Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Free admission to area gardens for Fifth Annual National Public Gardens Day held annually on the Friday before Mother's Day.
Reiman Gardens is one of five in central Iowa that will participate in National Public Gardens Day Friday. Patrons will be admitted free and be able to participate in free educational programs at all participating gardens. The only catch is that people need to download a free voucher from Better Homes & Gardens at BHG.com. At Reiman Gardens, visitors will be able to view the “Iowa Naturally” sculpture exhibit participate in guided tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, and be offered a free seedling. Anyone who visits any of the five gardens including Reiman, will receive a garden passport that can be completed and turned in for prizes. People can have their passport stamped at the gardens between Mother's and Father's days. Those who…
Monday, June 18, 2012
It was completely random but we chose a winner in Patch's Father's Day upload contest. Was it your dad?
Several Patch readers uploaded photos of their dads last week but there could be only one winner. Sarah Lacey of Clive uploaded a photo of her husband David to Waukee Patch winning a $100 Visa gift card in the process. Lacey had this to say about the father of three in the comments, "I love watching my husband be a dad to our kids. He is always trying to think of ways to involve them and teach them. You can tell how great he is by the way they love him back." When reached by phone Sunday, Sarah Lacey said Father's Day had been pretty low key. The kids - twins Kiera and Maren, 6, and Graham, 4 - made their dad a special breakfast (waffles) and kept him busy building houses out of Legos and spending some quality play time together …
Sunday, June 17, 2012
There have been many TV dads over the years, but it seems everyone has an affinity for one (or maybe two). Who is your favorite?
Sometimes they were easier to love than the one you were born with. When your own dad grounded you because you took the varnish off the coffee table (it was an accident!) or when he showed up at the door cleaning his knife on prom night, did you not once think, "God, Danny Tanner wouldn't have done that." Oh, I did. Don't get me wrong, we love our dads but sometimes the fantasy of having one of television's "perfect" fathers was just too much too resist thinking about, especially when you were in a tight spot with your own. So, who was your favorite? Were you a fan of Mike Brady, or maybe Dan Conner? Maybe someone more "animated" like Homer Simpson was your ideal. Whomever it was, vote for your favorite in our informal poll. And if you …
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Patch helps pinpoint the perfect Father's Day gift on any budget with list of eight ideas.
Father's Day is right around the corner, next Sunday to be specific. But no worries, there's still time to find the right gift right here in Ames. Here's eight ideas: 1. If he's a baseball fan, get him some rookie cards, the ones with players from when he was a kid. You might try Main Street Sportscards. Look for the cards that have character. They might be a little rumpled, but they've still got all their facts and stats. If he tells you about the game way back then when that one athlete stole that one base -- listen. Or smile and nod. Whichever works. 2. If he's gaga about gadgets and heavy into health, poke through Bike World. Pick him up a watch that calculates heart rate, gives stock tips and does the dishes. If he never, ever gets …
An Iowa editor, born on a special day, offers some brutal honesty -- and a gift idea that won't cost sons a cent.
AND SO, Father's Day rolls around again, a day that has always held a special significance for me and for Tom Francis Richissin, my dad. My father died when I was 31. He was a pretty good father. He coached his sons in baseball, football and basketball. He was a police officer, an honest one, a man of integrity. He put food on the table and kept enough order in a chaotic house that my four brothers and I were expected to be home to eat supper together, as a family. He was, as they say, a good and decent man, and I loved him and I still do. But here is some brutal honesty: For the longest time, I felt my father and I shared precious little with each other. I shared none of my fears with him, none of my soul. It may sound harsh, but my …
Monday, June 11, 2012
Father's Day is this weekend. So, readers, tell us the best advice you've receive from dad.
The title of the article asks you, "What's the best advice your dad ever gave you?" One of the things I didn't learn from my dad, though, is how to follow instructions. So, I am going to start by not answering the question. My dad isn't big on instructions -- on advice. Instead, I can tell you something I learned from my dad: His work ethic. One of his early jobs was as a draftsman. This was before he had advanced schooling and while us kids were very young. Add your best advice or best lessons learned from your dad in the comment section below and add a picture of him in the photo gallery. I remember that he would head out the door with his hot black coffee while us kids were just stumbling out of bed. At night, he worked until late on …
Jody Gifford
9:30 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
This is what happens when you write late at night. Thanks for the catch, Galen. more ›