Friday, May 30, 2008



We've had bunches of rain in a short period of time, but I did get some plants and summer bulbs in Wednesday evening before it all started. John got this cute fence up, too, to hold the climbing bushes.

There was live video from the "Chopper 13" television helicopter over the noon hour showing Ames (35 miles SE from us). There are two other videos on their site (hopefully the noon-hour tape will show there later today). The live video I saw showed both the Wal-mart parking lot and water rising on campus in several places, and I found information and pictures here.

Thursday, May 29, 2008





That's Izaac laughing at Alex (our son) because we're waiting for Izaac's mom to meet and have lunch yesterday in Ankeny. Izaac just starting to eat better since his bout with a virus last week.

The sign on the right was a gift from (aunt) Mary for my birthday. If you can't read it, it says "Dogs come when they are called. Cats take a message and get back to you." It's so true!

I can't believe how wild the cats were when we got home last night when they discovered the little 'bean' (Izaac) wasn't with us. Izaac is more mobile this time than in his previous visits, not walking all the time, but crawls at about 50 mph (well, it seems fast)! So he did chase the cats around often, and pulled on Bogie's tail a few times (Bogie puts up with it without much fussing back at the boy, or gets up and leaves when Izaac gets close.)

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Izaac in the house for a few days


In the picture on the right is Joe Markey and his dad (Bob) right after graduation Friday evening. Michelle Zimmerman also graduated from Hoover H.S. (Des Moines) Friday, but we didn't see her afterwards. Izaac came home with me after graduation Friday evening.

We had a fun day on Sunday, when Grandma Walker and Aunt Mary came from Sac City and Kathy came (John's older sister from Minneapolis, but was visiting someone in Ames) for lunch. Then we went to Story City to the little mall and Mary got some new clothes for her trip to New York City for the 4th of July. It's a tour, and they will be in the harbor for the fireworks on the 4th. Cool.

Izaac and Uncle Johnny are looking at the bad storm clouds (in the left picture) to the south of our house at about 7:30pm Sunday evening. This was 2 1/2 hours AFTER the tornadoes hit Parkersburg (and some other places) in Iowa that killed seven people (at last count). Parkersburg is 70 miles east of us.

Thursday, May 22, 2008


On the left Noel and Bogie are watching a mouse (playing 'dead' but very much alive) non-chalantly. Noel had caught it and wanted to bring it in the house, and Bogie lost it chasing it to the patio fence. Bogie didn't jump over (the mouse went under) because he doesn't jump straight up very well (doesn't try, so probably doesn't know whether he can or not) so didn't pursue it any longer.

That's Queenie on the right 'nap-testing' the new rocker-recliner in the Prairie Room. I think she approved. She naps almost every day from 11-3. It's amazing beause her 'inner clock' is fairly precise. The other two are influenced by weather and activity in the house or outside.

Sunday, May 18, 2008


On the left is a picture of the four of us with Allison, who became a Doctor of Pharmacy today (from Drake Univ.). She's in the front there with Samantha, Alex on the right, and John and I on the left. We went to the Commencement Ceremony this afternoon in Des Moines, and then she had an Open House with sandwiches and goodies afterwards.

On the right is Izaac displaying his new "Hollywood" fashion sunglasses with Great-Grandma before he went home to take a nap (during Commencement). He joined us at the Open house along with his mom, grandma and Aunt Michelle. He enjoyed a strawberry at the party, dragging it around a little when he crawled and trying to share it with whoever he came in contact with. He likes (peeled) grapes, too. Good boy!!!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Die weeds, DIE!!!!

That's Bogie asking why "8:30" is at the door again, since he doesn't live here!!! John used to call him midnight (black cat, and he came really late at night), but since he comes earlier now, he had to change his name.

We've been working in the yard this week because it's the first week it's been decent enough (not raining, freezing temps). I got a handle on the over-population of thistles last year (and a few leftovers this year), so I've started killing dandelions.

They sprouted in just a couple of days unbelievably! I tried spraying the yard with the hose (to simulate 'dew') and dragged the spreader behind the mower, but it kept getting clogged, so that was frustrating.

I got liquid concentrate weed killer and tried spraying, but the nozzle got plugged a few times (I now know how to fix this, even when it's under pressure!). Today we bought a bottle you hook the hose to, except I had to buy two new hoses to reach the west sections of the yard (remember, it's 3 acres), and the new hoses kinked several times while I was trying to spray. oh well.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Thursday already?



On the left is Izaac beside his Aunt Michelle and his mother (on the right in the picture) on Mother's Day. He's carrying the light-up toothbrush I forgot to take to his birthday party. (Cubs are winning in the background!)

The picture on the right is our very sad-looking asparagus patch. We don't like it at our house, but my brother is begging me to keep checking it for him. Actually, we did pick some out of the wild patch in front of the house last night, so there may be hope for this patch. It spends most of the day in the shade, so is slow to get started this year, and it's still cool for May. A warm-up is in the forecast, so hopefully they'll be right and we'll get bunches done in the next few days outside.

Monday, May 12, 2008



Manic Monday this week:
For every blog that posts a Doodle of a CAT
AND leaves their linky here I will donate 50¢
to Cat Friends Helping Friends


Thanks to my fellow blogger, I've used his doodle for the advertisement and donation to the "Cat friends Helping Friends" program. There is more info on his blog. Thanks Mo!

campstanhopehappenings

Izaac again (because he's the cutest thing to take pictures of lately anyway!)

This is a picture of Uncle Charlie and Izaac having a heart-to-heart. I can't remember what they were discussing (it's been a couple of weeks) but when Izaac was younger, he was a little afraid of U. Charlie (we're still not sure why because U. Charlie LOVES kids) but now they are best buddies.

We ordered pizza and made some pies (I made Bear-chaser blueberry and fake cheesecake). Mom made her's all from scratch (as usual) and made apple and cherry. Even Alex and Allison were there because Alex had switched working with someone on Friday so he could be off work after 2pm. Allison graduates from Drake University Pharmacy School next weekend and has a job lined up in Wauseca, MN.

The 20-second video is from yesterday's Mom's day party in Des Moines. That's Izaac's mom flipping him, and my son, Alex, in the chair with the interesting hair.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Flora and Fauna Friday


On the left is the beautiful bouquet my children sent me for Mother's Day. The flowers smell fabulous. Queen (HRH) has to inspect most everything that comes in the house (even groceries).

The picture on the right is of two new birds we've been seeing in the yard and at the feeder. Does anybody know what they are? (You can click on the picture to 'biggify' it.) They are bigger than the finches, about robin-sized, with dark red on their chest. We have a bird book, but I haven't taken the time to research it.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Happy Birthday Izaac! You're now 1!



The picture is from the birthday party on Saturday. That's his Aunt Michelle sitting beside him. He isn't walking quite yet, although we think he probably could if he didn't think about it too much.

The 30-second video is of Izaac 'enjoying' his birthday cake. If you can hear the conversation on the video, it's his great-grandma and grandma Shirley discussing Shirley's first birthday cake 'event'. Apparently, she didn't dig into her cake like Bob and I had in the years before her first birthday.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Izaac's first birthday party!



We celebrated with chicken and meatloaf and Velveeta macaroni and cheese (Izaac's favorite foods at this point) today at Great-Grandma's house in Des Moines.

He enjoyed the presents everybody got him after they were opened (except the clothes). He was a little tired when he got in the high chair to have his 'custom' first birthday cake, but he enjoyed the way it felt squishing it in his hands (and in his hair).

The video is of his mother pushing him on his new fire engine through the living room.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Tanks and bridges.


The same guy who took the bridge pictures and John's picture on the train took these tank pictures on the train a couple weeks ago.

Today, in Ames, when I was in the quilt shoppe, an Amtrak train passed through town on the 'main line' that the freight trains usually use. Amtrak must be flooded out somewhere and detoured using the UP line today.

We've gotten quite a bit accomplished around the house and yard this week, thanks to the help of (son) Alex for making the sacrifice to spend some time with his 'aging' parents! I mowed and killed weeds and cleaned out the lilac bushes. John put a new screen door on at the garage entrance, replaced boards on the deck and replaced a 'throne'. Samantha came home Tuesday afternoon, too, and cleaned and vacuumed both her car and her brother's. ick.

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Subscribe Now: Feed Icon