more travel scenes

If you haven't figured it out yet, I love to take sky pictures. This one was taken on my way home from Red Oak, Iowa, after stopping in Elk Horn to visit this Danish windmill gift shop. Then later I tried out a great Danish restaurant next door to the windmill and ate an absolutely delicious and tender roast beef sandwich! Any one of Danish ancestry must plan a visit to this unique town. The log cabin pictured here is found in Red Oak. I didn't get to go inside and be able to see how it compares to one we just restored here in Lake View so will have to plan for that on another trip to southern Iowa someday.

Scenes from Red Oak, Iowa

I just recently attended an historical preservation convention in Red Oak, Iowa, and of course had to visit this unique library. I learned that they are still in the process of re-shelving and organizing items from their major renovation project of over a year ago. Hopefully it won't take as long for Lake View's library to be re-shelved and organized come this November. This is our last week for patrons to get any books they want to read during our closure.

Storm clouds - Sept. 15

Had to stop along the highway last night on my way home from Carroll, Ia. to take these sky shots!! The stormy picture was taken east and the sunnier ones were taken from the same roadside stop but facing west!! Awesome!! Right!? In fact I had barely pulled into my home before the storm from the east started pouring rain in my area around the lake.

The end of a season

Summer is almost over for 2010 and with it ends not only the many boaters who will "hang out" in the town bay area and the campers who camp at our two campgrounds, the one pictured is at 30 Acres BUT a very sad ending is seen with the sale of a special lake "icon"- the East End dining facility pictured here. It was just recently auctioned off and it will probably not be another eating place as it has been for many, many years. In years past boaters could not only boat up to the place but one could even gas up their boats from the dock seen in this picture. The gas pumps went out several years ago but it has remained a popular eating place up until recently. What will the area become in the future is not known at this time. Plans for another restuarant are "in the works" to be near our new Boulders Inn and Suites Motel but until that becomes a reality the above pictured restaurant has now disappeared in the annuls of Lake View's history.

Pioneer Sing a long 2010

NEW EVENT! This is another new "pioneer" event I initiated to bring people to visit our wonderful newly renovated log cabin -- a "pioneer sing a long"! We had 35 people attend this first endeavor and the weather cooperated perfectly --until of course close to closing when the mosquiotos came out! Because of a special grand opening at the museum and the fact I was suffering from a bad leg we opted to eat and sing closer to the museum and on flatter ground rather than up the hill close to the actual log cabin. A special thanks to my helpers who provided the fire pit for the hot dogs and marshmellows, a fellow Garden Club member who manned the food table and of course, my music director.

2nd Annual Kid's Pioneer Day

Another successful Kid's Pioneer Day was held at the authentic log cabin here in Lake View. The events included some new "stations" as well as the candle making, sack races and the 'old scrub board washer tub from last year. Our newest additions were the arrival our Nebraska "mountain man", a very dear neighbor friend of mine, members of a spinners/weaver guild, and natural cloth dyeing by one of our local teachers. Another new addition that we plan to definitely expand next year is the "dress up clothes" and school room experience. The girls (didn't have any clothes for the boys) really enjoyed this new event and our "pioneer teacher" has been rehired for next year. Another popular "station" from last year was the log cutting area although this year our "logsman" had bark whistles for the kids to learn how to make. Last year they got to see how he made and full size bed from tree logs. The bed is now in the loft of the cabin.

A new log cabin scheduled for this coming weekend is a "pioneer sing a long" with hot dogs and chips. More info on that in a later blog.

Southwest furniture

Just a few shots of some really unique home furnishings I saw while visiting a friend in Santa Fe this summer. I love all the native style fireplaces. As mentioned on an earlier blog posting, my friend's home has 5 of these unique fireplaces!! The top picture is my own gas fireplace that was just put in this past winter---- just in time for the big ice storm that knocked our power!! It has a southwest look as well but not as authentic as the ones in Santa Fe!!