Wisconsin for a celebration

 

We got to Wisconsin Friday afternoon.  

Claire showed us a 4-leaf clover she had found!

The afternoon was warm so she put on her swimsuit to play.  

Adam loves to make a fire - it is mesmerizing, isn't it?  Claire decided to burn some of her school work!  School is over!

When Sophia got off work, she enjoyed roasting marshmallows in the fire.

Adam told us that the seniors at school picked Jill to dedicate the year book to!  Yay, Jill!  So proud of her and how she is using the gifts the Lord has given her!

On Saturday, we went to church to get a start on decorating for Hannah's graduation party.  We would not have time to do it all after church on Sunday.

The family all had places to go and things to do.  I remember those days!  Allen and I rested with Kobi.

Sunday morning - Sophia was on cello for the worship team.

There was a pancake meal and business meeting after church, then we set up the "cafe" for the party!

Hannah wanted Nana's cookies (in my recipe book they are called Men's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies) and also Scotcharoos.  Oh, my!  Those are delicious!!  

Wishing Hannah the very best!  The Lord will watch over you!!

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."  Psalm 32:8  Listen to His voice!

Allen and I manned the drink and food areas.

Adam's parents and Grandma came a little early to visit and congratulate Hannah.

Some of Hannah's art work through the years.

There was a play area for the children.

When the party was finished and decorations torn down, we went out to eat!

We were too pooped to cook a meal!

Hannah opened gifts at home.

Then we watched Sophia and Emeri's Vlog on Romania.  Oh how we laughed!!  These teens can capture the most hilarious and embarrasing videos/photos!

We woke up pretty early the next morning.  But not early enough for me.  I had a nightmare that thousands of spiders were invading my house!!  Agh!!

We did not sight-see on our way home as Al needed to get to work the next day.  And I wanted to double-check that there weren't spiders in my house!!    

We ran into storms when we got to Kansas.  Traffic really slowed down with people stopping under bridges.  

Home safely in 11 1/2 hours, despite some delays.

A surprise in Dubuque

 We have been through Dubuque numerous times.  Couldn't even say how many times.  Perhaps over 50?  

I've always wanted to go up to the road where these houses on the bluff overlook the city.  We decided this was the time we would do it.

As I was looking into how to do this, I found out that Dubuque has the shortest, steepest cable car in the WORLD! so you can go up the bluff that way!  How have we not known this??

We found our way to the Fenelon Place Elevator Company.  We parked the car and walked to the cable car.  If you prefer, you can also drive to the top of the hill and get into the car up there and make yourself down.

At the bottom of the bluff, you get inside the cable car and pull the bell cord that notifies the workers at the top to begin the ride!

It doesn't take much to entertain us!

We got to the top.  What a view!  

We could see the green bridge that takes you into Wisconsin.

Then we went down.  

We decided to walk about a little.

St. Raphael's Parish traces its origin to July 1833 when the first group of settlers gathered for Mass in a home.  Later, they met in a log cabin and eventually this building was built.  It is the oldest known congregation in the state of Iowa.

It was undergoing some kind of renovation, but we were able to get inside. 

We were able to listen to the organist practicing.  You also hear buzz saws in the background.

Sometime when I come by myself, I will take the time to shop!  Allen isn't so keen on shopping so I oblige him.

We found our way to a nearby car wash as our car was FILTHY from yesterday's exploration.

After that, we found our way to the top of the bluff by car.  We assumed that the homes' backyards would be at the edge of the bluff and that we wouldn't be able to really see anything.  But we were pleasantly mistaken!

A cute playground at the top!

One time when I had my granddaughter Emeri with me, I accidently took this bridge across and we ended up in Illinois.  We hadn't taken the bridge into Wisconsin!  Oh well, it was a fun adventure taking back roads to Wisconsin once we figured out that we were in the wrong state!

Here you can see the railroad bridge is swung side-ways to let barges past.

After our little side-trip here in Dubuque (and we NEED to come sometime and see other sights there!), we went on to Wisconsin!

Little piggies are going to a new home.

Uummm.  Looks like rain clouds.

Ha!  So much for our car wash!  But I guess we did get the majority of the dirt off the car.

As my shirt says, "Always take the the scenic route!"  You never know what you will find!