Tucked away behind the home of longtime Waukee resident Roger Schlaefer, is a three-acre habitat called Songbird Park.

Roger, a retired Lutheran minister, spends a healthy portion of his days tending the wildlife habitat that’s certified by The National Wildlife Federation. “I have no idea what I’m doing,” he jokes, although the beauty of his backyard refuge contradicts his modesty.

When the city of Waukee bought the pie-shaped piece of land 27 years ago, the plot was hard to use at the time, so they allowed Roger to tend to it. “When I started, you could see straight to the school,” Roger says. There were just three trees on the property, and the city provided the industrial mower to tend to it.

Now the park is abundant with trees, and birds flit in and out of birdhouses hanging from branches and tucked among the leaves. Flowers of all kinds bloom in beds scattered around the land. “It takes four or five hours to mow, and I have to do it at least once a week,” he explains.

All of his hard work pays off. Apple, peach, and pear trees grow close to the house, while Elm and Ash trees flank the back edge. Deer, rabbits, opossum, and all sorts of winged creatures are frequent visitors to the park. A couple of years ago, Roger even found a white-winged dove, a rarity in these parts, that stayed for a few days after a big storm. Visitors come to enjoy the peaceful scenery, or hunt for the three geocache spots in the area.

Songbird Park is located behind Roger’s residence at 1070 1st Place, in Waukee. Visitors can access the park by finding the concrete steps on the north side of the residence.

Read about more parks and trails in the Waukee area in our story “Parks & Recommendations”.

Even though February is technically the shortest month, sometimes it feels like we’ll never get to March. Winter is definitely here for a few more weeks, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay inside your house until the thermometer hits 60 degrees. The four food joints listed below are perfect havens for getting out of the cold to rest a while. Read on to find a new winter-weather hangout.

1. Cozy Café. This restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner with an eclectic menu that includes items ranging from omelets and blue-plate specials to spaghetti and meatballs made with Graziano sausage. The Waukee Cozy Café (one of eight locations in the Des Moines metro area) also offers specials on certain days of the week, like free pie on Wednesdays and all-you-can-eat fish on Fridays. The wide range of dishes combined with reasonable prices and an inviting atmosphere make this café a great option any day of the week.
2. Smokey Row. There’s often a line of cars in the drive-thru lane in the morning hours of operation at Smokey Row—and with good reason. The coffee is a local favorite, but the café also serves up breakfast items, soda fountain drinks, salads, sandwiches, and burgers to hungry customers. The interior of the Des Moines location (there are others located southeast of the metro) is spacious, with tall windows and wood floors. The counter is long and features soda-fountain-inspired stools on one end and a large pastry case full of goodies on the other. Whether you’re stopping in to grab a quick breakfast sandwich or settling into a booth to enjoy soup in a bread bowl, you’ll love the cheerful vibe at Smokey Row.
3. Waveland Café. This local breakfast giant has two locations—Des Moines and Booneville—so you can choose whether you’d like to have your pancakes in a small town or in the big city. Customers rave about the crispy hash browns and cinnamon French toast. In true Midwestern-diner-style, the décor is homey and the service is friendly. The Des Moines location has seen many politicians walk through its doors during campaign season, which adds a bit of historical weight to this casual breakfast joint.
4. Jethro’s BBQ ‘n Jambalaya. If you’re longing for some food that will remind you of a warmer climate during this bleak winter’s end, Jethro’s BBQ ‘n Jambalaya is the place for you. This is one of Jethro’s many locations in the Des Moines area, but it’s the only location with Creole and Cajun cuisine. The menu features Louisiana classics such as shrimp jambalaya, chicken and sausage gumbo, and red beans and rice. Jethro’s is essentially a sports bar that serves up barbecue, so you’ll be able to catch the game as you sit down for a meal. Also, due to the generous portion sizes, you’ll most likely be able to take some Cajun cuisine home with you as an added bonus.

So go on, get out of the house for a while! You’ll be glad to warm up in one of these cozy establishments.

Every year, as the fall leaves turn and the weather becomes cold and crisp, people start preparing themselves for the flu season. A recent Wall Street Journal article outlines the different methods of avoiding infection, from the common sense approaches of vaccinations and hand washing to the less-commonly-known activities that seem to reduce symptoms—like meditation and singing.

Still, the most effective way to prevent the disease, along with good hand washing habits, is to receive an influenza vaccination. And with the Iowa Department of Public Health’s announcement Tuesday confirming the first three cases of the flu in Iowa, now is a good time to consider getting your own flu shot if you haven’t already.

The flu vaccine comes in two forms: the age-old flu shot and the more recently developed nasal spray. The CDC website reports that manufacturers have made between 151 million and 159 million doses of influenza vaccine available in the U.S. this year. The flu vaccine takes a couple of weeks to effectively guard against the flu (since your body needs time to develop antibodies), so it’s better to receive the vaccine during the fall, before the flu season is in full swing.

Most people are familiar with the idea of having to be poked with a needle in order to get a vaccination, but not everyone has to receive the vaccine through an injection. The nasal spray is a good option for the needle-averse, especially children. Starting in the 2014-2015 season, the CDC has recommended that healthy children ages 2 through 8 receive the nasal spray form of the vaccine, as recent studies have shown that the nasal spray may be more effective than the injection for children in this age group. And parents of kiddos in this age group will most likely appreciate being able to let their children know that they won’t have to get a shot in order to receive a vaccination.

One common misconception about both forms of the vaccine is that they can actually give people the flu. They both have mild side effects (including redness or swelling at the site of the injection, low-grade fever, and muscle aches). However, they do not cause the influenza virus because they are made with deactivated or weakened viruses or—in the case of recombinant vaccines—no virus at all.

Flu vaccines are commonly available at clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies. In Waukee, flu shots are available at Medicap Pharmacy. Check out healthmap.org for a vaccine locator where you can search for available vaccine providers by city or zip code.

If you’re looking to protect yourself and your loved ones from influenza this season, it might be time to schedule a flu vaccination. Once that’s out of the way, you can enjoy all the best parts of the coming season, like warm drinks, holiday food, and time with family and friends.

We’ve all been there: you’re getting home from work, and as you walk from the front door to the kitchen you realize that even though you have a fully stocked fridge and pantry, you just can’t seem to make yourself put more than two ingredients together. You start to wish that you could just make something that was as easy as peanut butter and jelly—without it actually being peanut butter and jelly. There’s nothing wrong with a little simplicity. Just keep the following combos in mind for those times when you want delicious food without having to think too hard.

Avocado + Store Bought Salsa = Instant Guacamole

There’s something cathartic about the thunk of avocado as you scoop it into a bowl after a long day. Mash it up and stir in as much or as little salsa as you please. The chunkier and spicier the salsa, the better. I usually stir in a pinch of garlic powder and a dash of lime juice, but if you want to stick with the two-ingredient route, you still can’t go wrong.

Sliced Strawberries + Chocolate Ice Cream = Chocolate Covered Strawberries in a Bowl

If you want a great dessert that only requires two culinary techniques—scooping and slicing—then this is your kind of treat. Plus, strawberries are filled with fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, which means that you can feel (just a little bit) better about curling up on your living room couch with this bowl of goodness in your hands.

Miniature Sweet Peppers + Cream Cheese = The Perfect Side for Burgers and Brats

The coming of fall brings with it the start of tailgate season—but planning the pre-game meal shouldn’t have to give you a headache. For this simple side, chop off the tops of the little peppers, remove any stray seeds, and use a spoon to fill their hollow insides with cream cheese. Then grill them until the cheese is melty and the outsides are slightly charred. Some good friends served these at their wedding reception (the bride’s aunt was the grill master) and they were a definite crowd pleaser. Mini sweet peppers can be found in the produce section next to the full-size peppers (and they usually come in their own plastic bag).

Buttered Popcorn + M&M’s = The Best Part of Movie Night

I first encountered this combo when I was just a kid, and I marveled then—as I do now—at how genius it is. All you have to do is throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave while you discuss which movie to watch on Netflix and then toss the popped kernels with the chocolate candies in a big bowl. The salty puffs of popcorn coupled with the crunchy and sweet M&M’s are a combination that is so much more delicious than the sum of its parts. 

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by the thought of culinary creativity, just give one of these combos a try. You’ll love how surprisingly tasty two-ingredient recipes can be, and you’ll especially love that you can make them in just about as much time as it takes to breathe a sigh of relief.