Too at Twin Lake

Bob and Vi

2012-01-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

Sitting in a tree

K I S S I N G

This is pretty cute!

Might have to find something

like this to sit by our bridge.

New Years Eve

2012-01-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

This year we had party hats.

We had whistles.

We had snacks and fizzy drinks.

We had Snappers on the bridge

and shouted Happy New Year! to the stars

and each other.

We had a late night game

of tag and hide and go seek.

We will have a Happy New Year!

Next New Year's Eve, I'm going to have fire works and sparklers.

Put the date on your calendar.

Be There! or be Square!

THE NEW YEAR---2012

2012-01-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

We started the new year off with a visit at II.

The weather was supposed to be nice with highs in the 50's and no precipitation. So, off we went, with 4 grandchildren, the 3 Hofs and 1 Frey, and Nana and Papa. We had no supplies(food) etc as we had closed the cabins for the winter, so Herself took care of that and entertained the kids while I went to work in the new cabin. Got a couple more sheets of drywall and insulation up, worked on some of the inside corners so I would have "L" for attaching drywall. Temps dropped to the upper 30's at nite, but everyone stayed warm. The only downside was little Bella threw up in the nite all over the bed, so Herself and Bella had a rough nite. Thank goodness I chose to sleep in the new cabin. Herself had a new years party for the little cabinites with fireworks, party poppers, candy, pop, chips, etc. That is probably why little Bella got sick. Anyway we all survived, reclosed the cabin for the winter again, and headed home.

Now we maybe going again this weekend Jan 8 as Craig and family want to look at properties for sale. Maybe a good time as not to many are looking with the economy the way it is.
Looking forward to spring, so we can get to work again.

BOI

December 1999

2011-12-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

As far as I know,

this is the very first digital photo I took at Too.
At Twin Lake.

I got a big Sony digital, Christmas '98.

I remember well.

I got sweet Morghan Grace in February '99.

Aw, the start of two great journeys.

Cabin Visits.

Grandchildren.

and better yet?
Cabin Visits with Grandchildren!

Winter's Day

2011-12-14T18:22:00.000-08:00

The little holding pond is pretty solid ice.

And solid, pretty ice.

Where do these big bubbles end up.

What becomes of them?

I love watching them float and bob.

I'm starting to save up my money

for some beautiful, new ice skates.

I'd better include some knee pads and helmet.

The little bridge beckons one home.

And tells tales of who's been to visit in our absence.

Backwards Week

2011-09-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

I had had a hard week at work; I had described it to a fellow employee as "backwards week". Decisions and computer entries hadn't come easily. Cases and decisions had to be redone, corrected and redirected. Friday, we went "to the cabin" and on Saturday and Sunday, events and efforts still were cumbersome and awkward.

Himself and I got up Saturday morning and drove to Chillicothe and that part went smoothly -- drive 50 miles south, shop at Lowe's, drive 50 miles home again. It was easy and smoothly executed to drop a couple of hundred dollars at the counter and haul the goods home.

We were home by 1 pm. There was plenty of time left in the day to hang two doors and maybe get some sheet rock up too.

We lay out one door; unboxed it, read some instructions and went at it. Only thing is, the door didn't cooperate and we weren't getting it. We read in the instructions "IF your door is a split jam . . . do this."

First of all, we don't know what a "split jam" door is and secondly, we don't know if this door is a "split jam" or not. In retrospect, we should have stopped right then and there and went and Googled "split jam". We didn't. And we suffered the consequences.

Suffered consequences Big Time! We wrestled doors in and out. Up and down. Length wise and Side ways. We got one hung and one propped up, waiting to be hung. sigh . . .

Yea! This one is plumb and level, swings and it stays shut! Way to go!

Dance a jig! Celebrate! A job well done!

So then we moved on to the bathroom drywall, leaving the bedroom door for another day and hoping to close in on the bathroom. We didn't. Close in. Didn't move on. Dead end.

We did dry wall a little and moved forward an inch or two . . . but it wasn't easy and at times felt backwards on my part. I couldn't measure and couldn't trace out the fuse box or outlets and it was cumbersome and awkward.

It was, after all, still backwards week(end).

Drywall Started 9/07/2011

2011-09-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

this is before we hung the drywall

After much struggle, discussion, more struggle, we finally managed to hang a piece of drywall in the bathroom ceiling.

This is what the almost final results turned out. Sure looks better than naked boards. Hopefully sometime in the near future we will be able to continue with the walls so I can finish installing the vanity and toilet. But we have to get the bathroom door installed before anymore drywall.

BOI'S SUCESS AND A FAILURE

2011-08-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to "go under" the cabin to install more plumbing to the shower/tub.

Man, that ground looks hard.

Here I go!!

I made it under, around, on top of, you name it, its down here

We have Water, I took the first shower and herself had a bath. Everything works.

This is the bathroom vent/light/heater combination awaiting wiring.

Electrician, page 2

2011-08-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

There's a light in the bathroom and plenty of outlets for when we have hair dryers and washer and clothes dryer. And best of all there is going to be a heater built into the light and vent! So I don't have to freeze anymore!

Himself took this shot. Doesn't that look warm and cozy?

oh boy. that's looks a mess!

And shows how much more work there is to do!

But with electricity in the cabin,

nothing can stop us now!

Oh well, maybe putting that dry wall on the ceiling?

That sure might slow us down anyway.

ANOTHER NEW TITLE FOR THE "BOI"

2011-08-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

Now its "electrician". After spending alot of time wiring outlets, ceiling fixture boxes, and a new circuit box for the new cabin, it was now time to connect the 60 amp wires from the new box to the old box in the old cabin. I think I do fairly well at wiring when I know there is no chance of electricution, however this was going to be a test of my nerves. I do not want anything to do with wiring on the "meter" or hot side of the circuit box. The only safe way would be pull the electric meter, which I did not do, or hire a real electrician, which I did not do. I waited till herself had gone to town, surprize, so I would have no one watching as I nerviously proceeded to either death by electricution, or hopefully success. As I am able to write this, you can probably assume i'm still alive. And, by golly, we have full blown electricity service in the new cabin. Of course, by some strange fluke, the following day, Sunday, all electric power at the lake went out. And I could tell by the look on herselfs face that she thought the wiring I had done had somehow wiped out the entire lake's electrical power. And, actually, I entertained the thought that maybe something I had done could have caused the problem. But then I thought, if something like that was going to happen, it would have been the afternoon after I did the wiring when the AC was running full blast, refrigerator running, etc that any problems would have shown up. Nothing did. About 30 minutes later the electricity came back on and all was well.
Next we are going to start plumbing in the shower, vanity, and toilet.
Stay tuned
BOI

Projects

2011-07-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

Himself gives me a bad time. Says I don't complete my projects. I believe I do complete my projects. Sometimes it just takes me a while for various reasons. Sometimes I need Himself to help me finish a project because I am not physically strong enough or I can't operate a certain hand tool and my biggest pet peeve of all! -- is that I cannot put the bit in or take the bit out of the BLACK & DECKER drill myself because I'm not strong enough! (I swear, I am going to start writing Black & Decker and Sears and Montgomery Wards and anyone who manufactures small electric or battery operated drills. They need to make them 1) so that a woman can use them and 2) that work the way they should!)

Anyway, off my soap box and on with this entry . . .

The reason I don't finish projects is because:

1) My project is put on hold because of an immediate necessity to help Himself with a project.

2) My project is put on hold because Himself assigns me a new, more urgent project.

3) My project is put on hold because I need to buy materials for my project.

4) My project is put on hold because I don't know how to finish it.

5) My project is put on hold for any sundry of reasons. (Is sundry a word? Is sundry used correctly in that sentence? Did I really mean Sunday?)

This weekend at Mo, again hot as blazes, there was only one major cabin project scheduled so I dragged out two of my old projects and the other project was there waiting from a couple of visits ago.

     Project 1 required some 2X4 lumber. None on hand.

     Project 2 required a can of black spray paint. None on hand.

     Project 3 required some patience, determination and another nut and bolt.
                    Available, even if in short supply -- especially the first!

I like this photo, looking through the screen into the porch. It is warm and fuzzy. Two of the projects are there, inside the porch, just waiting to be seen.

Project No 1 wears orange. I've had these sweet little iron bed boards (head and foot) forever. I finally got some 2X4's to fix up a little daybed for little children on hot, weary days at the cabin. Or for Nana's. A nap, mid-afternoon might be good. There is a story here, for another day. I will tell it later.

Project No 2, is the decorative insert in this Mister-bilt screen door. I noticed around the July 4th weekend, that little ones put their hands against the screen, when opening the door for their escape, instead of pushing on the wooden door itself. The row of spindles should give some support and help keep the screen from being pushed out of the screen door.

Project No 3 was basically done. The back and seat boards had been painted red and the iron supports had been painted black. I just needed to get all the nuts and bolts back in the seat planks. Yep. Done. Finished yesterday.

There! three projects finished up! All in one weekend.

Hopefully next weekend at the cabin, we will be able to get the water or electric in. I know we will be laying tile on the bathroom floor. Stay tuned for the next installment . . .

Electronic Free Weekend

2011-07-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

Commander in Chief Hofmeister, declared the week of July 4, 2011 an "Electronic-Free weekend". No electronic games, no game boys, Ipods, Cell Phones and absolutely no Black Ops!

And interestingly, no one missed them! Not a child said, let's go to town and buy one of those electronic games.

Instead, we had swimming and golf cart rides. Oh, okay, we did have a movie or too on the DVD player but at the end of the days, we were all tuckered out! We didn't keep our eyes open long after our heads hit the pillow. Several of us girls slept on the little cabin porch. It is a tradition. Well, it is going to be!

There was badmitten and fireworks and Keep Away in the water. Nana was sure glad when that water football fell apart and we were done with game!

There was bon fires. But wait, CIC Hofmeister must have declared it a SMORES free weekend too. There wasn't one single SMORE to be had. To be eaten. Nary a marshmallow roasted. What? that can't be right . . .

I like this photo, above. The children are all fascinated with the camp fires -- and rightly so as they inherit that from their Nana who got it from Gramps -- but we are careful fire bugs!

There was badmitten. Did I mention badmitten? There was croquet and more croquet and croquet again. There were badmitten tournaments.

There was rivers and dams and broken levees and Giant Frisbie games.

There was a covert search and rescue operation. CIC Hofmeister declared that operation a huge success! Good work, soldiers!

Bella had her first solo cabin visit and Audri was sure glad she did. These girls got on well together and Nana foresees future visits! I may have to build a pool platform as putting the pool on the porch worked great, to keep the water in it, but the sun couldn't get in to warm the water.

There was even some quality porch sitting time.

PaPa and I had a great vacation at Too. We enjoyed the fireworks and all the games. We sure enjoyed the visits from children and grandchildren. We had fun and got some work done and PaPa is very glad to have the big plumbing operation out of the way. Oh, er, hmm. I meant to say that Commander in Chief Hofmeister called the plumbing operation a Success!

SEWER RATS!!!!

2011-07-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

That's what we are. We needed the sewer connected from the new cabin to the sewer line from Grampsie's cabin. We had called a Missouri plumber for an estimate. He actually showed up in a timely manner, prepared an estimate. This was early May. Well, Memorial Day holiday is coming up so probably won't be able to start until some time around the first of June. Fine, we said, since we we're going on vacation around that time. That would have to be another story as our vacation took us to a location about 70 miles from Joplin, Mo and the big tornado. We were there!!! Scary, tornados dropping everywhere, everyday, no place to run to. We survived and went back to the cabin for the final days over Memorial Day weekend to prepare for plumber. Went home, no word, no nothing. Went back to cabin 3 weeks later, no plumber. So I called. He had to order a part for his digging machine and is installing it as we speak, and will be there in a day or so to start digging. Another week, Herself calls and asks for a time frame and a call back. Nothing. 4th of July weekend: No plumber. You have to remember, this is Missouri. No one in a hurry to do anything, and if the have some money, they don't need to work.

SO, we decicded with a little bit of digging maybe we could installed the sewer ourselves. So we started by calling our builder to come over and give us some advice and help prepare a materials list. He did and so our "plumber" careers began.

Nance: this is where the new and the old sewers join up.

I started digging the old sewer line out so we could connect the new with the old. It started out badly. The old sewer line was 4" and the new was 4", however our new was much thicker than the old. What to do? I was ready to throw in the shovel right then, but herself declared "we can figure this out". And figure it out she did, we got the correct fittings, cut the old pipe, installed a "y" and a fernco boot and we we're off to the races.

The builder told us if we could get past this first hurdle, the rest would be a piece of cake. If the ground would have been soft like cake, maybe. I rolled over rocks, roots, clods, tin siding, boards, nails, you name it, to get the toilet, tub, vanity, and washer connected, and about 8 hours of hard work and we were done. WE DID IT, DAMMIT, and it doesn't look bad. Every section runs down hill. I even tested it this morning by dumping buckets of water down the toilet drain. It didn't leak!!

Nance: Have you ever seen such neat and proper plumbing? lol

Nance: I've always wanted to use "unpinnings" in a sentence.

Still not sure that is proper here or not!

Now we can move on to get some water and electricity to the new cabin, and on, and on, and on. We aren't even close to finishing the new cabin, and already herself has plans for new stairs, decks, hot tubs, dog trots, and on, and on, and on.

As far as the sewer, I can safely say I will never again be a "sewer rat"

BOI

Weekend past

2011-06-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Himself and I had a good weekend at the cabin. Himself has been "down in the back" but if he's careful and slow and "easy does it", he gets by. So Saturday, he put up an electrical box in the new cabin and began the detail-oriented, painstaking work of wiring the new cabin. Me? I slap-dashed a "board walk" together. We have decided it is going to be a wet summer. (Oh really? as we in Southern Iowa are working on the 6th inch of rain in two days. Six? or will it be seven?) And with the new boardwalk we will be able to walk from the old cabin to the new in our bare feet. No tracking mud! Yay!!!!

A small bit of the wiring.

The new "boardwalk" with a couple of cuties keeping their tootsies out of the mud!

Himself has spent a lot of time on the wiring. He has enjoyed it, he said. And yet, I don't have a photo of the "box" and the junction of all the wires coming together in the new cabin. I will have to rectify this situation. You will be impressed when you see the new breaker box and all the wires coming together to give us light, heat and entertainment in the years to come. I'm SO impressed.

II UPDATE-from Himself

2011-06-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Things are proceeding very well at the new cabin. We have pretty much finished installing the insulation in the loft, just a couple of side walls to go, and it should be ready for drywall.
We have hopefully secured what I need to run electrical wiring from the old cabin to the new electrical box in the new cabin. I just hope the plumber has done his "digging" and has the new cabin connected to the sewer and new underground water supply installed so I can dig a trench (by hand, actually by spade) to run the new wiring.
Then we should have electricity, then on to the finish plumbing, wiring the new exhaust fan/heater in the bathroom, and all kinds of odds and ends. There are so many things we have to think of as we go cause we've never done this before. Anyway, its still fun. I am looking forward to July as I and hopefully herself will have a week off to work.
Boi

Odds and ends

2011-06-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

Little cabin visitors find it difficult to get the screen door open, even with that low door knob on there so Nana installed a door bell. Actually, there are three little brass bells on that braided strip and they tinkle. These bells are about the prettiest ringing bells I ever did hear. So a small child (once trained) will be able to stand down and ring the bells and Nana will come running to open the door. (Much better than one little one standing and screeching "Nana! NaNa! NANA! NNNaaaaaNNNNaaaa!

These bales of R19 insulation now have new homes in the wall of the second story. We have cut, measured and installed the bats between the studs in preparation of the dry wall. oh no! I dread the drywall!!!!!!

And this photo, dear ones, is what Grampsy would have labeled "The End". : )

Perfect June weekend

2011-06-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

The weather was about perfect. It did rain a little Friday but by Saturday the ground was drying out and the sun was shining. The evenings were cool but the days pleasantly warm. Himself mowed the grounds. Not once, but twice! The grass is so thick and it was tall and a little wet when he mowed the first time so it really did look a lot nicer after the second mowing. If you read Nana's View, you will know I've been struggling with writing lately so here are some photos to help me tell you about the weekend.

All spring, our visits have been met with rains or we came just after heavy rains and the ground has been soggy and wet. We've had boards thrown down to walk on, between the cabins. This weekend started out that way too, on Friday. Saturday, midday, the ground was drying out, the sun shining and the temps a rising. Saturday turned out to be a perfect "outdoor" working day so we did.

We moved the brackets that hold the wasp trap and the hummingbird feeder from hanging over the porch to "over hanging" the porch. Hhmm. We kill creatures at one end of the porch and nuture them at the other???? I might need to think about this!

I made more syrup for the Oriole/Hummingbird feeder. And we watched the Orioles and the Hummers when we could, while we were taking breaks or walking by. Himself has been standing at the feeder and had a hummingbird zip through within itches of his head. The hummers are feisting, aggresive tiny birds. Some hummingbirds live in Iowa in the summer and winter in South America. Isn't that amazing? That boggles my mind how far they fly, which is why the stuff themselves all summer in Iowa on honey and nectar.

Himself climbed on the roof of the little cabin and cut tree limbs back that were hitting the vent and the TV antenna. While he was up there, we decided he may as well do what he needed to do to take the old television antenna down. Between the two of us, we got that accomplished. 30 years worth of rusted metal made it a bit of a challenge but we gotterdone AND I now have the materials I need to build a handrail. Stay tuned for the rest of the story there!

I changed my mind about Gramps old bench. I had painted it gray and while it looked so much better than it had, I just kept noticing it as we were working around outside. Finally, I said to Himself. Shouldn't that bench be red? And he agreed. I think it will now be a great accent to our front porch.

We not only bird watched this weekend, we critter watched too. This is a little ground squirrel. Some folks call them Squinties. My neighbor up the hill told me how just the day before, a Squinty ran into her trailer and how they had to corral it and run it back out! We have had a pair of squinties living under the bridge but now they have moved under the cabin and their family is inhabiting our entire lot. We see them everywhere. We may have to declare war. Himself also saw a badger this weekend. He has zero tolerance for badgers so I imagine he is planning war strategies and cleaning the rifle.

Himself and I did a little planting and rearranging this weekend, too. We left the Illinois Katchutree on the hill and moved the honeysuckle. I dug out around the Katchur hoping it will take off -- but if it doesn't very soon, it will be transplanted to a sunnier, lower area. The honeysuckle was transplanted to the front corner of the new porch where I have visions of the future flowerbed. It will be the basis for a new shade garden.

So we mowed and weed eated and pruned and polished and plumped and planned.

Did I mention it was a perfect weekend to work outside? lol

The Little Cabin

2011-06-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

and the big cabin aren't big enough for the two of us tonight! Himself and I had a difference of opinion. Well, an altercation. No, not that. We had an unpleasant moment -- and we hadn't even started working on the new cabin!

We got here shortly after 6:00. Himself went to mowing and I went to talking on the phone. I called the (potential) plumber and left a message, then called cousin Jim in Texas. While talking to Jim, I suddenly said, "Jim, I've got to go. My husband is waving at me from the mower. There must be a problem." and we said our goodbyes and hung up quickly. (usually it takes Jim 30 minutes to say goodbye.)

Then I went outside and Himself was mowing contently so I pulled some weeds and some wild flowers that were in the way. I admired the blooming lilacs and the redbud and puttered about. When suddenly, the calm peaceful evening was broken by some shrill whistling. It got my attention. I looked around. There's Himself beckoning (just as I had imagined!) so I drop everything (the weeds) and struggle up the hill. Himself is glaring and gesturing at some rocks and ends of boards and waving towards the porch. As the mower is right there and running, the conversation was a bit limited.

Move them? I ask in charade language? motioning and mouthing big words.

MOVE THEM!

Hands turned up and shrugging . . . I tried to transmit telepathically "I thought we were going to have a rock pile here for drainage?"

MOVE THEM!

chin down, eyebrows meeting in the middle, eyes small and dark. He looks like a picture of Thor.

He's furious . . . MOVE THEM!

At this level, I can read lips.

So I did.

I moved them.

But not cheerfully and not willingly and when I'm speaking to him again, I'll ask him "but I thought we were going to pile rocks here for a natural, drainage water way?"

build a crooked house

2011-04-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

No way.

We will not build a crooked house. I'm a firm believer in measuring twice and cutting once but Himself is fanatic when it comes to square and plumb and level.

And exact.

Himself builds well.

Some might say he overbuilds but he says "this will never come down in my life time!"

And it won't. It won't fall down and it won't be pulled down.

I think it would take a bulldozer.

And that's the way it is.

We have undone a couple of things. We did them well the first time. We just did not do them perfect or exact. Then we undid them and did them right. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!

And that's the way it should be.

Himself has an eye like a lazer level.

I'm pretty good at seeing straight, plumb and level but I'm rookie next to him.

There he is standing in the bedroom.

And there he is checking his work at the end of the day. He's in the living room looking towards the back door. I'm getting ready to climb the stairs.

This is the loft. He's started wiring. We hope to get a plumber in soon so we can get the bathroom plumbed and usable. We are debating about hiring an electrician. Himself thinks he might be able to do the wiring. I'm betting he can. Meanwhile . . .

We are having fun.

We are learning a bunch.

Looking forward to days and weeks at the cabin in Mo.

Someday.

Signs of Spring

2011-04-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

We found signs of our (late) Spring, this weekend. Guess we should have expected a late Spring since Easter is so late. Year after year, I find that Spring comes along about the same time as Easter -- you would think I would learn to be patient and wait for Easter.

It was sloppy, rainy and damp in No Mo this weekend. The Missouri clay is slick and oozing water. We have boards on the ground to walk on outside, cardboard on the porches and rugs at the doors and we still track mud into both cabins. Jeans, sweatshirts, socks and all . . . muddy!

But between the rains and in spite of the cool days and cooler nights, we found signs of spring.

Mayapples.

These grow in the timber. We had a big patch at III so these remind me of good times in the timber. I planted just a tiny clump a bunch of years ago. Look at them now! I love the way the little delicate white violets bloom under the protective cover of the Mayapples umbrellas . . . and the yellow (wall flower) dandilions are being brave and inching in closer to the beautiful damsels, the Mayapples!

There is a little dwarf apple tree sits up the hill by the "big shed". It is in lovely bloom right now. We should research when and how to spray it here in a week or two so that we would have a lovely crop of apples on it, late summer. But we never get it sprayed and then we end up with 3 or 5 apples . . . we have got to learn to be more responsible farmers!

These creatures are in our garden box on the bank. I planted them last visit down and they are starting to take off; to grow. These are onions plants . . . and it won't be long until we will be able to pull these and use them to enhance our scrambled eggs or our lettuce salad. Can't wait!

We have 3 or 4 lilacs bushes at Too. A couple of them took a beating last spring or fall as about half of the bush is dead. There are lilac blooms developing on three of the shrubs tho and the next couple of weeks should be really pretty at the cabin.

I really like this photo of the new little Buckeye Tree . . . with the short yellow dandilion staring up at it, admiringly. I really would love to have a nice Buckeye at Too where children (and Nana) could pick up Buckeyes for good luck. Wish me luck that this one grows!

This is a Redbud and it was the week of the Redbud in Mo. These trees are gorgeous! The magnolia trees were waning and the flowering crabs just coming on but the Redbuds were at the heighth of their glory.

The Bradford Pears took second place this weekend -- just behind the Redbuds. The "pears" have such a distinctive shape and are so WHITE in relationship to anything else around. They just plain catch your eye.

This little gal was inspecting out of the Big Cabin's second floor windows. She was looking for signs that the ground was drying up and the grass coming up under the swinging tree.

She didn't find it.

Hopefully that will happen soon. In May.

Audri and her Mama bopped down for supper Saturday evening. PaPa and Nana enjoyed their company.

LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A STAIRWAY/STRINGERS

2011-04-15T13:14:00.000-07:00

This was tough, a true challenge to our patience, wits, thoughts, anger management, skills or lack of, but we did it. We read, watched movies, laid things out, and when that didn't look right, we read some more, watched more movies, and laid things out again. Over and over. Finally, we decided, we just had to do it and see what happens. The worst would be we would have to buy more boards. So with the framing square and the "stair guides" attached, herself laid out the pattern. What if this isn't right? What if the angle is off? What if the distance between steps isn't right? What if it doesn't come out right at the top? What if the steps aren't level? What if they aren't plum? And on and on. Heck with all that. The pattern was laid out on the 2X10 by herself,and then what? She deserted me!!! Say What??? She left!!! "I did my part" she said as she prettied herself up and headed to town. There I was with 2 huge boards with a pattern that I was to cut with the old circular saw. No one to help lift the boards, hold the boards while I was cutting, no moral support, just deafining silence.
Oh, well, here we go. I started cutting the first board and all went well. Laid the cut board on top of the uncut board and used the first board for a pattern for the second. BUT, I didn't allow for the huge bow and it threw all my cuts off for the second board. Not even close, but I used the framing square and remeasured the angles, recut the second board, and it came out perfect. And I did it without "herself".
So, we now have now built a stairway, and this will be great knowledge, as we have to build steps for the porch. It wasn't easy, it took alot of time and patience, a few tense conversations, but as usual, common sense prevailed again.
We also started building the wall for the bathroom. At least we know where its going to be. The next trip we will purchase studs for the rest of the walls and hopefully get some built.
Still the BOI

The Stairway

2011-04-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

The framing square, one of the most useful of tools to a carpenter. If only we knew how to use the dang thing. We have attached "stair guides: to this one so we can draw out our stair steps.

Pondering the situation, getting ready to attempt to cut the stair "stringers"

The "brains" behind this operation, is laying out the steps. After reading and watching movies on the internet, she figured it out, cause I sure couldn't. Ain't she a beauty??

Wow, they are starting to look like a stairway. Professionally cut, I might add.

There they are, in all its natural beauty. They are kind of steep, but space is at a premium, even in the bigger cabin.

I think this is looking down from the loft. One thing, if someone falls and the door is open, they will tumble right out to the ground.

The Loft

2011-04-07T19:11:00.000-07:00

Here we are, moving towards the finish of the loft floor. We have just enough lumber to finish it. We will leave the last few boards un-attached as we have to leave room to be able to get the drywall into the loft.

Here, we are cutting a floor joist so we can install the stairway.

This old circular saw was purchased for me by my Dad when we were roofing 1503 Rebecca St in Sioux City. That would have been in the early 70's. Nanc will no doubt come up with the exact date. Anyway, ITS OLD!!!

In this picture the joist is cut.

In this picture, we have leaned a 2X10 to see what the stairs may look like.

This is a picture of the floor almost finished, and the stair opening framed, and braced.

Another picture of what the stairs will look like.

Second Job

2011-04-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

April 1, Friday: We are back at Too. We will try to finish the loft floor tomorrow. It will be up early and to the lumber yard to get the 2X6's we need. Since our last visit two weeks ago, we have discussed, researched, negotiated, compromised and arm wrestled the stairway. Himself finally dreamed the solution. No, not really, he saw it on HGTV. On DIY TV or maybe it was Ask this Old House. At our age we don't remember every detail . . . but he saw it on TV and by golly, this evening we stood in the new cabin and craned our necks staring up at the loft and placed a ladder here and there and maybe we have the solution! We do not yet, of course, know how to accomplish that stairway to the loft but just knowing where is half the battle!

April 2, Saturday: up we got and off to town with the trailer bouncing after. We soon had the 2X6 8s and the 2X6 12s loaded and secured and hauled back to Too. We spent the rest of the day climbing up the ladder, measuring, cutting, laying and nailing 2X6 boards. Then we climbed down the ladder to retrieve fallen objects, climbed up. Climbed down the ladder to get one more thing we needed. Climbed up. Climbed down the ladder for one more board. Climbed up. We bent and stooped and stretched and in Himself's case, piroutted and pranced in his high wire act. We worked hard for a couple of mature citizens and it was fun and healthy and rewarding. Okay, not to sugar coat, we might have have a couple of tense, non-compromising moments too . . . . but we have learned not to leave, not to give up, not to blow it off. We toe the mark, square off, talk it through and reach a mutually acceptable conclusion. Usually . . .

By late afternoon, there was one lady in the house that was having a little trouble straightening up after bending over, handling the air nailer. There was one lady a little slower at the toting and fetching. One lady who's experienced legs were making those trips up and down the ladder a little more slowly. Okay, my tail was dragging!

So we called it quits for the day and Herself got the broom and the shop vac and begged Himself to go grill that ribeye and bake those tators. Herself had worked up an appetite!

April 3, Sunday: up pretty early because we had crashed pretty early. Climbed up that ladder one more time with a goal to finish that loft room floor. We just had about 2' left and we could see the end in sight. We did have some problems to solve, some decisions to make and some mistakes to cover up (you mean you hadn't guessed?) but after a couple of hours we gotter done and went to eat. That eating, that's our reward for all the hard work -- well, and to restore our energy! Eggs and bacon and hashbrowns smothered in onions and green peppers. Now that's breakfast!

Our belly's full, we are brought up short! We are staring it straight in the face. The big . . . BAD . . . STAIRWAY! Are we going to be able to draw out those stairs and cut those stringers? Are we going to be able to find the run and rise and the number of treads and the number of risers? And when we are done, are the treads going to be level and the rise plum and will the last step come out just right and meet the top of the finished second floor?

Oh. Well. Hhmmm. Please stay tuned.

This story is still to be written. You don't know the answer to those questions because Himself and I don't know either! There's another whole chapter to this tale!

To prevent Altzheimer's

2011-03-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have read that to prevent Alzheimer's there's a few things to practice and a life style to adopt. One is never stop learning. They used to say "do cross word puzzles" but now they say "learn" to do cross word puzzles (or something you have never done before -- like write left handed if you are right handed or climb mountains if you haven't or learn the Chinese language if you learned Spanish has a baby. Learn something new and practice anything to engage your brain!). I just hope learning new soft ware programs at work is one of the requisites of preventing Alzheimer's because we are having to do that every little bit! Ha!

(As an aside, my trusty Webster's New World Dictionary, copyrighted in 1981, does not contain the word Alzheimer's although according to the internet it was discovered 105 years ago in 1906.)

This past weekend, I practiced a few things and learned new things, that will hopefully help me Prevent Alzheimers. I'm not sure what it will do to prevent broken bones . . . hhmmm?

One activity I practiced was crawling around on a skinny 2 X 6 14 feet above a solid surface. Some day when we are waiting for paint to dry, I'll tell you just how it feels to lay on a 2X6" board high above a solid surface, clinging with one hand and taking a photo with the other -- while my better half, Himself, prances and preens and balances as tho he's a high wire artist.

Another new skill I'm practicing is using this brand new and long coveted automatic nailer -- while standing on a ladder 12 feet above a solid surface.

Gee, I think I have a theme going here. Solid Surfaces. Hanging on for dear life. High above! WTHeck am I thinking? But after all is said and done, I sure had a good time. I'm going back for more!

I'M JUST FLOORED!!

2011-03-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

The long winter "cabin fever" syndrom is over. Herself and I loaded up and headed for the hills of Missouri. Our goal was to stock up the cabin with supplies and goodies, and start some work on the new cabin. I started by removing the propane heater from the shed and installing it in the new cabin to take the edge off any cold temperatures.

After herself returned from her shopping "drudgeries" we discussed the stairs, then went to work on bracing the floor/ceiling rafters. All was well, we knew they were supposed to be 24" on center, so we measured and remeasured and came up with 22 1/2" for the proper length for the bracing. We measured after each brace we put in just to make sure, and sure enough each rafter measured exactly 24" on center. BUT, as we started looking it appeared the rafters were starting to bow. We measured again, and again, all were exactly 24" on center. What the hell was going on. I finally went over to the side walls and measured, and sure enough, the sides had not been installed exactly 24" on center, causing our 24" on center in the middle of the rafters to be off. We decided we had to get some of the bows out so we hammered out 3 or 4 braces and just cut them to size. Just goes to show, no matter how perfect your measurements and plans are, they aren't worth a hoot if the other work is not done perfectly.

Nance: Himself and his nailer bracing the joists. Don't let him fool you as he knows what he is doing . . . I have an occasional flash back to when Gramps built houses but basically, I'm clueless!

Then, we went up the "stairs", ladder, and started on the floors. Of course we precut our flooring boards to exactly 12 and8 feet hoping to just be able to lay them down and nail them. But of course that didn't work out either. A couple of the wall studs stuck out further that the others, so we had to allow for that so we could lay a straight line to following laying down the first course. Thanks to a tip from Tommy on HGTV, we figured out how to lay down a chalk line allowing for the studs that were sticking out. Then because the Amish didn't place the rafters exactly 24" on center, we had to recut the flooring boards to fit wherever the rafters came out. We ended up laying about 7 or 8 rows of 2X6 which will be the rustic upstairs flooring.

Nance: There has been lots of "stairway" discussion but so far, this is our stairs.

After we get the floor done, we will work on the stairs. I reminded herself that when finishing the floor that we will need to leave a way for us to get down. Kind of like painting yourself into a corner.

Nance: there was a whole lot of open space; well, still is -- but not for long! I spent more time crawling around clinging to things while Himself swung from board to board like a monkey. I was ashamed of myself!

I can tell this will be a slow process as it appears neither of us knows what the heck we are doing. But we didn't have any major spats, and it was actually fun. Herself is kinda sore, but I came out of it in pretty good shape. We will both be lean and trim after this summer.

still BOI

Nance: this is going to be a nice big loft.

February 13, 2011

2011-02-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

A real quick trip to Mo today found quite of bit of snow on the ground yet. There was blue sky and good roads to get there and back again but no good way to get into the drive at the cabin. The local Twin Lake snow plow had thrown up a good 2' barrier at the bridge and the end of the driveway so we hiked in from the north road through 8 - 12" of slushy snow.

We carried down several loads of nails and power tools and fun, antlered lamps. Himself has been gathering electrical, drywall, plumbing odds and ends, materials and tools so as to be ready when the snow melts and the frost is out of the ground. We had thought the weekend of February 19 was going to be warm but the Forecasters are changing their minds and waving omens of frigid weather. Thank goodness we have had a little respite from the artic deep freeze the last couple of days and we might have another day or two of warmer weather to look forward to before it turns off cold again.

Winter visitors have left their calling cards. I can't "read" a lot of the prints but there is definitely one good size deer that comes calling . . . and several smaller critters. I think that deer looked in the back window of the cabin! That would be fun to wake up too -- a window peeking deer!

As we were moving things in and putting a saw table together, I could hear sounds of someone else working out there. We finished up and drove through the Lake to go back home and saw a few new community boat docks, anyway we assume they are lake-built and community owned. This dock is down the hill from our little cabin.

This new dock is on the Lake right below the "kids" lots.

Fun! The Small Frey and other children will be able to stand on this dock to fish.

Himself is just like a kid at Christmas. He can barely contain his excitement. He has been planning the attack -- the order of finishing the interior of the cabin. I'm sure he has it all sorted out in his head . . . he just hasn't given me a blueprint yet. I do know we will put down a floor for the room upstairs, first thing. Then we hope to figure out a stairway and a guard rail upstairs. We'll have a place to store tools, furniture and supplies while we work downstairs.

We both are looking foward to physical activity, learning new skills and trying new things. You all drop in, anytime, and bring your skills, energy and ambitions along as we finish the interior of the "big" cabin. It will be fun!

Good News / Bad News

2011-02-03T20:16:00.000-08:00

Government surveyors came to Ole’s southern Iowa farm last spring and asked if they could do some surveying. Ole agreed, and Lena even served them a nice meal at noontime.

After their work was done, the surveyors told Ole, “You were so kind to us; we wanted to give you the bad news in person, instead of by letter.”

“What’s the bad news?” asked Ole.

“Well, your farm is right on the state line,” the surveyors said, “and after our work was completed, we discovered your farm is not in Iowa. It’s actually in Missouri.”

“That’s the best news I’ve had in a long time,” said Ole. “I was just telling Lena this morning that I don’t think I can take another winter in Iowa !”

Road Trip

2010-12-29T20:28:00.000-08:00

On a cold, snowy day, four of us took a road trip to Two. We headed out Saturday morning and got as far as Osceola before stopping. We ate in and had pancakes and sausage and toast and jelly and eggs and hot peppers. Well. Yes. We had too much. But it was good and we don't do that often.

Then off we went in the snow flurries and cold, to Two. We hauled down a rug, a chair, a this, a that. The new cabin is going to be furnished before we even get the inside walls in!

You have not experienced cold, real cold, until you go into an unheated house (or cabin) where the temps have been down . . . oh say Zero to 20 degrees. And no heat. When you walk in the stark, naked cold sucks the heat out of your body, right out of your bones. Even with coats, hats and mittens.

This little cabin has the same capability. It will chill feet and bones and crack toilet bowls! The cold extracts the heat right out of the 2X4s and boards and the walls contract; they moan and groan. After a visit in the fall or winter, there is a process of winterizing. It calls for draining pipes and applying antifreeze. We empty the fridge (but leave the doors open so it doesn't mold in there!). So, we have learned how to protect the pipes and plumbing fixtures. We know how to leave the little cabin so it is there and inhabitable upon our return. And we try to deter the Japanese beetles . . .but, oh well, we haven't figured that one out yet! Those darn Japanese beetles will be there come spring, by the thousands! By the dustpan full!

Winter

2010-12-23T18:32:00.000-08:00

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December

A magical thing

And sweet to remember.

We are nearer to Spring

Than we were in September,

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

- Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

Brick Front Cabin

2010-11-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

We thought we had photos in here of the finished front! We do now!

Some day when the little cabin is the same gray as the big cabin, it will look all of a piece. OR I have been campaigning for a darker gray, to contrast with the big cabin but I have not gotten Himself to see my vision yet.

Excitement!

2010-11-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! I finally figured out how to put the tabs in the blogs! I'm jumping up and down, I'm so happy! I love it that you can sort by "label" now. If you just want to look at Family photos and entires, click the Family Tab. If you want Little Cabin entries, click Little Cabin and if you just want to be updated on the Big Cabin, click New Too label. Isn't that fun? And if you want to read about Flora and Fauna, why just click that tab!

********BBBBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZ***********

It is time for a Quiz!

What does Flora and Fauna refer to?

What does that mean?

Whoever has the correct answer in the comment section first, WINS!

And, of hey! If you want to see photos of northern Missouri, southern Iowa and/or the Amish, click on Neighbors!

My new life as a "builder"

2010-11-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Herself and I had discussed ever since the sale of III the possibility of building an addition to Grampsies little cabin. After much discussion, some heated, we decided to go ahead. The first step was to find someone to build or at least be in charge of building it. We both agreed to contact our old neighbor at III, Tim Medford, to see if he would be intrested in the task. He built churches for 20 some years and had built his own home by us when we were neighbors. He agreed to build us a cabin, and had many ideas of his own as to how it should be done. Althought some of the his ideas were not what "herself" desired, we finally came to agreement as to what would be done.

So the first task was the builder would draw up a list of materials we would need to get started. That done, we met at Menards in Clive on a Monday to pick up the materials. It took Tim and I a good three hours to pick out all the lumber, doors, windows, etc. We loaded it all piece by piece onto the trailer, and headed out.

He would take the materials to the cabin, and we would start the building process the following Tuesday. Here is the "cabin" backing into our driveway.

So after rounding up some food and clothes, I headed down Monday afternoon to the cabin so I would be there for work on Tuesday.

Tim arrived about 8:30 Tues morning with "Devon" an Amish person. After being introduced, I asked "Devon" if it would be all right to take his picture. "No" we do not pose for pictures. So I asked if he didn't know I was taking his picture, would it be all right. No answer. So I did get a picture or two with the Amish, but they didn't know it.

The Amish are great workers. No matter how hard they are working, they often would break out in to "song", religious songs of course, and they couldn't carry a tune, but it was fun listening to them.

Tues: we got the frame built and the floor joists installed, and the sheathing for the floor.

then went to work on the walls. I learned what "jack" studs, "king" studs, and "cripple" studs were. I had heard of them but now I was actually helping to install them for the windows and doors.

Wed: finished the walls

and prepped for the roof trusses. 13 of them weighing in at 4200 lbs. The truck that delivered them could only get part way up the drive, so we had to carry them one by one to the north end of the cabin and lift each one at a time up and over the wall and slide it down to the south end of the cabin. Then using a 16 ft 2X4, push it up into place while the Amish workers secured them into place.

Thurs: installed roof sheathing and wall sheathing

Fri: finished sheathing, Tim made up order for the metal roofing and siding which would be installed the following week. I was not part of any of the metal work. Here, we are unloading the "brake", borrowed from Dana, our son-in-law. It is used to bend and form the metal trim. Thanx, Dana.

This has been a very interesting project, from discussions, planning, purchasing, building, everything. I have never worked so hard in my life during the building, but it was very rewarding. Although I was tired and sore at the end of each day, I can proudly say I kept up with the younger lads, and a couple of times, they had to rest when I kept going.

One funny thing was "blister" kept showing up. He was nicknamed this because, as Tim said, he just keeps coming back. An old gent who rides around the lake on his mower would show up several times each day, to point out errors(in his opinion), offer all kinds of free advice as to the way he would have done things, and generally try to talk to everyone when we really didn't have the time to just talk.

One day he showed up bringing several packages of hamburger, buns, catsup, mustard and wanted me to grill burgers for everyone. So, at lunchtime, I cooked 6 burgers, one for each of the 3 workers and myself, with 2 extras, as thats all I had room for on the grill. I figured while we were eating the first serving of burgers, the others could be cooking. So, I took the first 6 in, called the guys in to eat, went out to put the next 3 on the grill, then went in to get one of the previously cooked burgers to eat. BUT, when I went in, each of the guys had taken 2 burgers each, walked out to eat them, leaving me with NOTHING. I was shocked, but nothing I could do, so I had to wait another 15 minutes for mine to finish cooking. Anyway, we all got to eat good that day, as usually we only had a lunchmeat sandwich at noon.
This is a picture of a couple of the Amish "helpers" caught in unaware action.

Ok, Thurs. Oct 27, 2010, I headed for Mo for what i'm hoping will be the last trip to work on the new cabin. We have to install the "Nova" brick on the front of the cabin. The builder said after the "start" row, that it would go fast. Hah!! Every 4th row we had to drill holes in the brick and screw them in to help secure and tie it all in. While it maybe easier that real brick and mortar, I don't think it was any faster. We finally finished the brick late Friday afternoon.(PIC) We were both beat and glad it was over with. Then came an hour of figuring the final bill for his labor. That out of the way, it was time to say "good-bye". Tim went on his way, and I cleaned up from all the concrete dust and dirt and awaited the arrival of "herself" and hopefully her approval of the final finishing touch. Now we will start thinking about finishing the interior, which will be a slow process, as we have to do the wiring, plumbing, insulation, interior walls and doors, drywall, and on and on and on. It will be a challange and it will be fun, and will also mean some new tools for me.

(Himself) or the BOI

Chapter 4

2010-10-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a 4-room cabin. As of this weekend, anyway, that is the plan. There will be a master bedroom about 9 X 12, a bathroom with tub, shower, stool, sink and stackable washer and dryer and even a little closet space. There will be an upstairs "loft" and a livingroom. Oh, well, and that wonderful big front porch will be another room! When we build the dogtrot, that will be another room and more storage.

If you look closely, you can see a line on the floor. There is the bathroom with, to the left, an area for the stacking washer and dryer and a closet (under those boards), then a pedestal sink, a shower/tub and the stool. No window. Look up. There's an exhaust fan! Except today Himself said, we'll see . . . about a little window on whichever wall the tub/shower is NOT. maybe.

And see those half circle windows leaning on the back wall? They will go in the dogtrot to provide some natural light.

Now there. You can see the tape. Here is where we will enter the bedroom. We will have two nice big windows, to catch the summer breezes. There will only be room for a queen size bed and a nice size dresser. We might squeeze in two bedside tables to hold the Vicks and the Icy Hot close at hand.

Here is where we will enter the new cabin, from the old cabin. Himself and I discussed whether we would need a wall to close off the bedroom. I said, let me think about it. I came back later and said "we DO need that bedroom wall. We need it in case we are still in PJs or in case we want to hide from whoever is coming to the front door! lol

And this, this is a view out the living room windows. There are the rocking chairs that I carried up yesterday and there is the Shagbark Hickory Tree left standing and intact, throughout the construction. I love that old tree!

Chapter 3

2010-10-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

Another trip to Mo to check the progress. The shell is complete except for the "brick" that will finish off the front of the cabin. Tim, the builder, is visiting family in Wisconsin and will stop in Des Moines on his way home to pick up the brick. One day this coming week, Tim and Himself will lay the brick up the front and then all that is left to do this fall, is to settle up -- pay Tim for the labor and pay for the materials and then get back to work, nose to the grindstone, and save and save so that next spring we can insulate, put down the upstairs floor and plan and do whatever else we can afford. It will take us several years to get everything done and paid for. We are sure looking forward to the adventure!

We have had a few lively discussions (disagreements?), negotiations, changes of mind. We have some challenges ahead. We hope this adventure keeps us young and motivated and forward looking. You all come along for the ride!

We slapped together some steps this weekend for this end of the porch. We borrowed the ladder from the boat for the other end. Himself put on the doorknob and locks at the backdoor and we picked up, putaway, and planned and plotted. Saturday evening was so nice, we even moved the rocking chairs from the little porch to the big porch and this time of year there are no insects!

Here is Himself, deep in calculation:

insulation, check.

wiring, check.

light fixtures, check.

outlets, check.

braces, bolts and bolsters!

The other side is thinking, now the davenport will go here, the round table there, we'll hang a little flat screen and here's where the coat rack will go. lol Not quite that extreme -- but, well, you know how it goes.

Poor little cabin looks like "poor relation" now but don't worry, little cabin, we have plans for you! There is a new roof, new siding and a new doorway or two in your future!

Big Cabin sits up big and tall. We (I) did not imagine the size and I always thought it would sit lower but I will adjust and get used to it and I think, when we are done, it will look "all of a piece". Or so I hope!

There's a big room upstairs, waiting to happen. We are glad we put in the bigger windows up there. We had thought to put in windows half that size but these will allow good ventilation and light up in that loft.

You all come back in a few days. Himself and I laid out the floor plan this weekend. We marked them out with masking tape. Everything subject to change, of course!

Inside out, mostly

2010-10-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

Himself checking out the view to the south -- over the "little" cabin.

Way up there you get a view of the Lake!

This is the upstairs room. It will be about 12 X 24.

It might be the bunkroom! or the sewing room.

Maybe the office?

This eventually will be screened in, I'm thinking.

This is probably about where the stair will come up/go down,

looking into the living room.

This is the Master Bedroom.

Don't you love those windows?

This is the front hallway.

Straight ahead is the front door out onto the big porch.

Just at the left, is the "connecting" door that will take you to the little cabin

through what is now the bedroom window of the little cabin.

And this is the living room, looking out toward the road up the hill, and out of the park.

It faces that big tin shed across the street but when the trees are leafed out,

there is not much you will be able to see out these windows except trees and leaves!

What do you think? Won't it be fun?

Won't it be fun after Himself and I discuss and argue; negotiate and bargain; bribe and blackmail, while making the decisions involved in finishing it out! For instance, one issue already won and lost was the bathroom. I thought there should be a window in the bathroom. Himself did not.

None of our bathrooms on Chestnut Street have windows, said Himself.

No, they do not, said the other side and I've always wondered why?

So three days straight I texted or telephoned and said, what about a window in the bathroom?????

Well, scroll down to "bathroom".

See who won Round 1!

One round down, 101 left to go!

There's the bathroom -- way back there in the far, dark, corner of the cabin, with nary a window cut out!

House Raising

2010-10-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

Our neighbor at the Lake, called these the concrete mushrooms. She emailed and said we had "concrete mushrooms" sprouting on our lot!

I am just going to put these photos in for now, and let them stand on their own!

I have been waiting for Himself to Blog. I even offered him photos for him to write around but he has projects at both ends. Not only is this cabin rising in northern Missouri but our heat pump is being replaced in southern Iowa. In addition to that, he's working half days at OMC and trying to finish trimming the house.
We expect to make a trip down and back middle of this week and may get there again on Friday. I would enjoy being there for the WHOLE thing but we are really busy and struggling at work, what with this "going paperless" project and I hate to turn my back!

Anyway, I am really liking this addition. I didn't know it would be so big! Himself says from the upstairs loft, one will be able to see over the little cabin. It won't look "of a whole piece" probably until we can get the little cabin resided and the dogtrot added on. But still, we will be able to use the livingroom and our first interior improvement, we hope, will be the bathroom with shower! Anyway, lots to tell and lots to come and I know Himself will join us soon.

New Adventure

2010-09-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

to quote Himself, "our new adventure" has begun! Himself and the contractor made the first decisions today . . . and Himself made the first down payment! lol Probably the first of many. I'm hoping you know who will get to writing in here and give some of his observations and points of view. October 4, three of us will go to Des Moines and pick out siding and windows and doors -- exciting things like that! I am almost convinced I should stay home but Himself thinks I should go.

Here

2010-09-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

Here is Himself, digging out old footing piers so that he can level and "pour' new footing piers. He gets down and dirty! But he getsherdone!

Here we have been digging and hauling dirt away. He digs and levels and I haul good black dirt to my garden and then scrub the mildow from the cabin's north wall.

Here, I have started cleaning. Remember, children! If you ever get lost in the woods, look for the moss on the north side of the tree so you know which way to walk yourself out of there! lol

Here! yes, here. This will be the building site. In just a couple of weeks, I should have photos to show you so our imagination doesn't have to do all the work!

I can't wait! I am so excited and looking forward to digging holes and framing walls and laying subfloor. I'm looking forward to battles (oh no, not battles! discussions, planning meetings, strategy planning with Himself on finishes, colors, layouts, details. I am hoping he will be motivated to post in here again! I'm throwing down the gauntlet!

Here is an adventure, waiting to happen!

Scrumptious

2010-09-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

Whoever thought Nana would be posting photos of food? I must think I'm Pioneer Woman or something (oh wait, I do! I do think I'm Pioneer Woman -- remember all those posts from III where I said "I can do/endure/chop/dig/build/heal/deliver this because I come from Pioneer Stock!)

Himself and I created this pretty meal last Saturday evening at Too. Himself smoked that pork and created those home-made french fries! Yum! I layered the pork and tomato and provolone cheese and toasted it under the broiler. Throw in a home grown ear of corn and some previous fresh air and exercise, and you have one deliriously happy, well fed, spoiled rotten girl!

At the Kitchen Table

2010-09-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

I'm sittin here at the kitchen table at Too. I really hadn't wanted to come down this weekend. We were here last weekend and I thought I had better things to do at home . . . like clean house, get ready for company in a couple of weeks and see my grandchildren. But, Himself, wanted and had projects lined up and so I didn't moan or whine (or very much anyway) and here we are. Me at the table with this new friend of mine with thunder rumbling overhead and lightening flashing off to the south and it is right. I was meant to be here, relaxing. We have had an extremely busy (wild/crazy/maniac) week at work and as the economy continues to slump, we just get busier. I have been pretty much in control and level and digging down and getting her done until today when we got the word that next week is the target week. Next week, we get our training and our go ahead and we move to the new paperless era. We give up the paper copies and learn how to get our scanned documents out of the computer. I have to admit, I got a little anxious. I thought about hyperventilating and pounding the walls shouting "Why?" "Why?"

I wondered, how will I get my work done using new software and retreiving scanned documents when I almost have too much work to get done now using known and proven methods?

Then we arrived at Too and breathed in the rain freshened air. We took a golf cart ride around the quiet lake roads. I settled down and remembered that I have always survived every new software upgrade. I've waded through many system changes. I am determined, if not young and agile and quick. I will adapt. I will getherdone.
So this is where I should be right now. Here at Too. Rocking on the screened porch with Himself, releasing the tension in my shoulders, letting the worry go. Enjoying the moment . . . love, Nana from Too

Buggy crossing

2010-08-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

Hot day in July

under ominous clouds.

The Amish trot down our road.

The Amish trot down their road now!

I like sharing the road with the

slower paced, old world folks

and always hope to take a photo that will

remind me of good days in the country.

Distant Memories . . .

2010-08-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

Distant Memories . . . sometimes in this entry distant memory means a "photo from a distance" . . . other times it means a memory from a distance. I love looking through all the old photos of us at Too. I can't believe we have been going and enjoying for so long. Enjoy along with me -- enjoy this visit to Too!

oh hey. Not fair! this is from a trip to Kansas City, I think, back in the mid 1950s. I would have been too young to stand up on that wall. I would have fallen off backwards. Just ask Granny! But I do have a few scattered memories of this family trip to the Kansas City zoo.

Good times.

You've heard this before,

2010-08-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

I bet. Just a reminder to keep the negative out . . . and let the sun shine in.

One day an old Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson. He said, “There are two wolves fighting inside all of us – the wolf of fear and hate, and the wolf of love and peace.”

The grandson listened, then looked up at his grandfather and asked, “Which one will win?”

The grandfather replied, “The one we feed.”

All wet

2010-08-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Gary and Alice gave us this pump. I love it! It is just right. Himself spruced it up with a good coat of paint.

4th of July weekend

2010-07-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

Prairie coneflowers are in bloom.

Gabby loves dogs! and cats . . . and horses . . . and frogs and clams from the lake.

Audri Lu loves birthdays and cousins and staying at the cabin and being three!

Bella Bu loves bubbles, her Mama and DaDa and running and climbing!

The bridge is done!

Maddie Mu loves birthday cake, her Nana (you better, Maddie!) and new front teeth!

Joseph Austin loves golf carts and 4-wheelers and cars and all things transportational.

Is that a word? Transportational?

Jack loves camping and fishing and all "guy" things.

Ah, you, come here, Jack. I'm going to count those ribs and kiss you to pieces!

Morghan Grace loves everything. Parties. Family get-to-gethers.

Her friend McKenna, camping, the cabin . . . you name it!

Tyler, I have to apologize for not getting a better pic of you. You were off and running, riding -- traveling to Lake Marie. I got the back of your head, Mr T! But we are sure glad you got to see us! Come back soon!

Other than the 3" of rain that came down the night of July 4 that rained out the fireworks and the boating and the camping and worst of all the SMORES, why, we all had a swell time! In fact, after the last three years, we expect it to rain on the 4th of July -- we expect to have the biggest rainfall in history. We expect to be damp and soggy and irritable. We would feel wierd if it didn't rain. But that doesn't mean we like it.

oh year 2011? Will you please plan a dry week for July 4?

Mo and other thoughts

2010-07-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

Himself and I ran down to Too Saturday and came home Sunday. We found that we might want to be home this coming weekend so we high-tailed it to Too to check the grass and the garden. There was a bit of rain in the ol' rain gauge but not a lot, for a change. Himself hauled out the mower and I hauled myself to town and then shopped every grocery store in the county. I like to spread my business around and this is a low population county but basically, these small stores sometimes "carry" one item while another does not. So to get what one wants, you shop them all!

Himself would say I love to shop but I don't, not really, not when it comes to grocery shopping . . . and not even clothes shopping or heath & beauty shopping. Now, if it is second hand rose shopping, or Rerun shopping or flea market or auction or garage sale shopping, then, YES! I do enjoy that kind of shopping. In writing this and reading it and analysing it, I guess I only like to shop if I think I am going to get a bargain. Well, it could be worse. Far worse. I could be a shop-o-holic who shops for everything! There is nothing wrong with finding a bargain . . . or even just looking for a bargain, in my opinion!

There it is! PaPa's new bridge. Or new bridge railings, I should say. There is PaPa's bridge and Nana's nine hundred and ninety-six cone flowers. The coneflowers were at their prime this past weekend. They were in their glory! And not just here, contained neatly in a bed, but marching all up and down the road. Marching right and marching left and even sometimes, across the street!

Here's the new vehicle. Pretty sharp, eh? what say? Nice!

It is boxier, than the First. Some features are better and some not quite so good as the earlier version. We will get used to it, I'm sure. It just plain feels bigger! Taller and . . . well, just plain bigger.

And these two pretties were growing side by side in the wild flower bed. Just like people, like humans, sometimes "like" flowers stay together and don't mix with the other flowers. Even tho these two are so very different, they are still striking together and sharing the same space. May we always be tolerant of others' differences.

After all, look how many people overlook your mother's idiosyncrasies . . .

The Rainy Season

2010-06-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

To say this spring has been rainy is an understatement. It has been wet! and it continues to rain here in northern Missouri. Talking to a full time resident at the Lake, last Saturday the Lake received 7+ inches and additional rain throughout the week including .8" on Friday and 1-3/4" on Saturday. Last weekend, Johanna and her friends were there when the 7" came. They got up Saturday morning to a lake in the front yard. The water came up through the bridge and over the driveway and our pretty little garden (in previous entry) washed away. The "kids" did some damage control and saved the bridge rails from washing away and picked up what plants they could find.

We ran down Saturday evening, a week later, and got up to a rip roaring thunder storm this morning!

The ground is soggy, the ditch runs hard and water streams down natural waterways through the yard, into the ditch and through the culvert. The ground is so wet we didn't mow as it just would have tracked up the grass and made more of a mess. Last evening, we picked up plants from around the yard. This illustrates how wet it has been there -- these plants have been out of the ground for a week and are still alive! We found 2 tomato plants, a bush cucumber and 3 marigolds.

I scrooped up clumps of black dirt washed out of the garden box and strewn around the yard. We raked up what dirt was left in the box and replanted. We even had some of the green onions left in the box and shored them up a little. Now we hope for sunshine and rains a little further apart . . . and may our garden grow.

Labor Day Weekend???

2010-06-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

nahhh. It just felt like it! It was a good weekend (except for one small breakdown in communication, according to Himself) and we got some things done that we had been wanting to do! So, no! It wasn't Labor Day but a fine Memorial Day weekend!

Himself and I prepared the "cabin side" of the bridge for repair.

We prepared . . . and were prepared to fix this bridge. We did.

Now, it is just left to put some rails back on. The easy part, Himself says.

Himself and I selected a spot for the Pump.

He built the form and we poured the concrete

and troweled it out smooth.

Himself washed up the 4-wheeler and added the spit and shine.

a

Himself spruced up the Party Harley.
He added a light and a switch to the front!
He had put tail lights on awhile back
so now we will be safe both day and night
both coming and going.

Look at us go! Zipping down the road after dark with the prop a whirling and the road lit up!

Nana found a new level spot for the hammock and tied it up tight.
It should be in the shade most part of every day!

Himself and I designed and built a new ladder for the boat.

We needed one a little sturdier anyway,

but when the top step broke under Himself's foot,

a ladder moved to the top of the list!

We needed the new steps so the little ones could climb up here and play house.

Or in a few years, camp out in the houseboat.

Of course, I'll have to lock them in! lol

If they are like their folks, they'll be trying to sneak out

and roam the neighborhood just because they can!

One last duty.

Nana dusted off the swings

and tested the ropes for wear and tear.

That's it!

Too is ready.

Too is ready for the summer season!

One level spot

2010-05-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in this cabin yard, there must be one level spot. There must be a spot where I can plant some vegetables. Where I can put in a bush cucumber and a cherry tomato that will volunteer year after year so that when we come for the weekend, I won't have to transport the veggies! They'll be growing outside my door!

Hey, you all! Is there a level spot here? oops. no. sorry.

Jack, please don't set your hair on fire.

Gabby! is there a level spot here? where cukes and onions and tomatoes will grow?

No? Just shade and no sun. That won't work.

Where then?

Can't see even half a level spot from this angle.

Nor from this angle!

There must be a flat spot somewhere,

with some good black dirt

just waiting for me to plant it to garden.

Oh wait. I think I see it now!

Look! It is level!

There is real dirt in there!

Himself did it!

Himself made us a level spot!

We will have veggies after all!

Weather permitting . . . and the creek don't rise.

Borrowed from Illinois

2010-05-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

When I first visited Urbana and Champaign, Illinois I fell in love with the Katsura tree.

In fall, the leaves are a lovely apricot to orange color and they shimmer in the breeze like Aspen or Cottonwood leaves. I searched the internet and finally found what I thought would grow up to be the 15 or 20 foot Katsura tree that I first met and loved in Illinois. This is this tree's 3rd spring in Missouri. It has grown hardly at all but it looks healthy and the leaves are the shape I remember. Instead of one trunk, this tree came with a half of dozen. I'm okay with that. I can live with that. But I want this tree to start growing taller! It is supposed to grow taller and block our yard from the neighbor's back deck -- and I want to admire the beautiful apricot leaves in the fall. I think this is the growing year for my Katsura tree!

What the heck is that?

2010-05-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Craig: I've never seen anything like this!

Tony: oh wait! My cousin owned one of these once!

Craig: Let's get an M40.

Tony: Wait, I think this is a paint by number!

Goat Rodeo

2010-05-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

I used to work with a woman that when the going got rough or the going got wild and out of control, she described it as a goat rodeo. I believe she raised goats . . . so she would know! Well, I think now I know why she would describe such a time as a Goat Rodeo . . .

and I was so excited and the gravel road was so full of pot holes,

that 2 out of 3 photos are out of focus -- and you know what, it was a real goat rodeo!

Northern Mo and Southern Iowa

2010-05-03T20:13:00.000-07:00

These are more common place, each year.

Himself is very careful, respectful

when he comes up behind a buggy.

We always smile and wave as we go 'round.

Deere

2010-05-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

Himself ordered and mounted a rear bumper to his mower.

I asked what is the advantage to that?

In case someone backs into a tree or something, he said.

This protects the engine.

"Pfffft", I said, under my breath.

Himself isn't going to back into a tree . . . he just doesn't do things like that

(oh well, except for that one time he mangled the license plate

-- but hey! that was once in 40 years!)

And I can't do things like that (backing into trees) if I don't ride this mower. \

Therefore, this bumper is safe! The bumper is for looks!

Looks alone!

Sharp!

Garage Sale

2010-05-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

I am houseware heavy. After closing III, we carted home all our housekeeping equipment that I had accumulated at III. You notice, I said, "I accumulated". Himself, left to his own devices would have had 1 knife, 1 pancake turner, 1 skillet and a coffee pot. Oh, yes. And paper plates and towels and matches. Matches so that he could burn the paper plates and towels. That's it!

Worst part of all that is he probably would have been just fine and would have created gourmet meals and entertained royalty and won awards. Whereas I dragged home 3,000 pieces to III -- utensils, silverware, glasses, china plates, mixing bowls, 6 sizes of pans, 3 cast iron skillets, a can opener, potato peeler, melon baller, 7 cereal bowls, measuring cups and spoons, steak knives, butter knives, table knives and butcher knives! Dipper, strainer, dish pan, coffee measure, pint jars, quart jars, 1/2 gallon and gallon jars!

And would have cooked pork n beans, boiled eggs, oatmeal, tomato soup, hominy and beef brains.

Okay. Just kidding about the brains. But you get the idea.

So now what? Now there is a "family first" garage sale. If any of you need silverware, cooking utensils, glasses, pot, pans or dishes for camping, speak now -- or forever hold your peace!

If you believe you can use any of these, some of these or even ONE of these, let me know.

I'll hold it for you. Otherwise, I am prepared . . . I am preparing . . . I plan (I really do)

on donating all this to the Twin Lake Garage Sale.

Seven nice (brown, okay) cereal bowls.

and this. Can you guess what this is, above?

This is a contest. If you know what that wooden thing does, is, represents -- tell me and you win the prize!

Look at this beauty. I'm not sure I can give this baby up.

This is a vintage aluminum bread box.

It will hold two loaves of sandwich bread

or maybe you can store several pairs of shoes in here . . .

or the family volkswagon! lol

This thing is big and precious.

New Orleans, vacation 2010

2010-04-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

My girls and I had a wonderful opportunity to get away for a long weekend. I don't know how it came to be . . . guess it was a "bee" in someone's bonnet. It worked out so that Erica, Johanna and I flew out of Kansas City and met Kristy in New Orleans. It wasn't as simple as that as our flight left early so three of us drove to KC after work on Wednesday to simplify getting to the airport on time (we had to get up at 5 am, for gosh sakes!) Kristy got to the Urbana airport easily enough but her flight got cancelled for maintenance to the airplane. Kristy's ticket agent had to work her behind off to get Kristy to New Orleans only a couple of hours late instead of 4 or more . . . while Kristy was holding head in hand, moaning "I'm late; I'm late!" But it all worked out. Here are three sisters standing in the New Orleans International Airport, April 7, 2010. And delighted to be here!

We (okay, me)I met Kristy coming off the plane with a piece of paper:

FONTANA

it said. Just like in the movies.

We all met her. I was the one with paper.

A shuttle ride to the car rental, then here we are. Standing in the State of Louisanna. In New Orleans, in fact. Standing in the garden of our condo, Wyndham at Trend West. Or Trend West at Wyndham. I can not keep that straight! But whatever . . . the condo was perfectly located beside the Street Car track that would take us to the French Quarter . . . or west to a residential/small restuarant area. Yes, it would. It would take us there when it was running on schedule. And it did run on schedule sometimes. And sometimes it didn't and then we walked a few blocks and found breakfast and Lottes . . . or hailed a cab to get where we were going! Either way, it worked.

We were on floor Eleven. I walked the stairs once, just to see if I could (I could!), but usually we took the old-fashioned elevator. Most of our experience at this hotel was great! Absolutely the best . . . except upon departure we had occasion to think otherwise . . . but that is story for another day. You can see the Westbound Street Car Tracks in this photo. Natives (and/or fitness conscience visitors) used the Street Car Median for jogging or riding their bicycles. The joggers and bikers yielded to the Street Cars. At least while we were visiting.

One of the things I wished for, before going on vacation.

A 'sure enough', real life, Brass Band, marching down the street in the French Quarter.

Folks were following along, throwing Mardi Gras beads and dancing in the street.

And drinking. Did I mention drinking in the streets.

This is St. Charles Avenue, the Street our lodging was on.

In the French Quarter.

Silverstein and me.

We saw his brother Goldstein, later.

And Whitestein, down the block!

All with a cash box in front of them.

Wanta photo? You pay!

This is a photo taken in the French Quarter.
This is where all the sidewalk bars,
ghost tours, street attractions and Music Festival
attendees congregated! The crowd grew so large,
the buggy drivers had to shut down and go home.
Darn!
We waited too long to look for a buggy ride.

At the festival, we saw all kinds of art work.

Had the opportunity to try all kinds of new seafood.
Nana actually did eat the crawfish; everyone tried them!

From the internet:
Steps to Eating Boiled Crawfish

1. Remove the head - Hold the top of the crawfish with one hand,
and place your other hand above the tail.
Twist so that the tail separates from the head.
2. Pinch the very end of the tail with one hand,
and pull the tail meat out with the other.
3. Enjoy the delicacy!

The Optional Part

Some people actually add another step to eating boiled crawfish.
When you remove the head from the crawfish,
if you want to savor every drop of spice,
you can suck the head before you discard it.
If you are a novice when it comes to eating crawfish,
you probably will want to skip this step.
If you're feeling adventurous, though, give it a try!

Kristy must be an old pro. These are the exact instructions she gave us!
And we did. We ate crawfish and sucked the head. Try it!

Where did all the people come from?
The crowds were larger than anticipated.

Meet Dancing Man!
He's a Dancing Machine!

We are on the Free Ferry, crossing the Mississippi to Algiers
looking back at the Music Festival Crowd on the other side.

More crowd and more art.

This is Laura, the plantation. It is being lovingly restored. It is a creole plantation and (as we learned) we know this because of the original color scheme. The Creole's were brightly painted. The "Americans" painted their big houses white. The Americans were looked down upon for quite a long time.

Laura's lawn and an ancient oak tree.

This is the "mother-in-law's" house.

Fact is tho, she managed the plantation for about 60 years

and then, before turning the reins over to her granddaughter,

built this huge house and demaned $75 grand a year to "consult".

She was a smart, capable woman.

Maybe a "tough cookie" is a good description!

Oak Alley

This blows my mind! The trees were planted 100 years before the house was built!

Maybe there was a smaller home up that lane before they erected this one, fit for a King?

Laura's lovely garden is a backdrop for this good photo.

I could write more . . . and should!

but I might not ever get it posted

so here goes! Enjoy.

Missing Persons & other related tales

2010-04-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

I still haven't figured Blogger out since they changed the way we insert photos. In a lot of ways it is better, easier -- but I still struggle. I suppose it could just be me . . . oh no. I hate to admit that.

In the Title, it says "Missing Persons". When I got home and pulled my photos off the camera, I didn't have a single one of two young boys. In thinking back to the weekend, the images and memories of Jack and Joey are with their back to me -- running off somewhere. Or on the 4-wheeler, taking a ride with someone. I did have them in the cabin awhile Saturday and later in the golf cart at one point but it was raining and cold and I didn't stop to take their picture. Not that the boys (or the girls for that matter) minded the cold or the rain. They all had blankets and were enjoying tearing around the lake -- and not a one asked to go home. Finally, Nana, had to make an executive decision. "We are going home", she yelped, soaked up to her knees and down her back. Nana turned and ran -- with her tail between her legs!

I'm sorry I didn't get photos of Jack and Joey but I am delighted that they both like the cabin and the outdoors and all things mechanical and male -- and I will get photos next time.

These swings still always get a good work out.

I will really be sad if, or when, there are no little ones

to swing in this good Swinging Tree.

This old "Good Time Harley" has already been a lot of fun for us and is sure helpful to have a round. It can Zip up to the cabin to get something forgotten or needed -- or it can carry 5 or 6 children from one place to another with only a little groaning and creaking. I think this is a 1978 or '79 model, plus or minus 6 years. No matter the age, tho, the Cart has about a trillion lake miles on it. Five of Vi's grandchildren learned to drive on it and now five of mine are taking turns, learning. Well, okay, 6. Six! Now that Audri sat on my lap the other day and steered.

A busy scene; if I hadn't cut off so many heads, this would have been a really good photo!

Chez Dana (with a little burger flipping from his FIL) served us up a great smorgasbord of shrimp, tuna, scallops, pork steak, burgers and hot dogs! Oh, and one turkey sandwich. We all found something we liked and new things to try and were well fed. I was in awe of the variety.

Morghan spent quite a little bonding time with Bella and will soon be of an age to babysit. She is honing her skills and, of course, becoming more responsible every day. Morghan Grace, is like her Mama and her Nana before her. Morghan Grace loves her babies! I heard her "hint" to her Mama the other day that she would welcome a new sibling . . . if that should ever be a possibility. lol

And here is the Birthday Girl!

Madeline Mae, 7 years

Maddie, may your 7th year be a wonderous thing.

Make a Wish, Maddie Mae!

And don't tell!

Those cupcakes were delicious --

and a great idea, especially while camping.

I'm not sure what the attraction was here.

But I think these are ring-side seats and that

something is going on over there!

Gabrielle says

Goodbye.

Good Night!

The End!

Spring in northern Missouri

2010-04-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

We have a Redbud in Mo.

One living, breathing, blooming,

Redbud.

and one dead one. Darn!

Himself and I had a good visit.

We swept and prepared the cabin.

Meeting --

Next weekend. You all come.

I hiked the banks.

I walked the roads and the little lake.

First time.

(more about that later).

We rode to Lake Marie

and saw the new and the old cabins

Home again,

and enjoyed the evening on the porch.

This trip, we soaked up sunshine

and relaxation by the yard.

Too soon

it came, to journey back home.

Above, Pretty, delicate Sweet Williams.

Or as some say,

Wild Phlox.

Photos just do not do it justice.

Lonely

2010-01-18T18:48:00.000-08:00

What is more lonely than a swing in Winter?

Well, three swings, of course!

Fruits of the Labor

2010-01-17T20:39:00.000-08:00

Himself got the heater installed, hooked up to the propane, the pilot light lit and the heater going. It will be Good!

Memorabilia

2010-01-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

Sorghum Mill sign is one of Gramps' original that was put at corners directing folks to the Sorghum Days celebration. Brother Gary gave this to me along with the big pulley. The pulley was to be used to pull the bucket out of Pioneer Well at III. Its original use was to pull the water bucket up from a well. Wouldn't that have been fun!

Can't wait

2009-12-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

for these days, again. Warm weather. Cabin Days. Grandchildren fighting over who gets to drive next! What fun!

Too in Winter

2009-12-14T18:25:00.000-08:00

Bleak! No other way to describe this wintery view of the lake and shoreline. Just plain bleak!

But then this snowy bridge below doesn't strike me as being so forlorn and desolate, like the picture above. The snow-dusted bridge just looks pretty!

Himself has ordered his Christmas present (he told me after it was ordered). He ordered a wall heater with a thermostat so I think I foresee some winter visits in our future!

We have gone down in the winter and stayed. We heat the cabin with the oven and electric heaters but his Christmas present heater will be more efficient, more cost effective and an investment in our future visits. We look forward to our future visits.

I've got to get my skis dusted off!

9 years ago

2009-12-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

where has the time gone?

We were putting the houseboat in for the first time in 2000.

Look at this pretty, young crew member . . .

Weren't those fun days?

I do too have on skis!

2009-12-13T16:44:00.000-08:00

This is what Himself and I were doing a year ago. I'm wondering if that is why we sold III, so we wouldn't have to go out and fall down again this year? However, I do mean to get the skis out and try it again. Guess this too will have to wait until after Christmas but then watch out! Walking trail, here I come! Are there any volunteers to go with me?

I do apologize for that hat on my head but I've always heard you need to weat a hat outside and this one is wool and warm. In fact it was too warm and I wore it only long enough for Himself to snap this action shot and sorry I wore it that long!

My grandbabies' cheeks . . .

2009-11-11T20:14:00.001-08:00

Cousins. My grandchildren find a great connection with "cousins". I love it!
Next series of photos will be labeled "kissing cousins" . . . cuz I've got lots of photos!

Audri! ! !

2009-11-11T19:58:00.000-08:00

Nana said " No Jumping on the Bed!"

At the cabin . . .

2009-11-11T18:57:00.000-08:00

Nana is always after grandbabies for bouncing on the bed but if I were to look at statistics, we probably get more SMILES (Maddie is hiding hers!) from bouncing on the bed than we get injuries. (I just remember the injuries better, I guess!)

"went to the doctor and the doctor said "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR JUMPING ON THE BED!"

And for eating Cheesies in bed, Jack!

Double Trouble

2009-11-11T18:52:00.000-08:00

More fun at the cabin! I can't figure out what Gabby is doing. It looks as though she is sitting on the top of the stroller. But surely Nana wouldn't let her do that just for the sake of a picture? Well, maybe I would if PaPa was there to hold on to the stroller.

Another cutie!

2009-11-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

Little Maddie Mae's big old eyes have always been blue but with her lovely dark hair now, I had forgotten that she had very little for a while. When I get a hold of her again, I'm going to kiss her cute cheeks for old times sake!

More cheeks!

2009-11-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

This photo of Joey, Blue Eyes, is so cute! Don't you love his fat, little bow legs? I think this was Joey's first trip with Nana and Papa, photo dated July 2004.

Poor PaPa!

2009-11-08T19:39:00.000-08:00

Ornery eyes!

Sweetie Pie

2009-11-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

Pinch these cheeks! What a cutie! What fun.

Wheeling . . .

2009-11-08T18:56:00.001-08:00

July 2002.

Youngters!

Kristy & Erica, is this the time you were driving around with the brake on?

Yes, I did have to bring that up. lol

Morghan Grace's first trip to the cabin

2009-11-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

Look! this little girl looks suspicious! She's hanging on to that water pistol! She might need it. What is she doing here, at this little cabin, with two ol' fogeys? Picture is dated September 2000.

Isn't she adorable?

Winding Down Time

2009-10-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

The new header photo was taken 363 days ago. Just about a year.

Last year, Autumn must have come later than this year as the trees in the photo are just beginning to turn.

Himself and I seem to spend his birthday at the cabin. That makes it easier to keep track of and he sure likes it there.

We will winterize, clean out the fridge, pack things away and enjoy some fine Fall weather. We hope!

Independence Day

2009-10-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

This was a good time -- pontoon time on Twin Lake.

Wait! who is driving?

Why isn't Dana at the helm?

Oh, probably Craig or Himself.

Don't you wish we were just getting to spring?

Instead of Fall?

Oh, Stop Nana!

Don't wish our life away!

Some folks love Fall BEST of all.

Gramma Hof did. She loved autumn and cool nights and the smell of burning leaves.

As does Himself.

I will try to appreciate each season, more fully.

Live one day at a time!

Seize the moment!

Good Days

2009-09-27T19:25:00.001-07:00

Audri had her turn at the cabin the beginning of August. Where has the time gone? Why haven't I written?

Audri is going to be as much of a little cabin person as all her older cousins are. She is following in their footsteps.

Audri already loves the beach, the sand and the water, even tho this day was blustery and cool.

Yep. That's a toothbrush between Audri's toes. ?????

One thing Audri Lu likes better than the beach and the cabin is her cousins!

It is cute when she calls out "cousins! Cousins!

Audri is talking and thinking. She is asking and learning.

Her's a big girl now, Nana!

She's not a baby. Audri is growing up.

West Virginia Scenes

2009-09-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

The Appalachians are kin

to the Blue Ridge Mountains!

These look pretty blue!

The New River Bridge

Highest bridge in the U.S.

Check out the GPS -- look out for that corner!

One more photo to post from Wood County and then a few more stops on vacation.

On the agenda:

Springfield, Illinois

Hannibal, Missouri

St. Genevieve, Illinois

Fasten your seatbelt!

Put new batteries in the camera!

Enjoy the ride!

My preferred mode of transportation

2009-09-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

Someday! someday I may travel like this.

Gramps' Tree House.

2009-09-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

Craig, are you old enough to be on the 2nd level? I don't think so!

GETDOWNRIGHTNOW!

A future goal of ours is to build a two-level tree house at Too. In Orient, we built a single level house. I thought, for our first attempt, that we did a fine job with that tree house. I think it provided fun and entertainment and lasted quite a while. For the last several years, I have been thinking about, plotting and planning, a two level tree house and maybe, eventually, a third, higher level.

Add to that a wish for a ZIP line and we've got lots of fun ahead of us . . . Craig and Johanna, folks have taken your Orient ZIP line (PVC pipe on a rope) idea and expanded it! Look here . . .

I may have to be a tree hugger

2009-09-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

I love this tree. It holds three swings. I have never known another tree to support two swings, let alone three! I have known higher swing trees (Gramps' at Shagbark) but never a tree that held three swings.

Himself and I have talked that when/if we build a house here, the tree may have to go . . . but after contemplating this, I think the tree can NOT go! I think I may have to hug this tree!

Gabby, this weekend, figured out why the tree has three swings. If Aunt Erica is here, there is one for Morghan, one for Jack and one for Madeline. If her folks are here, there's one for Gabby, one for Joey and one for Belles.

She didn't go on to say, but I got the gist, that if all the family is here, PaPa might have to wait his turn. Poor PaPa. There's nothing more relaxing then a good swing!

Do you believe in leprechauns?

2009-08-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

Missouri is as good as Ireland, we have little people at Twin Lake. If you leave your sand pails unattended and full of water, the little people use them for swimming pools.

III is just a memory

2009-08-24T17:38:00.001-07:00

Erica, asked, will we blog from III again . . . and we won't. Sad, ain't it?

Seems like I was using Nana's View for Creston things, family, children and for grandchildren's stories and photos. I had taken to writing on III when I had something to say about Missouri . . . I was using III for stories about the outdoors, nature, wildlife and most things Missouri.

Now that III, the place, is gone, I changed the name of the blog to "Too at Twin Lake". This is where you will tune in to find out what is going on in Missouri and to see if Himself has had anything to say -- which as we all have noticed, he seems to be tongue-tied since he turned 60. But check in every now and again, he might just get the urge to write. He might surprise us.

It really is a bit of a relief, to have just one place to go. Don't get me wrong, I loved III. I loved the timber, the trees, the wildlife, the cabin and I especially liked the fact that I had room to grow. I had a place where I could try new things, practice new skills, make a mess, muck about and just, basically, act like a carefree kid. With no one to make fun of me and no one to criticize (well, hardly ever). The rule at III was "Do what you want, when you want" . . . as long as no one got hurt!

It will be nice not to have to worry about getting our work done at Too so we can get to III to mow. It will be nice that we can down-size the fleet of mowers. It will be nice that we don't have possessions scattered over two states and three counties because we are finding that our memories are not what they used to be and we were starting to keep lists, and inventories. Diaries and journals -- just so we would know where something was! And it will be great when we get a little house up at Too with basement and laundry and a furnace, maybe. Shower? Okay, Okay, I'll consider a shower for all your sakes!

Meanwhile, III is not completely gone. We have left all the blog entries and photos from Shagbark III right here in this site. It will be handy for me and Himself to wander back in time, dust off the photos, browse and nudge amongst the memories and be able to relive our good ol' days at III.

Meanwhile, (clink), I propose a toast to the future good days at "Two at Twin Lake"! Cheers!

Door to the past

2009-08-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

"beasties" . . . a Bee Story

2009-08-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

Craig and Traci, I have a story to tell about your little ones.

I have to preface it by saying that I have absolutely no fear, dread, anxiety or revulsion of bees, wasps, hornets, et al. Don't know why, just don't. Also, I'm admitting (hesitantly to be sure) that I don't understand that in other people, even other LITTLE people. Since I don't understand, I don't have too much patience. Wish it were different and I am working on it!

At Too, the last time with Gabby and Joey, we were unloading the car or doing some chore when two little dears set up a howl, crying, and in a panic. A wasp had flown around or by them.

Nana thought to nip this in the bud because you all are aware that in rural Missouri we are going to be dealing with bees, wasps, hornets, et al about every 28 minutes. Nana stopped in her tracks. Gabby! Joey! When you see a wasp, react! Don't just stand and cry! If you are outside, go in! If you are inside, go out! Soldiers react! Move. Walk. Go. Don't just cry!

The rest of the day, off and on, we talked about "reacting", being proactive, doing something to make things better. We talked about soldiers (okay, "army men"). Moving. Doing. Changing one's position.

Don't know if it made an impression or not . . . but I heard a few good stories about Daddy and insects, anyway . . . and we didn't have any more tears over wasps.

Moral of the story, tho, if the little ones talk mean about Nanny once in awhile, I deserve it!

Last time

2009-08-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

This big baby took little ones along this weekend . . . so I'd have to be brave for a final visit.

I stood in the clearing and cried last time

but didn't this time:

I have had fun.

I have learned a bunch!

I had a good time with Himself.

I enjoyed nature.

I discovered things!

I made muscle.

I made good memories.

I built campfires.

I built a drogue.

I split a tree!

I stood naked in the privacy of the trees and showered.

I built a bed.

I persevered.

I did what had to be done.

I come from Pioneer Stock.

PS: I wish Himself was more interested in photos.
There would have been a bunch!

SHAGBARK III- THE FINAL CHAPTER

2009-08-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

This will be hard to explain, as fast as I am(was) and as hard as I tried, I cannot outrun the thoughts of getting old. It hit hard when I turned 60, worse at 61, and now 62 is looming. 5 years ago when we purchased III, I had no thoughts of age. We jumped in with both feet a runnin, and had a blast. But as family duties allowed for less and less time to be at III, and II also, it becamed apparent that something had to give. And, as we had more ties to II, as herself's parents built it, we, me in particular was ready to abandon III. But, we will always have the memories we made, in writings, and pictures. The greatest of times were at III, as we plowed into the unknown, and made things happen. That will never be taken away from us. Now we will concentrate on II, make it better, and the story will continue on from there.
III has been sold!!! The ads came out on the internet on Wed., August 5, 2009, and the deal was finalized on Sat, August 8. We never imagined this could happen so quickly. A young couple from K.C. and their children will take over for us. They seemed very excited and wanted to know everything about the property. They will do fine.
Boi(himself)

Chocolate Lake

2009-08-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

I like the name Audri invented for our little ol' pond. She jumped out of the Jeep, took one look and talked to PaPa about the Chocolate Lake. All I had ever thought to call it was muddy . . . so was glad to be around when a little one imagined it as "chocolate".

The pond has been named.

Blast from the Past

2009-07-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

This is where we first launched the Leurine Lucille. What an adventure! I loved that old houseboat and if I ever win the lottery, I think I'll buy another.

Canapy and sunlight

2009-07-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

High summer at III. The canapy is at it's heaviest; thickest. It is cool and damp, under the leaves on the river bottom. It is shady and cool, especially if you can catch a breeze.

Where the sunlight cuts through the branches and reaches the timber floor, it washes the area with light. Looking from aways back, those highlighted areas look like pools of water, rippling.

The timber looks different at every time of the year. It changes each month and even day to day. This might be my favorite time of year.

PS: what is with that photo, third down? The day was warm and humid but it wasn't foggy!

Fairy Flowers, gone by

2009-07-09T20:28:00.001-07:00

Himself and I stole a part of a day and went to visit the enchanted forest. We found evidence that the Fairy Flowers exist! They still bloom and (somewhat) flourish at III. There were dried blossom heads here and there. They were not everywhere as they were that one year (was it 2 years ago? or 3?) but they were more abundant than they were last year.

Maybe next Spring -- maybe Spring, 2010, they will run rampant through the timber again.

Triplets

2009-06-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

This little critter was one of 3 siblings came to our yard last evening and "whooooo'd" around and fluttered from tree to ground to tree. The neighbor had told us about a nest of youngun's last year but I never saw them so it was a delight to spot them flitting around our back yard. At first we kept our distance but after discovering that they didn't seem too scared of us, we would slowly walk up to within 3 feet or so and just stand and watch.

We are on sentinel detail tonight; waiting for the little owlets to come back for another evening rendezvous.

The little guy below seems to be scolding me!

2009-06-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

Bird Watchers = Old Fogeys

2009-06-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

Maybe Himself and I are Old Timers now but we do enjoy sitting on a screened porch watching the birds at the feeder . . . and making plans for our future.

Look what I found!

2009-06-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

I was weeding around my little Kutsura Tree when I found this. I was glad I found it -- otherwise it might have found me! I was startled.

I didn't know Missouri had spiders this big. I described it to Himself as the size of a Tartanula. It is! It is huge. Do you notice I am saying "it is huge"? I had planned to lock it up in this jar and let the sun bake it to death. Then I was going to preserve it for my grandchildren, some way or another, so they could take it to show and tell.

I was going to perserve her but Himself said, Let that spider go. So I took her across the road. I took the lid off the jar and lay it in the weeds. She could go free . . . but not in MY yard!

PS: it is a she as that white thing on her abdomen is the egg sack. She's going to hatch out about another 100 just like her! I can't quite match my photo up with "Identified" spiders in the internet but I will call her a Fishing Spider. That is as close a match as I can make without touching her. And I didn't. I won't!

Jack's Discovery

2009-06-04T20:00:00.001-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killdeer
Killdeer nest on open ground, often on gravel. They may use a slight depression in the gravel to hold the eggs, but they do not line it at all, or line it only with a few stones. Since there is no structure to stand out from its surroundings, a killdeer nest blends marvelously into the background. Furthermore, the speckled eggs themselves look like stones.
The killdeer frequently uses a "broken wing act" to distract predators from the nest.
Jack and I first saw the startled Killdeer flopping away from her nest, acting as tho she were injured in action. We showed Morghan and Maddie and then Erica. Each subsequent trip down the road in the golf cart got Mama Killdeer less and less excited. By Monday, she wouldn't even bestir herself off the nest. She was blasé. Or should that have been . . . we are blasé?

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-27T19:14:00.001-07:00

Himself and I had a nice long holiday weekend.

He left home Thursday after work and went to Too and set to mowing.

I felt I had to work Friday, as we have been so busy -- thought I should work at least half of the day, anyway. I ended up working until 12:30, to help the office through the noon hour. Then I had errands to run and places to go, before I took off for Two.

I also felt at liberty to stop at every garage sale and junk shop that I could find, between home and Too. And did! Himself doesn't like to stop, when he's driving, so I take advantage of the times when I drive down alone. We didn't come home until Tuesday and went back to work on Wednesday. So we did have a long weekend.

But we didn't spend much time here -- here at III.

Himself has sort of cut ties with this place. I think ever since the blankety *&^^%$#@%^ blank electric company went through and chewed up the "Top", Himself has sort of backed away. He has turned his back.

I think Himself thought when we purchased this acreage that this was THE PLACE. The Place where Corporate America , Big Brother and/or Government would not come calling. But, darn it, they did. They came calling, crawling, chawing and chewing. And spitting. It wasn't/isn't pretty.

They brought the big machine in and even though Himself had tended, mowed and cared for an electrical right away, it wasn't good enough (or they were just contrary enough) that they marched that huge tree eating machine down the right-away and chewed up every tree, limb, bush and shrub -- within chawing distance -- then spewed the remnants out on the ground like a honking chaw of tobaccy.

There is no way in Heaven Himself could begin to mow The Top now without one of us first taking a garden rake and spending 15 -20 hours up there raking and clearing.

I think Himself is heart sick.

We are talking about selling out.

But look!

Look at the cabin clearing! Isn't it just so pretty? Just like a park.

How can we give this up?