We arrived in the Des Moines, Iowa area on Tuesday, August 17th. Our plans were connect with our friends. On Wednesday David had lunch with Dave and Mark. They alled worked together at the Power Company. I went to Culligan and had lunch with my ex-bosses and FRIENDs Sue and Andy. My buddy from Culligan, Eric also joined us. On Thursday I talked to Mandy and she reminded me of one of our favorite places to eat so we had to go there.

They bring out a hugh bowl of Potato Soup! It was so good.

David had the chicken breast smothered in mushroom gravy. They also give you a loaf of homemade bread..

I had the Fried Chicken!!

Of course we had to drive past our old house. We had two old nosy neighbors that lived there the whole 29 years we lived there and guess what they are still there and still nosy!! We didn't stop to see them but I am sure they saw us.

This is my buddy Eric..

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On Saturday night Sue and Andy took us the the Iowa Beef and Steak house. Now you know that was good cause the midwest has the best meat.
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On Sunday Becky and her husband Jim came for a visit. Becky worked with David at Corell Contractor.

SUE AND ANDY

On Monday David had lunch with George from Corell and then we met Terri and Tom for dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. We have had a great week.

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Se we are now at the Amana Colonies for the next two days and then back to Mason City to see Keira and Co. til after Labor Day.

I haven't had internet connection for several days to update the blog so I am a little behind. We arrived in the Wisconsin Dells Aug. 9th and left on the 12th. House on the Rock on the 13th and arrived in Tama on Saturday the 14th.


There are 15 pics so remember to click older posts

MT. OLYMPUS is a high waterpark and hotel complex

Oh NO, the Obama White House!!!

We really came to the Dells to visit our Viewpoint friends Lou and Elaine. They have a very nice location for the summer in Christmas Mountain Resort. We are all looking forward to our winter in Arizona.

HOUSE ON THE ROCK is located about one hour from Wisconsin Dells. It started as a retreat for a man names Alex Jordan. It is really hard to describe since there are so many things to see and it took us 4 hours to walk through it. There are 2 carousels and so many different collections of things that you have to see it to believe it.

One of the Gardens

FABERGE EGG

The World's Largest Carousel

It stands 35 feet tall, measures 80 feet in diameter, weighs 35 tons and sparkles with 20,000 individual lights. There are no horses on the carousel, just 269 creatures both real and mythological.

One of the streets in the house.

Days of Yesteryear

View of the Infinity Room

You can walk out into the Infinity room which gives the appearance that it goes on forever. Very Cool.

Mississppi River Bridge connecting Wisconsin and Iowa

Effigy Mounds National Monument holds 206 known prehistoric mounds, 31 in the form of animal effigies (shapes).

David by an Eagles nest at Effgy Mounds

We are having a GREAT time visiting with our friends and neighbors, Bob and Shar Fricke, from Viewpoint.

I am using my old computer because my newer one has a virus call Antivir Solution Pro. It appears as a pop up to tell you that you have a virus. I am working to try to remove it but have been frustrated. I bought a program which didn't help so hopefully one of the techs can help. We are in Oelwein, Iowa and Keira is with us. We left Mason City on Monday and will go back there on Friday. Keira is very busy. She likes to do work books so I think by the time she goes to Kindergarten in Aug. 2011 she might be bored. Last night when we were eating dinner she made a heart shape with her little fingers and told me "Nana you have my heart" WOW that almost made me cry. So Sweet. They have mini golf here so we have played that several times. There is a little beach but the weather has not been very good so the sand is all wet and the mosquitoes are hungry. I will try to post some more pics but don't want to push this computer to much. I am just happy to be on the internet. Next week we are going to The Dells in Wisconsin.