Blog

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As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.

Sunflower playhouse

By Carol / 22 August 2009 /

I tried an experiment this spring, planting sunflowers in a circle large enough to be a playhouse for my new granddaughter. Since Hannah was just born on Christmas Day, she is too young to appreciate…

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Fair, Food & A New Friend

By Carol / 19 August 2009 /

The Iowa State Fairis full of the familiar. But it’s the surprises I look forward to. My husband and I made our annual Fair trip yesterday, taking in the usual: new farm equipment, the quilt…

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Writer's Block

By Carol / 11 August 2009 /

A writing buddy and I just spent four days sequestered at LaCorsette Maison Inn, a wonderful bed and breakfast in Newton, Iowa. Our intent was to write, and write we did. After an early morning…

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Happy Birthday, Alaska!

By Carol / 03 August 2009 /

Alaska became our 49th State 50 years ago in January this year. I’m a little late sending them greetings, but I was reminded of the event when my brother-in-law in Anchorage sent me this picture.…

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Who's in control?

By Carol / 29 July 2009 /

I just spent an hour and a half in the prairie, pulling seed heads off the crabgrass. I’ve been doing this for a couple of hours every day. It is a futile, exercise, I know.…

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Prairie – By any other name

By Carol / 27 July 2009 /

This weekend marked the second month for my prairie. In spite of the crabgrass and barnyard grass, I have begun to spot native plants: Big Bluestem, Partridge Pea, many coneflowers. That’s a Partridge Pea in…

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A week spent writing

By Carol / 26 July 2009 /

I just returned from a week at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival. Reveling in the energy and inspiration of spending an entire week with people who think about writing, talk about writing, love writing, and…

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The bounty of the moment

By Carol / 19 July 2009 /

“Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone …” Joni Mitchell captured the universal truth in “Big Yellow Taxi.” I found myself humming the tune as I…

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My new best friend

By Carol / 07 July 2009 /

Not quackgrass! That’s the judgment of the Iowa State University Extension Service who took a look at the pictures I sent and responded in a couple of hours. Crab grass and barnyard grass. Both annuals…

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Where uncommon is common

By Carol / 03 July 2009 /

My brother-in-law Ken who lives in Anchorage sent this picture yesterday. He goes to a local cafe for coffee with friends in the morning and saw these visitors near his house. Now he doesn’t see…

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