FARM LAND AROUND DUBUQUE

When we went back to Dubuque from Rickardsville, I couldn't help but take some pictures.



A little closer look.

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.