October 17, 2009

I awaken at daybreak and peak through the curtains to see the  alley of the historic buildings that stand proudly on Main Street.  I make coffee (I brought from home), and eat a cookie Ricardo packed for me for breakfast.  I open the kitchen door to see the warmth of color and  the chill of autumn runs through me.  I look across at the buildings that surround my house and immediately realize their age.  They are mostly from the 1870's. I grab my coat and gloves, it was about 39 degrees.....and walk to the visitor center about three blocks away.  I meet two ranger and  I am given  volunteer uniform shirts, jacket, a fleece vest and cap.  The best gift was the brass VIP name tag.  I walk around the center, and realize want to do something to begin  my work here.  I travel on route 6 to buy groceries for the week and drive though cornfields and farms.  Iowa is very flat, similar to Florida.  Everyone is very polite ,but I find it amusing that  the  cashiers at thhe grocery store did not know directions to Herbert Hoover NHS, only two roads and about twenty miles away.

I snack on the groceries while putting things in place and  can't wait to explore my home for the next week.  I take a walk and see the cottage.  I am amazed at it's size , only about 240 square feet.  Some visitors arrive and the ranger gives a short tour which I enjoy.  I then walk to the Presidential Library and Museum.  The weather is cold and overcast.  The light flat, so i thought it best to just explore to find some places to paint.  I then walk the  tall grass prairie which I find to be my favorite place so far.  The grass is golden and there are many wonderful views of West Branch.

Late afternoon I take out my pastels and begin  to paint the cottage .  The light is bad.  It gets dark at about 6:00, not at all like Miami.