Baker's heartbeat

This is the Village Inn that used to be open in downtown Bettendorf.        It just does not make sense: Why on earth do Village Inn restaurants in the Quad-Cities close?     Drive by the Village Inn near St. Ambrose University in Davenport and it is almost always packed. That's the same at the Village Inn near Target, in northern Davenport.     But the one in downtown Bettendorf, where I used to regularly go? Nope, it closed a few years ago.     Let's talk about the Bettendorf downtown location:  It was an easy place to meet friends, many of whom worked downtown in either Bettendorf or Davenport.     It was also simple to meet with Illinois-side folks, who could simply cross Mississippi River and be on site in minutes.     There were long-term waitresses at this location and they were very good at the job. It also could accommodate groups of people easily.     Combine the service, with great ...

Todd Gehrls of Donahue, Iowa, was the general  contractor on our recent home improvement project.        The process of renovating several baths while you live in a home can be tricky. It also provides a challenge and is fun, not to mention rewarding.      The most important step is to hire a  nice, talented general  contractor. The person we found was Todd Gehrls. Gehrls is a busy guy but once he got to our house he was Johnny-on-the-spot,  arriving at the appointed hour and working hard throughout the days involved.     The rural Donahue, Iowa, resident works steadily in this part of Iowa. We are happy he agreed to tackle small projects like three dated baths in our house.       He is one valuable contractor.     We started the renovation process in December, 2021, with a visit from one of the subcontractors. The KBD designer measured cabinets and took notes.     The project got go...

This is the mobile music set-up I use, almost daily!      The  computer company, Apple, sadly phased out the iPod last May.     I've had a small iPod for many years and it's a consistent source of joy.     This music enthusiast loaded the iPod about seven or eight years ago. In those days I made several playlists to organize the downloaded music. These include: Beach mix, dcbBroadway,  dcbMix, dcbBlues, dcbParty, dcbWorkout, NewdcbSongs and a country music playlist that my daughter made for her Dad.     I have loved music -- as well as live music -- ever since I can remember.       A famous moment in life was in the early 1960's when I was four years old. My parents took the Cox family to a live performance of the Minnesota Orchestra performing along Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. I was so interested in the stage, I ditched my family and made my way up to the conductor!    "Who's little girl are you?...

  An Iowa sunset last autumn.      One of the first things we sixth-graders learned in Iowa history class was that the name, "Iowa" means "beautiful land" in the Native American language.     That's true, according to " Our Iowa Heritage ."     I think about this phrase because the beauty of one's state is certainly in the eyes of the beholder.     I was born and partly raised in Minnesota, which surely is a  beautiful state with all its lakes, waterfalls and natural areas. Other states we've traveled are very pretty as well: Mississippi, for example, has lots of trees and an obvious logging business. Florida has its beaches. There's also Wisconsin and Michigan.      My sister lives in Bozeman, Montana, and that has stunning views of the Rocky Mountains.  Montana has to be one of the more spectacular states in the nation, with Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park and more. Residents there are perhaps ...

There I am, in my Iowa State gear, after a 5K event in Bettendorf.      Some 10,000 Americans turn 65 years old every day and I have joined the crowd.       The youngest child of Emery and Barbara Cox, I was born on Dec. 12, 1957 at St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. My siblings are Cathleen, Emery III, Mary Barbara and Brigid.  All four were important in my upbringing.     I guess I'm writing this blog because I try very hard to live a healthy and happy life. This is supported by my husband of almost 35 years, Steve, and a wonderful blended family.     My life hasn't always been rosy, of course, but it's gotten appreciably better as I age. These days, I enjoy running, as many readers know, as well as a host of other passions. Interests include learning something new every day, keeping a clean and decorated house and yard, gardening, feeding birds, watching movies, scrapbooking, traveling and reading,...

       Daughter Kirstin, at left, used to wear a WWJD bracelet.  These days she is mother to Myla, age 3, pictured,  and twin daughters.      A 1990s movement that started in Michigan came to mind recently: WWJD?     That's "What Would Jesus Do?" and it was a phrase taught to religious teens as they considered what could be life-changing decisions.     It occurs to me that the phrase also works for any number of people.     Consider the Golden Rule ("Treat Others as You Would Like to Be Treated Yourself,"). It pays to carefully consider how one interacts with other people.      That seems especially important in these charged times.     The WWJD message originally spread among Christian youths but it is surely applicable to people of all faiths.       W e embraced the phrase several years ago. As an example, it was popular with those of us who taught at St. Ann's Catholic C...

The entrance to an Election Day voting site in McCausland, Iowa.      November 8 is Election Day in the United States and, one might argue, one of the most important days of the year.     Midterm elections -- such as in 2022 -- cause a yawn in some quarters. But democracy operates according to the results.     Civic duty? You bet!     The right to vote has expanded over the centuries. The National Geographic Society notes the process of voting is included in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution. The society's report is a civics lesson published online.     The first voters in the new United States were essentially land-owning white men. They were the "popular vote"  which elected men to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.       The president is actually chosen by the Electoral College.     The House races are every two years while a Senate term is six years. Presidents are chosen every fou...