On the University of Iowa campus is a little gem: Mormon Handcart Park. Many people do not know that this spot even exists, not to mention its’ history. When members of the Church of Latter Day Saints were immigrating to modern-day Utah, many did not have the money to purchase a team of oxen and a covered wagon. Many crossed pulling handcarts, which look like large wheelbarrows. At that time, there was no trans-continental railroad; the trains stopped right here in Iowa City, Iowa. The LDS people stopped here, close to married student housing. Here are some pics of my walk from the other day:











Walking through downtown Iowa City I saw this in a store window. Only $14!

Moved! FIN! Pictures to come soon. Thanks to all those who helped when we had to get out of our apartment and this time from storage to our new place. Also, thanks to Art and Allyss for letting us stay at their place, John and Katty for letting us take up thier garage for six weeks, Matt and Ginny for letting us store stuff in thier basement even though poor Sadie just had surgery and Ginny is about to pop, and thanks to Casey for letting us invade his apartment with stacks of boxes. You are all amazing; thank you!

Moving is expensive!

There is the deposit, first months rent (sometimes last month too), setting up all the new utilities and some of those include deposits as well. Then there are the moving costs: truck rental, boxes, cleaning supplies, etc. There is always something needed at the new place that you thought you had before; it always happens. You have to restock your fridge and shelves with food.

It is so excited to move though, even to a new place in the same town. It’s a time to reflect and re-invent yourself. Patterns and habits can be changed more easily in the new environment. We get to take time to put things away properly (that were just thrown somewhere before) and we get to make the new place ours.

We are moving tomorrow for the last time within Iowa. We plan on staying here for the next two years until I am done with school. We weren’t planning on moving from our previous location, but Mother Nature had a little something to say about that!

We will post pictures of the new digs when we get settled!

We are staying at a friend’s house in Oxford, Iowa. It’s a very, very, small town. We are right in “downtown” Oxford. Many of the buildings were owned and used by the Masons either currently or at one point, including the building we are staying in. I don’t know much about it, but I understand that Masons have had an important role in the midwest. Coming from the mountain west, I haven’t really seen a lot of this. It’s kind of neat.

There has been so much tumult as of late that I stopped updating this blog. I felt that due to the flood and all that I only had negative things to say. No more! Here are some pictures from the Iowa City Jazz Festival from the first weekend of July.

Bonerama was awesome!


Old Capital Building looking all majestic from where we were sitting:


Joshua Redman was awesome; always is. I have dug him for a long, long time. I got to meet him a little at the IAJE (now defunct) in New Orleans - 2000.


Joshua Thompson looking as handsome as ever:


This was our view for most of the festival. The tree were sitting under had limited shade and it was very hot. Lucky for us, Brian and Laura are friends so it wasn’t a bid deal. Besides, you go to a jazz festival to listen! (and wear fanny packs, aparently)

While walking to the school this morning (after my MRI reading) I ran into this this little guy:



Awesome! He was sitting on a tree just a few feet from the sidewalk. I initially hung up from talking with my Mom so that I could try taking a couple of pictures with my iPhone. Then I realized that I had Kate's camera on my back because I was on the way to Holiday Tubas (pictures to follow)! So, I quietly took out the camera and gave it my best, amertuerish shot.



This last one I love because it shows a little more the result of our ice storm from earlier in the week. We had about a quarter to half and inch of ice accumulation. It has melted a little yesterday and today, but here is the result: