Benny's First Successful Hunt

Fall in Iowa means pheasant hunting and although it has been a slow year, yesterday was a winner!! Bill and Benny, our griffon, hunted our 20 acres of timber and brought home two nice pheasants! Benny (also nicknamed Scruffy by the grandkids) is only 6 months old and is already getting into the hunting routine. Benny was so excited about going hunting again this morning, he could hardly sleep last night.

Voila!!

Here you see the "addiction" pieces in action. The set of dishes pictures here are NOT the same dishes!! Yeah, fooled ya, didn't I? One set is my grandmother's Haviland china, and the other is another set that are fakes - also purchased at an auction. Give up? The Haviland is on the top!! Guests for the holidays will be eating off the fakes, but they are just as pretty as the real thing and the goldware works fine for either set. (Yes, mother, I will iron the tablecloth before the guests arrive!!)

The auction was so much fun because several of my teacher friends were also there and we helped spend each other's money!! In fact, the Christmas party may be at my house using ALL utensils, dishes, etc. from garage sales or auctions!! And I will ask my guests to do the same. Sound like fun? We have to do something during this economic downturn to save, reuse and recyle.....but I do it just for fun!!! When and where is the next auction??

Feeding My Addiction

After feeding my face on Thanksgiving at Mom's, it was off to feed another addiction the day after. Yes, I am addicted to.....not shopping.......auctions!!! Yes, it is true!! Experts say the best way to control an addiction is to first admit you have one!! My hand is raised - I admit it!!
This auction was for a lady from Clarence whose husband ran the men's clothing store - which, by the way, is where my father purchased most of his clothing. She is now in the assisted living wing of the local nursing home and she had some beautiful antiques!! I didn't purchase any antiques, but I did find this outstanding set of GOLD silverware still in the original package! GOLD, you say??? I have my grandmother's Haviland china which is white with a gold ring and these silverware (or is it goldware) pieces are going to look lovely with the dishes. Wait and see!!

Handsome Brothers!

After I downloaded all the wedding pictures, I just had to add this one of my handsome husband (right) and his handsome brother (left) and our wonderful new sister-in-law (middle - but you probably figured that out)!!

Wedding Bells

Bill's brother, Dale, and Amy were married yesterday, November 21st in their beautiful backyard. What a joyous occasion! Shown here with their youngest childen, Amy's son, Christopher and Dale's daughter, Ashley. Congratulations - we had a great time at your wedding!

A Weekend in Northeast Iowa

Bill and I took off on Friday night for northeast Iowa, one of the most beautiful areas in the state. Bill wanted to check out the McGregor Gun Show. We left about 5 on Friday night, stopped at a little restaurant in Hale for the fish supper and on to Dyersville where we stayed the night at a really nice Comfort Inn. The next morning we traveled through the haze to McGregor, a great river town that takes you back in time. After a brief stop at Cabela's in Prairie du Chien, it was off to the next event. (By the way, Bill bought two really nice antique shooters at the gun show!)

Harvest Time Winds Down in Iowa

As you can see, I have updated the header photo, which is the view that now replaces the previous picture. We raised all corn this year and it averaged a little over 200 bushel per acre - a record crop!! And we aren't the only ones. Many farmers across Iowa are feeding the world with a record corn crop! So when you go to the grocery store - think about all the work that goes into raising just one acre of corn and you may appreciate your supper a little bit more!
Happy Fall, everyone!! God Bless the American Farmer!!

Children of the Corn

Niece Jamie and nephew Jason pose for the famous movie namesake "Children of the Corn". However, they are not near as scary as the real thing!!

A Woman's Work is Never Done!

Sister-in-law Karen drives the "catch" wagon and works just as hard as the men. If you ask her - she will tell you that she is not a farm wife - she is a FARMER!! Besides that, she owns more land than most men in the county!! You go, Karen!!!

Two heads are better than one!?!?

Husband Bill and brother Jim in the same combine?? Bet that was a lively conversation!?!?

Combining Done on the Home Place - November 14, 2009

Harvest is moving along and yesterday we finished combining our remaining 80 acres. Our crop is in for the year, but Jim still has about 300 acres left and should easily get done if the weather holds out. We have had 2 weeks of beautiful harvest weather. Mr. Weatherman - give us just another few days!!

Birthday Girl!!

Anyone recognize this picture? Yep, yours truly at the tender age of 7!! Oh, sooo many years ago!! I can't believe that I am 60 years old today- gosh, I don't feel that old.

The 2nd graders asked me how old I was today and I suggested that they make a guess. Of course, anyone over 16 is old to them, so they said 32. Gotta love those 2nd graders!!

All-in-all turning 60 wasn't as bad as I had imagined and after a delicious steak dinner cooked by my dear Bill, I am going to head for the hammered dulcimer and relax!!

Here's to another 10 years!!

Ready for Take-Off

This looks like a new space ship from NASA ready for take-off, but it is really from an Iowa farm. This last summer my brother installed an extensive drying system and what you see here is steam coming from the drying system. The corn from the field is loaded into the large bin and is moved by conveyer into the space capsule shaped bin. On this cold, crisp, fall morning the steam was rolling off the dryer. The corn is dried to a certain percent of moisture so it will keep over the winter. After it is dried in the "space ship", it is moved into storage bins like you see on the right.
The weather has been very nice this week, so the farmers are going crazy combining.
I love this time of year in Iowa!!