Mai Pho & Cedar Rapids Leatherjackets Part 2

After completing the first day of the Cedar Rapids Leatherjackets tournament, we spent the night at the DoubleTree. In the morning, we did some running on the sidewalks in town. We returned to the hotel and took the stairs up to our room on the 9th floor. But...we didn't stop there. The hotel has 16 floors, so we headed up to the top! Before long, I was thinking of A Stairway Chase on Studio C! I started out running, but by the last floor I was slowly walking. The view from the 16th floor was beautiful.

For lunch, we stopped at Mai Pho in Cedar Rapids, which is a favorite with my family because of their bubble teas and other sweet beverages. 

2016 Model Train Show in Hampton - Part 2

One person we were surprised to see at the model train show in Hampton was Helen, who was there with her husband Ed Shecklman.  They own Sidetrack Hobby in Iowa Falls, but we only knew Helen as our faithful supplier of running shoes!  She works at Shoe Sensation, which we frequent.

Ed and Helen Shecklman

You can visit their website at www.sidetrackhobby.net and their Facebook page here.  They have a wide variety of products.  The bridges looked neat, but the cornfield kits really caught me eye.  I'm sure some farmers would wish their cornfields could be as easily installed!

2016 Model Train Show in Hampton - Part 1

My paternal grandparents have been vendors at model train shows for years, though of late they've narrowed it down to two shows a year.  In 2014, they recruited my sister and I to help at our first show--in Hampton--where I ended up coming home with a pan full of left-over cinnamon rolls (delicious)!  Last year, I only joined in at Dubuque.  So, after a two-year hiatus, I was excited to be back at the Hampton show again.  

The whole family started everything off on Saturday evening setting everything up.  Then we went out for dinner together at a nearby restaurant.  Grandma helped with the set-up, but didn't feel strong enough to spend the whole next day at the show.  Sunday morning, Grandpa, my sisters, and I got an early start at about 5:30 A.M.

Answers: Music, Chess, Pets, & More

We are nearing the end of my series of answers in response to questions posed by readers.  In this post I will answer all the questions about hobbies, pets, and random topics, before going on to my final post Wednesday.

Martha asks: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

Ashley asks: What are your hobbies?

Playing chess, running, blogging, photographing, visiting neat places, hiking, singing and playing instruments, watching Studio C and old tv series, volunteering as an admin on FICS, occasionally doing genealogical research, visiting cemeteries, and creating websites.

Distance Running

I've run seven 5K races this year...and I'm still alive!  Last year, I reflected on my parents and sister running--and my effort at joining them in a practice, that "running/walking a 5K without any training is a nice, slow, painful way to die."  But I've been training!

My whole family--parents, two sisters, and brother--runs.  We train together, and often run 5Ks together.  My mom and sister are perhaps the most serious runners.  They do half marathons.  And you'll never guess what my sister did to celebrate her birthday...she ran 15 miles!

Amatuer Radio Field Day

A couple years ago I decided to get an amateur radio license.  So, I bought a couple study guides, learned all about radios and their components, antennas, bands, and all that good stuff, and passed the test to get a Technician's license without a problem.  Then I bought a radio, and it has patiently sat in my desk for two years waiting for me to program it.

To be honest, there are a lot of other things I'm much more passionate about, and I'm *very* rusty on everything I learned about radios.  But...my name is in the FCC database with my call sign KE0BCA, so my interest in amateur radio is public record till at least 2024.

Interview with Kathleen Franck

On the campaign trail, you run into many interesting people.  You start to recognize all the news reporters and camera-people, and then there are the familiar faces you see here and there and everywhere, and yet can't seem to place.  

Photos in this post are courtesy of Kathleen Franck.

One of those faces was that of Kathleen Franck.  Eventually she came across some of my photos from events she attended on Facebook and sent me a friend request.  "I know this lady," I thought, "but who is she?!"  It turned out we had both been at the same places to see Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, and Carlee Fiorina!  We finally met after listening to Ted Cruz in Waterloo.

Dubuque Model Railroad Show 2015 - Part 2

One couple I was delighted to see again at the train show was Dave and Sandy Homan of Superior Scenics.  As I noted last year, they create lakes from resin and paint, trees from jute, and grind ballast for rocks under model track.

This past year, they have been working hard on growing their business, which as Dave pointed out, is really a niche market.  A lot of railroad people, he said, don't even have layouts of their own.  So, they market their products to people building fairy gardens, doll houses, terrariums, and aquariums as well as railroad layouts.  

Dubuque Model Railroad Show 2015 - Part 1

Sunday, November 1st, my grandparents (Harry and Colleen Carson), Charity, and I left for Dubuque at 4:00 A.M. We stopped at a convenience store on the way for a quick breakfast (as nothing else seemed open), and arrived at the fairgrounds where the railroad show was held with plenty of time to set up.

After everything was ready, we relaxed, ate donuts, and visited with fellow vendors/friends from last year until the doors opened at 10:00 A.M.

A Coin Auction

I'm a far cry from a numismatist, but when Papa mentioned checking out a coin auction in Marshalltown, Iowa this winter, I was fair game.  There was a wide selection of coins, and there also were a few old paper bills.  The most expensive coin we saw went for $3050.  The trays of Kennedy half dollars sold for their value in silver.

The majority of the people at the auction were older men.  But there were a few women, younger men, and children, and some husband/wife, father/son duos.  Most tried to come early enough to find a place at one of the tables.  They were armed with briefcases, calculators, and small magnifying glasses.  They also carried lists of all items to be sold, with notes written beside coins of interest to mark intended bidding prices.

A Miniature World

Another model train hobbyist I met at the Dubuque Model Railroad Show was Les Kline.  He has been interested in model trains all his life.  In fact, a love of trains runs in his family.  Mr. Kline's grandfather and great grandfather had 100 years between them working on the Milwaukee Road.   

Dubuque Model Railroad Show

Sunday, November 2nd, my grandparents, Charity, and I left for Dubuque at 4:30 A.M.  We stopped at McDonalds on the way for breakfast, and arrived at the fairgrounds where the railroad show was held with plenty of time to set up.

This time there were no cinnamon rolls available to eat while we waited for the show to open, so we settled for donuts instead.  There was a line waiting to come in when the doors opened at 10 A.M., and throughout the day the building was bustling with people.

2014 Iowa Games Table Tennis

This morning I woke up at 6:00 A.M. as usual and subconsciously mentally prepared myself to manage the Daily 5 0, a chess tournament I direct every weekday morning on FICS.  Then it struck me: today was Saturday and instead of playing chess I would be going to a table tennis tournament!

I ate a little cold cereal, and Papa and I started our drive for Ames.  On our way a Ford F650 passed us; it was a big pick-up truck (I don't think I've seen one quite like it before).  We also noticed road work being done.

Interview with Colleen Carson, IWS

My favorite watercolor artist is my grandma Colleen Carson.  I recently have collaborated with her to create an online gallery of her artwork, and she graciously consented to an interview for my blog.

Q: What inspired you to become an artist?

A: I don't believe it was inspiration. It's something that was in my family. Everybody did it, and I just assumed that I would do it too.

Q: What is your favorite thing to paint?

A: I don't really have a favorite. I don't like abstract very much; I prefer a conglomeration of different styles. I love florals. I love animals. I do not like to paint portraits other than of children and animals.

The Shepherd is Coming

Q: Do you have a favorite of your paintings?

A: One of my favorites—and it's almost gone—is a picture of a sheep barn with the sheep coming out of the barn and walking down a pathway in the light. To me it has a spiritual essence about it. It's entitled “The Shepherd is Coming”--and He surely is.

Q: What is the most difficult thing to paint?

A: People. You can never satisfy people. No one sees themselves as they really are. So its, “Well, I don't have warts, and I don't have a mole there, and my hair is not  that shade of red.” And so the hassle brings it to the point where even though it's lucrative, I don't often do it.

Q: What advice would you have for a young artist?

A: If you're serious about art, do it! Because the more you do it, the easier it gets. You can become good at one medium: perhaps watercolors, perhaps oil, clay, and then try another. It brings out your creativity, and when we use a talent—like with music—it grows.

Q: Do you have any interesting anecdotes from your experiences as an artist that you would like to share?

A: Many; as you have camaraderie with other artists, peculiar things happen—and funny things. That's part of the joy of being creative—meeting other people who have the same interests as you do. There are lots of funny anecdotes, many which I would not put in print, but I love getting together and being with my artist friends.

"Bountiful Harvest"  1993 Calendar Cover for the Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad

Q: What have been the highlights of your painting career?

A: Probably one of the greatest highlights was being hired by the Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad to do their calendar art, and I had the joy of doing it for five years. That was a great boost to my career. People thought, “Oh, she can paint for the railroad; maybe she is a good painter.”

Q: Do you have a favorite color?

A: Yes, blue! --and then more blue and more blue.

Falling Leaves--one of my favorites.

Q: What are your other hobbies and interests?

A: Through the years my other hobbies and interests have fallen by the wayside, so that I can devote my time to art. I did work as a florist for 13 years, and I enjoyed that immensely—but there again it was creating. And gardening—I love flower gardening. It grieves me that it's very difficult for me to do it now that it's later in life, but the Lord's got something else for me to do. I don't know what yet, but I'm anxiously awaiting.

"Texas Treasure"

Q: Do you have any thoughts on how painting and being an artist reflects on the greater spectrum of life?

A: Our Lord was a Creator. If I have any talent in my life in the category of being creative, I feel that it's a gift that came directly from Him. There are days when I know what I paint is pleasing to Him, and there are days when I tear papers up; I know they're not pleasing. You have to have that connection with the Creator to enjoy painting and do it well.

"Light Source"

Please feel free to browse Carson Art Gallery online at www.carsonart.net.

Time to Harvest Apples!

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver"--Proverbs 25:11

It is said that Sir Isaac Newton developed his theory of gravity when an apple fell on his head. After seeing as many apples as I have seen (and felt) fall, one would think I would have attained a much greater level of enlightenment in the past month!

Our crew of 6 has picked six bins (about 4000 pounds of apples) in about 4 hours for a local orchard on several days.  How fast we pick depends on how selective the picking is and the size of the trees.  Our current record is a bin in 20 minutes.  We have had fun learning the basics of fruit picking (how to keep the apples from bruising and how to empty a fruit-picking sack). 

While Sir Isaac Newton only had to watch for falling apples, we discovered orchards should post signs reading "Beware of Falling Mice."  My sister once reached up and picked an apple and noticed what looked like a very messy nest on it.  The apple was not in good shape, so she dropped it.  A few minutes later I heard someone mention an animal in the tree...and then someone said, "Bethany, watch out!"  I cleared out of the way, and lo and behold, there was a mother mouse with a half dozen tiny mice clinging to her--*up in the tree!*  Poor mouse, the apple had been her home.  She scurried down and then made successive trips until her whole brood was assembled on the ground.  So much for Beatrix Potter's mouse that lived in a shoe...living in an apple ripening in a tree beats them all!  The mouse could have been given an award for ingenuity if she hadn't overlooked the problem of some hungry person *picking* the apple.  (No need to worry next time you bite into an apple--our apple picker's union guarantees you will not find any mice). 

We picked Cortland, Jonathan, McIntosh, and Wealthy apples.  The Cortlands are the largest--and extremely filling (they seem best for slicing or apple pies).  Meanwhile, Jonathan apples are small, making a perfect lunch-box apple.  This year has been an excellent year for apples, so the 1400 or so trees that fill the orchard are completely loaded!

Apple Ridge Orchard makes delicious, award-winning apple cider, and their pies are quite tasty too,  so if you're ever nearby be sure to make your own visit to the apple orchard!

Zentangle!

Zentangle is an abstract art form known for helping artists relax.  Akin to doodling, it's simple enough to be fun for even small children. 

My dear grandma, a professional artist known as the Iowa Train Lady, introduced my family and I to zentangle-inspired art this morning.  

Start with a small piece of paper, and draw a square boundary with a pen or marker.  Next draw something small--a crescent moon, music note, or star.  Let your imagination take you from there, and draw whatever you think of, attaching it to your original sketch.  Fill areas of the page with patterns, repeating the patterns throughout the drawing for conformity.  Be sure to make sure there is plenty of contrast.

Grandma brought one of her zentangle practice sheets (above) to give us an example. 

Unfortunately, my art skills often seem to be at about this level:

(Yes! this is an original...I specialize in hairstyles!)

Consequently, I was a bit incredulous about learning to zentangle...

Getting started was anything but relaxing as I struggled with what to draw...first came a music note, then flowers, a corn stalk, drumsticks, part of the alphabet, a chessboard, squiggly lines, and still I wasn't making much progress.  Grandma gave encouragement and suggestions, and I peaked over at Charity's artwork and other example zentangles for ideas.  Several checkerboards, plaid tablecloths, fish scales, flowers, and railroad tracks later, I realized this indeed was a lot of fun! 

My finished work!

Zentangling is a great way for would-be artists to relax; and I assure you that you will be surprised by whatever you create!  Zentangles can be used as impressive home-made greeting cards.  You can't go wrong, so start drawing!  

One Matchstick at a Time

The Matchstick Marvels museum sells matchstick hobby kits, so I bought one intending to try my hand at matchstick architecture.  I thought it best to have a few friends help with this monumental task, so one day when both my sisters and a friend were around, we gave it a try.

The kit came with instructions for a small box.  The first step was to glue 13 sets of 6 matchsticks and 2 sets of 4 matchsticks.  Sounds simple enough, right?

          

Maybe, except for the fact the matches didn't want to stay together for novices like me.  We experimented with squeezing the glue onto the matchsticks, painting it on them with another matchstick, or rubbing the matchsticks into a puddle of glue to find the most efficient way.  Just as we would get 6 matches stuck together they would start to fall apart.  Finally we finished all the sets and let them sit on pieces of paper to dry.  

When we came back they were nicely stuck together, and also *gasp* stuck to the paper.  With a little work we freed the matches from the paper--narrowly avoiding the need of borrowing a pry-bar from the shop (not that that would have helped).

We glued the groups of 6 and 4 matches together so we would have 3 sets of 18 matches and 2 sets of 16 matches.  After our matchstick boards were dry, we glued them together to form a small keepsake box.

My dear mother decided the box needed a lid, so she made one.  The finished product:

I think we have quite a bit of practice awaiting us if we ever want to build a Notre Dame Cathedral, but it's a start!

And I have a feeling all matchstick projects start small... but with determination (and patience?--well maybe) they grow, even if it is only one matchstick at a time.