Grasshopper Guest House

July 11 I traveled to LeClaire, Iowa and spent the weekend.  LeClaire is located on the Mississippi River in central Iowa.  I chose to visit because the town is doing some things right, and I wanted to find out what was working for them.  I love to find unique places to stay when I go…

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Every Stone on the Road Precious to Me

Stanley Kunitz lived to be 100 years old and wrote many poems.  According to Poets.org: His honors include the Bollingen Prize, a Ford Foundation grant, a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship, Harvard’s Centennial Medal, the Levinson Prize, the Harriet Monroe Poetry Award, a senior fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Medal of the Arts,…

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January, where have you gone?

It’s been a whirlwind of a month to kick off 2014! Here’s a few things we’ve been doing at Debworks. I got interviewed on the Money for Lunch program and you can hear what I have to say about 23 minutes into the recording here:  Deb Talks About Small Towns  My friend Jon Swanson wrote…

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The Tour Update

December 2013 Update In April of 2013 we gave a tour of 12 buildings in Webster City.  People picked up a map, and went around and visited the locations.  These 12 buildings were either for sale or for rent and our goal was to get some attention.  We wanted people to talk, to dream, to…

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A Well Rounded Life

What does it mean to have a well rounded life?  Well rounded is defined as full, varied and satisfying. Don’t you first think of a way to make a living?  What kind of job can you do that brings you joy, pays the bills and doesn’t take up all your time?  Well, there is no…

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Becky and Deb, Left Alone

A couple of weeks ago Becky McCray, www.beckymccray.com, came to Webster City.  Becky lives in Oklahoma, is a small town enthusiast and expert, and was on her way home from a speaking engagement in Canada.  It made perfect sense to us that she should stop in Webster City, Iowa on her way.  Becky and I…

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Expect the Unexpected

Where are you traveling?  Have you explored your local county first?  It’s a question I ask a lot – there are so many exciting things to see and do here in Hamilton County and I’m just getting started.  The problem for a lot of Chamber and Tourism organizations is where do we begin when we…

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Times they are a-changin’

Bob Dylan starts that song off singing Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown I’ve had the great pleasure to first volunteer at the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and then work as communications director.  I’ve met many fine people in the community, enjoyed various…

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Cruising 101: Part Two

Yesterday guest blogger Mel Mayberry shared Part One of Cruising 101.  Today we bring you Part Two. Ports of Call: Our ports were Grand Cayman and Cozumel. No need to worry about finding your way around. The ports are used to tourists and ships, and are happily ready to accommodate the happy vacationers.  On Grand…

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Cruising 101: Part One

Mel Mayberry is a guest blogger here and she just returned from a cruise.  Having never been on a cruise (me either) she shares with us her advice for cruising.  Today is Part One, tomorrow is Part Two.  Thanks Mel!  Taking a cruise had been a long-time desire for this girl who suffers from wanderlust…

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