My Westie pitcher and Mom's flamingo both hold a place of honor right by the television in the living room. (TVs are muy importante in my family)
I know...things are just things. But being surrounded by my things...and most importantly the memories those items help me recall, brings joy to my life. Living in Waukee during the week - I miss my boy and my doggy. And my things.
In the dregs of winter, I thought I'd take time to document a few of my favorite things (sung in the Sound of Music tune...poorly by me) around my house.
I love my Moki cream pitcher. I purchased that pitcher in Galena, Illinois on a trip with my mother. She and I always had a great time when it was just the two of us. We laughed a lot. I appreciated her historical knowledge and she always did her research before trips and was the tour director. She liked my driving skills.
That trip, we first met up with Paul's sis Pat and her daughter Sarah who is Amy's age. Amy went with them and Mom and I went on our little journey. We started in Galena - touring General Grant's home there. The town's main street had a lot of cute shops - and I first saw the pitcher - a Westie just like our Moki dog - then. Mom scoped out a flamingo at the same antique store. She purchased her find, but I was hesitant to spend $50 on a pitcher - so I left it.
After a night in Galena, we made our way on the Illinois side up to a little town in Wisconsin that Mom had read about. There was a ferry there - an out of the way spot, that few people would ever find. Leave it to Mom! You had to press a buzzer to let the pilot know that people were waiting. Even then, we had to sit for a while. A carload of old women drove up - they were on a day trip from Dubuque. We enjoyed visiting with them. Finally the ferry drove up.
Next we visited Governor Larrabee's Mansion in Clermont, Iowa - another historic site. We stopped at Bily Clocks Museum in Spillville - very interesting, and ticky tocky (lots of clocks). We headed to Marquette, Iowa next where I had my first visit to a Riverboat Casino - $2o in losings. We stayed on a hillside of the river there at a place with a pink elephant by it. Mom did her homework! Who know one could have such fun vacationing in Iowa? Mom didn't overdo it on the alcohol on our trips.
The next day we headed to Independence, Iowa where Mom spent many childhood summers at relatives. We spent quite a bit of the day, walking through the cemetery looking for graves - finally, in defeat with visited the local library to look up the location of the graves. Mom told me more about her childhood than I'd ever heard before. I wish I would have paid more attention. I thought I had lots of time.
If I recall correctly, Mom and I then met Pablo and Jud in Earlville at Paul's folk's place. Mom took off for home and Paul, Jud and I headed to pick Amy up in Freeport, Illinois at the Vorwald's. On the way back we went through Galena and I got my pitcher - so glad it was still there! I had lusted after it ever since I spied it! The kids got stuffed animals like they did on many trips back then - Beanie Baby times ya know.
That fall, Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. A death sentence it turned out. I dearly treasure that trip with Mom and the treasure I found on that trip.
In the dregs of winter, I thought I'd take time to document a few of my favorite things (sung in the Sound of Music tune...poorly by me) around my house.
I love my Moki cream pitcher. I purchased that pitcher in Galena, Illinois on a trip with my mother. She and I always had a great time when it was just the two of us. We laughed a lot. I appreciated her historical knowledge and she always did her research before trips and was the tour director. She liked my driving skills.
That trip, we first met up with Paul's sis Pat and her daughter Sarah who is Amy's age. Amy went with them and Mom and I went on our little journey. We started in Galena - touring General Grant's home there. The town's main street had a lot of cute shops - and I first saw the pitcher - a Westie just like our Moki dog - then. Mom scoped out a flamingo at the same antique store. She purchased her find, but I was hesitant to spend $50 on a pitcher - so I left it.
After a night in Galena, we made our way on the Illinois side up to a little town in Wisconsin that Mom had read about. There was a ferry there - an out of the way spot, that few people would ever find. Leave it to Mom! You had to press a buzzer to let the pilot know that people were waiting. Even then, we had to sit for a while. A carload of old women drove up - they were on a day trip from Dubuque. We enjoyed visiting with them. Finally the ferry drove up.
Next we visited Governor Larrabee's Mansion in Clermont, Iowa - another historic site. We stopped at Bily Clocks Museum in Spillville - very interesting, and ticky tocky (lots of clocks). We headed to Marquette, Iowa next where I had my first visit to a Riverboat Casino - $2o in losings. We stayed on a hillside of the river there at a place with a pink elephant by it. Mom did her homework! Who know one could have such fun vacationing in Iowa? Mom didn't overdo it on the alcohol on our trips.
The next day we headed to Independence, Iowa where Mom spent many childhood summers at relatives. We spent quite a bit of the day, walking through the cemetery looking for graves - finally, in defeat with visited the local library to look up the location of the graves. Mom told me more about her childhood than I'd ever heard before. I wish I would have paid more attention. I thought I had lots of time.
If I recall correctly, Mom and I then met Pablo and Jud in Earlville at Paul's folk's place. Mom took off for home and Paul, Jud and I headed to pick Amy up in Freeport, Illinois at the Vorwald's. On the way back we went through Galena and I got my pitcher - so glad it was still there! I had lusted after it ever since I spied it! The kids got stuffed animals like they did on many trips back then - Beanie Baby times ya know.
That fall, Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. A death sentence it turned out. I dearly treasure that trip with Mom and the treasure I found on that trip.
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