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.

Letting go of tradition

By Carol / 26 December 2011 /

Liver sausage and waffles. That’s my family’s traditional Christmas Eve supper. This tradition started when Dad gave Mom a waffle iron one Christmas when I was a teenager. I was old enough to wonder at…

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Dad's favorite

By Carol / 09 November 2011 /

Mom and I traditionally waited until Thanksgiving weekend to break out the candy thermometer and heavy pans for our annual candy-making extravaganza. But I start early. This year it was all I could do to…

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Making connections with hankies

By Carol / 27 October 2011 /

The woman sat bent over a card table in the far corner of the room. When Kara Langsdon of the Iowa City Public Library(ICPL) introduced me, the woman never looked up. When I launched into…

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Horses to steam engines – Doing it the old way

By Carol / 05 September 2011 /

I had the opportunity at the Midwest Old Thresher’s Reunionthis past weekend to picture how farming was done 100 years ago. When horses were the most common horsepower. When the shift to machines was just…

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A trip down tractor lane

By Carol / 03 September 2011 /

Just being around certain things will trigger strong memories.  I know that’s how it is with farm kids and tractors. Boys or girls remember the first tractor they drove. The Midwest Old Thresher’s Reunion gave…

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The right tools for the job

By Carol / 31 August 2011 /

August came, and right on schedule, so did the tomatoes. We’ve been waiting for this. Our cupboards were bare. But dishpans full of tomatoes to can every third day can be daunting. Through a serendipitous…

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A dog named Butch

By Carol / 29 August 2011 /

I’ve never been all that much of a dog person. Cats are my preference. But growing up on a farm, we always had a dog. For most of my years on the farm, that dog…

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Great taste, no calories

By Carol / 17 August 2011 /

The Iowa State Fairis all about the food, right? Food we eat and enjoy and then regret when we remember the calories? Well, the Fair offers huge banquets to enjoy that contain not one single…

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Kids, cats, cars and politicians

By Carol / 16 August 2011 /

The Iowa State Fairis all about ____________ (fill in the blank) Everybody thinks of something when they go to the Fair. Food on a stick. The big boar. The Midway. Livestock judging. The Butter Cow.…

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100 years of buttery, bovine beauty

By Carol / 15 August 2011 /

Those of you who know me, know I’m all about the cows. I grew up on an Iowa dairy farm and spent 35 years promoting the dairy industry. So, this year’s Iowa State Fairhits me…

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