Tuesday May 29- OK both of us decided we weren't staying here all day. So we went on a road trip. First we went to Ketlesen's to look for camper stuff. Well, they changed things around in there. They don't have much on the way of camping stuff. It seems they are focused on selling campers now. Next stop was Home Depot and Menards. We have decided to replace our blinds in the rig. The blinds in the back are starting to show wear. The cords are starting to fall apart and neither of us want to try and replace them. We both are ready for a change. We have looked into MCD blinds, they are kind of cashy. Before ordering anything we are checking in to all options. Well in one place we couldn't find anybody to help us so we left. Then we had a super helpful guy at Menard's but the cost there was more than we wanted to spend. According to the charts on display it was going to be less but they kept adding things on so we opted out of that. After leaving here we drove down to Coralville. First we stopped at the mall. We looked around there for awhile, we were getting hungry. Jeff has been wanting to go to Red Lobster so that's where we headed. I'm not a seafood fan but there biscuits are a good enough reason for me to go. We both has a great lunch. Everything we ordered was super tastee. Our last stop was Trader Joe's. The last time I was here it was right after they opened and super busy. Today it was not that busy. We found everything on our list and more. Did I say how much we love this place....we do. So happy that they opened this store in Iowa, we really use the store in Florida a lot.
Wednesday May 30-We had some rain last night but it didn't help with the heat, humidity or bugs. I'm just wondering what is in store for us in August if it's this hot now? It rained off and on during the day.
Thursday May 31- With this hot weather we have spent a lot of time indoors. Since we are replacing the blinds, we decided to recover the valances while they are down. Today we measured for fabric. I think we have an idea of how much to get. I'm hoping they will be fairly easy. We were going to go into town to look for fabric but decided not today. I also got started tying my son's t-shirt quilt together today. He has been patient waiting for this thing. He gave me the shirts last summer before we left for Florida. Good news my hummingbirds are starting to come back and bring there families. At least if I'm stuck inside I can still watch the hummingbirds.
Friday June 1- Well a new month, it sure doesn't feel like June, more like August. Since we can't get a break with the weather today we decided to take in a morning movie. That is kind of different. I was thinking, you can't have popcorn at 9:30.....but yes you can. It was really fresh too. We saw the movie Adrift. It was really good and based on a true story. We also went to the theater with the recliners. I'm thinking this is now our favorite theater. Before heading back to the campground we went to the grocery store and Culvers for lunch. Love there butter burgers. Then back home. I worked on tying the quilt and I finished the tying part only have to bind it.
Saturday June 2- It cooled off last night. The bad news is I checked the radar and we have rain coming. We had planned on going to the farmers market but since we had a really good rain we changed our minds. Come to find out it didn't even rain in Cedar Rapids. Oh well we can go next time. We went in to the ice rink to watch a scrimmage with the Roughriders. They are having try outs this week so they play each other. Seth, Ashton and Hailey met us there.
After the game we came back home. I got the binding started, I actually got 3 sides done today. It was kind of a weird day, it would rain then the sun would come out. Then it would rain and then the sun would come out. That's Iowa weather, or weathers....
Sunday June 3- We have the Pigman Triathlon going on today. We weren't sure we were going to church. You either have to leave before it starts or after it's over. Justin called and asked us to babysit today. We left early and went for breakfast, then over to watch Miss Maddyn.
We had a fun morning playing with this happy girl. We got home and took care of the dogs. We are having some serious wind out here now. The wind actually broke the sticks in the umbrella on our brand new swing lounger. I took in the cushions but not the umbrella. Oh well we can get it fixed.
Monday June 4- We stayed around here all day. The weather has improved but the bugs just won't leave. I did some cleaning, Jeff he worked on our outside door. When we fixed it the last time it seems to bubbled some. He tried to glue it again. It is the weirdest thing. It looks like it is laying really nice, then it sits in the sun it bubbles. Just keep trying to fix it I guess. We did get a nice walk and a bike ride in. Jeff took a couple of our valances down. I took off the old fabric and the staples out. Boy do they use a lot of staples. That is the hardest part, taking out the staples.
Tuesday June 5- Today we went to town. First we had a wonderful breakfast at Perkins. I think they must have new management there. It seems way better than last year. Then we went to Joann's to look for upholstery fabric. They have quite a few to choose from. The prices have a wide range as well. The good news is the fabric is on sale for 50% off.....score!
We found something we could both agree on. Decided to just get a small piece to start. That way we could see what it looked like with everything. I got one done and both of us like it. Then I figured I better go back in and get what we need. Good thing, after I got what I needed there wasn't that much left. Stopped to get more staples for our staple gun and came back. Jeff had a couple more valances down. I took off the fabric and removed staples.
Wednesday June 6- Today Judy is coming up for a doctor appointment. I told her I would go with her. I got Ruby walked and the shower house cleaned before she got here. When she arrived we drove downtown to her appointment. It was in the hospital. We had a bit of a problem getting back to the parking lot. We went to the gift shop and that through us off. It was kind of funny because we just kept going in circles. We finally got out but it wasn't the way we went in. Oh well we had a good laugh. Next we stopped at the mall. When Judy comes up we usually manage to do a bit of shopping.
We found a few sales and the pretzel shop. Went back to the rig and visited some. While she was there we received a phone call from the furniture store we ordered a new hide-a-bed. They told us it had arrived and wanted to set up a delivery time. We were really excited because Judy is coming up for the weekend and would have a new bed. Well Jeff asked him to check and make sure it had the memory foam bed. They called back and guess what? Not only is there no memory foam there is no bed. It is just a couch. We were both upset but when we ordered it 5 weeks ago we both had a feeling it would be messed up. It was. So they ordered it again and we should have it in 4-6 weeks. Looks like Judy will be sleeping on the blow up mattress one more time.
Thursday June 7- Today I went in to Seth and Katie's, I started the laundry then took Hailey to gymnastics. I stayed and watched a bit then left to run some errands. I went back to her place to finish up our laundry. I made it back to gymnastics to watch the last hour. It last 3 hours now. Hailey came back home with me. It is another really warm day. We went to a movie after lunch. We saw A Wrinkle In Time. It was OK, Hailey liked it so that's what mattered. We came back home and had supper. Jeff was going to Palo to play guitar tonight so us girls made cookies. Hailey was in bed by 8:30. I guess she had a busy day.
Friday June 8- Hailey was up bright and early and ready for breakfast. We made bacon and pancakes. She fixed hers up like she liked. It is really nice out today. The bugs are still here. Hailey was complaining about itching. She has lots of bug bites. I tried to keep her inside to avoid any more bites. We painted her nails, I had some mermaid stickers to put on them. She was really excited about that. Papa played WII with her. Seth came and picked her up when he got done with work.
Jeff and I got ready to head to downtown Cedar Rapids. We are going to Uptown Friday Night at the McGrath Amphitheatre. Wellstrung is opening up for The Pork Tornadoes. It is suppose to be a big night. We went early, first to stop at a bike shop to look for a bike for Jeff. The bike shop is Goldfinch Cyclery, they didn't have what he was looking for but he looked on line. The salesman found what Jeff was describing and told him he could order one in. He did and told Jeff he would give him a call when they got it together for a test drive. He also told him he is under no obligation to buy it. They were very helpful. Then we went and got a great parking spot. They opened the gates at 5:30 and started playing at 6. I had planned to meet Judy outside when she arrived. To help her find a parking spot. When they opened the gates people were already lined up to get in. Wellstrung reaped those benefits, all those early people. We met some friends there. The Griffey's showed up as well as John and Jane Dean. They live in a condo across from the theater. The show was good and it wasn't too hot either.
Wellstrung finished up there set and Judy gave me a call to say she was getting close. I headed for the gate. I went to get my hand stamped so I could go out and meet her but they said they weren't going to do that for this show. If I left I would have to pay again. It is only $5.00 to get in but it was the principle. They already have so many people in there you can't get a beer or use the restroom. I tried to call Jeff and let him know what was going on. I found Judy, we parked her car about 10 blocks away and made our way back to the show. Jeff was waiting at the gate. He said we could either go back in or go get something to eat downtown. Well the sound was really loud. Then I came up with a plan John and Jane had went home and was on there balcony listening. I gave them a call to see if they want company. They said sure, so we went up for a bit. Then we walked downtown for supper.
We ate supper at Bricks, good news everyone was at the show so it wasn't busy. Our food was very good. The show was record breaking in attendance. It was so busy. We had a great night even though we had to change our plans a bit.
Saturday June 9- First we figured out what we were going to do today. We went in to Seth and Katie's to pick up some mail. Then to the store. We stopped at Billy Sims BBQ to get meat for lunch. When we got home we had a nice lunch and visited for a bit. We fixed a small supper then got ready to make our way to Center Point. Tonight they are having the Pork Festival. Wellstrung is playing from 6-9. This show is for the family. Molly even brought Maddyn to the show. We arrived and found our picnic table. We enjoyed almost all of the show. We had good weather until about 8:30. That's when the warnings started coming in. We headed toward home because the dogs were home alone.
They actually ended the show early. We got home before the big rain came. Justin and Molly ended up taking cover in the stone building next door to the show. We had some serious rain and wind. We watched very close on the TV. We probably should have went to the shower house. We made it through the first off it. Then we thought we were going to miss the next round. The storm north of us dropped down then the storm south off us moved up. We had another batch of scary weather to deal with. We finally went to bed around midnight. Boy were we lucky. The rig was really shaking. That wind was strong.
Sunday June 10- Woke up and went to take the dogs out and this is what we saw....
Boy were we lucky. If that thing would have fell the other direction we would have had some damage to the rig. Now my hummingbirds weren't very happy. They were flying around like crazy. It was almost like bees around there nest. I bet there was 25-30 hummingbirds flying around. Look it didn't even bother there feeders. Good news was that was pretty much the only damage done. We got ready to go to church, better say thank you. The worship service today was especially good. The message was too. Really feeling blessed today. Came back home after church to visit with Judy until she left. We sure had a busy and exciting week end.
