Yeah! It's finally here... yep, the Scrapbook retreat at VCBC! I am so excited to see my buddies... and some faces I haven't seen for two years... as I missed the first fall retreat last year... glad to get reacquainted with them! My booth is set up and my projects are ready!
The day started off by heading to Lansing on a mission to visit Horsefalls... (in all the years I have been at Village Creek, this was my first trip to Lansing) that's about 6 miles from camp... but it took us (Melani and me) a bit to get there... as we brought our cameras with us... LOL!!! Seeing Lansing during the day and during the fall is much more impressive than seeing the grand canyon at night... LOL! The times we have had together Miss Melani...
Actually it is quite beautiful. Lansing is right next to the mighty Mississippi. In the words of Ed... "that's clear up there" meaning that it's pretty far north. It's interesting... the train track runs right next to the river and the road is right next to the rail road track. As it happened, a train was moving south as we were driving north.
Driving into town to go to the "elusive" horsefalls, one feature that stood out to me, was the architecture of a church steeple. My mission was to photograph that steeple before I left. Finally we enter the store... OMGgoodness... yep... the store is a one butt aisle store... oh my... Alas... it was a short trek as I had other things on my mind... "photography" we also made a stop at the local grocery store and the clerk told us about a beautiful park... Mount Hosmer... it was great view in overlooking the river and the town. yep... we took lots of photos! There was a great view of the bridge... and on the way ... I had the opportunity to take a photo of the steeple that had charmed me. Interestingly... I kept lingering... just one more photo... please... by now, it's nearing lunch time... just one more photo.
Since we were in Lansing, I had my phone on (little to no phone service at VCBC) and as we headed out of town, my phone rang... Let me preface this by saying I had forgotten a few things (meds and books) and my dh had gathered them up to have someone pick them up first thing in the morning and had set them on the porch to be picked up around 8:00 am. Well my son had left for work at 7:45 am and seeing them outside, put them inside and went to work... meanwhile, Jenny stopped by to pick it up and of course as luck would have it, the bag had been moved. Jenny had called to say the bag wasn't there... I called Scott and we got it worked out... however, had she called five minutes later, I would not have had phone service and would not have my stuff.
The funny thing is that I told Melani that I didn't want to be gone for too long...
We managed to make it back in time for lunch and met up with a new camper... Susan... She is into photography and we talked and chatted and shared photos and secrets and she showed me how to do more on my camera and then we went outside and took more photos and had an absolute blast. It was great to have a day to just play... photos to come...
I was also so glad to see my friend Helen... she surprised me... I didn't know she was coming... Chris and Helen you are a blessing to me. I am grateful for both of you...
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Getting Ready for Scrapbook Retreat
Haven't had much time this week to blog as I am getting ready for Village Creek Bible Camp Scrapbooking retreat. I can't wait... Be patient... I have lots to say... just don't have the time right now.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The Dash
Attending the funeral of a friends mom today, reminded me of how precious time/life really is. (My thoughts are with the Klotz family.) As the pastor spoke of Donna, he shared a poem called the dash. The Dash was the time between birth and death... often signified by a dash. 1928-2011. What does "The Dash" really represent? It's just a small symbol that really represents a life time. As I read about her life in the memorial folder... I wondered what mine would say. It made me stop and think.
What do I want it to say. If I am not happy with what it would say now, I still have the opportunity to work on it. Something I personally would like to do more of is service. I tend to focus on my needs. I am going to set of goal of specifically providing service twice a month. My hope is to do it once a week. (I want to set an attainable goal and work up) So now I have to define what service is. To me, Service is helping someone in need.... either asked or unasked. I also think that most women tend to do lots of service... for our families... We do laundry, cook, clean, assist with homework, shop, and just generally keep things running. (And some woman manage to do all that and work too... you know who you are... and you are amazing).
I am looking to do more than that. Maybe do something that is unexpected. Like bake cookies and share with neighbors. I may also try to do something that is totally anonymous too. That might be fun to try. I think sometimes I get so busy, that I don't even see that someone else needs something. Maybe, I just need to take more time... I think that I may even be able to do something everyday... if I just open my eyes.
Over the summer, a friend shared a book with me.... it's called... 29 Gifts... how a month of giving saved my life.... by Cami Walker. This young woman has ms. She was in a world of hurt. She couldn't sleep, everything hurt, always needed help, dependent, meds for this and meds for that... and she was very self involved. She was always seeking treatments... and alternative treatments as well. One of Mbali encouraged her to give a "gift" to someone for 29 days. By a "gift", I mean that she gave someone something... not necessarily something bought at a store... and sometimes it wasn't something physical.
Of course this self absorbed woman (and who wouldn't be with a severe illness) was almost outraged... I can barely get myself out of bed each day and Mbali wants me to give a gift each day for 29 days. Craziness... but Mbali assures her, that is exactly what you need to do. And Cami, finally realizes that she has nothing to lose... so why not. She follows the "prescription" ... and finds herself gradually focusing more on others and less on herself. She is amazed that as she starts giving, that she starts to feel better. It's a great story that has inspired me to remember to focus on others. http://29giftsbook.com/ Check it out if you feel so inspired.
Thanks to my friend Deborah for letting me read it... Deborah has been a really good friend... she always has a special sparkle about her. She looks for the good and people and pushes through the brick walls. She is an inspiration to me.
I spent a couple of hours on the phone with my daughter tonight and I loved every minute of it. We talked about a lot of things, but the main focus was on getting prepared for her "Reiki" night. It was particularly enjoyable because she is like a sponge... her mind is just whirring with ideas and excitement.
I have truly been blessed ...
What do I want it to say. If I am not happy with what it would say now, I still have the opportunity to work on it. Something I personally would like to do more of is service. I tend to focus on my needs. I am going to set of goal of specifically providing service twice a month. My hope is to do it once a week. (I want to set an attainable goal and work up) So now I have to define what service is. To me, Service is helping someone in need.... either asked or unasked. I also think that most women tend to do lots of service... for our families... We do laundry, cook, clean, assist with homework, shop, and just generally keep things running. (And some woman manage to do all that and work too... you know who you are... and you are amazing).
I am looking to do more than that. Maybe do something that is unexpected. Like bake cookies and share with neighbors. I may also try to do something that is totally anonymous too. That might be fun to try. I think sometimes I get so busy, that I don't even see that someone else needs something. Maybe, I just need to take more time... I think that I may even be able to do something everyday... if I just open my eyes.
Over the summer, a friend shared a book with me.... it's called... 29 Gifts... how a month of giving saved my life.... by Cami Walker. This young woman has ms. She was in a world of hurt. She couldn't sleep, everything hurt, always needed help, dependent, meds for this and meds for that... and she was very self involved. She was always seeking treatments... and alternative treatments as well. One of Mbali encouraged her to give a "gift" to someone for 29 days. By a "gift", I mean that she gave someone something... not necessarily something bought at a store... and sometimes it wasn't something physical.
Of course this self absorbed woman (and who wouldn't be with a severe illness) was almost outraged... I can barely get myself out of bed each day and Mbali wants me to give a gift each day for 29 days. Craziness... but Mbali assures her, that is exactly what you need to do. And Cami, finally realizes that she has nothing to lose... so why not. She follows the "prescription" ... and finds herself gradually focusing more on others and less on herself. She is amazed that as she starts giving, that she starts to feel better. It's a great story that has inspired me to remember to focus on others. http://29giftsbook.com/ Check it out if you feel so inspired.
Thanks to my friend Deborah for letting me read it... Deborah has been a really good friend... she always has a special sparkle about her. She looks for the good and people and pushes through the brick walls. She is an inspiration to me.
I spent a couple of hours on the phone with my daughter tonight and I loved every minute of it. We talked about a lot of things, but the main focus was on getting prepared for her "Reiki" night. It was particularly enjoyable because she is like a sponge... her mind is just whirring with ideas and excitement.
I have truly been blessed ...
Monday, October 17, 2011
Golden photos
Also wanted to share a funny story... I realized the time and grabbed my camera and out the door I went. I turned on my camera to realize that I forgot the memory card. Sighing as I knew that to run back home and get my memory card would waste precious time... I remembered that I had my other camera in my purse. (it's a quick point and shoot camera) so I grab it and start taking photos. They are disappointing to me... and I decide... to give it up... as I am leaving (birdsall park) because I am just not getting what I want... I realize that my camera's use the same memory card... Duh!
So then, I decide to head out west to get more sun... I got on 12th Street and hit gravel until I came to a safe place to pull my van over and still have sun. (And mind you, it was chilly too.) So... reminder... make sure the memory card is back in the camera before heading out to the next photo shoot.
What a beautiful weekend
Saturday was my project day... I am working on a Christmas activity box. It's been such a fun activity and I can't wait to share it. Hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. Just making the box seemed to make my heart happy. My husband even commented on it. "Boy you sure seem to be in a chipper mood." Sometimes a little play time is great for the soul.
And of course I went to the Home Opener for the Waterloo Black Hawks... against the Rough Riders. It never ceases to amaze me the energy of the arena. I wonder what those new players think when they erupt through the doors and hear the people cheering for them. Black Hawk Fans are the best fans in all of Hockey and I believe it. (My ears are still ringing... LOL)
I love that they really watch the game and cheer when the team steals the puck, makes a good play, or makes a good hit. I also love it when they let the ref know he made a bad call or didn't make a call. I have gotten to know most of the group that I sit by in section F and we all do high fives when we score. I enjoy this fast paced sport and thanks to my buddy Clay explaining things to me, I have a pretty good idea of the game itself. Our goalie, Jay Williams was amazing. He was really in the zone and made incredible saves.... at times it felt as if he was in two places at the same time. He was the number one star of the night and rightly so. When he's the goalie, the other players know that they can be doing what they need to do (like shooting the puck) because he's got their back.
Needless to say Saturday Night's game was a victory... we celebrated a great win... 3-1.
Obviously, I love Hockey... and the season opener is always a special event. And if life was a game of hockey, I would want my Heavenly Father to be the goalie.
Going to church on Sunday (or Saturday) is a ritual that most people partake in. It's interesting to note that it can be so much more than that. For me, it's like a family reunion. My church family. I don't see most of them through the week as we aren't neighbors with most of them. So it's an opportunity to say hi and check in. I usually find that someone there has something important to tell me... I just have to find out who it is. I rarely come home feeling that I haven't accomplished that mission. Taking time to talk to people is such a good skill and guess what ... bonus... you get to know someone better.
Today, I was chatting with a friend... it's so hard to be a good parent... to know when to bite your tongue and when to say something. And I was also surprised by the realization that parenting doesn't really get easier the older your children get. I guess that's what I really like about it. I like to be challenged... and boy... do my children fulfill that one...
In light of that... I have to say that I am grateful that my mom and I don't have the best relationship. It's helped me to want a better relationship with my children. (We have our moments... boy do we have our moments... but I think that most often, there is a respect.) I would also like to think that I am more sensitive to others because of it. There is a joy in being able to understand how someone else feels and to be able to work together to make it better.
It's Monday again... and it's time to get busy... I am loving being home for the time being... and laundry awaits. Make this the best week ever... appreciate your trials, learn love and grow. Adieu.
And of course I went to the Home Opener for the Waterloo Black Hawks... against the Rough Riders. It never ceases to amaze me the energy of the arena. I wonder what those new players think when they erupt through the doors and hear the people cheering for them. Black Hawk Fans are the best fans in all of Hockey and I believe it. (My ears are still ringing... LOL)
I love that they really watch the game and cheer when the team steals the puck, makes a good play, or makes a good hit. I also love it when they let the ref know he made a bad call or didn't make a call. I have gotten to know most of the group that I sit by in section F and we all do high fives when we score. I enjoy this fast paced sport and thanks to my buddy Clay explaining things to me, I have a pretty good idea of the game itself. Our goalie, Jay Williams was amazing. He was really in the zone and made incredible saves.... at times it felt as if he was in two places at the same time. He was the number one star of the night and rightly so. When he's the goalie, the other players know that they can be doing what they need to do (like shooting the puck) because he's got their back.
Needless to say Saturday Night's game was a victory... we celebrated a great win... 3-1.
Obviously, I love Hockey... and the season opener is always a special event. And if life was a game of hockey, I would want my Heavenly Father to be the goalie.
Going to church on Sunday (or Saturday) is a ritual that most people partake in. It's interesting to note that it can be so much more than that. For me, it's like a family reunion. My church family. I don't see most of them through the week as we aren't neighbors with most of them. So it's an opportunity to say hi and check in. I usually find that someone there has something important to tell me... I just have to find out who it is. I rarely come home feeling that I haven't accomplished that mission. Taking time to talk to people is such a good skill and guess what ... bonus... you get to know someone better.
Today, I was chatting with a friend... it's so hard to be a good parent... to know when to bite your tongue and when to say something. And I was also surprised by the realization that parenting doesn't really get easier the older your children get. I guess that's what I really like about it. I like to be challenged... and boy... do my children fulfill that one...
In light of that... I have to say that I am grateful that my mom and I don't have the best relationship. It's helped me to want a better relationship with my children. (We have our moments... boy do we have our moments... but I think that most often, there is a respect.) I would also like to think that I am more sensitive to others because of it. There is a joy in being able to understand how someone else feels and to be able to work together to make it better.
It's Monday again... and it's time to get busy... I am loving being home for the time being... and laundry awaits. Make this the best week ever... appreciate your trials, learn love and grow. Adieu.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Everyday is a good day
It's Friday!!! Love a Friday! The sun was shining and it was a bit windy today. Definitely a jacket kind of a day. Nat and I tried to walk and only made it to the golf course... It was still nice to get a breath of fresh air.
After my burst of creativity yesterday... it was a crash day today. Just didn't have any energy today. A headache didn't help either.
Tonight... Waterloo Black Hawks played in Dubuque. Unfortunately they lost... sniff. Saturday is the Home opener... so I am excited to see what the guys can do on the home court and see my hockey buddies... Yes, I am hooked on Hockey too!
Also enjoyed an evening with the girls... it was book club night. I wish that Jessy would have been able to make it.... Three books were on the list, Princess something or other (nope... didn't read it), The Invisible Wall (nope... not this one either) and The Last Lecture. (don't fall off your chair... I did read this one.) We had quite a discussion. Thanks Deborah for letting us gather at your house... and for the discussion that took place after. I enjoyed it very much... And thanks for listening to me rant...
Not sure what my deal was today... I just seemed to be off. I am glad I could just stay home and hang for the most part. We did sneak a visit to Jennifer in there. I find it interesting that even though I am the visiting teacher along with my good and faithful partner, Jeanna, that I am the one that receives the benefit. go figure...
I picked up some pumpkin cookie bites to take to the book club tonight and I must say that they were quite tasty. Right Laura:):):) Next time you are in Fareway... be sure to pick some up. They were just yummy...
I am so glad that my club project is ready... I really like it and I think the girls will too. I have a few more projects to finish... Saturday is a perfect day for projects.
One simple pleasure I enjoyed today, was having a cat sit on my lap who just wanted to be petted. Dolly is such a sweet little furball.
Something I have learned while taking photos... be sure to notice the details... Take time to notice the details. So often, we are in a hurry, have some place to go, something to do and have to get there quickly.... that we miss something on the way. Have you ever had someone ask how you are and you say ... I am just recovering for surgery and not feeling terribly well ... and the response is good glad to hear it... Take time to ask the question... and listen to the answer.
I am ready for the weekend...
After my burst of creativity yesterday... it was a crash day today. Just didn't have any energy today. A headache didn't help either.
Tonight... Waterloo Black Hawks played in Dubuque. Unfortunately they lost... sniff. Saturday is the Home opener... so I am excited to see what the guys can do on the home court and see my hockey buddies... Yes, I am hooked on Hockey too!
Also enjoyed an evening with the girls... it was book club night. I wish that Jessy would have been able to make it.... Three books were on the list, Princess something or other (nope... didn't read it), The Invisible Wall (nope... not this one either) and The Last Lecture. (don't fall off your chair... I did read this one.) We had quite a discussion. Thanks Deborah for letting us gather at your house... and for the discussion that took place after. I enjoyed it very much... And thanks for listening to me rant...
Not sure what my deal was today... I just seemed to be off. I am glad I could just stay home and hang for the most part. We did sneak a visit to Jennifer in there. I find it interesting that even though I am the visiting teacher along with my good and faithful partner, Jeanna, that I am the one that receives the benefit. go figure...
I picked up some pumpkin cookie bites to take to the book club tonight and I must say that they were quite tasty. Right Laura:):):) Next time you are in Fareway... be sure to pick some up. They were just yummy...
I am so glad that my club project is ready... I really like it and I think the girls will too. I have a few more projects to finish... Saturday is a perfect day for projects.
One simple pleasure I enjoyed today, was having a cat sit on my lap who just wanted to be petted. Dolly is such a sweet little furball.
Something I have learned while taking photos... be sure to notice the details... Take time to notice the details. So often, we are in a hurry, have some place to go, something to do and have to get there quickly.... that we miss something on the way. Have you ever had someone ask how you are and you say ... I am just recovering for surgery and not feeling terribly well ... and the response is good glad to hear it... Take time to ask the question... and listen to the answer.
I am ready for the weekend...
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Introducing myself
This is my personal blog... I'd like it to be a place where I can post things from my everyday life... I love my Super Stamping Diva Di blog... and sometimes I want to post about my biking or photography... so I have created Diane's Days. While my other blog will be dedicated to my CTMH biz, this one is all about me... so stamping may cross over on this blog... just because it's my passion... So be prepared...
I enjoy so many things and while I like to take a pen to paper... I am much faster typing and it's easier to edit and my blog is always in the same spot. LOL!
I hope to post about things I am doing to make me happy... and things I am grateful for. Things I like and things that inspire me... I might put quotes.... I might think out loud... I might dream on here.
Today is Thursday and I would like to be thankful for creative bursts.... today I had so many inspirations that I am having a hard time tempering them.... and keeping up with other things I need to do... like cook and clean:) I didn't get out on my bike today... because I have these inspirations running thru my head... and I have to get them out. (I am working on Hostess Club layout and I am very excited about it.) Just putting the finishing touches on it right now. I am also working a special project for Christmas.... Being a finisher though... I have a need to finish the layout first... (even though I actually started the Christmas project first). Go figure...
I am thankful for my Aunt Elaine. She has been a gem in helping me find what I was looking for and was instrumental in getting there. She always makes me feel like I belong and that's a wonderful thing. I will try to do for others what she has done for me.
I finished reading the book The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch yesterday and totally loved it. Our book club had it as one of the three books we were to read this summer. My first book club was in the spring... and I think I went to three... then we had a sabbatical for the summer with another three books on the list. So out of six books... I have read one. (I like to read... I am just not a great reader.) This one was a good one! and I have passed it on to my daughter who is reading it and... hoping a few more folks will read it before I get it back:) I am grateful to Camille who started the book group... and I love it, even when I don't read.
Have to tell you one funny story about book club... it was our last meeting before summer break and we were discussing which books to read over the summer. Book titles were being spouted... a consensus was being sought after... Camille looked and me and asked what I thought... now keep in mind that I had yet to read a book... without missing a beat... I replied... what difference does it make... I won't read them anyway... LOL! I am also grateful that Camille has a sense of humor:)
I am grateful to be a Christian and a Latter Day Saint. It's not just something I do on Sundays... it's who I am everyday. While I am certainly not Molly Mormon... I do have a good sense of the gospel and I do follow the principals. I love the influence that it has been on my family. Becoming Mormon... has been a huge blessing in my life.
I have been so enjoying this fall.. it's been one of the most beautiful autumns in a long time. The warm weather, the beautiful trees, the little black bugs... ick... really? It's been fun seeing people taking walks and walking thru the leaves and giggling as they do so. I have also been bitten by the photography bug and the gorgeous weather has really helped me get tons of practice. Course without digital cameras... I doubt I would be as successful as I think I am. (notice I said as "I think" I am) course that's the only person I need to please.
Blessings to you and have a super weekend... it's almost here.
D~
I enjoy so many things and while I like to take a pen to paper... I am much faster typing and it's easier to edit and my blog is always in the same spot. LOL!
I hope to post about things I am doing to make me happy... and things I am grateful for. Things I like and things that inspire me... I might put quotes.... I might think out loud... I might dream on here.
Today is Thursday and I would like to be thankful for creative bursts.... today I had so many inspirations that I am having a hard time tempering them.... and keeping up with other things I need to do... like cook and clean:) I didn't get out on my bike today... because I have these inspirations running thru my head... and I have to get them out. (I am working on Hostess Club layout and I am very excited about it.) Just putting the finishing touches on it right now. I am also working a special project for Christmas.... Being a finisher though... I have a need to finish the layout first... (even though I actually started the Christmas project first). Go figure...
I am thankful for my Aunt Elaine. She has been a gem in helping me find what I was looking for and was instrumental in getting there. She always makes me feel like I belong and that's a wonderful thing. I will try to do for others what she has done for me.
I finished reading the book The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch yesterday and totally loved it. Our book club had it as one of the three books we were to read this summer. My first book club was in the spring... and I think I went to three... then we had a sabbatical for the summer with another three books on the list. So out of six books... I have read one. (I like to read... I am just not a great reader.) This one was a good one! and I have passed it on to my daughter who is reading it and... hoping a few more folks will read it before I get it back:) I am grateful to Camille who started the book group... and I love it, even when I don't read.
Have to tell you one funny story about book club... it was our last meeting before summer break and we were discussing which books to read over the summer. Book titles were being spouted... a consensus was being sought after... Camille looked and me and asked what I thought... now keep in mind that I had yet to read a book... without missing a beat... I replied... what difference does it make... I won't read them anyway... LOL! I am also grateful that Camille has a sense of humor:)
I am grateful to be a Christian and a Latter Day Saint. It's not just something I do on Sundays... it's who I am everyday. While I am certainly not Molly Mormon... I do have a good sense of the gospel and I do follow the principals. I love the influence that it has been on my family. Becoming Mormon... has been a huge blessing in my life.
I have been so enjoying this fall.. it's been one of the most beautiful autumns in a long time. The warm weather, the beautiful trees, the little black bugs... ick... really? It's been fun seeing people taking walks and walking thru the leaves and giggling as they do so. I have also been bitten by the photography bug and the gorgeous weather has really helped me get tons of practice. Course without digital cameras... I doubt I would be as successful as I think I am. (notice I said as "I think" I am) course that's the only person I need to please.
Blessings to you and have a super weekend... it's almost here.
D~
Riverside
Wednesday... Scott had a meeting in Riverside and I politely invited myself to join him... What are you going to do? I had an devilish smile on my face ... "just let me have your key and wallet:)" LOL... He handed me the key. "That's okay... I have a debit card:)"
Really though... I had my camera, a notebook and a half read book in tow. I was set.
Riverside is a casino just south of Iowa City. It has a golf course and a great convenience store. Since it was fall... and I am a budding photographer... it was a great opportunity to practice:) So I grabbed the "Key" and took off. Just started driving... after all... I had four hours to kill... I ended up in a small neighborhood (maybe 15 homes) with a pond and some trees... I drove around the "loop" a couple of times and decided to park and headed down to the pond.
A older man noticed me too... and was trying to keep his eye on me without looking like he was watching me. Doing a few things out in the yard... fussing about a tree... it was comical. I just kept snapping photos.
When I was done shooting in that area... I thought... hmmm... let me put this fella at ease and let him know what my intention was. As I approached, he was looking up at a smallish tree that had a nest in it. So I asked the obvious question... what are you looking at? Are there birds in the nest? He seemed puzzled that I had asked him... and then said something about having to get rid of one of the branches as it had a split crouch.
I showed my camera as my reason for being there and commented on the lovely neighborhood he lived in. And that opened the conversation. We chatted for about 2 hours. I found it humorous that we ended up discussing both of the taboo subjects (politics and religion) in the first five minutes of our chat. Of course with Mitt Romney, presidential candidate, being LDS, I mentioned that I was a Mormon too... He shared with me that he had been the Nauvoo Temple Open House and had also been to Temple Square in Utah. He talked of going to round room that spiraled up with beautiful artwork and at the top, the message that touched him was simply that when he passed on, his ancestors would be there to greet him. He was also excited to tell me that there was a whole shelf in his office dedicated to Genealogy.
He mentioned to me that his wife of 40 years plus had a really nice camera and was interested in what kind of camera I had. Nikon point and shoot... then he invited me to take photos in his back yard... which I took him up on. It was such a lovely day. (photos have been posted)
When my battery died... I figured it was time to get something to eat. I opted for a coney dog and a root beer float. (My first soda in over a year). Then I headed back to the hotel... they had an outside area by an indoor pool that lead outdoor pool... and since it was nice out, I grabbed a lounge and my book and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon. I was reading "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. It's a great read and I highly recommend it!
Okay... back to crafting... so much to do... so little time and of course it's another beautiful day:) Hoping to go for a walk or a bike ride...
Really though... I had my camera, a notebook and a half read book in tow. I was set.
Riverside is a casino just south of Iowa City. It has a golf course and a great convenience store. Since it was fall... and I am a budding photographer... it was a great opportunity to practice:) So I grabbed the "Key" and took off. Just started driving... after all... I had four hours to kill... I ended up in a small neighborhood (maybe 15 homes) with a pond and some trees... I drove around the "loop" a couple of times and decided to park and headed down to the pond.
A older man noticed me too... and was trying to keep his eye on me without looking like he was watching me. Doing a few things out in the yard... fussing about a tree... it was comical. I just kept snapping photos.
When I was done shooting in that area... I thought... hmmm... let me put this fella at ease and let him know what my intention was. As I approached, he was looking up at a smallish tree that had a nest in it. So I asked the obvious question... what are you looking at? Are there birds in the nest? He seemed puzzled that I had asked him... and then said something about having to get rid of one of the branches as it had a split crouch.
I showed my camera as my reason for being there and commented on the lovely neighborhood he lived in. And that opened the conversation. We chatted for about 2 hours. I found it humorous that we ended up discussing both of the taboo subjects (politics and religion) in the first five minutes of our chat. Of course with Mitt Romney, presidential candidate, being LDS, I mentioned that I was a Mormon too... He shared with me that he had been the Nauvoo Temple Open House and had also been to Temple Square in Utah. He talked of going to round room that spiraled up with beautiful artwork and at the top, the message that touched him was simply that when he passed on, his ancestors would be there to greet him. He was also excited to tell me that there was a whole shelf in his office dedicated to Genealogy.
He mentioned to me that his wife of 40 years plus had a really nice camera and was interested in what kind of camera I had. Nikon point and shoot... then he invited me to take photos in his back yard... which I took him up on. It was such a lovely day. (photos have been posted)
When my battery died... I figured it was time to get something to eat. I opted for a coney dog and a root beer float. (My first soda in over a year). Then I headed back to the hotel... they had an outside area by an indoor pool that lead outdoor pool... and since it was nice out, I grabbed a lounge and my book and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon. I was reading "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. It's a great read and I highly recommend it!
Okay... back to crafting... so much to do... so little time and of course it's another beautiful day:) Hoping to go for a walk or a bike ride...
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