This, That, and The Other Thing.

The Morning Glories DID bloom nicely, but the picture does not tell all. The bottom of the vines are almost devoid of leaves and those that are left are yellow and bug ridden. It's been a hard summer here in Iowa. Too much water. Too much heat. Too tropical for much of the Iowa foliage. I just read that it will be the new norm. Of course, that also means more snow! Hot humid summers and warmer, snowier winters...hmmm. I wonder what will grow in that?

Ragbrai, Vacations, and Visiting all under our belts this summer, it is time to turn back to the House. We have met more neighbors and that makes it feel a little homier. The 13 year old next door has looked after our cat. We have shared tools and information, and commented on the weather. Doesn't get much better than that! My next job is to take out the old fence and prepare for a new one. My sister and my husband will be coming to help with that, although I don't know how much work Marcia and I will do. We both like to play.

I have spent my spare time making miniatures for my dollhouse and just bought a little maid doll to take care of it for me. It's quite the place. Another little girl dream come true.

Oh, by the way, I really enjoy fishing. Caught two nice bass. Who would have thunk it.

Inching along here in Des Moines.

Love you,
Mary

The Long Wait

Morning Glories at Tiny Castle

Oh! What a Wonderful Birthday!

Cal informed me that I am now 54 years old. I'm always off by a year so it's nice to have a husband who keeps track of such things. On my birthday, Cal made crepes with hazelnut chocolate and strawberries for breakfast and my sister-in-law and husband came for dinner and a visit to the horse track. The fireworks after the races were, to borrow a word from my sister, "Glorious." I have never seen fireworks like that.

My sister has been visiting me for the past week and we have had a SPLENDID time messing about, exploring Des Moines. I hope she enjoyed her visit as much as I did. I am now planning good times for the next sister who flies into Des Moines on the 21st.

Work on Tiny Castle has slowed for the summer for company, vacations, and hobbies. All good things. We have a tight roof and a functional house and a life to live. Sometimes the amount of work the house still needs can distress me...it's a pretty trick to keep motivated, thinking about how far we've come in 4 months and then how much is still needed. Deep sighs.

I have decided to look for a job this fall, after all the "sister visits" (I have two more sisters coming this summer) and vacations have ended. I am not sure what that will be...another adventure, I guess. I need to get back in an imposed routine. I am not good at being a kept woman for very long. :-)

And the morning glories have reached the light fixture above the front door.

Good times.

Love,
Mary

Today at Tiny Castle

Two years ago Cal and I were heading to Oregon to begin his Renewing Spirits bike Tour across the United States. It seems like a crazy idea now, but I am so glad we did it. We are still reaping the benefits of learning day by day living. Good Times!

My dad turned 92 yesterday. Happy Birthday, Dad! In 2007, He wrote about his life in a book called "My Story" and had it bound for each of his children. What a wonderful gift. I often think children think that their parents are part of THEIR story not realizing that moms and dads have stories of their own.

I inherited a handmade dollhouse, and even after removing an addition, could not fit it through Tiny Castles attic door. Right now it's serving as end table in the library.

It seems everything in the yard has a scale or a fungus or a very hungry caterpillar. This is why I hate gardening. Once I do the work of planting and weeding, I expect the growing to be done without my help. I keep hoping the plants will outgrow whatever is bugging them. Or maybe if it just stops raining....

Right now my favorite thing in the garden is watching the morning glories "twine." What a great word! A combination of twist and vine, which is exactly what they do. I hope they will flower too, but right now I am just enjoying the green creeping up my brick wall.

Projects in the house continue. Right now we are working on electrical stuff. Lights, ceiling fans. Someday... we will paint.

Two friends from Pella coming on Friday. Yea!
Well, the gutter guy is here. Soon we will have gutters...which with all this rain, is a good thing!

Love,
Mary

Favorite Things

The newest and most interesting thing that has happened lately is that my daughter met her 1/2 sister this weekend! I am so happy for both of them...I thought about the birth mother often as Rachel was growing up and dreamed of meeting again someday and completing the circle. The mother died years ago, so that will never happen, but the meeting of the two sisters delights me more than I can say. They met in the town where we lived when Cal was in grad school and where Rachel was born and where the sister now lives. Madison, Wisconsin. History colliding all over the place. WOW.

Chuck, our builder extraordinaire, called our roof - chia roof. Moss was growing in the gutters and on the roof. I planted the moss in my shady Where-The-Wild-Things-Are garden, but the birds kicked it all up looking for worms. I thought to have an award winning exotic moss garden, but ain't going to happen. Meanwhile, my blue morning glories will soom be starting their climb around the front door. Can't wait!

I found a biking trail that suits me perfectly - about 12 level miles with food. I am enjoying biking again - in the city and exploring the trails. Another evidence of the childhood I seem to be recreating at Tiny Castle. An old favorite thing.

Cal made crepes Saturday night and filled them with hazelnut chocolate and warm strawberries...to die for. A new favorite thing.

This week I start Yoga. We'll see if that becomes a favorite thing, too.

Wishing you a day full of favorite things...
Love,
Mary