The Dirks Newsletter

June 2012

"Touched by a Rainbow from the Land of Oz"

The Dirks Newsletter is compiled monthly and mailed around the 5th. The newsletter is mailed to those who write each month and to those who are unable to write due to health reasons.  The purpose of the newsletter is to provide material for those doing genealogy research and to keep family and friends aware of current events. Please send your inputs to “The Dirks Newsletter", 410 S. Westview Derby, KS 67037. The newsletter will be posted on the website  http://jrdirks55.com/ ____________________________________                                                      

 

Mildred Johanna Meyer

May 11, 1919   July 4, 2012

MANSON - Mildred Meyer, 93, died on Wed, July 4, 2012, at Good Samaritan Society-Manson. Funeral services will be held on Sat. July 7, 2012, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manson with Rev. Stephen Sherer officiating. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery near Manson. Larson-Weishaar Funeral Home in Manson is in charge of arrangements.

      Mildred Johanna Beneke was born on May 11, 1919, at Palmer, Iowa, the daughter of Dick and Hilda (Dirks) Beneke. After graduating from Palmer High School in 1936, she attended Wartburg College for two years and received her teaching certificate. She taught at Jesup, Iowa, and in country schools at Palmer. On March 3, 1946, she was united in marriage with Carl Meyer, and they farmed together at Palmer. She later began working in the dietary department of Trinity Hospital in Ft. Dodge until 1984, when she and Carl retired from farming and moved into Manson. Mildred was a member of the Altar Committee and Afternoon Church Circle at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

        Survivors include her sister Helen (Ed) Egli of Manson, IA; nieces and nephews Linda (Gary) Eichelberger, Paul (Margaret) Egli, Ranae (Dave) Clough, Lisa Clough, Scott Clough, Jane (Howard) Moon, Ryan Moon, Dan (Cindy) Egli, Tyler Koebnick, and Krista Koebnick. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl, brother Donald, and Linda Eichelberger's late husband Jim Egli

 

Bauer, Larry & Elaine                                                                                                                                              23 July 12

410 Lawrence St

Marshall, MN 56258I

      Our grass has dried up, so we don't have to mow. It can stay that way. After years and years of trying to have a nice lawn and I've given up. Too expensive to water and fertilize only to see it go back the way it was.

      I read your emails...... most of the time I just have nothing to say that’s interesting.  It is the same ole, same ole around here most of the time, dreary day to day stuff. Get up, dress for work, take the dog out, and go to work. Sit. Go home; take the dog out, watch TV. That's why, instead of email letters, I send you the funny stuff to read so that you know I'm still here.

      I did finish the Breast Health Awareness quilt I made for the Canby Hospital to raffle in October (Breast Health Month). I'll have to send you a photo.

      I'm excited this week in anticipation of seeing my son Dan on Saturday. He’s finishing with his training in Gulfport, Miss. He gets a few weeks leave before he reports to his base in Virginia Beach. He flies into Mpls on Saturday and is staying till Thursday. Then he is flying to Chicago to spend some time with dad. From there he is going to Hickory NC to visit Andrea and Bryan's families. I guess, after that, he will be down to serious business as a Navy Crytologic Tech.

      Larry is getting his fishing boat ready so they can do some serious fishing while he's here. We are taking time off from work so we can spend lots of time with him.

      I love looking at the photos on the website. Great pastime when I've nothing else to do.

<29th  Answering John’s letter>Oh my John. Thanks a lot for that reflection on our lives. It makes me do some thinking too.

      Oh dear.....I'm on the same page as you....and I am only 57. Prescriptions, pill sorters, .....kind of funny. Time flies for all of us and I’m thinking the same things you are. 
You are not alone. Only a few more days until August and the county fairs are in full swing. Where did the year go?

      We have a beautiful morning too but for REAL. Cloudy, cool..er, no 90's yet. Sounds like next week the temps will go back up. We decided not to water this summer and let the lawn go dormant and the flowers are on their own. Too many other things to enjoy and leaving the water bill stay low.

      We picked up Dan from the Mpls airport yesterday and are enjoying his company until Thursday when he leaves to see his dad. He didn't have access to much internet or tv where he was last at....Gulfport Miss base. He's enjoying some catch up time with movies and computer time together at the same time. he has some special meal requests while his is home. We just enjoyed some of Larry's famous breakfast burritos. I get to make the meal for tonight. We stopped at Applebee’s after we left the airport yesterday and Dan enjoyed his first STEAK since he left for boot camp last December.

Bockelmann, Dave & Norine                                                                                                               27 July 12

2642 Maple Ave

Slayton, MN 56172

      Hot and dry here until today; the temperatures dropped into the seventies/low eighties but still no rain.  We have had heavy dews overnight to help the beans; the crops look surprisingly good considering we've had no measurable rain in two months.

       We visited with Jerry and Linda tonight; they have tomatoes and sweet corn ready but we only have zucchini and cucumbers ready.  We water every other day too.  Brad bought a set of hair clippers so Linda and I learned how to use those as Brad wanted a short haircut; he looks pretty good!  We only live ten miles apart now so get to visit more.

      The kids are all doing fine.  Missy's kids have school starting in mid August in Windom, but next year all MN schools will return to starting after Labor Day.  They've been busy helping Missy get her new classroom in order; she and Steve will both be teaching at the ALC in Windom this year.  The Slayton kids start school after Labor Day and Molly starts at Bemidji State the last week in August.  Chelsey has moved to Wichita looking for a job there, but Mike will be promoted and is looking at Colorado Springs or Omaha for his next assignment--haven't heard which yet.  They'll be married next August 3rd in Slayton.  We hope to see Elaine's  Danny this week as he is back on leave from the Navy.  We keep busy with the house and farm place fixing.

  Bless you all,  Norine and Dave

Dirks, Duane & Inez                                                                                                                                            30 July 12

133 Archdale Drive

Kingsport TN, 37663

      Hi to all.  Inez and I are still on the road, currently at Ines's sister's home just south of Waterloo IA.  Typing on a laptop and they just don't make these keyboards like the ones on the desktops so lots of errors and back spacing.

      We will be on the road home Wednesday morning so hope to be back in TN by Thursday night. Looks like spell check is also not turned-on on this machine so will need to see how that is supposed to work.  Lots of hot days back in TN but we started getting rain a couple of days after we left and been lots of rainy days since then. We were north of the Twin Cities for a couple of days and then headed to Vermillion SD where the roasting process was pretty much completed. Temp (outside) on the truck read 108 in Vermillion and I thought it was broken but nope, it was unfortunately correct.  Stepping outside the camper was like walking into an oven.

      Will stop with the mumbling and shut this down. All is well with us, hope the same for the rest of the Dirks Clan

Duane and Inez

Dirks, Florence                                                                                                                                                                          27 July 12

1936 23rd St #2

Spirit Lake, IA 513560-1087

      Hi to everyone. I sure am slow in writing. Darold and Janice are here and we have been busy going here and there.

      I entered some knitting in the Dickerson County 4-H Fair. This is the first time they had open class knitting. I took 8 things and got 6 blue ribbons and $24, not bad. The next fair is the Spencer fair in September. Two purple ribbons—best of show.

      August 7th I go to the eye clinic in Fort Dodge for some tests as my eyes are getting bad, at least Darold will be here to drive for me.

      It had been hot here, no rain, the corn looks bad. I have to water the flowers every other day as it is so dry. I am still knitting.

      I wish the best for everyone that is ill.

Florence

Dirks, John & Ruth                                                                                                                                                  28 July 12

410 S. Westview

Derby, KS 67037

      Had a great birthday yesterday (5th) — I made it for another year (79), even heard from some relatives I haven’t heard from in a long time. 

      Hot and Dry—temps in the 100’s and no rain.  Watering lawn and garden every other day---getting a  few tomatoes every day. Okra is about 5 feet tall and no blooms. I did dig up some beets. The irrigated crops look good but the dry land crops are burning up.

      July 4th the washer smoked the basement --- so we now have a new efficient one---the dryer to was delivered later.  Ruth said she smelled smoke and I said it was just smoke from all the fireworks in the neighborhood---but I went to check it out and the basement was full of smoke. The tub bearing froze on the spin cycle and burned thru the belt. The smoke has cleared and everything is well. The new washer weights the wash--determines the water needed---locks and lid and does its thing.  Takes a special soap---I don’t know why they didn’t design it so you can load some soap in it and let it determine how much you need.  We are using the soap pods---I guess that is what they named them. Throw one in, close the lid and push the button.

      I did get a haircut. Yes—Cathy—they had to hunt for the one hair but they found it. The reason the haircut cost so much they also had to get a hunting license.

      Ruth went to the heart doctor—did and electro cardiology exam and will get the results later.  We are both tired all the time. Back and leg joints seem to be where the most aches are. I did my yearly physical and the blood work came back all parameters in range.  I hope someone finds a test for lazy blood and then gets a cure for it.

      Monday (23rd) went to a sub meeting from 9:30 to 3:30 to get the annual updates and learn how to use some of the new equipment (Smart Boards) that is in the classrooms. I couldn’t get the home computer to do anything the other day—mouse worked---but that was it---finally replaced the keyboard---that made a difference. I am now connected to u-verse---can’t see much difference.  Hope to cost is less like they told me—but that is yet to be seen. If anyone needs a 2-Wire DSL modem—let me know and I will ship it to you.

      Trying to figure out how to get my data into mail merge and also be able to easily select who to print labels for. It works great with Outlook Contacts—but that is about the only thing I use that program for and it is too expensive to upgrade all the time.  Need to find a way to use Window Contacts. This just gives me a challenge.

      Time goes so fast---I fill up my pill sorter once a week and it seems that this morning it was empty and it seems like I just filled it. The prescription (90 days worth) that I had just filled was empty and needed to be refilled. We just got out of school and now I go to Wal-Mart and they are selling school supplies and school starts in two weeks. I sat on the deck and watched the sunrise and realized it was on its way south for the winter. Then I did some reflections and it seem like it was just yesterday that I graduated from high school.

      Now I am trying to remember what we did this month —I know we hit some thrift stores, Hancocks (sewing materials), Office Max (just looking), Wal-Mart, Dillions (groceries), restaurants, watered and mowed, picking tomatoes, coffee everyday at Presto, doctors, etc.  Went out one day and had dinner (noon meal) with Diane as she will soon be back to school full time.

      As far as the health issues—aches and pains—(mostly physical). I work on the newsletter (that is a monthly thing). Need to work on my life’s story (that is lifelong thing), and each day is story by itself so we need to keep a daily journal. For some of you this is known as a diary. In different areas, generations words change meaning, like breakfast (morning), for some lunch/dinner (noon) for some dinner/supper (evening) and then we can combine breakfast (late) and early lunch/dinner) and call it brunch. Tongs used to be footwear, now they are flip-flops and tongs are underwear, sometimes almost outer-wear.

Enjoy and Keep in Touch, John and Ruth

LeRoy Dirks — 90 years old

FONDA — LeRoy Dirks, of Fonda, celebrated his 90th birthday on Saturday, July 28, 2012.
     Cards may be sent to him at 403 E. Second St., Fonda, IA 50540.
His family includes his wife of 71 years, Donna; Marvin and LaVonne Dirks, Fonda; Duane and Inez Dirks, Kingsport, Tenn.; Ronald and Caryl Dirks, Fonda; Delores and Jerry Gosch, Storm Lake; Darvin Dirks, Fonda; Randy and Rebecca Dirks, Faribault, Minn.; and Lynette and Bill Halder, Storm Lake. He has 19 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Daughter Donna Elaine is deceased.
       He was born July 27, 1922. He farmed for many years and also had a construction business. He retired from farming in 1975, but continued with the construction business and is now semi-retired.

Dirks, Marvin & LaVonne                                                                                                                                    22 July 12

17326 590th St.

Fonda, IA 50574

      July was another busy month with extreme hot, humid and dry and major drought conditions in much of our area which will remain with us in the coming weeks. Burn bans include may surrounding counties at this time. Drought conditions are taking their toll on Iowa crops.

      The first weekend Leann, Tom, Tyler and Zach spent a week vacationing at Okoboji. Yesterday (Saturday) Tom flew to Alaska to spent 10 days on a fishing boat with is favorite nephew near Juneau. I am sending John the obituary of Mildred Meyer. She was the daughter of Dick and Hilda (Dirks) Beneke. You might remember she and Helen Egli (sister) attended the Dirks reunion 2010.

      Our former pastor of two years ago Brian Palmer and Christine were here in the state for two months visiting former parishes. He and his wife are teachers in the poverty stricken area of Liberia, Africa. They are the parents of three children in college here.

      This week we have been involved in the Pocahontas County Fair activities. Jordan entered his seven pigs in the swine division. Zach entered his 5-drawer dresser in the woodworking department along with is Goal card. He also participated in the Bucket of Flowers challenge. The boys did manage to come out one day and bake 4-H Club Oatmeal Challenge Cookies. They both appreciated the final tasting of some delicious treats.

      I also baked 6 food entries along with my big pie baked for the 4-H Endowment Fund category. I also brought some flowers. Marv entered his Viking  and Kennebec potatoes and some red rhubarb (it came from Grandma Gretchen’s farm.)

      Nick and Nikki also managed the 4-Wheeler Pull by Iron Bull Pulling, LLC on Saturday afternoon.

      On the 28th we plan to celebrate the 70th birthday of Brother Duane and the 90th birthday of their Dad, LeRoy. That evening we will at the Fonda All School Reunion at the K.C. Hall with a catered meal.

      Kerry and Sandy plan to leave tomorrow (23rd) to go to Hawaii to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

      The State Fair will soon be here and also the return to school for the children. Once again another summer will soon be gone.  Enjoy the month of August.

Marv and LaVonne

Egli, Ed & Helen                                                                                                                                                                     30 July 12

Box 414

Manson, IA 50563

      It was a busy month. Sadly that included the funeral for Mildred. The last part of March she fell down the basement steps, no broken bones but it was very had on her and she never fully recovered. After two days in the hospital she entered the Good Samaritan Care Center in Manson.  The weekend of Father’s Day, she started going downhill more and Ranae and I took turns going to feed her every day. A few days before her death, there wasn’t much eating and part of the family came in the three last nights to sit with here. I went home at 3 a.m. on July 4th to get some rest and Linda called me before 6 a.m. and said she was going faster than expected. The family was with her at the end and she passed away at 9 a.m. on July 4th. Mildred will be greatly missed by all of us.

      After weeks of terrible hot and dry weather we finally received 1½  to 2” of rain last Saturday, it cooled down for a few day, but we’re back in the 90’s again. We need rain very badly and it’s taking a toll on the crops. One wonders if there will be much to harvest. Hopefully we will get rain soon.

As ever, Helen

Hohensee, Alan                                                                                                                                                                   9 July 12

1701 Palermo Dr

Sulphus, LA 70663

      Thanks for the info on what you did planting your tomatoes.  I don't remember ever seeing Jet Star tomatoes down here. 

      Our soil is usually pretty acidic, so I am going to put some lime in it.  Usually down here, it works out to about a ton+ per acre.  That will be less than 5 lbs in my little raised bed area.  My ground is very loose right now due to my having hauled in three pick-up loads of various mulches.  I may put down a cover of chippings from a right of way which was cleared on an area on one of my cousin's property when I plant my fall stuff.

      Some folks are bragging about a film you can find on the net.  Called “Back to Eden."  Buddy of mine watched it and is all fired up.  I started watching it, but didn't see where it was anything different than we've done for years. 

      Thanks again for the info.  That is one pretty garden. 

 Hoppy

Hohensee, Leonard & Shirley                                                                                                                  21 July 12

205 1st Ave SW Apt #2

Pocahontas, IA 50574-1908

      Last Sunday (15th) we went to Fonda to help LeRoy celebrate his 90th birthday. We took Leonard’s sister Larene along. On Thursday we went to the Pocahontas County Fair. We saw the Little Miss and the Fair Queen contest. We ate supper there.

      Leonard has is PSA done and the results were good. I hope everyone is enjoying the nice hot weather. All the family is doing fine. Our daughter’s (Deb’s) dog Daisy took the state test and is now allowed to go into the hospitals and manors. We are so proud of what Daisy can do.

      Most of all Leonard was happy that John called him on his birthday. (Leonard’s and John’s birthday is July 5t h so I (John) remembered.)

Leonard and Shirley

 

Ihnen, Kerry & Joan                                                                                                                                               2 Aug 12

9452 E 3300 N Rd

Steator, IL

      Hi Dirks family, Kerry and I spent the first week of July celebrating the 4th of July. We visited family and friends and had a good time just being together. He had to return to Omaha on the 8th.  On the morning of the 10th our good friend’s 9 yr old daughter was killed in a tragic car accident.  Mary and I went to visit the family during the day on Wednesday, and that evening Stephanie and I attended a candle light vigil. The visitation on Friday evening and the funeral on Saturday morning was attended by hundreds of people.

      Kerry and I left on the 19th for our yearly vacation at Rehoboth Beach Delaware. On Saturday the 20th we drove from Delaware to Portsmouth VA to go to the 100th birthday of my grandmother on my father’s side of the family. Many family members attended and lots of people from her church, her job at the Famous shoe store, and people that she had worked with when she volunteered at the hospital. It was a glorious day. The rest of the week was spent sitting on the beach, reading, napping, and enjoying the company of everyone at the beach house.

      Kerry and I had dropped our enclosed trailer at the house in Illinois and on the way home filled it up with more things to bring to the house in Iowa. Kerry headed back to Omaha on the 29th for a much needed rest after all that driving. Hope this finds everyone well and staying cool.

Joanie and Kerry

Ihnen, Mary                                                                                                                                                                          30 July 12

410 N 10th St

Northwood, IA 50549

      Well I tried the other method and was going along good then all of a sudden kerplunk, it stopped working.  Anyway to continue where it left off –think I had just written about having picnic at friend’s house and was quite a crowd there.  Then the next week was a terrible accident and the 9 year daughter of those friends was killed in a van-truck accident.  There were several girls on their way to a canoe trip in Clear Lake and another young girl was killed and all suffered bruises and broken bones.  One girl still remains in hospital at Mayo in Rochester, MN.  The last news on her was she is getting better.    Needless to say Cassidy’s funeral was a sad day and church was packed.  Joanie helped with the lunch afterward as I was unable to. 

      On July 19th I got a haircut that I should have gotten in all those  hot days we had also got a perm.  Joanie had helped me get layers of quilt together so I have made a little head way on quilting it.  Pattern was for machine quilting so took me awhile to figure out the pattern for hand quilting.  Am in hopes I have it figured out so it looks AOK—was also for single and not instructions for double which I made, that came out OK.  Had my blood checked on the 26th and was good and iron was up so go another month.  On the 27th had my hearing aids checked—they check them every three mos. 

      Kerry and Joanie got home from beach and took me out for lunch(dinner) on Sunday after church.  Just got a call from Stephanie and they were home from Brick Yard after having two flat tires on camper.      

      Try and stay cool and pray for rain.  

        Mary Ihnen 

Killough, Jimmie                                                                                                                                                               28 July 12

5400 Walnut Ave Unit 810

Dowers Grove, IL 60515

      Glad as always that you and Ruth are doing well. The weather is giving us a break for a few days and then back into the high 90's next week. The farmers that do not use irrigation have little hope of a good crop of beans or corn. 

      Next week we will be working for the Farmers in Kendall County at their annual Fair Ground. The truck and tractor pulls are damaging to all of our equipment due to the dust they stir up.  We will need to give everything a cleaning after the event is over.  I shouldn't complain as I am certainly grateful for the work in this ever growing uncertain economy. A big chunk of the nest egg is in the equipment that we hope to sell when we retire. It is sad to see the overall decline that everyone is experiencing.  

      I did not go to the work site this week as I am down with my back and retaining the water like never before.  Saw the Dr. Yesterday and gave lots of blood and other stuff so they can figure out what to do. Added to the Walgreen's bottom line with all the prescriptions he gave me.  Perhaps I missed my calling and should have went to Pharmacy School like my nephew.  They are always in demand.  Oh well, too late for that, back to the couch to put my feet up.

 Stay well and take care, Jim

Nelson, Marj                                                                                                                                                                        3 Aug 12

11937 Aneta St

Culver City, CA  90230

      Hi from sunny Calif. It has been on the cool side here as we have a lot of clouds and fog,

      We celebrated my 81st birthday (didn’t get to celebrate my 80th as I was having the radiation treatment and I was in isolation.) the kids decided we would rent beach front room at the Madalay Hotel in Oxnard. It was great, Linda came from Hawaii, Jessica and Rob were on their way to Guam, Amber joined us as she is here for the summer. Omar. Alie and Malia rounded out our group. Malia had the greatest time. She loved the beach, she would have stayed playing in the sand all day. Malia loved digging for sand crabs and letting them crawl all over her hands. The kids made me a book of my past history for my birthday.

      Need to get some more blood drawn and see the doctor on the 9th and I hope that is it for awhile. The kids are all excited here in the neighborhood as the county fair starts, they have been parading their animals up and down the block getting them ready to show them off.

Bye for now, Marj

Nomann, Laverne                                                                                                                                                 26 July 12

906 4th Ave NW

Pocahontas, IA 50574

      Hi to all the Dirk’s families. It’s very hot and dry here, but we are not quite as bad as southern and eastern Iowa. The forecast is for more hot and dry weather. The crops and everything are really stressed.

      It has been a busy summer. My daughter-in-law Kath’s father died the end of April and they come to Iowa 3-4 times before that as well as Darv and Kath’s son Barry, daughter Adam, Tiffany and Hayden. All of them live in Arizona

      My co-chairperson and I made three quilts and one to go. Two of the quilts were for Bible Camps and one was for a cancer patient and one for our church secretaries’ so for college. My co-chairperson sews the blocks and then we go to church to assemble and tie. Then I bring them home and do the blind stitch on the edges.  In August we will “all” be doing “World Relief” quilts.

      I worked at the Pocahontas 4-H Fair yesterday helping judge the Quilts & Crafts departments. I have done this for many years. The judge dictates the good and bad points about each entry and I write them down.

      I did write a newsletter for last month—but John must not have gotten it. Hope all of our sick are feeling better.

Take care in all this heat, Larene

(I looked for your letter—last month and again but didn’t find it—Ruth doesn’t remember seeing one either---John)

Piercy, Marcella                                                                                                                                                              25 July 12

PO Box 6

Newell, IA 50568-0006

      Hello to everyone. This month will be one to remember with the high temperatures and no rain. The mowing is at a standstill. I keep busy; I am helping a neighbor freeze sweet corn today. I enjoy helping people who need help.

      It seem like the Fairs are doing okay. The heat is hard on the animals and people. Dale and Cathy were here the weekend of the 14th, also Mary. We went to Fonda to celebrate LeRoy’s 90th birthday. It was nice to see and visit with their family and friends.  We enjoyed the program and didn’t get to stay too long as my family had get back home.

      Otherwise I don’t have much news. Praying and wishing all who are sick an improvement in their health.

Take care, Marcella

Sanders, Dale & Cathy                                                                                                                                        28 July 12

201 NE 6th St

Ankeny, IA 50021-1840

      We are over half way through the year!  It has been very hot and dry here.  We did have about ½ “of rain the other night.  The garden is starting to produce some cucumbers.  I have been making bread & butter pickles.  The tomatoes are just starting to turn.

The Iowa State Fair starts in a couple of weeks and before the fair is over the kids are back in school.  It is hard for the kids that show 4-H livestock. 

      Work has been quite busy.  We have been having a sale the last week.  Dale has been working a couple of weekends, as Iowa Health Systems has been moving a few of their departments into different buildings.

      Ben and family took their motor home and headed to Florida for a week.  They stayed at a campsite within walking distance of the beach.  They had a great time. Gary just returned from 2 week training with the Air Guard in Arkansas.  He said that they were working outside most of the day and the temps were in the 100 degree range.  His wife, Laura, is continuing to finish up her studies for her paramedic degree.  She should be done in a couple of weeks.

      Well, I had better head off to bed.  It is another work day tomorrow and it is quite late!

      Had a fun time at the reunion.  It is always nice to see the relatives. 

Cathy and Dale

Villwock, Jim & Pat                                                                                                                                             22 July 12

106 Lakeville Dr

Aledo, TX 76008-3925

      Ditto on the weather... Spending a lot of time trying to keep our old dog cooled down... Hard to keep inside as difficult to keep up with uncontrolled mess!

      I loathe Outlook program... As it does what it wants and may well be a major part of your computer issues. It wants to be the controller of all you do. I deal with it every day at work.

      I have been in the process of changing everything I eat, drink and trying to get off two prescriptions I have taken a long time without question. Trouble with my eyes and got to re-reading side effects caused by prescription...doc said getting early glaucoma... Lo and behold... BOTH meds show narrow angle glaucoma as a side effect! ENOUGH of that! Would rather deal directly with the problem. Doing liver cleanse... Lemon water and ice water with tablespoon of Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar. Side note loosing half to one lb per day. Helps with energy... Given couple weeks. I remembered a past customer telling me about doing this about 15 yrs ago. (I'm a slow learner!)

      You and Duane keep the communication going... It gets read and fwd to other friends.
I sum up this election year as "Waiting To Exhail!"

<28th Pat and Elaine are answering my emails>I don 't remember...hahaha Planned to get up early and mow.  Went back to bed!  Decided it would hit 103 by the time we'd be through... besides all those cars speeding by exceeding 30mph won't have time to notice anyway!

      Even in spite of being ahead on rain this year, We're on forced stage 3 watering so they can drill 2 more wells to serve 3 new developers.  All about money and somehow State law says the closest water system has to serve them even though they’re not in our city! Of course developers don't want to pay for wells so they put out mil $ bond and trying to get us to buy in.  Funny... they stole our water system 8 yrs ago...city bought it back after law agreed but we had to pay couple mil for the privilege!  Long and short, on a lite use day we pay double what it was and when we actually water outside it is triple!   So I "sneak water" in the dark with the mosquitoes just to keep what’s left of our trees alive along with the hundreds of $ replacement bushes we planted this spring!

      Diary...am I supposed to be writing down all my secrets?  Sounds like trouble to me!K  So far I'm behind on all my projects and they're choking me... so decided to clean out kitchen cupboards... no rhyme or reason... true to form... half done and tired!
I will be a good candidate for that HOARDERS show pretty soon...where they have to make a path to get in with their shovel!

Widlund, Kathryn                                                                                                                                                    9 July 12

PO Box 31

Palmer, IA 50571-0031

      Hello to all. My, what hot humid weather we are having. No rain and we need it so bad, The people in eastern Iowa have it worst as they have no electricity---therefore, no fans or air conditioning for them. Corn is growing and was more than knee high by the 4th, I hope nothing happens to it.

      Mildred Meyer, a cousin of mine died on the 4th of July. We went to her service Saturday. I sure am missing Edna and her very much. We were very close cousins and had many good time together, I am glad we did as good memories are nice to have.

      John you had a good puzzle and I was able to work it out. I am sure at times my writing looks like that. I always enjoy the newsletter and appreciate the work you put into it.

      Hope this finds everyone doing great, I think of everyone of you.

Kathryn