GHOST OR GRANDDAUGHTER?

We've been to many volleyball games, but haven't put Jenna's picture on yet, because she moves so fast, she looks like a ghost!

I finally got a good one. She's #22.

WILD TURKEYS

As we were leaving Lake Manawa, some of the wildlife came out to say goodbye. Between the turkeys and the deer, you have to be careful driving, especially at night. It always tickles me when I see these turkeys, because at a place I used to work, the administrator and maintenance man used to go hunting. Their biggest problem was trying to find a turkey. Well??? Then there's the old story about one trying to chase a relative of ours, but ask Don about that one. Here are our friends.

Here's a closeup.

I guess they couldn't bear to see us leave, so they showed us their "better end".

MORE SPORTS

We had a busy week with many volleyball games, a cross country meet, and two football games. They all played well, and we saw smiles-one from ear to ear when Brian recovered a fumble in the other teams end zone and scored-and frowns when Jake was winning at halftime and slaughtered second half. That team won state last year. Needless to say, our grandchildren have learned several things about life this week. And, they taught each other. Jenna thought she could have done better in one of her games, so Jake taught her how to focus. A little imaging helped and she improved. Now it's a new week with new lessons to learn. We'll hope for all smiles!

LAKE MANAWA

We've been at Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs for almost two weeks, and since you can only stay 2 weeks out of a month, we'll be moving on Wednesday. It's not as busy at this time of the year, but this weekend we found a place for Kathy Fitzgerald. For those of you who read the blog all the time, you know that she would like to be a squaw. Just look at this teepee!

Kathy has a pond behind her house, but this was sitting on a whole lake!

I'll bet there aren't any sailboats on her pond!

Hope you're envious Mrs. Fitz!

BRIAN'S GAME

Brian is playing in the Pop Warner League, and yesterday, he played a team from Kansas City. He also plays center,#55 like his brother and father, and middle linebacker on defense. He loves football, has a sturdy body, plays hard, and is hoping to grow taller soon!

BURKE H. S. WINS 55-22

We finally made it to Jake's varsity game, after missing the first two, which they won. We wondered if we were going to have to wait another week, as it started to rain right beforehand, with a lot of lightning. We sat in the car and waited until 9 o'clock, when it finally began. Later, it rained again, but the game continued. The refs must love late games in the rain, because they threw flags everywhere, frequently! The third quarter lasted an hour! By the end, the wet, tired fans were not happy! We barely made it out by midnight. Don't get me wrong-it was fun-yet another interesting experience! Jake did very well-he plays center-#55.

CROSS COUNTRY

Dan decided he was too small for football, so he's trying cross country running. This was our first experience watching. He did well even though he didn't feel well. He's the one with the black knee bands.

FALL IS CREEPING IN

On our way to Decorah, we couldn't help but notice the changes happening. Where does the time go?




Even the soybeans are turning.

We had a nice time in Decorah-saw the eye Dr, the medical Dr., got a haircut, went to Mabes with the Browns (after the Dr.), went to the office, and saw many people we know. Don even made it to coffee several times. We did all that in less than two days, and then drove to Omaha.

NEW MELLERAY ABBEY

Before we left Dubuque, we went to the monastery, to tour their casket factory. Don has always wanted a wood casket, and has wanted to see what the brothers product looked like. First, we went to the main building, to the gift shop and chapel.

We then went to the factory which is a three year old building. It consists of a small chapel with a little water garden outside, a museum about the monks, a showroom and the factory.

We were led on our tour by a delightful old monk with huge ears-he reminded me of one of the seven dwarfs. I didn't take any pictures, but we were impressed with the quality of the workmanship and of the finished product. It was clean and bright in the factory area because there are large windows all around, looking out on the trees and farmland. The monks work 4 1/2 hours a day and the rest is spent in prayer. They now have 15 lay employees. Sixty percent of the caskets are made from their own trees, and if you buy one, they plant a tree in your name. Each one is blessed and a Mass is said for you. (Some of us need all the help we can get.) Anyway, it was very interesting.

LIZARDS ON THE LOOSE

For those of you from the AZ group who went to the Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque, you'll understand lizards on the loose. For everyone else-the museum currently has an exhibit of lizards, and there are several of the "loose ones" around town. Here's an athletic one.

This one is slim and cute.

Here's my personal favorite-The Lizard of Oz-notice the red shoes!

ENJOYING BREAKFAST

Everyone seemed to enjoy their omelets!

We hope everone had fun-we certainly did! A special thank you to Charlie and Juanita and Wes and Rose for being our co-hosts and helpers. We were impressed and grateful for all of you who pitched in and helped make everything run smoothly-especially with clean-up! We hope everyone had safe travels home! See you in Arizona!

IOWA OMELET BREAKFAST

On Thursday morning, Doyle and Opal Van Der Hart were kind enough to make us all omelets in bags. Here are some of the guys watching water boil while waiting for the fixings.

Loading the baggies.

Waiting to be cooked.

Are they done yet?

RIDING DOWN THE RIVER

Getting our "grub".

Was that a great moon or not?

Going under a bridge.

Isn't this a good looking group?

WAITING TO BOARD THE AMERICAN LADY

Here we are at Catfish Charlie's waiting to board the boat for dinner.



Lined up and ready to go.

Look out-here we come!

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES

On Wednesday afternoon, we went to lunch at the Star Restaurant at the old Star Brewery at the Port of Dubuque with Browns, Banwarts, and Ludekings. We ate on the roof patio and enjoyed our view of the Mississippi. Then we drove up to Eagle Point Park with Ludekings and watched a boat and barge go through the locks.
Along came the McGinnis' and watched with us.

JOHN DEERE TOUR

On Wednesday morning we arrived at the Deere plant for our tour, led by Charlie Gun and his friends.



When we toured the plant in Waterloo, cameras weren't allowed. When we got toward the end, Charlie said we could take pictures, so I got a few.

This one proves our tractor driver was speeding!

Here are a few examples of the finished products.

I'm sure everyone would like to thank Charlie and the guys for doing such a wonderful job!

Since we were in the last group, our drivers had to wait for us.

I think everyone would agree-it was a very interesting morning!