Let’s waste time chasing cars around our heads

December 31, 2009 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

Somebody didn’t get the memo about the snow plow coming through.

Yep. That’s a car under there.

I’ve never been frightened of being enlightened

December 29, 2009 | Family,Holidays,Stuff

They’re blooming!

Sometimes it’s like a postcard

December 27, 2009 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

Books: Gilead

December 23, 2009 | Books,Quotes

I just started reading Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. I think I’m going to like this author. Food for thought already.

There’s a lot under the surface of life, everyone knows that. A lot of malice and dread and guilt, and so much loneliness, where you wouldn’t really expect to find it, either.

My point in mentioning this is only to say that people who feel any sort of regret where you are concerned will suppose you are angry, and they will see anger in what you do, even if you’re just quietly going about a life of your own choosing. They make you doubt yourself, which, depending on cases, can be a severe distraction and a waste of time. This is a thing I wish I had understood much earlier than I did.

Books: The First Paper Girl in Red Oak, Iowa

December 22, 2009 | Books,Iowa

I just finished reading The First Paper Girl in Red Oak, Iowa by Elizabeth Stuckey-French. Her stories were interesting, but I didn’t like anyone in them. I wonder if she liked the people in her stories much.

You talkin’ to me?

December 21, 2009 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

Well, I’m the only one here.

Little things mean a lot

December 14, 2009 | Friends

Books: She taught me to eat Artichokes

December 12, 2009 | Books,Iowa

I just finished reading two books by Iowa author Mary Kay Shanley, The Memory Box and She taught me to eat Artichokes. They are both warm, touching and just a little bit sad. But maybe that’s just me.

Books: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Books

I just finished reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. If you ever loved a dog, you might like this book.

Everyone knows it’s Windy

December 9, 2009 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

We’re smack-dab in the middle of this blizzard. The wind is still raging outside. The kids are going a tad stir crazy. I’m hoping the wind dies down at some point today so we can get out and see what the sleds will do out there.

In the meantime, we’re trying to figure out our LP-gas hot-water tank. According to the manual, the settings have changed because something is blocked. (By snow perhaps?) Anyway. It smells like gas, so we need to figure it out. We’ll try to call the plumbing & heating company, but I’ll bet they’re hunkered down like the rest of us. If we can get anyone on the telephone, though, maybe someone knows more about this than we do.

Here’s the snow drift in front of the barn. The tractor with the snow blower is in there.

More drifts block the wood shed.

Half of the snow fence has been gobbled up by the snow. But, hey, it looks like it’s doing its job.

See that dark spot in the middle of the photo? That’s where the LP tank is.