Sunflower Blogging Award

Many thanks to Cryslyn for nominating me for my second Sunflower Award.  The Sunflower Award is a way for bloggers to learn more about each other by asking 10 questions.  Here are my answers to Cryslyn's questions: 

1). What is your dream home?

I *really* like my current home, and I'm liking it even more as we're doing small remodelling jobs to fix up parts that have aged and make the house exactly as we like.  My dream home might have milder winters.

2). Do you have a current occupation? If not, what would you like for your future job to be?

Currently I work as marketing and sales manager and as a general laborer for the concrete division of Carson Welding and Concrete.  In other words: I mix concrete, weld rebar, create invoices, and mail advertisements.  Seasonally I work as a fruit-picker at a local orchard and do occasional jobs like shovelling out grain bins, house cleaning, pie-making, and teaching chess at Hank Anzis' Des Moines Chess Camp.  I enjoy the freedom of being able to work with my family and do a bit of everything.  

The Grundy County Courthouse: Part 2

 When we returned to the courthouse, our auditor, Rhonda Deters, led us through the Clerk's Office and up a small back staircase into the judge's office.  A judge is there every Monday to hear short cases (30 minutes or less).  Longer cases have to be scheduled for other days.  

The Grundy County Courthouse: Part 1

A couple Thursdays ago, my family and I visited the Grundy County Courthouse.  Our county auditor, Rhonda Deters, had kindly arranged with the custodian, Mark Jungling, to give us a tour of the clock tower! 

Pizza Hut

Last evening after a long day's work my family travelled to Iowa Falls for a pizza supper.  It was around 8 pm when we arrived, and the place was deserted except for the staff and a group of linemen from Minnesota who came in not long before we left.  We thought it was odd for the restaurant to be empty, but it could be due to the fact that most Iowans in our area seem to eat supper between 5 and 6:30 pm.  

Deep-Dish Barbecue Pizza

The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier

The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville was one of our stops on our trip to Northeast Iowa.  Almost all of the towns in that area, no matter how small, seem to have huge Catholic churches, almost as if they had a competition to see who could build the most impressive church.  

When Trouble Comes

Shortly after 2 a.m. the other morning our chickens were in an uproar, cackling alarmedly, as a black-masked intruder sauntered into the coop and began his work of terror.  His first goal: a drumstick for dinner.  His first intended victim: a Barred Rock hen named Midnight.  He was on the prowl for a midnight snack.

Then a figure approached out of the shadows: a savior!  A switch was flicked and a single, bare incandescent bulb illumined the room.  The masked intruder (commonly known as a racoon) scurried away into the dark night, taking with him nothing but an empty stomach and a few fluffy, speckled feathers.  

From Flickr

Ivory Palaces

Ivory Palaces was the favorite hymn of a dear friend who is now with the Lord.  It's a beautiful song full of meaning.

My Lord has garments so wondrous fine; and myrrh their texture fills;

Its fragrance reached to this heart of mine with joy my being thrills.

The Lord is clothed in glory, and he wants to cover us with his garments of righteousness.  In Zechariah 3, God commanded that the filthy garments be taken away from Joshua the high priest and that he be clothed in clean garments.  He wants to do that for each one of us also, taking away our sins and filling our hearts with his Holy Spirit.