7-24-2013 WIP > FO

This Work In Progress

is now a Finished Object!

This was my first stab at making a Minion...

I have some ideas to improve the next ones that I make:

1) make the whole thing even smaller

2) add pockets and edge stitching to overalls

3) make eyes a little smaller

4) do a chain stitch in gray around the eyes for goggles.

7-23-2013 Wilton Candy Kitchen

Today DH & I drove 30 minutes

to try out the Wilton Candy Kitchen...

"The Oldest Ongoing 

Ice Cream Parlor/Soda Fountain/Confectionery 

in the WORLD."

(Est. in 1856)

We had never heard of the place

until our son's neighbor, Guy, mentioned it

while we visited with him 

at our grandson's 1st birthday party

several weekends ago.

The 93 year old owner served us

our ice cream cones

(we were the only ones in there

and it took 15 minutes to make 2 ice cream cones)

and we sat and ate them

while reading and hearing about all the celebrities 

who have graced its doors.

It was like stepping back in time.

I can see how old people would find it nostalgic.

For me, it was worth the drive to see it once...

but I plan to head back to my neighborhood 

Whitey's Ice Cream Store

next time I'm in the mood for a cold one.

7-22-2013 Minion

Today I'm working 

on making a 'mini-minion'

similar to this one pictured above.

7-21-2013 AC

Thought about having dinner

out on the deck tonight...

then opted for the AC.

7-20-2013 Time for a Prune

Our trees out front

have begun hanging over the sidewalk

so it was time for a prune today.

7-19-2013 Somewhere Over the Rainbow

R.I.P.

dear friend

Dan Reid.

We will always remember

our kayaking trips with you

on the Mississippi River!

7-18-2013 Perk Up Your Picnic

DH & K attended 

another wonderful cooking class,

"Perk Up Your Picnic"

hosted by Chef Monika...

 The main course wwas be her take on the slider, a Moroccan Beef and Lamb Slider with Harissa Mayo topped with a Roasted Pepper Relish and Feta. She also prepared two salads, a Quinoa Tabouli and a Sweet and Savory Melon Salad with Crispy Prosciutto. And you’re probably thinking that would be enough, but no, she finished up the class with a Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownie with Kahlua Frosting!

7-17-2013 Supper

...from our organic garden...

there was a ton more to put in the refrigerator

but this is what I kept out for supper.

Mmmmmm....

7-16-2013 A Basket and Some Lace

I'm knitting a small basket for a future project...

and learning the basket weave stitch.  :*)

I also just finished a "Design Lace" class online

and these are my swatches from the lessons.

When I finished one lesson's swatch

I would just knit a few rows of garter stitch

and go on to the next lesson.

Now I can use it as an interesting scarf next winter!

7-15-2013 American Pickers

My dad and brother

were surprised to learn

that one of their favorite tv shows,

American Pickers,

is just 5 minutes down the road from us in Iowa!

So, we made a quick trip over there

so they could look around.

More than once, I heard the comment,

"I remember the episode when they bought this!"

 They had fun looking around at stuff,

got to see where the store expansion is being built

farther out in the parking lot,

and will now have even more fun

watching future episodes

and can truthfully say

"I've been there!"

7-14-2013 On the Way Home...

After attending his great-grandson's 1st birthday party yesterday,

my dad drove through Iowa on his way back to Missouri today

to visit his great granddaughter...

7-13-2013 Happy 1st Birthday

 DH & I

went to Chicago today

to celebrate our grandson's 

1st birthday...

My son and grandson...

My fave pix

of the '4 generations'...

me...

son  & dad...

grandson...

7-11-2013 Love this!

7-10-2013 The Lone Ranger

DH & I 

went to see 

"The Lone Ranger"

yesterday.

Loved it...

(in spite of the poor reviews).

7-9-2013 Meet Harry

7-9-2013 Meet Larry

7-8-2013 Meet Barry

7-7-2013 Too Much Fun

The creator of today's crossword puzzle

had waaaaaaaaay too much fun!

7-6-2013 Gift Received

My dear sis

received her 

Pine Tree Shawl.

7-5-2013 Chinese Lanterns

The Chinese Lanterns

at last night's 4th of July party

were my favorite memory.

They were so quiet and peaceful

as they floated away...

7-4-2013 Knee High By The 4th of July...

When I lived in Missouri for 30+ years

the farmers had a saying...

the corn should be "Knee High by the 4th of July."

Today I went out and took a pix

of my 6' tall DH standing next to IOWA corn

on the 4th of July...

Wowza... what a difference!!!!!

7-3-2013 Not DAIRY QUEEN...

7-2-2013 Niaba

Going for a ride with Grandpa

on the choo-choo train

at Niabi Zoo.

We took advantage of yesterday's 60*F temps

and spent some time at the zoo.

7-1-2013 Current Reads

6-30-2013 Oops...Whew!!!

Whew!!! 

Just saved myself 

from ripping out 4 days of knitting!

6-29-2013 Missouri in Iowa

For 30+ years in Missouri

at each and every house we lived in

I had a daylily bed.

When I moved to Iowa

I brought my favorites along

and transplanted them so I would have

a little bit of Missouri with me in Iowa.

Plus a few other perennials

I've added to the front entry.