leder legends

The things we learn via the internet   A sillcock (or hose bib)  is an outdoor water faucet that is located and attached to the exterior of a house.  Sillcocks are nothing more than spigots that you’ll find coming out of your house. They essentially have a spout in which to connect hoses to or just access tap water while outside.  Sillcocks can be damaged by frost in the winter, leaving the homeowner with a ruptured pipe.    So last Friday we turned on the faucet outside and watered the dry flowerbeds...for a long time! Inside the burst sillcock was PUMPING water into the basement!  What a mess!  We turned it off and began to suck-up the water with a shop vac and a carpet shampooer. It worked very well! Today is Tuesday and I called the insurance and filed a claim! Even with all the fans going 24 hrs , the carpet is still very wet and there is no way it will dry before the dreaded mold appears.  Filing a claim was a bit more complicated ...

     In Portland on a “free” day , Sarah  and I decided to venture downtown in search of the famous Voodoo donuts! We had a choice of a trolley, a tram or the bus! She had an app so away we went.  It was not as easy as I thought it would be and Portland is not flat and it was hot! We got to bus stop feeling hot and sweaty and very unsure of ourselves and then we figured out we missed the bus. We trekked back to  the house for better directions and scored some free bus passes!  We had to hurry  for about 6 blocks in the sun and uphill to the trolley stop and we made it !!  Hooray!   The kids enjoyed this new experience- riding the trolley! We made it and lined up to get our donuts.  They have a guard at the door to regulate “traffic” and to provide security...we were not in the best part of town. It was a bit unsettling!      Voodoo donuts does not have a seating area so out we went with our special PINK box in search ...

  Yes... a crapper!! It was early, cloudy, drizzly, uninspiring day! On our way out of Dubuque and heading to Minneapolis!   Going through Amish country !  The sky was big and gorgeous! But we needed a WC and there was not a one in sight ... we saw a wayside park with a chapel, a cemetery, a picnic area AND  an outhouse!! This was the nastiest outhouse we have EVER had the desperate need to use! Life goes on and nasty experiences make great and perhaps gross stories afterwards!! Hahahahahahaha! The view a while later of Mississippi River low lakes!!  Lots of water!  This part of Iowa is surprisingly hilly!   We went up and down 7% grade hills.  Turtle River was at the bottom of one...cute name!

  Arie loves breweries and I love finding eateries that are a bit unusual. Gas prices when we left Grand Rapids Chicago... need I say more! On to Iowa fields and oh so much gorgeous sky! It is surprisingly hilly! Our first crossing of the mighty Mississippi R 7 Hills brewery in Dubuque in the revamped Millworks area! Happy to be off the road. Greek burger, coleslaw and a good beer! ...it did not take long! Caesar salad called The 7 Hills build!  

  Things that caught my eye during the garden tours in Minneapolis. This garden tour host even provided live classical music.  Hosts are asked to provide a few refreshments but this was above and beyond! It was 8:30 AM. Lady slipper! One vender of lilies to be used as companion plants for your hosta garden!