LAST SCHOOL CARNIVAL

Joe is the last one in elementary school and we went to his last school carnival with him. Where does the time go? Here's one of the halls at Catlin Elementary.

This is the area right outside of his mother's kindergarten classroom.

I got him to pose outside of his 6th grade classroom.

They had many games and he was really excited because he won enough to acquire enough points to get a strobe light. He ran down the hall to get that one! Here he is giving his tickets to the lady at his favorite game booth.

Jenna came to visit and ended up helping.

We had a great time with Joe and he even bought us supper! Thanks Joe!!!

WALNUT CREEK PARK

We're still in Papillion at Walnut Creek, and walk almost everyday at the lake behind the campground. We're up to 2 1/2 miles a day. It's marked every tenth of a mile and Mulert has several mathmatical equations to make a game of it. There're always things to see along the way-notice the butterfly.


Many people in the area have views of the lake and some houses are larger than others. They're currently building a big one that we pass everyday and watch the progress.

We can also see the campground.

Each day we walk across this old wagon wheel bridge.

Fall is here and the cattails are done.

It's 3.1 miles around the entire lake-this is just a small part of it.

I guess if you have to do this exercise thing-it's a pretty place to do it!

OMAHA UPDATE

I simply don't know where the time goes. We're busy going to the grandchildren's various sports events-2 play football, 1 runs cross country, 1 plays volleyball and 1 is going to start soccer today if it stops raining. After he gets his chance, I'll put some pictures on. In between, we're working on genealogy-Don made a discovery about his father's family and he's trying to organize-I'm working on starting to write a book about my great-grandfather since after many years of searching, I found a picture of him. We're also trying to do some research for a friend in AZ, but he's tough to find. Besides this, I've been working on scrapbooking and Don put a new hose on the toilet. Yea!!! (Note to Al-still no light!) One thing at a time. We've been walking the trail around the lake and yesterday we went 2.2 miles. We're currently at Walnut Creek which is part of a city park in Papillion overlooking the lake. We'll probably go back to Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs after the first of October when it becomes $11 a night. Don't know much else-just having fun!

LINCOLN ROSE GARDEN

Across the street from the Sunken Gardens are the Rose Gardens, next to the zoo. There are thousands of roses in bloom.





Here's a closer look at a couple.




Another lovely place!

TRIP TO LINCOLN

We've been in Omaha almost two weeks and have been attending the grandchildren's sports events, so one day we went to Lincoln to go to Jenna's volleyball games. We went early to do a little sightseeing at the Sunken Gardens. At the entrance is a neat dome full of leaves and snowflakes.

This isn't a huge area, but created on land given to the Parks group from the back yards of three families. Part of it is on the side of a hill, but full of flowers.

The impatiens have gone wild.

There's a water garden with koi in it.

It's a very pretty place and free.

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

We went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch.

They had huge, heavy chairs that were comfortable.

It was bright and cheery and the food was good.

We'd like to thank the Banwarts and Wilsons for a wonderful rally!!!

THE ARTIST'S SHOP-INSIDE

When he was done, we went inside to see some of his accomplishments. He has many ribbons from the fair and newspaper articles about his art.

More cardinals. These were carved on floats in parades and then are auctioned off for charity.

Here's another eagle.

Notice the "Insane Serial Carver" behind The Lord's Last Supper.

What a talented man!

THE ARTIST'S SHOP

On to the artist's shop to watch him.


He started with a part of a tree trunk, and we wondered and tried to guess what he was making.

An eagle seems to be created.

It was so interesting watching, we stayed during rain.

Next, he used a torch on it.

All done and you can see it's a feather behind the eagle. Emmy and Paul sneaked back and bought it later, so now we'll all get to see it again at the park.

That was fun!

CHAIN SAW ART

We took a little tour around the lake to see the artwork of a particular artist, because we were on the way to watch him do his thing. He's very talented with a chain saw.

Isn't this a cute pelican?

The cardinals are really neat!

His sculptures add beauty to the lake.

OTHER RALLY ACTIVITIES

One night we had a campfire and one day a happy hour at the motel.

One night we ate at a family restaurant and the next night at a steak place-both excellent. Emmy and Paul Banwart and Dale and Irene Wilson were in charge. Here the Banwarts are on the left with Joe and Linda Evers on the right.

I had to zero in on one special person who was unable to be at the park last year because she was winning a rough battle with cancer. We're thrilled Etta Driesen (and Jim), are able to be back this year. We think she looks great!

After dinner we were treated to a performance of a group of singers that sang Broadway songs. They were great!

We even got to hear Elvis!

It was a very nice evening!

ALBERT CITY, IOWA

Al Ludeking, our happy activity director, decided the Ludekings, Browns, and Mulerts, should take a short trip to Albert City for lunch at the Twisted Spoon.

Al gave us this big story about reading about this restaurant in the Iowa Magazine and they were known for their great pies. I personally feel he had an alternative motive-this just happens to be Cal Anderson's hometown, and I think he wanted to see where Cal came from-of course, he always likes to eat! This is what the inside looks like.

If you get the chance to go, we found out that pie is only served on Thursdays-alas, it was Wednesday. Part of our fun consisted of watching one waitress serve almost 50 people, the ones in this room and 20 more in the back. Boy, she could move! The food was good and this isn't one of those one hick restaurant towns. There's another one across the street with painted wood windows, that serves food for dinner.

In case Cal is watching, here's a little more of your downtown. (I should have straightened the picture, but I think it gives it that special "look".

There's also a nice park.

A nice little Swedish town!

SANTA'S CASTLE

We toured Santa's Castle, which is a man's collection of moving decorations kind of crammed into the old library building.

It's kind of difficult to get good pictures, when they move so fast. This child's bottom goes up and down under the blanket as a cat chases a mouse under the bed. At least I got the tail.

Another tail, this time a reindeer.

Several poodles took over the kitchen.

Downstairs there was a train layout which everyone enjoyed.

If you're looking for a place to take your little ones, or the little one in all of us, this is the place.