Barn in the City

Believe it or not, everything used to be grass land in Iowa. And then it was farm land. There would be an occasional township here and there, but it was mostly farmland. It's how Iowans made a living. It's our history. It's your history.

But the population of Iowa grew. People moved out of the rural areas and into cities and suburbs. Now, going to the farm meant driving 20-30 minutes rather than just down the road. Good Iowa farmland was being plowed and dug but shopping malls and parking lots were taking the place of cornfields and grazing areas.

Iowa is being transformed. But we need to keep our heritage and history in mind. That's why when I heard that the barn at Valley High School was going to be torn down, I had to do something. I joined the facebook group and invited friends to join. But I wanted to do more.


Before preschool, I loaded all three boys in the van and drove by Valley High School. I explained to the boys about how this was all farm land at one time and we were going to see an old barn. I told them that some people wanted to tear it down. Liam asked, "Why?" I said, "Because some people think it's old and useless." Liam said, "Just because it's old doesn't mean it needs to be torn down."


My five year old gets it. He even said, "That barn looks nice," as we pulled up to it. I snapped a few pictures of it, because who knows how much longer it will stand. The FFA class can use the barn for real life experience. The shop class can do the up keep on the barn. I don't understand why they think they need to get rid of it!


As the lyrics go in "The Town I Love So Well":

"For what's done is done and what's won is won
and what's lost is lost and gone forever"

Maybe I'm being unreasonable. Maybe it's because I'm a farm girl at heart. 

Yes, I live in the city now, but my heart is always back on the farm. 

I recall the summers I played under the big tree at the old farm house.

I recall crying as the corn crib burned down. I recall returning home covered in soot, having to scrub as it was caked on my face after my tears dried.

I recall helping with potatoes on the old farm and playing hide and seek in the corn. 

The countless hours we spent in the big white barn playing, the day that turned into night as we loaded hay out of the barn and onto trailers...

Remember, city folk, "What's lost is lost and gone forever".  Don't lose this.

Wordless Wednesday: Nursing on Christmas Morning

A Christmas Gift to Remember

A few years ago, my dad came across his father's journal from 1902. He (my grandfather) had just turned 31 and my father was 53 years away. (Pausing so you can do the math---yeah. Grandpa was old when Dad was born.)

My dad has talked about getting a blog set up and creating a site where we could post his dad's journal daily. With the help of my friend  Kosmo, we set up the site and I surprised my dad with it on Christmas. I wrote www.leanderbolton.com on a piece of paper and wrapped it up in a small box. I made sure it was the last gift opened.

My parents just installed a wireless router, so I had the web page already pulled up. When Dad opened it, he got tears in his eyes. My mom knew about it but my brother didn't. It was a once in a lifetime gift and I'm excited to see how 1902 plays out in my Grandfather's eyes.

2010...What a Year You've Been....

The year started out calmly enough. In January I was expecting baby #3, we were both enjoying our work and life was good.

February brought our ultrasound date. We were having boy #3. Oh my. Another Bowman boy. We had pretty well decided on the name of Finn, but as our tradition, we weren't telling anyone, just in case we wanted to change it.

March came and went. I succeeded at my first crock pot corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day.

April meant Sean turned one (how did that happen?) and we finally paid our Corolla off!

May brought flowers and a new sister in law as David's sister married her partner, Sandy.

June brought birthdays! Dave turned 31 and I turned the big 3-0!

July ushered in fireworks...well, right after the fireworks on July 6 boy #3 was born. Since he was not a blondie (Finn means "fair headed"), Liam picked out Brendan. And Brendan fits him well.

August was a month of healing and getting used to having three boys in the house! And preparing Liam for pre-school, of course!

September brought around a lot of soul searching, praying and calculating. We took a leap of faith and decided for me to stay at home with the boys. This way I can follow my dream of writing AND see all of the milestones that I missed with the first two boys. Plus the money we would save on daycare!

October arrived with a new mission and lots of promise. Mommy's Recess was born! An idea that was created during a playdate now has over 1,000 hits a month! We had a great trick or treating event and were ready for

November brought Thanksgiving, Liam's 5th birthday and more writing jobs! I am loving this work at home gig and can't believe my dreams were coming true!

December meant the end of school, Christmas and checkups for everyone. We had a great holiday with family and friends and are looking forward to 2011. What a crazy and interesting year!

And as far as resolutions go....

Happy New Year!

-Sarah

Happy Decemb-uary!

What are you doing this Decemb-uary to make sure 2011 starts out on the right foot?

It's that time of year. The week between Christmas and New Years...that feels like a month. I like to refer to it as Decemb-uary, as it feels like a month in itself. The kids are out of school, there are so many functions you need to attend, the leftovers seem to be piled up in the fridge....and New Years parties are just around the corner.

My goal before 2011? Get my December projects done and start the New Year fresh. My husband has Thursday and Friday off this week and I plan on making a giant "honey-do" list.

I want to set up my new wireless printer so I can get 2011 projects off to a great start.

I'd also like to go through closets and do a clothes/toys purge. I want to take some of the kids clothes to my favorite consignment store Me 'n Mommy To Be and others to Goodwill.

I think if we get rid of some of the clutter, it will help mood, productivity and attitudes.

So, what are you doing in Decemb-uary to get ready for 2011?

A Lifelong Chiefs Fan...

Well, maybe not lifelong. But over half of my life I've been a Chiefs fan. It was a crush that brought me to the Chiefs. In 1993, Joe Montana started playing for the Chiefs. And while I had a huge crush on Joe (yeah, in my teenage mind he and I were on a first name basis) it taught me to learn and love football.

Most teenage girls had posters of movie stars and musicians on their wall. I did have a Jonathan Brandis poster, Marky Mark etc...but I had a MUCH LARGER Joe Montana poster. Yeah, I was that girl.While most girls were asking for makeup for Christmas, I was asking for football jackets and jerseys...and makeup.

And yes, I'll admit it. I also had a crush on Rick Mirer. Who? Yeah. Never mind. Maybe it's a Notre Dame #3 thing. Anyway...

I like football. And I married a guy who doesn't. He tries, don't get me wrong. But he likes to say, "That'll move the chains" on 3 and 10. Not so much, honey. We have quite the role reversal on Sundays. He's usually folding laundry while I'm yelling at the TV for the coach to challenge the last call. But it works.

Being a Chiefs fan hasn't been easy. (I'm also a Cubs fan too, so I'm an optimist?) I lived with Saints fans while my husband was in Iraq (his sister and her partner LOVE football) and became a Saints fan as well. But I always stay true to the Chiefs.

Having said that, I have a confession to make. I've never been to Arrowhead. Old or new. I would LOVE to go to a Chiefs game. And now that they've made the playoffs, I'd love it even more.

I'm excited about the post season this year. It's been a long time since I could say that.

Or the land of the free, and the home of the CHIEFS!!!!

What A Busy Christmas!!!

We had such a busy Christmas. On Christmas Eve-Eve we traveled to Glidden. We celebrated Christmas Eve with my family and left Christmas morning. Christmas day was spent with the in-laws and came home full and tired. This morning we woke up to see that Santa made a special trip for our three boys and even put Woot monkeys in the stocking!!

A longer post will come, but for now....

Merry Woot! Christmas!!