Bit of Sturgis Falls

Thanks to Ashley and Travis I was able to spend a little time at Sturgis Falls this morning for the church in the park. It was very different than last year when Lincoln sat in his stroller or stayed on the blanket with us. So much has changed this year. It's been an amazing and busy wedding weekend with lots more photos to come. It was so much fun, but I don't have many photos yet...they will come later.

CRV

This afternoon I got out a bucket of soapy water and cleaned the crud off my vehicle. I thought I would wash my car more after I moved, but that's not the case. I just don't think of it often. It's important that my vehicle get me from place to place and offer me the freedom that I need. I don't love my vehicle or spend lots of time thinking about it, but I get very upset when I have problems. Over a year ago I turned over my old CRV for one that is a 2008, which is a bit newer than my 1997. My first CRV served me well for eleven years and I still miss the extra style, especially when I am searching for my car in a parking lot. The shape, the green and the spare tire made my car easy to spot, but the white cross over is not so easy to find

 After 230,746 miles it was time to say good-bye. I really wasn't having problems but I found myself less trusting of my vehicle when leaving town so when someone I knew was looking to sell hers, I made the move. I still feel a little nostalgic when I see a green '97 CRV on the road.

Baseball with Lincoln

 I have loved introducing Lincoln to different sporting events but I was especially excited about baseball. Most of the games take place after Lincoln's bedtime but today was a rare 3 pm start, perfectly timed after nap and before bedtime. Travis and Ashley were good sports and met me at the ball park for a hot afternoon of baseball.

Lincoln was very interested in what was happening and paid close attention when I pointed out the pitcher, the batter and the throwing and running. He was so impressed he asked for "more" when the pitcher was taking too much time between pitches. 

 Lincoln's favorite part of the afternoon was most likely "Buck" the mascot for the Waterloo Buck's baseball team. He was cautious but willing to follow Buck and even give him "five."

 

 I am always excited about hot dogs at the ball park and this was Lincoln's chance for his first baseball game hot dog! It was the perfect dog, a little squished and wrapped with the bun in foil for hours before purchase just like it should be at a ball game.

 

 

Buck even came up to play peek-a-boo with Lincoln. It was so much fun. We lasted through six innings then it was time to go home. As we left Lincoln was saying "Buck" and "please." He might have been tired of sitting in the bleachers but he wasn't ready to say goodbye to Buck. I hope this is the first of many baseball games with my grandson. It was great fun!

Back on the Trails

 Yesterday I set out for my first real bike ride since I left Des Moines. I was feeling a little rusty but I wore my helmet and proceeded with caution. My home is not conveniently located to the trails but thanks to Briana and Jay I was able to start out from their house. It felt so good to be back on the trails in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. The trails are one of my favorite things about the Cedar Valley. I was last on them in 2005 but it felt so familiar.

 I took an extra loop across the bridge and over to East Lake. Although I did have to tackle some mud and sand from recent flooding it was wonderful to see the lake from the trails again.

 I was greeted by a couple of deer and a gorgeous cardinal on my ride. There was still water over the trails in one area but I didn't mind getting my feet wet. I suspect the water will go down very soon.

I found a couple of good routes to the trails and loved going through Hartman Reserve and George Wyth State Park. I was still feeling good so I took the trail along the river and came back through downtown Cedar Falls. Biking is the best way to be outside in the summer heat with the built in breeze. I hope to do this much more this summer.

Just a Couple More

I couldn't resist posting a couple of more shots from our water play on Monday. I do love playing in the water as much as I enjoy digging in the dirt. It's a blessing for me that Lincoln enjoys getting messy too!

Moving Friday

It was moving day for Jay and Briana last Friday which means lots of work and excitement. Linda and I made our usual offer of setting up the kitchen. We worked on that project while Jay and Briana drove the 18 blocks between the old house and the new one moving most of their possessions. In the last eighteen months my box collection has gotten quite a workout. I moved, then Ashley, Travis and Lincoln moved and now Jay and Briana are getting settled in to their new home. So much change in so little time. Now I am just hauling empty boxes back home but I don't think we will need many for quite a while.

Backyard Pool

 We had more water fun on Monday afternoon! Have I mentioned that I love having Mondays off work? I suggested taking Lincoln to Mark's Park to play in the water but it was very crowded on a warm afternoon and we headed home to my private pool instead which was perfect.

 This was the first time that I brought the hose out to play and it was a big hit. He learned quickly how to cover part of the opening to spray water, how to shake the hose to watch the water move and how to get a drink. I posted lots of photos, but I just love his expressions!

 

Water Buckets

 Oh what fun to play with a big bucket filled with rain water! Add a couple more buckets and a watering can and we can have fun for a very long time. It's a wet project but worth the soggy mess. Lincoln's actually getting pretty good at watering some of the flowers too.

What a Week

 It's been an incredibly busy week with little sleep and lots of stress. . . all of my own making. It feels like a busy blur but many good things happened. My friend, Linda and I have talked about volunteering at VBS together and decided to do it this year. It brought back memories of us working together in children's ministry when our kids were little and it was fun to see her daughter Kimbo in action as a children's ministry director all week. We had a group of second graders that were sometimes cooperative and other times quite challenging. The hardest part was getting home at 9 pm then being too awake to fall asleep anywhere near my normal bedtime. It was a good but tiring experience!

 Tree shopping is something that I love to do so I agreed to help Ashley and Lincoln pick out two new trees. Of course it was a hot and horribly humid afternoon before a storm system hit. There were great mud puddles for Lincoln and Ashley found two great trees with lots of potential for shading a deck. It was incredibly hot but still fun. The bonus was spending the tornado warning at their house and having dinner together before VBS.

Thursday between work and VBS I got my hair cut and went with Briana for the final fitting for her wedding dress. It's just as beautiful as the day she picked it out and now it fits great too. I learned how to lace and bustle. It was a huge reminder that the wedding is just a couple of weeks away. We also spent a couple of afternoons loading all of their kitchen boxes into cars all ready for moving day which happens the day after VBS.

It has been a busy blur but there have been lots of good things too. Monday seems like a very long time ago when Lincoln and I walked to "Grammy's Park" and waded through the wet grass to get to the swings. This year he is much more interested in climbing all the structures and tackling the big slides but it was fun and I got some exercise. Looking forward to the weekend more than I can express and thinking a huge TGIF this week!

 

 

 

After the Woods Flooded

Walking the woods this week was a very different experience than it was several weeks ago. We had lots of rain and the greenbelt area was quite flooded and closed two weeks ago. Now it's open and full of mosquitoes and mud.  

 When we saw the trees down we wondered if we could go far but once we got past the trees the path got quite muddy and we turned around. If we walked briskly the mosquitoes wouldn't land but I wouldn't recommend lingering in the woods this week.

The photo below was this same section of the trail 3-4 weeks ago. The one above is the muddy trail we found yesterday. The trees have leafed out and I suspect that the wildflowers that are further into the woods were probably affected by the floods. It has changed very much.

These last photos are from before the flooding. The woods are such a beautiful place in the spring. I will go back when the mud dries some but I fear that the mosquitoes may drive me back out of the woods for much of the summer.

 

May bluebell season in the woods.

 

"Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold."

Those words are from a song that I sang in Brownies back in the sixties and I have always believed in the verses, even more now as I get to enjoy the friendships that span the decades! Kate traveled from California and sent out an invitation to the Class of 1977 for an informal gathering. A few of us met for a drink, then more for dinner, then a larger group for after dinner. Kelly, Louise and Kate are some of my very favorite people from my teen years and its so wonderful to see them all face to face.

Ant Hills

Last week when Mowgli had an appointment at the vet's office I offered to take Lincoln to a nearby park. We had fun with the trees and rocks but discovering ants was the highlight of our trip. If finding and following tiny ants is a good vision test then Lincoln passed with flying colors. We also found some medium sized ants and their hills on the other side of the park. I loved watching his interest and awe as he watched the little bugs scurry. I am happy to report that almost all of the ants survived our visit.

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice cream does not survive very long at my house. When it comes to the frozen treat I have no self control. People told me I would get tired of ice cream when I worked at an ice cream shop for three years back in high school but they were wrong. I still love ice cream anytime of the day or night. After making the rhubarb pie I decided that I would make some fresh chocolate chip cookies and utilize the ice cream that was still in the house. I love making these ice cream sandwiches but after all the work, I do tend to save them for when I have guests. Therefore the ice cream survives longer and I pace myself much better. Maybe I should treat myself to one later tonight. They are so yummy.

Greenbelt Lake

 A couple of weeks ago I invited Lincoln and Ashley to go for a short hike at Greenbelt Lake. As usual Lincoln loved hiking quickly along the trail and stopping from time to time for sticks. He spotted a short steep trail down to the lake and was very interested. We took him down and even offered him a longer stick for tapping the water.

 Tapping was not enough. He wanted to wade, stomp and just head straight into the water. If you notice, I am holding his hand but he is not holding mine. He really wanted to walk further and didn't mind getting his sandals or shorts wet.

When I finally drew him back to the shore he was not pleased. He would have been happy to play for a long time in the lake. I had no idea about drop offs and depth so we didn't go far. We might need to hike some place without a lake for now. He is quite adventuresome. . . like his daddy!

Marriage License Time

Less than a month till the wedding day; less than four weeks! Jay and Briana have been engaged for a year and Friday we started the weekend by heading to the court house so that they could apply for their marriage license. I served as the witness and pulled my camera out to record the event. It was especially fun to verify that they are NOT first cousins. It's exciting and hard to believe that less than a month from now I will have a daughter-in-law and the wedding will be over! These weeks will go quickly but I have my dress and my brooch so I am ready to roll.