Welcome Home Shawn

Polk County supervisor awarded Shawn a plaque for accomplishments and named September 

as "Shawn Johnson Month" which will also be done for Lolo Jones....
Here's the hardware, a little too far away for a great close up photo.
Tee shirt for Keith, "Sorry Costas.maybe 2012" No committment yet, parents will be there,

but were clearly exhausted by it all, especially media "paparazzi" in China.
Tee shirt gun helped Shawn disperse a couple dozen autographed tee shirts to the crowd.
Hello Des Moines and Polk County. Backstage she saw the monitor and wondered  why they

were watching the Democrat Convention, she was told this is Wells Fargo and Shawn was

shocked so many people were on hand to greet her.
Pilot of plane in Chicago to NYC and Letterman was so excited, he cracked his head on something and had to be taken to the hospital for stitches and a concussion!
Questions from Keith about Olympic trip. She met Vince Vaughn and was shocked

that he knew who she was, she was "freaked out".
After the interview, resting on stage.
Shawn's coaches, Chow Head Olympic team coach and wife Li, Shawn's beam coach.

Chow is an IOWA grad, not as they said on TV, from ISU......
The opened the top two floors for the fans, only expected 2,000, which is the number that

showed up for Nastia's event in Texas.Local NBC affiliate was one of the sponsors, they 

broadcast the entire event live for one hour. Home folks missed the last half hour. Shawn is

ready to get back to school, around a 40 city tour with USA Olympic team, starting in

mid September. They will be in DSM, Nov 14, I'll be back home in Texas then. Chow is ready 

for more Olympics, he was quoted in today's paper. Shawn's web site  www.shawnjohnson.net.
Shawn on stage, greeted by coach Li.
The Stage at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, attended by 7,000.
the Nadas performed, free of charge. Local band.
Shawn's parents with NBC local sports broadcaster, Keith Miller.

A Really SAD Day in Ankeny

Bad news on the home front. 

Four AHS teens were out fishing and

swimming at Saylorville Reservoir on

Sunday. One boy, a senior, jumped in to

swim  across the inlet, he was not a 

good swimmer. He had some trouble and his 

friend, a junior, went to help. She caught

him, but they both went down. The friends

on land were screaming for help, it took a

family about ten minutes to get to the scene and

help with the rescue. Too late, they both

passed, were down 10-20 minutes in the

water.  So many people in the area and

no one wanted to be involved...A Sad Day!

America's Sweetheart is GOLDEN

Home town girl won finally. Of course, Polk County and all of

Iowa thought she should have won all around event and the 

floor exercise. The toughest sport in the Olympics, when the

outcome depends on judges and not stop watches or feet and

inches or accuracy. How did Shawn win the World title in June

and then get dissed at the Olympics? Some photos from TV 

viewing. I plan to go to the reception when she comes home.

Corn on/off the Cob

Fresh picked and cleaned corn, ready to bag, but I had

to eat some. I ended up with 11 bags of corn, 2 cups per

bag, that's two meals. Boy will I enjoy the corn this

winter. On the right, not every ear of corn comes with

blood! Can you see the red line on my bird finger? The

corn sliced my hand in three places. I didn't know corn

was that dangerous! Little plum tomato was delicious

also, not many were red yet Marla.....

Now and Then

The farm field has progressed in Dayton. On the left, this

week, August. On the right, June, during the downpour of

rain, a daily event. So pleased that Mother Nature has

been helping....

A Sad Place

It's a sad place when NO ONE is home.
Mark's ponds will yield no beans this season, but his
zinnias and calla lillies are doing fine. It was a beautiful day
today, I had to get some INCREDIBLE sweet corn and
rocks for my ROCK ON garden!

Another Silver and Semi's soon

I couldn't wait until
9PM, so I checked
the website. Shawn
won another
silver medal on the
floor. Romania won and Nasty was third. Sacramone was 4th on the vault,won
by North Korea. I
think tomorrow Shawn will go for GOLD on the beam. I signed up for an
e mail when the results are in. Lolo finally gets started sometime
today, don't know when
the wrestlers start. Iowa assistant coach is on the team, Iowa won the
NCAA title in 2008.

She Ain't Done Yet!

Central Iowa is very

excited today after 

the great performances

from the Home Girl,

Shawn Johnson. 

She deserves a gold

medal for her smile!

Two more events,

she will bring it 

on home! Photos were

taken while watching

her on TV, with my

new camera. She stuck

the landing and gave

the camera a Big Smile.

vittles,sunshine,tree limbs,greenpeppers and The Cubs

It is sweet corn

season in Iowa.

Oh how we love

our Peaches and

Cream corn on

the cob.The rest

of the viewing is

in my back yard,

another downed

limb in today's

rain, I am going

to have green

peppers, I love

my CUBBIES 

and Birdies and

someone has to

know where to

drive the golf

carts......

One More Corvette

I love this 61 Corvette. It is the first one you see when you
enter the museum.It didn't fit in my purse, couldn't
take it home. Maybe one day, when I win the lotto! SWEET!

The Albaugh Classic

Our local car collector had an open

house today, of his car museum. 120 plus

vehicles, dating from 1912, the year my Mom

was born. Corvettes from 53-75, all

convertibles. One car from 1912 on to 75, most

are ragtops. This event was a money maker

for my local high school's athletic department.

We are in the throes of building a second

high school, as Ankeny is now over 40,000 in

population. Lots of problems keeping every

one happy. Here are a few shots of my

favorite things.......vettes.........I had to add

one of Greg and the first cab, rehabbed,

and one of my beloved Corvair. Also one

from the top of the museum of part of

the grounds, the first Camaro, a RWB

corvette, a couple 56 Chevys, 69 Indy

pace car.....I could

go on and on........

My Favorite Blogs

I am always looking at blogs from cyberspace. I have
found many interesting fun, silly, sales pitches, etc.,
blogs. I love the ones with travel photos, so I can go
on trips around the world. Many places I will never
go to on vacation, but I have found a few from the
midwest that will be on my itinerary one day. I
especially like the photography blogs and will be
starting a new one of my own photos, to share with
the world. thanks to everyone who blogs, is there a
way to translate foreign language entries to the
English language?

My Favorite sports Show

Home girl Shawn Johnson starts her

quest for GOLD tonight, or yesterday.

While watching the opening ceremonies

I finished up the latest jig saw puzzle,

the blue sky was tough and you can see

the last piece! Just how do those "little"

girls flip and twist and turn so easily in

gymnastics? One week end while

in college,I went to

St Louis with my roommate. While

having lunch with her Gramma we

were watching gymnastics and Gramma

said it was amazing watching those girls

jump around on that "little piece of wood."

We didn't have any of this

sport in the "old" days in school. Shawn

is four feet nothing as we say, a little

girl, 4'8" I think. Her local sponsors are

filling the airwaves with her commercials

Around Town

Blossom is watching you look at the 

storm damage. The sawed down tree 

was planted in the early 1960's when we 

started the Ankeny Golf and Country

Club. The tall evergreen has center

issues and might have to come down.

It was planted in the 1940's in Roger's

yard. Fun veggies from the Farmers

Market. I asked if the double cucumber

counted as one or two since the price

was three for $2. Beans were delicious

slowly cooked with onion and bacon.

Salad with sliced tomatoes and cukes.

Last week's Adventures

What Happened to Last Week?

For all of ya'll in cyberspace, please log onto the blog list to the right

that is from Granny,Drew and Kayley. Find the entry titled Ordinary Miracle.

Grab a box of tissues also. 

The daily bike rides cover about 10 miles and everyday is 

interesting. One day there will be several inline skaters to avoid,

or those pesky baby rabbits, or even a City Truck parked with 

the doors OPEN....It looks like they might be putting in a bridge

to connect to the sidewalk and also to cross the street to the

library.I think I will have to tear out my tomatoes. Three times

being buried in 6" of water has done them in, most are brown.

The three pepper plants are doing all right and the zinnias

are finally showing their leaves, only about 6" tall right now. Maybe

I will have some color in a couple weeks.

PMS and I went to see Mamma Mia again last week. We were

rocking and singing along and once again caught more lines

that we missed the first time viewing the movie. Can't wait for

the DVD.  I have to say it ranks right up there with the top

musicals, right along with Grease and its fabulous dance finale.

Baby Blossom was abandoned by her mother. My Texas friend

that also lives in Iowa during the good weather is her "mother".

Blossom is abut 6 weeks old and I met her yesterday and 

bottle fed her. Julie rings the bell at 4 PM and Blossom comes

a running home for dinner!She is eating out of my hand and

Julie is bottle feeding her in the pix.