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.

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.

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.

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.

Book: Lights on a Ground of Darkness

November 20, 2009 | Books,Iowa,Nebraska

I just finished reading Lights on a Ground of Darkness by Ted Kooser. Have you ever read Kooser, the 13th Poet Laureate of the United States? Oh, you must. You must!

Books: Zillah’s Gift

November 14, 2009 | Books,Iowa

I just finished reading Zillah’s Gift by Lois West Duffy. It’s in the 9-12 age category, but it’s a great read about an orphan girl in ancient Persia, who experiences an adventurous journey that involves kings, bandits, shepherds and a precious gift.

I got to meet the author last week, and it was fun hearing her tell the stories behind the book.

Outside’s the rain, the driving snow, I can hear the wild wind blowing

November 13, 2009 | Iowa,Winter

Here’s half the snow fence. The other half to come … before the snow, I hope.

Everything is dust in the wind

November 12, 2009 | Iowa

Tractors and combines kick up lots of dust these days.