5-22-18 Forest City, Iowa

Roberto, Ray, Lindy and George (and walleye)
at Tavern on Grand

Three days in Minneapolis-St. Paul were busy, complete with picnics of bratwurst parboiled in beer and smoked on the bbq, sauerkraut, music and laughter.  And of course there was walleye.  The Tavern on Grand serves walleye every way you can dream up including breakfast:  walleye and sunny-side up eggs!  So our stay in St. Paul involved dinner and breakfast of walleye, what else?

Ray, Donkey Odie and George at Waldoch Farm

Springtime at the zoo is the most fun of all.  All the animals are horny to make babies.  We visited a nursery, the Waldoch Farm, during our stay, mostly to see the animals.  It was an amazing visit.  I have never seen a peacock all excited to show off to the female (peahen) and it was quite a display.  The beautiful bird’s tail feathers when extended are taller than Rob and he is 6 feet tall.  There were many other animals, as well, horses, tiny goats and pigs, noisy colorful chickens and cute little donkeys.  It was OK to pet them but you have to be careful of the goats, they would like to eat your hand.

Naughty kids!

How does he do this?  Why doesn't he tip over?

George and Ray’s back yard is a festival of flowers, feathers, chirping and gobbling.  Ray keeps the bird feeders stocked with many kinds of seeds and jelly, some preferred by orioles, some preferred by bright yellow finches or cardinals, some by hummingbirds and all preferred by the wild turkeys that live in the area.  And there is one small red squirrel that runs the show, chasing all the other possible diners out of the vicinity.  There is one girl turkey wandering around waving at the boys and they are showing off at this time.  This was quite a dramatic spectacle!  Another display of feathers and bragging rights that, before now, I have not seen!  Wilbur is the leader of this comical pack.  Everybody talks to Wilbur including the disposal guys and he follows everybody around.

Showing off for the chick in the back yard.
Jeez, get a room, you guys!

Hi Wilbur!  Don't gobble your food!

On Sunday, we paid a visit to my sister Carol and Swede.  They have just done a complete remodel in their kitchen and it was something I had to see.  It was quite beautiful, we were impressed!  Swede and Carol entertained us and we all celebrated Swede’s 79^th birthday with snacks and a birthday cake decorated with gummy fish.  It is always good to spend time with my family.

Carol in the new kitchen!

Lindy, Rob, Carol Annie, George, Ray and Swede

Today is Tuesday and we are off to the Winnebago factory to take delivery of our motorhome.  Fast forward to the details.  We spent 5, read it, five hours, with the mechanics, structural, electrical and avionics.  We didn’t take any “no” for an answer and it was exactly as we had ordered it up.  I don’t want put a hex on us or come to any premature conclusions but I dare say the new rv’s “more wonderful the second time around.”  It doesn’t seem to have a single little nut or bolt wrong with it.  Granted it has only been a day.  The hardware isn’t too difficult, we’ve already had to crawl under it to undo an access cover, but as for digital and computerized gizmos, the lights, bells and whistles on this beast are a challenge to us seventy-somethings.  The Jeep is now emptied of supplies.  The bed is made, we have a few dishes, towels, pots and pans and the beer is cold.  “Noobee” is parked at her first campground ever, hooked up and getting proofed.  We’ll be here for 4 nights to do what we hope will be a complete shake-down.  Outside, all night long, a Midwestern thunderstorm raged so we are engaged in baptism by total immersion.  Inside, meanwhile, the little fireplace and a cup of rustic coffee (made in a saucepan) are keeping us snug and cozy.  So far, all is calm, all is bright.

Moments after Noobee joined the Delamare family

Noobee at her first campground, Oakwood
RV Park in Clear Lake, IA