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Tuesday, September 21, 2010



Mandy Steve and Nolan came to Mason City for a visit. Keira and Nolan had lots of fun together and it was Great to have everyone together in one place.


We have the cutest Family!!!!


We have the cutest Grandkids and Granddog EVER!!!


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One Monday night we said GoodBye to Keira. It was very hard cause she said "Don't go Nana I Love you"

Thursday, September 9, 2010


SIGNS OF WINTER
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The squirrels in our campground have been scampering around gathering nuts for the winter.
CLEAR LAKE, IOWA


January 1959 Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, Dion and Belmonts, Frankie Sardo, Waylon Jennings, Tommy Allsup and Carl Bunch set out on a 24 day tour barnstorming the Midwest. The shows were often scheduled several 100 miles apart from one another as they zigzagged through one of the deadliest winters the midwest had seen and the worst transportation available. The musicians crammed into a draftly bus to perform in small ballrooms and theaters and by Feb. 1st, Buddy Holly's drummer (Carl Branch) had frostbitten feet. By the time the tour limped into Clear Lake on Feb. 2nd, Holly had decided to charter a small plane for himself, Allsup and Jennings to fly to their next venue in Fargo, North Dakota. Following the show at the Surf ballroom, at the last minute Jennings gave up his seat to The Big Bopper, who had the flu, and Allsup lost his seat to Ritchie Valens with the flip of a coin. The performance in Clear Lake was electric but ended with the unthinkable. After their performances at the Surf Ballroom, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper were killed when their plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the nearby Mason City airport. February 2nd, 1959 was forever immoralized as "The Day the Music Died".


Monument outside the Surf Ballroom


Stage at the Surf Ballroom


David sitting at one of booths in the ballroom
Tribute to the Big Bopper

Tribute to Ritchie Valens

Click older posts for more pics
Tribute to Buddy Holly



There is a back stage waiting room with lots of signatures but I was always a FABIAN fan.


We found the site of the crash.


There is a big pair of glasses to mark the path


This way to the site. About 1/2 mile walk between the rows of corn.



The memorial area

Visitors have left lots of items but it seems the most popular item are glasses.

Click older post for one more pic

Hope you enjoyed this little trip.



Next week Nolan, Mandy and Steve are coming to Mason City for a visit. We will be leaving here on September 21st for Arizona.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

AMANA COLONIES
August 24th and 25th
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Settled in the 1850's by a German religious group, the Amana Villages were built one hour apart when traveling by ox cart. There are 7 villages. Each village had a church, farm, multi-family residences and communal kitchens. The colonies are located about 90 miles east of Des Moines, Iowa.


Chocolate Haus


Bakery and Cafe


Ox Yoke Inn


Warping Creel

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Cones of yarn are placed on the creel to set up the color pattern of the warp threads running length-wise. Creel holds up to 240 cones.


Loom


I love Chris Daughtry music
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Click older posts for more pics
We went back to Mason City on Thursday the 26th and then left Tuesday the 31th.

The Jolly Green Giant--Blue Earth Minnesota


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This picture is for Marcy!!
We stayed near Mankato, Minnesota Tuesday and Wednesday night. Last night we had storms go through. I was hoping these old trees stayed standing til we left. It was a really pretty place but it did have lots of Minnesota State Birds. (mosquitoes)



The Oak trees in this campground are over 200 year ago.



Dick and Judy Conroy



Dick and Judy live near Mankota so we had dinner together. They live in the same park we do in Arizona and Dick plays shuffleboard with us.
We will spend Labor Day in Mason City.