Sunday, August 17, 2008

Iowa in July,2008 Part I

The hummingbirds have found the feeder. And the month started with a yard full of bunnies out running in the morning. I think that must be what Li'l Bit sniffs so diligently when she goes outside. I must admit, it is much more pleasant than the skunks of a few weeks ago!

Bea and I wnt to Tama to the casino -- didn't do any gambling -- but we sure pigged out at the buffet. They had a huge salad bar complete with my favorite boiled shrimp! After grazing on a huge plate of salad greens, off to the main stuff. My eyes were much bigger than my stomach when it came to the selection of meats. I didn't even look at the veggies - figured I had them in the salad! Then came the dessert area -- a huge pastry counter that had everything possible. I settled for a small piece of cheese cake and I can't pass up bread pudding! Left all of those decedent chocolate cakes and whipped cream stuffed pastires. Will have to go back again so I can try some of those 'low calorie' delights!

The weather has been perfect for the start of the month. But, as I'm setting outside, the wind is picking up -- storms will be back by the afternoon with the afternoon heating and a cold front moving in. Then, it should straighten out for the holiday weekend. All of the bad weather may have been worth it -- I am certainly enjoying the 50-60 degree sleeping weather and the 70-80 degree days. Beautiful weather.

Even though the weather has ben really nice, I have had to close the windows and turn on the air conditioning -- they are frequently spraying for mosquitoes. They have been just horrible after all of the floods.

The night after the casino 'pig out ,' Bea and I met some of her friends at Culver's Restaurant -- they have wonderful sandwiches, always have a soup of the day, and Wednesday is fried chicken night. Just what I need after the big buffet at the casino the night before -- well, all of the rich food has finally caught up with me!

This is Iowa -- pork country -- the other white meat! Found some great pork steaks from the Amana Colonies; they will cut to order. Saves me money since I can by for one and not for a family. Not a lot of freezer space in the RV!

They also have a nice deli and some really great specials on cooked pasta dishes which are probably cheaper than I could buy the stuff and make it. I have also found some terrific grilling spices and herbs. Just something different than those available in Texas.

The floods about wiped out Iowa's spring sweet corn. What managed to survive is coming in late. There wasn't much sweet corn for the holiday -- brought some in from Florida! What's the Fourth of July without sweet corn!

Dodge service finally got to my truck. Fortunately it is all warranty work -- rack & pinoion problem in the rear and piston messing with the ocmpression. Will have to order parts.

There is no paper delivery in here. My sister and a friend of hers save their newspapers for me -- so I'm getting the news a day or so behind -- but who cares! Li'l Bit ad I really enjoy setting outside reading the papers, drinking coffee. Life is really rough! Li'l Bit sets no-so-patiently by the door when she hears me pour that first cup of morning coffee.

Bea is flying to Virginia to spend some time with a friend. She leaves July 16 and gets back on the 21st. Means I can run and play and not get caught! And she is leaving me her car!

As he month goes on, the weather is getting more like an Iowa summer and it has hit with a vengence! Temps into the 90s and the humidity is creeping up. Great for the corn! Woke up to a 72 degree early morning so I knew it was going to be hot and humid for the rest of the day. Thunderstorms, rain, hail and possible tornados on the way! Oh, well, -- there have been lots of nice days since the last storm.

Now the weather comes one band of bad weather at a time -- then a few days of nice weather -- we aren't getting that constant pounding, night after night, of wind and rain. Night before last the sky opened up and dumped between 5-6 inches of water in a couple of hours and dumped some large hail just south of here. Needless to say, in the AM, the creek behind the RV park was up and out of its banks again. They have the power plant in town cleaned up and back on line. At least the town didn't loose power when the plant went off the grid.

Love the laundromat here -- potted plants, carpeting, clean machines that WORK, big screen TV in the lounge -- snack machine, soda machine -- and they both work! The lady working there not only does all of the cleaning and dusting and carpet shampooing, she opens the door for you and helps you carry your stuff out the the truck! I'm spoiled!! It reminds me of a bookstore cafe -- everyone setting at little tables drinking coffee or soda and reading!

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