Kinfolks

What a day this has been. Drove to the woods, Ottumwa, and Mt Pleasant.
After an afternoon rest we headed to Attica and Kinfolks restaurant.
We should have taken our camera.
Kinfolks is really good Bar b q. Tim ordered a full slab of beef ribs. The plate was piled high and he had to use two plates for the sides and roll.
It took him exactly and hour to eat every morsel. WE had a great time out together. I am certain his bottomless pit stomach was full tonight.

saturday

It is early saturday morning and Don is fixing breakfast for himself and Tim. Thus far Tim has been getting up early and eating breakfast with Don every morning. That is a change as we could not get him awake enough to get out of bethe last time he was with us.
We are going to Watson Woods today to show it to Tim. We still have not closed on the ground. Wapello county is slow preparing the abstract. Don is so anxious to own the land. He has a lot of plans that require work to develope the land. And while Tim is not working is a good time to keep him busy and out of trouble.
We are also going to Mt Pleasant to look at a log cabin mobile home for the site.
Tonight is a gosple sing at Kinfolks . Tim has agreed to go with us for bar b q.
Big day ahead.
One day at a time.

TGIF

Thank Goodness it is Friday and th endof the work week. Don is dipointed because we have not closed on the 40 acres yet. Next week I hope.
Tim goes back to court next friday. So that means another drive to Chicago. He needs to replace his drivers license also.
We plan to take time to see the 40 acres tomorrow. Go to Mt Pleasant to look at a mobile home for the woods.Supper at kinfolks. Gospel music by the husbands of some of the ladies from bible study group.
Tim continues going to church sunday morning , sunday night and wednesday evening.
He is painting the basement mud room floor. It is going to take two coats. He can not really apply for any jobs until he gets an ID.
So we plod along one day at a time tring to do the will of God.
Happy and blessed in Osky.

Too much excitement

Today was ladies bible study at church . I always stay after and go to lunch with a group of ladies. I always look forward to tuesdays and the support of my lady friends.
Last night Don sent Tim to a Iowa national guard recruitment meeting. Tim was up early this am to eat breakfast with Don. Don was having second thoughts about the national guard and wanted Tim to proceed slowly and ask some questions.
Don left for work. I called to check up on Mom and she sounded bad on the phone and said she did not feel good. Yesterday her blood pressure in the Doctors office was 220/90. So the doctor gave her new medicine which she took the first time this morning so I thought maybe she was having a reaction to the medicine. SSOOOO I took her to the emergency at the hospital.
She got a very nice doctor and her blood pressure was 142/80. Excellent . He reassured her that going from 220 down to 140 was a good thing but that her head and body needed time to adjust and that was why she felt bad. He told her to go home and rest and keep taking the medicine because it was working. That gave her peace of mind. It is a good thing she has good insurance.
The ladies at bible study told me that Tim had gone to church sunday night and testified about his life on the streets of Chicago and wanted Jesus to come into his heart.
That just about broke my heart. WE had come to the end of ourselves but that is when God takes over and only Jesus can work a miracle.
Thank you Jesus! Help us though this jungle and take us to the other side. Take away all that needs to be taken away and help us endure until the end.

Sunday

It is sunday morning and all seems fine here in Osky.
Tim got up early and went to church with us willingly. After church he showed Don the bulletin and said he wanted to go back to sunday school. So we told him to go ahead and go.
The pastors message was being under Gods wing of protection. I pray TIm sees staying with us as Gods way of keeping him under HIs wing of protection.
Don is frying chicken for dinner and I am just resting on the Lords day.
Lord WE surrender all . All to you we give as we can not do anything without your will.
Help us and guide us through these waters ahead.
We will follow you one step at a time.

Road to recovery

Jim is on the road to recovery and we are praying for him and his family during this difficult time.
Tim and Princess came to Iowa with us yesterday to share our home life with them. It will be diffierent having a teenager in the house.
We are hoping and praying the Lord will open a door for a job for him, but in the mentime Don has serveral cleaning projects to keep him busy. I won't need a house cleaner so that job can be Tims. It is nice to have help after the meal clearing off the table.
After we close on the 40 acres Tim can help Don develope the land into our private park and campsite. Lots of wood to cut and split and pile up and walking paths to make and a wooden bridge over the creek.
Ground to be leveled so a metal carport can be constructed to house the tractor. Ground to be tilled and gardens and orchards to be planted.
Hopefully we can find a few mushrooms also.
And of course just sit and enjoy the wildlife and the peace and tranquility in the lovely country woods.

Road to Chicago

Today the road before us will take us to chicago. Jim has surgery in the morning. We will leave after Don gets home from work tonight. We will stop by Jims for the information for friday.
Brian has asked us to stay at their home. So it will be late before we get there and we will be up early to leave for the hospital.
Don is very concerned for JIm . Lots of people are praying and God is a big God Nothing is impossible for Him.
If God takes you to it He will take you through it.
Praising Hm for who he is and all that he has promised. He has only good plans for us and we just have to trust Him in every situation.
One day at a time.

Its a tractor

Don just purchased an AC D14 tractor just like Green acres on tv.
It is in good condition. Now he needs a blade and bush hog mower.
Can't raise kids but we can still raise chickens, pigs and cows.
Just turning into old hay seeds.
Gurney catalog was in the mail so we can dream about garden seeds and trees and grape vines.
It just could be this place will be more work then us old folks can handle.
Cutting wood,mowing, hunting and raising a garden and some critters.
That's all for today folks.

Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday.
It is really just another day,but Don has promised to take me to the Peppertree Restaurant for supper. I baked myself a chocolate birthday cake. Chocolate is always good for making one feel better.
I have been sick for a week with a head cold but think I turned the corner yesterday. My head feels unstuffed and I am coughing less. I need to be well to ride with Don to Chicago this week .
We will all be happy when winter is ended and spring arrives. The birds have already started flying back. I saw a poor cold robin in the tree behind the house.
The stray cats are fighting over the right to control our back porch and the free lunch every day.
We may have to quit feeding them. Hurry spring!!!

Another week begins

Well it is the beginning of another week. My cleaning lady is here and I need to go get my mom and do her laundry. Such is the life of a busy housewife.
The sun is shining brightly and it is cold. Winter is still here in Iowa. The new snow is so white and pretty.
Watson Woods is now a reality. Now all the hard work begins. Don thinks he has found a tractor and all the equiptment he needs.
Our neighbor Ted looked at the ground yesterday and says he would like to help Don clean up the property.
Don was busy last night doodling on paper for a privy and a shed to huse the tractor.
Dreams , dreams , Dreams. You gotta have dreams.
God wants to grants us those dreams if we will but ask and walk according to his will. We must do the fathers will just as christ was willing to die on the cross for our sins. If we are willing to give up this old sinful life he promises to give us everlasting life with him in heaven one day.
Our time on this earth is just a vapor but then we have eternity forever and ever with the savior.

Done Deal

Well, officially the 40 acres is now ours!!!
The seller was a jerk. We have been in negotiations all week and the seller ended up with his first counter offer which was what he either wanted or needed. Don and I appreciate all the help Mike Ireland did and it would not have been a sale without him as mediator.
Now the work begins. A road and campsite must be developed.
Don is already constructing a privy. All the comforts of home. Ha! Ha!
Much planning is started. Such as gardens and orchards. A tractor has been found and the necessary equiptment to work the land. A building to store them is needed
We will be broke but happy!
It is a good location just 20 miles from our house right down highway 163 and just two miles of rock road.
It really is a park like woods. Watson Woods! Has a nice sound I think.
All are welcome except the previous owners.
Call for reservations now booking for the spring, summer, and fall of 2009.
Advance notice needed for Deer and Turkey hunting.
641-676-1722

Snow Storm

Well I hate to admit it but the weather man was right! We are in the middle of a severe snow storm.
Dumping about two inches an hour at the moment and it was near white out at the end of the work day and the commute home was slick and hazardous.
But my sweetie is home and we are hunkered down for the night.
Tomorrow we should hear on the final bid for the 40 acres near Ottumwa. I am glad we decided to get our own realtor as the seller is not exactly cooperating with us. Frankly Don is about fed up with the whole game process, but we are still holding it up and hoping to be the owners very soon.
We are concerned for Don's son Jim andwill pray God give the surgeon wisdom and we just give him into your hands Lord. Protect Jim and Tracy and their entire family.
We will remember to give you the praise and the honor and the glory.
Thank you Jesus.

Trapsing though the woods

Here's the Creek on the 40 Acres

Today we are trapsing through the woods to look at possible wooded land to purchase.
One is 40 aces and mostly wooded with a possible site to build a cabin and raise cows, a pig , chicken and raise a garden and grow an orchard. plus have a camp site.
The other is 89 acres more in the country with deep gulleys and ravines with a pond a nd two out buuildings. A cabin could be built there as well .
Now we need to decide which we are willing to pay the big bucks for.
Bo are excellant for hunting . Full of white tail deer and turkeys and other small game.
Decisions . decisions.
One day at a time. Plan to enjoy the day in the country regardless the outcome.

February Thaw

We are experiencing a wonder february thaw in Iowa today. It is to continue into the weekend. Today it hit almost 60 degrees. A real heat wave.
Most of the snow in our yard is melting and the ice is almost off our driveway.

I even sat in my porch swing this afternoon the first time all winter long. It seemed so nice.

I don't care if it is global warming. Thank you God for a wonderful reprive from winter in the middle of winter.

It may be enough to hold us until the first days of spring.

Passwords

Passwords drive me crazy. I can't keep track of all the passwords the the computer has added to my life. I am impatient when the computer is slow. Don is much more patient then I will ever be.
Life is too short to sit and wait for the computer to respond. I think we need a new computer but Don is not ready to buy one until he is absolutely certain that the old one has died never to be revived again.
I will never completely embrace the world of computers. I really hated working on them at the post office. Evertime you had an important deadline to meet the computer would act up like a bad child throwing a temper tamtrum or was that me throwing the temper tamtrum?
Eva was always there staighten out my mistakes. I never could have made the last 3 years without her. She was my right hand and together we made a good team.
I am certain she is a big help to Mike my replacement .
Enough rambling for today. I need to get moving before the morning is over.

Dreaming

God either answers Yes, No, Or Wait. Wait is the hardest answer. Currently we are in a wait cycle with the Lord.
We have been looking at land to buy and so far He has not brought us any that was worth the price or available or land we really loved and wanted.
Don brings home papers with pictures of tractors or more land or deer found on some of the land.We have spent entire week ends driving to walk around the sites and determine what is good and what we do not like about different patches of ground. Do we want woods or a farm?
Lots of questions and we must get quiet so we can hear when God speaks so we don't miss the blessing he will bring if we are patient.
No would be easier as then we could just move on and fine something else to fill our minds.
Wait means it is still a possibility . Oh the posibilities.
Don dreams of hunting and I dream of camping and the posibility of a cabin beside a pond.
Thank you Jesus for dreams and help us to patiently wait for your still small voice.You have blessed us beyond measure. Our cup overflows with your goodness.

Hunting for ground

Don and I spent the week end hunting for farmground to buy to retire to.
Don wants to hunt deer and turkey. I would like a place in the country to picnic and camp and relax. Don will need some space to tinker with if he retires someday.
We both like 40 wooded acres near Ottumwa. It has no house or buildings and we would need a tractor to keep it up. It would make a neat camp ground with a park like setting of woods that could have walking pathes and it has plenty of deer and turkey. A new home could be built there someday.
Up the road just south of Eddyville is an 80 acres of timber but itis really rough with deep ravines and gullys.It has a couple of buildings and a pond and tons of deer and turkey tracks.
We have pretty much decided we don't want it.
There is an 80 acre farm south of Albia. We would like to see inside the house. It is small and has new siding and a roof with a two car garage. Also a shop and two other pole buildings.
It has two ponds and pasture and hay ground. It too would need a tractor.
There is enough room for an orchard, gardens and berry bushes.
It would keep us both busy mowing and keeping it up.
Need to see the inside of the house. before we can make a decision.
Oh the possibilies. it was a great weekend to go into the countrya nd look around.God is good and he will provide if we will just be patient.
He will give us the desires of our hearts as long as we walk with hima nd don't get ahead of him.
One day at a time.