Hammering the hammered dulcimer

Yeah...that's me on the right. We meet every Monday night for a jam session and last week we had 20 of us jammin' out the tunes!
I love it! Just wish I was better - sigh

I'm Back!!

It's been a long time baby, but I'm back. No excuses, just got lazy.

I have a good reason to be back - a new granddaughter arrived on September 29th, Siena Elizabeth Peddicord.

Remember me? I used to have a blog here!!

The summer has really been busy! Our two little grandchildren had birthdays, Bill and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary, cousin Dian from Las Vegas and her family stopped by for a visit and this week was the local county fair.

Bill and I have the best job at the fair - the wine division!!!

I collect the wine, Bill judges it and everyone drinks it!! Sound like fun? It is!!

Birthday Boys

How fast the little ones grow up!! Jacob had his 4th birthday the end of May and Ryan will turn 2 the middle of June!! Where does the time go?

I copied this picture from my daughter-in-law's blog. Jacob and Ryan love riding their Gator - a great birthday present for two little boys who love the outdoors.

My husband - the KING!!

Bill belongs to a gun club that was formed by the German immigrants in 1852. This group of hardworking, gun enthusiaists were first located in the west end of Davenport, later moving to the north end of Davenport and now to the new location near Princeton, Iowa.

This weekend the club sponsored a Schuetzen (shooting) match for visitors from the Midwest. One of the contests is called the "King Match" in which shooters get one shot to try and hit the center of the target. Whoever is the closest, becomes the King!! Bill won!!! Now he ist der konig (king)!! (Thank goodness I don't have to bow down to him, yet....)

I forgot my camera - so I'm including a picture of the new clubhouse - pretty swanky for a bunch of Germans!!

Fans of American Pickers - Eat Your Hearts Out

Yesterday, Bill and I attended the American Pickers Festival in LeClaire, Iowa. This lovely, little river town may seem like just another spot on the map, but to those of us that watch the History Channel Show, American Pickers, this is heaven!!

Friend, Pam and I, had our pictures taken with Mike Wolfe, the main guy on the show. We didn't get our picture taken with Frank because the line was just too long.

These guys comb the US looking for people who might have some valuable "junk". It is amazing what people collect that actually has some value.

Watch it on Monday night at 7 PM on the History Channel.

Jammin'

I have been busy practicing the hammered dulcimer, which has been a challenge, to say the least!!
One of the most enjoyable ways to practice is joining a jam session. We meet every Monday night at the local Pizza Ranch. Last night there were 10 of us consisiting of dulcimer, harmonica, guitar, and fiddle players. We enjoy playing old time fiddle tunes, Irish jigs and a few waltzes thrown in.
Seated next to me is Chris Foss from Songbird Dulcimers, our fearless leader. He plays a mean hammered dulcimer and has been a great inspiration to me.
Our jam session usually draws a big crowd and we have lots of fun playing for young and old alike. Now.... if I could just play a little faster!?!?!

Corn Salsa, Anyone!!

I made a large batch of this wonderful salsa after acquiring the recipe from a fellow teacher. Here is the recipe:

1 C. white vinegar

1/2 C. oil

1 C. sugar

Pepper to taste

Bring the above ingredients to a rolling boil, then set aside to cool.

Mix: 1 can white corn or shoe peg, drained

1 can yellow corn, drained

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 red, yellow, and green pepper, chopped fine

6 small jalapeno peppers, chopped fine

3 stalks of celery, chopped fine

1/2 large red onion, chopped fine

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour cooled mixture over all and let set overnight in the refrigerator. Serve with Tostito Scoops.

Caution: This salsa can be addictive!! Enjoy!!

On the Mend

Mom is back home recovering at the Wheatland Nursing Home. Patrick and Erika stopped by last Saturday for a visit, which cheered Mom up immensely. She is walking more every day and is in good spirits. We are hoping she will be able to be in her own home soon!!

News From Africa - the kind you never want!

As you may have read earlier in the blog, Mom left Saturday, Feb. 6th for South Africa. She was going to be in Africa for 4 weeks going on Safari, seeing Victoria Falls and soaking up the sun. The Tuesday after she left, I received word from the tour company she was with, that she had been involved in a tour bus accident and was in intensive care at the Johannesburg hospital. The early details were sketchy, but we later learned that she had suffered severe back injuries. Two days later she had surgery for a ruptured disc and fractured vertebrate. As of today Feb.13, she is on the mend and resting comfortably. My brother and I knew she needed company and I was selected to go, however, my passport had expired and it would take too long to renew, so tomorrow, Feb. 14, Jim is flying to Johannesburg to be with her and bring her home. Hopefully, they will return in the next week or so. I'll keep you posted!!

My 4th Grade "Girls"

My week was going downhill fast until Friday, when my four 4th grade girls came in with my wonderful Valentine's Day present. I was so busy I completely forgot about Valentine's Day this weekend!! They were so excited. Anna said she couldn't sleep all night thinking about what a great surprise they had for me. Makayla made the placemats, Grace and Tessa made the box and Anna brought me some spiced tea!! Hugs, Hugs and More Hugs!! Just one of the many rewards of teaching.............................

Monumental Mounds of Candy

The girls gathered some of their favorite candy to give to me for Valentine's Day!! They also decorated the shoebox with wonderful craft items, brought along 2 nice placemats and a wonderful card that read "You are the best teacher, ever!" I was speechless. Anyone for a Jolly Rancher? Cherry or Blue Raspberry??

The Other Bright Spot in My Week

After the week that I have had - this wonderful gift from my students could not have been timed better!! It cheered me up so much, I was on the verge of tears!

Baby Icicles

These little darlings greet me each morning and night by my back door. I have been watching them for the last week or so and they seem to be multiplying - maybe I should call them my "rabbit" icicles?!?!

Icicle Gone Crazy

Winter in Iowa has been challenging, but little things like this extra long icicle makes me smile. Notice it is not connected at the top, only by the ground wire it is attached to.

February Birthday Celebration

February is the month for birthdays!! Before Mom left for Africa we celebrated her birthday, Kathy's birthday (my son-in-law's mom), Erika's birthday and Ina's (our good friend). A night of food, family, friends, visiting, laughter, and birthday cake - what a lovely combination!!!

Jim, Karen and Jason at the birthday party for the "girls".

Erika and Pat at the Button Factory!!

My Creative Daughter-In-Law!!

Betsy, my daughter-in-law is such a dear!! She created this beautiful buffet runner just for me!! I love it!! Many, many hours of hard work with a little help from her mother, Mary, and what a lovely addition to my dining room. Thank you, Betsy!! Hugs and Kisses!!

The Lost Has Been Found

When Mark and Betsy and the boys were "moving out" and returning home after Christmas, we were frantically looking for Jacob's monkeys. He had put them in a Christmas tin and then inside Mark's old Thundercats lunchbox. The monkeys were part of Jacob's Barrel of Monkeys game and of course, the game is no fun without the monkeys.

Yesterday I was cleaning and opened the door below the end table in the living room and there it was. The monkey lunchbox.

I also found the Nerf "bullets" from the Nerf gun that Jacob got from Santa. Guess where they were? In the Christmas tree!!! Only time will tell what other goodies will be found. Until next Christmas............

Winter Scene

This morning it was 11 below zero!! BRRR!! Although winter in Iowa is tough, the beauty of ice, snow and clear blue sky cheers the soul!! The last big icicle we had on the garage gutter was longer than this one, but...I bumped my head on it and it splintered into a zillion pieces. I'll keep my head away from this one and see how long it gets before the wind knocks it off. Do you see the little icicles that are forming on the wire to the left?? Amazing!!