Uncle Hib died Tuesday of this week (4/13/2010). Last night was the visitation and today was the funeral. As far as days go, outside of being windy, it was a gorgeous day. There was talk of farming among the people standing around last night and today.
Last night on the way to the visitation we got re-routed by what turned out to be a bad accident. When we were re-routed, it had been about 2 hours since the accident occurred. When we finished we were able to travel back on that road. It was then probably 4 1/2 hours since the accident and we followed the semi back into town. Here is a link if you are curious:
http://www.muscatinejournal.com/news/local/article_cda56ba0-48ca-11df-b6c0-001cc4c03286.html
Today when we came back from the funeral Randy and I could see a plume of smoke in the distance. Ever the 'ambulance chaser' (or firetruck in this case) I asked if we could PLEASE drive that way - and surprisingly Randy said "YES!". (If I had been driving ... there would have been no doubt in my mind - we would have gone!)
So when we drove up we could see a barn ablaze. We parked and watched for a few minutes before we realized that the fire department hadn't yet arrived. After taking a few pictures and going around the corner to the other side of the farmstead is when it actually sank in. NO FIRE DEPARTMENT? We could see that another structure had flames on it by that time.
We turned around, still gawking and staring, and a tractor pulling a piece of farm equipment was near us. Randy asked the farmer if he knew if the fire department had been called (I was attempting to dial 911 by that time myself). The farmer said that YES, he personally called the fire department over 20 minutes before that.
The wind was strong and steady and pieces of roofing and other debris were blowing off the fire into the field across the road and there were several good sized ground fires there that were picking up some momentum. It looked as if it was a good possibility that given enough time and continued wind that most if not all of the buildings there could go.
Finally a sheriff showed up and then a couple of firetrucks from Wilton. They had to, of course, haul their own water and it wasn't long before one of them scooted off down the road back toward Wilton, presumably to refill at which point the second truck pulled into that truck's vacated position and started hosing the fire. Eventually Fruitland came too.
It was very exciting to watch, though I'm sure when the farmer and family arrived it was less exciting by a long shot. There were some animals either in a building or lot near the buildings that someone apparently let out, we hadn't been able to see them until they went racing wildly across the field. Probably 20 or so cows and horses. They ran and ran all the way across the field and around and back sort of near the farmstead. I think they were terrified judging from the running they did.
We got quite a few shots of the fire. The sad thing is that this farm, a Dickey farm, is the same place where not that many years ago an explosion occurred in the house and took the lives of I think 2 people who were in the house. Something makes me think that the explosion took place in a modular home that had replaced a home that had burned out before that. (I might be making that part up in my head -- but I am sure about the explosion.) That's a lot for one farmstead.
Anyway - that was my day today.
Friday, April 16
Sunday, April 11
ELEVEN DAYS
I don't know what I've been doing for 11 days (since my last blog-post). My life hasn't been all that exciting. I suppose that is good in a way, but makes for sorta boring blogging!
I was supposed to have some training (for the afternoon job) in Des Moines and it got postponed. I'd already scheduled 2 days of vacation time from the a.m. job - so I put in a few hours at the afternoon job, but mostly had two days off.
During that time I cleaned out a couple of cupboards and drawers - but that was the BIG extent of my productive time. I think I also made the cards for our monthly 2nd Thursday night stamping night. Whether or not you see that as 'productive time' I suppose is debatible. For me, it is productive time. The little bits of creative time I put in - keeps me sane.
OHHHH! Speaking of creative - there is something sort of cool. I'm "published"!!! Well, not in the way like Debbie (Randy's sister) is - in that she actually had an article published in a teaching magazine. My 'published' is that I was asked to do a promotional piece for a small local theatre group called "The Pearl City Players". They are doing posters, table tents (for local coffee shops and restaurants), and supposedly the Art Center is mailing postcards to their patron mailing list. Not a huge deal, but in my boring little world - it is fun! Just in case you wonder -- I'm not a paid professional! It's volunteer work.
I also scrapbooked a page (I want to do another page - so it is a 2 page layout) of Jaimee's birthday.
We were trying to get a cooperative picture of her in her little plaid dress as Ryan's dad and his family gave it to her for her birthday. Finally had mommy sit and hold her down for a pic! Remember Horton Hears a Who? She has Cindy Lou Who hair!
The old uncle - after such a seriously bad day on Friday, rallied yesterday. Went to see him in the a.m. and he was propped up in his bed looking around. I tried to give him moisture (those sponges on a stick) and he tried to say something to me. I put his fan on him because he always liked it on him.
I was supposed to have some training (for the afternoon job) in Des Moines and it got postponed. I'd already scheduled 2 days of vacation time from the a.m. job - so I put in a few hours at the afternoon job, but mostly had two days off.
During that time I cleaned out a couple of cupboards and drawers - but that was the BIG extent of my productive time. I think I also made the cards for our monthly 2nd Thursday night stamping night. Whether or not you see that as 'productive time' I suppose is debatible. For me, it is productive time. The little bits of creative time I put in - keeps me sane.
OHHHH! Speaking of creative - there is something sort of cool. I'm "published"!!! Well, not in the way like Debbie (Randy's sister) is - in that she actually had an article published in a teaching magazine. My 'published' is that I was asked to do a promotional piece for a small local theatre group called "The Pearl City Players". They are doing posters, table tents (for local coffee shops and restaurants), and supposedly the Art Center is mailing postcards to their patron mailing list. Not a huge deal, but in my boring little world - it is fun! Just in case you wonder -- I'm not a paid professional! It's volunteer work.
I also scrapbooked a page (I want to do another page - so it is a 2 page layout) of Jaimee's birthday.
We've been having a great weekend with our daughter and the baby here. The baby decided last Wednesday that she could and would walk everywhere she went. Or most everywhere! It's sort of cute, as she has to hold her arms up to do it.
We were trying to get a cooperative picture of her in her little plaid dress as Ryan's dad and his family gave it to her for her birthday. Finally had mommy sit and hold her down for a pic! Remember Horton Hears a Who? She has Cindy Lou Who hair!
After a long day of having Cindy Lou Who hair - you end up with Jaimee Rae Who hair at the end of the day!
The old uncle - after such a seriously bad day on Friday, rallied yesterday. Went to see him in the a.m. and he was propped up in his bed looking around. I tried to give him moisture (those sponges on a stick) and he tried to say something to me. I put his fan on him because he always liked it on him.
Last night some of the family was in to play games and some of them had been up to see him in the afternoon. He had taken some ice cream and diet coke (his FAVORITE beverage). He was cranky to my mom demanding his fan be put back on him.
He truly was NON-RESPONSIVE on Friday. I would imagine it is a temporary reprieve, but we were all surprised he made it through Friday a.m. he was so bad. Amazing isn't it?
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