iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 28, 2024 15:11:01 GMT
It was 75º here on Monday. Tuesday was cooler. Last night the temp dropped to the high teens and we had a little snow squall. This morning it was 1º this and windy! That is actual temp, not wind chill. So thankful we late calve and don't have any on the ground yet. We have been spoiled by the very mild winter here. Had a week or two of painful cold earlier, but hardly any snow this year. What snow we did have went into the ground, and not into the waterways, thankfully! The ground is usually frozen and snow melt just does down the river mostly. Ground really never froze hard this year. Ice was off the lakes and rivers in early February. We are extremely drouthy. Subsoil moisture is almost non existent. DH has planned for drought conditions for at least the next two years. We were very lucky to get two big rains at just the right time to put an ear on the corn plant, and then put weight into the kernels. Very lucky - otherwise it easily could have been a nearly zero yield year. But none of that moisture went into the subsoil. We are very concerned! Reading about mom wildfires is so concerning. We were in Red Flag warning Monday and Tuesday, due to wind, dry conditions and very low humidity. Hoping everyone's spring weather is mild! But hopefully damp!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 28, 2024 13:52:22 GMT
Some friends had their ranch burn a few years ago in SW Kansas. When I lived down that way I never remember wildfires. Now the fire departments all have rangeland fire units. Even up into more west central Kansas.
It's so scary!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 28, 2024 13:47:20 GMT
According to my back yard neighbors they still have unpacked boxes from 1977 in their garage. We moved here in 1990. I have a couple small boxes in my basement that have never been unpacked. I know I need to started now, clearing out things. So that someday my kids are not left with the task. So hard! I have a LOT of stuff! I don't want to get rid of a lot of it, but I know I can thin it down and organize it better. It's a job that is so easy to put off! I will never move, and I think moving helps pare down the crap! Either on the move out, or move in stage. But the only way I'm leaving this house is feet first, so I need to get to it while I still can! LOL It is difficult to do a closet cleanout. DH never wants to get rid of anything. But I do go in from time to time and thin out the really worn stuff. Of course he wants it cut into shop rags! LOL Ugh. I have big stacks of jeans and old flannel shirts that are worn, but would work great for jean quilts. My girls have made a couple with their Dad's jeans, so I save them... for now!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Pea
Feb 28, 2024 12:19:38 GMT
lisae likes this
Post by iowgirl on Feb 28, 2024 12:19:38 GMT
I'm so confused.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 27, 2024 21:59:31 GMT
the us needs immigrants.. it needs those ambitious/determined people who come across our borders. it would be great if we had a system to allow people in for work, on permits, and allow them to move back and forth. who is going to pick crops, do back kitchen work, run dairies, work in crappy jobs like caregivers and meat packing plants, and landscaping. Read about Leonard Chapman Jr. He was a retired Marine General who became commissioner of the INS in the early 70's. He set about locking up the southern border, which had been more fluid up to that time. Many seasonal workers were coming across to pick crops, etc. They were here for the seasons of work, and then returned to their families. Once the border became more of an issue to cross and they could not return and come back easily, or were blocked from seeing their families. So they began to cross and not return and also bring families with them. In my area, rural Iowa, there are many seasonal workers who work on farms around us. They usually come in the spring and stay until harvest is done in the fall, then return to their families. The farmers here have to provide them with housing and maybe transportation. Quite a few farms here employ them. Also some seasonal business such as tiling (drainage tiling). It is almost impossible to hire a farm hand anymore, so most are turning to migrant type employees who have work visa's to stay a certain amount of months, and then they hope like heck they come back to them in the spring. I am not sure what they are paid, but we are willing to pay $20 to $25 an hour for help (more sometimes) and it's pretty hard to find anyone local that either shows up or we even want on the farm, that isn't going to turn around and steal us blind. We have a high school boy that helps us when he is free and we pay him about $20/hour and he is fantastic, but soon off to college. We find around here no one wants to work. I don't know how they are surviving!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 27, 2024 17:38:45 GMT
I support legal immigration and I totally understand the depth of many peoples sorrow that need to come to a better life. They make our country better! But letting an uncontrolled amount into the country is not supportable. New York and other places are seeing this.
It is deplorable for some states to ship illegals to other states, but I can also see their plight. They are OUT of resources to deal with it. Why not spread the population to other states. I think it could be done better, but I see the reasoning for it.
Are Chinese and other groups coming in from Canada? Why would they not also cross there. I know official border crossings are guarded, but you can't tell me they watch it all and stop foreign nationals from crossing.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 27, 2024 17:34:32 GMT
I was trying to go through the "must read" list, but I finally decided that I am not in school, I have read a lot of these back in the day when they were on a reading list that I had to finish. I enjoyed some, hated others, but was glad to have read them.
But now. Now I do what I want. I mostly do audiobook. I am alone most of the day, and I enjoy the audiobook with my airpods as something to distract me. I just go the newest Joe Pickett book. Is it high brow literature. Nope. But I love those series and others like Longmire, Mike Bowditch, etc.
I do some Audible and a lot from my Library. If I am iffy on a book, I try to go through my Library, so it is free. The newest Joe Picket was just released and I know the list at the library for the audiobook was months long - so I bought that one. My husband might enjoy it while he plants this spring, so I though double the value! Long hours in the tractor that time of the year.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 27, 2024 17:23:20 GMT
I keep coming back and looking at the photos!
It was probably an absolute gem when it was built, but looks like it has not been kept up (at least the outdoors) The slate floors are amazing - and they carry out to the pool area. This was something done with MCM - the nature feel, coming indoors. A big fluffy white or light pelt rug (not real, but something that resembles a pelt with irregular edges, would go perfect. Some remodeling has really put the ick on it though. While the kitchen tile is nice, it is SO wrong for the house. As are the cabinets, but replacing all that would be a lot. They look really nice, but not in that house. The spindles and other woodwork that was added would have to go. The picture frame molding on a lot of the walls should be removed. It's just not in keeping with the house. I think that is what gets me. Such an awesome modern architecture, and so many things added later that just detract and don't match the house at all. The garage door is beautiful, but not on that house.
It would be so fun to bring it back to it's MCM deliciousness - but yikes, it would cost!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 27, 2024 15:40:58 GMT
I like the Modern style. The decor that is left there and some of the finishes/paint seem to have a 90's vibe going, which really distracts from the Modern esthetic - but that could easily be fixed with some paint and simple changes. The kitchen looks recently re-done, and it really doesn't vibe with the Modern house - looks almost like they went Farmhouse on the cabinets with the 'raw' finish. But something as simple as new knobs and handles that have a more Modern feel, instead of Farmhouse, would fix that!
Which fireplace? The one with the copper cover/vent is AMAZING and that must be kept at all cost. Don't change the patina on the copper either. It would freak me out a bit, with no enclosure for the fire. Is that how it is supposed to be? I would want the logs in something that held them together. But that is gorgeous. I am not big into having fire - so that one I might just place a HUGE green fern in the fire pit area. Oh yummy!
But I think if you got rid of the 90's somewhat Tuscan decor/finishes and went hard on Modern/ Mid Century Modern- it would be a stunner!
The outdoors looks like the wood needs a wash. Soft wash, not power wash. Power wash can completely damage that wood, but a soft wash will brighten the wood back up. Some of the algae covered wood might need more work. I would have a BONDED INSURED professional do that. No just anyone with a power washer. If they mess it up - it would be tragic and expensive to fix.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 25, 2024 15:14:51 GMT
I finally downloaded it. I have no interest in really participating, but dang it - what does the rest of that thread say? Ack!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 22, 2024 17:26:31 GMT
There is a grocery store in my area that has carts with a cell phone holder built into them. I’ve only seen one or two people use it (not a scan and go store). I think it is kind of dangerous. Someone can come by and just grab the phone and run. I don't know how they could make it secure - but that is a concern! The way it is now, I just leave my cell phone in the front part (where the babies sit) of the cart. I place some items in there until I get a few, then scan them and put them in the cart, so I am not stopping and scanning each item in a busy part of the store. I am more worried my phone will fall on the floor. I can put it in my pocket, but I feel like I am looking like a shoplifter then! LOL I also live in a very low crime area, but the thought of someone snatching my phone crosses my mind - but it doesn't happen around me.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 22, 2024 15:28:28 GMT
Bugles - the salty corn based snack like Fritos. I used them to make *Santa hats* with my home-made nuts & bolts this year at Christmas. Bugles are my favorite! I make "Bugle Dip" that goes so well with it. It is finely chopped cucumber (seeds removed), some garlic powder to taste, mixed into softened cream cheese. Super simple, but it's always requested in the summer! I have made the Santa Hat mix several times! This year I made Santa and Elves hats! I dipped some Bugles in Red candy coating and some in Green. The green were the Elf hats. I redipped the wide open end and then dipped the red ones in white Nonpareils and the green ones in red/white/green Nonpareils. I used tiny dehydrated marshmallows for the Pom on the tip. SO fun! Looked awesome in the mix along with Christmas M&M's.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 22, 2024 15:04:32 GMT
My sense of taste seems to just have diminished. Nothing tastes good, but nothing tastes bad either. It's just that nothing tastes as GOOD as it USED to. Could that be just aging? Or is from Covid? I had dry mouth after Covid, and I think that is what really changed my tastes. The dry mouth has been dealt with, but I swear my tastes buds never came back.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 22, 2024 14:59:09 GMT
I feel that! I was on the fence for a long time. I didn't want to pay it, but honestly, I feel like it has been worth it. The Paramount+ subscription is worth $72 alone. I have seen Walmart discount the price on it too. The Scan & Go is worth the cost alone. but from what's been said, you scan n go but you still have to go to the self check out lanes to actually check out. i don't know about you guys, but those lines are super long at the WMs around me. i thought everything can be done on your app and then you just walk out. if i still have to stand in the self check out, then i'll have to think twice about paying for that service. I agree with you on that! I often have long lines at the self checkout! It is nice that once I get to an open one, it takes 30 seconds or less to Scan that code and be gone! I get requests of feedback from Walmart about using Scan & Go, and everytime, I mention that a dedicated kiosk or such be added for Scan & Go - that is only for Scan & Go. Our self checkouts are tiny. It is such a pain in the butt to unload, scan, bag, then find a spot for the bags, if my cart is still full. Being able to have my stuff organized into totes and not having to unload, bag, then try to find a spot for bagged stuff while still unloading is a great plus. There are things that could be improved! I would also like a spot on the cart I could put my phone (securely) so it was easy to grag and put down for Scan & Go. Or even a scan gun mounted on the cart.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 21, 2024 19:56:07 GMT
Use a Power Bank (battery). Get a sizeable one. I like 10,000 mAh. That gives you plenty of charge time off a battery. You can charge multiple devices fully off that. This one at Amazon is a 2 pack for just under $18. They are about the size of a larger iPhone and a little thicker. This one has a little flashlight, which can be super handy too. I use my own cords. These are my favorite all purpose cords. Each cord has 4 ends; 1 USB C, 1 micro USB, 2 apple lightning. So it will pretty much charge anything. You can also use it to recharge the battery, but it will need to plug into a regular UBS charging port (slow) or have a wall adapter plug for USB direct to wall power. I highly recommend these cords. They are SO durable. Multi End short charging cord And a longer version of the same cord (also a 2 pack) .. it is 10 foot long. These chargers are great to fly with - but they go carry on, not in your packed checked bag.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 21, 2024 19:35:44 GMT
WOW. i didn't know you can do Scan n Go at Walmart too. i doubt DH will pay $98 for that privilege though. LOL. between warehouse memberships and streaming services, he is not about to pay one more annual fee. oh, but that is so good to know! I feel that! I was on the fence for a long time. I didn't want to pay it, but honestly, I feel like it has been worth it. The Paramount+ subscription is worth $72 alone. I have seen Walmart discount the price on it too. The Scan & Go is worth the cost alone.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 21, 2024 16:36:34 GMT
Nope. Prion diseases freak me out.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 21, 2024 15:07:28 GMT
i will say this for Sam's though, i love their Scan n Go app feature. bypass the lines. scan stuff yourself, pay and go. it makes the going to the store much more tolerable and fast because i don't have to stand in their lines and deal with their slooooooowww cashiers. If you like Sam's Scan & Go - you will LOVE it at Walmart. I can't figure out why more people don't get it. You have to pay for the Walmart Plus membership, but I have seen it discounted quite often. It is $98 a year (but I do see them sell it at a discount often). You get Scan & Go (worth it alone!) at Walmart. Free shipping, free delivery (I don't qualify, because I live in BFE, but I did use it on vacation to have groceries delivered to a villa, and I do use it to get things delivered to my kids who live in more urban areas). Paramount+ is included and also Pluto TV, which is free, but I think the Walmart+ makes it more add-free. If you live within a delivery area, they also do free returns - they will come pick up your return. Fuel discounts also, if your store has fuel. But I LOVE just putting totes in my cart, scanning as I shop and packing my totes so it is easy to put away when I get home. I go through the Self Check out and scan a code on the screen and I am done! Poof! It is THE best.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 20, 2024 14:33:24 GMT
I loved the early Simpson's. Back when Fox was a very new network. To this day, I laugh when I think about Side Show Bob stepping on the rakes. LOL I don't know why, but that one just sticks in my mind. And "I can't even say titmouse without giggling like a schoolgirl".
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 17, 2024 1:04:54 GMT
I think it's a made-up story by the site "buzzbait" as click bait. One of my kids is invited to a wedding and the wedding attire states that now one is to wear white or red. The bride is Chinese, so I assumed it had something to do with that.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 14, 2024 2:02:39 GMT
Looks like going to Disney became a little more complicated in the last 20 years It’s just my husband and I we will be there in a couple of weeks for three days. DisneyWorld is WAY more complicated than it was just 5 years ago. Geesh. We finally broke down and did some ala carte Lightening Lane passes just to ride Tron, Flights of Passage, Rise of the Resistance, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Did a Genie pass one day to get on more rides. It really bugs me to have to spend this much MORE on top of the already spendy park hopper passes. Plus the Magical Express is gone, so we Ubered to and from the airport, so more $$ I also thought the food quality has gone down the crapper - this goes across the board from snacks to the higher end meals, even in Disney Springs. We used to love the food - this trip was meh at best. Less quantity and quality and much more cost. But Guardians of the Galaxy was AMAZING! I have a cast iron stomach, and when I got off that one.. I felt the tiniest bit woozy. I hear it is a vomit comet for many! carhoch , what did you think of DisneyWorld?
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 14, 2024 1:54:39 GMT
For the 3rd time is about 7 -10 days, I've received the message "Your package is on the way but running late." However, I've discovered this is a euphemism for "your package is lost". Every single time. Mine run about 7 days on average. That is with Prime. I have had a couple lost, and cancelled one at Christmas, due to the length of time getting it. But Prime has lost it's shine for me. I can order the same item from Walmart of Target with free shipping and get it in 2 days, and it takes a week from Amazon.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 2, 2024 0:06:12 GMT
I would not repot it now.
If you want, keep it alive even after it flowers. Keep the green part going. Once any danger of frost has passed, transplant the green into a garden/flower bed. The green part will wither and die away. Next spring it might rebloom. It might not.
The bulb you have now has been forced, so it might be viable to keep, or it might be a gonner. But I tuck mine into my flower beds and some come back the next spring, some don't.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 1, 2024 15:55:51 GMT
So, you are already paying extra for Prime, and now they are charging you to be ad-free?? That really sucks! Prime is losing it's shine for me! I never get same day or next day shipping - most of the time is is 4-5 days or longer. But I can order the same or similar item from Walmart or Target and get them in no more than 2 days.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Jan 30, 2024 19:53:30 GMT
It seems women create chaos and it’s up to males to create order. In all my life, it seems this is the other way around.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Jan 30, 2024 17:40:21 GMT
There have been a couple of threads this week where a non European Pea has said European butter is better than US and a different Pea said European Tea is better than the US. I love watching tiktoks of people who come to the US and are blown away by good things (some of which make me scratch my head)... LOL At the top is usually BBQ and the sides. Starbucks drinks are popular (not always coffee, per say, but the different ways it is prepared and the non-coffee drinks there too. Ranch dressing is always a topic. Our beef is almost exclusively sent abroad, so I am going to say good Iowa beef is better than European, from first hand knowledge. LOL It is fun to hear where our beef goes. We don't always know, but sometimes the let us know. Once our entire load went from a Pack in Omaha right onto a jet to Japan (take that Kobe beef!) ... MASH DK (Modern American Steak House, Denmark) was buying our beef. I know sometimes it goes to UAE also. I prefer to buy US butter. I think KerryGold is good, but so is LOL butter, and you can get it European style, which is also 82% butterfat, just as KerryGold is. I support US Farmers. I love my Terry's Chocolate oranges! As far as I can tell, the are manufactured in France. So yummy! I also love Lu Petit Ecolier cookies, which I believe are made in France. Such a treat when I can find them! I like Barilla pasta, which is an Italian company - but it is made less than 100 miles from me in Ames Iowa!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Jan 30, 2024 17:21:30 GMT
A party line: In the 1950s, unless you had a private line, several neighbors phones were on the same electrical line. We had a party line when I was a kid. Just one old guy was on it, but it seemed like he used his phone a lot. We didn't have a special ring. We must have gotten a private line by the early 80's when the phone was a major part of my life! Can you believe a boy had to call your house and might have to talk to your parents first! LORD! When a phone call came to the household, one homeowner had a ring tone that was very long (length of the sound). The next home might have 2 short rings, so that the homes knew who was receiving the call. My mom talked about the different rights when she was a girl. Those were the old crank phones back then. She said they had a 'community' ring that everyone was to pick up. She said when the Colorado Peaches would come in, the community ring would go out and let everyone know to go get some! LOL I have one of those old crank phones at my house, just for decoration. It has a magneto in that I have heard will shock you into another dimension if you ever touched it when it was energized. It's inside the cabinet of the phone though, it's not something you can accidentally touch.
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iowgirl
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Jan 30, 2024 16:18:49 GMT
There has been a considerable amount of research that shows that grades, overall school performance, tardiness and attendance, etc. all improve when high school start times are later in the morning. Even things like traffic accidents involving teens decrease when school start times are later. My kids were almost always at school well before the start time. Morning practices for XC started at 6 am. Sometimes they would come back home for a shower, but most of the time they just did that at school and had breakfast there. Band practices were at 7 am and a lot of the teachers had office hours at 7:30 am. When my kids were younger, they got on the bus at 7 am everyday, so the early start for school was something that was always there. My son just struggled more in high school. It's one of those things you have to get through to the other side. I would much rather have them start at a somewhat earlier time, and get out earlier. They all had sports practices after school, and didn't get home till 5 or 5:30 (non-game days). So if they started practices even later, with a later start school day - it would be super late when they got home. They had chores at home that had to be done too. Once they hit the age of 14 they could drive to school - so when my oldest turned 14, she drove, and her siblings rode with her. They didn't have to always leave at the crack of dawn that way, but they would take the bus if she was going in early for practices. Geeze, I am glad those days are over! LOL
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iowgirl
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Jan 30, 2024 15:12:42 GMT
I have to appreciate so many of you Mom's having late kids. I can remember how frustrated I was! It's nice to see that we are not alone, and for the most part it is something that passes eventually!
Living with a rancher/farmer has been a challenge. We are often late getting to events, etc., due to the nature of livestock. Something ALWAYS goes wrong when we have plans. And the livestock come first. If the water isn't working, or fence is down, a sick animal, or the worst "COWS ARE OUT" - we are going to be late. If it's planting or harvest season, we will absolutely be late, if we end up getting there at all. I always inform people ahead of time that we will probably be late. I don't plan rides with anyone, because I don't want to worry about them being late too.
We were at a wedding once, and the beer coozies said "Party till the cows come home" ... my daughter pointed out that it should say "Party till the cows get out", 'cause we have to leave then ... LOL
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Jan 29, 2024 19:29:05 GMT
We have sorting canes, to use when we are working cattle. No one can ever find their own sorting cane. Where do they go? Usually hanging on a gate somewhere. DS gave us all heavy duty engraved canes for Christmas. Can I find my cane? No. Do I see my cane getting used by everyone but me - yes. LOL I said I was going to paint it bright pink - but that wouldn't stop it from walking off..
I can tell when is is DH's cane. It's cracked and taped back together with black tape. If you have ever worked cattle, you know this one!
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