Leaning Chimney of Shelby

It's Gone! The old chimney, aka the leaning chimney of Shelby, is gone. I wanted to get a couple of pictures of the old one but we weren’t home when the work started so I didn’t get it.

This picture from a year ago is all I have.

You can see the temporary fix. The patch didn’t hold up as good as expected. The mortar was about gone on one side and the 100+ year old bricks were very soft, thus a big lean to the southeast. Probably wouldn’t have held up to another winter of strong north winds. Scary thought. The new one looks good to me and will be able to hold up to those strong winter winds.

Sure glad that job is done. All that is left is filling in the deep ruts, about a foot and half deep, left by the machinery that was used, plant grass seed and all is good.

And then there is the front yard. The town of Shelby is updating water and sewer lines. We were the only house whose water line was connected to the water tower. Every time the town needed to do something at the water tower and had to shut off water, we were shut off, too. So, the town decided that while they were putting in new pipes, this would be a good time to move our line from the south side to the north side of our house. More big machinery. More torn up lawn.

What a mess. But the town said they will take care of it and plant grass seed. Wonder if I should've gotten that in writing?

We sure are hoping for a wet fall once the grass seed is planted. For now, we are enjoying the quiet now that all the machinery is gone.

Rose

A day to remember.

Today is one of those days, when we all remember where we were and what we were doing when the towers came down. I was just getting breakfast on the table for 6 daycare kids. I had the radio on, as usual, for morning news. But like most mornings back then, I would not catch much news. I heard something about plane crash but with 6 six hungry mouths, it didn't register what I had heard. Next thing I knew the phone was ringing and my youngest daughter asking what I thought about the plane crash. At that point, I didn't know what she was talking about. All she could say, " was turn on your T.V".  Six little kids to care for and the world changing forever, a day I will never forget. Scared for what the rest of the day might bring. I remember how quiet the world seemed when all planes were grounded. We live in the fight path of Eppley Airfield in Omaha for planes going east. No planes made the world seem unreal. We had a planned Zonk night the next evening and usually the T.V. is off. But that evening we were all wanting it on, listening to the latest development. Even today, 13 years later, that day brings sadness and tears.

God bless America today and always. God be with us.

Rose

52 years and counting.

September started on a beautiful note. It is sunny, the humidity is down and the storms last night missed us. We had family home this holiday weekend. Today, we are spending a quiet day doing nothing, unlike 52 years ago. On September 1, 1962 my hubby and I said our “I do’s”. It, too, was a beautiful late summer day with blue skies and sunshine and lots of family and friends to help us celebrate. And definitely not quiet. Yes, there were bumps in the road, but we were able to work through them. We have four wonderful daughters and sons-in law and 13 grandkids with one grandkid-in-law and another to join our clan soon. God has definitely blessed us all these years. And hopefully will for more years to come.

Hope everyone is having a relaxing holiday.

Rose

Sept, 2012 on our 50th anniversary

Rock Island Old Stone Arch Trail-Shelby Iowa

I was getting tired, or should I say bored, with my usual path of my daily walk. We are fortune to have the Old Stone Arch Trail in our town. We can get on the trail about a ½ mile from our house at the park. Back in the day, I could walk down to the park, walk a little more than a mile on the trail and walk back up the hill to home, all while pushing a stroller with two kids in it. Those were the days, now long gone.  Now driving down to the park and then walking that path makes more sense. Besides hubby had given up walking because his legs get sore and he can’t go far. I convinced him to give the trail a try. It has benches every so often so he can sit when needed and so can I. He is doing great. I am hoping he gets those old legs back in shape as we go.

Yesterday, I took my camera along. There was an interesting insect I wanted to capture.

Thanks to my granddaughter Sadie, I now know that it is an Ebony Jewelwing. From her research information, I am not sure what it is doing in our area. But he is sure pretty.

Here are some other pictures I took yesterday morning.

  

It is a great place to walk. It feels 10 degrees cooler on the path and all you hear is nature. Oh, and a rooster from a nearby farm.

You can read more on The Old Stone Arch Trail here. Stop and take a break if you are ever traveling  down I-80 in Iowa.

“The Rock Island Old Stone Arch Trail travel 4 miles along an asphalt path atop an abandoned rail bed once owned by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. As the name suggests, the trail's main feature is a stone arch bridge, which is listed on National Register of Historic Places.”

http://www.traillink.com/trail/rock-island-old-stone-arch-nature-trail.aspx

You can check out the other interesting things about our town and the area here;

http://www.shelbyia.com/attractions.asp

BACK TO SCHOOL SALE.

I am having a Back to School Sale.

Save 28% of all my products on Wednesday, August 20.

Use code BOOST at checkout.

Thank you for visiting my store, Smalltowngiggles. 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Smalltowngiggles

Rose Hascall

STOP and smell the roses.

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven”. “You must do something--switch directions and become something you presently are not. Embrace the lowliness and wonder of the child who lives each moment as a gift, not as a stepping-stone for social status. It is to those who live in childlike simplicity that the Kingdom of heaven belongs”.

Sr. Kathryn J. Hermes, F.S.P.

http://www.livingfaith.com/devotion-08-12-2014

Sr. Kathryn really got me thinking this morning. Do you think that if we were more childlike we would be happier? Would we “stop and smell the roses” more?  Would we not worry about tomorrow so much? These questions and more came to mind today for me. What are your thoughts on this Bible passage?

For me it is a reminder to be happy with our lives as they are now. To enjoy our blessings and to be thankful not wishful.

Take time to smell the roses.

Rose

Muscatine cantaloupe are so yummy

We have been waiting all summer for a good, sweet cantaloupe. Well, we finally found one. It is Muscatine Cantaloupe time. I have been saying we should just quit buying cantaloupe till the Muscatine melons are ready. They are ready. And they are as sweet and juicy as we anticipated they would be. Muscatine cantaloupes are huge melons. They got their name because they originally were grown only in that part of Iowa. I am not sure that is true anymore. The Muscatine, Iowa area’s sandy soil makes these the best melons around.

One cup measuring cup for size comparison.

This one gallon container is so full I can't get the lid on. I have a great solution to that problem, tho.
I will just have to eat some.

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Hope you enjoy yours.

Rose

You can read more about the Muscatine Melons here;                                                               

 http://www.iowaartscouncil.org/programs/folk-and-traditional-arts/place_based_foods/assets/melons.pdf