health problems and that we would be dealing with his situation in the near future, but Dorothy since receiving the news that she had 3 months to live, took an immediate dive and only made about one month, advanced melanoma is a wicked and quick acting cancer and it proved its power with Dorothy. I took lunch over on Saturday for Kurtis sisters and the hospice volunteer about 11:30 and she passed away two hours later. The good news is that with this cancer which is very painful at least she did not have to suffer long. Kurtis and his sisters made the final arrangements today with Brosh Funeral home in Solon. Her visitation is from 5-8 Tuesday afternoon and a funeral at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
So far Kurtis has coped with the situation quite well, but the next hurdle will be trying to figure out the best course of action for Richard who at this time is determined to stay home. Not a good decision, but I guess you resolve one problem at a time.
For a bright spot..I have been trying to keep busy with my planting despite the horrific hot weather!! Where the heck did spring go?? Last week I needed a sweatshirt when we were camping, now I can't stand being outside for a extended amount of time for the heat! Iowa definately has a mind of its own. I waited till almost dark tonight to get some more things in the ground, but then it was a survival battle with the mosquitos! I can't win!
Hopefully my next blog will be a little more light-hearted....AFter all we are all holding our breath waiting for the arrival of little Ellie also, we definately need a bright happy occasion around here......just hold on a few more days Jess!!
until next time....MOM

There's no place like home.....

We are back home after our wild camping adventure in Des Moines. We had a wonderful time and everything worked great in the new camper.

We had lot of cook-put and good food. The youngs joined us on Thursday night and provided good camp fire wood. I guess we are lucky Larry took on trimming his neighbors trees, their loss is our gain.

Saturday night everyone came out including Uncle Dave and Aunt Linda from Carroll. We had a realy feast including BBQ Pork Chops, Brats and Weiners. Everyone chipped in on food and needless to say, there was no shortage.

Its Sunday evening and I am very ready to head off to bed, will try to post some camping pictures later.

Until next time....MOM

It's MOTHERS day and I'm one lucky Mother......

That really didnt quite sound right did it?? Well, you know what I mean. Today is Mothers day and again its raining, cold and dark outside...seems to be a pattern now, and is very depressing....but no concern..I have a beautiful bouquet of roses and a beautiful card from my little girls...and that is all the cheer I need to get me through. I really am a very lucky mom, I can't imagine life without keeping up on my two girls on a daily basis...I'm always glad to hear from them and anxiously awaiting to hear what news they have. Now, with Jessica about to deliver her own little girl......the pay back time has arrived.......just kidding!!! It will be a blessing beyond compare!
Well, I made it through my conference yesterday..After 6 months in the planning, things came off with a bang!! We had about 40 attendees from all over Iowa...the speakers were great, and even the wildflower walk was ok despite the rain and cold. It's so depressing to watch 30 men and ladies with at least 20 years age beyond mine out walking me with such enthusiam.....oh well, who cares! Maybe when I get that age I'll get a new lease on life too....yeah right!
So now its on to "Camping preparedness!!!". I had planned to spend much of today loading and organizing my camper for the big trip Thursday to Des Moines......but it just doesnt seem as much fun to work in a camper with the furnace running! So, instead its to the laundry and cleaning house instead...bummer!
Until next time......Thank you little girls and Happy Mothers Day!!!

A rose of every color....they are so beautiful and really brighten up my kitchen on these gloomy and cloudy days.......

The proud hunter...yes, he does have the turkey by the neck and he is quite dead. I think he weighed in somewhere around 30lbs.

The "Call of the Wild" has been answered! We won't stave this winter.....

I guess I should show more respect to my "provider" in this sacred farm family unit. My gallant husband went out this evening and shot a huge big Tom turkey that he has been keeping an eye on for the past month....the ole boy finally made a bad judgement mistake and fell to the shot of Kurts shotgun.... I know if I was a pioneer women, I would be so proud that we would be eating so well for days to come, there would be beautiful feathers for home decorating....but all I could do was shout out the kitchen window "Don't you dare get any of that turkey blood on my new patio!!!!!" I had to shout from the window because I didn't want to see the gruesome undertaking Kurtis had already started! I'm sorry, I'm afraid I fail Pioneer lifestyle miserably.
Until next time.....MOM

Thank you Lord for sparing me this time and allowing me one more day on this precious planet earth......

Hmmm...sounds a bit "Born again" huh? Well, I had one of those "wake up moments" on my way home from Iowa City tonight....try not to laugh, but it was actually quite tramatic. So, I decide to stop in at Hy Vee on Dodge street on my way home from having a rather delightful meal with my Kurtis at HuHot. I just needed a couple of common staples at the local grocer...you know, the standards, like milk, butter.....and Blue Bunny Homestyle Ice Cream (get off my back, it's for Kurtis) I come out the door clutching my re-cyclable Hy Vee plastic bags laden with my purchases and notice about 4 cars, a couple of vans and a Iowa City police car in the middle of the parking lot and they are all stareing skyward and pointing. I really don't pay much attention thinking maybe a rare rapture hawk has made a nest in the big "V" of HyVee or something and I load my groceries and head off.
My phone goes off and I answer it...it is Kurtis. He tells me a tornado warning has just been issued for Newton road towards Solon and a funnel cloud is reported headed towards Morse. Oh, I said, maybe that explains the strange gawking at the clouds in the parking lot....after all, I really didnt think the damn rare hawk nested around here anyway. So, I thank him for his concern, and head out.
I cant help but notice there are also police officers pulled over at several spots on Dodge street, and there seems to be a rather large, ugly black cloud over towards the Morse area. So, I keep driving, and it gets darker and darker and darker......as I head into Morse the rains start, then the hail...and finally the winds. Cars are pulling over....but me??? Nope, just keep on trucking. As I begin the turn towards Father Benda's log home and the Voparil residence things start to get really nasty!! It is now raining so hard and blowing I can barely see.....so what do I do..pull over? Nope, may as well head for home......don't mind the fact that you just sighted Bobby Ratliff flying his helicopter over head......obviously searching desperately for that famous "Rotation" that no doubt gives Denny Frary an erection when it is reported!!! I have never seen more dedicated weather newsmen than the channel 9 guys....bless their hearts and that famous "TV9 Triple Doplar Radar with Future Cast!"
The good news is that I did make it home, I took on a few nasty hail stones and some high winds, but made it none the less. Oh, and by the way...what happen to my concerned husband????? I tried calling him back several times on my cell phone....no answer!! Well, I guess he took refuge somewhere around the St. Bridgets church....hunkered down and forget all about me!!!! Says he had no signal....his phone never rang. I could be hanging by my fat ass in some twisted oak tree for all he knew!!! But, it all turned out ok, and I'm glad. The milk is in the refrigerator and the ice cream in the freezer!
So, until next time....MOM

Time for the much awaited blog update.....

I have been so re-miss regarding my blog update duty.....and I'm afraid It may not get much better for awhile...you see I have been a very bad girl!! Its spring, the evenings are so beautiful and I'm just plain buried over my head with planting all the mass quantities of plants I have purchased! As usual.....way carried away!! I did a little quick calculating last night and figure I have approximately 240 holes to dig!!!! Thats more than any damn gopher would tackle!!!
Yesterday was supposed to be a VERY big day in my life....I was supposed to get my new patio and sidewalks poured! Yes, folks, that is a big deal to me! But, no..it threatened rain in the morning so my man said he can't pour cement in the rain.......yes, I understand, but by 10 it was clear as a bell and a nice day. I guess that's the way it goes in Iowa.
I spent most of the day attempting to get some things planted, but Kurtis tells me there is a forecast for possible frost Saturday morning again, so I'll hold back the more tender stuff...as if I would of gotten it all done anyway.
Kurtis and I took some time yesterday and went mushroom hunting...and with great success! We found several large batch's and have gone from mushroom poor to mushroom rich. I also have a slight belly ache today which I contribute to feasting on my first big helping! As with everything else, I over ate on them!
I also managed to go over to Father Benda's and take some pictures for him of his pond, he has some friends he wants to send pictures to and asked me if I would take some.....because I'm such a nice person, of course, I did. His pond really is spectacular! It has so much wildlife living there already, the frogs are deafening and the geese are so cute.
Well, not much more here, kind of tired and ready to head off to bed....I believe Kurtis is already there..I can tell by the sudden quietness downstairs and tell-tale flushing of the toilet......I'm sorry that is probably more than you cared to know.
Until next time.......MOM

My tulips are especially beautiful this year if I dont say so myself...Especially since most of these were the FREE ones we planted in late January of this year.......snicker snicker!

The wildflowers are starting in blooming already, there is quite a variety and it will be interesting to watch it come alive.

This is the pair of canadian geese that have chosen Father Benda's pond to raise their 5 little goslings....they really are adorable!