Villages of Van Buren Saved From Havoc – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I saved the Villages of Van Buren County from havoc, and I did it while…
Curt Swarm
Strange Summer- Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I couldn’t believe it. I’d been watching some young “punkins” growing on the vine in…
Squirrels and Thistles – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Surrounded by corn, soybeans, and pasture, our two-and-a-half acre Empty Nest Farm was devoid of…
Derecho Scarecrow – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Part of our garden this year is doing spectacularly, part of it isn’t. The peaches-and-cream…
World Premiere Play in Mt. Pleasant – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
No fooling. A world premier play is going to be performed in Mt. Pleasant and…
Yellowstone – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
As we pulled out onto the highway for our week-long vacation at Yellowstone National Park,…
Woman’s Pet Chicken Missing – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Anna Banana where are you? A sign in the shape of a chicken in the…
Betty Kilbourn: Resident of Henry County for 100 Years – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
She doesn’t look a day over 80, but Betty Kilbourn, a resident of the Van…
Messerli’s mess of ties- Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ralph Messerli of Fairfield hates ties. But being a high school principal, guidance counselor, coach…
Whatchamacallits become art – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I have a number of these whatchamacallits. I make sculptures out of them. I weld…
Hat and bibs for Garden ’21 – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I didn’t get the garden in until Wednesday, May 12, this year, Hump Day. (Am…
Lessons of a locked pantry door – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
You know you’ve been in the insurance business a long time when you go to…
Skin cancer – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Sunburn used to be the badge of courage. As kids, we’d get so sunburned detasseling…
88-year-old finds her 98-year-old country school teacher – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Eighty-eight-year-old Elna Greenfield of rural Birmingham in Van Buren County had heard that the country-school…
Is Henbit Cause for Menfit? – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Romping through a field of clover, the maiden laid down on the hillside and breathed…
Anne Frank pen pal story in Danville – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The little brown sign on Highway 34 is easy to miss, just like the significance…
Author meet-and-greet April 24 – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
It is with great pleasure I announce a book signing and “Meet the Author” for…
Uncanny Kansas – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I’m in a mad dash across Kansas on I-70. My brother in Canon City, Colorado,…
Farmer, Doctor, Glass Blower – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Entering Iowa from the south on Highway 81 out of Missouri, the first road sign…
Binge shows get four stars – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ginnie and I have seen some great movies lately right in the comfort of our…
Locomotive gets new wheels – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
A day in the life of a writer: I was going to meet another writer…
Copper’s the right stuff – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I’ve espoused the benefits of copper before. I completely cured the pain in my left…
Stewart Acres puts Flag on barn roof – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Randy Stewart and his son, Austin, had a brain storm one day. They are patriotic…
Where Were You When… Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
There have been three major “Where were you whens…” in my life. I was born…
Saga of My Kitten – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I’ve always believed in God. It’s the way I was raised. Oh, there have been…
Curt’s Nerd Word List – Empty Nest
Being a writer with my little ole undergraduate Degree in English from Iowa State, I…
Weight goal achieved – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I finally did it! I hit the 180 lb goal I’ve been chasing for a…
Mistaken Identity – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I used to go on long runs on Sunday mornings. This was when we lived…
Mike Nelson: runner extraordinaire – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
A lot of runners, myself included, are happy if they place in their age group….
Fate lends Stormy a hand – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Thursday, December 31, New Year’s Eve Day: The Vintage Raven in Mt. Pleasant posted on…
FEAR: Flight, Fight or Fetal – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
What would you do if FEAR was eliminated from your life? If it weren’t for…
“Superman in a Business Suit” – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
During a blizzard in the late 70’s a city worker in Mt. Pleasant was driving…
Retired nurse pens first novel – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Every once-in-a-while a writer comes along who stands head and shoulders above the rest. This…
Griswolds completing tour of national parks – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Lori and Roger Griswold were hiking along. They saw a man coming toward them over…
Murray may be fastest cop in U.S. – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
On a summer afternoon you might see a 49-year old man running through the streets…
Around the Bible in 90 days – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
It’s just 12 pages a day for 90 days. Anyone can read 12 pages a…
He hates ‘mieces’ to pieces – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I was welding away on the last sculpture for my art show in Fort Madison….
FMAAA November exhibit to help finalize roof fundraiser
BY BRIAN RIGGSFort Madison Area Arts Association FORT MADISON – Fort Madison Area Arts Association…
Shingles Part II now playing at Empty Nest – by Curt Swarm
I had the shingles 10 years ago, plus the shingles’ vaccination. I should be good…
Swarm work to benefit FMAAA
Okay, folks, here’s your chance to get some genuine Curt Swarm junk, I mean art….
Chestnut Anniversary and Empty Nest Half Marathon
Jane and Mark McConeghey of Monroe, Iowa have always been innovative farmers, caring for their…
From Jerry’s to Caseys – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Dr. Seuss It’s the people she…
From West Point to West Burlington – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Noble, friendly, protector, dog rescuer, ready smile, popular, motivated, giving, outgoing, receptive to feedback, empathetic,…
160 plows on 160 acres in Bloomfield – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Northeast of Bloomfield or Southeast of Floris is what might be considered an outdoor museum…
Iowa’s small barns disappearing – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
You may have noticed the big, beautiful, red barn beside the highway. It’s just west…
Birthday ends in trip to Wall Street – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
On August 27, the night before Ginnie’s birthday, the moon and Mars lined up side-by-side,…
Teacher sheds locks for cancer patients – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
“Nurtured and pampered by parents who didn’t want to make the mistakes of the previous…
“The Virus” is very real to area woman – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Families gotta start back getting together for Sunday dinner and family reunions…not just funerals. –…
Unexpected gift yields good news – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Except when I was 13 and got a Winchester single shot, .22 rifle, this may…
Chaneys revive natural prairie by Skunk – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Dog park, grooming, boarding, training, world class Yorkies, pigeons for dog training, wildlife habitat and…