Retired School Marms

As teachers we have planned and supervised many a field trip.  Now that we are retired we are planning our own "field trips" and it is amazing how many things we find to do locally that we have not seen before.  In December Candace organized a get-together to the Allee Mansion near Newell.  We toured the beautiful home and had a delicious dinner fixed and served by board members of the historical society.

 Attending were Marilyn Olivari, Diane Wintz, Nora Birt, Connie Vogel, Carol Ford, Candace Booth, Diane Lenertz, and me (Cathy Charleston)

 Our host and hostess for the tour even dressed the part.  They were very informative about the history of the mansion and the people that lived in it.  We had to finish the tour after dinner because of the wealth of information.

 Some pictures of the rooms within the mansion - it was very festively decorated for the season.

 The upper part of this stove with the pie in it, is often mistaken for a "Microwave" when children tour the mansion.   They cannot imagine life without one!  (Nor could I!)

 The formal dining area is where we had our dinner.  Children are not allowed in this area to eat until they are adult children, or married.

 The ceilings were all beautifully papered to respresent the original work.

 

 

No, its not a canoe - its the bathtub - pulled down from the wall, and water had to be heated on the stove downstairs and then carried up to the bedroom. Quite an effort to take a bath. Below, Diane and Nora have to try out the old pump organ.  They serenaded us with some Christmas songs

Busy, Busy August

 Reagan and I started the month out with cut fingers!  Reagan loves the potato chips that can be made with Pampered Chef potato chip pan and the microwave.  I purchased the "simple" slicer to make it easier to prepare the chips - and guess what!  We both cut our fingers on it - and it was no small cut - we both bled for quite awhile - but our fingers eventually healed.

 Jenna spent her first sleepover with me while Stacy and Curt went camping.  She was a good girl and we had fun playing.  She can really make the walker move around already.

 Reagan really enjoys Jenna too.  She is getting much easier for the kids to manage and play with.  Not shown here, but Reagan also changed Jenna's diapers!  She will be a good mother someday!

 Drew also stayed with me for the first time.  He stayed for three days!  On Saturday we went to a wedding, and he was pretty excited about that.  During the ceremony he leaned over and said to me, "Grandma, why did that man have to help you to your seat?"  Guess he thinks I must be getting old!

 August brings birthdays.  Curt and Brian celebrate their birthday on the same day - August 25th.  I was in Des Moines, so Cari and I took Brian out for his birthday supper.

 The oldest and the youngest!!  Sixteen years difference in age - and they are both lookin' good!

 Cari and I left for Chicago using the MegaBus. This is a very economical way to travel.  Cari went to a birthday party for Larissa and I visited Carole and Dick (my cousin).

 One of these pirates is not like the others - old Sesame Street riddle!  We were on the Navy Pier in Chicago.  We had also taken a boat tour on the Chicago River and saw the architecture of many buildings of Chicago and also heard of the history is Chicago including the Chicago fire.  Very interesting

 Can't be in Chicago without trying a Chicago pizza - however, that must be what everyone else was thinking because our wait was over an hour just to get a table - but it was worth it.

 Carole and Dick were going to take me to a jousting event - but when we got there we were the ONLY ones there, so Dick got on the phone to ask about it, and we found out there was not a 2:00 performance as they had advertised. 

 On to Minneapolis - I went with Jay's and Terry's and Friday nite we went to the horse races.  We won a few and lost a few - but a very entertaining evening, and not very expensive -I should, however, bet on the gray horse - guess they don't win often, but when they do the payoff is good!

 Picking the winners

 I think next time I will put my money on the John Deere Tractor!

 Saturday we spent the day at the Renaissance Fair.  This is quite an experience.

 Shows are great!

 There is much audience participation - and be expected to be made a fool of--

 Huge rocking horse - looked fun

 It had rained and was muddy - but this is taking it over the top

Our last stop in coming home was Cabela's - what a neat store - made it back to Pomeroy on Sunday evening.  Wonder what September will bring?

Wisconsin Dells

 Craig, Rachel, Reagan, Drew, Yvonne and I went to the Wisconsin Dells over the 4th.  We had a great time but there were all kinds of heat records broke across the nation that week.  It averaged about 100 degrees during the days we were there.  The last day the temps dropped, however.  We stayed at Christmas Mountain in a very nice two bedroom cottage.

 We didn't spend much time out on the patio porch - it was too hot.  It was good for drying clothes and swimsuits though.

 Breakfast at Paul Bunyon's -in Drew's words - "he was a big guy!"

 The night of the fourth we went to the Tommy Bartlett Show.  This is a water ski show and we saw some very talented skiiers - and the clown, Aqua - a performer that Drew did NOT like!  I remember a time when his mother did not like clowns either!

 Much of the time was spent in the water.  There was a pool very close to our cottage, and one entire day was spent at Noah's Ark Waterpark.  Yvonne and I spent the day at Ho-Chunk's - and, no, we did not come home with any winnings - but we had fun and stayed cool.

 This was the second cabin we stayed in on Friday nite.  Yvonne and I slept in the loft - and this was a once up, once down kind of ladder.  Very pretty - but sure glad I did not have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! 

 The river was very close to the cabin, so once again the kids got to play in the water and build sandcastles.  There was also a pool that they spent time in.  Just before leaving the pool Drew said, What's those wild things?"  Here an entire family of baby racoons was under the deck by the pool.  Cute, but Craig reported them and the manager said they were going to trap and move them that night.  Some of the visitors had been feeding them so they were hanging around for a handout!

 Taking pictures of people taking pictures - Yvonne and Rachel

 The Lindsay family

 Drew got a new hat - wasn't sure he liked it at first, but then he wore it all the time.  He and his dad decided they needed to go fishing.

 Pictures of the log cabin - very nice

 Drew, watching intently, as Craig gets the pole ready.  I told Drew I expected him to catch a walleye for our lunch the next day - didn't happen!

 Notice the black shirt in pictures above and then look below.

 Drew begged all week to have the underarms of his shirt cut out - he thought he was pretty cool!  I have a feeling that shirt will get alot of wear this summer!

On Saturday we took a tour of the Dells on the Army Duck Boat.

 It was very interesting to listen to the history and formation of the Dells

 Can't remember the name of this formation - but our tour guide thinks it looks like the rear end of an elephant!

 Tatoos from the night before

We had a great time, dispite the heat, and now I am home, unpacked, clothes washed, and sharing my memories.