Iowa and Corn Make Me Happy
Its funny how when I lived here this place wasn’t ‘cool’. Granted, its come a long way since I was here (we have a Banana Republic now) but I love Iowa City. If you are ever driving through Iowa on I-80 I highly recommend you stop. There is so much to do here, and the library….Im fairly confident its got to be one of, if not *the* best in the country.
Its relaxing and peaceful and has a certain charm to it that I just love. Before we left Okinawa my brother was looking out at the ocean and was sort of dumbfounded at the beautiful view of the ocean we get to see every single day. “You live on an island….you get to see this every day.” Yep, we do, and it is beautiful. I never thought I’d say this- but so is Iowa. There is something simple and humble about the the rows and rows of corn, red barns and plain white farmhouses. Laundry drying on a clothes line. Gardens. Tractors. I like it.
When I got here my mom told me that one of my favorite houses, near downtown was for sale. Many of the homes near downtown were built in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. They are beautiful. Many of them have original everything (which can be good or bad). Many of them have carriage houses (meaning- real carriage houses where you kept your horse and buggy). So as she was telling me my favorite house was for sale my ears perked up….until she told me “and its sold!” For a brief moment I was thinking another piece of real estate might not be too bad.
My parents happened to run into their friend who happened to be the buyers agent on this house so we got to go see it- with both the sellers and buyer present (yes- it was as awkward as it sounds. “Hi, I’ve always loved this house- mind if I poke around?”) But, it was beautiful- dark wood inside, footed bathtubs, secret ‘back stairs’, and a beautifully upgraded gourmet kitchen.
I was a bit floored when I found out it sold for over $400k. Jebus-we’re starting to get into Boulder priced real-estate here. Our house hunting was cut short when both kids started falling apart a bit (it was 8pm) and I discovered a tick in Nathan’s hair (swell).
Today, I’ve got day 3 of kick my ass back into shape and a drive to Kalona. Tomorrow- the Farmer’s Market (first one I’ve made it to). This should be good.
Filed under: Iowa and Corn Make Me Happy
Subscribe to the 
Leave a
Sounds nice. You just made me want to go to Iowa. : )
1 Vivian said this (July 17, 2009 at 2:43 pm)
Ah…Iowa. I’m from Indiana, and yes, I get so nostalgic every time we drive “home” and the cornfields start coming into view. There is corn here in NY, but…it’s just not the same, ya know? (And I can’t help but get misty-eyed every time I hear a John Mellencamp song!)
Anyway, I’ve had various relatives who’ve lived in Des Moines for various stages of my life. I’ve been to Des Moines a lot (but not since 1992!). I LOVED Des Moines. I even loved the drive to Des Moines. Yup. Good part of the country.
2 Carrie said this (July 17, 2009 at 6:02 pm)
I can totally identify because that’s the way I feel about my Kansas. Not all of Kansas, natch, but MY Kansas. Sometimes it just takes a little separation to make you realize how much you love it.
3 Steph said this (July 19, 2009 at 2:55 am)
OMG! My brother and his fiance JUST MOVED THERE LAST WEEK! (From Texas)…I hope they come to love it!
P.S. Can you email me at flapyap@blogspot.com? Or, do I already have your email? I can’t remember!
4 Katie (The Yap) said this (July 23, 2009 at 1:19 am)