Sturgis Falls Celebration

Marine Corp Band, Quanico all dressed up.

Marine Corp Band, Quanico, in their civies warming up.

One of the high school bands in the area. Quite good.

The oldest orchestra in Iowa and the oldest member is 62, hey, I'm almost that old.

Mary and her birthday cake. One of Betty's chocolate Cream cakes. It has a brown sugar whip cream icing and Marlene sprinkles crushed Heath bar candy and shaved chocolate on the top. Yummy isn't the word for this it is way beyound yummy.

Cindy Parkin, Mary Franken, Lorna Parmenger and a couple of Mary's friends from Cedar Fall. Cindy, Mary and Lorna are first cousins (their mothers were sisters).

Some of Mary's friends, myself, Alan Parmenger (Lorna's husband) Dan Parkin (Cindy's husband) as we all had lunch at Betty's Bread Basket and Tea Room to celebrate Mary's 70th birthday.

Sturgis Falls Celebration

Have you melted and ran down in your shoes yet? No, well I bet it has felt like it a time or two over the past few weeks. Yep, the "dog days of summer" are upon us. Buddy doesn't care for the name that we have hung on this part of summer when the air gets so thick you feel like you're drowning and even a cool shower doesn't make you feel any fresher. It somehow makes it sound like his species is responsible for the discomfort. None the less, they are with us and that brings some of the events that usually happen around this time every year.

Back in 1976 during our nation's celebration of the bicentennial Blackhawk County started what has become an annual event known as Sturgis Falls Celebration. True to it's roots it occurs around the week just prior to the 4th of July. This year it ran from June 26th through the 28th. This year's theme was "Dancing In The Streets".

Now wait, wait just a second here, where the heck is Sturgis Falls any way? Well, let's see, back in 1845 (Iowa became a state in 1848) William Sturgis staked his claim to the area that today encompasses nearly all of the downtown area of Cedar Falls, ergo Sturgis Falls Celebration. Now William only remained in this location for about three years and moved on to who knows where but the settlement that got started on this spot remained and the name became Cedar Falls. I bet he wouldn't recognize the place today, Margie.

The celebration has loads of entertainment on several stages over the three days. My favorite is this year on the evening of the 27th at Overman Park Band Shell. Each years the leaders of this celebration invites one of the Marine Corp bands to play for our enjoyment. This year from 7:00PM through 8:30PM the U. S. Marine Band, Quantico provided the music. Lots of flags were be present as you can well imagine with the U. S. Marines and the date being so close to our Independence Day. The US Marine Corp, Quanico Band entertain the crowd at the Overman Park Band shell. The Marines playing for the occasion is always a big favorite and the crowd was on it's feet for many of the numbers played.

Hey, what else goes on during these three days, you might ask. Check this web site out and it will let you see what kinds of things were planned for this year and last and I just bet next year as well. http://sturgisfalls.org/entertainment/default.htm

These are some things to do and see for all ages and levels of activity:
Carnival complete with funnel cakes and cotton candy
Street Fair
Talent Competition, come on, give it a try, you ARE the next American Idol, admit it.
Parade, Den is one of those folks that has got to show up if there is a parade. He just loves parades.This is the Cedar Falls Municipal Band, oldest concert band in Iowa with it's oldest member, 62 years young.
One of the local high school bands.
1/2 Marathon and 5K run, OK so it is the before mentioned "Dog Days of Summer" (sorry about that, Buddy) they drink lots of Gatorade, what can I say.
Entertainment galore

All of the entertainment is free of charge, always has been, I understand that they are a non-profit enterprise. Plan this as one of your must attend events on your 2010 calendar. Bring your sun screen, blanket or lawn chair (for seating to listen to the bands), insect repellent might be nice and your wide brimmed hat. You can find food and drinks at the vendors all around the area but you can bring your own.

We celebrated our friend, Mary's 70th birthday with lunch at Betty's Bread Basket in Manchester on Friday afternoon. Mary was joined by nine friends and relatives from Appleton, Wisconsin, Barrington, Illinois and Cedar Falls, Iowa to celebrate. Betty's is always a special place to celebrate. It makes you feel special when the napkins are pretty colors, pressed and starched and stuck in those cute little napkin rings. How can you be doing anything but celebrating when a chef salad has a bed of fresh greens, topped with a tender sliced of grilled chicken breast, grapes, strawberries, pineapple, sugared pecans, dried cranberries, and finished off with one of her house dressing and a slice of that mouthwatering cranberry orange bread. Oh, don't get me started and don't ask me when you come in which entree to choose, you can't go wrong with any of them. Everyone had a great time and later some of the ladies went shopping at The Quiltmakers Shoppe where they chose kits for sewing project and parused the seemingly endless array of fabrics. Meanwhile Den took the guys for a tour of the KMCH studio where he plays "In House Engineer" for sporting events part-time during the school year.
Another Happy Birthday at Betty's.


We met our friend Mary who lives in Cedar Falls and our friends from Chicago and Appleton for a day of fun and perspiration at the Sturgis Falls Parade in the morning and later we listened to "Milk and Honey" rock out tunes from the 60's and 70's followed by the Marine Corp Band so we had quite a day.
We ate our evening meal at the Overman Park food vendors tents with grilled chicken breast sandwich, corn dog, funnel cake, pork tenderloin and of course an ice-cream sandwich.
Buddy was waiting for us when we arrived home. There are no dogs allowed in the parks for this and there would have been too many feet that could have gotten him stepped on. I love him too much to put him in harms way.

Sunday morning sunshine woke the three of us up with our tummies growling. I am thinking what's for breakfast and Den chimed in with the answer to my unspoken thoughts, "Hey, what do you say we go try out Jude's Cafe and see what her buffet is like?" I'm game and Buddy figured that there was a tidbit or two in there for him so we showered and Den shaved and Buddy met us at the door. We left without him yesterday but, it is cooler today and he was thinking that even a short car ride was a great thing. Den and I stuffed ourselves on scrambled eggs, biscuits, ham, sausage and more for a bit over $9.00 each and all the return trips to the buffet as we wanted.

We are kind of up in the air on which of the many choices available for the weekend of the 4th. We might even sit this weekend out and just enjoy visiting with neighbors, grilling on the deck and maybe even make some homemade ice-cream.
I hope to see you all out there checking out all there is to see and do "Across Iowa and Maybe a Bit Beyond".
God Bless,
Linda

Bowman Family Reunion and Steamboat Days

Second floor bedroom in the Phelps House in Burlington, Iowa

Front parlor table and lamp. Phelps House, Burlington Iowa

Juggling in the rain at the Snake Alley Craft Fair

One of the pottery booths. Note the wonderful old home behind it.

Rich and Liz Robertson of Dubuque's Crickett Hill Pottery. Rich is Den's first cousin.

Mom, Adella Ruth Gates-Capps

Barb Lynchard, Shelby (Martha's grand-daughter) and Sandy Gates-Copeland

Amanda Copeland (daughter of Sandy and Bill Copeland) and Martha Lynchard-Settles. In the back ground is Mom and Carolyn Bowman (Dave Bowman's wife (cousin to Mom))

Randy Settles, husband to Martha Lynchard-Settles

David Bowman, Mom's cousin.

Dwight and Frett's son and his girl friend.

Bill Bowman and Dwight Cocran, Mom's cousins.

I was born and raise in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. "Mt. Idy", as some of us fondly call it, is the Henry County seat and the home of the Mt. Pleasant Panthers, Iowa Wesleyan Tigers, the Fellowship Cup and the Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Reunion. Growing up in "Mt. Idy" wasn't much different from growing up around Manchester, I would expect. Where ever I have lived or will live, Mt. Pleasant will always be home to me and I bet you feel the same way about your hometown.

This weekend was our annual Bowman Family Reunion. My cousin Martha has managed this dwindling event for a number of years and this is the first year that I have been able to attend. There has always been either time or space that didn't allow me to be there so I really enjoyed it this time. My mother's mother was what you would likely call Amish in this day and age. Her maiden name was Bowman and they lived in west central Illinois. What is left of the family there is really up in years and come to think of it so am I. My Granddad, Mom's father, raised five children in a three room house in a small town outside of Mt. Pleasant called Trenton, Iowa. He had a threshing and clover hulling crew among other things. Life was simple and they all worked hard. My Mom, here visiting with her cousin's wife, is the only one remaining of her sibling. Of the off-spring there are eight cousins and who knows, I have lost track of grand whatever's. We had a potluck held where we are in out of the heat and sun of an Iowa summer.

After the day with long lost relatives Sunday brought us to Steamboat Days in Burlington, Iowa. Burlington has a long and rich history. It was the original territorial capital of the Iowa Territory back in the 1838. The name Hawkeye and it relationship to Iowa has it's roots in Burlington.
Steamboat Days are an annual event held around the third weekend of June each year, it should be noted that last year it was cancelled due to the flooding. SBD is like a street fair along the Burlington Mississippi River front. It starts about midweek and ended this year on Sunday the 20th with a huge fireworks display over the water. There are lots of things to do and see for all ages. There are bands (Hootie and the Blowfish kept everyone hopping, singing and dancing from the main stage Saturday and Sunday), Pepsi sponsored kid's events, talent show, street dancing and on Sunday, the final day, they line Snake Alley ("the crookedest street in the world"for it's serpentine twists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_Alley) with craft vendors. The fellow as juggling in the rain.

This is one of my favor parts of the events as is the crafts event that happen in the city park during Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant over Labor Day. The booths offered beautiful pottery from some of the local talent, lapidary, charcoal art, floral arrangements, antiques and much more. Please think about putting this event on you calendar for next summer.
We drove from "Mt. Idy" in a light rain Sunday morning and walked the craft booths. The rain became harder but to tell you the truth, at nearly 90F it wasn't that uncomfortable. Mom should not get soaked so we did use the umbrellas. We purchased some carved wooden kitchen tools and fell in love with the bowls carved from burls. About half way we found some folks that we knew. Richard and Liz Robertson (Rich is Den's first cousin) of Cricket Hill Pottery in Dubuque. I have got to get with Liz on one of her wall pockets. She had arranged some flowers in it that just set it off perfectly.
As the rain got harder we found that the Phelps House (http://www.discoverourtown.com/IA/Burlington/Attractions-686.html) was open for a tour and decided to go in and see it. The historical society had done a wonderful job of maintaining this historic home that dates back to 1851 and is furnished with the treasures of the family that had owned it for most of it's existence. We finished our tour (which by the way cost us $3.00 each) just as the rain became the hardest. Den ran to bring the car as Mom and I huddled under the "bumbershoot". (Buddy, the traveling Shih Tzu stayed behind at Mom's and stayed dry. It was too warm and wet to bring him out.)
Iowa is a great place to live with something exciting around every corner if you really look. Hope to see you out exploring.
God Bless,
Linda

"Take Me Out To The Ball Game"

"Take Me Out To The Ball Game"
We have had quite a week starting with getting a call that an elderly friend of ours who had driven up to River Falls, Wisconsin to visit friends had fallen and broken her dominate arm just above the wrist. She needed help in getting herself and her car back to Cedar Falls. So we met the friends who assisted in the shuttle in Rochester and took her the rest of the way back to her home, getting her mail picked up, car unloaded and "fridge" stocked. We were just glad to know that she is OK or will be and that she is where she is comfortable and has access to her normal doctor, church and friends. That was Monday, so the week started out with a "bang".
Sunday we were invited to join friends that live in Cedar Rapids for a Kernel's baseball game. If you haven't been to one of these, it is a great evening's entertainment for about $9.00 a ticket (or that was the price for the seats that we had). We decided to make a day of it, deciding that we deserved a day off after this past weeks adventures. We hit the Olive Garden as we were both in the mood for "Soup, Salad and Breadsticks". They keep filling you up with this one and I have always loved their "Pasta e Fagioli" with a wonderfully crisp salad and warm bread sticks. Den opted for "Zuppa Toscana" for his soup. We topped it off with Tiramisu. Italy is so generous with the foods and flavors that they have shared with all of us. I like Olive Garden because I don't have to ask what region of Italy the cuisine is from. The north is more French with lots of creamy sauces and mild flavors, the south is spicy and hot when you are eating Sicilian foods. Some regions like to add fennel to meats and sauces and if you aren't a fan of fennel, and it does tend to be a love/hate thing, you can be pleasantly surprised or woefully disappointed. Being a comfort food lover, I tend to like to stay out of Sicily.
After stuffing ourselves, we took a walk around Noelridge Park at the corner of Collins Road and Counsel Street NE. They had just put the bedding plants in about a week ago and thing were not as lush as they usually are when we stop at this beautiful spot. The iris and peonies were in their final flush and the new beds looking all babyish with new plants it was just a pleasant wonder from one planting bed to another to see what they had chosen this year. This is one of those holding hands kind of places, a place where you can sit in the shade and dream a while. But we had a ball game to get to.
We met our friends at their house and drove over to Veterans Memorial Stadium together. The day had started out foggy after the rain of the previous two days and cool but Sunday evening was perfect. The game was between the top two farm teams in Iowa, as I understand it, the Kane County Cougars, the top ranking and the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the second ranked team. There was lots of extra things for the kids to enjoy as well with the Tiny Spirits cheer team, the first pitch by one of the kids, the racing pizza wedges and eyeballs. These form kind of an intermission between tense inning changes.
The game was hard fought with the Cougars shutting the Kernels out of any points and the Kernels holding the Cougars to only 2. We cheered but the Kernels still lost.
The Kernels are a farm team for the Anaheim Angels and therefore a professional ball club as are many of the teams in the area. Sure, it isn't Yankee Stadium but this is Iowa. Visit the Kernel's site, http://www.kernels.com/ for home game dates and other events as well as ticket prices and sales.
I learned that the tournament games in the movie "The Final Season" were all staged and shot at this ball park. This movie is one of my favorite of resent times. I'm old enough to have seen a great many movies, you have to remember.
This same weekend I was torn between attending this game with our friends that we had committed to weeks ago and attending the rope pull that the Greeley team was having the same day. I hope Dave Kruse and his crack team of pullers won the day without our cheers from the sidelines. As I understand it the next one will be in Hiawatha. We will have to see about the date and time on that one.
Hope to see you around the corner, enjoying the great state of Iowa and all of the treasures that it offers.
God Bless,
Linda

Motor, Iowa June 6 2009

Notice the ball at the peak of the roof line. This is an old roof cap. It was an iron bar affair that brought the two sides of the roof line together and the ball served as ornamentation as well as anchor to the thing. The old mill was missing the cap as well as many of the shingles.

Mill, impleller by the blue canopy.

Cooperage, see the docks carved out of the sandstone.

One of the 3 mill stones. Note the groves cut into the stone to allow the product to come away from the process and the shoot to the right that allows the product to fall into the waiting cooperage barrels below for shipment.

What is left of the old bridge.

Motor, Iowa

The weekend turned out to be kind of chilly and damp but still not too bad as a whole. Cool enough that Buddy, the traveling Shih Tzu, couldn't ride along.He enjoyed the trip from his favorite spot, the rear window of our car. We got up early as we planned breakfast at the Savory in Manchester and then Den had an appointment to leave some hazardous discards with the folks manning the reclamation at the Delaware County Fair Grounds. We left, among other things several mercury vapor tubes that Den had from his years of working at the TV station in Fort Dodge, while working his way through college. Sometimes we have to get rid of the past, other times we need to treasure and protect it.
The Savory provided us with sustenance for our morning travels with lots of food served with a smile at a fair price. We then checked out the new location and visited the Manchester Farmer's Market. Picked up so wonderful cinnamon rolls from Mrs. Mike Henderson and pumpkin bread from Mrs. Reinert. Boys (Den and his youngest brother, Dan) have to keep their strength up.
We were headed toward Motor, Iowa. Yes, Margie, there is or was a Motor, Iowa. It is way back in the hills along the Turkey River in Clayton County. http://www.motormill.org/ The gravel roads that we took leaving Elkader kept narrowing to the point that it seems if we were to have met another vehicle we would ...............well, you get the picture. I, having seem Deliverance a time or two, was expecting to start hearing Dueling Banjos any time. (I think there was a fella getting ready to tune-up his banjo just before we left........ could have been mistaken about that.)
Upon arrival, I was totally enamored with the place.

HISTORY:
Back in 1867 three gentlemen had a dream and together they made it happen. (Isn't that the way dreams are supposed to work!!!!) John Thompson, JP Dickerson and James Crosby formed a partnership to build a grist mill, saw mill, farm and town at Hastings Bottom, the site of an earlier sawmill. The men changed then name to Motor for whatever reason. The venture started out costing them $50,000 to build the mill and another $40,000 to equip it and build the other out-buildings. This all happened between 1867 and 1869.
With lots of work and sweat from stone masons from the neighboring areas there was a dam built upstream of the site that was 200 feet wide and 12 feet high and produced 250 horsepower even at low water. There was a cooperage, inn and dray barn and many farms around on both sides of the river. An iron bridge was built over the Turkey River at the mill site. This venture went well for several years until northeast Iowa was hit by an insect attack and a flood that wiped out the entire crop at least once. The entire affair was sold to a farmer and was used as a dairy farm until The Motor Mill Foundation took it over and began reconstruction.
You have got to see the inside of this amazing building. The original timbers are huge walnut trees, or were. It appears that it must have taken 40 team of oxen to lift them into place. You can see the mortise and tendon work everywhere. Some of old equipment is still there to see like the impeller for the old mill and milling stones. You can see the shoots that the finished product would have taken off these stones and into the coopered barrels below for shipment to Dubuque and other points of use to make what is reputed to be the best of breads.
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The foundations offers tours and answers to the many questions that are flying around in your head seeing all of this. Check out the website above for more information and I just bet that these folks would welcome some skilled help in their restoration efforts as well as just plain encouragement.
We finally left in time to head toward Prairie Du Chein and a walk around Cabalas. Didn't buy much but it is always kind of fun to see what is going on there.
It was getting on toward lunch time and since Den and his youngest brother, Dan, are still growing boys.................... By mutual agreement we headed to McGregor and the Old Man River Restaurant and Brewery http://www.oldmanriverbrewery.com/. It occurs to me that you must think that I am a big beer drinker but, fear not, Never more than one. We feasted on really great Philly rib-eye sandwiches and Brew City fries and headed out for Pike Peak State Park. I am kind afraid that this will get to you a day or two too late to enjoy but watch for it next year. McGregor Beer and Wine Fest, June 13th 1:30PM- 4:30PM. They are striving to make this an annual event. Something to add to your list of things to see and do. McGregor is getting to be a very fine place to visit for antiquing, great river views and great food.
Pikes Peak is one of our favorite camping places and the view of the river and Wyalusing State Park on the Wisconsin side are spectacular. Fall color from this point is always eye popping. New shower have been added to the campgrounds for the convenience and pleasure of the campers.
We took off for Guttenberg from here and took in the boats working their way through Lock and Dam #10. Guttenberg is always a pleasure if just for the drive. The rising hills offer so many views of the farming areas all round, a must for your fall color trips and the history of the town itself is a treasure trove.
This has been a great weekend day trip and Buddy wants you all to know that he had a really great time seeing the sites from his rear window view. Hope to see you around the corner Across Iowa and Maybe a Bit Beyond.

Linda

Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Earlier this year we attended a presentation by a young man to the gathering that was sponsored by the Manchester Master Gardeners. This very well spoken young man was speaking on the attractions at Reiman Gardens this spring and summer. His stories and descriptions put a visit on our spring/summer agenda. We had been there years before for the sole purpose of visiting the Butterfly House and thoroughly enjoyed that visit and fully expected to enjoy this one as well.

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History: from the Reiman Gardens website at http://www.reimangardens.iastate.edu/index.cfm
“Iowa State University has had a horticulture garden since 1914. Reiman Gardens is the third location for the gardens. The first location was north of the Farm House at the Hort. Research Station in 1914. In the early 1960’s, the Gardens were moved to a ¾ acre site on the northeast corner of the Iowa State University campus north of the power plant. This particular site offered little room for expansion and was surrounded by the campus’s industrial zone.
In the early 1990’s, faculty in the Horticulture department and university administrators discussed the possibility of moving the gardens to a larger, more visible location to beautify the entrance to the city of Ames and Iowa State University. In 1993, alumnus, Roy Reiman and his wife Bobbi generously gave $1.3 million to initiate phase one of the new gardens. Construction began on Reiman Gardens in 1994 and was officially dedicated in 1995. At its opening, Reiman Gardens covered just five acres, which included the entry court, the herb garden, rose garden, the campanile garden, Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center and a maintenance building. The Gardens have continued to grow over the last eight years to cover 14-acres. The most recent addition is the Conservatory Complex and Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, which opened in November 2002.
Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects, a landscape architecture firm in Wilmington, DE, designed the Gardens. Robinson was selected because of his experience at other public gardens like Longwood Gardens and the Washington Mall. ISU faculty and staff were also active in the development of the Gardens’ master and planting plans.
Daryl Metzger, of Architects Smith Metzger in Des Moines, designed the buildings within the Gardens. The architecture reflects a Midwestern style, inspired by the state’s agricultural traditions. “
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We again negotiated without traveling Shih Tzu, Buddy, to stay at home. It would be too warm for him to safely wait in the car as we did our sightseeing. He was champ about it as he really doesn't like the heat. You try wearing a double coat everyday and see if the heat doesn't bother you as well. Breakfast was a “catch and run” from the Manchester Hardees and we were off on our adventure.
What a beautiful day. We thought when we headed out this morning that it was going to rain, but we never saw a drop. The sky just kept getting bluer all morning.
One of the things that this young man told everyone about was the dinosaur exhibit all through the gardens this spring until the end of July. There they were, all hiding in the flora and fauna. I don't think the fence would have been much protection, do you?
We both wanted to see the Buck Roses but found that we were about 2-3 weeks too early as most of them were just in the tight bud stage. So if you are thinking of the roses, plan your visit around mid-June. However, the irises were in full bloom.
Of course Den couldn't help hamming it up with the “dino”s. They even had one that was named after Bambi from the Walt Disney movies. I think they called it a Bambiasarus. Cute little guy with wings..................
One of the gardens that we especially enjoyed was the eatable garden. They even had recipes for what they were growing. As the weather heats up you might like to try this one at home.
Gazpacho (soup served cold)
8 lrg. tomatoes, peeled
1 lrg. cucumber, peeled and chopped
1 green bell pepper, cored and chopped
1 clove of garlic, peeled
2 Tbsp. EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
2-4 Tbsp. white vinegar
In a blender. Blend garlic, cucumber, pepper and then add the tomatoes. Mix in the EVOO and vinegar with salt and pepper to taste. Serve chilled garnished with chopped cucumber, pepper and green onion. I am going to try it as soon as my tomatoes get ripe. Well, maybe I will have to buy what I need.

There have been a few changes since our last visit that you should know as you plan your visit. They no longer have a canteen or cafeteria. We kind of missed that but it didn't hurt too much.

I always love the butterfly house. There are reputed to be 800 butterflies in it but we couldn't figure out how they could count them. Some are so huge that they would make a bat seem small in comparison and other so tiny you really had to watch closely to see them before they took wing and moved on. They do hitch-hike so if you go plan on checking yourself in a large mirror to be sure that one of the wee things isn't making a break for it disguised as a piece of jewelry.

On the way back to Manchester we treated ourselves to one of our favorite eat out places. There are some micro breweries in Iowa and some of them offer really tasty beer as well as some really fine eating. Our evening sustenance was at Granite City Brewery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (http://www.gcfb.net/). I can't seem to pull myself away from the cheeseburger done my way and my way is bloody rare (I know I live dangerously) topped with lettuce, tomato and red onion with Dijon mustard and a fat dill pickle wedge on the side. I love the waffle fries but they are no included in the price and the skinny fries that come with the sandwich are great. With this I always have an "Admiral" (A blend of two different lagers and served with a wedge of orange). The service is great, the meat tastes like it was freshly ground just of my sandwich (now, be real, who would go to that much trouble just for me?). We were seated right away which doesn't always happen as Granite City Brewery is a very popular spot. Don't expect Hardees’s prices but without dessert and including my "Admiral" the bill was just over $25.00. Den had some kind of chicken popper where the chicken strips were seasoned with among other things, Tabasco, wrapped in pastry dough and deep fried. This came with a blue cheese sauce (Den has never met a blue cheese he doesn't like) and a salad of matchstick cut fresh pea pods (I ate these as Den is allergic to legumes), crisp lettuce and some red cabbage for color. He also enjoyed a cup of their Cheddar Cheese w/stout soup which he allowed me to taste. OH, Margie, we have to learn to make that one as well.
OK, to the above remarks, you will find that I will give you my take on any eating out that we do. I love to cook and even started my own blog at my cousin's request. The address for the blog is http://whatscookingwithlinda.blogspot.com/. If by chance you want to see the pieces that I have sent in to the Manchester Press, those can be viewed on blog http://iowa44.blogspot.com/.
Hope to see you out around the next corner enjoying yourself in this great state of Iowa and maybe a bit beyond.
God Bless,
Linda

Amana and "Always.......Patsy Cline

I guess it has stopped raining for a little while. Now if it would warm up just a touch. The frost the other night had me chasing around trying to make sure everything was covered. How did your new plants survive? Mine looked OK and none the worse for wear.

I am old enough to remember Patsy Cline and to be able to say that I have always enjoyed her music. My husband, Denny, surprised me with tickets to "Always....Patsy Cline" at the "The Old Creamery Theatre Company outside of Amana. We decided to make a day of it and explained to Buddy, our traveling Shih Tzu, that he was going to have to sit this one out. He didn't like it but took it fairly well.

Amana HISTORY:
Looking for religious freedom in Germany back in the 1700's a group known as the "Community of True Inspiration", founded by German Lutheran clergy and their followers, emigrated to an area near Ebenezer, New York. The group flourished and soon needed to find a larger area. They found what they were looking for in the what we now know as the Amana Colonies.
The style of living was communal with no one drawing a wage but each full filling a need for the good of the greater community as directed by the church clergy and the community leaders. The community was very nearly a completely self sufficient society, requiring very little contact with the outside world. (The Ronneburg Restaurant was the original communal kitchen and dining hall.)This communal set up, over time, of course, has changed as society has changed and each home now has it's own kitchen.
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I have been to the Amana's several times over the years and eaten at a couple of the eateries in town there but never eaten at The Ronneburg Restaurant, http://www.ronneburgrestaurant.com/. What a pleasant experience. We were shown to the German Room (don't know why the name as the whole place is German) and seated at table near the window. Choosing what to order was kind of a struggle. I have lived in Germany many years ago and the dishes that were offered were good German fare.
We decided that we would make this our big meal for the day and did the family style full meal. I went for the Wiener Schnitzel with spaetzle and Den went for the Bavarian Chicken with mashed potatoes and veggie. Of course we shared and of course we brought part of it home with us.
It has been an age since I have had Wiener Schnitzel and "No, Margie, this isn't a hot dog". A tender veal cutlet, breaded and fried is a true Wiener Schnitzel. The spaetzle, a kind of noodle but crossed with a dumpling, was wonderful. I have got to learn how to make these. They came buttered and crowned with toasted bread crumbs.
Den enjoyed his Bavarian Chicken and wanted to know if I can make it at home. This is a skinless/boneless chicken breast, sautéed and then baked with a thin slices of smoke ham and Swiss cheese. Yummy.

We then had to take a walk and check out the shops. Of course, I had to do The Kitchen Sink, a shop filled with all things food prep and dining. I did well and we moved on to take in the clock and furniture store. It is always so satisfying to see furniture that has a beautiful finish on it. You just want to touch it to be sure it is as smooth as it looks. I fell in love with the $4,000 grandfathers clock with a crystal pendulum. Lastly was the Quilt shop and Den thought I was lost at that point. I am making tea cozies lately and ...... well you know.

The Old Creamery was our destination, let's not forget. The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for profit professional theatre. It started in Garrison in 1977 and moved to Amana in 1988. This production of "Always.....Patsy Cline" is in it's 5th run and stars Molly Hammer (Kansas City, MO.) as Patsy Cline and the story is told on stage by her friend Louise, played by Marquetta Senters (now of South Amana). Molly really nailed the tonations and tempo of one of my favorite singers from my younger years. May 24th is the last performance of this production.

You can check out what is coming and when online at http://www.oldcreamery.com. The prices are reasonable and there isn't a bad seat in the house.

Next weekend we are headed to Nelson Dewey State Park (that is in South East Wisconsin, Margie) for some canoeing and camping and Linda, with the help of Julie McGovern, will be preparing the Saturday night meal for 20 hungry camper. Not sure which river will see the paddles yet as that is someone else's to plan but I am sure that a great time will be had by all. So, maybe next week we will be "and Maybe A Bit Beyond".

Oh, I have to tell you. At the Ronneburg the couple sitting at the next table engaged us in conversation about where we were from and what we thought of the strawberry/rhubarb pie. They are from the Chicago area and were there seeing their new grand-child. They hadn't heard of the theater and one thing lead to another and I think they are coming back to see Manchester, Mt. Pleasant and Old Threshers, and The Villages Of Van Buren County. Oh, on the pie, I told her to used 2 cups of strawberries, 2 cups of chopped rhubarb, 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of corn starch,1 teaspoon of real vanilla and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. I think that they will be back to Iowa a couple of times this summer and fall. She was writing it all down. So, keep the front porch swept and the windows washed, companies coming.

God Bless,
Linda

Dutchman's Store, Cantril, Iowa

My mother is in her 80's and will freely admit that her middle name is "GO". Flowers are great and so are fancy meals out but Mom would rather have an adventure. I am from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa the county seat of Henry County and that is where Mom lives today. It is about 2.5 hours drive time south of Manchester and is a town of a bit over 7,000. Let me start by saying that the Midwest and Iowa is right in the heart of it, offers some of the best day trips and treasure hunts. My husband and I love to camp, canoe and take in local fairs and events. There is so much to learn and experience within a short distance from our door steps here in Manchester. Would you like to take this weekends adventure with me? South of Mt. Pleasant, toward the Missouri boarder you will find Van Buren County. There are no large cities in the entire county but all through the spring, summer and fall there are activities planned and are mapped out for you if you got to http://www.villagesofvanburen.com/. My personal favorites are Bonaparte, Bentonsport and Cantril. Cantril was our adventure with Mom. Friday we took off in the middle of the afternoon and headed south. Mom knew the agenda and was already siked up for the adventure. Saturday morning we were doing to make a brief stop at my cousin's just out side of town and share hugs with her and her family as well as another cousin that had arrived the day before from the Omaha area. Coffee cake, coffee and "remember when's" were great but we had an adventure planned. So, from Martha's farm we continued west on hwy 34 to hwy 1 and followed that to hwy 2 and on to Cantril, Iowa. We were headed for the Dutchman's Store in Cantril. History:Cantril, Iowa was established in 1872 and is home to Old Order Amish and Mennonite communities. Several of the businesses in town are owned by Mennonite families. Amish families have businesses at their homes. These can be found along Highway 2 and on V64 and J40 near Lebanon. Watch for homemade signs along the roadway. They are very friendly and will be glad to visit with you on week days and Saturdays. You will find buggies sharing the roadways, and horse drawn equipment in the fields. Although their homesteads and transportation are picturesque, please respect their privacy by not photographing the Amish families.A Mennonite, Clair Zimmerman and his young wife opened the Dutchman's Store back in 1985 and has operated it and has added on to it on a seemingly regular basis every few years to the point that the store that exists today is a full block long. The long front porch of the store was loaded with gardening materials, seedling plants, flowering baskets and lovely homemade bent willow rocking chairs that you could purchase for just over $100.00. You have to kind of be observant to tell for sure which door is the entrance but once we found it it was hard to decide where to start. Mom and I went one way and my husband went another. Den likes his vittles and Mom and I love to create whether it is in the kitchen or the sewing room so that is the directions that we started. I was prepared to see prices a bit higher than your local Wal-Mart or Fareway but that is not what we found. There are 4 long isles of sewing fabric and notions as sell as snaps, hooks and eyes and safety pins in bulk. The fleece fabric that I found there was really beautiful and of go