Member Update

Carmen Walgrave has four children, six grand children, and five great grand children. Her son lives close by, but she has a daughter in Texas. That makes for a good travel opportunity. She and Dick have also traveled to Branson, MO and Alaska to name a few.

2012 was a tough year with having to endure knee, hip, and back surgery. Dick also had open heart surgery. Recovery from that has taken some time.

Carmen and her family have always had a huge garden and done lots of food preservation. They have cut back on that somewhat, but Dick is now into raising dahlias.

Happy Halloween to everyone! Hope it's a great day.

Member Update

Mary Jo Stewart is still helping others through her work with the Good Samaritan Inn Soup Kitchen in Decatur. They serve as many as 300-400 people per day. I believe one of her specialties is homemade noodles!

She continues to be connected with 4-H and volunteers with the IFYE program statewide. Iowa and Wisconsin are also involved with this. She mentioned that she keeps in touch with Mary Kay Munson in Kansas through these efforts.

Her husband, Jim, has been having some health issues. They also had a trip to Branson planned for this year.

We received word this week that Dale Bateman of Monticello passed away on Sunday, October 19th. Not much information is available except that there will be a memorial service at Monticello United Methodist Church on Saturday, Oct. 25th at 10:00 a.m. Our condolences to his wife Margaret and the rest of the family.

Wisconsin/Illinois Trip Day 5

Day five was spent traveling the length of Illinois. We said good-bye to our travel companions as we made our way south.

Some shared with the group that they had a successful shopping day in Galena. This is Mary Clark in the "very warm looking" winter coat she purchased.

                                                                                       
 Lois Smith helped us out with a big "thank you" to Carol Schlitt for her efforts in making it a great trip. I believe everyone agreed that they had an enjoyable time. It's on to the Kentucky Derby for a smaller size group next spring. We are open to suggestions for other destinations after that.

Here is a last look at one of the magnificent chandeliers from the House on the Rock.

Wisconsin/Illinois Trip--Day 4

Saturday morning began with a tour of General Ulysses S. Grant's home in Galena. This home was given to him after he returned victorious from the Civil War. He and his family lived there for a short time before he began his bid for president. This is a painting of  him with his wife and four children that hangs in the house.

 After another delicious lunch at the Market House Restaurant, we were given a walking tour of Galena by General Grant himself (aka Bob Buman). We learned how Galena was first occupied by Indians, then the French. American Settlers came later, and built a prosperous lead mining town. The area is known for very high quality lead. The Galena River was a hub for steamboat commerce. However, the demand for lead decreased, and the Galena River became impassable to steamboats because of erosion. The population went from a high of 14,000 to around 3500. During the 1980's city leaders decided to focus on tourism, and Galena is now listed on some travel advisory sites as one of the top ten "charming little towns" in the US.

    For those who went to Mackinaw Island last year, the shops in Galena were a lot like that--without the cars, of course.

Dinner was at Fried Green Tomatoes, one of the best known restaurants in Galena. Then it was on to a surprise event for the evening!







                                                                                              

We were treated to a magic show by P .T. Murphy. He entertained us with disappearing $50 bills--which then reappeared in strange places. There were also some card tricks, and how in the world could he tell what people in our group were thinking? Glennon Schlitt is obviously not sure if he trusts Mr. Murphy in this photo.

Wisconsin/Illinois Trip Day 3

The first stop for our third day was Cedar Grove Cheese in Plain, WI. Our guide gave us a good tour and explanation of how they make premium cheeses the old fashioned way. We even went through the waste treatment facility--very quickly I might say! Almost everyone went with home with some "squeakies". This is fresh cheese that had been made that very morning. They even make Water Buffalo cheese at certain times of the year! These milk holding tanks were painted so the milk wouldn't feel lonesome during storage--according to our guide, Kathy.

                                                                                

Lunch was at The Old Feed Mill in Mazomanie, WI. There we enjoyed a delicious meal--and great desserts! This old mill has a rich history that dates back to 1857--before the Civil War. It was started as a water and flour mill by the railroad company that created the first rail connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River System. It is featured on the Food Network as one of the best in country cuisine!

After lunch it was on to The Shoe Box in Black Earth, WI. It is the Midwest's largest shoe store. They have over 300,000 pairs of shoes, and represent over 180 major shoe companies. Most of us had a little less money when we left there. Pictured here are Martha Speir, Karen Barker, and Sue Heath as they prepare for their shopping experience.



                                                                                

Rural Route 1 Popcorn in Monfort, WI was a fun stop. They not only have just about every kind of popcorn one can imagine, but a very nice gift shop as well. The store was opened in 1983 as a way to market about 25 acres of popcorn that were being grown on the farm. It was an attempt to diversify and explore a new production crop. Now the farm has 3,000 acres, and several hundred are dedicated to producing gourmet popcorn. Chocolate covered popcorn is one of their specialties, and several containers of C.C. Winkle, S. S. Dunkle, and Ivory Almond K'Nuckle found their way onto the bus.

After cheese,  pot roast, and popcorn, it was time for the evening meal! There is never a shortage of good food on our IEAFCS trips. The group enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Eagle Ridge Resort, just east of Galena, IL. It is a luxurious resort, golf course, spa, etc. Desserts at Eagle Ridge were "to die for." Carol, how do you find all these places?

Members of the group are: Jody Talick, Joy Richey, Sue Heath, Janet Burnett, Shirley Cummings, Steve Wiyatt, Jean Wiyatt, Patti Faughn, Mary Clark, Lois Smith, Terry Clark, Donna Mueller, Lyn Flahardy, Jimmy Smith, Cliff Flahardy, Martha Speir, Kathy Griffy, Karen Barker, Gary Slack, Linda Griffy, Sheila Grebel-Kertz, Glennon Schlitt, Carol Schlitt, Pam Slack, Jananne Finck, and Karen Gibbs.

Wisconsin/Illinois Trip Day 2 continued

After the tour and lunch at House on the Rock, our group boarded the bus for Pendarvis in Mineral Point, WI.  This is a restored lead mining settlement from the 1830's. Cornish miners from Cornwall, England settled there in the boom years of lead mining and constructed small limestone homes. Our guide, Cindy, is pictured as she explained how Robert Neal and Edgar Hellum saved several of the original structures beginning in 1935.


                                                                                      

The next stop was a Brewery Pottery Studio. We saw a pottery demonstration and enjoyed a shopping opportunity. This individual was very skilled in her work!

Next it was on to Potosi, WI where we toured Whispering Bluffs Winery and the National Brewery Museum. Our tour leader explained how a couple of  not-for-profit groups are working to preserve the history of American breweries. A delicious dinner followed at the Potosi Brewery Company Restaurant. Then it was back to the hotel after a very busy day




Unrelated note: For those who remember Sharon Tanner (Saline County Extension Home Economist), her husband, Jim, passed away today--Sept. 19th. Per his request there will not be a funeral service. Send a note to ieafcslife@gmail.com if you would like Sharon's address so you can send a card.

Wisconsin/Illinois Trip--Day 2

The first stop was at The House On The Rock in Spring Green, WI. Alex Jordan of Madison, Wisconsin spent his entire life building and designing the house and surrounding area.

It is an architectural marvel built in the 1940's on top of a 60' chimney of rock called Deershelter Rock. The house is 14 rooms, and there is a 375' ramp that takes visitors through the treetops to get to the house.

                                                                       

The infinity room  is the 14th room of the house and was finished in 1985. It extends 218 feet out over a scenic valley and is 156 feet high.
 It has walls made of 3264 windows (and a few screens). Those who walk to about the middle get a very special view of the tree tops through the floor.

This is the view of the tree tops. It is certainly closer than one would get from a plane. And, yes, that is a hornets nest that was just under the glass!



                                                                            

After the house was built, Jordan built more buildings and began to fill the surrounding area with every kind of collection imaginable. There are pipe organs, antique weapons, coin operated music machines (which play beautiful music), doll houses, chandeliers, and miniature circuses--plus a lot more! This giant whale is just one example.

The Carousel Room contains the world's largest merry-go-round with 269 animals--none of which are horses. The carousel horses are placed in many other locations throughout the tour. An entire workshop operated for years just to repair and re-paint the carousel figures as they were purchased.  This carousel has 20,000 lights and 182 chandeliers!



                                                                                              

The entrance road to the house features many planters with an oriental serpent theme. One might say that the sheer quantity of items in the place is overwhelming.  You could go through it several times and see something you missed before.

Are the collectibles real?? Sources say that some are and some are not. This is the most visited tourist attraction in Wisconsin  however, so the intrigue continues.

More on day two will be shared in the next post.