Friday, Las Cruces

Another long drive, but we decided we want to get home. We are in a very nice La Quinta after trudging through lots of construction in town. Rather than go to El Sombrero for Mexican food (our plan all day) and fight the Friday night traffic and road shut downs, we just drove two minutes to the new Golden Corral for supper. It worked. 

We plan to pull into our drive way tomorrow afternoon!

Catching Up

Tuesday Cort and Jean flew back to Pennsylvania. We took Sheila out to Hobo's for supper--the restaurant around the corner from her house. We packed up to get ready for our own departure on Wednesday.

An 11-hour drive to Columbia, Missouri. Not a bad drive, only some rain as we got closer to the motel. Somewhere early in the journey, this truck pulled in front of us: 

There was a very long detour on Highway 54. We had lunch at a Denny's, supper at a Bob Evans near the Ramada.

 There was a nice breakfast and we were on our way Thursday morning about 7:45. Although we had been hearing about rain and floods (along with the tornadoes), we were still stunned to see the sights along the highway in Jefferson City.

(I think work was being done on the capitol building.)

We are now in Clinton, Oklahoma at another Ramada. It is somewhat lacking compared to what we had last night...we are in the third room. The first had a bathroom sink that didn't drain. The second didn't have a refrigerator or microwave. This one lacks enough towels, but it will do. We went out for supper--Route 66 Fun place.

Monday Miscellaneous

On our way to visit their Aunt we drove by the old Feyereisen farm. A cousin was out on her tractor  and invited us in to look around. Denise and her husband had made several modifications from the original, pictured below. Some changes had been made before they moved in.

We did finally get to the Birenbaum farm for a visit with Aunt Shirley. Later Cort when to play Sheepshead with some other cousins; Cary took a nap and Jean, Sheila and I drove to Sheboygan to look around at the Home Goods store (I had to look at the fabric at Jo Ann's too). It rained quite a bit the rest of the afternoon and evening. 

So, a perfect evening to do sudoku (Jean), watch episodes of "Longmire," (Cary and Cort), or work on the computer (me). Sheila was the first to go to bed.

Peter and Michael spent a few moments getting along!

Sunday Port Washington

It was another gorgeous day. After lunch we went to Port Washington on Lake Michigan for another street fair type of festivities, browsed the vendors and stores--watched the cute kids (I didn't think I should take their pictures) and felt like I was on Fourth Avenue in Tucson with all the interesting people watching!

Such interesting architecture!

We then walked down to the lake.

Cort, Jean and Sheila are admiring a cigarette boat. Cary asked me if I could picture Don Johnson in it...he read my mind!

Coats felt good down by the water; otherwise, it was very warm in town. 

When we got home Sheila made a lemon meringue pie. I should have taken a picture when there was enough left to warrant one! Delicious!

Cousins' Gathering

It was great getting lots of the cousins together today. We wore name tags which really helped those of us from out of town who don't see the others on any kind of a regular basis.

Many sat downstairs (the basement).

And there were other upstairs that I didn't get pictures of. Some of us went back and forth. The neighbors helped out by cooking the burgers and bratwurst. Potato salad, jello salad, pretzels and dips, several desserts and lots to drink. And more. 

There had been a thunderstorm in the night (that no one in this house heard but me), but it was really a beautiful day. The AC is on now.

I took a walk after everyone left. Aren't these tulips beautiful?

Friday Activities

 After breakfast, while Cort, Jean and Sheila went shopping for supplies for tomorrow's festivities we found a rummage sale tucked into a garage outside of Belgium; it had been raining for quite some time. Cary found a bottle opener and a journal to give to his brother. I knew I wanted to go back to the fabric store in Plymouth where I had gone in the past, so that is what we did. I found a pretty piece for a blouse and a surprise gift for a sewing friend of mine.

We stopped at a thrift store where I bought a blouse that will be a sewing project. The fog was really getting thick by then.

This is what it looked like out Sheila's back window (there is a small lake out there) at 2:00 p.m. It was about 48 degrees.

Cary's brother, Cort, had been looking forward to a Friday fish fry. The restaurant we picked was a relatively new one, and unfortunately, very understaffed. One couple had waited an hour for their food. I think only the owners were working. We left after never even being acknowledged and headed to Mary's Country Grove where we all found something we liked--Cort got his fried fish. He and Cary both got homemade pie for dessert too. 

I recommend going back over the whole blog because I did add and subtract as pictures became available, if you want more up-to date-info!

Thursday: Judi's and The Paine

 We met several Birenbaum cousins and their spouses in Oostberg, a Dutch settlement nearby for breakfast. Really fun catching up and great food too. I am a picky eater and even I found something yummy.

After breakfast we decided to drive to Oshkosh to tour a mansion called The Paine.

https://www.thepaine.org/information/about/

I could have spent the rest of the day out in this garden by the fountain with a book. It was a gorgeous day.

This was the view through a kaleidoscope when looking at a collection of pansies and bright yellow flowers. 

The gardens were being re-planted and worked on, but most of it still looked gorgeous.

One of the many rooms

The back of the mansion

Sheila and Jean 

Wednesday in Belgium

Cary's brother and sister-in-law arrived from Pennsylvania today. Cary made supper for us, a chile relleno casserole. 

Last Miles to Wisconsin

Pictures added in no particular order because I can't remember what I saw first! I know we had rain during the night in Cedar Rapids, rain during the drive through some cities. It was not raining at the Iowa Welcome Center in Lamoni, an Amish Country Store--always a very fun place to browse and even bigger this year.

Wisconsin farms are always so pretty. Amazing there are still farmers left doing all that they do!

 Cary's cousin told me about this shop in Fennimore. 

Many rooms, lots of great stuff. I did not find anything I had to have!

We had lunch here, more fish tacos. Not as good as the ones in Wichita. Cary had a patty melt on wonderful rye bread.

The Grumpy Troll Restaurant in Mt. Horob, Wisconsin.

We arrived at Sheila's around 4:00, glad to be done with driving for a while.