Butter on toast is something that I enjoy for breakfast or a late evening snack on occasion.
It wasn’t until I moved to Iowa that I learned that Midwestern’s not only enjoy butter on toast, they enjoy butter on their sandwiches.
     That was a new concept for this southern boy who moved to Iowa. Back home, I used mayo (mostly Miracle Whip or Hellman’s) and mustard on my hamburgers and sandwiches and ketchup on my fries and onion rings. 
      I first learned the concept of butter on sandwiches in the late 90s, not long after moving to this fine state. I was in Marengo covering damage from a windstorm that knocked down trees and cut power to the area. My boss, who happened to have a gas stove, invited me to his place in town that evening to cook some hamburgers.
      As the hamburgers sizzled in the frying pan, I dug through his sparsely-filled refrigerator looking for some mayo. 
      “Do you have any mayo?” I asked.
      “No,” he replied. “I have butter.”
       “Butter,” I’m thinking. “Butter on sandwiches?”
       I made due with what I had. It was OK, but not anything to call home about.
       Fast forward 20-plus years.
    Earlier last week I had stopped at Dayton Meats in Malcom for some sliced ham and dried beef for sandwiches.
      Debbie enjoys dried beef and when I am able, I buy her some for sandwiches. She typically uses butter on her sandwiches and one her favorites is a toasted dried beef sandwich with butter. Toss in a salad with some Ranch, croutons, cheese and bacon bits and that make a great meal.
      The other night for supper, I decided to fix dried beef sandwiches on toast for both of us. I had gotten the butter tub out and decided to take a detour and use butter on my sandwich instead of mayo.
​       I mentioned this to Debbie, who said, “You’re coming over to my side.”
     Well, maybe on occasion, but I don’t plan to make a habit of it anytime soon. I still like my mayo and mustard.
      I have also discovered that some folks in this part of the county leave their stick butter on the kitchen table day and night. In the south, or at least in my family, we put the stick butter back in the refrigerator after use. I’m sure there are folks in the south who do that, but my family didn’t.
     I have learned that leaving it on the table allows it to soften for use. I would think it would spoil, but I guess not. It does enough preservatives to survive a winter blizzard. I would much rather use stick butter for cooking and soft butter in the tub for my toast.
     I usually always put a small slab of stick butter when cooking a vegetable on the stove or in the microwave. I sometime use it when cooking fried potatoes by adding some to the cooking oil. I’ve even been known to cook popcorn in the popper in butter.
     Growing up, I had an old electric aluminum popcorn popper that had a separate burner and pan with lid. It was probably a Mirro Matic brand. I see them on eBay on occasion.
     My neighbor to the north, Mr. Belknap or Mr. Bell as I called him, often fixed me buttered popcorn in his electric popper and then we would play a few rounds of dominos.
     I would sit on a wooden step stool and on occasion, while waiting for the popcorn to cook, Mr. Belknap would cup his hand and slap me on the knee when I wasn’t looking. It would make me jump, sort of like the doctor does when checking your reflexes with the rubber hammer.
     Mr. Belknap was born in the late 1890s and was from Harris, Iowa, a small town in northwestern Iowa. He left Iowa after high school graduation and attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where he met his wife, Madge, of 60-plus years. She worked for Pinkerton Agency, I believe. It’s kind of ironic that they were my neighbors for years and I ended up moving to Iowa. I hope to make it to Harris sometime down the road.
     In closing, there’s lot of crazy stuff going on in our world. My advice for you in the coming days and weeks, turn off the news, spend time with your family and friends, and keep on walking and chasing your dreams.
     Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.

     Do you remember what you were doing the morning of Sept. 11, 2001? I was busy that morning getting the Montezuma Republican ready for printing.
     On the front page of that week’s issue was a photo I took at the former Sutfin Furniture on Main Street in Montezuma. The photo was of a sign in the window that stated it was the store’s final day. It was kind of chilling to think for many, it was the final day.
     For some reason, I was thinking we had a television at the Republican office. I don’t remember. Anyway, all of us at the office listened and watched as the events of the day unfolded. A planned attack on American soil.
It’s been 20-years since that day, I day that I will never forgot. I hope none of us forget! 
     I arose early Saturday morning, Sept. 11, 2021, and headed up to Montezuma to cover the 4.12 mile Honor Walk hosted by the Montezuma Fire & Rescue Department. 
    Following a prayer and moment of reflection, fire department volunteers and walkers from Montezuma and elsewhere took to the streets at 7:30 a.m. in honor of the 412 emergency responders who lost their lives on that day. The walk was led by volunteer firemen dressed in their turnout gear, carrying an American and other flags.
    The walk ended at the Freedom Rock on the southeast side of the Poweshiek County Courthouse where a  moment of reflection and prayer was led by the Montezuma American Legion & Auxiliary. The event included the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer and the singing of “God Bless America.”
    During my career, I’ve coved lot of community and school events, parades and other gatherings. I’ve written hundreds of news and features stories and taken more photos than books in the Library of Congress, or it seems so. These memorial events, no matter the cause, are always touching and memorable. I’m thankful to God that He has put me in the position to be on the frontlines of journalism to share these events with others. Thank you for your support.
Following are the events of the 9-11-2001
    • 8:46 a.m. – American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, killing 92 passengers and crew members onboard.
    • 9:03 a.m. – United Airlines Flight 175 was flown into the South Tour of the World Trade Center, killing all 56 passengers and nine crew members onboard.
   • 9:37 a.m. – American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked over Ohio and it crashed into the west side of the Pentagon. The crash killed all 64 crew and passengers onboard the plane and 125 in the Pentagon.  
   • 10:03 a.m. – United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field near Shanksville, Penn., killing all 44 passengers and crew onboard. The bravery of the passengers who attempted to regain control of the aircraft from the four hijackers ultimately diverted the flight from its intended target of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., to the crash site in Pennsylvania.
    The attacks on 9-11 resulted in 2,977 fatalities, including 412 emergency responders…23 FDNY, 37 police officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police departments, 23 NYPD, eight EMT’s and paramedics and one patrolman from the New York Fire Patrol.
    In wrapping this up, I wish to encourage you to get involved, give to others and be a difference maker right where you are. Change doesn’t start with the nuts in Washington, D.C., it’s starts in our communities, our neighborhoods, our jobs and in our homes. Take time out of your busy life this week and be a difference maker in the life of someone else.
    My momma taught me that it is always better to do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. It’s a truth that has made me the person I am.
    Don’t quit giving and don’t give up. Stand up and be proud – this is America, home of the free and home of the brave.
    Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.

    Pawnee, Okla., a town of about 2,100 folks located 55-miles northwest of Tulsa is home to the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum.
   Pawnee Bill, whose legal name was Gordon W. Lille, was an American showman and Wild West show performer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. According to the museum website, the home, which was completed in 1910, is filled with Lillie family memorabilia of Gordan and his wife, May, photographs, original artwork, and more. The ranch property also houses a museum with exhibits related to Pawnee Bill, Wild West Shows, and the Pawnee tribe. The 500-acre grounds include the original ranch blacksmith shop, a 1903 log cabin, a large barn built in 1926, and an Indian Flower Shrine—all available to the public.
    Pawnee is also the modern day home of the Oklahoma Steam Threshers & Gas Engine Association. The association hosts a steam and tractor show the first weekend in May.
    It was the mid-1980s when I heard about the show and asked my dad if he would like to go. He was delighted. In fact, my mom and brother tagged along that first year.
    I’ve always been interested in old tractors and steams engines and that show was a good one. My dad attended the Pawnee show for many years until his health failed him.
    My dad was always looking for a good deal. I remember a story he told me about the time he found a cultivator seat at the Pawnee show. He asked the fellow how much and it was more than he wanted to pay.
    “I just walked the grounds and came back,” my dad said. “I asked a different person how much for the cultivator seat?”
     “That was still too much,” he said.
    He did that several times and finally was able to get the cultivator seat for around $12, more in his price range.
    In addition to the Pawnee show, Dad and his buddy, Roger, went to tractor and steam engine shows in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri through the years.
    And in 2003, he and Roger made the trek from Oklahoma to Mount Pleasant to attend the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
    It rained quite a bit that year, but Dad loved every minute he was on the grounds when it quit raining. Debbie and I bought him the video of the show that year for a Christmas present. He and Roger were watching it one night and the two discovered my dad walking through the log cabin at the 1856 Log Village. He always treasured that.
    This past weekend, my Iowa family enjoyed our annual trek to the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. We have attended reunion as family every year since 2007.
    We had a great time camping, cooking on the grill, walking the grounds, visiting the vendors booths, enjoying the music, riding the steam train and electric trolley and checking out the sights, sounds and demonstrations of life back in the day. I love antiquing and Old Threshers features two buildings of antiques. Add in antiques on the square in Mount Pleasant and I’m doing good.
     And the food! It’s old-fashioned and it’s good. My favorite is the chicken dinner at the Methodist tent. When I first attended the reunion in 1999, the food vendors were in tents with sawdust floors on the north edge of the grounds. Nowadays, they have modern kitchens under a large metal building with seating for hundreds.
    I also collect Old Thresher Buttons and attend the button collector’s forum on Sunday morning in the Colfax School on the north edge of the campgrounds. There is always something to learn and when funds permit, I pick up one of the older buttons from the 1950s. I still need a few more to make my collection complete.
    I love my family and I’m glad they enjoy the Midwest Old Threshers as much as I do. 
I hope you had a good time with your family on Labor Day. And if you get chance, make the trek to Mount Pleasant and attend the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion some year. You’ll love it and want to go back again.
Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.

    Not only is Debbie my wife, she is also my organizer, alarm clock, dirty sock picker upper and much more. She’s also my PR agent.
    Let me explain.
   Our oldest nephew, Gavin, was one of three Iowa graduating seniors to receive the Gov. Terry E. Branstad Iowa State Fair Scholarship in a brief ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 14 at the Bill and Anne Riley Stage at the Iowa State Fair.
   In hopes of securing a good location to take photos, I arrived a bit earlier than Debbie and rest of the family only to discover the place was packed. The ceremony was held prior to the crowning of the Iowa State Fair Queen and people were everywhere.
   You know how people are at these type of event – they save seats - lots of seats for family and friends.
I found a seat about halfway back on the west side of the stage. From that vantage point, I would have been lucky to see Gavin, let alone take his picture.
   After a bit, I decided to explore my options for a better photo of the scholarship presentation. That led me over to the east side of stage where Gavin and the other two scholarship recipients were. Gov. Branstad, Bill Riley Jr. and other dignitaries were also present.
   Here comes Debbie. She walks right up on the east side of the Riley stage and speaks with lady from Iowa College Aid, the organization that handles the funding of the Branstad scholarship. She told her that I am a journalist and that I would like to get a photo of Gavin and the former governor. Just like that, I’m standing next to the former governor and I’m taking a photo of him and Gavin holding the certificate prior to the actual event.
    I went from “I can’t see,” to being right in the middle of the action.
Debbie then directed me to a row of wooden chairs in front of the stage for the fair queen judges. I found a seat and was able to take some great photos.
   “I got you right up there,” Debbie said to me after the presentation.
   “You sure did,” I replied. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
   Debbie is a state fair junkie. She’s probably walked every inch of that fairgrounds. She’s spent hours there with her friends, her family and now with me.
   She knows the shortcuts and she knows her way around. She understands the campground and the tradition of families, like hers, who have camped at the fair for many years. I’ve listened to many stories of trips to the fair and I welcome them every year.
    She’s witnessed the many changes to the fair through the years – some she likes and some she doesn’t.
Now that we are married, camping and attending the state fair is part of our lives together. There is always something to do and see at the state fair. There’s people watching and people to visit with and benches to rest a spell and take a quick nap. Our nephews show livestock, so there are shows to watch.
   The first building we stop at on the first day of the fair is Pioneer Hall. I enter antiques and this year I entered 10 items. I earned four ribbons, including a first place ribbon and rosette for my Will Rogers Clock from the 1940s. It’s a neat clock. I first saw it on American Pickers and later was able to purchase one from a seller in Ohio through Ebay.
    I earned a fourth-place ribbon for a Wizard of Oz peanut butter tin, and a third-place ribbon for a lady’s hat that I found in my mother’s things from my parent’s estate. I can’t imagine my mother wore that hat, maybe her mother did. And I picked up a second-place ribbon for my patriotic postcards that I recently purchased on Ebay. I try to enter different postcards each year. My goal next year is to focus on agriculture-related postcards of tractors and farming equipment.
    Anyway, on the last Saturday of the fair, we stopped at the state fair museums. As we milled about one of the museums, a couple and their daughter stopped to visit. 
   The gentleman shared a story about his mother, one of 14 children, saying some of the items in the museum were like things she used growing up. I shared a story about my mom using the metal top from an antique kitchen pantry, like the one they have on display at the museum, that she found at their farm to put out a fire that had gotten out of hand. I shared about meeting Debbie at the fair and about our books and such.
    It was a nice time of reminiscing and reliving memories of days gone by. I always enjoy meeting and visiting with people. I wished I had written down their names. I hope to meet them again at the fair.
​    In this crazy-busy world, it’s nice to take a break from work and the cares of life and enjoy some time at the Iowa State Fair.
    Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.