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.

RENAE AND DAN'S WEDDING

We attended the wedding of our niece, Renae, in Minneapolis on Saturday, and she was determined not to have a traditional wedding that cost a fortune, so she did it her way. It was in a pretty setting in a park, and started with her longtime male friends as "flower girls". They sprinkled rose petals down the carpet aisle from a cardboard box labeled "fruit jars", which caused a chuckle from the attendees. (I'm not sure if the box was planned or not.) She wore a white dress, but didn't want the traditional gown, so hers had a black waistband and she wore black shoes and jewelry. The bridesmaids wore sundresses that they could wear again. (As a side note, she and her sister Rachel, were the flower girls in our daughter Heidi's wedding almost 20 years ago, and all the girls could wear their dresses again. Their mother Linda told me recently, that the girls wore their dresses until they didn't fit anymore, and then Rachel wore Renae's. I hope that little bit of practicality influenced her to choose it for her wedding.) She also chose to do her own flowers obtaining them at the farmer's market, and she did a great job. Here are the girls in a "formal pose". Her sister, Rachel, is on the left.

The reception was held inside and outside, at an apple orchard. As you entered, you picked up a piece of "birch to set at your perch", otherwise known as a placecard. Some of us relatives were surprised when we found our wedding pictures hanging in a picture frame on the table-Don and I are on the left in the second row.

We were treated to a "picnic type" meal with hamburgers and brats, two kinds of potatoes and two salads. She doesn't like cake, so her mother made sugar cookies and truffles. She had yellow and white daisies in fruit jars on the tables. She wanted it to be casual and comfortable, so she and the bridesmaids danced in their cowboy boots. Everyone had a good time. Here's Don's brother Marvin, and sister Teresa.

The bride and groom with Grandma.

We all prayed that she'd have good weather and she did, until part way through the reception, when it suddenly just poured for a few minutes. It didn't dampen any spirits, because it was followed by a beautiful rainbow! I prefer to think it was sent to her from her Uncle Dick.

They did do a few traditional things, such as cut a small 2 layer cake, with a wooden bride and groom on top, made and painted by her father, the first dance, the dollar dance and a slide show. When it got dark, they had a bonfire down by the river and served s'mores and everyone lit the sparklers they were given. It's hard to see, but the bride lit the first sparkler.

Traditional, like our recent, Allison's, wedding (where I had camera trouble), or non-traditional like this one, we're just happy the girls were able to live out their dreams and have a wonderful start to a great marriage!!!

RED WING, MN

It was time for some down time to get the laundry done, etc., so we spent a week at the Treasure Island campground. We had a coupon for a reduction in a motel room rate, so they gave us $50 off and $20 in free play-not to bad a deal. One day we drove to Minneapolis and did some shopping and cemetery research, then to dinner at Jim and Mary Weingartner's home. We had a great time and a delicious meal! Another day, we drove to Rochester and spent the afternoon at the Olmsted Historical Library, doing research on the Friedell's. When we returned to town, we ate at Liberty's Restaurant-every trip to Red Wing we say we're going to try it, and finally did. We should have done it much sooner. It was delicious and at a reasonable cost. They have neat stained glass windows hanging in their windows, each with a different center etched glass picture. Very neat!

It's hard to see in this picture, but maybe you can see them hanging in the windows.

Each year, I think the Red Wing flowers can't be topped, but this years are awesome!

Yesterday, we drove to Maple Grove. MN for our niece Renae's wedding on Saturday. We joined many of Don's sisters and brothers and kids, and his mother, at Linda and Dave's house, (Renae's parents), for dinner. Another sister and brother will arrive today. It's always nice to see everyone! It's an outdoor wedding, so we're hoping the rain stops in time!