Harvest - Oct 03, 2022 Apple picking time. A skeleton crew this year for the 15th consecutive year of picking apples in Mondamin, Iowa. Thought for the Day: Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness. Jane Austen.
Tag: Iowa
Odd Ball October is apple picking time. As we've done for the last umteen years, the "fam" picked apples at the Morris Farm in Mondamin, Iowa. The weather was perfect. It was fun getting together. Thought for the Day: I think togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life.Barbara Bush
Aronia Berries When we heard nutritionists promoting aronia berries as the next greatest health food, high in antioxidants, three times greater than blueberries, we planted a bush. After six years we finally got enough to harvest -- about 3 gallons of berries. They are native to Iowa and were called "chokeberries" before the marketers and … Continue reading Aronia Berries
1929 Ford The 121st Hobo Convention was held in Britt, Iowa in mid-August. It's a small-town event that draws people from all over the country, including "retired" hobos, their children and grandchildren. It's a reunion as well as a celebration of the colorful history of hobo life. The museum is fabulous -- full of photographs, … Continue reading Hobo Convention
18 I went to the Iowa State Fair, mainly to see the 81st Photographic Salon. Four entries per person are allowed, but only one in each of several categories. There were 2,086 entries this year -- less than the normal 3,500 or more. This is my 8th year of participation. Three of my four entries … Continue reading Iowa State Fair
Fancy The passing of our beloved Fancy, the fourth of our family dogs, is an end of an era. For over 50 years we have been met at the door by a wagging tail -- all were good dogs. But Fancy had more personality than the other dogs combined, and the most trusting dog I've … Continue reading Fancy
Golden Delicious Apples Thunder and lightning kept me up all night, and the rain continued to fall gently during breakfast. The rain stopped, but cloudy skies prevailed as we departed at mid-morning for our annual family apple picking. The sun was just beginning to peak through when we arrived at the orchard near Mondamin, Iowa. … Continue reading Golden Delicious
Hoover's Birthplace Just east of Iowa City on I-80 is a sign, "Herbert Hoover's Presidential Museum." Literally, just off the north side of the Interstate is the entrance to the 31st president's birthplace and museum. Born in 1874 in West Branch, Iowa, Hoover was the first president born west of the Mississippi River. Prior to … Continue reading Hoover’s Birthplace
Missouri River Flooding - 2019 In mid-March, over two months ago, the Missouri River got out of its banks from Sioux City, NE down to Hamburg, IA, flooding towns and cropland. Hundreds of people lost their homes, thousands of acres of prime farmland was destroyed, and I-29 was closed for six weeks. This picture was … Continue reading Iowa Rice Paddy
An overcast sky and mid-forty temps made for a crisp day of apple picking near Mondamin, Iowa. No tree climbing was allowed so teamwork was necessary. A dad and uncle support a 10 year old picker, while young cousins catch the harvest below. Thought for the Day: Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is … Continue reading Apple Picking
Made famous by 1992 novel by Robert James Waller, 1995 movie starring Clint Eastwood & Meryl Streep, and 2013 Tony Award-winning musical, the "Bridges of Madison County" actually exist. Madison County, Iowa is southwest of Des Moines. The covered bridges that were subject of the famous title are still standing and a couple are still … Continue reading Madison County
In the small town of Fairfield, Iowa there is Maharishi University of Management. Cool, I thought, until I found out it is not a business school. Their website states that, "you study traditional subjects while experiencing inner growth". There are less than 1800 students (0nly 400 undergrads) enrolled in what appears to be a self-contained … Continue reading Consciousness-Based Education
We went to Eldon, Iowa to see the original home that Grant Wood used as a background for his famous "American Gothic" painting. Don't let the run down appearance of Eldon scare you away, the American Gothic Museum is first class; i.e. modern, very well done with knowledgeable and dedicated staff. The Staff provides … Continue reading American Gothic Update
A 10' wide concrete ribbon winds its way through central Iowa for over 25 miles. What once was a Union Pacific railroad has been converted to the nicest bike trail I've ever seen. Beginning in Ankeny, Iowa the High Trestle Trail goes through farmland, rolling hills and woodlands, ending up in Woodward, Iowa. Before reaching … Continue reading High Trestle Trail
August is prime time in Nebraska for sweet corn; local farmers sell it out of their pickup trucks along the highway outside of town. A dozen fresh-picked ears cost $5.50, but they always throw a few extra ears in your bag. These young lads from Iowa are getting their first experience at husking corn. Looks like they've … Continue reading Corn Huskers
I found this seven year-old deep in thought in the Reflecting Garden of Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa. What was he thinking? Thought for the Day: The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds and advance the kind of science, math and technology education that will help youngsters take us to the next phase of … Continue reading The Thinker
Hard to believe I was in Des Moines, Iowa when I took this picture. The Salisbury House is an exact duplicate of the King's House (owner's name, not title) located in Salisbury, England. The vegetation, layout, grounds and even the weather made me think I was in the UK. Carl Weeks, who made his fortune … Continue reading Salisbury House and Gardens
Every time I cross western Iowa on I-80, I see these majestic wind turbines spread across the countryside. I marvel at their simplicity: three blades rotating quietly in the wind, harvesting megawatts of power without consuming any natural resources. The wind turbines (wind mills are so passe') along I-80 seem to be multiplying like rabbits, yet they do … Continue reading Iowa Landscape
The 1995 film, "Bridges of Madison County" starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, made famous this area in south central Iowa. So, one hot day last August, I meandered through Madison County and saw four of the six covered bridges. This one is Hogback Covered Bridge, built in 1884 and measures 97 feet long. It is … Continue reading Hogback Covered Bridge
The Loess Hills of western Iowa don't look like anything special from the air. But a light dusting of snow and twilight provides a magical image. I imagine it would seem much darker on the ground because the sun has fallen way below the horizon, but from this elevated vantage point there is plenty of … Continue reading Loess Hills
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