July 5, 2004 Simple Serenity Farm Update

by Carla Offenburger

The past week was a fun one at Simple Serenity Farm.

My niece Carrie Jo Amsbaugh, who lives in Richmond, Virginia, visited us on Friday. She brought her boyfriend Scott Shippey, her mother (my sister) Tammie Amsbaugh from Des Moines, and her grandmother (my mother) Suesy Burt, also from Des Moines.

Carrie was excited to see what she has been following on our web page for the last nine months. And I don’t think she was disappointed. As the two of us were enjoying a quiet moment out on the porch with the cats, she said. “Carla, I really think this is neat. I don’t know if I could do it, but I’m glad you can.” We’ve heard that type of comment from a lot of folks. And I told Carrie – and this is true for all of you: “No problem, you can visit anytime.”

We had a picnic lunch on the porch before a big, quick rainstorm came through. Carrie loved seeing the wind and rain up close as it came from the northeast and passed through to the southwest. Chuck gave Carrie and Scott a full tour of the property and the barn. Scott had some good suggestions on the barn. He said we should put a new roof on it, and then make part of the ground floor a 3-car garage – for two cars and a tractor. He said the loft could be converted to whatever we wanted it to be.


Even the rainy days, like Saturday July 3 was, seem beautiful as we look out south from Simple Serenity Farm.

For right now, and some time to come, the barn is simply going to be a large storage area on the northeast corner of our property. It’s a long way from being anything else. Especially when we’ve recently heard that just a steel roof for a barn can start at $7,000.

Our farm cats – or as I’m calling them, our cats-on-holiday – are making themselves right at home, acting almost pampered, even though all we’re doing is feeding them, giving them shelter in the garage or barn (their choice) and allowing them to snooze on the porch. I never imagined that these cats would be so friendly. Aren’t farm cats supposed to be aloof and a bit wild? Ours are really three pussycats, at least to us. The mice must think differently, because they’ve sure become scarce.

I’m happy to report that our old dog Ginger is being friendly toward the cats now, too. Oh, they aren’t sleeping on the porch together, but they can all be on the porch at the same time and ignore each other. Now, that’s some real progress.

Our well driller Gene Hicks and his crew were back to do additional treatment on our new deep well, getting the level of essentially harmless coliform bacteria lowered so our water is drinkable. We should have lab results confirming that by the middle of this week. While they were here, they also filled two old, shallow cistern wells and capped them. There is governmental grant money to help fill old wells, for which we are grateful. By late in the week, we had to summon the Hicks crew back again – the pump had an electronic malfunction which required a replacement part – and we began to fear that Gene and his men are probably beginning to think of us not as “the customers from Cooper” but rather “the customers from hell.”

So, anyway, I went upstairs to enjoy my first long, leisurely, hot bath while enjoying the window view from my tub of the neighboring town of Cooper. I just started to relax when Chuck started yelling from downstairs that water was dripping from the door and window moldings directly below the tub. There was no real damage, but it meant plumber Derek Teeples made another trip to our farm. He tightened some of the tub fixtures, did some additional caulking and advised me not to fill the tub above the stopper control lever – which also acts as an overflow vent.

Our water problems are surely about over. Surely.

We now have a few new financial challenges, too.

The “bridge loan” that Home State Bank in Jefferson so generously gave us last September came due on July 1, and since our house in Storm Lake hasn’t sold yet, we had to pay the interest due, and get the loan extended for a few months. We also started making two mortgage payments on July 1. Many of you know what that’s like, but let me tell those of you who don’t: “It hurts!”

Our ever-growing “to buy” list just went on lockdown.

I told Chuck several times this past week that these finances have me in a fragile state. He’s familiar with this type of language from me, as I often warn him of my distress by using the term “fragile” with whatever fits the woe of the moment – “physically,” “emotionally,” “mentally,” now “financially.”

By the end of the week, I told him that we are financially fragile. Our savings account has never been so low, and our credit cards so high. We have more bank accounts in more towns than we’ve ever had before, and none have any money in them. Chuck thinks this is a bit humorous, and that is a good indication of why I make most of the financial decisions in our home.

I realize much of this is temporary, that “this too shall pass,” as we say around our house. But, for someone who likes to think she is extremely practical and, for the most part, fiscally responsible, this fragile financial condition is enough to drive me crazy. Wow – I’ve never seen money go so quickly! I continually remind myself that we are fortunate we’ve had the resources, albeit not always the most fiscally responsible ones, to do all we’ve had to do in the last 30 days.

It is at times like this that I appreciate a saying I keep posted above my computer’s screen. It is from a church bulletin from Plymouth Congregational, in Des Moines, from who knows how long ago. It reads, “Calm our anxiety over the needs of this life, that as we have freely received, we may freely give. Amen.”

I also find it extremely peculiar that I’ve re-read my yearly mammogram report several times this week. The sentence that reads, “Your mammogram was normal,” seems extremely comforting to me. At least I’m physically healthy, I have sighed repeatedly. Is that bizarre or what?

Since we’ve idled the “to buy” list, I decided to make a long list of everything we want to do around Simple Serenity Farm that is “free.” I was amazed at how long that list is.

For example, there’s a lot of trim painting to do, a porch to paint, a garden to weed, an upside-down garden shed to tear down and re-build, weeds to kill, branches to trim, a dead tree to cut apart, and there’s a fabulous bike trail up the road. We already have all the resources to do these things, so I told Chuck we were going to focus on them for a few weeks, or months – years, if necessary.


Here are the cats that in 1974 kept the mice pretty well under control at our farm. This 30-year-old photo is by John Keene, husband of Gayle Travis-Keene, one of the three Travis kids who grew up on the farm. The Keenes now live in Severna Park, Maryland. Note the outhouse in the rear. It's now long gone, but in this photo it is sitting just about where our new septic tank is buried. And, that nice-looking larger shed? You may remember reading in an Offenburgers' Farm Journal from this past spring, that a huge south wind gave the shed a double-roll off its foundation. We still haven't got it righted yet. Our plan now is to rebuild it as Carla's garden shed, using the same boards for its walls, but on a new frame and under a new roof.

I also told him I need to start focusing more on finding a job. I wish I had a better sense of how we could make everything come together and work for us. We have our Offenburger.com Tour business with two upcoming tours – and we still have room for you on them. We have “Our Iowa Store” that could be marketed and promoted better. And we have book projects “in the wings.” All of these could be self-sustaining for me someday. In the meantime, we need health insurance, and a better weekly cash flow.

I feel very fortunate that I’m capable – and willing– of doing a lot of different jobs. It makes me very opened minded about what kind of work would be satisfying for me. For example, anything outdoors is attractive to me; I enjoy working with people; physically I’m pretty strong; I know how computers, cash registers and other kinds of office machinery work, and I’m flexible as far as work schedule goes. I only want to be excited about the work I’m doing, and excited to go to the job site – which means the environment needs to be friendly. If I can find that in Jefferson, I’ll feel really fortunate. If not, I hope something is close enough that I don’t have to make a trek that has me in the car for an hour or more every day.

Until I have the job thing all sorted out, I’m going to try my hand at the Jefferson Farmers’ Market this week – probably offering more “Our Iowa Store” products than garden produce, at least at first. The market director gave me the okay to come join the fun that happens Tuesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. on the east lawn of the Greene County Courthouse. I think our “Too Good to be Jam” will be a big hit. Especially since so many vendors are selling homemade breads. And our Rada tomato knives are a must for anyone who is going to slice a homegrown tomato this summer. I’m hoping I can have some of our farm-grown lettuce bagged and ready for sale, and I know the garlic is close to being harvest-ready. Other produce from our big garden will be ready in the coming weeks. We’ll see how the whole process works. Regardless, I’m going to make the experience fun.


Here is Carla with the 2004 cats, now on their mousing mission. She is holding Tigger, while Freddie has her head in the food bowl and Dooby is out front.

On this 4th of July weekend, I’ve found myself missing Storm Lake, where this holiday is celebrated with the town’s biggest festival of the year. It includes a huge parade, an artists’ alley, an ice cream social, stage entertainment for all ages (this year and last including the popular group Tonic Sol-fa), and enough food vendors to feed over 20,000 people who attend.

Our home there at 211 College Avenue is 40 paces off the parade route, so hundreds of folks pass by on our sidewalk. Chuck and I continued a tradition that the previous owners, Julie and Pat Mooney, told us was a “requirement” – offering free cookies and lemonade to all those walking by on their way to the 4th of July parade. Some years I had to make dozens of dozens of cookies. Other years I begged for help from friends and family members, who were coming to visit and share the big celebration with us. Regardless, we had fun decorating the front yard and picket fence and welcoming all those who came our way. We kept the lemonade and cookies out long after the parade was over, so those returning to their parked cars could enjoy them throughout the day. And, believe me, plenty did!

Our house is so close to the public parks along the lakeshore that we were able to come and go in a very relaxed manner throughout the day. In fact, many knew that if necessary, the back door would lead right to an indoor restroom! It also meant that if it was hot, the air conditioning was a nice respite, and if it was raining, the backyard picnic could be quickly moved inside. And we always had a picnic with our good friends the Cullens, normally lasting well into the evening, and then everyone would head to Chautauqua Park for a fabulous fireworks show.

We entertained a lot of great friends and family over past 4th of July weekends. And I’m sure we’ll return to Storm Lake in years to come to celebrate the 4th with the whole community. But right now, I wish someone would see how much fun and how convenient living at 211 College could be – and that they’d buy our house! In the meantime, I’m guessing a lot of folks passed by yesterday on their way to the parade and missed us there – or more likely missed my cookies!

While Jefferson had a wonderful “Bell Tower Festival” in mid-June – which I wrote about then – it seemed odd to be in a community where we had a hard time finding out if there were fireworks on the 4th.

But the holiday ended up being a really fun one. We were invited to the home of Gene Blanshan and Susan Cosner on Lake Panorama, 18 miles south of us. Gene and Sue have been inviting friends to gather on the 4th for several years. I went alone as Chuck is still focusing on the book he is writing. Our Jefferson friends Rick and Kathy Morain let me follow them on the drive to Panorama, so that I could leave earlier than the rest, pick-up Chuck at the farm and see the fireworks display in one of the neighboring towns.

When I arrived I was surprised that I knew a few other folks there. We had a great boat ride around the lake, a fabulous potluck dinner and even entertainment! The entertainment is a tradition that the guests take a “Quiz” of some sort – created by one of the guests. This year, Rick Hunsaker, from Carroll, created a “Presidential Quiz,” especially appropriate for the 4th of July! It consisted of four parts – one with 21 general presidential questions, and then three sections requiring us to match up presidents and their wives, presidents and their residential estates, and presidents and their ailments.

You can imagine how entertaining taking the test was! With that small crowd of politically savvy people, it was amazing to see how much some of us didn’t know! But look at some of what Rick was asking us:

1. Which three presidents had adopted children?
2. Which president was married to Jane Appleton, and which to Hannah Hoes?
3. And which presidents had quinsy, throat cancer, and a bad knee and permanently bent finger?
4. And which president lived at Sherwood Forest, and which at Peacefield?

The quiz was far from easy – but indeed entertaining.

(The answers: 1. Reagan, Washington, Jackson. 2. Pierce, Van Buren. 3) Washington, Grant, Carter. 4) Tyler, John Adams.)

I left the fun just in time to get back to Simple Serenity Farm to pick up Chuck, the by-now bleary-eyed writer. Since we were still a bit unsure whether there would be fireworks in Jefferson, we headed south to the small town Yale, where we joined a big crowd for a great show. It turns out Yale has a day-long celebration, capped by what I’d call fireworks that surround you. Not only were the big volleys being fired from the ball field, with the crowd oohing and aahing, but it seemed like every kid and most of the adults jamming Yale were shooting their own fireworks. Chuck said it sounded a little like it must be in Baghdad, except it was all fun where we were right then.

On our way home, in the northern sky we could see the finale of fireworks that indeed were being launched in Jefferson, and the eastern sky was also flashing with fireworks, probably in Perry.

It had been a nice few minutes of Americana, with celebrations all around us.

Chuck and I talked about what the 4th of July in Storm Lake would have been like for us, and how our first 4th of July here was. And we are comfortable with the change. Now we know how the 4th of July can be done in Greene County, and next year we’ll be a bit more savvy and prepared. Perhaps then we’ll be invited back to Lake Panorama and I’ll make cookies!

So, what do you readers think of all this?

John Moore, outstanding Simpson College opera major from Milford, Iowa, who is performing this summer with the Des Moines Metro Opera: “I’m so happy to read up on the Offenburger farm project. I read every e-mail I get from you, and the place just looks great. I am so happy for the two of you and I know that you will grow old together in that wonderful farm house. Congratulations on the big move and I hope to see you both again soon. Thanks for keeping me on the list for the website. I’m so happy for both you and Carla on the success of the site and the continued restoration of that great house. I’m going to have to come out and let some notes fly in the big open space. I’m sure there are some great meals to come from that kitchen!”

Sue Burt, of Des Moines, Carla’s mother: “You know, that upside-down garden shed kind of grows on you.”

Rev. Jim O’Connor, our favorite monk at New Melleray Abbey, near Dubuque, after seeing photos and hearing about our 100-year-old Mormon peg barn: “A barn like that, it’s kind of like a relic.”

Rev. Art Seaman, a former Iowan now serving a Presbyterian church in Kittanning, Pennsylvania: “Dear Chuck, gee I miss Iowa, especially in the summer when sweet corn is about to come in. Mary and I are off to Italy for two weeks of Rome, Tuscany and Florence. I have brushed up on my Italian (I lived in Rome in the 1950s when I was in junior high) and will be seeing some childhood friends. Will send a report.” Dear Art, Carla and I are going to the Greene County Fair while you’re in Rome, Tuscany and Florence. We’ll eat sweet corn for you – and send you a report!

Tom Morain, Greene County native who is now a professor at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa: “Vikki and I drove past your house on our way back to Lamoni from a Jefferson visit. It’s so Iowa it would bring Grant Wood back out of his grave. When I was in seventh grade, Jefferson and Cooper consolidated and the Cooper building became the junior high school. Seventh and eighth graders were bussed to Cooper every day. I feel I know the Jeff-Cooper road pretty well. It would be hard to find better farmland. There were/are some neat families in the Cooper area.”

Robert Mobley, a high school administrator in Wichita Falls, Texas, who was a high school classmate of Chuck in Shenandoah: “I have really enjoyed reading and watching the progress on your ‘new home.’ Being in Texas for over 30 years has been a tremendous experience, but Iowa still is home. Keep up the good work with all of your business enterprises, but also with your country home.”

Mike Hlas, sports columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, to Chuck: “You squeeze a lot out of life, man. I admire that greatly.”

Send your comments to carla@Offenburger.com or chuck@Offenburger.com

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