A Home at the End of the World

No summer trip is complete without a trip to a bookstore. I had brought along Tell the Wolves I'm Home, but finished it the first day in Iowa, so I just HAD to find another book. I heard that there was a Half-Price Books nearby, and I had no problem talking G and H into going with me. I picked up Michael Cunningham's A Home at the End of the World based on having enjoyed The Hours. 

I think Cunningham writes smartly. I didn't particularly like any of the characters - none of them seemed to develop very much, but they way the author portrays them, I felt some empathy for them. The ending was not very satisfactory for me, but I was compelled to keep reading. I will try other works by this guy.

I loved this section of classic Little Golden Books at Half Price Books. Not meant for children.

Midwest Nature

Coming from the land of severe drought, it was refreshing to spend a few days in the humidity and rain in Iowa. While there we probably had around 2 inches of rain with thunderstorms that came and went.

At the Art Festival, we managed to eat our lunch during one of the downpours. H and I had a pretty good spot under the tent, but G was at the end of the tent and had a steady stream down her back. Yuck. She needed this guy with his two umbrellas protecting his wife while she ate.

I love looking at the thistles by the road.

Dramatic skies

Here is a little video of a cicada that got caught in the water at the Art Center. Listen to the sounds of the other 17-year cicadas in the background. I love that sound.

Des Moines Art Center

It was an art theme during our time in Iowa. The Des Moines Art Center proved to be a hidden gem. First of all, it's free. Second, it has a lovely collection of modern art. It felt to me as though the museum thought they should have one (possibly two) pieces from all my favorite artists. We saw a Picasso, Monet, O'Keefe, Rothko, Hopper, Matisse, Jasper Johns, two Calders, two Henri Moore sculptures, and many that I don't recall at the moment.

The website says that you are allowed to photograph the permanent collection, but the sign by the front door said otherwise, so I was limited to other kinds of photos.

I am assuming that all the museum guards were volunteers since there was no admission fee. These guards were extra vigilant in making sure that we did not touch the art. I didn't even make a move to get my camera out in the galleries. It makes me a little nervous to look at art when someone does not trust me not to touch it. I don't touch art!

This led me think that the International Art Museum Association (I made that up) should have a program like the TSA where they can prescreen museum guests and then give us a button to wear so that guards can relax when we enter a gallery.

One of the best things is an entire first edition of Matisse's Jazz collection. 

A photo of the Matisse Jazz brochure.

Des Moines Art Festival

Last summer we gathered our children, met up with a sister and brother-in-law to descend upon parents and another sister in Des Moines. This year we were missing five of those people, but H and I  went for one more visit before we head off for sabbatical.

This time we braved the scattered thunderstorms and headed downtown to the Des Moines Art Festival. We were impressed with the variety and quality of art available. Artisans from many places showed their wares, and it reminded me of Art Fair on the Square in Madison during our grad school days. 

This reminded me of Art on Tap, the differences being the smaller canvases and no instruction. Paint what you like!

Woven aluminum

New addition to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. It has photographic possibilities that remind me of The Bean in Chicago.

I really liked this booth and the pieces that reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Pella, Iowa

During our Iowa trip, one group of people went to the shooting range, but some of us (the sisters-in-law and me) went to Pella. Pella was founded by Dutch immigrants and retains a pervasive Dutch flavor. I saw at least four windmills, Dutch-inspired architecture and handicrafts.

This information booth sits in the town square

Dutch Delft Blue 

Dutch wooden shoes, of course

Some of the architecture

We just happened to be at the Klokkenspel when the little figures appeared with music. We watched as each character appeared and tried to figure out what it meant. This particular guy came out with his rifle while the chimes played Home on the Range. When I finally went over to the sign to find out what we had seen, I saw that he was Wyatt Earp, a Pella resident.

As we left town, I saw a Little Free Library, and a look on the internet shows that this is the one such library in Pella.

Iowa State Capitol

Back to our regularly scheduled internet, here is the post I meant to write yesterday.

I've been to Des Moines a number of times in my life (being a midwestern girl and all), but I have never been to the Capitol. Since we were already downtown at the West End Salvage, we thought we ought to take a little look-see at the state government. The building is beautiful and did not disappoint. We were too late for an official tour, but we didn't mind wandering around on our own. 

The dome is made of real gold.

Looking up on the inside.

I took the most pictures in the library. It is probably the most beautiful library I have ever seen. They could have filmed parts of the Harry Potter movies here.

Internet / Phone / Cable Issues

No photos in today's post. I had planned to write about the Iowa State Capitol building, but technology is not on my side today.

For a little while I had noticed that our television would occasionally pixilate, and then yesterday when I turned it on, the picture was frozen. I changed channels, and there was only a black screen to be had. H said I should check the phone and internet, and, sure enough, both were not working. We called Time Warner on our cell phone (thank goodness for cell phones!) and after walking us through a variety of options, we convinced the company that we need to have someone come fix the problem here. Then H went outside and where the cable comes into the house looks as though it had a little fire, or mini-explosion because there is black stuff on the siding.

So, on the occasion that I can come to Honnold (the colleges library) and check email (with my laptop which does not have my photos), we are without internet. It is quite an experience. I find myself wanting to look something up, and realizing that it will just have to wait. I also realized that I have my calendar on google calendar and was trying to remember just which students are coming today (the summer lesson schedule is more sporadic than the school year), so I just took a screen shot of my week's activities. I can at least do work on my computer that doesn't require internet.

Let's see if I get more read today....

Iowa

We landed at LAX last night to the hottest temps in So Cal for the year (so far). When we left for Des Moines on Wednesday I expected to land in a sauna there, but, instead, we were treated to lovely temps, changing clouds (along with some winds and bugs). Our daughters had not seen their grandfather in 5-6 years, our son-in-law had not met the grandfather, so we knew it was time for a family reunion. The sister and brother-in-law drove up from Texas, and along with grandmother, sister, and Anne, all eleven of us were together.

Apparently, no trip to Iowa is complete without a stop at the Heart of Iowa Store in Historic Valley Junction. H feels compelled to bring his summer research students a bit of Iowa, and this year he had hoped that he could find the little pig that, when squeezed, would bulge out its eyes and poop out some jelly beans. Such a fine item was not to be had this year, so he settled for cow pens with eyes that light up and moo sounds.

Lest you think that there are only such silly items in the store, rest assured that you can also purchase such lovely pottery items as seen above, and a variety of food items.

Also on the docket for Thursday was a visit to West End Architectural Salvage in downtown Des Moines. I had seen one of the shows on HGTV about this place and was curious to check it out. I am sure that most in our group were just humoring me, but when we entered, we were immediately hooked with the variety of antiques - some beautiful, some not so much, some already repurposed, some waiting for love. I don't know how much time we spent wandering and taking photos, pointing and laughing, but it ended with coffee drinks at the little cafe on the first floor.

I was taken with these typewriter bracelets, but not with their price tag. A quick view through Etsy proved that West End is not the only place, by far, that makes jewelry from old typewriter keys.