KarenMusserNortman - Karen's Blog

A Mixed Bag

9/17/2022

Usually if there's a damper on a camping trip, it's a literal one: a rainstorm, a tornado warning or some weather related event involving water. The past week at Black Hawk Campground on the Mississippi, the weather was predominantly lovely. We had a rainy day on Monday--sounds like a song--but it provided the perfect excuse for a road trip to check out the apple establishments for apple donuts, apple pies, apple cider, apple butter. You get the picture.

Every evening was a perfect campfire night. Showy sunsets ranged from soft pastels to vibrant reds, oranges, and pinks. Mornings were just on the crisp side or softened by fog over the river. Daytime temps were perfect for walking or lunch overlooking the Mississippi.

So what was the fly in the ointment? Well, first of all, there were about six thousand of 'em, hanging around the camper door like they were waiting to see the queen lying in state. That's an expected side to camping and the flyswatter was always at hand. However, the purpose of this trip was for Don to fish, and to teach me to fish. I don't want to hear any comments about old dogs. Tuesday noon, after two pleasant hours on the river, during which I had requested I would just watch, I suggested that he drop me at the dock and I would go back to the camper and spend some time writing. We would go out again Wednesday when I would actually try my hand.

Part way back to the camper, I realized I had no keys. I called Don and he said he was coming in anyway; he had just had a run-in with a rock pile and had wrecked the propeller on the motor. I wrote in my last blog how we then spent the afternoon crisscrossing Prairie Du Chien before we found Cabela's boat shop. The young man ordered a new propeller and said, since it was already after 3:00 pm, it might not arrive on Wednesday but would by Thursday, and he would have tracking information by Wednesday. It would be shipped from the factory in Fon du Lac, three hours away.

Long story somewhat shorter, it did not arrive Wednesday nor did any tracking information. It did not arrive Thursday. We spent both days waiting for a call and hanging around Prairie du Chien. By Friday morning, the weather forecast for Friday afternoon and Saturday included a lot of rain. No call from Cabela's, but when Don called "it had just come in!" I bought a cute shirt there a couple of days before, but I would stay away from the bridge department. Anyway, I am still a non-fisherwoman and my brand spanking new license is stashed in my purse.

Other than that, it was a lovely week.

Fish, Cheese, and Apples

9/14/2022

We are spending the week at Black Hawk Campground near De Soto, Wisconsin. A first time experience for me, Black Hawk is a beautiful park perched on low islands and peninsulas in the Mississippi, and surrounded by the river bluffs of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Our site backs up the this peaceful view of a backwater, home to a wide variety of birds including a lone blue heron.

My friend Don planned this trip because it's one of his favorite fishing spots. So far, nature and mechanics have mostly foiled that activity. The Ottaways are here too and yesterday morning, Don, Vince, and I went out for a little fishing excursion. For the most part, it was unproductive but a pleasant morning until a run-in with a rockpile damaged the prop on Don's boat. We spent the afternoon crisscrossing Prairie du Chien several times to locate a repair shop that could order a new prop. It will be here today or tomorrow. Those hiccups did not ruin a pleasant day on the Mississippi and a great supper and campfire with Ottaways.

Because of rain off and on all day Monday, we decided to do a little road tripping, particularly to the apple places at Gay's Mills and a personal favorite, Valley Fish and Cheese in Prairie du Chien. Plans for the rest of the week depend both on the weather and the arrival of the new prop. I am supposed to be getting a fishing lesson the next time out so stay tuned.

Cuz We're Cuzzins

8/28/2022

Until I was eleven or twelve I lived in the same small Minnesota town as all of my cousins and grandparents on both sides. And there were a lot of them; twenty grandchildren on my dad's side and seventeen on my mother's side. Our cousins were our first friends. Ever holiday was split with time at each side of the family. But about the time I was in fourth or fifth grade, the fracturing began. One by one, families moved to Iowa, California, and other Minnesota towns. We had fewer and fewer gatherings. Eventually, some of us managed to gather for weddings, and later, funerals. Covid put a halt to even some of these.

Every few years, someone takes the initiative to organize a reunion. This year, cousin Jeff volunteered to have a gathering at his beautiful country home near St. Peter, Minnesota. Sister Gretchen started an email campaign. Of the thirteen surviving cousins, seven were able to make the gathering, plus four of our children and two great grandchildren--a fraction of the whole group but a nice size to reminisce and share family stories.

Two family members have been doing a little genealogy research and have raised a few questions. Our grandfather, Andy Jensen, came to the US in 1914 as a blacksmith. He had lived in Argentina for two years after leaving his native Denmark. He married Grandma, a Norwegian (considered a mixed marriage in those days). But one of the researchers discovered that Grandpa's parents may have come from Sweden! Does this mean we should have been having Swedish cookies along with all of the Danish and Norwegian ones every Christmas? Enquiring minds want to know!

We also enjoyed sharing stories and images of the people in our childhoods. Some remembered Grandma as stern; others as a softy. (I maintain that perhaps those images reflected our own behavior.) Regardless, a fun weekend!

Best Campground by a Dam Site

8/17/2022

One of the best, anyway. For several years, Howell Station, below the dam at Lake Red Rock near Pella, has hosted our extended camping group the third week in August. We like it because of the spacious, level sites, large trees, and lots of paths for bike-riding. The group was smaller than usual this year, due to silly events like weddings in Spain and vacations in Colorado.

Other popular pastimes are eagle watching, fishing, and sunsets. Because the campground looks northwest across the Des Moines River, there often some pretty spectacular sunsets. This week, heavy clouds a couple of nights precluded those displays, but Tuesday night was good.

Of course, there's always trips to Pella to the quilt shop, the bakeries, and the other shops. Much-needed rain Monday afternoon and evening chased us into town for supper. My friends Ginge and Clare came out Tuesday and we made a quick tour of the shops and the flower gardens.

As indicated by the photo of the fence at the top, birdwatching is popular. Bald eagles like to get 'take-out' for breakfast in the area of the Des Moines River below the dam. Once we spotted seven on the sand bars at one time. When we walked across the footbridge one morning, a magnificent specimen swooped toward us, but I was too slow to get a photo. The same thing happened Friday morning when I spotted a pileated woodpecker--every time I snapped a picture, he moved in the last second.

Wednesday, Don came down with his boat and we took a tour of Lake Red Rock while he checked out fishing spots. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was wonderful.

Victuals weren't lacking, even though the group was small. Breakfasts included sausage gravy on biscuits, wheat germ pancakes and sausage, and French toast made from cinnamon swirl bread from the bakery. Suppers featured pork sandwiches, BLTs, and burgers plus a variety of sides.

So, although I did quite a bit of walking, a return to my regular exercise routine this week is especially necessary, especially after the Triple Berry Dutch pie ala mode, on Thursday night from, of all places, the meat market. Hopefully, we will all be back there next year for another go.

Tied in Knots...or Tying the Knot?

8/15/2022

This past weekend, I had the great joy of witnessing the marriage of another of my grandchildren. Tuan Nortman and his fiance Rhianna chose to keep the festivities small and somewhat informal, which was just as well, since three days before the wedding, they closed on and moved into their first home. Anyone who has been through either of those events knows that one alone can be challenging, exhausting, and full of mishaps. Doubling up can increase things exponentially.

Tuan and Rhianna are nothing if not creative, and they put their own stamp on everything from the venue and vows to the menu and music. The wedding was at a dance studio in Indianola. This is in keeping with a non-pattern established by three previous grandkids' weddings: the Des Moines zoo, a rec center, and a barn venue in Alabama. I can't wait to see where the next one is. Anyway, they wrote their vows and chose a variety of music. Tuan asked his parents to cook an all-Asian meal for the reception: fried rice, egg rolls, a Korean beef and noodle dish, and garlic chicken. Family members and friends helped set everything up. Their attire was not the traditional white satin and tux but instead showed their spontaneous, creative sides.

But there were a few flies in the ointment. Besides the wedding, I was looking forward to seeing all three of my kids together for only the second time this year, as well as six of the eight grandchildren. But life interfered. Early in the week, granddaughter Brooke tested positive for Covid so she, her husband, and two daughters had to beg off. Saturday morning, son Andy woke up feeling poorly and he too had a negative test, Grandson Steven served in another wedding that he had committed to a year earlier. So there were fewer of us to watch the couple's first dance and wish them well in person. But the others were there in spirit.

Cruisin'

8/6/2022

America's love affair with cars is evident by glancing at the titles of popular songs over the last seven decades. Songs like "Hot Rod Lincoln," "Brand New Cadillac," "Little Deuce Coupe," "Mustang Sally," "G.T.O.," "Little Red Corvette," and "Camaro" speak to the cults of brands, styles, colors and other defining characteristics, especially during the times in the last century when differentiation was more common. Having often had the only car in a parking lot that was not black, white, or gray, I think the variety of the past is a great part of the appeal of classic car shows. This past weekend, the CLASS Car Club show was held in Clear Lake, Iowa for about the 35th year. Hundreds turned out to watch classic cars cruise around the lake on Friday night.

Car festivities were of course combined with rock 'n' roll performances. This is Clear Lake, after all--home of the Surf Ballroom. Saturday, the cars were on display all around the city park, as well as along several side streets. Entries included of course, Corvettes, Mustangs, GTOs, and other 'hot' cars but also pickups, station wagons, and family sedans.

A local band was scheduled to play in the bandshell this evening, but looking at the weather radar, I doubt it they were able to pull that off. When we decided to go to this event, it was too late to get a camping spot in Clear Lake, so we returned to Beed's Lake near Hampton. As usual, I take way too many photos here so will just post one of the dam and one of the bathhouse. Another great trip.

The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Camping Mishaps

7/20/2022

Perhaps too dramatic a title but it has a nice ring to it. My camping trips have often been connected with other events such as barbecue contests, weddings and graduations, balloon fests, book signings, wine trails, car cruises, etc. But this week is a first for me--the Iowa State High School Baseball Tournament. My friend Don's grandson plays for Johnston High School, which has been rated #1 in Class 4A the whole season. So he reserved a camping spot at Coralville Lake early on to be sure of a site. Last week, with a win in the substate finals, Johnston's participation was confirmed. Because it was a six day stay, we had decided to use Don's camper with its larger water tanks and more storage. However, a couple of weeks ago, an issue arose with the refrigerator. Times being what they are, the dealer couldn't look at it until last Tuesday, so Agatha was put on standby.

She and I spent most of last week at Beed's Lake and returned home on Saturday. Obviously, while I was gone, someone must have moved the power pole by the alley because after two and a half years of backing her in without incident, Saturday that pole reached out and tore the door off the dump compartment. Meanwhile, the status of Don's camper changed daily and then hourly. Yes, it would be done Friday or Saturday. No, the guy who was supposed to work on it didn't show up for work Friday or Saturday. Yes, two guys were working on it and they should have it done soon. Finally it is ready and can be picked up.

Meanwhile, I checked to see if our site was empty the night before and possibly available early. No it's not, but in addition, due to a septic issue, the shower house and restroom in that campground is closed indefinitely. For a six-day stay, we depend on the campground showers. Since Agatha was not going to head out again the next day, I went ahead and removed the clean clothes and all food except condiments. Don called and said the fridge would run on propane but not electricity. We decided to leap in and take the risk anyway. After all, we're camping, right?

On Sunday, we met at the campground and got set up. Our site overlooked the river, and the refrigerator appeared to be running on electric power. And the shower house problem had been fixed and it was back open. But we soon discovered the drawbacks to the site. The only shade was provided by a new tree, as seen in the photo, The late afternoon sun baked the sitting and cooking area and the picnic table, even with the awning out. With 90s forecast for the week, we decided decisive action was needed. The next morning, we trekked up to the check-in shack and arranged a trade for an empty site on the back of the campground but with plenty of shade. The switch was done in about an hour, and the rest of the week has been lovely, if a little warm.

Meanwhile, back to the reason for the trip and the thrill of victory. The first game was Tuesday at 11:30. Because it was a work day for the surrounding hospitals and clinics, parking was restricted to outlying lots and volunteers delivered spectators to the stadium in golf carts. It was hot. After a slow start, the Johnson Dragons handed a defeat to Iowa City Liberty. They play in the semifinals tonight at 5:00 pm.

It's a Small World After All

7/15/2022

When I camp, I usually hand a couple of free books out to nearby campers as advertising. Yesterday morning, after a three mile walk, I saw a woman out at the camper two sites down so I took her a copy of The Lady of the Lake. As we visited, she said her neighbors Syd and Ken told her about someone who writes books based in different campgrounds. Was I that person? She said she lived in West Liberty, and Syd and Ken--who we have often camped with--are her neighbors! Then I gave another book to the people next to me and it turned out that woman was in my sister's class.

Lunch was a reminder that time is also a 'small world.' It always amazes with old friends, even those you don't see very often, how time seems to collapse and you pick up right where you left off. I had lunch at the Rustic Brew, a fun local restaurant, with four classmates. Even though sixty plus years have passed since we saw each other on a daily basis, we managed to keep up a steady stream of conversation for three hours. Fun times!

Later in the day, the campground began to fill up and I lost my view of the lake. This loop is especially narrow, making the neighbors across the way very close. I knew it was going to happen but I will have to make a note to avoid these sites in the future. I will say that I have to upgrade the showers here to an A-. They have replaced the two dinky half-inch hooks with much larger ones. And instead of the timed showers where you have to push a button to get 30 seconds worth of a water at a time and you can't control the temperature, they have a temperature conrol with no limits. Great luxury! They just need to add a shelf in the shower itself for shampoo, etc and I will upgrade them to an A+.

Although I will probably not make it to the fair, it has been a nice visit. I so enjoy the walks here, especially the area around the dam. In one of the photos below, you can see the hole in the dam in the lower right corner that figures in the plot of The Lady of the Lake.

Returning to the Scene

7/13/2022

of my youth, previous camping trips, and the location of The Lady of the Lake. I am back at Beed's Lake for my yearly visit with old friends and perhaps a trip to the county fair. However, my departure from home yesterday was not without glitches--mainly, getting ten miles from home and realizing my purse was back on the dining room table. So turn around (no small feat for me with Agatha) and head back. Kicking myself is awkward when I'm driving.

So I arrived early afternoon and got set up in about an hour. These sites are unusual in that the parking are parallel to the campsite on a gravel strip that goes all the way around the loop. It's difficult to tell where one site ends and another begins. After assessing my parking last night, I have decided that this morning I will do a minimum tear down and move forward five or six feet. This has always been a great campground, but the center loops have been devastated in the last few years by the ash bore. New trees have been planted but are not offering much shade as yet.

It was a beautiful evening with a light breeze, but the setting sun made my site quite warm. I did get in a short walk along the lake path and over to the dam. This morning (after I move the camper) I'll take a walk around the lake.

Camping, Mermaids, and Walks

6/26/2022

It has become tradition for my eldest granddaughter and her husband to hold a joint birthday party for their two daughters in mid-June. Olivia will turn six in mid July and Jordyn reached the ripe old age of three in late May.

Cherry Glen Campground, on Saylorville Lake, is close to Brooke and Nick's--in fact, it was where we camped seven years ago for their wedding festivities, held at the Des Moines Zoo. It has the added advantage of being a Corps of Engineers facility, which means they accept my senior pass for half-price site charges.

However, after I figured up the cost of gas for my trip two weeks ago to northwest Iowa, I decided to whine to my friend Don, whose camper is stored about ten miles from Cherry Glen, to use his instead of Agatha. She will get over it faster than my bank account would recover. So Thursday night we got set up, had a nice steak supper, and drove over to Brooke and Nick's just as Pat and Jill arrived from Texas.

On Friday, Pat, Jill, and Brooke took the girls to Adventureland while Don and I ran some errands after his daily pickle ball rounds. We managed to snag some snazzy outdoor rugs for his camper and picked up a few groceries for supper. We hosted a cookout and it was a real treat for me to have so many family members together: Pat and Jill; Brooke, Nick, and family, and grandson Tuan and his fiance RiannA.

Saturday was party day. In spite of her sociology degree and a job in a bank as a risk assessor, Pat and I feel Brooke missed her calling as an event planner. This year's theme was Mermaids, with fish tails on the cupcakes and shirts for adults (Nick--Mermaid Security, aunts and grandmothers--Mermaid Squad), and a fishtail cake.

We cut our stay at Cherry Glen short by a day due to refrigerator issues. But this afternoon I will be doing a walk for scleroderma awareness with a woman I met two weeks ago. Barbara is the first person I have met with "En Coup Du Sabre"--ECDS--since I was diagnosed seventy years ago. So it has been (and will be) a very full weekend.