OUR HOME REPAIRS

Yesterday, we went to Rickardsville, to check on the progress of our home at The Avalon Body Shop, owned by the Wilgenbusch family.

The front is done. They no longer make the Damon Astoria decal, so it will be plain now, and that's fine with us.

They also have to paint the areas on the doors so they look like this without the dents.

He already has it masked and ready to paint.

Here is the artist.

We can't say enough good things about these neat, cool people. They do a fantastic job and everything to help you. We give them an A+++.

GLITTER FOR PATTI

We have a friend in Grinnell who loves glitter. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if she decorated her car like this!


A closer look.

WALKING AT EAGLE POINT PARK

Eagle Point Park is on the bluff overlooking the lock and dam, and people spend a lot of time watching boats and barges going through .

There's a fishing barge across the river where old duffers can fish or play cards.

Looking toward town.

Looking north up the river.

This eagle is at the entrance/exit.

If you visit Dubuque, be sure and visit the park!

WALKING GRANDVIEW AVENUE

We walked the lower end of Grandview Avenue the other night down by the BVM nuns convent. It overlooks the Mississippi and part of downtown Dubuque.

A closer look.

Here's a peek at a pool along the bluff behind one of the pretty houses.

One of the riverboats passing down below.

If any of my relatives are watching, the current owners have added on to Dr. Matt's house. It looks very nice. For those of you who don't know, he was a well known Dr. in town, one of the founders of Medical Associates Clinic, and my grandfather's brother.

Speaking of the clinic, I was minding my own business the other night, typing some information in the computer, and at age 67, had my first migraine. The Dr. at the clinic the next day said I may never have another. I'm just grateful that the flashing light wasn't a torn retina. I can handle a headache!

A TRIP TO GALENA, ILLINOIS

After church on Sunday, we took a ride down to Galena and did a little shopping. If you've never been there, it's an old town with lots of nice shops that women like. This is part of the main street.

I spent a lot of time in Galena with my mother and aunt who had a friend who restored a house there. She did everything according to the way it would have been done originally, even if no one realized what she had done. A perfect example comes to mind, when we caught her putting an eggshell wash over the paint on the kitchen ceiling. This was Helen's house.

The town is built on the side of a hill, but you can cross the river at the bottom, and look across at the hill.

On the same side of the river is General Grant's Home. Once upon a time, we loaded the van with Cub Scouts, and took them to tour Grant's home for a historical experience. It was one of those memorable days-we set off the alarm in the house, and were stuck in a horrible snowstorm, for a long time, with a cramped van full of little boys! We made history that will never be forgotten! The house remains intact after all these years.

Here's a peak at Main Street as we cross the bridge and head out of town.

This time we stayed out of the old ice cream shop, which used to be my cousin's pharmacy and ice cream parlor. The old cabinets and tables are still in there. He was famous for his "homemade cough syrup"-it really took your cough away. However, the Feds came in, and the cough syrup suddenly disappeared. The locals were upset! (It just dawned on me that these are not the usual stories one would find in a travel magazine about Galena! I apologize if I put these stories on before-it's what we think about when we go there!)

RIVERWALK IN THE DARK

Things always look different at night. I don't know if the rabbit looks better or worse.

A look at the city.

Nothing beats the moon.

ART ALONG THE RIVERWALK

They change this artwork every year, so here's some of the new stuff. We haven't seen anyone try to call Heaven yet, but maybe it would work? The kneeler folds down from the prayer booth.

Everybody's favorite pest in front of the old brewery.

Ever seen a pile of leaves end up as a chair?

A white rabbit on a pole.

On the lawn of the hotel are these "things" made out of old farm machinery parts. They got best of show.

I took a close-up, since my brother-in-law, Farmer Fred, restores tractors. I figure he can use his spare parts and make a million! Just don't forget where you got the idea!!!

DUBUQUE'S RIVERWALK

We walked this one day and evening to show you the difference. There are pretty flowers along the way.




A nice place to fish.

A look ahead at the Grand Hotel and water park and the Convention Center.

A few people acting foolish-taking pictures on an active railroad bridge.

A look toward town and the River Museum.

WALKING IN DUBUQUE

We've been walking in different places every day, to show you a little of Dubuque and keep us more interested in getting exercise. One day we walked between theYacht Basin and Eagle Point Marina.

Closer to the marina-there are hundreds of boats around the curve.


Up on the bluff is Eagle Point Park, where the water tower is located.

You can get a glimpse of Mystique (the casino and dog track), through the trees.

If you've never seen "fish flies"-here they are.

Looking toward town, you can see Loras College on the top of the bluff.

ANOTHER AREA OF TRAIL

We went on to Rickardsville on Monday and left the RV to be repaired, then went on to Dubuque to check in at the Days Inn, which will be our home for two weeks. We had dinner at the Point Cafe with Grandma and Jerry and Pat. Tuesday and Wednesday,we did research at the Court House and Public Library, got the oil changed, walked the riverwalk, and did some shopping. On Thursday, we drove back to Decorah for the day, to get Don's new orthopedic shoes at the podiatrists. Don was able to go to coffee twice and we stopped at the office to chat. While we were there, we walked another part of the trail, so we could see the fish sculpture. We entered at the old bowstring bridge in the park.

Here's the fish! You can see the tail on the right.

This is one of the bridges on the new part of the trail.

It's very pretty scenery along the trail.

The flowers are pretty also. Does anyone know the name of this one?

They even paved a little area down the Trout Run Stream so it's easier to fish.

DECORAH TRAILS

We drove as far as Decorah on Sunday, and stayed overnight. We took our daily walk on Dug Road to see the new sculpture of a woman. Maybe you remember the area called an algific talus slope, which has ice filled cracks that cool the slope to 37 to 50 degrees all summer long. It's probably one of the few cool spots in Iowa the past month!

About 3/4 of the way toward town, we found her.

She has a hole in her dress where you can leave a note if you wish.

Here's her view of the river.

We made it to town.

And then walked back.