Watching Drake host Morehead State

Linda and I braved a chilly day to see the final home game of the Drake football season. Morehead State was in town and the Bulldogs were looking to get back above .500 for the season. Drake got off to a slow start and fell behind 0-3 at the end of the first quarter. The second went more Drake's way as they scored 17 while giving up two more field goals. Morehead scored a touchdown in the fourth to them within two, 15-17. Their two point conversion failed so the score stood; another field goal would put Drake behind. Drake's defense rose to the occasion as it scored the final points forcing a safety in the closing minutes. It was a nice way to close out the home season.

Checking the new Urbandale Football Stadium

Earlier in the season, Urbandale opened their new football stadium and track. Linda and I thought about going one evening but it was pouring rain so we opted out. This time, it was a beautiful autumn evening AND part of the 4A playoffs. This game pitted the Johnston Dragons, who we'd seen play earlier in the season, against the Dowling Maroons, a local team with a long history of success. The game went well and came down to the final possession. Johnston trailed but had the ball and was driving when time ran out.

Visiting Howell's with Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad came to town and Linda and I took them out to Howell's Dried Florals and Greenhouse. One of the Register's 100 Places to Visit, it had a number of things to attract us. Linda and I enjoy looking around at the various items. Mom liked browsing through the dried florals. Several of the items in the barn reminded Mom and Dad of things they or their parents had used at one point or another. Similarly, the various older tractors outside caught Dad's attention. Of course, there's plenty to photograph so we all had a good time.

I posted the first time that Linda and I visited Howell's. You can find that post here.

Taking in Drake AND Iowa State Football Games

TWO games in ONE day? Yep... without really trying! Linda and I like to get out on nice autumn days and this was one not to miss. We sat in the sun at Drake Stadium and watched the Bulldogs match wits with Davidson, a pretty consistent power in the Pioneer League. The game was a pretty even affair but ended with Drake up 20-17... my favorite ending!
Later that afternoon, we hooked up with a friend of mine who had two extra tickets that we could use so we made the drive up to Ames to see the Cyclones take on Texas A & M. It was more of the big time football experience: excellent marching band before the game and at half time, extremely geared fans, good football, and, when the going gets tough, the voice of dissent. Iowa State ended up on the short end of the score but we had a good time!

Spending the evening at Party Town

The Waterloo Black Hawks play hockey at Young Arena and one of their traditions is to blast Glenn Fry's Party Town over the public address system as the crowd keeps rhythem with their cowbells. This evening, Linda and I brought Ashley and Travis to the game. Buying tickets so late limited our seat selection but it turned out to be quite an evening. We were down near the glass way down in a corner so we had an excellent view of one goal and not so great of the other.

The people watching turned out to be as memorable as the game. The guy next to me would turn to me for a high five after every Black Hawks goal ... and there were several of those. A family of four or five was sitting / standing along the glass and one of the boys begged his mom for a slice of pizza; she got popcorn for him. When she told him to clean a some kernals he'd spilled, he said "Wouldn't have spilled pizza..."

It was quite an evening.

"Helping" with a photo shoot

Ashley wanted a photo to use on her blog and asked Linda and me if we would take some photos for her. She had a general look and location in mind so we felt like we had a decent chance of pulling this off. As I understood it, the top image is reasonably representative of what we were aiming for. My shots were mostly just for my benefit; Linda had the responsibility for the project camera and the preferred angles. Of course, once you're on site, take a few shots, and review them, it's pretty common to wonder if you really got what you had in mind. With that question in mind and a little creativity, we were soon trying a few other shots. Of course, with two people and a puppy, it's tough to capture that moment when everyone's right. In the end, the image in the lower right is the one that I remember and like best. Ashley did use a shot like the one at the top but has since changed a time or two again. None the less, it was a good time out on an autumn day.

Meeting Mowgli

Linda and I visited Ashley and Travis and got to meet their puppy Mowgli, a male Canaan dog. He's a playful dog with a very nice near white coat. The hair of his coat feels a little coarse or stiff but lays down smoothly so he's nice to pet. He's learning a lot... and so are Ashley and Travis; Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer has shown them several good (and bad) ideas for raising a dog you'd want to have around. They're doing a very nice job as Mowgli is a treat to meet.

Shooting the Grundy County Courthouse in Daylight

A while back I posted a night photo of the Grundy County Courthouse. Linda and I were passing through in the morning so I took this shot to supplement the earlier post. I like all the variety in surfaces of this courthouse. Most of the newer structures are pretty boxlike; this has curves and the clock tower; pretty asymmetric to keep my eye entertained and my mind wondering about the layout. Anyway, while I liked the glowing night shot, I'm glad to get a daytime image posted as well.

Visiting the Dragon's Den

In the spring, Linda and I went to see the Johnston Dragons win the state baseball championship. This fall, the football team was off to a great start and, this weekend, was going up against another highly rated team, Ankeny. Having not been to the Johnston field, we set out for our second high school football game of the year. The teams looked sharp and generally played well. Johnston never figured out how to stop Ankeny's running game so, by half time, the score was getting a little out of hand. Halftime adjustments didn't fix the problem and Ankeny rolled on. It was still a nice autumn evening out.

Shooting the Poweshiek County Courthouse

Montezuma is the county seat of Poweshiek County and this is their courthouse. It looks more like a school than what I think of as a courthouse. Maybe it looks more New England than Midwestern to me. Whatever it is, it's a nice looking courthouse located on the square.

Touring Cedar Rock, The Walters Residence

In 1948, construction of their home near Quasqueton began. The Frank Lloyd Wright designed home and boathouse were to be set along the Wapsipinicon River. Mr. Wright chose and positioned practically every detail of this property including the plants in the yard and the vases on the shelves. Contruction started by stripping the area to bedrock and then building it back up again; quite a project. In the end, it is quite an impressive statement of his vision. Fortunately, the Walters lived in the house as it was designed and saw that it would be preserved as Mr. Wright saw it.

It's a great stop on the list of 100 Places in Iowa and you'll get to tell people it's near Quasqueton, along the Wapsipinicon, two of my favorite place names in Iowa.

Pausing at Iowa's Largest Skillet

While not the world's largest, this skillet in the small town of Brandon lays claim as the largest in the state; I've seen no other make such a claim so I'm going to to with them.

Statistically, the bottom of the pan is eight feet across; the sides taper up and out to open that up to over nine feet at the top. The handle is five feet long. Overall, the pan weighs in at about one thousand pounds.

If it were to be used to fry eggs, you could fry about five hundred at one time. Bacon, about ninety pounds, not strips, pounds. Pork chops, about three hundred and fifty.

While not on the Register's list, it's a fun and amusing little stop along the way.

Picking Apples with Valerie

Linda and I stopped by to see Valerie for a bit and ended up going out to an apple orchard to pick some apples. Val was wanting to make applesauce so we loaded up a few bags and set her up. It was a nice autumn afternoon and, as you can see, the trees were heavy laden. It did take a little while to get to the trees that had fruit but, once there, it was easy pickin'. It was nice to get to visit for a bit as well.

Shooting the Jones County Courthouse

Anamosa is the county seat of Jones County and this is their courthouse. Set back on a hill overlooking the highway, it's an imposing structure. I like the mature trees and the detail on the building. It's what I've come to expect in courthouses in Iowa.

Shooting the Jackson County Courthouse

Maquoketa is the count seat of Jackson County and this is their courthouse. This is one of the more recent constructions we've seen and, unfortunately, it's not among my favorites.

Shooting the Maquoketa Carnegie Library

This is the Maquoketa Public Library and it is one of the surviving Carnegie Libraries in Iowa. It has the look Linda and I have come to recognize in many of the libraries built in the early twentieth century. This library still serves its community and appears to do it well. There were people coming and going as I approached to take the photo. I like to see that on going support and the long lasting legacy.

Checking out the Decker Hotel

Maquoketa is home to the Decker Hotel, another of the Register's 100 Places In Iowa. Linda and I stopped in to take a look at this gem on the prairie. The exterious looks like most buildings on main streets in midwestern towns: very vertical, two or three stories. The lobby was very welcoming, clean, and comfortable. Having read some of the reviews, it looks like this would be a nice spot to spend an evening or two.

Pausing at the Gehlen House

Gehlen House, in St. Donatus, is a bed and breakfast promising a quiet break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The community seems to have a connection with Luxembourg but I'm unable to find anything specific. St. Donatus is best known in that part of the world and the Gehlen House website advertises Luxembourg hospitality. The setting is Iowa small town and the Kalmes restaurant across the street does look promising. I really can't say a whole lot more about a bed and breakfast without staying there.

Dropping in at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey

One of the Register's 100 Places in Iowa, Our Lady of the Mississippi is set on a bluff overlooking the river valley a few miles south of Dubuque. Besides the obvious service in their faith, the nuns are also known for an item on the list of 100 Things You Must Eat, Trappistine Creamy Caramels. Linda and I have found them in shops in Dubuque in the past but it was nice to stop at the monastery.

Shooting the Dubuque County Courthouse

Dubuque is the county seat of Dubuque County and this is their courthouse. This gold-capped Beaux-Arts courthouse reminds me of the pyramids of Egypt (not that I've been there, but you may see what I'm talking about too.) I like the contrasting red and white blocks that come together to form this hall of justice.

Browsing Park Farm Winery

Park Farm Winery, near Durango, is one of the 100 Places in Iowa. It took a little gravel jammin' in the beautiful autumn hills to find this gem but, when we got there, it was a nice stop. It was pretty apparent that they were preparing for some sort of elegant reception but we got to roam around a bit, admiring the handsome grounds.

Pausing at St. Bonifice Church

Saint Boniface Church in New Vienna is one of the Register's 100 Places in Iowa and it's not hard to understand why. From the outside, it's a beautiful structure in a lovely setting; inside, it's a well loved house of worship. I recall three alters, the stations of the cross, and a general sense of welcome and reverence.

We arrived at the church a few minutes after a classic car club from along the river. They had set this location as a stop on their tour du jour and were enjoying a bite of breakfast. While some were eating, others were stepping inside church. Those that were inside with Linda and me were complimenting some of the various features of the church. It was a nice place to pause for a moment along the way.

Shooting the Clayton County Courthouse

Elkader is the county seat of Clayton County and this is their courthouse. Located astride the Turkey River, this community experienced some of the flooding earlier in the year. By the time Linda and I arrived, the waters had receeded and cleanup had already made the town presentable; I do remember seeing some high water marks out around the ball fields but that's why the parks and ball fields are there rather than homes.

Checking the view from Iowa's Pikes Peak

Yes, there is a Pikes Peak State Park in Iowa. Another of the Register's 100 Places in Iowa, this park provides to pretty amazing views of the river and striking leaves on the overlooking hillsides. The image in the upper right is Wyalusing in Wisconsin.

While Linda and I were standing, admiring the view, a bald eagle soared by about one feet in front of us. Pretty cool!

We followed a couple of trails back in the hills and hollows of the park. As most of our day had been, this too was filled with the colors of autumn.

Climbing up to Effigy Mounds

One of the Register's 100 Places in Iowa, Effigy Mounds National Monument was not the easiest place to get to see. The climb from the entrance to the first mounds was significant; it was pretty with the turning leaves but the incline was not easily overlooked. Once we were at the top of the bluff, the trail wound through the woods, passing by various mounds. There are some two hundred mounds in the monument, thirty-one in the shapes of animals; the rest are conical, linear, or compound.

The images in the upper right and across the bottom show some of the mounds. They weren't very tall and most could almost have been overlooked or dismissed as simply oddly shaped soil. Those that were identified as effigies had what looked like a wide chalky stripe defining the edges to help see the shapes.

At a couple of mounds, there were the usual park service signs telling how people recognized the mounds and the best understanding of their purpose. As is often the case, as we learned more about the subject, the more questions we had. It really was a nice stop.

Getting a bite at Pete's

"Have you had a burger at Pete's?" they asked. "If you're ever in Prairie du Chien, you have to stop at Pete's Hamburger Stand and have a burger." If you've read much of my blog, you know that, if I was in Prairie du Chien, I was gonna stop at Pete's. Well, Linda and I were in Prairie so we looked up Pete's and tried the burgers. I'm not sure how they're prepared but they are tasty and moist. Linda said it looked like they were resting on the grill in a shallow sea of grease but when we took a bite, they were not greasy. They must have been in a little water, possibly with a very thin layer of melted fat. They were worth the stop. One thing you should know if you're thinking about getting a burger at Pete's: his hours are VERY limited, call ahead.

Climbing around Wyalusing State Park

While we were in the area, Linda wanted to be sure that I got to see Wyalusing State Park. Located on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, it has many nice trails and some pretty spectacular views. As we went from place to place, Linda would sometimes mention some experience she'd had in prior visits. It was nice to get a geographic context for some of the stories I'd heard before. While we were climbing down a very steep stairway / ladder from a cave, a lens cap slipped from my hand. We listened a long time as it bounced and ricochetted down the bluff finally coming to rest beyond where I felt safe going to retrieve it. It's now part of the park.

Visiting the Apple Capitol of Wisconsin, Gays Mills

Scattered across the hills surrounding Gays Mills, there are several orchards producing some VERY nice apples... and LOTS of them! Linda and I got to stop in at three and saw some pretty interesting and sophisticated operations. I enjoyed seeing the processes that bring the apples from the tree through to the bag ready to take home. We also enjoyed a few of the apple products offered: apple donuts, apple juice, and an apple slushy that was a little odd at first but, ultimately, pretty tasty.

Two of the orchards made it clear that we would not be welcome in their fields. One, however, told us to go ahead, walk around, especially in their vineyard. Linda loves vineyards so we were soon wandering between the leafy rows. The views of and from these hillsides were pretty spectacular. We'd made the trip at the right time of a very good year for leaf color.

Catching some Wisconsin Color

Linda and I crossed The River into Wisconsin and were treated to some pretty interesting sights. One of the more unexpected was the tobacco barn; I'm clearly ignorant regarding tobacco and Wisconsin agriculture because I'd never have mixed the two.

The Kickapoo River Museum in Gays Mills was also a little treat to find. The pond and spillway around the museum were very attractive. I'm not sure what the structure was used for in the past but something was powered by water.