Thursday and Friday, Long Driving Days

On Thursday I had my nose in my Kindle, trying to finish a book (Sycamore Row by John Grisham, before it was whisked away back to the library) when Cary spotted a sign for Prairie Quilts. Wow, what a great shop! Over 6000 square feet, two levels, in a 100+ year-old building. I was tempted by lots.

But I used some self-control and just bought a yard of this really cute bird fabric--it is the perfect backdrop for the buttons I bought at a yard sale a few weeks ago! Oh, and a t shirt, although I do not quilt and have no room for another t shirt!

 My camera lens didn't open fully but I wanted to get this sign that says "Absolutely no trucks in parking lot" I didn't get closer because a guy was sitting in the truck closest to me. There were signs at the end of every aisle, and probably 7 or 8 trucks parked there! We were eating lunch in the Walmart parking lot at the time!

It rained a lot! Wish I could take some back to Tucson with me.

I am pretty sure this picture is from Friday, October 6th.

Guess where we are here? Roswell really lives up its reputation!

One of my favorite sights after a trip--we are getting close to home when we see Texas Canyon!

I was able to catch the last bit of sunshine as it sank beneath the rocks.

Appropriate after our two visits to Oz-related sites. We had a wonderful trip, but there really is no place like home!

Rain All Day

We drove from Jefferson City to Chanute, Kansas in the rain. Lunch at Opie's (a buffet for Cary and mini pizza for me), a thrift store, car museum, antique store and finally the fabric store when the owners came back from lunch.

The owner of the store, Mr. Flowers, was excited to show me this super duper quilting machine. I can't remember how many it can do in a day. I do not quilt, but I am impressed! All I bought here was three yards of lace.

Supper at our motel in Augusta, Kansas (from Walmart). This place is even more expensive than the one last night, but it is very nice. A new Comfort Inn.

Pictures from Cedar Rapids to Amana Colonies to Jefferson City

We had another very full day, so I was too tired to do much with the blog. I did intend to put pictures on and never got back to it.

The sunrise from our motel window in Cedar Rapids--may be the only picture I took on Monday.

I had wanted to return to the Amana Colonies to look at the fabric shop here. I bought two pieces--one for a blouse I have in mind, and one because it is pretty and has sparkles--autumn leaves.

The General Store didn't open till 10:00, so we walked around and took in the scenes. So pretty this time of year.

Beautiful yellow!

 Lots of metal work at one of the shops.

 This part is from a Cushman trickster!

 I took this one for Bill!

 I am not sure where this was!

 Pretty cool chairs

 Cary stopped so I could take this picture; he loved the name of the town!

 Lunch at the 2nd Street Café inside the historic Hotel Ottumwa in the town of that name.

Here is a photo of the hotel from years gone by.

We turned around to go back to the Country Store on our way to Jefferson City. I managed not to find a single yard of fabric I had to have! Tomorrow (actually Oct. 4) I hope to find something in Chanute.

Giving Sheila Back Her House

We have had such a wonderful visit with Sheila! I hope it doesn't take her a week to put things back in some semblance of what they were before we arrived. Great food, wonderful sightseeing, and lots of visits with cousins.

The drive to Cedar Rapids was very nice (we only argued with the GPS a few times), wide open fields, pastures and lots of small towns between Belgium and here. Lunch at McDonald's, fuel at Costco and Walmart--$2.29 both places.

Back at the Clarion, 4th floor. The refrigerator was leaking so after supper Cary called to get it replaced (the maintenance guy had been up earlier). That one made such a high pitched whining noise, that we decided things would just have to take their chances in the ice chest!

Supper at Perkins; free pie on Mondays! We brought it back to the room to have with coffee.. I am vey full!

Cary got lemon meringue (they were out of his favorite, French Silk)--no where as good as Sheila's. I got apple.

We are going to try to stay up for the new doctor show that starts at 10!

Wow, time flies!

Cary decided to take a turn on the computer to check out Google and Ebay. On the end of the couch closest to the front of the picture is the second table runner I made.

 Here is a closer look at the fabric.

Jim and Kathy dropped by long enough to give us some Roma tomatoes from their daughter's garden. Very tasty!

We got lunch at Subway--their carved turkey with cranberry mustard dressing is delicious, and only for a limited time.

After lunch Sheila started putting together her arts and craft desk. I helped.

Later their cousin Perry Birenbaum came by with lots of great stories. We had never met him. Great evening!

Mexican Food in Sheboygan

This is where we took Sheila for supper tonight, El Camino on Michigan Avenue in Sheboygan. Very tasty.

Earlier in the day we tried finding yard sales in Port Washington and Saukville--found one but they had nothing we needed (surprise!). We settled for a stop at O'Reilly's Auto Parts for new windshield blades, and another at Walmart--because that is what we do! But I did need yogurt.

Port Washington

Cary was curious about the Duluth Trading Company located here in Port Washington, and I was eager to walk around the town anyway.

The weather, finally cooled off after such a very warm start to our stay here, was just perfect.

Such interesting buildings, and I just took a few pictures.

We saw a huge fish jumping, so these fisherman have a chance at a big catch.

And so many gorgeous blooms!

We ate at Dockside Deli, with a view of the water.

As we walked back to the car we passed the Pebble House, 1848.

Oh, and we stopped at two yard sales when we first got to town. Cary found this great vintage pencil sharpener, AKA the Boston Vacuumette!

Later that after noon I went down to the basement where Sheila had set up the sewing machine so I could turn her fabric purchase from Plymouth into an autumn table runner.

There is one more piece of fabric to sew up before we head home!

Tonight we are going to an observatory set up in Harrington Beach State Park.

The Northern Cross Science Foundation sets up at Harrington Beach and other nearby areas from March to September.

There were three guys out with their big telescopes ready to show us Saturn, the moon and other things. One of them was computerized.

The reddish light on the left side of the picture shows where the observatory is; a gigantic telescope, complete with ladder, was set up in there. We had a view of Saturn.

We probably would have seen lots more stars with the naked eye if we went later; it was not absolutely dark, but was starting to get chilly.