Drone Video

 Monday's derecho damages one third of Iowa cropland: (KWWL) - We've seen first hand the extensive damage inflicted on homes, power lines and businesses at the hands of Monday's powerful derecho. However, perhaps one of the biggest hits from those strong, straight-line winds has been Iowa's farmland.

Derecho

On Monday, a "derecho" blew across Iowa, with winds of over 100 miles per hour...we had almost no notice...everybody was going about their business...I was at the YMCA, in the pool with it started...25

I went to the Post Office, and 10 minutes later...a  20' tree fell right behind my car...it missed me by inches...

This straight-wind derecho did devastating damage...leaving half the State of Iowa with no power.  Semi trucks were blown over on their sides...millions of trees were damaged.  This unprecedented storm formed a line 750 miles long, with winds that would have made it a Cat 3 hurricane...every neighborhood in every town in all 99 counties was affected...

And I'm pretty sure you didn't hear a thing about it... 

We were without electricity for five days...cell service is still spotty...this is the first time I've been able to turn on my computer...(it's Friday night).

There won't be much blogging next week...


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Backyard Ninja Squirrel Games

It's not like I always plan ENTERTAINMENT when I'm having company. But, often, there's a "Sew and Tell"...and sometimes, there will be GAMES...an earlier MDF porch lunch -- I gave a Frankensewing style show (hey -- I'VE HAD LOTS OF TIME TO SEW, PEOPLE..!!).

Of course, I've also been giving tours of my pandemic home improvements...the artsy new bathroom floor, the MUCH IMPROVED basement, with our new "hang-out" space...

At last week's lunch -- Sue was talking about how she enjoyed watching the squirrels in her yard even more than the BIRDS...

So, I ramped up this Mark Rober YouTube video....

Well -- HELLO....YOU'VE JUST GOTTA SEE THIS...

Tablecloths and Napkins

Early on, when this whole scary pandemic hit the fan -- I made the decision to spend MORE time with Lilly and Warren..not less. MORE. Make that A LOT MORE...

After our MDF ringleader, Sandy, came home from Florida in the spring (she and her husband both had Covid in March)...she stepped up the MDF luncheon schedule. We went from monthly get togethers to weekly lunches...As it happens -- I was DELIGHTED for some adult company.

Altho we did enjoy that one fancy Rastrelli's lunch (which Lilly got all dressed up for) -- most of the time, they are more comfortable going to each other's homes. Which makes sense....

I have been going to restaurants (mostly with the kids) for months. But these ladies would rather avoid a busy eatery -- where 1000 strangers have been touching things and breathing the air...Hey -- I get that.

And it has given us all a perfect, unexpected excuse to GET OUT THE GOOD CHINA..!!

Last week, it was Sue's turn to hostess...and she admitted it was the first time she's ironed a tablecloth in about 20 years!!

After lunch, we sat out on her patio and watched the squirrels in her yard...

We also met Sue's new neighbors -- a young couple with a 6 month old baby..

August 4, 2020 Dekalb Roadtrip

Another road trip?   I feel like a broken record. But, I mean -- I DO HAVE A NEW CAR...and not many other commitments...

Many times, the road trips are all about Grandma Camp...

But, on this day -- it's something REALLY SPECIAL. I'm spending the day with two of my favorite people in the world...ADULTS....WOMEN FRIENDS I've had for decades...

My cousin Jackie and I grew up together...she was the maid of honor at my wedding...and she's in Iowa, hunkered down with her 90-year old mother during the never-ending pandemic.

We are driving about 2 hours into Illinois to meet up with my old college roommate, Becky -- who has cancelled our summer meet-up at least 3 times.  But -- TODAY IS THE DAY...

We chose Dekalb, Illinois as our meeting spot...

The beautiful Egyptian Theater is closed...but the town is in Phase 4 (don't ask me what that means -- but masks are mandatory)

Dekalb is home to the University of Northern Iowa.  Like so many college towns in this country, it is prosperous, well-maintained, full of beautiful parks and grounds.  And -- they have lots of MURALS in their downtown!!

The architecture is sooo interesting.  I love the concept of apartment living above the retail spaces.

This store was called "Lovers".  We were afraid to go in...(or, disinterested?)

I AM COMPLETELY SHOCKED by how similar Becky and Jackie look.  They could be sisters!. When I was reviewing the pictures -- I kept getting them confused!!

I mean -- WOW -- what a spectacular day we had. We arrived in Dekalb at 10:00 -- and met at the Goodwill store. (in case either party arrives early -- there's interesting browsing!)

Then -- we went to one of Dekalb's beautiful PARKS -- and sat at a picnic table under a shady tree.  It was a stunning, beautiful summer day.  And I had that feeling I love -- you know the one -- "there is no place I'd rather be, and nobody I'd rather be with"...

And we just visited.  That's it.  We talked about each other's lives...our good old days -- and then our current worries and concerns...the day-to-day stuff that women do so well....in that genuine way that only happens with forever friends....  (we kept the virus conversation to a bare minimum)

Of course, there was a delicious lunch...at a wonderful little THAI restaurant.  Pad Thai...yummo...

Muscatine, Phase 2

Lilly was proud of her button-on-card-sewing ability...

I'm afraid I didn't get any good pictures of the Mississippi River when we were in Muscatine. And, certainly -- I SHOULD HAVE.

The Mississippi is the river we live near...it's the reason there ever WAS a Button trade...and Muscatine has done a great job of beautifying their riverfront.

From the second level of the Button Museum -- which is just a block away from the river -- I happened to take this picture.

There is a beautiful renovated old hotel -- with rooms overlooking the river. And, apparently, quite a spectacular rooftop garden.  THAT's where we'll eat our diner today...before we leave Muscatine...

But, first -- we'll do a little shopping. Like many small towns, the downtown has struggled. There is a GREAT little quilt shop (Neal's Sewing Center). 

Also, there is a good selection of tatoo parlors in downtown Muscatine...which, frankly, is always a little jarring for me.  But I've gotta chalk it up to a generational thing...

Luckily -- there was a brand new shop (which opened in June 2020), featuring vintage clothes, right across the street from the Button Museum. 

Lilly tried on about 15 different dresses...

Warren and I sat in vintage crushed velvet chairs, ready to critique her outfits.

This activity was surprisingly entertaining for BOTH of them. Lilly loves, loves, loves vintage clothes...and Warren has quite an eye for fashion. At the end of a half hour, I was calling him "Tim Gunn".  He not only got the reference -- he seemed flattered...

I spent $28 for a sweater-dress I'm pretty sure Lilly will NEVER wear.  But I had to pay homage to the young store owner's optimism....

There's a huge statue, right on the river...with some clamming device (I think)...

TIME FOR OUR PARK VISIT.  Every city or town has a park.  And in Muscatine, we picked their "Discovery Park"

I find a shady spot to sit...and I always bring along a good book...

It's a beautiful park

And the kids loved their equipment

There were lots of plastic animals to find (here, a racoon)

Rock walls to climb, soft ground to jump or fall down on..

GOOD JOB, Muscatine..!!

Muscatine -- Here We Come!!

I asked Lilly and Warren to pose for a picture at our Weed Lake gazebo...they were in good spirits -- we just enjoyed a Kwik-Star breakfast...and it was a stunningly beautiful day.

We were OFF -- to the unknown city of Muscatine, Iowa. (about a 60 minute drive).

Our first stop (and the only thing I had planned for SURE) -- was going to be the National Pearl Button Museum at the History and Industry Center in downtown Muscatine.

From their website:

 The Gold Rush of the Midwest It wasn’t gold, it wasn’t silver, it was mother of pearl. Shells taken from rivers of 19 states around Iowa were shipped to Muscatine by railcar bargeloads to make 1.5 billion buttons annually.

Museums haven't been our first choice this summer.  For one thing -- THEY ARE MOSTLY CLOSED...

But this one was a very pleasant surprise...and sooo well done!!

Lilly and Warren both read about the history of making pearl buttons from clam shells.

There were several stations where the kids were encouraged to do hands-on things...

Like -- this paddle is actually a button-counter!!  Imagine how long it would take to count out exactly 144 buttons of this small size...

There was an interesting 6 minute movie, and many wonderful photographs that showed how this "industry" worked.  For decades...

The fisherman brought in the clams, and, in large outdoor camps, the women and children steamed them open...then, in alley's and homes -- the men cut out the button blanks...

Everybody in the family would be involved...and sewing the buttons onto the cards was done at home, often by older women or young children.

I'm afraid Warren wouldn't have made much money for the family...