It’s summer in full swing now.

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone. At my house, that’s the first of the major summer parties. The combination of the Alumni Banquet and Queck Reunion brings a house full of cousins. Friends join in as well for the banquet pre- and post-parties. And I think it’s safe to say this year a good time was had by all.

It’s a gloriously hectic time of food, conversation, a lot of laughter, and maybe a cocktail or two. (Doesn’t every family make hazelnut martinis at 11 p.m. on Sunday night just because they’re talking about hazelnuts? No, it wasn’t my idea. And, yes, they were marvelous.)

I don’t mean to imply the true meaning of Memorial Day is lost on us. Continue reading →

It’s not just Throw Back Thursday that has me in a reminiscent mood. A rainy, gloomy day is helping. So are recent activities. It seems to be a reoccurring theme these days.

I’ve been planning my high school’s annual Alumni Banquet, and that comes with a bit of repaving memory lane. This morning I spoke to a group of eager, fresh-faced graduates and tried to recall my own final school days. Let’s just say that was several years – and lifetimes – ago. But when I told them we all came from the same place and had the same start in life, the words rang true. Continue reading →

A month that began with a longing for spring is coming to a close on a gorgeous Iowa day filled with warmth, sunshine, and blooming color. If one had to resort to only one word to describe my portion of earth this time of year it would be “green.” In Iowa, green is synonymous with life. If some sort of flora isn’t green, it’s cause for concern. That may be the case with one or two of my Ash trees.

The farmers are in the field, planting what will soon come up green. Cows are in the pastures eating the tender new green growth. I even have about three-fourths of my garden planted. We’ll have to wait a bit to see how that green adventure comes out. I’m not much of a gardener. My general strategy is plant and pray.

I have sampled the rhubarb. Not much flavor yet, but I had a soulful moment walking back across the yard in the moonlight with my single stalk feeling oh, so good about myself for producing my own food.

The indoor greenery is feeling refreshed as well in its new seasonal home on the sun porch. The porch is closed off in the winter, and moving back in every spring is a ritual I relish. I sit here now, in fact. In a near perfect environment – doors and windows open to the outside, yet screens between me and the bugs. We’re practical about nature here in Iowa.

April has been an extremely busy month aside from my communing with nature. Continue reading →

My family grew last weekend. One of my daughter’s dear friends, who has become like family to me, got married.

I’ve been looking forward to the event. All weddings are wonderful celebrations. And this seemed like a perfect way to make winter a memory and kick off the spring/summer season. Who doesn’t want to get dressed up, drink a little champagne, and send a loving couple off on their life’s journey?

Then, about Thursday, the crisis hit. (Well, at least what qualifies as crisis in the midst of wedding planning.) The photographer scheduled for the day had to bow out due to a family emergency. The appeal went out for a substitute. Continue reading →

It’s National Agriculture Day. That ranks right behind Christmas and the Fourth of July here in the heartland. In Iowa, even in the inner city you don’t get far away from agriculture. It’s just who we are.

I grew up on a farm. Played with the newborn piglets being kept warm under a heat lamp in the worn aluminum bushel basket in the basement. Fed the chickens and horses for my daily chores. Walked beans for my high school job. We ate from the garden. Picked up our meat from the locker. Planned family outings around farm chores and the seasons.

I thought everyone had a farmer’s tan and the men at all churches must look just a little strange on Sundays without their caps on. Continue reading →