Sunday Update

Yesterday was a mostly fun day. In the AM I watched the Swamp Fox Parade. Doug came out and watched the last 10 minutes with me. He had been in the house making pasta salad and baked beans to take to Curt's 50th party.

After the parade was over, we waited for Amy to come by so we could catch up with her. Breckin and one of his cousins were in the parade. Emerson School had made Chinese Dragons. I wish I had known, I would have gone down the street to the parade and taken a picture. Amy was watching 3 of her nephews for one of her cousins who had gone to a wedding. Dan and Gail had also gone to the wedding in Monticello. Needless to say, Amy had her hands full for the rest of the day.

Ella and her cousins. They all wanted to see Thumper and Ella was the only one brave enough to feed him. There was also Breckin and another cousin not shown in the picture.
Of course we had to take a picture of Ella's High School Musical shoes.

Sunday Update (cont.)

Chloe came home just in time to see Amy and the kids. She also had lunch with us. Doug made sloppy joe's with the leftover hamburger from the beans. They were yummy. Doug and Chloe decided to relax and take a nap before going to Curt's party. So I went to my Dad's to take them some pictures of Thomas and Diedre's house and flood pictures for Ilse to send to her daughter in California.

This was the not so fun part of the day. It was all one big guilt trip. My Dad stayed on the couch the whole time, moaning about his back and legs. This was because he had been painting. He also wanted to tell me something and Ilse kept getting in the way so he could not see my face. So, of course he had to keep yelling at her to move or to be quiet. This annoys me because she usually has something more fun to talk about any way; like "Oh! Look at the little red squirrel."

Dad said that on Labor Day he had stopped by RJ Construction to ask about porch railings. They were closed but the owner was there and talked to him anyway. He said, this guy was so interesting, Doug would like to talk to him. He showed him his electric truck and talked about solar panels for the house. I told Dad that Doug already knows the guy, because it is Mark Jordan's brother. I also told him Doug has taken a ride in the electric truck before.

Back to the whole guilt thing, just before I left, Ilse said my Dad would feel so much better now that I stopped by. He just doesn't see me enough and it gets him down. Oh, brother!

After leaving Dad's I went for a walk on the Sac & Fox Trail. It really got washed out from the floods and was a very rough trail in spots. I walked about a half hour. (Step count for the day was 11072.) Then it was time to come home to get ready for Curt's party.

We left for the party a little after 5. We gave Curt his gift when we got there. We got him one of the crank flashlights. I wrapped it in an adult diaper that I had gotten as a sample. I attached some black roses and a pin that said, 50 and Over The Hill and a ribbon that said Look Who's 50. Curt got such a kick out of it that he wore the diaper over his jeans for a while. It was hilarious.

Little "Q" at grandpa's birthday party.
Little "Q's" new shoes.
If he drinks that whole bottle he is going to need that diaper.

Green Tip of the Day

Fine-tune a refrigerator for optimum energy use by checking to see that the temperature in its main refrigeration box hovers at 37 degrees while the freezer stays at a relatively steady 3 degrees. A weather thermometer will do the trick.

Officially happy new home owners!!!!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday Update

Yesterday morning John and Elaine packed up to go over to stay at Curt's. They left around 9:15 AM. I was very surprised that Mao came over by the door to say good-bye to them. This evening we are going over to Curt's for a little while for his 50th birthday party.

Yesterday after John and Elaine left I mowed the lawn. The weather was just right for mowing. I didn't even get hot until at the very end. Doug had to come out once to help me start the mower. I am just not good at starting this new mower for some reason. In the afternoon I also took a fairly long walk.

We have lots to do this morning. We forgot to make the pasta salad for Curt's party yesterday, so we will be making that along with baked beans. The Swamp Fox Parade is also this morning. We always set out in the yard and watch the parade go by. Afterward we usually see Dan and Gail; and sometimes Amy and her brood.

That is all I have this morning, as I also would like to get a walk in this morning. Yesterday I took 15358 steps.

Green Tip of the Day

Some commercial air fresheners use chemicals that can be harmful to a baby's development. Instead, lightly spritz the place with vinegar.

Vinegar will clean out deposits clogging a steam iron or coffeemaker.

A cup of vinegar will clean a washing machine. Run it through a regular cycle -- but not with clothes.

If using vinegar as a cleaning agent, pick the white variety. Brown will stain porous surfaces.

To create a tub-scum cleaner, mix baking soda and a "green" liquid soap to a honey-thick consistency. Apply it with a little elbow grease and perhaps a splash of white vinegar.

Friday Update

Not much to report from yesterday. It rained most of the day and was much cooler than the beginning of the week. We just sat around and didn't to much until around 3:30 when John and Elaine went over to Curt's for a few hours.

After they left I went on a walk because it was just misting by then. I took the umbrella, so my glasses would not get all spotted with water. I walked up to 5th Ave and walked East. I went as far as the sidewalk would take me on 5th Ave. I didn't pay attention to the street name, but this would be the street that has the nursing home. I took a right and went up to 1st Ave. I think I took almost all of the side streets on the way back home, going North on one side of the street and crossing the street and then going South. I wanted to try to get as many steps as I get by going to the path at Thomas Park. I just knew the path in the park might be a bit messy due to the rain. I ended the day with 10116 steps.

John and Elaine came back here for supper and to spend the night. We made Ratatouille for supper. They had never had it before. I think they liked it since both John and Elaine went back for seconds.

Green Tip of the Day

Using cold water can save up to 80 percent of the energy required to wash clothes.

Thursday Update

Yesterday was another productive day. We now have our whole dining room back. We moved the mattress set up to Thomas and Diedre's place in Eldora. I think they will really like their new queen size bed.

Jon and Elaine were able to see Chloe's cute little stone house and Nala the kitty. They also were able to see Thomas and Diedre's house and the school Thomas and Diedre are working at. Thomas took them on a driving tour of the town and park. We alos had ice cream at the Ahoy Fountain. It wasn't quite as good as the first time we were their. I think the boy working there was more interested in getting off work and not excited about have to make ice cream treats for 7 people.

We arrived home around 8:30 and ate leftovers for supper. We then sat down and watched part of the Republican Convention. Palin had lots to say about her family and Alaska, but not a lot to say about what she would do for the country. Some of the Republicans at the convention didn't look too excited or convinced that she was the right choice.

Yesterday I spend a good amount of time in the car and did not get as much walking in, my step count was only 9439.

Green Tip of the Day

Wrapping a water heater with insulation can keep as many as 1,000 pounds of global-warming CO2 a year out of the upper atmosphere.

Wednesday Update

Yesterday morning I took a nice long walk through Thomas Park. It was very hot and humid. I ended the day with 12934 steps.

When I got back from my walk, John and Elaine were leaving to get Elaine's hair cut. She went to Great Clips by Michael's. Chloe had already left to go back to Cedar Falls. She had a class in the afternoon and then she worked until closing at Cup-A-Joe's.

We took John and Elaine on a tour of the flooded areas of Cedar Rapids starting with the Czech Village area, around to J Street, over to Time Check and then through downtown. They both said it is hard to believe the damage until you really see it.

After the tour we had lunch at the Red Lantern. The food was really good and John knew our waitress. She is originally from Korea. I had Ming's Beef, it was delicious.

It was so hot and humid in the house when we got home. John and Elaine watched the Green Channel with me for a while. They said they don't get it in Arizona, although they are supposed to. John said he is definitely going to contact the cable company when he gets back. The temperature was not going to cool own for some time, so John and Elaine decided to spend the night over at Curt's. It was either that or we were going to have to go out and buy a little window air conditioner. The big one Jamie brought over would involve construction of a stand to help hold it in the window. Too much work.

This morning we are going over to Enterprise to rent a cargo van for the day. We are taking the mattress set and a few other things up to Thomas and Diedre. We will stop at Chloe's in Cedar Falls first and she is coming to Eldora with us. It should be a fun day.

See you later Chloe, Thomas and Diedre.

Green Tip of the Day

If a vehicle's tires have less than recommended air pressure, gas mileage will suffer. Determine the correct pressure level from the small plaque likely found just inside the driver's-side door, but possibly on a rear doorpost, in the trunk/latch area, the glove box, or even on the sun visor.

Tuesday Update

Yesterday was kind of a lazy day and I have a feeling today will be the same. I was thinking about mowing the yard today, but it was already so humid when I took out the trash this morning that I have changed my mind. Looking at the grass it really isn't that long. Besides the weather report last night said the temp should be a little cooler on Thursday.

Today we are looking into renting a truck to take the mattress set and a few other things that Thomas left behind up to Eldora. We will be going up to Cedar Falls tomorrow to first visit Chloe at her cute little house and to see Cup-A-Joe. And then we will drive over to Eldora to drop off Thomas' things and visit with them at the new house for a while. I look forward to seeing their schools.

Yesterday I was afraid I was not getting my step count in. So, around 7:30 I went on a walk. I walked up 2nd Ave., through Shady Oak Cemetary, to Hanna Park, down the Thomas Park trail and back to Hanna Park and then to home. It took about an hour and fifteen minutes. I saw about 5 deer in Hanna Park and a deer on the Thomas Park trail twice. My final step count yesterday was 10215.

Monday Update

Happy labor day. Don't work too hard. Or better yet don't do any work.

Yesterday was wonderful. We got to see Tommy, Chloe, Diedre and Ross. The family gathering went very well. John and Elaine came over around 1:00. Curt, Jessica, Big Q, Little Q, Keeley and Cassie all showed up later. And of course the Jordan's; Mark, Wanda and Amber came as well. The food was excellent and plentiful as always.

Green Tip of the Day

If you are looking to green your school, think about organizing a crayon drive to collect unwanted crayons and then either craft with them or send them to the National Crayon Recycling Program http://www.crazycrayons.com/recycle_program.html

Crayons are a petroleum product, they take years to
biodegrade.

Green Tip of the Day

Generating enough electricity to cook for an hour in a standard electric oven creates 2.7 pounds of carbon dioxide. Here's a list of what can do it for less: toaster oven, 1.3 pounds over 50 minutes; slow cooker, 0.9 pounds over seven hours; and microwave, 0.5 pounds over 15 minutes.

Sunday Update

I am looking forward to today. Thomas and Diedre are driving down for a visit with the family. Chloe will also be here later. John and Elaine are in town for their yearly visit. Plus the usual Sunday group should be here, along with Doug's niece Jessica and her brood.

Yesterday morning I took an hour walk through Oak Shade Cemetery and over to Thomas Park. I came into the park from the back way through the cemetery. It was a nice walk and got me well on my way for my step goal for the day. I ended up with 16245 steps for the day. I hope I have a chance to take a walk today.

After walking I did some cleaning around the house until John and Elaine showed up. They had Curt with them and stayed for about an hour. Chloe was also here for a little while. After John and Elaine left to go back over to Curt's, Chloe also left. She had a show thing that she had to help with later in the day.

Left alone again, Doug and I went over menus and the shopping list. I went shopping and got more of my walking in. In the evening we made salsa with garden tomatoes. It is one of the best batches of salsa I think we have ever made. I also baked a cake before going to bed. I have to frost the cake this morning.

That is all for today. I will see everyone later!

Green Tip of the Day

A laptop uses just a quarter of the power required by a desktop computer.