Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat! Rosie didn't think this was much of a treat!

Des Moines, Iowa Marathon

Here's a picture of Colin at mile 20 of the Des Moines Marathon. The course was quite nice for spectators. Ian, Amanda, and I drove around the course and were able to see him at the start, mile 4, mile 7, mile 11, mile 13, mile 20, mile 23, and then the finish. Ian hopped in with him for the last 10 kilometers to keep him on pace for 2:50 or faster. The weather was not ideal for running...hot and windy. Nonetheless, Colin ran 2 hours and 56 minutes. Nothing to sneeze at! Look how svelt he is in the picture. Amanda is barely visable behind the mile 20 sign.

Apple Ridge Orchard

Two weekends ago (I know, I'm a little late getting these posted) Ian and I went apple picking about a half hour from here in Mazeppa. It was humid and in the 80s. Not your usual apple picking weather.
We picked 24 pounds of Regent and Honey Crisp apples (you got a significant discount if you picked more than 20 pounds). Ian got to carry them back down the hill (sporting an old Red Sox shirt...Go Red Sox! The MN Twins colors are the same, so I often think I'm seeing a Red Sox fan, when really it's a Twins Fan.) We've been making apple crisps and apple bunt cakes galore!
There were a few farm animals, including this very puffy llama. The view was all corn fields. Typical for here in the midwest.
We drove by this out of the ordinary sign on the side of one of the back roads.

new baby

This is Ian's latest addition to his stable of bicycles. He got the frame on EBAY when his other Serotta was lost by UPS for 7 weeks. Then it showed up the day after he bought this one. It has been sitting in the garage all summer feeling lonely and neglected. He finally mustered the motivation to buy some parts and build up a bike that can't coast...I think it's called a fixie...basically the pedals move all the time and if you try to stop pedalling, your legs get ripped off. He thinks it sounds delightful.