When snow falls, nature listens. We should, too.
The start of winter is officially marked by the winter solstice — the day of the year with the fewest hours of daylight. For this year, the date is Dec. 21. But, for most of us, the winter season starts much earlier. If you are like me, you tend to side more with the meteorological definition of winter’s beginning, which is Dec. 1 — just a few weeks away.
About this time of year, we begin to wonder when the first measurable snowfall will happen. If we only had Granny’s weather beetle to guide us. Meanwhile, we watch as winter creeps in. If we look and listen closely, it is actually quite remarkable and beautiful.
With the whipping winds of late, the nearly naked trees are now shivering, exposing the squirrel’s nests and their death-defying construction.
The farm fields that were full of vibrant green crops just weeks ago are now barren, ready to settle in and rest for a few months.
The ladybugs and their smelly cousins have all but disappeared, and not soon enough.
The humming sound of lawnmowers has been replaced by the pulling noise of snowblowers by the anxious planners who are beginning to see if theirs will actually start.
Mittens and stocking hats, which have been tucked away since March, are being dug out of baskets and drawers.
Allergy sufferers are rejoicing as they stow away the pills, the eyedrops and the nasal spray for a few months.
The scents of pumpkin and cinnamon will soon be replaced by the familiar smells of peppermint and evergreen.
And, if we get out of the city and listen closely to the sounds of nature, we can hear the mating calls from the foxes and watch the starlings gather together for warmth.
I realize many of you seasoned citizens prefer to head to warmer locales for the winter, but I am one of the oddballs who actually looks forward to the cool temperatures, the falling snow and the silence of the season. See you soon, winter.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com |
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FROM KCCI: West Des Moines man spots bobcat family on deck. WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — A man in West Des Moines was greeted Tuesday by a bit of a surprise outside his door. Mike Dobson says a group of bobcats and their cubs were hanging out on his deck. He sent a video of the furry visitors to KCCI. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Iowa wife who put eyedrops in husband’s drink receives 5 year max prison sentence. MARION COUNTY, Iowa — A Pleasantville woman who spiked her husband’s drink with eyedrops was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI-DT: Multiple counties fail to pass essential emergency medical services vote. The tax levy in each county would have raised property taxes between $60-75 per $100,000 of taxable property value. ...READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
Rain chances move in on a breezy day today, but we return to mild conditions after that, lasting into the weekend.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Read the latest CITYVIEW | | | BUSINESS FEATURE
Dressing for the job
By Gunner Onkst
Work uniforms today come in a variety of fabrics and designs to meet the needs of an array of careers. From executives in suits to restaurant servers and bank employees in monogrammed polos, to police, mechanics, nurses, utility workers and so many others in their professions’ attire, what one wears often attests to what one does at work. And when it comes to designs, employers want a professional look that reflects well on their company. For many employees, however, comfort is just as important.
... | | | READ MORE |
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Woebegone Wednesday
No novelist has ever written about food better than Charles Dickens and James Joyce. That is the opinion of the great Irish writer and gourmet Anthony Burgess. So, Django's Derek Eidson and George Formaro have created the ultimate woebegone memorial: a Charles Dickens Christmas dinner for Sunday, Dec. 8. All dishes are from Dickens’ time, some recipes from his family. Starters include apple cakes, brown butter chestnuts, sugar plums, brawn, scalloped oysters, mince pies, Scotch eggs, and Stilton Welsh rarebit with walnut ketchup. Following courses are: sunchoke soup; cod with oyster sauce served with cauliflower cheese; sweetbreads with peas and truffles served with winking onions; quenelles of chicken with spinach served with bread sauce; roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with gravy and served with beef fat potatoes; and twelfth night cake with a prize for whoever finds the bean. From 5 o’clock in the Reinhardt Room (1430 Locust St., Des Moines). $125 plus tax, includes gratuity. This will likely sell out.
There were 1,451 American breweries in late 19th century America. Then lager, a new thing two turns of a century ago, was created in Milwaukee by Pabst founder Jacob Best and Schlitz founder August Krug. After they died, their lagers wiped out a thousand other breweries that could not compete with lager's longer shelf life and the wider distribution that made possible. In 2015, America's brewery tally finally totaled 1,451 again, with low start up costs swinging the bar doors wide open to craft brewers.
Wednesday deals
• Wednesday at Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University Ave., West Des Moines) features fried walleye, fries and mignonette for $19.99.
• Kwik Stars offer their excellent fried chicken on Wednesdays for $9.99 for eight bone-in pieces.
• Basic Bird (2607 Beaver Ave., Des Moines) has $1 wings on Wednesdays.
• Wendy's offers free nuggets (six) with a purchase on Wednesdays.
• Wednesday is Chicago Italian roast beef sandwich day at Graziano Brothers (1601 S. Union St., Des Moines) $10.
• Marianna's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) has Taco Wednesday and Thursday because they are closed on Tuesday.
• Red Lobster (3838 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines) offers steak and lobster tail with a side for $25 on Wednesday.
• Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ (403 Iowa Ave., Luther) serves fabulous brisket burnt ends as a Wednesday special.
• Wednesdays bring live jazz and discounted food and drink to Panka Peruvian Restaurant (2708 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines).
• Specialty pizza are discounted $3-5 on Wednesdays at Scornovacca's.
• Price Chopper delis have $6 meat loaf dinners today with two sides and a dinner roll.
• Opa! (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has all night happy hour and $14.99 any steak on the menu on Wednesdays.
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has large snow crab clusters on sale for $5.99/pound through Tuesday.
• Curbin' Cuisine (1325 Oralabor, Ankeny) has $7 gyros all day every Wednesday.
• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) has all-you-can-eat fried chicken on Wednesdays.
• Urban Grill (3651 86th St., Urbandale) has half-priced wine all day Wednesdays.
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) is having a one-day sale on butterflied lamb legs at $9.99/pound, from 10 a.m. till sold out.
• It’s Icelandic Night — cod, haddock and char — at Waterfront.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Contractor
1. Amazed Construction Services
2. Recon Roofing & Construction
3. Superstorm Restoration
Cast your votes in the 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll now! Open until Nov. 22. Results to be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW. |
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| Featured home for sale | | | |
$719,900 17950 Tanglewood Drive Clive, IA 50325
Stunning home from Heartland Custom Homes of Iowa. Modern mountain lodge feel to this home in the Shadow Creek neighborhood in the Waukee school district. Beautiful finishes for this home that has a super functional layout. Huge kitchen with oversized island and a massive vaulted ceiling through the living room. Huge master suite with large walk in closet. ...
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 1064 22ND ST., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-07-22
SALE PRICE: $163,500
SELLER: NEW LIFE CENTER
BUYER: INVEST DSM INC
ACRES: 0.372
SQUARE FEET: 3,391 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Clive Living magazine | | | Vallier family enjoys home with character
Backyard features pond, pergola and outdoor kitchen.
By Jackie Wilson
When Ben and Laura Vallier moved from Missouri to Clive for Ben’s job, it was their first time living in Iowa. They were in search of a home with character and found the perfect home for the them and their three daughters.
Once they viewed the home and peeked outside at the backyard, they quickly fell in love. The previous owners had put in a koi pond with a waterfall and numerous trees. A backyard kitchen pergola includes outdoor seating and a kitchen with a fireplace. A large screen television for movie nights is a favorite spot on warm evenings
“We don’t know what to call it. It was like something you might find in a park,” Laura says. ... | | | READ MORE |
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FROM ESPN: USC fined, put on probation for 2022, 2023 coaching violations ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: College Football Bowl Projections After Week 11 ... READ MORE
FROM CBS Sports: Jake Paul plans to call out Canelo Alvarez after Mike Tyson fight: 'It makes so much sense' ... READ MORE |
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1982: Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated. Near the end of a weeklong national salute to Americans who served in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. after a march to its site by thousands of veterans of the conflict. The long-awaited memorial was a simple V-shaped black-granite wall inscribed with the names of the 57,939 Americans who died in the conflict, arranged in order of death, not rank, as was common in other memorials. … READ MORE
1985: Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupts in Colombia, burying more than 23,000. On the evening of Nov. 13, 1985, around 9 p.m., the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia violently erupts. Within two to three hours, a fast-moving flow of mud, ice, rocks and lava called a lahar travels more than 60 miles, burying towns. It would kill more than 23,000 people, injure upward of 5,000 and destroy more than 5,000 homes. Hardest hit was the town of Armero, where three quarters of the 28,700 inhabitants died. … READ MORE
1974: The Amityville murders. On the tragic evening of Nov. 13, 1974, a young man shoots and kills his entire family with a 35-caliber Marlin rifle as his parents, two brothers and two sisters apparently sleep. The gruesome murder of the DeFeo family shakes up the sleepy Long Island town of Amityville — and leads to decades of horror storytelling. … READ MORE
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| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy Birthday Kathy Summy!
These celebrities were born on this date: Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Gerard Butler, Devon Bostick, Monique Coleman, Nikolai Fraiture, Jordan Bridges, Neil Flynn, Walter Kibby, Chris Noth, Neil Flynn
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle: What do you call an accordian that's possessed by a Native American ghost? POLKA-HAUNT-US! - Rex Post, Gail Tomlinson
Today's riddle: What do robot pine trees grow?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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Mary Fowler
Account Executive
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c: 641-485-0555
mary@dmcityview.com
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