Out and About July 24-30

Early Friday a.m., the first blush of dawn.

It stayed in the low 70's all night so we were up and out early to get our walk in before it got any hotter.

I walked in our neighborhood but this time I took my camera along because I had noticed a couple things on previous walks.

Like the giant Hibiscus on the corner. Those flowers have to be 10 to 12 inches across and such a pretty deep red color.

The bush is much bigger than pictured, but I wanted to get the feather grass in the picture too because of the sunlight on it.

Across the road from the above is this Althouse-Wheeler vaneless windmill.


Isn't it a pretty picture with the cirrus clouds, white fence, the trees and a blush of pink on the horizon?

Back home catching up on social media posts and e-mails and found a tease from Family Search about a pioneer relative of mine.
Her maiden name was Jane Clotilda Marsh, married name was Pettingill. She and Elihu had 15 children. They left Kanesville, IA (now Council Bluffs) in a covered wagon in 1852 when she was 24. They were part of the James C. Snow Company headed to Utah.

So, while Jane was not a close relative, the John Richardson across from her was my gr-gr-grandfather. I followed the Marsh genealogy chart all the way back to my 8xgreat-grandfather Henry Marsh in Elham, Kent England.
I found this photo Elham and put it on FB along with the family connections which started a lengthy back in forth with my brother, daughter and cousin. I didn't get much else done this morning. 😍

But I did get a slightly better picture of the Carolina Wren than the one I shared in the July 9-16 blog post.

I'll keep trying!

Beginning in 2015, our family has celebrated Chirstmas the last of  July. This has been a wonderful new tradition for us.

Unfortunately this year our family get-together was just one more Covid casualty.

So on Saturday, July 25, daughter Kari had a mini celebration which she shared on FB.
Candlelight, greenery, red bow, twinkle lights, hot chocolate and the completed puzzle of Santa Clause that I had never worked and sent to her.

And because I have already shared some of the many photos I took on my walk this morning (A Bonus Out and About For Saturday), here is one from the close of the day.
Fireworks from McKinley Park were postponed this year, but there was still a McKinley Park Festival this evening. With a Fishing Derby for the kids, a special Farmer's Market, a meet and greet with the town police department, and music at the Bandshell, the evening wrapped with fireworks. I took this photo from our deck.
The sad ending to the park festivities was learning the next day that an 83-year old neighbor of ours had been charged with OWI after losing control of her vehicle and hitting and severely injuring a couple then striking a utility pole. Sad news for all of them.

Sunday morning an early morning walk before it gets any hotter.

Photo is of an old gas pump and Phillips 66 sign at the Visitor Center which features Creston's original Phillips 66 service station in.

This little roadside park is also the location of the Union County Freedom Rock with benches for quiet reflection as well as a covered picnic table.

Around 10:30 I noticed our cool front moving in. Earlier than forecast, yay! We ended up with 2.8" of much needed and appreciated rain.

Monday was not a good day for me. It was time to do some shopping which the whole Covid thing has made even more tiring and stressful.
In addition to going to the grocery stores, I decided as long as I was out I would also make a Wally run.
Fareway was fine. I got there early so it wasn't crowded. Got everything on my list and had the happy bonus of seeing my brother-in-law for the first time in months.
Things started going south at Wally, mostly because of customer service and that I was wearing out. Hy-Vee was okay except that when I got home I discovered I had gotten the wrong brand of something. I hate making little mistakes like that. It makes me wonder about how well I am, or am not, aging. Once I got home, got everything wiped down and put away and sat down for awhile, I was fine.

The good part of  the shopping expedition was getting this gorgeous Boston Fern for half price. I just love these hanging along the patio.

All was well by day's end when grandson-in-law Evan posted this photo of great-grandchildren Lily and Maverick.

He had it labeled "Target Practice".

These two are so darned cute.

He also shared a bunch of photos showing the clearing of trees and brush from behind their house. Once they get the bridge built, they'll have easier access to their property on the other side of the creek.

They are going to have so much more useable yard and garden space.

This was the summer we were going to make the trip to MN to see their new home. Oh well, hopefully next year.

The most eventful thing about Tuesday was putting up the new room-darkening blind and drapes I got yesterday.
The afternoon sun heats this room so much even when I had the old blind and curtains closed.

This gives a better idea of  the color of the blind.

The drapes are slightly more pink than they look here. I worried about them being too coral and clashing with the pale pink walls, but I think they contrast okay.

This is how dark they make the room.

I may start referring to this as 'the cave' instead of  'the office'.

And this is how rosy the room is with the blind and drapes closed.

After Bud got the blind put up I said "Where's the cord to lower it?"
Turns out they have eliminated those cords that were so dangerous for children. To lower and raise these you just grip and pull down and push up to raise.

Such a pretty sky Wednesday morning. This was taken at six a.m.

After I got back from my walk I pulled a few weeds.

A neighbor gave me a selection of tomatoes.

And I made a Seafood Pasta salad with imitation crab.
The last time I made this was for one of our Christmas in July family get-togethers. I should have halved the recipe. I may be eating this for breakfast, lunch and dinner as HD doesn't eat any.

My first tomato is getting ripe, though it didn't get very big.

This was the sky early Thursday a.m. I said it was my reward for taking the garbage out early.

And this was the sky over Lake McKinley not quite an hour later when I went there for my walk.

There was a chance for rain so I wanted to "get 'er done".

The clover hay field on the west side of the lake is full of blooming Queen Anne's Lace, with some yellow Birdsfoot Trefoil here and there. So pretty.

What do you think? Alien eyewear? Part of a storm trooper's face mask? Whatever it was it washed over the spillway.

When I was trying to identify the 'spiky plant with purple flowers' Saturday, Purple Loosestrife came coming up which it was not. (Finally found the correct name, Hoary Vervain.)

 This is Purple Loosestrife and some Broadleaf Arrowhead plants along the dam of the lake.

On the way back home I passed the area where our neighbor had her accident Saturday night.

I see now why her car was totaled. She hit a power pole and one of the stone pillars at a park entrance before striking the couple who were injured. They said she was driving without her headlights on. I wonder how fast she was going?

The power pole has been replaced. I don't know what they will do about the pillar.

It was two weeks ago today that older brother Ron called to tell me about the write up in the Adams County Free Press for younger brother Les.
I don't think I could be any more proud of him. Writing one book would be an accomplishment, but writing a series of five? That's a major achievement.

When I awoke at 4:44 a.m. I was dreaming I was in Des Moines searching for a cookbook by Carol Wright. It was the latest 'must have' and its primary subject matter was olives.
Being curious, I Googled Carol Wright books and found her website Eat Your Books. The site has indexed recipes from leading cookbooks and magazines as well as recipes from food websites and blogs. You can become a member and create your own personal 'Bookshelf'. I wasn't interested enough to see what a membership cost. But once again, I wonder what causes us to dream the dreams we dream?

Stay curious and attentive.