It wouldn’t be Iowa if it didn’t include visits (and photos) of tractors…….and a few other things, like the cool old truck and gas pump in this yard.

We stumbled into the museum in Charles City, home of Oliver tractors.

How lucky!?!

They do have kind of cool front ends.

I don’t know about the red rimmed tires, though.

Or, I guess you could have a yellow Oliver.

Here’s our new friend Leo (and Bob), showing us some of his John Deere collection.

This is a cool old Farmall.

Another Farmall, outside a restaurant called The Iowa Machine Shed.

Now you’re talking Bob’s language again–John Deere.  Think of the hay rides we could give if we had that trailer!

This old fire truck reminds me of my earlier life.

More green and yellow.  Do you know there are even paint colors called “John Deere Green” and “John Deere Yellow?”

I was so lucky that one of the temporary exhibits at the Vesterheim Museum was  a quilt show!  These were quilts made by area Norwegian/Americans.

I love signature quilts, and they had a lot of them!

This was a fundraising quilt made by the Big Canoe Lutheran Church women.

Members of the congregation paid five or ten cents to have their name included in the quilt, then it was raffled off.

This quilt was made in the early 1930′s in Decorah.

It was a fundraiser for the hospital auxiliary there.

I love the green-on-white and white-on-green combination and the circle quilting at the corners of the blocks.

This quilt was made by the Highland Lutheran Church Ladies Aid Society.

It was purchased by Pastor Holie, who served the church from 1897 to 1915 .

It was used for years on his daughter, Olga’s, bed.

When Olga passed away, her daughter had it draped on her coffin to represent the community in which she was raised.

This Wagon Wheel signature quilt was made by the Baldwin Lutheran Church’s Ladies Aid Society.

It was a gift to the pastor.

This quilt was quilted by twelve year old Ellen Knudson in 1865.  It had been pieced by her mother and grandmother.

This Ocean Waves quilt was made by Nellie Long in 1878.

Ingeborg Hanson made this quilt in 1870 for a Ladies Aid raffle.  Her sister-in-law, Anna, held the winning ticket.  The funds were used to help build the Cedar Valley Lutheran Church.  Many congregations had Ladies Aid Societies before they had church buildings.  Through quilts and other efforts, women made significant contributions to church budgets.  The stems and leaves on this quilt would have been green when it was made, but green was a fugitive dye and has faded to a light tan.

Mathea Norde started this quilt while she waited for John Wrolstad to return from the Civil War.  John served with the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment, also known as the Scandinavian Regiment.  After the war, he and Mathea married and had twelve children.

I was surprised by the large amount of yellow used in this quilt.

This log cabin quilt was made by Mary Haugen in the late nineteenth century.

It won first place in the Minnesota State Fair.

Clara Rikansrud made this quilt in 1922.

It was a graduation present for her son, Aurthur.

This quilt honors the twenty pioneer women members of the Highland Lutheran Church.

Margurite Paulsrud and Olaf Rossing married on June 20, 1929.  One week later, Olaf was ordained as a Lutheran minister and the couple moved to Bagley, Minnesota, to serve their first parish.  Before they left, Marguirte’s mother and aunt presented her with this crazy quilt dressing gown.  They thought she needed something  warm for Minnesota and something nice as a pastor’s wife.  In 1937 they presented her with the matching lap robe.

This crazy quilt dressing gown was made by Helena Rossing around 1900.  It is embroidered with Bible verses in both English and Norwegian.

This quilt, whose blocks represent the Norwegian flag, might have been made in 1914 when Norway gained its independence.

A modern Norwegian flag quilt being raffled to benefit the museum.

The next three modern quilts were made to represent Rosemaling, the Norwegian decorative painting style usually seen on wooden items.

There were lots of antique shops in Iowa.

Besides the vintage quilts, I’m always drawn to the kitchen ware.

Every time I turned a corner I was ready to re-do my kitchen in a new color!

Oh, the possibilities…..

Even some nice orange accents.

I couldn’t believe the number of pitchers and glass sets.

They were everywhere.

There’s one fewer in Iowa now.  The dots just had to come home with me!

Dang, I should have bought the Art Deco one, too.

Bob and I have gotten into the habit of taking a weeks vacation every year after Spring Quilt Market.  For years I’ve wanted to vacation in Iowa, and I finally, finally got to do so.  Not only was I happy to get to Iowa, it appears the people of Iowa were happy to have me!

We traveled through several Amish communities, including Harmony, Minnesota.

And, as you might expect, there was lots of corn in Iowa–lots of corn!

Right now it’s growing 2″ a day.  Imagine!  It was obvious to us in the week that we spent there.

We found some great antique stores.  I loved the displays.

Among our favorite things were the museums, like the Hardin County Farm Museum in Eldora.  The signs here indicated this is part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area.  It isn’t open except for special occasions, but we met a nice old gentleman there and he asked if we’d like to see inside.  Two hours later, we were wishing him goodbye and sending him home for a late dinner (he had called his wife, though!).

I’ve known about Vesterheim, the Norwegian/American Museum in Decorah for years, and was finally able to visit–don’t tell my Swedish relatives!

We happened upon this old mill after closing, but they were expecting a vintage car group, so invited us in for a tour.

We got a personal tour of a turkey farm.

Here’s a beautiful view of the Skunk River in Ames…..

….and the Mississippi River, which divides Iowa and Wisconsin.

Of course we got to visit lots of tractor collections.

And even the National Farm Toy Museum.  Did you know there was such a place?

We went to quilt exhibits…….

…….and saw quilt barns…….

…..and visited quilting friends in their shops.

We even crossed the Mississippi so we could visit Stockholm—Wisconsin, that is!

And we saw Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods.

Iowa was great.  Stay tuned.  There will be more of our Iowa Adventure to come…..

My mom and dad recently invited a group to a suite for a Mariner’s game.

It was great fun watching the game, even though we lost in extra innings.

The food was great, and so was the company.

I even wore a coat!

Bob loves the girls, you know!

I love it when the grounds crew performs while doing their job!

We had a visit from the Moose!

Even the big kids liked him!

My recent trip to Las Vegas with my mom, sister and daughter wasn’t about gambling, it was about eating, shopping and being entertained.

The first night we were there, Melissa and Grandma went to see Donny and Marie.  Melissa grew up watching them and mom fell in love with them on Dancing with the Stars.

That same night, Sally and I went to see Terry Fator.  He’s the ventriloquist that won America’s Got Talent a few years ago, and, boy, does he have talent!  Besides a ventriloquist, he’s an impersonator.  His act would be great even if his lips did move!

I loved all his characters, but the funniest was when he got a big guy up from the audience, dressed his like Cher, and talked for him.  Then Terry donned a Sonny wig and they sang “together!”  Honestly, if you’re ever in Las Vegas, don’t miss this show.

In our hotel we went to see the Cirque de Soleil show called “O.”  It’s done in the water.  Well, some of the time.  First the stage is a pool, then it’s a stage, an so on.  The guy taking the high dive really has to trust that the guy operating the stage mechanics doesn’t foul up!  It was amazing.

Melissa provided some entertainment for us–and a gathered crowd–when she got up-close and personal with a mime!

Good thing she’s young and cute!

Shoe shopping…..

This is the size Michael Jordan wears!

We tried to get Melissa to buy some new evening wear.  Love how she tried it on, hanger and all!

This was my favorite display.  It’s at Brighton and the dress is made from their tissue paper.  Amazing!

The Brighton store at the airport had this mannequin dressed in newspaper!

I wanted to buy this mannequin, but it wasn’t for sale.  It sure would have looked cute in the studio!

Check out this window display.  Those are pantyhose!

So, here’s what I had to pack when it was time to go home.

And this is the size of my suitcase!  Believe it or not, I got it all in–well, a little of it had to go into my carry-on.

Viva Las Vegas!

We stayed at the Belagio while in Las Vegas.  The hotel is beautiful, starting with the glass installation in the lobby ceiling.  It’s by Washington glass artist Dale Chihuly.

But the truly amazing thing is the garden at the end of the lobby.  I love the wild foxgloves that bloom near our woods, but these were pretty impressive.

Poppies!

And orange tulips!

I love this glass water feature.

There was a lot of whimsy in the garden, like these giant ants and mushrooms.

And I loved this pot spilling flowers out–and the giant trowel.

Here’s another view of the trowel.

In front of the Chihuly Studio, there was glass mixed in with the plants.  How perfect.

I think this was my favorite water feature.  Next time it rains, I’ll picture giant watering cans pouring the water down on me.

At Sally’s suggestion we also wandered through the Wynn and Encore.  It was decorated just for me–with butterflies!

I loved the marble floors.

And it was okay that they threw in some dragonflies.

Not only were there butterflies in the marble floors, but the carpets, too.

Isn’t the mosaic work incredible?

I loved the whimsy of these lights.

This atrium was fantastic with the umbrellas.  They just need the giant watering cans from the Bellagio!

Sally and Melissa.

A few weeks ago, my mom, my sister, my daughter and I went to Las Vegas–not to gamble but to eat, shop and be entertained!

Mom and Sally.

Melissa and me.

The afternoon we arrived, we had a late lunch in our hotel, the Belagio, at Olives.  Lunch was delicious, but dessert was even better.

The chocolate cake with raspberries was yummy!

As was the chocolate mousse.

Sally had the creme brulee.

And Melissa opted for a second Lemon Drop!

Our very most favorite restaurant in NYC is Le Cirque.  How lucky that they have one at the Bellagio, too!

We started off with a celebratory Cosmopolitan.  I’m always trying to help out the cranberry growers!

The food is as delicious as the presentation.

Sally’s “Risotro in Harmony with the Seasons.”

The guy at the next table was having the shellfish appetizer, and I just had to have a photo!  Thank you, Mister.

My lobster.  Mmmmm.

Filet topped with foie gras

Salmon.

But the best–chocolate souffle!  Four, please.

Our last night, we ate at Circo, and their souffle was Grand Marnier.  It wasn’t chocolate, but it was a close second!

Mom and Sally had fresh doughnuts with two dipping sauces.

As you can see, we were well fed–especially in the dessert department!

Flashback to the mid 80′s.  Melissa is in high school and I’m hooked on MTV!  Melissa’s favorite band–Bon Jovi!

Fast forward to a few months ago when Melissa tells me Bon Jovi is touring and the number one thing on her Bucket List is to see them again before they’re too old–or she’s too old!  I tell her to buy us tickets and she does–fourth row.  FOURTH ROW!!!!

Bon Jovi’s first stop–Seattle.  Melissa and I spent the weekend at my parents condo.  Here’s the view from First and Spring.

Mount Rainier over Safeco Field and the Quest Center.

The waterfront.

Tall buildings.  Hey, I’m from a really small town.

Of course we had to go to Pike’s Place Market.

Aren’t the flowers on the rooftops beautiful?

Years ago when the Market was being refurbished, they had a buy-a-tile fund raiser, and my mom and dad bought tiles for the whole family.  Here are ours!

But, come late afternoon, we’re ready to go!

The concert was at Seattle Center.  Here’s a view of the Space Needle over the top of Experience Music Project.

Great public art on the way in.

Past the International Fountain.

Quick mother/daughter photo op.

Now here’s the cool thing.  A semi-circle comes out from the stage–about four feet wide.  We’re in The Pit–the area inside the circle!  That’s VIP section, baby!

Another peek at the Space Needle before we go inside.

Of course everything is in Melissa’s name–and her name is on the list–BUT, she took her ID out at the airport and put it in her carryon.  It’s not in her purse!  Must be nice to be young and cute.  She just smiled, batted her eyelashes a few times and the guy said No Problem!

We were escorted to a special reception room and the band was there to greet us–well, paper cut outs of them!

The appetizers were waiting for us.

As was the open bar–always high on my list!  As you can see, I did my part to support the cranberry industry.

Soon dinner was served–the pasta bar was yummy!

And who could argue with a Build Your Own Cupcake station!?!

The band didn’t join us, but one guy I nicknamed Phony Bon Jovi was loving having his photo taken with all the cute girls!

I know you want pictures of the real thing, but that will have to wait until Part 2!

A few days ago I was having lunch at the Port of Ilwaco.

As I drove away, I saw some local crabbers getting the pots ready for the upcoming Dungeness crab season.

I wonder if these guys would be good quilters?

As I pulled over to take some pictures, I heard, “Hello, Karen.”  It was Ed–a guy I grew up with and went all through school with.

This is what they’re hoping to catch.  Dungeness crab.  In my book, there’s none better.

Every fisherman has his own color buoy.

The season starts near the end of the month, and right now the crab pots are stacked up everywhere.

If I were a crabber, I’d want buoys this color!

Crab is a traditional Christmas treat in our family.  I can’t wait!