Photo gallery illustrating everything fall: our two-year anniversary celebration at Oak Glenn Winery in Herman, Mo.; a trip to the pumpkin farm and Martinsburg for Octoberfest; a few things winter; cutting down our first Christmas tree and Bryn’s first candy cane.
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A story about turkey
Kevin and I have been turkey hunting together twice.
The hunt takes place in a field off of Scott Station by our house. A blind is set up with decoys 15 and 20 feet away. Sometimes it takes us by foot stalking gobblers for miles.
I intend to kill a gobbler with my bow. Since I’ve had it, ive been able to pull back more poundage and shoot better groups.
Kevin calls and calls to the birds trying to draw them closer. He gobbles, he clucks and he hoots. or something. There’s names and synchronization to it I don’t know.
The first gobble made me laugh. But that laughter got held in. So did sneezes, snot and coughs even though i’m not yet over a sinus infection.
I had to pee. I was afraid to bring it up so I held it in too. An hour later, I brought it up. “I don’t know what to tell you,” Kevin said.
Well, I peed. In the 4×4 blind. Thankfully, not in or on my cammo pants.
We saw wildlife. A coyote. Cows and calves. Hens, jakes and gobblers. I had a shot at the jakes, but tried to hold out for one of the big boys.
Kevin killed grandpa gobbler. HUGE ASS BIRD. Two beards. 25 pounds.
What Kevin Said
The subject line of Kevin’s email read, Holy Shizzle. The body text said, “I just took my first drink of coffee, and now I can’t keep my tounge in my mouth or my a$$ on my seat…what the hell!!”
Gevalia is our new coffee of choice. We’ve been drinking it for a few months.
The brand and its packaging is new to American retail stores but is a well-known, robust brew from Sweeden. From this blog post in ModlandUSA, I learned the business previously was mail-order.
I purchased the darkest roast yesterday at Hy-Vee.
I don’t measure upon making it. Once the filter is in place, I open up the bag and pour grounds in.
Sounds like I poured just the right amount today…
Wake Up Little Suzzie
I sleep too late on weekdays.
As result, I leave the house frazzled.
It’s typically not because I feel disheveled or unprepared for the office.
Sometimes it’s because I didn’t have time to make coffee.
But mostly it’s because I’m pissed I didn’t accomplish the shit I wanted to accomplish around our home. The tasks aren’t monumental and surely can wait. However, my patience can’t.
Tomorrow, I’ll try to turn over a new leaf.
I’ll just go home tonight to a dishwasher full of clean dishes and a washing machine containing a load of whites that finished its cycle yesterday afternoon. And, and, and, and…
Saturday Morning at Home
The following chain of events lead me to write this post:
1. Kevin is outside with Henry
2. Brynlee is down for a nap
3. I already swiffered the hardwood floors
4. Laundry is on the rinse cycle
5. It’s threatening rain with sprinkles
This reminds me of Saturday mornings a year ago. Henry would lead Kevin on our carpentry projects outside, I would begin my own projects, alone, inside.
I love the alone part right now. I love the authentic Kona coffee Margaret and Paul brought from Hawaii, which I am now slurping. I love the iPad in my lap. I love the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls, which Kevin made, baking in our oven.
Yeah. He made them. I am lucky.
I’m not at the barn because I was already there this morning – and last night. Kevin, Garrett and I went on our first ride of the season. It marked many firsts. It was our first ride in more than a year, first ride as a trio, first ride for our young horses.
I should emphasize that part. We have some really young, well-mannered and in-experienced young horses. Bonus and Star. They are almost four. The two had never been on a trail-ride. Star had never been ridden with reins and a bit in her mouth. Bonus had never been ridden by Garrett.
And we had no problems.
Star played follow the leader behind Flash, who lead. Garrett brought up on the rear on Bonus who wanted to stay up his girlfriend’s rear, Star.
The hardest part was riding through obstacles like branches and thorns on an overgrown, hilly path. Star has a lot to learn. But wow, what a good horse. We certainly picked the right mare for Brynlee.
The crazy part is she’s half quarter, half mustang. Her mom, Garrett’s old horse Jasmine, is a big, bossy, buckskin mustang. But Star is half her size. Her growth must have been stunted. This little buckskin sweetheart will be the perfect horse for children.
Okie couldn’t go because he came up with an abcess on Thursday night. Missy wasn’t invited because I doubted her sore foot.
It rained enough to scare Henry away. Kevin came back in, just now, and finished up the monkey bread cinnamon roll business. I had to help. We’ll need people to help eat them. Text me if you’re interested.
Bryn Swims
We spent Friday morning in the pool rather than school or work. Our family spent an overnight in Illinois on the way to Wisconsin for Mom’s surprise birthday party. I had looked so forward to this milestone for the baby.
Kevin, Garrett and I helped Bryn swim for the first time. The little girl graduated to a much, much bigger tub. She practiced kicking and splashing plenty at home.
Wearing a red polka dot suit passed down from Jillian and Kate, she played and played. She went under water a few times. She floated. Nothing suprised her.
Weeknight Fish Fry
Kevin cooked outside with tools from Bass Pro last night. We had a fish fry with jalapeno corn hush puppies and tator tots too. The fryer had been borrowed from Paul.
Garrett, Bryn and I played outside while he prepared our meal. Stroller, target, fetch. Then we ate outside. On the deck. It was the second meal we’ve had out there. AMAZING. Kevin did the few dishes. AWESOME.
Garrett turns 18
We hosted Garrett’s birthday last night. 13 Helias friends, mom, aunts, uncles, cousins came to celebrate his 18th birthday.
The timing could not have been better. It seemed like everyone had places to go Saturday.
Michele would be moving Iowa to begin her new job.
Margaret and Paul would be leaving for Hawaii on a Knights of Columbus trip.
Jill and Rod, as well as Lynn and Jamie and all o the children would return to Wichita and St Louis after spending Spring Break in JC.
We intended to barbecue outside, play games like bean bag toss, and use new the deck furniture.
But it rained all week. It rained on Friday too, so everything was wet. When I returned from my trip, I started getting the house ready for guests. Kevin had shopped and prepped many things himself. He and Garrett put the furniture together and set it out…it’s coming together. More work there…
Kevin and the guys fried fish and hush puppies in the garage. We had sides and a tasty chocolate chip cookie cake Margaret had made.
I’m not sure we’d hosted a similar family and friend event inside before, but Kevin and I were happy with the way it turned out.
Brynlee went to bed with 94.3 Cat Country to drown out the teenage squeals and clamor downstairs.
I fell down the stairs carrying four two liter bottles of soda to another fridge. I made a weird noise. Garrett, Kevin and his friends all heard me and came running. It hurt. They asked me how I was. I said I hurt my pride and my ass. I sat on a pillow this morning playing with Bryn on the hardwood floor.
Now, the house is clean, laundry is near done and we have tons of leftovers to eat. Woot Woot!
On the road again…
I left the house at 7 this morning by myself.
Bryn said DaDa for the first time at about 6:30.
Baby babble, squeals and songs came sweetly from her lips as Kevin got her dressed for the day. I felt excited and thrilled. The more Kevin coaxed, the more she would say it as though she looked forward to his happy response. DaDa.
I kissed her and Kev goodbye. Garrett may have been sleeping. This week brought my first week-long affiliate trip. It will be four nights away from home, twenty-four different radio stations and a few hundred miles driven.
I got emotional as I headed for the door and even admitted it. But I didnt shed a tear or get lost in thought.
My mind transitioned to the next phase of the morning. Get the car, leave town, set more appointments, be a good example. I’m training our recent addition to the staff. It’s her first trip.
We talk on the road to Keokuk. My mind seems occupied with diverse conversation, but Brynlee’s little face, new appointments, the sneakers i left at home, and helping Kevin all swirl in my brain.
Throughout the day I take my own temperature on leaving home. How am I? Fine, I think. Is that bad? Maybe I should feel horrible and guilty. Why am I ok? I decide this is one of my favorite parts of the job. And I like Iowa.
So let’s get to work. Right? Wrong. The Keokuk appointment is delayed an hour. Our guy forgot about the meeting. We headed out, but he pulled in the lot as I made phone calls and searched the next station’s address on Garmin.
Good. I go back in. The visit takes place. I get a Cardinals calendar from him. Kevin will love it.
Salad at Culver’s was lunch. I didnt touch custard or the Swiss and shroom. I am on a lettuce and fish diet this week.
We head further up 61 to the next meeting in Muscatine. The two have an Albuquerque connection. I force the the business connection and wonder why we can’t focus on Hawkeyes and Cyclones.
The day ended in Davenport and i am spending the night in Rock Island.
Kevin said Bryn had been saying both Mama and Dada all day, according to the babysitter. Awesome.
I take an Instagram picture of myself and send to Brynlee with caption “Mama” via Kevin’s phone.
After dinner, The Voice is entertaining me in my room.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll buy some sneakers so I can jog.
Too bad The Holiday Inn doesn’t get BRAVO.
Bryn and her Beretta
Bryn coughs – her way of calling Retta. She squeals too when she gets a handful of Retta’s velvet ear. This black lab, just over one year-old, is patient and loving.
My Month of Mae 