July Book List

With getting ready for company, hosting said visitors, birthday party, 4th of July, Christmas in July and other activities, the month flew by with less time to read - only seven books this month.

The Cinderella Killer and Singled Out by Simon Brett, an author who has been on my 'to be read' list since reading a couple books from his Mrs. Pargeter's series seven years ago. The first book is from his Charles Paris series, which I really didn't care for. The second is a stand alone which was a little better.

Chosen Prey and Mortal Prey by John Sandford are numbers 12 and 13 (?) in the Lucas Davenport series.

Hidden Prey and Naked Prey by John Sandford are the next two in the Lucas Davenport series. Hidden Prey is the first of the series that I didn't think was as good as usual, but still love the series and Sandford's 'pull you in and keep you there' style of story telling.

Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen was my favorite read this month. The first part of the book was a little slow, but the ending was quote worthy. She is another author I will always read anything she writes.

Hunting History

This past weekend was the old hometown's annual "Lazy Days & Battle of the BBQ" celebration which also included the "4th Annual Johnny Carson Birthplace Car Show". That was reason enough to attend, especially for Hubby Dearest, but my main objective was The House of History Tour from 10am to 1pm.

The building we have always referred to as "the old jail" was built in 1877. After the new courthouse was built in 1955, the jail was relocated to the basement there. The old jail was apartments for a few years and then became a museum, The House of History, in 1969. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in February, 1991.

Ever since seeing a copy of this photo in the country schools memory book at the Corning Public Library, I have been trying to locate the original to see if I could borrow and scan it. The photo was taken by my 1st grade teacher, June Ternahan (Myers). I contacted one of her daughters who told me all of her country school pictures and memorabilia had been donated to the historical society. I was then directed to the House of History, but finding a time when they were open and I could go was impossible until Saturday.

The museum houses an interesting collection including this coverlet woven by Homer Snodgrass' great grandmother and used in a mountain cabin in West Virginia until it was brought to Adams County (Carl) in 1875. It is in amazingly good condition. The primitive dyes used to color the yarn are still vibrant. Even though I was looking for something specific, I still enjoyed looking at all the displays.

Then I spotted a large photo I recognized because when I worked at The Adams County Free Press in 1995-6 it hung on the wall above the proofing table. It was a picture of area farmers gathered for one of the original meetings of the National Farmers Organization. I knew my Dad had attended that meeting, held at one of the area sale barns in 1955 or 56.
I hunted through the faces, remembering a few from forty years ago, but not seeing my Dad. Finally I recognized Wayne M., one of his best friends, just to the left of center in the next to top row.

And there was Dad right next to Wayne. He was laughing, turned toward Wayne, wearing a hat, his signature pocket tee shirt and looking like he had just come in from the field. I was happy to see this photo of him in the mid-90's (he died in '78) and happy to see it again Saturday. This time I took a picture of the picture.

Even though I looked through all the photos I could find and even had the help of one of the House of History volunteers hunting in places I couldn't search, we couldn't find that Jasper #2 school photo.

Yes, I have other school photos of me and other school mates, but they are from later years. This is the only photo I have seen from when I was in first grade. And this is as clear as I could adjust my picture of a picture that was copied on a copy machine and was not very clear to begin with. Maybe the original wasn't even very good? I'll have to be content with what I have.

On the way out, I took a picture of one other artifact that has a connection to my family history....

 .....this mill stone from the Mt. Etna Mill (1854-1929). My great-great grandparents, David and Catherine Lippincott, operated the grist mill in the 1890's. If I remember correctly, this mill stone was found in the Middle Nodaway River, downstream from where the mill once stood, sometime in the 1960's or 70's. The people who found it donated it to the House of History.

Shadow Play

After welcome rain, my intent was to photograph some remaining drops of moisture.

And while I did have some success doing so, I found the play of light and shadow more intriguing.

"The eye is always caught by light, but shadows have more to say." (Gregory Maguire) 

"Our job is to record, each in his own way, this world of light and shadow and time that will never come again exactly as it is today." (Edward Abbey)

"Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides." (Junichiro Tanizaki) 

 "The comic and the tragic lie inseparably close, like light and shadow." (Socrates)

"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow." (Leo Tolstoy)

"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows." (Francis of Assisi)

"When the dawn winds whisper
To the standing corn,
And the rose of morning
From the dark is born,
All my shadowy garden
Seems to grow aware
Of a fragrant presence
Half expected there."
(From 'Garden Shadows' by Bliss Carman)

Five Months To Christmas

The 'real' Christmas is five months from today, always a busy, stressful, time of the year. Weather during December can add to the stress, as can scheduling conflicts between in-laws, exes, etc. in trying to decide where to go when more than one celebration is on the same day or even time of day.

Moving our family Christmas get-together to July has taken almost all those stresses away. We had our Fourth Annual Christmas in July last weekend and it was hugely delightful. The only scheduling conflict was the start of RAGBRAI which kept one couple from attending.

The weather could not have been any more perfect - especially for July - temperature in the low 80's, low humidity, nice breezes.

Son, Preston, and daughter-in-law, Shalea, were this year's hosts.

They reserved the Middle River Park Shelter on the Southeast edge of Winterset for this year's rendezvous, which was a great place to meet. (Photo from Madison County Conservation Board.)

Great-grandson, Greyson loves strawberries. I told him Juliet was bringing them. "There's the woman with the strawberries" I pointed out when she arrived. He went running to her. Um-m, I mean, to the strawberries. ☺

Big brother, Ayden, likes strawberries, too.

Bud looking on as his son, Mark, and partner, Juliet, meet Iowa grandkids -granddaughter Deise and her boyfriend Hunter and grandson Devin and his girlfriend Linzie.

Oldest grandson, Brock and his wife, Jennifer. Granddaughter Alyssa with her back to camera and her son, Maverick, in stroller.

Grandson Ki and great-grandson, Greyson.

Eager gift game players awaiting the opening of the next present. "Is it something I want to steal?" From left, granddaughter Katrina holding great-granddaughter, Brynley, her stepson, Michael next to Brock. Seated in front, Jennifer, her daughter, Brianna, daughter-in-law Shelly, son, Douglas, daughter, Kari and great-grandson Rodney with his back to camera.
Cute note: After the game was over and all the gifts had been opened, stolen, fought over, Rodney was heard to say (as he dejectedly walked away), "This number hasn't been good to me." (The number he drew to see in what order they chose a gift.)

Granddaughter Deise and her cousin, our great-granddaughter, Lily. These are the two Grandpa Bud calls his hippy chicks.

Deise and Greyson racing. Ayden rode the big wheel around and around almost the whole day, yet I didn't get a picture of him on it!

Cousins Katrina and Ki introducing the next generation, Brynley and Greyson, to one another.

With his own personal fan, he's one cool kid, youngest great-grandchild, Maverick.

After all the food, fun and festivities, it was time to nap. I have to admit, I did the same thing on the way home. It really was a great day. Celebrating Christmas in July is a family tradition I'm glad we started.

A Darling Moth

Last evening I noticed a moth on the screen of our bedroom window. I could glimpse some iridescence to its wings, so I wanted a photo of it so I could look up more information about it. But when I got close to take the picture, it flew away.

This morning I found it on the deck, not moving, so I got my camera again. Still it did not move, even when I turned it over. It was either dead or couldn't fly for some reason.

Then I saw movement, so maybe it was still alive. I placed it on a sunflower leaf, hoping it would fly away after resting awhile. Unfortunately, a little later, I knew for certain it was dead. The motion I saw was just a breeze causing its wings and antennae to quiver.

Getting a photo, though, still allowed my original intention - to find out more about it. It really is a darling moth, catocala cara - the darling underwing with the deep scarlet-pink hindwings.

I tend to pay more attention to butterflies than moths, but maybe that's because most underwing moths are active at night, so I don't see as many. I'm sorry this one died, but I appreciate learning more about it.

A Productive Day

Still a few things to do before our company arrives Friday, but all-in-all, a productive day - bookended by.....

.....a most colorful sunrise, and.....

.....an equally colorful sunset.

The phlox are blooming. I had so many of these on the farm. They don't last long, but I love them. I saw this quote on another's photo of one of her lilies:
"Find something beautiful to focus on daily and allow Inspiration to have its way with you." (Alaric Hutchinson)

That seems like a very good idea.

'Someone' Is Always Watching

The sky that was dancing last night .....

.....was broken this morning.

And Venus and the New Moon saw it all.

         😏       🌙

Mere Colors

"I found I could say things with colors that I couldn't say in any other way - things that I had no words for." Georgia O'Keeffe

"Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways." Oscar Wilde

A Glassine Sunrise?

There were some clouds this morning, so we had an interesting sunrise. The colors weren't that dramatic, but the angles were. 'Glassine' popped into my head as a term to describe them. Or maybe isinglass?

It didn't cool off much overnite. The temp was around 75° when I got up. The Grosbeak came for breakfast before 7a.m. while it was still comparatively cool.

This was my repast last evening - my version of a caprese salad: tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and, for me, lots of black olives. Dressed with a little basalmic vinegar, it was devine. So good I am going to have the same thing again tonite.

The current hot spell is supposed to break by tomorrow with a chance for rain. We need the moisture and I'm more than ready for some cooler temps.

Scenes Of Summer

I took these photos on the way to my doctor appointment Tuesday:

With time to spare, I drove along Lake McKinley and was treated to this scene across the water. Very pastoral, right?

A closer view, because the stump looked interesting. Love the reflections as well as spotting farm scenes in town.

One of my pics on Earth Day was of the planting going on across the pond. I speculated about what was being seeded/drilled in place of the usual corn or beans.

Magni-fying the photo didn't help much, but, oats, maybe?

Just when I thought they were oats starting to ripen, he cut them.

Later in the day, raking, then baling, them. I don't quite understand this. It is something different from my years on the farm when the oats weren't cut until ripe, then shocked and threshed. The oats were stored in the granary and the straw was left in stacks in the field or baled and stored in the haymow.

Even though I don't understand the whys, I am so glad to have these country scenes of summer right outside.